Man gets 5 years for threats at restaurant

The case drew attention because Largo police did not investigate the threats at first.

By WILLIAM R. LEVESQUE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 10, 2001

LARGO -- A man accused of making a racially motivated death threat against a KFC manager and trying to rob a Taco Bell has been sentenced to five years in prison.

James M. Donahue, 47, of Seminole pleaded no contest Friday to attempted unarmed robbery and admitted violating his probation on an aggravated stalking charge. He was immediately sentenced by Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Phil Federico.

The case drew attention because Largo police did not initially investigate the threats. Police Chief Lester Aradi later apologized and acknowledged that a mistake had been made.

Donahue walked into the Taco Bell on Park Boulevard in Largo on July 27 and told an employee to give him money or he was going to break his neck, police said. Donahue was unarmed.

When employees didn't comply, Donahue simply walked out. Later the same day, he made racist remarks to employees at a Burger King and a KFC on Walsingham Road, also in Largo, police said.

When the manager of the Burger King tried to write down Donahue's tag number, police said, he told the manager, "If you do that, I'll come back and kill you."

Police said he then went to the KFC across the street and said he was going to kill the "n----- manager."

It was the third time in five days that a man whom witnesses identified as Donahue had been at the Walsingham Road KFC restaurant making disparaging remarks about black people and urging KFC employees to kill African-Americans, according to employees.

In each case, Largo police had been called to the scene by frightened employees. But police did not file a report or gather witness statements until inquiries were made by the St. Petersburg Times.

After Donahue's picture appeared in the newspaper, employees of the Taco Bell recognized him as the man who attempted to rob them on July 27.

Donahue told police he had been drinking heavily when he made the threats and tried to rob the restaurant.

Donahue has a long criminal record dating to 1980, when he was charged with driving under the influence. He has also been arrested in Texas and New York on numerous charges ranging from trespassing to assault and grand theft.

In November 1997, Pinellas sheriff's deputies charged Donahue with grand theft. A month later, Treasure Island police charged him with aggravated assault and false imprisonment in an incident involving his girlfriend.

Donahue was sentenced to two years and four months in state prison in connection with those charges.

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