Attempted murder case going to trial Thursday

A Highlands County jury was picked Monday and testimony is scheduled to begin Thursday in the case of an Avon Park man accused of shooting another in the chest last December.

Altus Jermar Lee, 21, of 2430 N. Dunwoodie Road, Avon Park, is charged with attempted murder in the first degree. He remained in the Highlands County Jail Tuesday under a $100,000 bond.

The victim, then 19, told law enforcement he was at a Hopewell Academy party on Dec. 27 when Lee started arguing with him about a girl.

He told Lee the problem was between him and the girl before leaving the party and going to the intersection at Hal McRae and Delaney boulevards, according to the arrest report.

Lee came up to him and got so close that the victim shoved him away. He then heard two gunshots and, "felt a pain in his chest," the report stated.

The victim did not see the gun or Lee pulling the trigger, but was told by people that, "he shot you, that (expletive) shot you."

His injuries were listed as non life-threatening.

Testimony is set to begin Thursday morning at 8:30.

Kalinowski murder trial pushed back

The murder case against Andrew Kalinowski will not go to trial until at least April.

Kalinowski, 23, is charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. A co-defendant, Shane Ryan Fannin, faces the same counts.

The case was on for jury trial status last week, but has now been continued until a Feb. 3 status conference, according to information from the Highlands County Clerk of Courts. An April 12 jury trial date was also listed.

Originally, the case was set to go to trial on Oct. 12, but attorney Austin Maslanik requested a continuance until December because he did not feel there was enough time to investigate all potential penalty phase witnesses in time to disclose them and be ready.

Kalinowski and Fannin reportedly got into a fight with others while at the Hideaway Lounge in Lake Placid in June 2008. Later, authorities were dispatched to 242 E. Phoenix St., in reference to a shooting.

Two victims, Walter Enrique Vilchez and Jose Franklin Escalante, were found on the front porch, each with a single gunshot wound to the face.

Vilchez was pronounced dead at the scene and Escalante was taken via Aeromed to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

Fannin's next court appearance is a Feb. 17 pretrial conference.