A Sebring man decided not to press charges against his roommate after he cut him with a knife but after the same man beat him in his sleep he decided to have the roommate arrested. TBO.com is reporting that Osman Martinez-Ventura was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a misdemeanor count of loitering and another count of aggravated battery for the attack on his roommate.
Sebring Police originally tried to arrest Martinez-Venture in his home after he cut the victim on the thumb with a knife. The victim was uncooperative and would not press charges but he changed his mind after the second incident. He told police he was a sleep when his roommate began to punch him in the face repeatedly. The victim was found by police with blood all over his face and arms in front of a liquor store in Highlands County.
Monthly Archives: March 2010
Pasco Teacher Facing Battery Charges After Fight With Husband And Deputy
Maryann Verdi was arrested this past weekend and charged with domestic battery, resisting an officer with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. The 39-year-old is a River Ridge High School teacher and Pasco County school officials are reviewing the situation before taking any action. Her exact position at the school is listed as literacy coach.
According to TBO.com, Verdi and her husband had an argument in their home. Her husband tried to leave but Verdi began to throw things at him but there were apparently no injuries. When a deputy arrived on the scene at Verdi’s brother’s home, the woman struck the deputy in the arm, poked her in the eye and pulled her hair.
Manatee Man Awaiting Armed Robbery Sentence Facing Charges Of Battery On An Inmate Now As Well
A 20-year-old man in jail awaiting to be sentenced on an armed robbery charge will also now have to face battery charges. Cody Rogers is being accused of beating up an inmate on March 22 and is now facing charges of battery on a detained person. Authorities charged Rogers after viewing video footage.
Rogers is connected to Timothy Brooks, who is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of 19-year-old William White, Jr. in 2008. Rogers and Brooks were involved in an armed robbery that ended up with Brooks firing a shot and hitting White in the neck and killing the teenage
Venice Woman Gives Prescription Pills, Money And Gifts To Teen Boys Before Engaging In Sex
Ellen Schmaling was arrested in Sarasota County for allegedly having sex with at least three underage, teenage boys. The 36-year-old has been arrested and charged with three felony counts of having sex with a minor and three misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor by supplying them with prescription drugs.
According to the Sarasota Herald Tribune, Schmaling met the alleged victims at a skate park located in Payne Park. Three boys have already told authorities that they have engaged in sex with the woman and also received money, gifts and prescription drugs from her. The crime was uncovered by the mother of a 15-year-old who found text messages from Schmaling that she felt were inappropriate.
Pinellas Puppy Thief Charged With Grand Theft
A woman who allegedly stole a Chihuahua puppy from a litter in Holiday, Florida has been arrested and charged with grand theft. Kylea Lynn Jenness turned herself in after authorities were closing in on her for poaching the pooch. She was booked into Land O’Lakes jail and was being held without bail.
According to TampaBay.com Jenness stuffed one of the Chihuahua puppies into her shirt while two men who were with her distracted the woman who was selling the puppies. Jenness saw an ad for the puppies in a local newspaper. The owner had enough information about the trio to allow police to track down Jenness’ boyfriend via a social networking Internet site. Neither of the men with Jenness is expected to be charged for theft.
Domestic Battery Charges Dropped Against Former Tampa Bay Buc Warren Sapp
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Warren Sapp was arrested and charged with domestic battery in Miami the night before the Super Bowl. Miami-Dade prosecutors have decided not to pursue those charges due to video obtained in the case and inconsistent statements from the victim. According to the Associated Press, Sapp was facing one count of misdemeanor domestic battery.
Sapp was arrested by Miami Beach police February 6 but during their investigation they found surveillance video that contradicted some of the statements made by the victim. Sapp was a commentator for the NFL Network but was pulled off TV following this battery arrest in Florida. He will meet with NFL Network officials to assess his future with the station.
No Bond For Hit-And-Run Driver In Ft. Lauderdale Who Killed Two British Businessmen
The 35-year-old Illinois man who allegedly killed two British businessmen in Fort Lauderdale will not be getting out of jail on bond. According to The Associated Press, it isn’t the vehicular homicide charges keeping Ryan LeVin in jail it is a parole violation in Illinois that is the issue.
LeVin is out on parole for another car accident that caused three people to be injured. In 2006 he led police on a high-speed chase in Chicago that left two motorists and one officer injured. He is now been linked to another car crash, this time he allegedly killed two people and then left the scene of the accident. The hit-and-run took place last year and authorities believe it was his Porsche that was involved in the hit-and-run deaths.
Floridians Are More Trouble During Spring Break Than Those From Out-Of-State?
During spring break Daytona Beach police see the customary crimes rise. The amount of visitors getting a DUI in Florida or being charged with traffic violations usually increase but according to an Orlando Sentinel story the most serious crimes may be committed by Florida residents who “day trip” to Daytona. The bad press surrounding the crime during spring break may not be the fault of those who visit Florida except for the lone fact they are in town attracting criminals.
According to the Sentinel report, the most serious arrests, those involving felony charges, were committed by Florida residents who live within a couple hours drive of Daytona Beach. Some of the felony charges filed against Florida residents during spring break include cocaine possession, gun charges, hydrocodone possession and even a recent murder conviction for an Orlando man. It is too early to tell if the trend is continuing in 2010.
Jury Finds 22-Year-Old Guilty Of Vehicular Homicide Stemming From A Police Chase In 2008
A jury in Volusia County has found a 22-year-old guilty of a slew of charges including vehicular manslaughter. Michael Henry was involved in a police chase in 2008 that left an 83-year-old man dead when he collided with his car trying to escape capture. Henry was convicted on charges of grand theft auto, vehicular manslaughter, driving with a suspended license and failure to render aid.
According to Bradenton.com, Henry is facing up to 55 years in jail when he is sentenced April 19. The incident began when police spotted Henry in a stolen vehicle and tried to get the man to pull over. Henry took off and caused more than one accident while fleeing. One of the crash victims fell into a coma due to the accident and later died.
Breath Test Refusal Lands New Port Richey Man In Prison For 12 Years
Donald Hancock was found not guilty of DUI by a jury of his peers but that wasn’t good enough to save him from a violation of probation charge that has landed him a 12 year prison sentence. A Circuit Judge ruled that Hancock, though not guilty of the DUI, violated his probation for refusing to take a breath test on the night of his arrest. The judge ruled that refusal showed a consciousness of guilt.
Hancock was on probation stemming from a 1996 DUI manslaughter conviction. The 46-year-old was sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing his wife in a drunk driving accident. His blood-alcohol level that night was 0.25. According to TBO.com Hancock had complied with his probation up until the time of his latest arrest. The judge felt the 1996 DUI incident was not isolated considering the latest turn of events.