SEBRING — A Tampa woman was cleared Monday of charges of mailing cocaine to a jailed significant other and smuggling contraband into a jail due to insufficient evidence. Gentra Maria Taylor, 39, of 8603 N. 39th St.–– formerly of 1002 Lake Anoka Blvd., Avon Park ––was accused by sheriff's investigators of sending letters containing packages of cocaine to inmate Detrick D. McGriff, 41. McGriff was arrested on Dec. 4, on a charge of violation of probation for possession of cocaine. The jail received the cocaine-laced letter and a second letter April 17. Authorities arrested Taylor April 24. ...more

June 5, 2008

SEBRING — The attorney for a Moore Haven correctional officer announced Thursday that the case against his client in the shooting of her pit-bull dog in late March, was dropped by the state's attorney's office. The charge was dropped on April 15 and the attorney received notice on April 24, according to information received from the court. Dawn Marie Thomas, 31, of Sebring, was arrested by Highlands County sheriff's deputies on March 25, and charged with causing cruel death, pain or suffering to an animal, after sheriff's investigators said she shot and killed her pit bull dog in its cage after it started to show aggressive tendencies. Had the case been brought forward, the charge would have been a third-degree felony. ...more

May 30, 2008

SEBRING — Whether or not charges are filed in the state attorney's office investigation of the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce, the results will be become public. According to Florida's sunshine laws, the records are currently closed because the investigation is ongoing, said Assistant State's Attorney Steve Houchin, who manages the Highlands County office. But when the investigation concludes, if the case is closed and no action is taken, then the findings can be released to the public, Houchin said. ...more

May 26, 2008

AVON PARK — Quintin Jerome Kinder, expected to be the key witness in the trial of Joshua Altersberger, 20, has been set free by Georgia law enforcement authorities, even though Highlands County officials had requested he be held until they could bring him back here. Kinder, 22, who lived last year at 1800 Melady Ave., Sebring, was a passenger in January 2007 when Altersberger's car was stopped by Trooper Nick Sottile. Police allege Altersberger shot the Highway Patrol sergeant, who died at the scene between Lake Placid and Sebring. Kinder ran into an orange grove, so he was charged with misdemeanor trespassing into a posted horticultural property. He was returned to his native state of Georgia to face a violation of probation charge. ...more

May 23, 2008

SEBRING — With 13 murder cases on his hands, Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin is just running from one thing to another – his words. If it's not Joshua Altersberger, it's Leslie Lewis, Albert Stevens, Brandon Johns, Arthur Aul, Terrence Barnett, Leann Parker, Silvia Zanchez, Donald Henry, Edgar Otero, Joseph Graham, Gerald Sanders or Nicholas Mezie. ...more

May 8, 2008

SEBRING — Look at it like this. At least they didn't raise taxes. That'll come in November. But the Florida Legislature did pass 270 bills this session, which ended Friday. They will become law with Gov. Charlie Crist's signature. ...more

May 7, 2008

SEBRING — A Highlands County grand jury formally indicted three suspects on murder charges Tuesday morning in connection to the November 2007 shooting of Samuel Tiller. ...more

February 5, 2008

SEBRING — A "body-less" murder trial is uncommon, but it's not unheard of, according to Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin. Because authorities were unable to locate the body of the alleged newborn that Silvia Zanchez supposedly threw into the trash last November, prosecutors now have to prove through circumstantial evidence that Zanchez actually delivered the baby, if her case goes to a criminal trial. A Highlands County grand Jjury indicted Zanchez, 24, of 109 Sarasota St., Lake Placid, Wednesday, on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. "We're going to have to prove circumstantially that she gave birth to a live human being," said Houchin, who also said that he's never prosecuted a "body-less" trial. ...more

January 11, 2008

The search for a baby or fetus discarded by its mother Nov. 23 continued at the county landfill today and was scheduled to go on Tuesday, according to Highlands County Sheriff's Maj. Mark Schrader. ...more

December 3, 2007

SEBRING — While the number of searchers for a discarded baby increased Friday at the Highlands County Landfill, sheriff's detectives investigated what actually happened on Nov. 23, when the baby's mother tossed the infant into the trash. ...more

November 30, 2007