TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Jury Selected In Altersberger Case

ADVERTISEMENT

By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: March 26, 2009

SEBRING - A jury pool of at least 50 was whittled down to eight women and four men who will make a sentence recommendation in the case of Joshua Lee Altersberger.

The selection process began Monday in Bartow and finished at 3:15 Wednesday afternoon. In addition to the 12 jurors, there are two female alternates, Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin said.

Altersberger pleaded guilty to the January 2007 shooting death of Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Sottile. Starting Monday at 9 a.m., the jury will begin hearing some testimony before they make a recommendation of life in prison or the death penalty.

In a separate case, one of the suspects charged in the 2007 murder of Bryan "Red" Fanning had her case continued until May.

Leeann Parker, 26, of Lake Wales, is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery and arson. At her Wednesday pretrial conference, the defense requested a continuance in order to give them more time to go through depositions. Another court appearance was scheduled for May 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Both Brandon Johns, 30, and Terrence Barnett, 27, are also charged in connection with Fanning's death. The victim's body was found bound inside his trailer at 3301 DeSoto City Road on Aug. 22, 2007, after emergency crews responded to a fire there.

Investigators said Fanning was "hog tied" inside the home. A ruling from the medical examiner's office revealed the victim was alive at the time the fire was set.

Johns has a status conference scheduled for July 27, while Barnett is set for a July 6 jury trial, according to information from the Highlands County Clerk of Courts Web site.

Houchin previously filed a motion of intent to seeking death for both Johns and Barnett, but said he would not for Parker.

At Parker's December 2008 court appearance, a plea offer was made to defense attorney David Carmichael, who said at the time he wanted to discuss the offer with his client. That plea offer was not brought up at Wednesday's pretrial conference.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at 863-386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT