Jury convicts man of murder solicitation

By Times Staff Writer
Published November 16, 2007

DADE CITY

A jury found Robert Bellon guilty of solicitation to commit murder Thursday. In 2005, authorities say Bellon met a hired killer at a Wesley Chapel motel. Bellon was willing to pay $8,000 to have his wife's boyfriend killed, authorities say. "What if the wife (is) killed?" the hit man asked. "So be it," Bellon reportedly said, "as long as I don't get charged extra." The assassin was actually an undercover Pasco County Sheriff's detective. Later that year, Bellon pleaded not guilty, and the Public Defender's Office was appointed to represent him because he said he could not pay for his own defense.

HOLIDAY

Fundraiser is for deputy's daughter

Pasco County Sheriff's Deputy David Riffe's daughter Brittany was paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident, and now friends of the family are staging a concert to raise money for medical expenses. The Benefit For Brittany Riffe will be start at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Shipwreck Lounge, 5511 Chaparral Lane in Holiday. A donation of $10 per person will be collected at the door. Free food, water and soda will be provided until 7 p.m., donated by Albertson's of Clearwater. There will be a $5 raffle with a grand prize of a guitar and an amp. Bands including Sobriety, Downside, Rescue22 and Autumn's Pain will perform live. For more information, call James Presta at (727) 514-2555.

[Last modified November 15, 2007, 22:40:24]