Tampa Bay briefs

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 21, 2000

Man gets 3 to 15 years in prison for shooting

TAMPA -- A man who told former New York Yankee Darryl Strawberry outside an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that he had just shot someone was sentenced Monday to three to 15 years in prison. Joe Earl Harrison, 45, was originally charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a man who had just beaten him up. The bullet passed through Elisha Scarborough's head, and he survived. Strawberry, the former outfielder who has had his own courtroom troubles, testified that Harrison told him about the incident after an AA meeting in December. Strawberry accompanied him to jail so Harrison could turn himself in. Friday, a jury found Harrison guilty of the lesser charge of aggravated battery.

Man sentenced for killing teenager who stole his car

TAMPA -- A 24-year-old Tampa man convicted of shooting and killing a teenager who stole his car was sentenced to 25 to 40 years in prison Monday. Vashon Washington was inside a Nebraska Avenue Coastal Mart in December when Richard McClain, 16, drove away in Washington's 1973 Chevrolet. Washington had left the keys inside. A prosecutor said Washington tracked down the teenager to a nearby alley and shot him several times. McClain died at the hospital.Washington was convicted of second-degree murder last week.

Family sues church after man falls to his death

TAMPA -- The family of a man who fell to his death through a church skylight has sued the church for negligence.

Ted Allen McArthur, 54, died Feb. 1 shortly after he fell through a skylight on the roof of Without Walls International Church. McArthur, a supervisor with Air Mechanical, was working on the church's air conditioning system when he fell. The suit, filed Monday in Hillsborough Circuit Court, claims that Without Walls, at 2511 N Grady Avenue, had a responsibility to make sure its building was safe and should have at least put up a rail around the skylight, which was defective.

McArthur, of Seffner, left behind his wife of nearly 19 years, Linda, and five children. His youngest son and daughter were 18 and 17 years old. The suit asks for the cost of support for his family, as well as for medical and funeral expenses.

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