Palm Beach State Attorney's Office

Rob Lopicola, Former Weatherman Accused of Sex With Boys, Set to Stand Trial

A trial is set for former WPTV-Ch. 5 weatherman Rob Lopicola for June. Lopicola, 45, was arrested last July on charges he engaged in unlawful sexual activity with teen boys he met on Craigslist. Basically, Lopicola allegedly lured the boys via some pretty heinous text messages before meeting with ... More >>

Federal Judge Rules Palm Beach Sheriff's Deputies Can't Be Handcuffing Nurses All Willy-Nilly

A federal judge has found that the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office "had a policy of threatening hospital staff" who refused when ordered by police to take blood samples in DUI cases, finding that "this policy directly impacted the Fourth Amendment rights of hospital employees... the Sheriff's Dep ... More >>

Michael McAuliffe Went Fishing for Corruption in Riviera Beach, Went Home Empty-Handed

He rode into the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office promising to fight corruption, but in Riviera Beach, Michael McAuliffe failed spectacularly.Three years ago, McAuliffe charged three Riviera cops with felonies ranging from official misconduct to tipping off a murder suspect about an impending arre ... More >>

Battery Charges Filed for Jonatha Carr, FAU Student Who Threatened to Kill Teacher, Family Says

Felony charges have been filed against 24-year-old FAU student Jonatha Carr, according to her sister, in connection with her classroom outburst in which she was filmed threatening to kill a professor and classmates.Her family spoke to the Pulp last week about Carr's long struggle with bipolar disord ... More >>

The Accusations Against Boynton Beach Mayor Jose Rodriguez

​We made a brief post last night announcing the arrest of Boynton Beach Mayor Jose Rodriguez on three criminal charges -- including one felony -- and now that we've had a chance to check out the probable-cause affidavit, we'll let you know what happened.According to the report from the Palm Beach ... More >>

Boynton Beach Mayor Jose Angel Rodriguez Arrested on Corruption Charges

​Boynton Beach Mayor Jose Angel Rodriguez was arrested today on three charges -- one of them a felony -- alleging he used his power as mayor to prevent authorities from investigating an abuse incident he was allegedly involved in."The probable-cause affidavit states and alleges that Boynton Beach ... More >>

Alleged Accomplice in Jimmy McMillan's Death Has Faced Murder Charges Before

Jonathan Jones was arrested on Tuesday as an alleged accomplice in the murder of Belle Glade grocery store owner Jimmy McMillan, as an "accessory after the fact."At 20 years old, this is now the second time Jones has been booked into the Palm Beach County Jail in relation to a murder.In October 2010 ... More >>

Second Suspect Arrested in Jimmy McMillan's Death Identified by Alleged Shooter's Mom

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrested a second suspect in the death of Belle Glade grocery store owner Jimmy McMillan, after he was identified by the mother of the alleged shooter.Jonathan Jones now joins Corey Graham Jr. in the Palm Beach County Jail on charges related to McMillan's death ... More >>

Palm Beach County Officials Announce More Kids Arrested in High-School Narc Operation

That's nice kids, now go to jail.​The Palm Beach State Attorney's Office, the Palm Beach County School District's police chief, along with other law-enforcement officials were proud to announce today that they've arrested more kids."Operation D Minus" nabbed 12 students for drug charges this t ... More >>

Pastor Dieugrand Jacques Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Molestation

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeConvicted molestor Dieugrand Jacques​Dieugrand Jacques, a former pastor of the New Alliance Haitian Church in Boynton Beach, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison, nearly three months after a jury found him guilty of molesting a 15-year-old female ch ... More >>

Riviera Cop Michael Dodson Pleads Guilty to Firing a Gun While Drunk, Gets Probation

PBSODodson (left) pleaded guilty, while Schneider is awaiting trial.​Of the three Riviera Beach police officers charged in a corruption scandal two years ago, Sgt. Michael Dodson's case was the most bizarre. Early one morning in October 2009, following a retirement party for a fellow cop, Dod ... More >>

David Hartstein Charged in Billiard-Ball Attack on Two Men, Ages 91 and 79

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeAlleged pool-ball head-basher David Hartstein.​When David Hartstein thought a 91-year-old man stole stuff from his locker, he allegedly tried to settle that by trying to bash the man's head in with a billiard ball.When a 79-year-old man tried to stop the attack, p ... More >>

Donna Horwitz Charged With Murder; Allegedly Tried to (Poorly) Stage Ex-Husband's Suicide

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeDonna Horwitz​Donna Horwitz, a 65-year-old Jupiter resident, was indicted by a grand jury late last week in the murder of her ex-husband that occurred just over one month ago.It's safe to say that police got a little suspicious after Lanny Horwitz's body was disco ... More >>

Riviera Beach Cop Criminally Charged After Shoving, Pointing Taser at Kid, PBSO Says

goblackchicken.com​Riviera Beach Police Officer Cherline Cornelius decided to break up a fight between two kids, ages 9 and 12, by shoving the older kid, pointing a Taser at him, and nearly pulling a gun on a camp counselor attempting to intervene, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Offi ... More >>

Taurus Bryant Gets Life in Prison After Shooting Man He'd Known for 20 Years Over Fake Drugs

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeTaurus Bryant​After shooting a man he'd known for more than 20 years because the man's uncle wouldn't pay for fake drugs -- and the 13 other criminal convictions on his rap sheet -- Taurus Bryant received a mandatory sentence of life in prison.Back in November 200 ... More >>

Jeremy Sherrill Gave Woman a "Job Interview," Which Included Him Masturbating... and More

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeJeremy William Sherrill​Jeremy William Sherrill told a woman he met on MySpace that he had a job for her as a receptionist that paid $18 per hour with full benefits and wanted to meet her for an interview.The "interview" never took place, and based on what Sherril ... More >>

Prosecutor Resigned Days After Dropping Felony Charges Against West Palm Cops

PBSOPablo Valenzuela, after his arrest in 2008.​Days after recommending that two former West Palm Beach police officers who repeatedly kicked a handcuffed suspect in the head should not face felony charges, the prosecutor handling the controversial case resigned from the Palm Beach State Attorney' ... More >>

Cynthia Castoro Tried to Deny Killing Two Men With a Car, Despite the Flesh in Her Windshield

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeCynthia Castoro​It's hard to deny you just ran over three construction workers with your car -- killing two of them -- while you're driving drunk and high, especially when their blood, flesh, and pieces of their orange vests are embedded into your windshield.Cynth ... More >>

Christopher Tears Thought He Sent a Picture of His Penis to 16-Year-Old Boy -- It Was the Cops

​Police say 42-year-old Lake Worth resident Christopher Tears was at home watching his two children last week -- while he was chatting about how he wanted to "mess around" with who he thought was a 16-year-old boy he was chatting with online.As always, the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Chi ... More >>

Andrew Schecter Nearly Beat a Man's Dog to Death With a Chair Leg for Sniffing His Dog

​Andrew Schecter apparently doesn't like other dogs sniffing his Chihuahua/Jack Russell terrier mix.So much so, in fact, that a jury convicted him yesterday of felony animal cruelty for beating the hell out of a dog with a wooden chair leg and then running away as the dog almost died. According to ... More >>

David Wengender Was in Charge of Watching Stepgrandkids, Made Girl "Touch It" Instead

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeDavid Wengender, convicted molester. ​David Wengender, 72, was in charge of watching his two stepgrandchildren while the kids' parents were out of town."Grandpa Dave" ended up molesting one of the kids he was supposed to be watching, resulting in his conviction by ... More >>

Alberto Dorce Convicted in Failed Robbery Attempt of Unyielding Married Couple

​Alberto Dorce was convicted this week on two counts of attempted robbery with a firearm while wearing a mask nearly a year after he tried to rob what's either an incredibly badass or incredibly stubborn Delray Beach couple.Just after midnight on October 3, 2010, Dorce, 29, approached a newlywed c ... More >>

Richard Russo, Ex-Teacher, Accused of Faking Payroll Sheets While He "Almost Died"

​Richard Russo, a former teacher for the Palm Beach County School District, has been charged with grand theft and official misconduct after allegedly submitting payroll sheets while he was hospitalized with a serious illness, according to the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office.A probable-cause aff ... More >>

Jose Claudio, PBSO Deputy, Accused of Stealing Thousands From Trailer Park Resident

​According to the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Deputy Jose Claudio's method of making money on the side was stealing thousands of dollars from a woman living in a West Palm Beach trailer park.An arrest narrative states that a property owner sent in a complaint to ... 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 >>

Pastor Dieugrand Jacques Found Guilty of Molestation, Said He Did It to "All My Girls"

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeConvicted molestor Dieugrand Jacques​Dieugrand Jacques, a former pastor of the New Alliance Haitian Church in Boynton Beach, was found guilty by a jury yesterday of molesting a 15-year-old female churchgoer during a counseling session in 2007.Another girl testifie ... More >>

Juliet Mahabir Stole the Identity of a Dead 8-Year-Old Kid, State Attorney's Office Says

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeJuliet Sherry-Ann Smith Mahabir, who's allegedly been posing as a dead 8-year-old for years.​Maria Del Carmen Diaz died on May 7, 1981 at the age of 8 years old. Maria Del Carmen Diaz has also made $283,464.35 as a teller at a Palm Beach County Wells Fargo ban ... More >>

Cops Arrest West Palm Beach VA Employees, Allege They Were Selling Drugs to Vets

activerain.comWest Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center​The Palm Beach State Attorney's Office announced today that it has charged 19 people at the West Palm Beach Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center with running the place like a pill mill.According to State Attorney Michael McAuli ... More >>

Lake Worth Man Charged in December Crash That Killed an 80-Year-Old Woman

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeJoseph Sterlicchi​A 55-year-old Lake Worth man has been charged with DUI manslaughter and two counts of causing injury while driving under the influence for a December car crash that killed an 80-year-old woman, according to the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office. ... More >>

Sheriff's District Commander in Belle Glade Accused of Tossing Out Traffic Tickets

PBSO​Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Lt. Michael Morris -- AKA "Big Mike" -- was allegedly doing a favor for a friend when he tossed out a handful of traffic tickets last November. But the good deed ended up landing the Belle Glade district commander in hot water, charged with felony official miscondu ... More >>

Dalia Dippolito's Trial Rules (Shhh. Don't Mention She Was an Escort)

Boynton Beach Police DepartmentDalia and Michael Dippolito, before all the drama.​Dalia Dippolito, the Boynton Beach newlywed accused of plotting to have her husband killed, was in court yesterday preparing for her April 25 trial. Her lawyers and prosecutors from the Palm Beach State Attorney's Of ... More >>

Despite Decades of Corruption Allegations, Is the Riviera Beach Police Department Clean?

What John Toombs' Acquittal Means for the Dysfunctional Riviera Beach Cops

Schneider is accused of forging her supervisor's signature on official documents.​"We have a little dysfunction in the chain of command in Riviera Beach," defense attorney Steve Sessa told a jury in Palm Beach Circuit Court yesterday. "Because of that dysfunction, that's why we're here."Sessa was ... More >>

UPDATED: Agent John Toombs in Court Today; First Trial in the Riviera Beach Police Scandal

​Agent John Toombs was acquitted this afternoon on all counts. Read more details after the jump.Riviera Beach Vice Agent John Toombs will be in court this morning facing allegations that he tipped off a murder suspect to help him avoid being arrested. Toombs' trial is the first in the scandal ... More >>

In Riviera Beach Police Investigation, Sgt. Pat Galligan Remains Free

PBSOSchneider was charged with forging Galligan's signature.​The FBI and the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office have been investigating an overtime scam at the Riviera Beach police department for nearly two years. Yet the highest ranking officer at the heart of the scandal, Sgt. Pat Galligan, has ... More >>

Boynton CRA Director Gets the Heave-Ho

Photo: Boynton Beach CRALisa Bright (left) with former mayor Jerry Taylor at a CRA event in 2008.​During her time as the director of the Community Redevelopment Agency, director Lisa Bright basked in the good graces of the Boynton Beach commissioners, who serve as the CRA board. Even after Bright ... More >>

[UPDATED] Boynton Beach Vice Mayor Marlene Ross Dines and Drinks With Embattled CRA Director, But Denies Friendship

Commissioner Marlene Ross​Lisa Bright is currently being investigated by the city and by the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office based on allegations that she harbored conflicts of interest in her role as the director of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency. But now questions are being raised ... More >>

Why the Koons Case Is a Powerful Strike Against Corruption in South Florida

Koons​Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons today entered a guilty plea to extortion charges based on threatening a family that opposed the South Cove lagoon preservation project and using his political position to harass that family. In exchange for the plea, Koons won't have to serve time in ... More >>

Victim's Refusal to Cooperate Means No Charges in Neo-Nazi Stabbing at Ritz

Photo: MSNBC via FlickrThe neo-Nazis seem able to forgive an occasional stabbing between members of the Master Race.​The Palm Beach State Attorney's Office has elected not to file charges in a stabbing that took place in October at the Ritz-Carlton in Manalapan during a speech by a neo-Nazi histor ... More >>

Lawyer for Victim in Neo-Nazi Case Exploring Suit Against Hotel, Nazi Historian

Flickr: paolinipixThe Ritz-Carlton in Manalapan: an unlikely place for a neo-Nazi stabbing.​The stabbings that occurred October 26, during a presentation by a Nazi historian at the Ritz-Carlton were a one-sided affair, it seems. That is, Christopher Nachtman stabbed John Kopko -- multiple times. A ... More >>

Eyewitness Account of Neo-Nazi Stabbing at Ritz-Carlton

Flickr: BOB WESTON​The Palm Beach State Attorney's Office is still examining the evidence in the October 26 stabbing at the Ritz-Carlton in Manalapan, but as we wait to see whether prosecutors will file charges, we're learning more about exactly what happened during the speech by Nazi historian Da ... More >>

Palm Beach State Attorney to Get Neo-Nazi Stabbing Case Next Week

Flickr: Paul Garland​Manalapan Police Chief Clay Walker says his investigators are wrapping up their case against the two men involved in the knife fight Monday night at the Ritz Carlton, where Nazi historian David Irving was giving a speech. He expects to deliver investigative findings to the Pal ... More >>

Morning Juice: A Miracle in Deerfield Beach; Another One Needed in Hollywood

​A glance at the headlines this Wednesday.In Broward County's most ethics-challenged city, the ethics code survived the night. [Sun-Sentinel]A former Boynton Beach commissioner has an ethics crisis of his own as the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office investigates allegations that David Katz took p ... More >>

Gypsies, Cops, and Thieves

Seven years ago, Detective Jack Makler helped New Times catch a double-dealing Gypsy cop. Now he's accused of the same crime.

Tailpipe

Baja Bye-bye

Undercurrents

Our new, improved column ponders a Sun-Sentinel screwup.

Court Reporter

A tawdry two-year tale of a journalist's battle with South Florida prosecutors