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Court reduces man's sentence for church fire

By TIMES WIRES
Published February 1, 2007

A man convicted of breaking into and setting fire to Apostles Lutheran Church in Brandon in 2003 got his prison term cut in half on Wednesday. A judge originally sentenced Karl Freudenberger to 30 years in prison for arson and burglary. But in October, the 2nd District Court of Appeal said a jury did not specifically find that Freudenberger showed prejudice in vandalizing the church, meaning he could not receive an enhanced sentence under Florida's hate crimes statute. Circuit Judge Chet Tharpe reduced Freudenberger's sentence Wednesday to 15 years in prison, the maximum he could receive for the charges.

Tampa man faces fake money charge

The phony money didn't fool anyone for long. Authorities say two cousins, including a Tampa man, hit a string of businesses Tuesday afternoon on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, attempting to make small purchases with counterfeit $100 bills and receive real money as change. But before Johnson and Jean Atis could make their getaway up Interstate 75, a merchant and the Florida Highway Patrol were on their trail. In interviews with detectives, Jean Atis of Miami said he received the money after cashing his income tax refund at a Miami liquor store. He and Johnson said they didn't know the bills were fake. Jean Atis was charged with one count of uttering a forged instrument. He remained at the Land O'Lakes jail Wednesday on $4,000 bail. Johnson Atis of Tampa, who faces two counts of the same charge, was released on his own recognizance.

Sweepstakes was scam, resort says

Hundreds of fraudulent checks went out over the weekend with the Riverside Resort's name and bank account information, according to the resort's owner. People across the country received $3,500 checks earmarked as a sweepstakes giveaway from Riverside LLC of Homosassa, owner Gail Oakes said. But the checks were forged. "This kind of scam has put small businesses right out of business," she said. Letters with the checks also asked recipients to wire money to a bank account in Canada, Oakes said. Citrus County sheriff's detectives and the FBI are investigating, according to Oakes.

[Last modified February 1, 2007, 01:02:11]