SEBRING A March trial date has been set for a Sebring man charged with killing Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Nick Sottile. ...more

October 9, 2008

Sheriff Susan Benton's office has completed an inventory of about 8,000 evidence items, said the office's attorney, Mike Durham. ...more

October 8, 2008

A motion to dismiss the blood alcohol evidence against Travis Kelton Hill III was denied last week by Judge Peter Estrada. ...more

September 21, 2008

State's Attorney Jerry Hill met Wednesday morning with Sheriff Susan Benton at the Highlands County Sheriff's Office about the evidence audit she released publicly in April. ...more

September 11, 2008

The DUI manslaughter case against Travis Kelton Hill III could go away next week when Judge Peter Estrada rules on a motion to suppress the blood alcohol test. ...more

August 23, 2008

An Avon Park woman remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $2,000 bond on Thursday, after she was arrested at the Belk Department Store, in the Lakeshore Mall. ...more

August 14, 2008

SEBRING — They threw rose petals into Lake Jackson, and the wind from an evening storm floated them back. Betty Martin said a prayer for her niece, Ruth Marie, and for "people who have brought harm toward Marie." ...more

June 20, 2008

SEBRING — A Sebring man, originally charged in the boating death of a 19-year-old woman, has been sentenced to 60 days. State's Attorney Steve Houchin declined to prosecute on the most serious charge, boating under the influence-manslaughter. Instead, William Barbour, 38, 3920 Lakeview Dr., pled guilty to reckless operation of a vessel and received 60 days in Highlands County Jail – with credit for time served – and a $500 fine. He must also pay $238 in court costs, and restitution was ordered. Florida Fish & Wildlife Lt. Dale Knapp made a fundamental mistake when, after the accident, he and other officers allowed Barbour to go inside his home alone to change clothes, Houchin said. Then they allowed Barbour's wife to drive him to the sheriff's office. ...more

June 17, 2008

SEBRING — A Tampa woman was cleared Monday of charges of mailing cocaine to a jailed significant other and smuggling contraband into a jail due to insufficient evidence. Gentra Maria Taylor, 39, of 8603 N. 39th St.–– formerly of 1002 Lake Anoka Blvd., Avon Park ––was accused by sheriff's investigators of sending letters containing packages of cocaine to inmate Detrick D. McGriff, 41. McGriff was arrested on Dec. 4, on a charge of violation of probation for possession of cocaine. The jail received the cocaine-laced letter and a second letter April 17. Authorities arrested Taylor April 24. ...more

June 5, 2008

SEBRING — The attorney for a Moore Haven correctional officer announced Thursday that the case against his client in the shooting of her pit-bull dog in late March, was dropped by the state's attorney's office. The charge was dropped on April 15 and the attorney received notice on April 24, according to information received from the court. Dawn Marie Thomas, 31, of Sebring, was arrested by Highlands County sheriff's deputies on March 25, and charged with causing cruel death, pain or suffering to an animal, after sheriff's investigators said she shot and killed her pit bull dog in its cage after it started to show aggressive tendencies. Had the case been brought forward, the charge would have been a third-degree felony. ...more

May 30, 2008