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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 5, 2002
Tapes remain evidence in animal cruelty case
TAMPA -- A judge Friday refused to throw out a videotape and audiotape that could become key evidence against radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem and others in an animal cruelty case.
Circuit Judge Ronald Ficarrotta ruled that detectives had independently obtained a videotape and audiotape of the "Roadkill Barbecue," a promotion at WXTB-97.9 FM that shows a group of people castrating and slaughtering a wild boar in the radio station parking lot.
Prosecutors plan to use the tapes against Clem, his producer and two listeners at a trial next month. They say the tape will prove the defendants tortured and killed the boar for entertainment.
SEFFNER -- A portable classroom at the Hillsborough County Schools Library Resource Center was destroyed by fire Friday, said authorities, who called the blaze suspicious.
When Hillsborough County Fire Rescue workers arrived 1005 N. Parsons Ave., the building was engulfed in flames, said spokeswoman Nancy Couch. The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes. The cause of the fire is being investigated as a possible arson.
The fire caused $20,000 in damage to the portable classroom and two other buildings.
There were about 30 portable units stored at that location, authorities said.