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Police Briefs 10/25/18

Clay County Sheriff's Office
Posted 10/24/18

Plea deal: 5-year sentence for drunk driving deathGREEN COVE SPRINGS – A 55-year-old Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club resident faces a five-year prison sentence, two years of house arrest …

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Police Briefs 10/25/18


Posted

Plea deal: 5-year sentence for drunk driving death
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A 55-year-old Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club resident faces a five-year prison sentence, two years of house arrest and eight years of probation for a 2017 drunk-driving fatality.
Fourth Circuit Court Judge John Skinner sentenced Lisa Frances Beverly to prison on Oct. 23 for the death of Glen Aaron McDonald, 39, of Fleming Island whom she struck and killed while McDonald was driving a scooter on U.S. Highway 17 around 10 p.m. on August 4, 2017.
The State Attorney’s Office originally sought to convict Beverly of DUI manslaughter, but the negotiated charge was lowered to leaving the scene of an accident involving death and misdemeanor DUI. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, which investigated the crash, Beverly had a blood-alcohol content of .20 the night of the crash, more than double the limit of .08.
According to terms of the plea, Beverly won’t have driving privileges for three years after being released from prison, will be required to wear a SCRAM alcohol-detection monitor for one year after prison and be subject to random alcohol testing while on probation.
After prison, Beverly’s vehicle will also be equipped for three years with an interlock device that requires drivers to take and successfully pass a breathalyzer BAC test before the car allows them to drive. She will also be required to perform 250 hours of community service with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and participate in a Victim’s Impact Panel, which involves telling others how their drunk-driving experience changed their family’s lives.
The night of the crash, witnesses told FHP they saw Beverly heading south on U.S. 17 when she rear-ended McDonald’s scooter at the foot of the Black Creek Bridge. The scooter and McDonald became trapped underneath Beverly’s GMC Envoy and dragged McDonald’s body to the top of the span of the bridge where he fell off.
Beverly continued dragging the scooter without McDonald until her vehicle passed Garber Auto Mall where it flew out from under her SUV. Meanwhile, Beverly continued driving with the vehicle engulfed in flames until she pulled into her driveway in the 3300 block of Hawktree Court.
After being detained and questioned by police, Beverly said, “she didn’t know what to do so she drove home.” The entire incident was captured on video.
The night of the crash, McDonald was transported to Orange Park Medical Center where he was pronounced dead later in the week. Several of his organs were donated to others after the crash.

Country Club resident in possession of 700,000+ images of child pornography

ORANGE PARK – A Orange Park Country Club resident faces 10 counts of child pornography possession after an investigation by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Police arrested John Michael Mossman, 39, on Oct. 22 at 3:07 p.m. using a warrant police obtained after first interviewing him on Oct. 16.
Mossman, who told police he moved here from Illinois about two-and-a-half years ago, lived at the home on Glenlyon Drive with his parents. On Oct. 16, Mossman confirmed for police that he was the only user of his electronics in the home and that they were password-protected. According to the police report, he also told police he owns an external hard drive and laptop. The officer went on to ask Mossman if he had knowledge of peer-to-peer file sharing and Torrent websites, which Mossman admitted he did.
“I advised John that Law Enforcement on multiple occasions downloaded child sexual exploitation material from the IP[Internet Protocol] address at his residence,” states the report.
Police said before Mossman invoked his Constitutional right to an attorney, he admitted that he had been arrested in Illinois previously for being a “Peeping Tom” involving a 12-year-old child.
“John admitted to being caught looking into a 12-year-old child’s bedroom window. John also stated he previously worked at a children’s hospital in Illinois,” states the CCSO report.
According to the police report, the initial investigation as of Oct. 22 showed detectives uncovered at least “700,000 images of child exploitation files” from Mossman’s devices.
“Several of the files were submitted to NCMEC[the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children] and returned as recognized child victim’s[sic],” states the report.
Under Florida law, if a suspect owns 10 or more images of child pornography and one file shows an exploited child under age 5, the charges are then elevated to a second-degree felony.
At press time, Mossman remained in the Clay County Jail where his bond is set at $115,030.

Drunken gunshot ends in arrest

ARGYLE – A night of drinking ended in a gunshot into a neighbor’s home last weekend in the Argyle community.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Richard Dean Lowe, 32, on Oct. 20 at 2:31 a.m. after responding to a home in the 3000 block of White Heron Trail.
According to the police report, Lowe struck his mother while brandishing a gun. After the altercation, he allegedly fled the scene in an Acura sedan with Washington state license plates. He was located minutes later at Argyle Elementary School, a few streets from the home.
Police found evidence showing Lowe had shot a bullet through a garage door in the home that ended up going through the wall of a next-door neighbor’s home.
Police said the family whose home was shot was all asleep and were not wounded in the shooting and officers later found the gun on a shelf in the garage. Police also said both Lowe and the victim had the smell of alcohol on their breath.
Lowe is charged with shooting through a building, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic battery. At press time, he remained in the Clay County Jail with bond set at $100,758.

3 killed in separate weekend crashes
JACKSONVILLE – Three separate traffic accidents resulted in the deaths of three men in Clay and Putnam Counties last weekend.
The Jacksonville Florida Highway Patrol office reports that 66-year-old John Moore of Middleburg was killed in a crash Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. while riding his 2014 Harley Davidson Ultra northbound on U.S. Highway 17 in Putnam County.
FHP said Moore was ejected from his bike and pronounced dead at the scene near Hoot Owl Road. He was struck head-on by a 2000 Ford F-150 truck driven by Brian Plante, 50, of Satsuma, who was not injured.
More than an hour and-a-half later near Keystone Heights, a vehicle crash claimed the life pedestrian, 78-year-old Anthony Scarselli of Florahome, on Oct. 20 at 9:43 p.m.
FHP said Stefanie Pries, 30, of Keystone Heights, was heading west on County Road 214 in a 2001 Ford Windstar van when she struck Scarselli who was treated at the scene by Clay County Fire Rescue, but was pronounced dead at Shands Starke. FHP said the investigation is ongoing.
A four-car chain reaction wreck on Blanding Boulevard at Jefferson Avenue killed one of the drivers on Oct. 21 at 8:01 p.m., according to FHP.
Nathan Schmidt, 23, of Orange Park, was killed while driving a 2016 Ford Fusion headed southbound when he was struck from behind by a 2002 Ford Explorer driven by Garrett J. Mason, 20, of Middleburg. The crash caused Schmidt’s car to move forward and hit a 2018 Kia Sorrento, which then hit a 2013 Ford Escape, who was not injured. The drivers of the Explorer and Sorrento received minor injuries. FHP said the crash is still under investigation and charges are pending.

Road rage ends in shooting, arrest
FLEMING ISLAND – A Middleburg man faces a felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charge after allegedly firing a gun at another driver in a road rage that turned violent.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Timothy Lee Carrow, 31, on Oct. 17 at 2:08 p.m. after the shooting, which took place at 7:20 a.m. on U.S. Highway 17. Police shut down the road and re-routed traffic to Pine Avenue while they conducted a search for Carrow and worked the crime scene.
According to the arrest report, Carrow and the victim were traveling down U.S. 17 when some type of argument began between the two vehicles. It is not known what started the argument.
As both vehicles approached the 5100 block of U.S. 17, Carrow apparently pulled alongside the vehicle driven by the victim and fired at him and hit him in an arm.
The victim was transported to Orange Park Medical Center and operated on for a broken shoulder received in the incident.
Carrow fled the scene and attempted to dispose of the gun as well as remove parts of his vehicle that were damaged.
Carrow was eventually identified and was asked to go into the Clay County Sheriff’s Office to be questioned by detectives where he was arrested after questioning.
At press time, Carrow is free on bail.

Inmate charged with bringing contraband into jail

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A Jacksonville man has additional charges after it was discovered he had brought contraband into the Clay County Jail.
Police charged Kevin John Morgan, 41, on Oct. 17 with a felony after a search of a bag he brought into the jail was discovered to have contraband in it.
Morgan was already in jail on various charges including burglary, attempting to pawn stolen items and several probation violations.
At press time, Morgan was being held in the Clay County detention center without bond.

Man gets false imprisonment charge
MIDDLEBURG – A Middleburg man is charged with holding a woman against her will after forcing his way into her home.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ollis Daniel McLendon, 22, on Oct. 17 at a home in the 5300 block of Pony Express Trail at 6:56 p.m. and charged him with felony domestic battery, assault during burglary and false imprisonment.
According to the arrest report, McLendon forced his way into the home of the victim on Sesame Street and struck her. McLendon also allegedly choked the victim, threatened her and held her in the home against her will.
After the break-in, McLendon fled the area. Police give not give details on how McLendon gained access to the house.
At press time, McLendon is being held at the Clay County detention center with bond set at $125,009.

CCSO deputy fired after investigation

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy accused of having inmates return from a work detail drunk was fired after an internal investigation.
The sheriff’s office began investigating David Barnes Jr., when two inmates got in a fight during a July 31 work detail, according to the investigation. Two inmates tested positive for alcohol and three inmates tested positive for marijuana.
In Barnes’ van, investigators found two Mello Yello bottles with a hand sanitizer concoction in the bottles used for consumption. Two empty cans of chewing tobacco and hand sanitizer were also found in the van.
Barnes was fired Sept. 26 by Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels. Barnes denied knowledge of how inmates received contraband in the report, and said he was getting unfair treatment because of his father’s position in the sheriff’s office. David Barnes Sr., a 25-year law enforcement veteran, is CCSO’s director of Personnel and Professional Standards.
The report said Barnes was questioned over claims he allegedly told inmates where they would be working on the detail in advance and showing inmates videos on his phone. Barnes was separately investigated for staying inside a work van in June while inmates worked outside for about an hour, according to video evidence cited in the investigation.
He also had a pending investigation for acting outside his authority in Bradford County.

Argyle man held in 2017 home invasion robbery
ARGYLE – An Argyle man remains in the Clay County Jail without bond on charges of home invasion robbery and kidnapping.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Victor Blaine Paulk, 31, on Oct. 12 for a robbery that took place on July 20, 2017 at a home in the 200 block of Capella Road.
According to the arrest warrant, Paulk and another man went to the victim’s home where they were invited in because the unnamed man and the victim used to be roommates. According to the victim, “they had some drinks and watched television.”
According to the warrant, Paulk and his accomplice, returned to the victim’s home “armed with handguns forced their way through the front door.”
Police said the victim was forced to get on the living room floor face down where Paulk and his accomplice tied the victim’s hands and feet using USB cables to prevent him “from being able to leave his residence,” states the warrant.
The victim told police that one of the robbers went into the victim’s pocket and took a bank ATM card and other credit cards and forced him to give them his PIN numbers. They then stole a 46-inch television and the victim’s cell phone before one man fled to an apartment in Jacksonville.
This past March, Paulk’s accomplice told police the guns were BB guns, not handguns and admitted tying up the victim and committing the crime.
Paulk has a scheduled court date of Nov. 10. There is no word on whether his accomplice has been arrested.

Disgraced deputy enters plea deal
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A former 10-year veteran Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy who allegedly filed a false police report will no longer be allowed to work in law enforcement in Florida and will serve 11 months on probation after he signed a plea agreement Oct. 16 with the State Attorney’s Office.
The investigation found Mark Alan Andrews, 42, was drinking at the American Legion Lodge in Keystone Heights on December 31, 2017 before he left and hit another vehicle and fled the scene. According to police, the crash occurred at 1:10 a.m. when Andrews abruptly pulled out into a traffic lane in his CCSO unmarked police car and struck the passenger side of a vehicle passing by. He was later charged with false report of the commission of a crime and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage.
Andrews was given credit towards his sentence for having served one day in jail after entering a plea of no contest to the charges. He will also be required to successfully complete a drug and alcohol evaluation and complete rehabilitation, perform 25 hours of community service, pay $6,677.95 for investigation costs.
“Andrews will have a permanent record of this criminal conviction for the rest of his life. The system worked the way it should – he has been prosecuted and the case has been resolved,” stated Chief Assistant State Attorney L.E. Hutton, who oversees the Clay County Office, in a prepared statement.
The night of the accident, the driver of the vehicle Andrews struck, Eliza Taylor Chapple, of Valdosta, Georgia, immediately stopped her car and got out, but Andrews fled the scene. The crash took place on West Walker Drive near Wendy’s restaurant.
When Andrews fled, Chapple attempted to follow him but, she was unable to catch up and returned to the scene of the accident. About six hours later, a call for service came into the CCSO Communications unit. This call involved the report of an abandoned CCSO vehicle in Keystone Heights. When police got to Andrews’ house at 6357 Baker Rd. in Keystone Heights, there were numerous CCSO items thrown across a yard, including a taser, several loaded firearm magazines and more.
After the call, CCSO contacted Andrews who reported his police vehicle had been stolen and then abandoned a few doors down the street from his home. As a result, CCSO opened an investigation that determined the damage done to the vehicle was consistent with the traffic crash reported by Chapple.
During CCSO’s investigation, Andrews, a former homicide detective, provided written and recorded sworn statements in which he said that his police vehicle was stolen. He also said he was home asleep when his vehicle was stolen and had no knowledge of Chapple’s crash. Andrews also said he never left his home the night of the crash.
Further investigation found Andrews lied, after interviewing two witnesses who said they saw Andrews drinking at the American Legion Lodge shortly before the accident. Police also found Andrews used his CCSO-issued laptop shortly after the accident occurred.
Police also seized Andrews’ personal and CCSO-issued cell phone records, which showed he was not asleep, but made phone calls after the crash. Cell phone records showed Andrews was “in numerous areas of Keystone Heights prior to and after” the crash.
It was also determined that Andrews was the driver of the police vehicle that crashed into Chapple’s car. CCSO arrested Andrews on May 17, 2018 after a judge issued a warrant the day before.