Digest

Crime journal

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published August 15, 2007

PALM HARBOR

DEPUTIES FIND CRUDE BOMB HIDDEN IN BRUSH

Pinellas County sheriff's detectives Tuesday found a homemade bomb deep in the brush off Lake St. George Drive. After receiving several tips Monday, detectives were led to the spot, an area covered by thick, 8-foot-high brush and thought to be owned by Progress Energy, said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Jim Bordner. At 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, detectives found what Bordner described as a "crudely made homemade explosive device" 50 feet into the overgrown area east of Lake St. George Drive, which is near Tampa Road. Detectives cordoned off the area and called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad. Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said her agency sent a bomb technician to the scene who "partially dismantled" the bomb.

TAMPA

Officers say woman transmitted HIV

A 54-year-old woman has been charged with criminally transmitting the virus that causes AIDS, after she was arrested during a two-night Tampa police prostitution sting. Cherry Howard of Tampa was arrested at Broadway Avenue and 69th Street N around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, police said. Jail records show Howard was charged with criminal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, a felony. Police spokeswoman Janelle McGregor said Howard was also charged with prostitution. A total of 14 prostitution suspects were arrested in the stings, which took place mostly along the Nebraska Avenue corridor, Tampa police Cpl. Jared Douds said.

DETROIT

Pinellas man guilty of 'sex tourism'

A retired truck driver from Florida who authorities said traveled to several Asian countries to engage in sex acts with children as young as 8 years old has pleaded guilty in the case, federal officials said Tuesday. Karl Kaechele, 64, of St. Petersburg was arrested in 2005 at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after authorities said he was returning from a 90-day trip to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Kaechele pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to travel with intent to engage in illicit conduct, commonly known as sex tourism. He faces up to 30 years in prison when sentenced Nov. 15, the U.S. attorney's office said. Immigration agents said they found in Kaechele's luggage photographs that included images of nude girls, and notebooks where Kaechele had detailed sexual encounters. The investigation was part of a nationwide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement initiative.

[Last modified August 14, 2007, 22:49:56]