The Tampa Tribune, Monday, October 5, 1992 Federal program targets offenders using firearms ful jail time," said Chuck Hudson, special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Tampa. "The advantage of a federal prosecution is time served." Federal laws don't allow for parole or early release. Historically, state statutes had been more strict on career criminals, Hudson said. In 1968, a felon caught with a gun faced a two-year federal sentence. By 1986, new federal laws raised the minimum sentence to five years for felons caught with a gun had traveled across state lines.
In 1989, that penalty increased to a 10-year minimum sentence. Today, felons with three prior convictions for violent or drug-related crimes who are caught with a firearm face a mandatory 15- years-to-life sentence. This so-called "baseball statute" for three times you're out is part of an 18- month-old program called Triggerlock, which targets the most dangerous habitual offenders who use firearms to commit crimes. "These statutes are powerful weapons in the federal arsenals," said defense attorney John Fitzgibbons of Tampa. "They carry devastating penalties." Florida has its own habitual, violent felony offenders law, through which a judge can impose an extended prison sentence.
But the state can't guarantee an extended stay in its overcrowded prisons. The federal government, which has room for prisoners, can. So more and more habitual felons who move through the state prison system are finding themselves facing federal charges. The Middle District of Florida, which stretches from Jacksonville through Tampa to Fort Myers, has led the nation in federal career criminal prosecutions, Hudson said. Through July, 93 indictments charged 101 Funeral Notices From Page 1 ALLEN Mrs.
Thelma Irene Allen, 82 of Tampa passed away Saturday evening. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Chapel of the F.T. Blount Co. Funeral Home, 5101 Nebraska Ave. with Eastern Star service by O.E.S.
Areme Chapter officiating, followed by Rev. Hubert Ragsdale of Broadway Baptist Church. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memory Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home.
A native of Birmingham, AL, Mrs. Allen was a longtime resident of Tampa. She was a member of Broadway Baptist Church and a member of Order of The Eastern Star Areme Chapter Survivors include her daughter Margaret J. Hanna of Seffner; two sons, Kenneth L. Jones of Surrency, GA, Gary E.
Allen of Valrico, FL, 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. F. T. BLOUNT CO. Nebraska Avenue Chapel MARK FUNERAL HOME The True Name in Caring 4207 BAY TO BAY BLVD.
831-9444 MARK CURRY IlI WALCHECK, Craig S. services 7 PM Mon Blount a FUNERAL HOMES NEBRASKA AVENUE CHAPEL GARCIA, Casilda Lopez 11A Tues. Graveside-Myrtle Hill Mem. Pk. TOWNSEND, Lessie A.
12Noon Tuesday, Visit 11-12Noon Tues. ALLEN, Thelma Irene 2P Tuesday Visit 6-8P Monday defendants with violations of federal firearms offenses in the Middle District of Florida. The average sentence has been 10.5 years. Eighteen defendants earned sentences of more than 15 years. Bill James wants federal involvement in But not everyone cheers these statistics.
"It is a very controversial program because there's been much criticism about how defendants are selected," Fitzgibbons said. Critics argue the law really promotes a government policy to lock up young black men for years. Prosecutors counter that a disproportionate number of defendants who resort to carrying firearms are young black men. Sedrick McKinney fits the profile. James' request for federal help prompted criticism from his challenger in November's election, Harry Lee Coe III, that he was abdicating his responsibility as the circuit's lead prosecutor.
Coe said James did not take full advantage of state laws before casting the case to others to deal with. But until his latest arrest, McKinney couldn't have been prosecuted under Florida's habitual offender statute, James said. There's still some question about whether McKinney could be prosecuted in federal court. Authorities don't have the gun used in the Sept. 26 shooting, James said.
But they do have the bullet casings. If they can show the ammunition traveled across state lines, McKinney could, if convicted, face 15 years to life. James is considering prosecuting McKinney in state court even if the U.S. attorney's office takes the case. McKinney would face a life sentence if convicted on a charge of attempted first-degree murder.
ALONSO Graveside Funeral Services for Mr. Lazaro S. "Tito" Alonso, age 91 of Tampa will be held Tuesday morning ten o'clock at Centro Asturiano Park. Survivors include his brother Al bert Alonso; sister Edelmira Alonso, several nieces, nephews and several grandnephews. Arrange ments by ROEL CURRY FUNERAL HOME, LTD.
4730 N. Armenia Ave. Telephone 877-7676 GLENZ Memorial Services for Karin Glenz, 49 of Tampa will be conducted this evening at 7 P.M. at the Jennings Funeral Home Cha pel with Rev. Rick Malivuk of All Saints Lutheran Church officiating.
JENNINGS FUNERAL HOME ph 237-3345 MORALES Funeral Services for Mrs. Ricarda Morales, age 84 of Tampa will be held Tuesday afternoon two o'clock from the Chapel of Roel Curry Funeral Home, with interment in the Garden of Memories. The family will receive friends Monday evening 7 to 9 P.M. at the Chapel of ROEL CURRY FUNERAL HOME, LTD. 4730 N.
Armenia Ave. Telephone 877-7676 TAMPA TRIBUNE NOTICE Obituaries are a public service. Funeral Notices are paid. CURRY 876-2421 SON 605 S. Avenue MacDill FUNERAL HOME, INC.
SCHWEIKHART, Louis 10AM Mon. FOWLER, William 10AM Tues. BELL, Richard Tues. Bayshore United Methodist Church Visitation: Mon. REDUCE THE HIGH COST OF I DYING CREMATION ION We will explain the benefits of our pre-arrangement and CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles, and Burbank, San Padre, Son Santo pre-payment options.
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Day 16th! Miniature Call us about our Carnation Arrangement and great place specials $1499 your order early! Orders Taken 24 Hours Flower Shop Inc. 872-8441 2730 W. Columbus Drive at Sat. Habana, ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED IN STORE AND BY PHONE Husband acquitted of staging rape An Associated Press Report WEST PALM BEACH Jurors have acquitted a man accused of staging the rape of his ex-wife, saying they had reasonable doubt about his guilt. The Palm Beach County Circuit Court jury of four women and two men on Saturday found David Williams innocent of sexual battery with deadly force in connection with the rape of Donna Williams Talbot in 1989.
"I just want to get on with my life," said Williams, 30, formerly of Royal Palm Beach, who was accused of coercing a co-worker to rape Talbot. "I'm just glad it's all over." Talbot, 28, who has since remarried, would not comment on the verdict. When it was announced, she sighed, then closed her eyes as her current husband put his arm around her. Juror George Hanning said most, if not all, of the jurors believed Williams was guilty. "But there was nothing we could do.
If we had any reasonable doubt, we had to come in with a notguilty verdict. And there was no evidence. We couldn't go just on gut feeling." Jack Scarola, attorney for Talbot, vowed to continue a civil suit against Williams, saying the jury did not hear all the evidence in the case. "We intend to prove he is guilty of a heinous crime against his wife." Scarola said money is not the aim of the suit since Williams does not have much. "But we do intend to hold him publicly responsible for what he has done," he said.
Talbot does stand to profit from a movie deal, however, according to her father, Lee Tintori, who said she has received two offers so far. The verdict hinged on the testimony of Frank Merlino, who admitted to the rape last April and is serving years in prison. He testified that he raped Talbot while Williams rubbed a knife along her spine. Merlino testified that Williams plied him with alcohol and marijuana, then showed him a sex video before forcing Merlino to rape Talbot while he held a knife to her and watched. Williams claims he was asleep in another room when Merlino committed the rape.
Talbot testified that she did not know her attacker and couldn't be sure about a second man. Abortion protesters demonstrate along roads From Page 1 and really show people what it is, I personally think would be overwhelming," he said. "Nobody can see a 7-month-old fetus aborted and say that's not a human being." Nelson Seal brought his wife, son and two stepchildren out to become links in the chain. "I just believe we all have a right to live. I believe strongly that it's wrong to take a child's life.
Those little guys have just as much right to live as anyone else," he said. Pro-abortion rights activist Lori Guevara, wearing a T-shirt saying "Hate is not a family value," stood at Waters Avenue on Sunday afternoon. The group was there FLORIDA DEATHS Dunedin died Saturday. Moss-Feaster Funeral Home. D'ARCANGELO, Michael, 92, of Dunedin died Saturday.
Curlew Hills Funeral Home. DYER, Minnie 101, of Clearwater died Sunday. Rhodes Funeral Directors. GROH, Georgian 66, of St. Petersburg died Saturday.
National Cremation Society. HOLMES, Benny 65, of Clearwater died Friday. Moss-Feaster Funeral Home. LAUGHNEY, Carmeleta 93, of Oldsmar died Saturday. Holloway Funeral Home.
McCABE, James 86, of Largo died Saturday. Hubbell Funeral Home. PARRISH, Belle 77, of Palm Harbor died Friday. Moss-Feaster Funeral Home. Polk BAILEY, George Thomas, 76, of River Ranch died Friday.
Johnson Funeral Home. COLTER, Antoinette Elizabeth "Ann," 70, of Lakeland, died Saturday. Heath Funeral Chapel. COOPER, Clarence 81, Bowling Green died Saturday. Curry Raley Funeral Home.
EDENFIELD, Thomas 71, Zolfo Springs died Saturday. Curry Raley Funeral Home. GLOCKNER, Frank Joseph, 77, Winter Haven, died at Grovement Nursing Home. Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home. GRIMES, Jacob "Riley," 85, of Lake Wales died Saturday.
Marion Nelson Funeral Home. HEATER, Edwin 88, of Winter Haven, died Saturday. OttLaughlin Funeral Home. MORELAND, Ruby Beulah Rhoden, 88, of Auburndale, died Wednesday. Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home.
McCORMICK, Michael, 30, of Houston died Friday. Lakeland Funeral Home. STARNES, Clara 100, of Lakeland died Saturday. Lakeland Funeral Home. WHATLEY, Irene, 59, of Auburndale died Saturday.
Kersey Funeral Home. Sarasota McBRIDE, Mary 78, of Venice died Wednesday. National Cremation Society. RAIBOURN, Mary 91, of Sarasota died Friday. Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home.
UNDERHILL, Arleeta, 73, of Sarasota died Thursday. Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home. DEATHS ELSEWHERE FLORIDA DEATHS neral Homes. COATS, Helen B. Morgan, 82, of Citrus BOOTH, Andrew Cruden, 80, of Citrus Springs died Aug.
12. Shepherd Funeral Home. DRASKOVICH, Ann 74, of hom*osassa died Saturday. WilderFountains Funeral Home. NEVEU, Beatrice 72, of Hernando died Saturday.
Lakeland Funeral Home. DeSoto WYATT, Henry, 67, of Arcadia died Friday. Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home. Hernando FABIAN, John, 63, of Spring Hill died Friday. Pinecrest Funeral Chapel.
LEWIS, D. Maye, 74, of Spring Hill died Sunday. Turner Funeral Homes. MERONE, Edward Ettore, 82 of Spring Hill died Saturday. Turner Funeral Homes.
Hillsborough ALLEN, Thelma Irene, 82, of Tampa died Saturday. F.T. Blount Co. BAKER, Lee Roy, 64, of Gibsonton died Friday. Hamilton Funeral Home.
FINCH, Beatrice 79, of ValriCO died Saturday. Stowers Funeral Home. FERNANDEZ, Delia Villa, 77, of Tampa died Sunday. A. P.
Boza Funeral Home. HILDAN, Peter 59, of Miami died Friday. Holloway Funeral Home. IZQUIERDO, Francisca Blanca, 96, of Tampa died Saturday. Roel Curry Funeral Home.
KICKERT, Daniel Paul, 31, of Tampa died Saturday. Duval Funeral Home. REGNIER, E. Richard "Dick," 66, of Lady Lake, formerly of Tampa, died Saturday. Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home.
Pasco BOOTH, Andrew Cruden, 80, of Citrus Springs died Aug. 12. Shepherd Funeral Home. CRAWFORD, Mary 86, of Hudson, died Sunday. Bell Funeral Home.
MARTIN, William 70, of New Port Richey, died Saturday. Bell Funeral Home. McPHAIL, Peter 77, of Holiday, died Friday. North Funeral Home. RICHARDS, Ellen 88, of Holiday, died Friday.
North Funeral Home. Pinellas ANTLE, Eleanor 81, of Dunedin died Friday. Moss-Feaster Funeral Home. BASSLER, Richmond 77, of Clearwater died Thursday. National Cremation Society.
CARLSON, Alma 98, of Brookline, formerly of Belleair Beach, died Friday. Hubbell Fu- to remind motorists there's another side to the issue, she said. Their only skirmish with the anti-abortion protesters across the highway came when two young men came over and began to try and sway them, she said. "Two men came over and tried to educate us about the evils of abortion," she said, "so we educated them on the evils of trying to control women's bodies." In Marion County, between 5,000 and 7,000 people stood along a 5-mile stretch of Pine Avenue in Ocala. "It's just a peaceful way of saying we object to abortion.
We feel it is wrong," protester Bill Johnson said. In Lakeland, about 9,500 protesters formed a cross along Florida Avenue and Memorial Boulevard. Polk County organizer Tim Bussell said part of the success of the LifeChain is that it is non-threatening, as opposed to loud protests or blocking doors of abortion clinics. "That is consistent with the manner; many Christians lead their lives," he said. "Many Christians are frustrated that there's not a lot they can do legally." Thousands of protesters lined U.S.
Highway 41 in Sarasota and Bradenton. "I think that America is at a crossroads spiritually, morally and ethically," said Ron Walker, a church pastor. "If the church doesn't stand for righteousness, then nobody is going to stand for righteousness." Staff writers Doug Nurse, Cindy Harger, Phillip Thompson and Charles Correll contributed to this report. neral Homes. HALDORE HANSON, a State Department official who was cleared of charges by Sen.
Joseph McCarthy that he was a communist sympathizer, died on Sept. 24 at a hospital in Texcoco, Mexico. He was 80, and lived in San Nicholas, Mexico, and Arcola, Va. State takes authority on highway access From Page 1 minimal impact. However, they also say getting permits for curb cuts will be slightly easier.
"There won't be that much affected," said Carol Schoff of the transportation agency's legislative office. "Basically, it just made sure we had uniform regulations around the state." What was changed was a 1988 law that gave cities and counties the right to adopt restrictions on curb cuts on state highways that were more stringent than those put in place by the state. DOT officials now have the sole regulatory authority over those decisions. The right to direct access to state highways was also strengthened for property owners and businesses abutting those roads. Before, DOT officials only had to permit access to a public road which could have been a local side street or county road.
Now they will be given direct access to the state-controlled road, such as Dale Mabry Highway, if DOT officials determine it doesn't cause a safety hazard or operational concerns. Business representatives say direct access is an' inherent property right, and to restrict it is to restrict their livelihood. "If you make it so damn difficult for people to get to your business, you're not going to have a business," said Michael Kumpf, an executive at BP America, the company that led the lobbying effort. But the more access points a road has, the more disruptions to the traffic flow and the greater the chance of an accident, said George Crawford, transportation director for Lee County. "Each access point you have causes a point of friction, and creates a possibility for an accident," Crawford said.
"More cars will be pulling out into the street." Cars will be slowing down to make U-turns, left turns and right turns, all potential dangers, he said. "We're not saying there aren't problems and that there shouldn't be restrictions," BP's Kumpf said. "But you can't have it to an extent that it kills commercial development." Besides, he said, as of yet no local governments have exercised the option for stricter standards. And 1 no one kicked up a fuss last winter when the Legislature decided to nix local input and leave the regulatory duties exclusively to DOT officials. "There were a few local governments expressing concern, but there wasn't any groundswell of opposition," said Bob Krzeminski, the DOT manager of access development.
That was because it was wellknown that the changes were already a done deal, several city officials said. The new regulations had the strong backing of Senate President Gwen Margolis, who threatened to scuttle the entire transportation act unless the highway access provision was included. Margolis is a Realtor and developer from North Miami Beach who is now running for Congress. One oil company lobbyist went as far as to call her "the goddess of the bill." Margolis couldn't be reached for comment. Some of Tallahassee's most influential, and expensive, lobbyists also were pushing the bill through, including former House Speaker Ralph Haben for BP America and former House leader Sam Bell for the Florida Petroleum Council.
"We had big guns because it was a big issue," said John Beck, a Tallahassee attorney representing BP America. "We had banks involved, oil companies, fast food restaurants, developers, shopping centers, food chains the entire business industry." "This damn thing affects everybody. It affects a basic property right," said Beck, former general counsel for the state transportation agency. But Kathy Betancourt, legislative lobbyist for the city of Tampa, said local governments need to at least have the option to control state highway access, since traffic flow on those roads greatly affects surrounding communities. Traffic on local roads is affected, as is emergency planning for police, fire and ambulance units and the general character of surrounding neighborhoods, she said.
"We don't want outsiders cutting deals with state agencies that are going to hurt one of our neighborhoods," Betancourt said. She also criticized DOT and industry support for uniform access regulations stateside, saying this "cookie-cutter" approach ignores the regional differences in traffic, roadside development and urban planning. "They want to treat Tampa the same as Live Oak, Two Egg and Miami, and we're not the same," Betancourt said. But allowing each local government to adopt its own highway access regulations would be a permitting nightmare, said Beck, of BP. "You could drive down U.S.
19, which goes through all these little local communities, and the regulations would change every couple miles," Beck said. "That would drive away business." Rep. Vernon Peeples, D-Punta Gorda, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, expressed reservations about the law change, mainly because he and his committee weren't able to study the possible impact, thanks to some deft political maneuvering by Margolis and industry lobbyists..
