Digest

Crime journal

By Times Staff
Published August 21, 2007

TAMPA

FOURTH SUSPECT CHARGED WITH SCAM OF ELDERLY

Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies arrested a fourth suspect in a fraud ring authorities say scammed at least 12 elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Joel K. Hill, 37, of Valrico faces charges of grand theft, exploitation of an elderly person and contracting without a license. Hill turned himself in at the Orient Road Jail early Monday, said sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway. He was released on a $20,000 bond. Deputies began investigating after Mary Shower, 77, was hospitalized with severe arthritis and asked a friend to help pay her bills. The friend discovered that Shower had paid for phony repairs on her home while addled by pain medicine. Detectives estimated she had paid about $115,000 for $10,000 worth of work. Authorities are still searching for a fifth suspect, Clyde Fretwell, 37, of 1018 Canal St. in Ruskin, Callaway said.

Man accused of sex assault on girl

Police are accusing a 38-year-old Tampa man of sexual battery on a child younger than 12, according to an arrest report. James W. Bailey, of 708 Richmere St. was arrested at 9:15 a.m. Monday, police say. He faces two counts of sexual battery. A woman accused Bailey of performing sex acts on her several times when she was between the ages of 8 and 12, police say. In an interview with a detective, Bailey admitted performing the sex acts, police say. Bailey was being held Monday without bail at the Hillsborough County Jail.

ST. PETERSBURG

Teenage transient jailed in shooting

Police arrested a 17-year-old man over the weekend who they say shot another man after the two of them got into a fight in the Childs Park neighborhood. Jaquile Hill, a transient, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery and two counts of cocaine possession in the July 18 evening incident. He is being held in the Pinellas County jail without bail. St. Petersburg police spokeswoman Jennifer Dawkins said Hill shot Marquis Robinson, 19, in the leg and back with a 9mm handgun as the two men fought at Shady Side Market, 4200 First Ave. S.

HUDSON

Would-be victim, 77, scolds attacker

Shame can be a powerful weapon. On Sunday afternoon, it may have foiled a robbery. About 1:30 p.m. outside the Sweetbay supermarket at State Road 52 and Little Road, a 77-year-old woman was getting in her car when a younger woman tried to grab her purse, according to a sheriff's incident report. The victim refused to let go. The younger woman pulled, forcing the victim to her knees. And then the victim said, "What would your mother think of you?" The robber let go of the purse and fled, but not before a witness got part of her tag number. About an hour later, a deputy arrested Dawn Karen Lynch, 18, and charged her with attempted robbery. She was released from jail on $5,000 bail.

[Last modified August 21, 2007, 00:07:41]