Change of venue request denied again
Associated PressPublished January 8, 2008
OCALA
Wesley Snipes' most recent request to have his tax evasion trial moved from this central Florida city was denied Monday by a federal judge.
Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges said the motion was meaningless because the change of venue request applied only to some counts and not all. Hodges also said the motion cited no legal authority for an appeal, making the motion "frivolous both on the merits as well as the absence of any established jurisdiction" for the appeals court, the Ocala Star-Banner reported.
A federal indictment charges Snipes with fraudulently claiming refunds totaling almost $12-million in 1996 and 1997 for income taxes already paid. The 45-year-old star of the Blade trilogy and other films also was charged with failure to file returns from 1999 through 2004.
BARTOW
Two die when car hits school bus
Two people died in a school bus accident in Polk County, but no students were injured. A Sheriff's Office report says a car with five people inside veered into the path of the school bus Monday morning. None of the 11 students, nor the bus driver, were injured. Officials say Maria Ramos-Lopez, 49, and Marcos Adrian-Diaz, 22, died at the scene.
WEST PALM BEACH
Ticking device found to be clock
Hundreds of students are back in a West Palm Beach school after a bomb squad determined a suspicious device in a classroom was a clock. Palm Beach County sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller says about 650 students and 100 staff members at Summit Christian School were evacuated Monday.
BELLE GLADE
Shooting victim in coma has baby
A 19-year-old woman in a coma because she was shot in the head has given birth in Palm Beach County. Ronkeysha Thomas was eight months pregnant when she was shot Saturday night. Family members say doctors performed an emergency caesarean section Sunday to deliver the baby boy.
UMATILLA
Fire chief quits over crash photo
The chief of a central Florida volunteer fire department will resign after he e-mailed pictures showing the exposed breast of a 26-year-old car crash victim, officials said. Umatilla fire Chief Richard Shirk said he e-mailed images for training purposes and didn't notice the partial nudity in one photo.
CAPE CANAVERAL
Michigan fugitive arrested at bar
A Michigan fugitive featured on America's Most Wanted has been arrested at a bar, Brevard County officials say. David Allen Andrews was arrested Monday thanks to an anonymous tip. Andrews, 40, had been on the run since 2004 on charges of criminal sexual conduct on a person younger than 13.
Associated Press