FORT MYERS -- A former assistant state attorney is being hunted by authorities because he failed to surrender on charges that he sexually molested a 13-year-old boy, Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials said.

Steven M. Alex, 29, didn't show up Thursday for his prearranged surrender, authorities said. He is charged with four counts of sexual battery, and FDLE officials say more charges may be on the way.

Alex, who mostly prosecuted misdemeanors, was fired on Sept. 26, shortly after the investigation into the alleged sexual crimes began, said Deputy State Attorney Marshall Bower. Alex worked in the 20th Judicial Circuit, which includes Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties.

The investigation began in August when a law enforcement agency from another state called the Lee County Sheriff's Office, said FDLE spokeswoman Lisa Knight-Patton.

The alleged sexual battery took place from May 1999 -- about the time Alex joined the State Attorney's Office -- and February of this year, she said. Alex, who is not married, was a foster parent, but FDLE officials said the victim was neither a relative nor a former foster child.

Agents last spoke with Alex three weeks ago, officials said.

Man blames his violence on doctors, vitamin deficit

LAKELAND -- An elderly man acquitted of killing his ailing wife testified that doctors at a clinic are to blame for his violence because they failed to diagnose a vitamin deficiency.

George McDonald, 78, who was found innocent in 1998 because he was temporarily insane. During his two hours on the stand Thursday, he was not asked about the shooting and fatal stabbing of his wife of 52 years, Norma.

He said he had never hurt her before that day in April 1997. He said he was in great mental pain. Experts concluded that a vitamin B-12 deficiency caused the former science teacher and Kathleen High School coach to be psychotic at the time of the killing.

B-12 deficiencies are said to cause confusion and declining mental health. Doctors said McDonald improved after injections of the vitamin.

McDonald is suing the Lakeland clinic, where he was a patient for 30 years, and three doctors. He alleges medical malpractice and wrongful death, claiming they failed to properly diagnose and treat his mental condition.

The case continues Monday.

Exterminator destroys huge yellow jacket hive

CLERMONT -- An exterminator has destroyed a giant hive of yellow jackets, a day after the dangerous insects forced the evacuation of a city park.

City officials brought in a specialist to spray pesticide on the estimated 25,000 wasps in the hive, 6 feet high and 8 feet wide, which was formed around the base of a cypress tree.

Gary DePalma, a private contractor, handled the job Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

The hive was discovered when members of a 4-H club went on a nature walk through the park.

Search called off for pilot, plane lost since Oct. 27

BARTOW -- A 13-day search was halted Friday for a pilot missing since taking off from a Central Florida airport for an afternoon of practice flights.

Hubert Helligar, 66, of Kissimmee, took off Oct. 27 from Winter Haven Airport in a single-engine Cessna, authorities said.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk