LARGO -- Everybody who knows attorney Bruce Johnson around the Pinellas criminal courthouse figured the accusations leveled at him by an inmate were ridiculous and untrue.

The inmate in 1999 said Johnson, an assistant public defender, had beaten him at the Pinellas County Jail, sexually assaulted him in his cell and paid another inmate to kill him.

This week, Johnson finally got a small measure of redemption. The inmate, Roderick L. Clark, admitted lying about everything, and he offered Johnson an apology.

Clark pleaded guilty Tuesday to three perjury charges stemming from a false petition he filed with the court and false testimony accusing Johnson of outlandish misdeeds. Circuit Judge Nancy Moate Ley sentenced Clark to four years' probation, which Clark said he plans to serve out in Michigan.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of fraudulently obtaining a prescription.

Clark, 30, at one point even obtained a restraining order keeping Johnson more than 500 feet from the jail.

Obtaining a temporary restraining order is simple. A judge must assume allegations raised are true. A judge quickly rescinded the order, which effectively would have prevented Johnson from meeting with any of his clients at the jail.

Pinellas prosecutor Bill Burgess said Clark's motive in accusing Johnson was to obtain another attorney. Clark, who could not be reached for comment, had been represented by Johnson on several unrelated criminal charges.

"Mr. Clark just ran roughshod over a fine individual and attorney," the prosecutor said. "Our goal was to vindicate Mr. Johnson's honor. We're satisfied with the result."

Prosecutors would accept a plea only under one condition. Clark had to apologize directly to Johnson.

Whether Johnson accepted the apology he was in court to receive Tuesday remains unclear. He did not return calls for comment.

Blunt chest injury killed truck driver

ST. PETERSBURG -- The driver who died when his furniture truck veered off an Interstate 275 overpass and onto a bus Monday morning was killed by a blunt chest injury, authorities said Wednesday.

However, it may take much longer for investigators to determine what caused the crash at I-275 and 54th Avenue S. "It may take 45 to 60 days for the traffic homicide investigator to complete his report," said Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Sterling King.

Jose Barbosa, 37, of Tampa was the only person killed in the rush-hour wreck, which involved several vehicles and 12 people. His son, Matthew Jay Malave, 16, remained in fair condition Wednesday at Bayfront Medical Center.

DCF names Suncoast region director

Florida's Department of Children and Families, or DCF, has selected longtime administrator Lynn Richard to head the agency's six-county Suncoast region. The region is in the midst of a far-reaching overhaul that will transfer most of the department's functions away from state government and into the hands of independent community agencies.

Richard was among five finalists who applied for and did not receive the job on an interim basis last year. His appointment was announced late Wednesday. DCF Secretary Kathleen Kearney, Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature have backed a plan to contract out most of the functions of the department, including foster care, adoptions and working with abusive or neglectful parents. The Suncoast region is leading the way.

Some of the agency's programs, such as mental health, already are largely handled by outside agencies but funded and monitored by the state.

Richard has worked for the department for 28 years and recently served as the district administrator for Pinellas and Pasco counties. The newly formed Suncoast region is made up of Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Sarasota, DeSoto and Manatee counties.

9-year-old arrested in knife assault

ST. PETERSBURG -- Less than a year after a 9-year-old boy was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault, he is facing new charges in connection with a Tuesday afternoon knife attack on another 9-year-old boy.

A $5 debt between the two children led the suspect to hold a knife to the other's throat in a Fifth Avenue S yard and to steal the victim's bicycle, police said Wednesday. The suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery.

The Times is not naming the suspect because of his age.

Glenn Coggeshall told police he was going to visit a friend when he got off the bike in the 5300 block of Fifth Avenue S and the suspect jumped out at him.

The suspect reportedly held a paring knife with a 2-inch blade to Glenn's throat, police said, and demanded the $5.

Although Glenn said he was doing yard work to get the money, the suspect then demanded the bicycle and Glenn gave it to him, police said.

Two people in neighboring yards witnessed the incident. The suspect then released Glenn and tried to break the knife after one of the neighbors yelled at him.

Police arrived after Glenn went home and reported the incident. The suspect initially denied the attack but after Glenn and the neighbors identified him, he admitted his involvement, police said.

Last March the suspect was arrested and charged in connection with an attack on a 10-year-old boy, police said. After his arrest Tuesday, the suspect was taken to the Pinellas County Juvenile Assessment Center, police said.

Two men face charges after chase with deputies

TAMPA -- Two men led Hillsborough County deputies on a chase in a stolen car early Wednesday morning after the deputies caught them trying to break into another car, authorities said.

Christopher Outland, 25, of 3911 Parkway Blvd. in Land O'Lakes and Joshua Palm, 22, no known address, were seen trying to steal items from a vehicle in the Pelican Island subdivision in Town 'N Country about 1 a.m. Wednesday, said Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Rod Reder. Deputies John Matera and James Stahlschmidt tried to arrest the men, but they jumped into a 1995 Chevy and tried to drive off, first aiming the car at the deputies, Reder said. The deputies began chasing the Chevy. The pursuit lasted five minutes and reached speeds of 75 mph on George Road and Hillsborough Avenue before the suspects' car crashed. Reder said that although both Outland and Palm were injured, they tried to resist arrest, and Stahlschmidt broke his finger during a violent struggle.

Both suspects face several felony charges.

Owner of car repair shops stole tax money, state says

TAMPA -- State officials on Wednesday charged the owner of several Mr. Transmission automobile repair businesses with stealing state sales taxes.

Florida Department of Revenue officials said Terry L. Comly, 51, of Tampa kept more than $113,000 in sales taxes collected from customers.

Comly's corporation, Transpecialists Inc., operated Mr. Transmission businesses across Central Florida. The charges involve two repair shops in Tampa and one each in Clearwater, Lakeland and Port Richey, officials said.

Sketches of shooter released

ST. PETERSBURG -- Police have released two composite drawings of a man who shot a Papa John's pizza driver during a robbery Jan. 1.

The driver, Stephen R. Cobett, 34, was shot in the head outside Lakewood United Methodist Church, 5995 Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) St. S, after being lured to the church by a phony customer who called in a pizza order.

No one has been arrested. Cobett told police he was confronted by two black men in hooded sweatshirts. Each was 17 to 25 years old and about 5-feet-8 with a medium build, he said.

Police have produced two sketches of the robber who shot Cobett -- one sketch with a hood, one without a hood.

Cobett, who worked as a dental assistant during the day and delivered pizzas at night, remains in Bayfront Medical Center. A fund to help pay for his medical care has been set up in Cobett's name at Mercantile Bank.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Karl Sauer at 893-4904.

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