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Ex-masseur sentenced to 9 years in prison

By Times Wires
Published March 6, 2007

CLEARWATER - Former massage therapist David S. Rutherford of Clearwater received a nine-year prison sentence Monday, two months after being convicted of sexually abusing a client at the Safety Harbor Spa.

In doing so, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Timothy Peters ignored Rutherford's pleas for probation. But he also failed to grant the prosecutor's and victim's request for a maximum 15-year sentence.

"I am hurt beyond repair," the victim wrote in a statement read aloud in court. "Please incarcerate him for 15 years." The victim, a New York resident who was 50 at the time of the attack, was not present Monday but had the statement read by a victim's advocate.

Rutherford, convicted of sexual battery, must register as a sex offender. The judge set bail for Rutherford, 36, at $100,000. Rutherford plans to appeal.

Monday's sentencing came after two trials. A jury seated to hear the case in August couldn't agree on a verdict.

In January, another jury found Rutherford guilty of using his fingers to sexually batter a woman while he gave her a Swedish massage at the famous spa.

Rutherford said the sexual contact was consensual. The victim said she fell asleep during the massage and woke up to find Rutherford abusing her.

Jail guard loses job over inmate's escape

BROOKSVILLE - Last week, a Hernando County Jail inmate walked through an unlocked cell door - the third escape in just over a year.

In response, the jail sent a guard out the door: Lt. Mary Mills.

Warden Don Stewart said she unlocked the door to the cell where Kenneth Farris was being held and then forgot to lock it.

That mistake allowed Farris to walk free.

He was captured a few hours later in a Brooksville motel.

Another apartment project is proposed

WESLEY CHAPEL - Before the dust has even settled on a 488-apartment "Scarpo" proposal on Cypress Creek Road, another similar project has emerged for 548 homes directly to its south.

Martha and Henry "Hank" King III, mother and son, have a plan to turn 42 acres into 508 apartments and 40 townhomes on the northwestern corner of their property.

This would be the first of two parts for the King Ranch's development plan.

Brooker Creek flooding study to expand

TARPON SPRINGS - A study to find ways to ease flooding near the Brooker Creek Preserve is being expanded to three other flood-prone areas in North Pinellas.

In 2004, the state planned to spend $1.4-million to study ways to reduce flooding and improve the water quality of the Brooker Creek watershed.

The study is still under way, but will cost only $902,356. So Swiftmud will use the rest of the money to analyze three adjacent watersheds.

[Last modified March 6, 2007, 00:41:31]