YMCA director faces more charges

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 18, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Investigators on Wednesday charged a YMCA outreach director with two additional counts of molesting children.

Christopher Lee Allen, 26, already faced charges of sexually assaulting two 11-year-old girls and fondling a third. He was arrested Sunday and was accused of molesting them while they spent the night at his St. Petersburg apartment.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has been investigating whether other children were molested. Detectives found two more victims, said sheriff's spokesman Cal Dennie. On Wednesday, they charged Allen with two more counts of lewd and lascivious molestation.

Authorities say Allen met all the children through his YMCA job in the Lealman area, specifically the Pinellas County Housing Authority's French Villas apartments. He is being held in the Pinellas County Jail without bail.

Fire burns 2 at fondue restaurant

CLEARWATER -- A flash fire at a fondue restaurant Wednesday night burned two customers who were flown to Tampa General Hospital for treatment, authorities said.

The fire broke out at 9:15 p.m. at a table in the Melting Pot at 25822 U.S. 19, according to Pinellas County Emergency Medical Services. The table was equipped with a propane stove.

Good deed costs vet his van

TAMPA -- Veterinarian Callum W. Hay was on his way home from emergency surgery Wednesday when he decided to help a pair of stranded motorists.

The motorists, authorities said, repaid Hay by punching him and stealing his minivan, which they wrecked less than a mile away.

Hay suffered minor injuries. Two people were arrested and charged with carjacking, a first-degree felony.

Hillsborough deputies found the 1999 Dodge Caravan crashed into a guardrail on Wilsky Boulevard and the Veterans Expressway. John A. Pizarro, 26, and Consuelo K. Veith, 22, were arrested.

Veith was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Both were taken to the Orient Road jail. Veith, of 5801 30th Ave. E, was charged with carjacking and five counts of driving with an invalid license. Bail was set at $19,500. Pizarro, of 33627 Chancey Road in Zephyrhills, was held on $19,000 bail on charges of carjacking, battery and leaving the scene of an accident.

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