Whatever happened to . . . ? #38

Today we're featuring Orange County domestic violence & child abuse/neglect cases that were featured in the media:

Ward, James Robert ("Bob")

2009-CF-013977-A-O

2nd Degree Murder w/Firearm

Defendant was convicted by a jury of killing his wife in their Isleworth home

Defendant was sentenced to 30 years DOC (25 years minimum mandatory) with crecit for 102 days time served.  Click here for previous blog about the first bond hearing in this case.

Stewart, Justin Lee

2009-CF-013317-A-O

1st Deg Murder; LSOA w/Injury

Defendant allegedly ran over and killed a woman in a hit-and-run road-rage incident after an argument at a nightclub. Defendant's mother Randi Joy Abrams, pled no contest to attempting to cover up evidence relating to the vehicle (2009-CF-013322-B-O). Not sure if this case was DV related.

Pled no contest to Attempted Manslaughter w/ Weapon & Leaving Scene of Accident w/Death, and sentenced to 15 years DOC w/credit 2 yrs 84 days time served.

Freeman, Keira

2010-CF-016249-A-O

2nd Degree Murder

Defendant allgedly stabbed her fiance to death

Pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years DOC w/credit 1 year 9 days time served.

Gibson, Louis Jean

2011-CF-003266-A-O

Arson of Structure Known/Believed to be Occupied 

Defendant allegedly set a mattress on fire in his family's apartment because he was upset at a guest living in the apartment.

Pled to Attempted Arson and sentenced to 180 days jail w/credit 40 days time served; 29 years & 6 months probation.

Whitted, Benjamin

2011-MM-007937-A-O

Battery

Defendant was shot by a deputy when he allegedly refused to stop strangling his girlfriend. Defendant's injuries were not life threatening.

Defendant was acquitted by a jury

Donaldson, Jahlea L

2010-CF-009976-A-O

Burglary of Dwelling w/Aggravated Assault WDW; Intro Contraband into Correctional Facility

Defendant, her sister & a friend allegedly assaulted her sister's ex-boyfriend inside his apartment w/a broken bottle of hot sauce

Case nolle prossed

Malofsky, Louis

2011-CF-005323-A-O

Robbery w/Firearm; Agg Assault WDW; Battery

Defendant, an off-duty OCSO deputy, allegedly beat a man who had a relationship with his adult daughter

No information notice filed – case dropped

Thornton, Stanley

2011-CF-005597-A-O

Home Invasion Robbery w/mask; Battery; False Imprisonment

Defendant allegedly pretended to be a flower delivery person & assaulted the victim in this 2004 Windermere case. Former Police Chief Daniel Saylor never investigated the FDLE DNA hit in 2007.

No information notice filed – case dropped

Lewis, Jessica M

2011-CF-009926-A-O

Cruelty Toward Child Abuse w/o Great Harm

Defendant allegedly beat her 22-mo old child at the Magic Kingdom because he would not walk properly

Pled no contest, adjudication was withheld.  Defendant was sentenced to 1 day jail with credit 1 day time served, 18 months probation and 100 hours of community service.

Garcia, Elvin

2011-CF-009376-A-O

Agg Child Neglect

Defendant's 18-mo old child was spotted drinking beer in the front yard while defendant was allegedly passed out

No information notice filed – case dropped

Tato, Elizabeth

2011-CF-014253-A-O

Neglect of Child

Defendant's 11-yr old son was allegedly left inside her car for more than an hour as it was repossessed while she was gambling at a strip mall

No information notice filed – case dropped

Thomas, Ashley

2011-CF-016320-A-O

Neglect of Child

Defendant's 3-yr old son was found wandering the hallway of a motel while she allegedly went to a liquor store for at least 2 hrs.

No information notice filed – case dropped

A slap on the wrist and one in the face

Daniel Saylor

Ex-Police Chief Daniel Saylor faced the music yesterday. He stood before Judge Jeffrey Arnold in Orange County courtroom 10A, awaiting his sentence for two counts of Official Misconduct, one count of Solicitation to Commit Official Misconduct and one count of Solicitation to Tamper with Physical Evidence.

Unfortunately, the music was too soft and easy.

By all accounts, Saylor presented himself as a man of character who had done many good deeds in his life.

Scott Bush

By all accounts, perhaps, except that of the child victim whom he failed to protect from his buddy Scott Frederick Bush. Bush is currently out on bond, awaiting trial for two counts of Sexual Battery Victim <12 yrs old, and one count of Lewd/Lascivious Molestation Victim <12.

Saylor's cover up of an investigation into his friend's alleged crimes was not only his undoing, but caused a maelstrom that included lawsuits, a scuffle at a Town Council meeting, and governmental shakeups in the formerly quiet town of Windermere (well, as long as you don't talk about Tiger Woods' "incident" it was quiet).

Saylor's attorney, Mark NeJame, argued that his client had suffered great public embarrassment; loss of his job, his law enforcement certification, and numerous friends (though many were in the gallery to support him); and was truly remorseful.

Please pass the Kleenex.

In reviewing numerous press reports about Mr. Saylor's misconduct, it is obvious that his 1-yr jail sentence (with work release approved by the judge), is like slapping someone on the wrist with a feather. At the time of his arrest, there were over 1,000 pages in FDLE's investigation of Winderemere's police chief. In addition to allegations relating to Bush, Saylor allegedly:

• Accepted a $1000 cash "gift" in 2010 from Raul Carvajal, a subordinate, who sought to have a friend hired by the police department (Carvajal pled no contest to one count of bribery and one count of official misconduct, and was sentenced to 1 day in jail, 3 years probation and 150 hours community service earlier this month - adjudication was withheld);
• Failed to take action when DNA testing identified a suspect in a 2004 home invasion and attempted kidnapping case three years ago;
• Returned a diamond tennis bracelet that had been stolen from police evidence. Additionally, over 20 guns, drugs, cash, and other valuables had reportedly disappeared from the less than secure evidence room.
• Filed false crime statistics.
• Voided tickets for residents and government employees.
• Ordered officers to drive intoxicated residents home rather than arrest them for DUI.
• Used officers to disperse immigrant workers at Bush's home after they had nearly completed work for him then refused to pay them.
• Sold guns meant for law enforcement to civilians.

Additionally, Saylor

• Resigned from the Melbourne Police Department in 1996 after being stopped in Orlando with a prostitute; and
• Was suspended from the Florida Police Chiefs Association in 2009 for "misbehaving" at a conference, unbeknownst to Windermere's government.

With all of that, I find Judge Arnold's comment to Saylor, "You're a talented man and will recover from this blip in the middle of your life" extraordinarily inappropriate. See it here.

This "blip?"

Did he call it a "blip?"

How can one call misconduct and criminal behavior going back 15 years a "blip?"

I call it disgraceful - both Saylor's behavior and the comment made by the judge.

And a one year sentence with the judge's permission to do work release? A slap in the face to Bush's victim, law abiding citizens, and good cops everywhere.