Jean Claude Meus will be back in court today in Hardee County for a 1:30 p.m. status hearing. ...more

April 24, 2009

The case of Jean Claude Meus is going back to the courtroom, almost a year after Hardee County Judge Jeff McKibben granted a new trial. ...more

March 22, 2009

A dinner to raise money for the Jean-Claude Meus Defense Fund starts at 5 p.m. today at Homer's buffet, 1000 Sebring Square. ...more

July 26, 2008

AVON PARK — Like everyone, Jean Claude Meus was fearful of prison. And like everyone, Meus thought if he stayed out of gangs, away from drugs, and didn't rob or steal, then he would never wind up in prison. But it did happen. ...more

May 3, 2008

Forget lists of "What's Next" in travel. Eastern Europe is "What's Now." While it's catching up to the West - becoming more modern, expensive, and crowded - Eastern Europe remains a great value. Here's what to expect in 2008. ...more

February 17, 2008

A chance encounter after the conviction of Jean Claude Meus in 2003 led to something that the word special is too small of a word to describe it. A chance encounter lead to a group of supporters for Jean Claude that no one would have expected, the family of Nona and Lindsey Moore, the mother and daughter that perished in the accident. From the day I offered my condolences to Beth Jahna and introduced myself to her as the sister of the woman engaged to Jean Claude the flickering candle of hope was lit. It was Beth's inquiry on how Jean Claude was doing and then her shock to find out that he had been convicted and would be going to prison that showed me that this family is indeed a very special one. Phone numbers were exchanged and the support of this family began. ...more

February 3, 2008

WAUCHULA — Although it was only for a fairly uneventful hearing, Jean Claude Meus made his first appearance in three years Monday afternoon at the Hardee County Courthouse. Attorneys from both parties filed motions, which were granted by Judge Jeff McKibben, to allow the lawyer time to collect witness depositions before a tentatively scheduled evidentiary hearing. In 2003, Meus was convicted of the death of Nona Moore, 40, and her 8-year-old daughter Lindsey. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. ...more

January 30, 2008

WAUCHULA — Trucker Jean Claude Meus' fight to have his 15-year prison sentence overturned or reduced received a big boost Wednesday afternoon. In a written opinion, Judge Douglas A. Wallace, of the Florida Second District Court of Appeals, suggested that Meus received ineffective counsel during his postconviction trial in 2005 at the Hardee County Courthouse. "(The opinion) was written very precisely," said defense attorney John H. Trevena, of Largo, who represents Meus. "Given its wording, I believe that it will give Mr. Meus an opportunity for a new trial." Meus is currently sitting in a state prison after being convicted of vehicular homicide in 2003 for the much publicized death of Nona Moore, 40, and her 8-year-old daughter Lindsey. The accident happened in 2001. During Meus' criminal trial, prosecutors said that he fell asleep at the wheel of his tractor-trailer, driving through a stop sign and eventually overturning his vehicle onto Moore's van at Seven Mile Point, just outside of Wauchula. Prosecutors maintained that Meus fell asleep shortly before the accident, but Meus maintained throughout his trial that a vehicle had cut him off, forcing him to swerve into Moore's van. ...more

November 30, 2007