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Teenager says she lied about rape at school

By TIMES WIRES
Published February 8, 2007

A 15-year-old Jefferson High School student told police Wednesday she lied about being raped by a schoolmate. The girl reported the rape Tuesday after a maintenance worker discovered the girl and a 16-year-old boy together in a bathroom stall, police said. The boy ran from police, and the girl told investigators she had been raped, prompting a law enforcement investigation. Police interviewed both students Tuesday and filed no charges against the boy. The case now is in the hands of prosecutors, who will decide whether the girl will face charges of filing a false police report, a police spokeswoman said. Both students will be disciplined by the school, district spokesman Steve Hegarty said.

Sailor, ex-officer faces porn charges

A man who years ago was a local police officer and ran the Suncoast Sailing Center was arrested Wednesday on charges of possessing child pornography. Wilbur Raymond Clair, 53, was taken into custody at his home at 1210 Jeffords St. in downtown Clearwater. He was at the Pinellas County Jail with bail set at $250,000, $10,000 for each of 25 child pornography counts.

Road worker killed near I-75 ramp

A construction worker died Wednesday when he walked into oncoming traffic and was struck by a car, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Gonzalo Charles-Compean, 40, of Lakeland was taking measurements for electrical work at 7:25 a.m. near the southbound entrance ramp of Interstate 75 on Fowler Avenue, troopers said. A car driven by Kareem C. Nisbett, 28, of 1278 E 113th Ave. struck Charles-Compean at the entrance ramp, said Highway Patrol Trooper Larry Coggins. Charles-Compean was pronounced dead at the scene, Coggins said. Nisbett will not face charges, Coggins said.

Punch damages boy's eye, skull

The victim of a blindside punch Feb. 1 at Gulf High School will need surgery to repair his eye and skull, authorities said. A 15-year-old freshman was walking with friends in a common area about 2 p.m. when someone hit him in the side of the head, according to a sheriff's report. Santiago Flores, 17, of New Port Richey has been charged with felony battery. Flores told a deputy the attack was revenge for the previous shoving of his friend.

Dryer fire causes $20,000 in damage

A dryer caught fire Tuesday in a Tampa Palms home, causing extensive damage to the house, according to Tampa Fire Rescue. The owner was at home when the fire started, but no one was injured in the blaze, which started at 1:51 p.m., said fire rescue spokesman Jace Kohan. The fire caused about $20,000 in damage to two rooms in the single-family home at 16016 Wyndover Road, Kohan said. Fire investigators have not determined how the dryer caught fire. It took fire crews 30 minutes to bring the fire under control, he said.

[Last modified February 8, 2007, 01:07:39]