Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 28, 2001
HOLIDAY -- A 22-year-old man died after he was struck by a car near the intersection of U.S. 19 and Flora Avenue on Friday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The driver of the car fell asleep, officials said. Charges are pending.
Charles Nowokunski of 11605 Canton Ave., New Port Richey, was walking north along U.S. 19 at 9:20 a.m. when he was killed.
A car driven north by Brian Richard McDonough, 27, of 9820 Sunbeam Drive, New Port Richey, struck Nowokunski. McDonough fell asleep, authorities said, and drove off the road.
The crash is still under investigation.
DADE CITY -- Two pregnant sisters were charged with aggravated battery after they got into a fight Friday evening, Pasco County Sheriff's deputies said.
Jermeka L. Thames, 19, of 14662 Douglas Circle, and Letara T. Thames, 21, of 14922 Citrus Villas, had been arguing with each other all day when the physical confrontation happened.
The women fought each other with their hands and teeth, said authorities, and both received minor cuts.
The sisters were released on supervised recognizance Saturday from the county jail in Land O'Lakes.
SPRING HILL -- A 23-year-old man was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child after deputies said he forced a 14-year-old girl to perform oral sex on him while a 12-year-old girl watched.
Jason Dean Case of 18725 U.S. 41, Masaryktown, was arrested Friday. Pasco County Sheriff's deputies said he forced himself on the girl on Jan. 6, then told the girl's father about the incident.
Both girls told authorities about the encounter, deputies said.
Case also had an outstanding warrant for a contempt of court charge.
He was held at the county jail in Land O'Lakes on $20,000 bail.
PORT RICHEY -- Pasco County Sheriff's deputies arrested two men on Ecstasy trafficking charges Friday.
Joseph Lee Musson, 23, of 10914 Oak Drive, Hudson, was charged with possession of Ecstasy, sale of Ecstasy, trafficking Ecstasy and fleeing to elude. Robert Jeffery Brown, 26, of 11039 Harding Drive, Port Richey, was charged with trafficking Ecstasy.
An undercover deputy said he bought 20 Ecstasy pills for $260 from Musson on Jan. 23 in the parking lot of the 7-11 convenience store at 10007 U.S. 19 in Port Richey.
On Friday, an undercover deputy said he bought pills worth $1,300 from Musson in the parking lot of Walgreens at 9442 U.S. 19 in Port Richey.
After the transaction, Musson drove away, with Brown in the passenger seat. A Port Richey police officer tried to stop the pair to make an arrest, but Musson sped away, driving the wrong way in the northbound lane of U.S. 19, deputies said.
Musson and Brown were caught by authorities. Deputies found 98 Ecstasy pills on Brown when they searched him, officers said.
Brown is being held on $100,000 bail at the county jail, and Musson is being held on $250,000 bail.
HOLIDAY -- A 53-year-old man was charged with aggravated domestic battery after he threw a glass of alcohol at a pregnant woman, authorities said.
Pasco County Sheriff's deputies said William W. McPherson of 5045 Plantation Drive threw the glass at the woman, who is three months pregnant.
The woman received a minor injury to her nose.
McPherson, who denied the allegations, was held on $500 bail at the county jail.
HUDSON -- A 36-year-old man was charged with aggravated battery Friday after he slashed another man's hands and back during a fight, Pasco County Sheriff's deputies said.
Larry Nicholas Perino of 115 Calloway Ave., Spring Hill, used a pocket knife during the fight, which happened on Dec. 22, said authorities.
The victim was treated at a local hospital for minor cuts and later released.
Perino was released on a $5,000 bond from the county jail in Land O'Lakes on Friday night.