Carlie Brucia's stepfather arrested in fight with wife
By wire services
Published May 5, 2004
SARASOTA - The stepfather of an 11-year-old girl who was kidnapped and killed in February was arrested on a domestic violence charge, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said.
Steven Kansler, 36, was arrested on the misdemeanor charge late Monday after an argument with his wife, Susan Schorpen, became violent, deputies said.
Kansler appeared before a judge Tuesday and was released on $7,500 bail.
The couple are the parents of Carlie Brucia, who was kidnapped Feb. 1 as she walked home from a friend's house. The case drew worldwide attention because a video camera at a car wash caught images of a man leading her away, and her family made televised public appeals for her return. Her body was found five days later. Joseph P. Smith, an unemployed auto mechanic, is jailed on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery.
A sheriff's report said Kansler was out drinking Monday night and when he came home, Schorpen attempted to lock him out. Kansler became increasingly angry as he and his wife argued, the report said, and allegedly grabbed her by the throat when she tried to call for help, leaving a red mark.
In 1999, Schorpen, 35, was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge after a fight with her husband. She pleaded no contest and served probation.
Fatal punch in movie line is man's ticket to jail
FORT LAUDERDALE - A 69-year-old man who fatally punched an older man as they stood in line for movie tickets pleaded guilty Tuesday to manslaughter and was sentenced to six months in jail.
Seymour Schuss will serve the sentence in the Broward County Jail infirmary, followed by 61/2 years of probation including six months of house arrest.
Schuss punched Irving Rosenberg, 74, on Nov. 8, 2002, after Rosenberg told Schuss' wife to "shut up." Rosenberg's head hit the pavement outside the Tamarac Cinema, causing a skull fracture. He died after 16 days in a coma.
An earlier trial of Schuss on the charge ended in a hung jury.
Seized drug paraphernalia intended for kids, feds say
MIAMI - Federal officials confiscated more than $1-million worth of bongs, pipes and other drug paraphernalia - about 42,000 pieces in all - from a warehouse run by one of the largest distributors of such items in the nation, according to U.S. Customs agents.
No arrests were made. The investigation is continuing.
The items were seized from Da-Con Scientific in southwest Miami-Dade County, Customs officials said Monday.
Anthony Mangione, immigration and customs enforcement resident agent in charge for Fort Lauderdale, said many of the items were intended for children, including some decorated with cartoon characters such as the Cat in the Hat.
"I don't know too many adults sitting down with a Cat in the Hat bong," Mangione said.
Small fire forces brief closing of SeaWorld ride
ORLANDO - A small electrical fire forced the Journey to Atlantis ride at SeaWorld Orlando to shut down for a while Tuesday.
The cause of the fire was a light fixture that short-circuited in the back area of the combination roller coaster-flume ride. It was put out within minutes. Riders were evacuated but no one was injured, Nick Gollattscheck, a SeaWorld spokesman, said in a statement, and the ride reopened after two hours.
Group to educate voters
TALLAHASSEE - A voter education group said Tuesday it will work this summer to teach voters about their rights and to make sure the state's election system is ready for Nov. 2.
Voices of the Electorate will distribute hundreds of thousands of copies of a voter's "Bill of Rights" in English and Spanish. On Election Day, it will monitor polling places and operate a hotline for voters seeking legal advice.
