Tirico Plea Day
On January 4, 2009 a number of choices were made. Three teenage girls chose to go to a party at the home of another teenager and chose what they would do, who they would ride with and how late they would stay out. An adult chose to allow the party and chose to allow alcohol to be served. The parents of the party attendees chose what allowances to put on the teens. Eventually these choices came together and lives were changed forever when one life was lost.
Around midnight a car driven by 16-year-old Elyse Bushee, now Elyse Tirico, was headed north on Bay Loop Road. As the car approached the intersection with Highway 20, the driver failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a tree near the Freeport City Hall. Tirico and passenger Brytney Niccole Olsen were injured. A third passenger, 16-year-old Meghan Burkhart-Smith, a junior at South Walton High School, was killed.
Tirico was later charged with DUI Manslaughter, DUI with bodily injury, DUI, running a stop sign and possession of alcohol by a minor. Thursday morning, Tirico changed her plea from not guilty and entered a plea of no contest with conditions on the charges of DUI Manslaughter and DUI.
Walton Circuit judge Kelvin Wells will evaluate considering if Tirico can be sentenced as a youthful offender. Wells said there will be a hearing and he will hear from both sides and will allow letters to be submitted. Bushee’s mother, family and friends were in the courtroom.
In the pre sentence investigation, Judge Wells will consider if Tirico should be sentenced under the youthful offender status since she was 16 at the time of the crash. She was originally charged as a juvenile. This would mean more leeway in the sentencing. He told her attorney, Clay Adkinson, if he does not agree to the youthful offender status, then Tirico could change her plea. If it is withdrawn, then the case will go to trial.
Jeffery Duane Wood was sentenced
in August by Walton County Judge David Green to 9 months in jail followed by a
year and 9 month of probation. Judge Green also sentenced Wood to no drinking of
alcohol and he can not have alcohol in his home. In addition Wood can have no
children in his home, other than his own family. Wood was sentenced on three
misdemeanor charges; Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Open House
Party, and Giving False Information to a Law Enforcement
Officer.
Tirico has
already learned what some of her choices mean and on April 6th she
will learn from Judge Wells more of the consequences of her choices. Wood has
already found out some of the consequences of his choices. The rest of the party
goers, parents and community will also continue to find out what the choices
they and others made on one night mean in their
lives.
WCSO Rifle Training
Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr. says he has made it a top priority of his Administration to make sure his personnel receive the most modern equipment and training as possible. Adkinson says we have an increasingly violent society, and he has strived to ensure his Deputies and Investigators are not “outgunned” by the bad guys.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has become one of the first law enforcement agencies in Northwest, Florida to standard issue AR-15 Patrol Rifles to all its sworn personnel. The 160 rifles were bought through a Federal C Byrne Grant administered through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The grant also covers training, ammo and vehicle mounts.
Before an AR-15 Patrol Rifle is issued, Walton County Sheriff’s Office Personnel must complete a rigorous, 20-hour class. It includes both daylight and night shooting at the gun range. Those who do not initially qualify must go through remedial training at the gun range.
The sheriff’s office says an example of law enforcement not being properly equipped took place one year-ago in March 2009 across the Stateline in Samson, Alabama. A deranged man armed with an arsenal of automatic and semi-automatic weapons went on a killing rampage claiming 11 lives. The Tragedy caught the attention of the U.S. Justice Department in better providing local law enforcement the financial means to purchase automatic and semi-automatic weapons.
Todd Spikes
Todd Spikes is the former police officer who was charged after he was found near a home that was part of a sexual predator sting conducted by the Flagler law enforcement with the help of the online group Perverted Justice and filmed by Dateline NBC. Spike was later arrested in Walton County on additional charges. Thursday he entered a plea of no contest before Walton Circuit Judge Kelvin Wells.
Spikes plead on two of three counts with one count dropped. Wells agreed to probation for 10 years on a count of Lewd and Lascivious exhibition by a person 18 years or older to a person less than 16 through a computer. Wells also agreed to 5 years probation on a count of using a computer to solicit a minor. Wells said he would consider early termination after 5 years. Spikes must also meet the reporting requirements as a sex offender.
Sikes was a police officer for Florala at the time of his first arrest. He had also worked in law enforcement for several other area agencies.
Support Children in
Crisis by playing in the 4th annual Children’s Neighborhood Charity
Golf Tournament Friday, March 12th at the Fort Walton Beach Golf
Club. Check in and lunch is at 11:00 with a noon shotgun start. Cost is $75 per person. There will be
prizes and awards. All proceeds go
to benefit The CIC Children’s Neighborhood. Come join in, have a day of fun with
Children in Crisis, a part of your local community. For more information or to
register call 850-864-4242 or visit www.childrenincrisisfl.org.