Digest

Crime journal

By TIMES STAFF
Published August 18, 2007

WESLEY CHAPEL

DEPUTY INJURED WHEN GUN SLIPS FROM HIS HANDS

A Hillsborough County patrol deputy accidentally shot himself in the hand about 9:45 p.m. Thursday at his home, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. Eric King, 30, had removed his guns from a safe and moved the safe from his bedroom to his home office, the report said. He put all but one of the guns back into the safe. He left a Glock 33 on top of the safe so he could clean it, the report said. As he went to unload the gun, it slipped out of his hands, the report said. He tried to catch the gun, but somehow pulled the trigger instead and shot himself in the left hand, the report said. King's girlfriend called 911, and King was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where he was treated and released.

LAND O'LAKES

2-year-old boy is found dead

Pasco sheriff's deputies are investigating the death of a 2-year-old boy in Land O'Lakes. Lewis Carlton Fletcher, who would have turned 3 next month, was not breathing when his father, William Carlton Fletcher, checked on him Friday morning, the Sheriff's Office reported. Deputies believe the boy died between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. There were no obvious signs of trauma, and deputies do not suspect foul play. The medical examiner has not yet determined the exact cause of the child's death.

TALLAHASSEE

Clemency board to hear request

Gov. Charlie Crist will hear the clemency request of Richard Paey, who is serving a 25-year drug trafficking sentence for illegally obtaining painkillers he said he needed for his chronic pain. The Governor's Office announced Friday that a waiver was granted allowing the Hudson man's case to be heard by the Florida Board of Executive Clemency. Paey was arrested in 1997 after buying more than 1,200 pills with fake prescriptions. But he turned down a lenient plea deal on principle, was convicted in 2004 and got the mandatory sentence. Paey's lawyer will ask the board to commute his sentence to time served and throw out a $500,000 fine. The clemency board, formed by the governor and Cabinet, could hear Paey's case as early as Sept. 20. Paey got the news on Friday.

TAMPA

Police accuse man of punching boy, 8

Police have arrested a 22-year-old man child abuse charges, accusing him of punching his girlfriend's 8-year-old son. Robert Jose Cornielo of 1425 E 109th Ave. in Tampa, is charged with felony child abuse. Police said he punched the child in the back of his head and the middle of his back. Cornielo, who lists his occupation as a landscaper, was released Friday afternoon on $2,000 bond.

HUDSON

Man charged with sexual battery

A 48-year-old man was charged Thursday with involuntary sexual battery after authorities say he attacked a woman at his home earlier this month. Jerry A. Hollingsworth of 13707 Delmar Drive is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail at the Land O'Lakes jail.

[Last modified August 17, 2007, 23:50:30]