Parents of two babies accused of neglect

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 8, 2000

A husband and wife face child neglect charges after officials found their infant son malnourished, vomiting and living in filth and their 1-year-old daughter covered in insect bites. Janell S. Harmon, 21, and James G. Harmon, 22, both of 21025 Pinewood Dairy Road just south of Brooksville, were arrested on warrants Thursday. According to Hernando County sheriff's reports, the son, whom police took into protective custody when he was a month old, weighed only 3 ounces more than he did at birth. Doctors had asked the mother to take the baby to specialists and said that malnutrition could cause mental retardation. She told them she did not have transportation and, when questioned by deputies, that she could get a ride but she did not have the time. The Harmons' home was found to be dirty, filled with spider webs and spider cocoons, and with little food in the refrigerator, the report said. Some of the food that was there was moldy. Both have since been released from jail.

Three charged after brawl with nude dancers, friends

SPRING HILL -- A fight that began in the parking lot of a Pasco County nude-dance club ended at a Hernando County gas station Thursday with three men accused of beating up several men and dancers with a their fists and a baseball bat, authorities say. Thomas Althoff, 23, of 9316 Binnacle Drive in Port Richey, faces a count of aggravated battery, two counts of battery and a count of criminal mischief. Blair A. Little, 23, of 10515 Noddy Tern Road north of Weeki Wachee, faces a felony battery and aggravated battery charge. John P. Walsh, 22, of 8010 Serene St. also north of Weeki Wachee, also faces a count of battery. It all began at Lollipop's in Hudson when Althoff, Little and Walsh began making rude comments to some of the dancers, a report said. A fight broke out later than night among the three men, the women and two of the women's male friends at a Hess Express at 100 Mariner Blvd. in Spring Hill. While most of the group began fighting inside the store, Althoff pulled out a baseball bat and began smashing car windows outside, the report said. When one of the dancers, Ruth Hogan, came outside, Althoff threw her to the ground and hit one of her friends, Gus Matzke, repeatedly in the face with the bat, the report said. Althoff's other friends joined in with their fists, authorities say. Little then punched another dancer, Tina Chipman, in her mouth, knocking out teeth, the report said, and then hit Matzke with the bat again. About that time, deputies arrived and arrested the three men. All three have since been released. All those injured refused medical treatment.

Hernando deputies to get funds for bulletproof vests

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office will receive nearly $6,000 in federal grants for the purchase of bulletproof vests. The money is a fraction of the more than $54,800 that will go toward 432 vests for law enforcement agencies in Alachua, Citrus, Marion, Hernando and Levy counties as part of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act. The act, signed into law in 1998, was co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman.

Christian Care Ministries fixing up after vandalism

Church members and neighbors of a church that was vandalized Wednesday are working to repair about $1,000 in damage that has forced the church to halt services. The Christian Care Ministries Church at 1325 Brooke Drive just outside of Brooksville had six windows broken by someone throwing rocks through them, a Hernando County sheriff's report said. Officials have no suspects.

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