Woman stold over $26,000 from elderly couple

Some people work all their lives and save every penny to have a few spending bucks after retirement. Whether they worked all their lives or not, the money saved is theirs. Now, imagine that someone you hire to help you after you have aged and can no longer help yourself, steals your money by writing checks to themselves and forging your signature.

That's what happened to Walter and Rita Bernstein, a Parkland couple. Walter Bernstein took care of the finances and when he lost his vision, the couple hired Rosemary Hawthorne, 59. They hired Hawthorne as a personal bookkeeper to write checks. According to Detective John Murray, between the time of June 8, 2006 and August 10, 2007, Hawthorne forged 42 checks that totaled $26,169.08.

Hawthorne has been charged with exploitation of the elderly and is held on a $500,000bond.

For more information on the story, go to, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-1207elderlyrob,0,5604269.story

CBS freelancer....turned sexual predator

Has no one heard of the reality show, 'To Catch a Predator,'? I barely watch television, and when i do, i always, for some reason, come across this show. Anyways, for a few years now, it seems that under cover investigations on sexual predators have become pretty popular. Maybe it was the show, or maybe there has just been a spike in sexual interest in minors, who knows? What i do know is that people keep falling into these traps knowing that the issue of sex with minor has become so popular.

A CBS freelancer from New Jersey pleaded guilty after allegedly arranging a meeting with an 11-year old girl. Now tell me, what kind of abuse is this? On Sept. 29, Daniel Barron, 56, was arrested for trying to meet this young girl and her father, only to find out, all he was meeting were law enforcement officers.

Barron was in South Florida covering the Miami Dolfins and arranged via-internet to meet at 1300 block of Southeast 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 3 and may face between 10 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

For more information, go to, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-1207minorsex,0,2527478.story

Therapist charged with Medicaid fraud

It doesn't surprise me that people continue to try and lie to make an extra few bucks. I also realize that this may be a great example on why Medicaid and health insurance companies have been out ruling therapy services, like, psychological and rehabitational services out of their coverage.

Today, Jennifer Baxt, 34, is being held in a Broward County Jail with charges of grand theft, after allegedly falsifying more than $6,000 of claims to Medicaid.

Baxt is an employee at the South Florida Family Centers Inc. According to the Sun-Sentinel, Baxt was a licensed therapist and mental health counselor.

Investigators from The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit found that Baxt had made 71 appointments and only showed to seven sessions. Baxt can face up to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

For more information, go to, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-1206medicaidfraud,0,3376088.story

More officers loose their life while on duty

It amazes me to find out exactly how many law enforcement deputies have passed away in the past 5 months. Whether it's a gun shot wound, or accident, there have just been too many lives lost.

On Nov. 28, Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies, Donta J. Manuel and Jonathan Wallace were struck by Greg Fernandez, another Palm Beach County sheriff's vehicle. The two were in the path of the vehicle after trying to remove the tire deflation device, placed on the road while Fernandez was pursuing a stolen car.

The bodies of the two police officers were laid to rest on Wednesday Dec. 5, after a funeral ceremony attended by 5,000 people.

For more information, go to, www.pbpost.com

Murder-Suicide spike!

Incredibly, yet another murder-suicide, however, a comment made by Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Lt. Ed Worthington to News Channel 5 makes me cringe. He told the news station that he believes police witnessed a murder-suicide. What are they doing? I thought that law enforcement should not witness a murder-suicide and do something before something does happen. It started at Riviera Beach and ended in Bee Line Highway, i don't know how long police were following the vehicle, but if they witnessed a flash that came from a gun and then another a few moments later, i think they should have been a little smarter.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, neighbors say they saw Isaac Benjamin, 27, chasing Tonya Raines, 37 in the yard around midnight Dec. 6. Benjamin was seen forcing Raines into a white Ford Mustang. According to police, they followed the vehicle and saw two flashes that may have come from a gun.

The couple has had history of domestic violence. Raines had a no-contract court order against Benjamin in August.

The investigation continues. For more information, go to, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-1206rivbchmurder,0,238446.story

Sean Taylor dies from gun shot wounds

On Nov. 26 Sean Taylor was shot in his home during a burglary. The next day, Taylor died. Since then, the alleged gunman who shot Taylor, and three others allegedly involved with the crime, have been indicted on first degree felony murder and armed burglary by a grand jury.

The gunman, identified as, Eric Rivera, 17, was in custody in Fort Myers and has been transported to Miami-Dade County.

The other alleged co-defendants have been identified as, Charles Wardlow, 18, Jason Mitchell, 19, and Venjah Hunte, 20. They remain under a suicide watch.

For more information on the story and more, go to, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/other/sfl-flspnflrdp02sbdec05,0,4372866.story

Mother takes the life of infant daughter before turning gun on herself

Holidays are coming and one Plantation family is struck by murder-suicide. On Nov. 20, a mother shot and killed her infant daughter, then shoots herself in front of the girl's grandparents home.

According to Plantation Police, Kristen Lubus, 22, and her 13-month-old daughter, Jaidyn were found dead from gunshot wounds on the 300 block of Jacaranda Drive in Plantation. Police found a suicide note, however, have not released any details.

Detective Robert Rettig, Plantation Police spokesman said that Lubus appeared to have been depressed.

Autopsiies have confirmed the deaths. Family declined for comment.

A family now has no holidays to enjoy with Lubus and the infant. I am wondering what would of happened if Lubus would have asked for help. Not only asking for help, but why the infant? What did she do to her? I don't know whether i should feel sad for the mother or be angry with her for doing what she did. If anyone knows anyone who seems depressed, please get help. This can happen to anyone.

For more information on this story, go to http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-1121murdersuicide,0,4930595.story

Woman faces 60 years after scalding baby

These are the kinds of cases i just don't understand. Is civilization, as we know it, gone crazy? The stories with this magnitude of insanity should require an examination on the suspect and then be put through extensive psychological tests to see what was it that happened.

In Christmas of 2005, Valerie Kennedy, 32, held her 3-year-old son, Jaquez Mason, in a ub of sclading water. The toddler passed away a week later. Just last month, almost two years since the incident, Kennedy was convicted of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse. She has been sentenced to 60 years in prison. That is the maximum she can serve.

For more information, go to, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/310532.html

FAU overdose unsolved

Just last year, an FAU student used lethal drugs, overdosed and died in a dorm room on campus. Even though no arrests have been made since the incident, FAU spoeswoman, Kristine McGrath told the Sun Sentinel,

The university is committed to a thorough investigation. Finding the person responsible for providing the lethal drugs to student Nicole Phillips, 18, and her friend, Richard Cardinale, 19, is complicated.

It's great to see that a continued investigation on the person responsible for selling the lethal drugs is on FAU police department agenda.

For more information on FAU police go to , http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpfaucrime1116pnnov16,0,1627250.story

White collar crimes get less time

When someone commits a white-collar crime i feel like treatment, when compared to those who committ violent or street crimes, face less punishment and fees. These are the people who have the capacity to pay to get themselves back into shape after facing their sentence and have less troubles when dealing with defending themselves in court. They have higher means. Nothing against having money to defend yourself, but when you commit a crime, no matter what social class you are, how much money you make, what your name symbolizes, everyone should be treated equally.
Today former Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne was sentenced to a year and a day. He pled guilty in September on one count of mail fraud and three counts of income tax evasion. Jenne accepted over $150,000 in improper payments from contractors and payments on a Mercedes from his former law firm.
Not only was he found guilty under these charges but he fined $3,000 plus $40 special assesment.
When serving over a year, the sentence may be reduced by up to 15 percent. So at the end, Jenne may only serve a total of 55 days. Isn't interesting how they sentenced him to a year and a day. Why couldn't they have sentenced him to 364 days?

Another BSO laid to rest

Michael Mazza, a man who was serving a life sentence in prison, killed BSO deputy, Paul Rein on Nov. 7.
Deputy Rein,76, a BSO veteran was transporting Mazza, 40, to court for an armed robbery trial. On the way there, Mazza shot and killed Rein and fled the seen in the transport vehicle.
Mazza was caught a few hours later in Hollywood just outside a Pawn Shop and was taken into custody.
On Tuesday, a memorial took place recognizing Rein's years of service and dedication to the BSO. Many family, friends, and co-workers attended the ceremony.

"For all of us, it's been a devastating year. But it doesn't deter us. It doesn't dampen our spirit. We still go out there every single day,"

Sheriff Al Lamberti said while reading Rein's eulogy.

For more information on the story, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbfuneral1114xnbnov14,0,4552272.story

15 year old dies of overdose!

It amazes me to find out exactly how many teens over dose from illegal substances a year. The trend seems to be growing and it isn't getting any safer. Day after day, after hearing an over dose story, or watching television to see another celebrity heading to rehab, i wonder whatever happened to having a great time without the use of an illegal substance?

A Circuit City security guard in Miami faces murder charges for selling an ecstasy pill to a 15-year old girl that overdosed and died Nov. 2, at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach.

It was a Saturday night and Christopher Rodriguez, 22, met with four female teens at a Hialeah gas station. He sold them four ecstasy tablets for a total of $14. The 15-year-old teen took her ecstasy pill with orange juice as they drove to Miami Beach.

According to a police report, after about 20 minutes the teen began to act irrational. Instead of heading straight to the hospital, the teens headed to a Walgreens for milk. The teens forced milk into the victims throat. It didn't work.

Once the victim started to change colors, the teens finally decided to take her to a hospital. By the time they got there, the victims heart had stopped, but doctors revived her. She was brain dead. The victim died once doctors removed life support.

One pill is all it takes.

For more information on the story, go to http://www.miamiherald.com/459/story/305176.html

Vehicle and home burglars arrested

According to police, they have arrested six people that may be connected to a string of vehicle and home burglaries in the Hollywood Lakes neighborhood.

This story comes after a few blogs i have written about many cities facing a spike in vehicle burglaries across Broward County.

Due to the arrests, police have been able to close out 17 cases on burglaries and attempted burglaries that have occurred within the last two months.

For more on the story, go to http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbburglaries1019nboct19,0,7493303.story

Pharmacy connection

Pharmacies, it seems, are becoming targets for robberies. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have all had incidents within the last couple of weeks where pharmacies have been assaulted.

According to police, the two men who have been arrested may be connected to several or all the pharmacy robberies.

The two men, Calix Green, 25, and Andre D. Holmes, 33, were arrested Wednesday on attempted robbery and loitering charges and released Thursday. The charges against them remain.

Since May of 2007, 14 pharmacies in Broward have been burglarized. On Oct. 8, the Coconut Creek Walgreen's was burglarized, and on Oct. 18, yesterday, two Boca pharmacies was burglarized.

Pharmacies seem to be a target for these burglars. For more information on the Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach robberies, go to,

Boca Robberies, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-1018cvsrob,0,7301594.story

Miami-Dade, Broward story, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flprobberies1019nboct19,0,1223724.story

Murderer of student faces 29 years in prison

In 2004, a pharmacy student at Palm Beach Atlantic University was murdered. After three years, Joshua Reid, now 26, receives a 29-year sentence, and Melissa Ringer, 26, receives a 17-year sentence.

According to authorities, Reid and Ringer, then 19, were running from authorities after a convenience store robbery, and had a plan to kill Bin Zhao, 33. So how did they commit the crime?

Ringer was working as a prostitute and pulled Zhao, who was a regular, to a Boca town home where Reid struck Zhao with a pool stick and strangled him with a lamp chord. Both Reid and Ringer, wrapped the body and placed it in Zhao's trunk.

The couple was caught after trying to use Zhao's credit card in a Target.

For the complete story, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpreid1019pnoct19,0,4242874.story

Every other day i get a new e-mail advising me of a new alert about an incident that happened at school, or see a breaking story on the news about students being victimized.

Drama teacher having sex with students

Former high school drama teacher Andrew Foster faces charges for having sex with two female students, both whom are under the age of 18. Foster is also accused of begging a former male student to tell a teen that he would pay her if she did not cooperate with the investigation.

One of the teens, who is believed to have sex with Foster testified that they were having sex regularly when she was 16 years-old. According to police, this teen, identified as D.N, became pregnant and got an abortion. Foster signed the consent.

Foster is charged with five counts of sexual activity with a child which is a first-degree felony and three new charges, all of which are, third-degree felonies.

Foster was arrested last month after leaving the county and quitting his job.

For more information the story, go to, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2007/10/19/s1a_FOSTER_1019.html

Drug knowledge

Florida Atlantic University's counseling center on the Boca Raton campus is offering educational workshops that will help the campus community gain knowledge on drug and alcohol use.

It seems that every day we see another entertainer, athlete, or public official hit the news because of alcohol or drug related issues. Not only is this issue becoming a problem in the face of television, but it is becoming a bigger problem within our community.

On October 24th, the counseling center will offer the workshop," All arounders: drugs that spin you."

And then on November 28th, the center will offer, "Downers: drugs that pull you."

This should be a great opportunity to see what drugs can do to someone or their friends and family. For more information on the workshops, call 561-297-3540.

There are also support groups that can help those involved in drug and alcohol abuse.

http://www.na.org/ or http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/?Media=PlayFlash

For those who have family member or friend who uses drugs or alcohol, go to http://www.al-anonfamilygroups.org/meetings/meeting.html

FAU student accused of sexual assault

A student who has been accused of sexually assaulting two females students, was arrested but not on these accusations.

On Saturday, Oct. 13, Christian Finklea was accused of assaulting a female student, who is believed to be an acquaintance, at Florida Atlantic University. Police said they also received an accusation that Finklea had physically assaulted another female student at the University a few weeks prior.

Finklea was arrested on drug possession and possession of liquor by a minor. He was released out on bond, Sunday, Oct. 14. An investigation on the alleged accusations continues and Finklea may face future charges.

Florida Atlantic University police sent out campus-wide e-mails to advise everyone on the incidents, the following Tuesday, Oct. 16. The Palm Beach Post published a story on FLorida Atlantic University's campus police advisory to students a few days after the incidents were reported.

For more information on that story, http://www.palmbeachpost.com/search/content/south/epaper/2007/10/18/1018FAURAPE.html

Forcible rape is down

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Crime in the Unites States in 2005, forcible rape is down by a little over one percent.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation took statistics from total agencies in the nation and then separated it by cities as well.

Total all agencies reported

• In 2004, there were 84,608 forcible rapes reported
• In 2005, there were 83,312 forcible rapes reported
• These numbers show a one and a half percent decrease

In total cities, they reported

• In 2004, there were 62,616 forcible rapes reported
• In 2005, there were 61,666 forcible rapes reported
• These numbers show a one and a half percent decrease

The cities that showed most forcible rapes reported were metropolitan cities, cities with population of 250,000 and over, cities with populations of 100,000 to 249,999, and suburban areas. For the complete chart, click on this link, http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_12.html

The fact that forcible rape is down is great, however, it may be that the victims are not reporting the incidents. There is still plenty of work left, but at least the numbers show that awareness helps.

Murder rates in South Florida above average

Murders in South Florida rose by 28 percent from 2005 to 2006. The national average rose two percent.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), South Florida murders increased by 28 percent. In 2005, there were 883 murders reported. In 2006, there were 1,129 murders reported. Nationally the number rose only by two percent.

Lonn Lanza-Kaduce, a University of Florida criminology professor, told the Sun-Sentinel that the numbers show, "a sizable uptick in murders."

Even though the numbers are up, Palm Beach County, according to Lieutenant Mike Wallace, when comparing numbers from 2006 to 2007 in Palm Beach, it has actually decreased. That came after law enforcement placed more officers in areas where crime is an issue.

Other violent crimes, like, robberies increased, but forcible rape and aggravated assault decreased in both Florida and nation wide.

Knowing that crimes, overall are decreasing are great, however, murder increasing scares me as a South Florida resident.

For more information on this story, go to, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-flpcrimestats0925pnsep25,0,2044644.story