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Man Sentenced For Threats

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 7, 2009

TAMPA - A former local lawyer and Chicago police officer received a 10-year federal prison sentence Friday for sending threatening letters to his estranged wife and others while in state prison.

U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew ordered the federal sentence to begin after Vincent James Krocka finishes serving his state term. He is scheduled to be released from state prison in 2012.

Krocka was convicted of 16 federal charges, including sending numerous letters threatening his estranged wife in an attempt to extort her into dropping a divorce petition and relinquishing control over family financial assets.

Krocka, 56, was convicted in Hillsborough County in 2005 of child neglect and criminal mischief after a standoff with sheriff's deputies the year before.

Testimony showed he locked himself in his apartment with his two teenage sons and fired at deputies, striking one of their cruisers. Krocka called local television stations during the incident, asking them to film his arrest.

Teen Receives Probation In Recorded Beating

BARTOW - One of five teenage girls charged in the beating of another teen was sentenced Friday to three years of probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery.

Circuit Judge Keith Spoto also sentenced Mercades Nichols to 100 hours of community service and ordered that she pay restitution to victim Victoria Lindsay.

Nichols pleaded guilty in January in connection with the attack on Lindsay, which happened in March 2008 at Nichols' grandmother's home.

Spoto said Nichols must write Lindsay a letter of apology. Spoto also said Nichols must remain in school or be employed full time, have no contact with Lindsay or her family and have no contact with the media for profit. She must also go undergo an anger-management evaluation.

Tot In Stable Condition After Being Hit By Car

A 2-year-old boy struck by a car at Columbus Drive and Central Avenue was in stable condition Friday night at St. Joseph's Hospital, police officers say.

Bryce King was playing in his backyard about 4 p.m. at 501 E. Columbus Drive, Apt. 1, police say. His mother was watching him from the doorway, but her attention was diverted when she tried placing her infant in a baby swing inside the house, police said.

Bryce ran around the apartment complex and into the street, according to a Tampa police news release, where he was struck by a Mercedes.

He suffered broken bones and a head injury.

Police said the motorist, 77-year-old Delores Sherman Taylor of Tampa, was not speeding and was not cited for the crash.

A staff report

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