Pinellas Digest

By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 10, 2002

Hearing for builder postponed

LARGO -- The pretrial hearing for the builder who residents of the Virginia Crossing subdivision say left them holding tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid construction bills was postponed Friday, pending possible introduction of more charges.

Andrew David Strong, president of Highmark Homes, is charged with 18 counts of making false statements and is expected to face 14 additional charges when Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Nancy Moate continues hearing the case Oct. 2.

Strong is accused of presenting Virginia Crossing residents with affidavits stating that there were no outstanding debts owed on their recently purchased homes when, in fact, there were unpaid subcontractor bills and bank liens in place. He faces up to five years in prison on each count.

Strong declined to comment Friday.

"There is a lot to this picture that has yet to be explored," said Gary White, assistant state attorney prosecuting the case. "And we are continuing to investigate."

Motorcyclist dies in crash on U.S. 19

PALM HARBOR -- A man on a three-wheeled motorcycle died about 1 a.m. Friday when he tried to turn from U.S. 19 onto Oak Avenue and flipped, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, was riding an unregistered vehicle and had a suspended license for DUI, Highway Patrol Sgt. Paul Kopriva said.

"He was just going too fast to make that turn and he flipped," Kopriva said. The crash happened across from the entrance to the Westin Innisbrook Resort.

The motorcyclist was in his 30s, but troopers did not release his name because they had been unable to find his next of kin or establish where he lived. The crash was the second in less than 24 hours on U.S. 19 N involving a single motorcycle.

On Thursday morning, a motorcyclist survived a crash even though he landed on his head and his helmet was shredded.

"One walks away wearing a helmet and the other doesn't," Palm Harbor Fire Rescue District Chief Dan Zinge said. "It makes a strong argument for motorcycle helmet safety."

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