Man charged with attempted sexual battery

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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 17, 2000

PORT RICHEY -- A 21-year-old Hudson woman was attacked and nearly raped in a coin laundry early Tuesday morning, Pasco County Sheriff's officials said.

The woman, who was not identified by sheriff's deputies, was doing her laundry at 2:30 a.m. at the Washbowl Laundromat on State Road 52.

A man, who later was identified as Kevin James Kennedy, 25, of 6809 Osprey Lane, Hudson, walked in the back door of the laundromat and grabbed the victim from behind, police said.

Kennedy pulled the woman out the door, then beat and choked her until she was unconscious, according to the police report. The woman suffered a laceration to her nose and a swollen left eye. Kennedy tried to find money in the victim's pockets, Detective Brett Landsberg wrote.

Kennedy pulled the victim's pants off and was trying to rape her when someone walked by, police said. Kennedy then ran away.

Police and a specially trained dog named Emir tracked Kennedy to a nearby bar. He was arrested and charged with one count of attempted sexual battery and one count of aggravated battery.

Kennedy is being held on $50,513 bail at the county jail in Land O'Lakes.

Elementaries assigned resource officers

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Elementary schools in Pasco County will soon get their first school resource officers in the hallways.

Cpl. Sarah Pendergrass, Cpl. Larry Fox and Cpl. David Johnson were named resource officers this week.

Pendergrass has worked for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office for nearly nine years. She was formerly a DARE officer, worked in the vice and narcotics unit and was a patrol deputy. She is assigned to Moon Lake, Shady Hills and Mary Giella elementaries.

Fox has worked for the Sheriff's Office for 17 years; his former assignments include being a detective in the crimes against children unit, drunk driving enforcement and patrol deputy. Fox is assigned to Chester Taylor, Centennial and Lake Myrtle elementaries.

Johnson is an 11-year veteran of the department. He has been a patrol corporal, field training officer, canine deputy and patrol deputy. He is assigned to Schrader, Richey and Hudson elementaries.

Middle and high schools in Pasco County already have resource officers.

Police: Man touched girl inappropriately

NEW PORT RICHEY -- A 27-year-old Hudson man was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior Tuesday after he was accused of twice inappropriately touching a 15-year-old girl, according to a police report.

Joel Ligocki of 15230 Sheila Ann Drive in Hudson is being held at the county jail in Land O'Lakes on $20,000 bail.

The girl's name was not released because she is a juvenile.

The incidents happened on consecutive nights sometime between August and December of 1999, according to a Sheriff's Office report.

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