Crime and Law

Elroy Phillips Dug Up Evidence From Prison, but He Still Might Not Get a Chance to Prove His Innocence

Sex Offender Caught Printing Out Pictures of Naked Men at Library Gets Eight Years in Prison

Florida Department of Law EnforcementFrank Lawrence​Convicted sex offender and kiddie porn collector Frank Lawrence was sentenced to eight years in prison today, stemming from charges that came about when a Palm Beach County librarian caught him checking out some naked dudes on the net and printin ... More >>

Scott Rothstein Saga: Howard Kusnick Gets Two Years Up the River

Howard Kusnick (left).​Howard Kusnick -- a former lawyer at Scott Rothstein's now-defunct law firm and associate to his $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme -- was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.Kusnick is now the second person in the current round of Rothstein-related indictments to receive ... More >>

Cops Serve Warrant on Kiddie Porn Suspect and Find Him, of Course, Downloading Kiddie Porn

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeClaudio Vindal, who's "very knowledgeable" with computers.​Police served a warrant Thursday at Claudio Vidal's Boca Raton apartment, suspecting he'd been downloading child pornography.Sure enough, the cops walked in and found Vidal's computer screen on and mid ... More >>

Cliff Reynolds Sent Undercover Cop Loads of Child Porn and Asked Him to Ejaculate in a Cup

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeCliff Reynolds​Cliff W. Reynolds -- who went by "peter_rabbit57" in Yahoo! chat rooms -- spent about five months talking dirty and sending kiddie porn to an undercover Boynton Beach cop over the web.That kiddie porn part is why Reynolds was sentenced yesterday to ... More >>

Jeb Bush and Newt Gingrich Agree With ACLU on Something: Criminal Justice Needs a Tweak

flickr.comHey, wasn't Cool Hand Luke a nonviolent offender?​Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is the latest to sign GOP group Right on Crime's Statement of Principles. It's being framed as a conservative approach to reforming the criminal justice system.Other conservative backers include Newt Gingrich, ... More >>

Florida Senate Committee Report: Cut Arbitrary Juvenile Detention Sentences, Save Millions

babble.com​The Florida Senate Committee on Justice -- in response to a request from Florida TaxWatch -- found that reducing sentences for youngsters in juvenile lockup facilities could save the state millions of dollars.In the most conservative move -- reducing the length of stay for all juveniles ... More >>

Manuel Valle Gets His Third Date With Death: September 28

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, now sheduled to die on September 28.​For the third time, convicted South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle has been given a date to die.This time, it's been scheduled for September 28, 2011, at 4 p.m. at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, according to ... More >>

Rick Scott and Private Prisons Engaging in "Pay to Play" Politics, Teamsters Complaint Alleges

​Florida politicians received nearly $1 million in campaign contributions from two private prison corporations last election cycle -- GEO Group and Corrections Corporation of America -- and an ethics complaint filed by the Teamsters union yesterday claims $30,000 of those contributions that went t ... More >>

RaceTrac Hit With Another Personal Injury Suit

Bad gas... station? ​RaceTrac, an Atlanta-based gas behemoth known for its gut-busting soda fountains, has gotten slammed with another slip-and-fall lawsuit, some two months after a local couple filed suit against the 320-store petroleum conglomerate. Isaura Velez walked into a Hollywood RaceTrac ... More >>

David Britto's Mother Faces Life in Prison for Allegedly Helping Her Son Escape to Brazil

David Britto, federal fugitive, has been in Brazil for three weeks and change.​Janiber "Jane" Andrade Vieira -- the mother of Boynton Beach cop/alleged meth trafficker/federal fugitive David Britto -- was indicted by a grand jury on charges that she helped her son escape to Brazil, according t ... More >>

Wildlife Officers Find Felon With a Gun, as Well as a Few Bags Containing 260 Baby Alligators

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionThat, ladies and gentlemen, is a sack of alligators.​Here's what Robert "Bo" Martin Duval and Christopher Cork Scroggins found out a few days ago: Having a sack full o' baby alligators is a felony.According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservat ... More >>

Manuel Valle's Lawyers File Another Petition With the Florida Supreme Court

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle​The lawyers for South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle have filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court over clemency proceedings for Valle and have asked the court to stay Valle's scheduled execution... again.Valle, 61, has been given a date to die ... More >>

Fort Lauderdale Cops Investigating Shooting Death

​The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is currently investigating a shooting last night that left one man dead.According to Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Travis Mandell, the shooting took place around 9:50 p.m. yesterday in the 1100 block of NE 16th Court.Mandell says that when officers arrived ... More >>

Manuel Valle Denied Stay of Execution by Florida Supreme Court; Death Date Remains

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, scheduled to die on September 28.​South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle's petition asking for a stay of execution was denied today by the Florida Supreme Court.His scheduled date with death remains September 28, 2011, at 4 p.m.Valle's lawyers filed th ... More >>

Hack-a-Shaq: The Former Basketball Superstar Wages Digital War Against an Ex-Con Computer Geek

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, scheduled to die on September 28.​South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle's petition asking for a stay of execution was denied today by the Florida Supreme Court.His scheduled date with death remains September 28, 2011, at 4 p.m.Valle's lawyers filed th ... More >>

Ramon Rosario, Member of the "Head Shot Committee," Gets 270 Years Up the River

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeRamon Rosario​Ramon Rosario, a 19-year-old member of a racketeering enterprise known as the "Head Shot Committee," was sentenced yesterday to 270 years in prison for what the State Attorney's Office calls a string of crimes that "terrorized the northern end of Pal ... More >>

Manuel Valle Execution Draws Florida Supreme Court Petition From Irish Neurologist

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, sheduled to die tomorrow at 4 p.m.​The execution of convicted South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle has been petitioned in the Florida Supreme Court yet again over issues with the new lethal injection drug, this time with the objection of a Northern I ... More >>

Florida Supreme Court Quickly Dismisses Latest Manuel Valle Appeal

​Well, that was quick. Less than an hour ago, the Florida Supreme Court released a ruling saying the court will not hear the latest petition over issues with the new lethal injection drug to be used in Manuel Valle's execution.Yesterday, Northern Irish neurologist Dr. David Nicholl asked the court ... More >>

State Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda Files Bill to Repeal Florida's Death Penalty

motifake.com​On the verge of the state's first lethal injection under the regime of Gov. Rick Scott -- convicted cop killer Manuel Valle is scheduled to be executed at 4 p.m. tomorrow -- State Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda of Tallahassee has filed a bill that would end executions in Florid ... More >>

Florida Death-Row Facts, Including Last-Meal Parameters and the Executioner's Paycheck

​It's been nearly 20 months since the last execution of a prisoner by the State of Florida, and in anticipation of South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle's lethal injection at 4 p.m. today, we decided today would be a good day to drop some death-row knowledge.Valle, 61, was convicted of killing Cor ... More >>

Manuel Valle Executed After Stay Denied by United States Supreme Court

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle​South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle was executed by lethal injection inside the Florida State Prison at 7:14 p.m. today.Valle came within minutes of dying earlier in the day, before the U.S. Supreme Court halted the lethal injection for several h ... More >>

Scott Rothstein Computer Nerds Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison

Scott Rothstein​Curtis Renie and William Corte, the information technology workers for Ponzi scheme mastermind Scott Rothstein's law firm, were each sentenced to 37 months in prison yesterday.Renie and Corte, both 38 years old, pleaded guilty in June to a single count each of conspiracy to commit ... More >>

Manuel Valle Execution: Cruel and Unusual Punishment?

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle​Manuel Valle was executed by the State of Florida at 7:14 p.m. Wednesday after the many appeals filed on his behalf were denied.Just before the execution was scheduled to take place at 4 p.m., the U.S. Supreme Court delayed it to briefly take a look at ... More >>

Casey Anthony Probation Update: She's Unemployed, Broke, and Boozing

Orange County Sheriff's OfficeCasey Anthony​Casey Anthony showed up to her monthly probation meeting yesterday evening and is living a typical American life: She has no money, no job, and she's been drinking, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.As we've mentioned before, Anthony's t ... More >>

SlutWalk South Florida Hitting the Streets in Early 2012

Facebook​The SlutWalk movement is finally coming to South Florida.SlutWalk South Florida has started to develop its online presence, hand out fliers, and begin planning demonstrations to curb sexual assaults and the blame sometimes associated with sexual-assault victims.There's no precise date set ... More >>

Rick Scott Inks Another Death Warrant: 65-Year-Old Oba Chandler Is Next

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler​Gov. Rick Scott signed a death warrant to give a lethal juicing to the second inmate of his governorship -- this time for 65-year-old triple murderer Oba Chandler.The execution is scheduled for 4 p.m. on November 15, but don't be surprised if that does ... More >>

State Rep. Wants to Ban Lethal Injections, Offer Inmates Choice of Firing Squad or Electrocution

sodahead.comAre you a sissy who doesn't like lethal injection? Try "a .45 caliber lead cocktail instead."​Florida's method of executing death-row inmates by lethal injection is just causing too much controversy, so State Rep. Brad Drake wants to end the practice.Drake has filed a bill to give the ... More >>

John Henry Convicted of Murder in Beating Death of Man Who Broke Into His House Twice

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeJohn Henry​Here's the thing about Florida's "stand your ground" law: It doesn't cover beating the burglar to death with a baseball bat when you find him later in a Walmart parking lot.A jury decided yesterday that 28-year-old John Henry did just that, convicting H ... More >>

Florida Corrections Officer Gives Some Interwebs Insight About State Prisons

zazzle.comWe don't even know who this hat belongs to.​Being a corrections officer is one of the strangest jobs imaginable -- you're stuck in a big concrete and iron box for eight-plus hours per day, surrounded by some of society's most loathed humans, who are likely armed with rusty shanks and ... More >>

First Amendment Right to Blast Music to Be Considered by Florida Supreme Court

inquisitr.comThe Florida Supreme Court will decide whether this is your First Amendment right.​The issue of whether it's the First Amendment right of Florida drivers to blast obnoxious music from their cars way louder than anyone needs to will be heard before the Florida Supreme Court.The court sc ... More >>

Surprise: Rapist/Triple Murderer Oba Chandler Doesn't Want to Be Executed

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler​Rapist and three-time murderer Oba Chandler, who's scheduled to be receive his lethal injection at 4 p.m. on November 15, doesn't want to be executed. Imagine that.Chandler's lawyer filed a motion in a circuit court today seeking to have Chandler's ... More >>

David Britto's Mother Takes a Plea Deal, Will Likely Avoid Prison Time

David Britto, a federal fugitive who's free to sip margaritas on the beaches of Brazil due to his citizenship.​Janiber "Jane" Andrade Vieira -- mother of former Boynton Beach cop/alleged meth trafficker/federal fugitive David Britto -- accepted a plea agreement yesterday that may allow her to skir ... More >>

Oba Chandler Denied Yet Another Appeal of His Death Sentence, So He Filed Another Appeal

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler​Rapist and three-time murderer Oba Chandler's eighth attempt at appealing his death sentence was denied, and of course, he filed a ninth -- which may be the last attempt before his scheduled November 15 execution.Chandler's lawyer filed a motion in cir ... More >>

Married Couple Convicted in Failed Murder Plot of Woman's Part-Time Boyfriend

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeCraig Anderson (left) and Cynthia Green-Anderson​Cynthia Green-Anderson told her on-and-off boyfriend Jerry Logan to drop by her aunt's house to pick up some things just after noon on August 2, 2008.Logan arrived at the house, and instead of picking up the stuff, ... More >>

West Palm Beach Head Shop Workers Busted for Allegedly Selling Fake Weed

Not weed. But still not legal.​The main problem with selling the false weed commonly known as "spice" -- it's illegal too.The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrested 37-year-old Monica Lee, owner of the Hidden Treasure Smoke Shop in West Palm Beach, and one of her employees, 27-year-old Hope S ... More >>

Stealing From the Rich to... Oh, Whatever. Funny Is the Message in "Tower Heist"

Not weed. But still not legal.​The main problem with selling the false weed commonly known as "spice" -- it's illegal too.The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrested 37-year-old Monica Lee, owner of the Hidden Treasure Smoke Shop in West Palm Beach, and one of her employees, 27-year-old Hope S ... More >>

Oba Chandler's Supreme Court Arguments Canceled; 12 Days Until Scheduled Execution

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler, scheduled to die in 12 days.​Arguments before the Florida Supreme Court in the appeal of triple murderer Oba Chandler's death sentence that were scheduled for Wednesday have been canceled, according to a filing from the clerk's office released just mi ... More >>

Jakaris Taylor, Sentenced to Life at 17 for Role in Gang Rape, Now Resentenced to 60 Years

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeMug shot of Jakaris Taylor taken yesterday.​Jakaris Taylor, one of up to 10 people who took part in a West Palm Beach gang rape of a 35-year-old woman in 2007, as well as the beating of both the woman and her 12-year-old son, was resentenced today to 60 years ... More >>

Casey Anthony Probation Update: Still No Job or Money, Now Says She Hasn't Been Boozing

Orange County Sheriff's OfficeCasey Anthony​Casey Anthony showed up to her third monthly probation meeting last week, and she apparently hasn't been doing anything.The Florida Department of Corrections says Anthony's probation reports are redacted to prevent people from knowing where she lives, so ... More >>

Oba Chandler Set to Be Executed Today; Picked Salami Sandwiches for His Last Meal

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler, scheduled to die at 4 p.m. today.​Rapist/triple murderer Oba Chandler is scheduled to be executed at the Florida State Prison at 4 p.m. today, and he's already submitted the request for his last meal.According to Florida Department of Corrections spok ... More >>

David Britto Reportedly Said He'd "Kill Himself" if He Had to Go to Jail

David Britto, according to his mother's lawyer, said he'd "kill himself" if he had to go to jail for meth trafficking.​According to a sentencing memorandum submitted by lawyers of Janiber "Jane" Vieira -- the mother of fugitive/former Boynton Beach cop/alleged meth trafficker David Britto -- Britt ... More >>

Janiber Vieira, Mother of Former Boynton Beach Cop David Britto, Gets a Year in Prison

​David Britto, whose mother gets to go to prison for a year for helping him skip town on a meth-trafficking charge.​​Janiber "Jane" Andrade Vieira -- mother of former Boynton Beach cop/alleged meth trafficker/federal fugitive David Britto -- was sentenced today to one year plus one day in ... More >>

Man Killed at Dania Beach Party, Cops Looking for Alleged Shooter and "Person of Interest"

Broward Sheriff's OfficeEric Hunter​A 20-year-old man was shot and killed at a Dania Beach street party early Saturday morning, and the Broward Sheriff's Office is looking for both the alleged shooter and a "person of interest" wanted for questioning.Dijon Brown, a Hollywood resident, was ... More >>

Broward Hate Crimes Totaled More Than Any Other Florida County Last Year

kidproofblog.com​There were fewer hate crimes in Broward in 2010 than in 2009, but it's still a higher total than any other county in Florida.The 2010 report of hate crimes statewide was released today by the attorney general's office, which reports 19 of the state's 149 hate crimes last year occu ... More >>

Cops Say Stephen Saftler Kept an 800-Image Kiddie-Porn Gallery on His Work Computer

Broward Sheriff's OfficeStephen Saftler​Downloading child pornography anywhere isn't the greatest idea, but at the workplace -- c'mon, man.Still, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department says that's what 62-year-old Stephen Saftler's been doing, as they served a warrant at his workplace in Sunrise ye ... More >>

Brandon Deyo, Son of Clown/Kiddie Porn Collector, Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charges

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeBrandon Deyo​Brandon Deyo, the son of David Deyo -- also known as "Noodles the Clown," who's currently serving a 17-year prison sentence for his child-pornography collection -- pleaded guilty today to possessing his own kiddie-porn stash.Brandon Deyo, 25, was an A ... More >>

Palm Beach State Attorney Michael McAuliffe Won't Seek Reelection

Editorial cartoon from the Palm Beach Sun​Was it the West Palm Beach cop-beating scandal? The steady exodus of prosecutors from his office? Or perhaps his spotty luck prosecuting corruption in the Riviera Beach Police Department?Michael McAuliffe cited none of these setbacks in his official statem ... More >>

Judge Sends Alleged Domestic Abuser on Date With Wife; Sun-Sentinel Thinks It's Adorable (UPDATED)

"But, honey! There are sweet buttery biscuits!"Update, 2:17 p.m.: Added comment from Hurley's judicial assistant.Update: 3:05 p.m.: Added comment from the president of Women In Distress.​Plantation's Joseph Bray is accused of pushing his wife onto a couch, putting his hand across her neck, an ... More >>