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Briefs

Clearwater man faces sex charge involving girl, 6

By Times Staff
Published March 28, 2006

PINELLAS PARK - A 34-year-old Clearwater man was arrested Sunday on a charge of committing sexual battery on a child younger than 12, a felony. Christopher Omar Jacho of 1739 S Washington Ave. also was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Jacho is a friend of the girl's family, according to a news release from the Pinellas Park Police Department. He was spending the night at the 6-year-old's home when he made her touch his genitals and perform oral sex on him, the release states. It was unclear when the alleged offense occurred.

Jacho was being held in the Pinellas County Jail awaiting arraignment. Bail had not been set on the sexual battery charge. Bail for the misdemeanor possession charge was set at $250.

TAMPA - A longtime nurse at the Castle Court assisted living facility was jailed this weekend amid allegations that she gave a wheelchair-bound resident a black eye.

Tampa police arrested Joy Jean Morris, 49, a night-shift nurse at Castle Court, shortly before midnight Saturday and booked her into the county jail on one count of aggravated adult abuse, a second-degree felony.

She posted $7,500 bail and was released Sunday morning, jail records show.

Gregory Thompson, 33, a resident with cerebral palsy, told authorities that he was watching the NCAA basketball tournament when Morris told him it was time to go to bed. She unplugged the television and, as he wheeled himself out of the room, she made a derogatory comment about his physical condition, Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

Thompson replied, "What did you say to me?" and Morris punched him, Thompson told police.

Detectives learned of the incident at Castle Court, 9709 N Nebraska Ave., when a day-shift nurse arrived, saw Thompson's black eye and called police.

BELLEAIR - Belleair police Chief Erv Hill, who was accused of secretly taping an interview with one of his officers, resigned Friday at the urging of Town Manager Steve Cottrell.

The conflict between Hill and Officer Terri L. Pettay, which led to an unusual sealed court case, was one of the reasons Hill was asked to resign, Cottrell said Monday.

Hill, 55, who was paid about $55,000 annually, said he was shocked that he was asked to leave.

Hill's departure came less than two weeks after the St. Petersburg Times reported about the existence of the tape and the lawsuit it generated. In the suit, Pettay, who still works for the town, contended that Hill secretly and illegally tape-recorded one of their conversations in September. Hill did so after Pettay told Cottrell that Hill had violated internal policies, the suit said.

Because the tape was part of an internal affairs case, which is exempt from public disclosure during an investigation, Pettay asked Circuit Judge Walt Logan to take the unusual step of sealing the civil lawsuit from public view.

Logan agreed, and the case was not opened to public view until this month, after the Times went to court to challenge the sealing.

On Monday, Pettay's attorney, Kenneth Afienko, and Cottrell both said a settlement had been reached and that allegations against Pettay were dismissed. Sheriff's Office spokesman Mac McMullen said the sheriff's internal affairs case was ongoing.

SEMINOLE - Five Fire Rescue units battled a blaze Monday in Lake Seminole Park that threatened three homes and consumed about 15 acres of brush.

Dry conditions helped spark the fire shortly after 5 p.m. in woods north of Park Boulevard.

Firefighters, assisted by wind blowing the flames toward the lake, contained the fire by 8 p.m.

[Last modified March 28, 2006, 03:01:29]