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Youth counselor charged

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 23, 2007

LARGO - A 24-year-old youth counselor at Largo Wesleyan Church was arrested last week, accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl he met while volunteering at the church.

Matthew Crisostomo of 401 Rosery Road NE was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious battery. Largo police Lt. Mike Loux said Crisostomo met the girl in April or May while counselling and developed a relationship with her. The two became sexually involved a few months later, police say.

Recently, the girl's mother mentioned to her daughter that she had heard rumors about the relationship. The daughter admitted to the sexual contact, and the girl's mother contacted police, officials say.

Loux said Crisostomo also admitted to the relationship. Crisostomo was released from the Pinellas County Jail Friday after posting $40,000 bail.

Dec. 31 deadline to register to vote

Want to vote in the presidential preference primary on Jan. 29? Dec. 31 is the deadline to register to vote or to change your party registration.

Registration is required for new voters. New residents from other Florida counties can make an address change through Election Day.

Voters can register during regular business hours at any Supervisor of Elections Office, public library, driver license office or any government office handling social services or disabilities. For a list of registration sites, visit www.votepinellas.com.

The Jan. 29 ballot includes presidential primaries for registered Democrats and Republicans and referendums for all voters on statewide changes to property taxes and tax support for Pinellas County schools.

Call the Supervisor of Elections Office at (727) 464-6108 or log onto www.votepinellas.com.

Networking group seeks new members

LARGO - Women in Networking, a group of women looking to build their business through building friendships, has added a meeting in Largo and is looking for new members.

There are no membership dues, but attendance is required at one meeting per month.

WIN members recently raised more than $4,500 for the Resource Center for Women in Largo.

All women are welcome at the new Largo meeting, hosted by the Palms of Largo, 400 Lake Ave. E at East Bay Drive on the first Tuesday of each month. Lunch, including coffee and dessert, will be served for $10. RSVP is required.

For more information on the Largo meeting, call Tammy McInerney, Keller Williams Realty, at (727) 434-1800.

Four sessions for Early College Program

The Early College Program, a partnership between Pinellas County schools and St. Petersburg College, will host four information sessions next month.

The program is open to Pinellas students who will enter grades 11 or 12 in fall 2008.

Students must have a 3.0 unweighted high school GPA and pass the College Placement Test, SAT or ACT. All sessions are from 7 to 9 p.m.:

- Jan. 16 and Feb. 5 in the Clearwater campus arts auditorium, 2465 Drew Street.

- Jan. 23 and Jan. 31 in the UP building at the Seminole campus, 9200 113th St. N.

Call (727) 791-5970 or (727) 791-5971.

[Last modified December 22, 2007, 21:18:41]