Florida Child Injury Lawyer Blog

Girls Gone Wild is a brand founded by Joe Francis that videotapes young women at nightclubs and other locations. There is some nudity and physical contact shown in these videos. Many say that the films are pornographic and an exploitation of woman and young girls. Others, including Joe Francis, argue that it is merely free speech and free expression by consenting adults. Police in Yulee Florida did not agree with the viewpoint put forth by Joe Francis and his supporters. According to Fox News Orlando, an undercover sting operation revealed men encouraging women to show their breasts and women then exposing their breasts. Some even had their breasts painted. There were several arrests made for indecent exposure. There were also arrests for engaging in a sexual offense, resisting arrest and for disorderly intoxication. What some may see as a party - others may see as a crime.

While there were no reports of underage girls involved the Yulee, Florida incident,it is important that all nightclub owners including those running strip clubs check identification and if possible run background checks to make sure that they are not exhibiting minors in provocative dances or nudity. Children are often times exploited by unscrupulous business owners intent on making a buck no matter the consequences or long term affects on the child.

In Florida and other States, driver distraction is not just a passing problem or fad . . . it can also lead to serious personal injuries and wrongful death. In particular, texting while driving is a real danger to anyone on or near roadways in the State of Florida. Some Florida legislators as well as organizations like AAA (American Automobile Association) are recommending legislation that would ban texting while driving on Florida roads and highways. As a child safety advocate, I support such legislation. Texting while driving is undoubtedly dangerous. You can read more about this topic at Florida Could Pass Legislation to Ban Texting While Driving.

Marvin Leigh Madkins is a relatively young man at the age of 29. He was recently sentenced to 50 years in prison for crimes involving trafficking young girls for sex acts. As such, Mr. Madkins may be old and gray by the time he is released from prison if he happens to outlive his prison sentence. United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard issued the criminal sentence to Mr. Madkins. It was estimated that Mr. Madkins orchestrated over 100 acts of sexual assaults on children. Mr. Madkins horrible and selfish acts were at the expense at the health, safety, and welfare of these children. Undoubtedly, the children will be affected for years if not permanently from these horrendous acts. Hopefully, law enforcement officials and prosecutors continue to be successful in putting criminals like Mr. Madkins in prison where they belong. You can read more about this article at Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 50 Year Prison Term.

Clay County Florida Sheriff Rick Beseler is seeking help from the public to catch a child killer. Law enforcement authorities and the community are seeking information that will lead to the capture / arrest of the killer of 7 year old Somer Thompson. The killer could be living right in Orange Park or Jacksonville. Nothing can bring this innocent 7 year old back to her family and friends. Hopefully, justice will prevail and the killer will be caught and punished for this horrendous and unforgivable crime. You can read more about this story at Police Seek Help to Catch a Child Killer.

A local ordinance passed recently by the St. Johns County Florida County Commission is aimed at sex offenders and their participation in Halloween related activities. In order to keep children away from the homes of sex offenders during Halloween, sex offenders cannot dress up in costumes or decorate their homes for Halloween. In addition, a simple sign must be posted that states "No Candy". There are 178 registered sex offenders in St. Johns County. The failure to comply with this ordinance can result in a fine and / or jail time. Some argue that the law is unconstitutional and unfair. Others (including myself) believe that the laws will help protect children and keep them away from the homes of many sex offenders who have committed sex crimes against children and / or others. You can read more about the St. Johns County Ordinance at Halloween and Sex Offenders Will Not Be Mixing This Halloween.

Tragically, the national spotlight is shining right near my home town of Jacksonville, Florida. Orange Park, Florida is just one county over and basically is part of the Greater Jacksonville area. Somer Thompson was just 7 years old when she died. A memorial service was recently held to commemorate her short life and, yes, her tragic death. Currently, investigators are fielding calls and leads. In addition, investigators are interviewing and re-interviewing potential witnesses, family members, and any others with information regarding the disappearance and death of the child. Some of the evidence will come from the landfill in Georgia where Somer's lifeless body was found. It will be interesting to see what the investigation will uncover as to the death of this child. Among the questions that come to mind are the following:

What forensic evidence was revealed through the autopsy?
What external marks, bruises, or lacerations were caused pre-mortem or before death?
How did the dumping of the body affect the autopsy?
How much of the garbage will investigators analyze?
Can investigators and technicians pinpoint where the body was picked up by the garbage collectors?
Do the police have any prime suspects at this time?
Do the police have any suspects at all at this time?
Did anyone have a motive to harm this child?
What timeline have the police and investigators pieced together from witness statements and other evidence collected on this matter?

The death of Somer Thompson garnered national attention and press. Hopefully, this attention and press will result in some good by bringing whoever ended the life of this young child to justice. Anybody with information regarding this case should immediately contact the Orange Park (Clay County Sheriff's Office). You can read more about the Somer Thompson's Memorial Service at the Florida Times Union (Jacksonville) Newspaper Website.

Bay County, Florida Sheriff’s deputies were called to the residence of Kimberly Smith and James Moore to settle a dispute. While they were talking to the couple, Moore admitted to the officers that he had smoked meth four days previously. One of the neighbors then accused the couple of cooking meth in front of the couple’s baby. Moore denied their claim, and Smith then also admitted to smoking meth three or four days ago.

After getting permission to search the couple’s home, the deputies found marijuana paraphernalia and residue. Moore refused to take a drug test. Both were arrested and charged with child neglect and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the child and then turned it over to another family member. Find out more about this couple and their arrest at Two arrested after meth confession.

Mild flu symptoms turned into a tragedy for West Palm Beach, Florida resident Christine Opdyke and her family. The pregnant woman was hospitalized with Swine Flu, and ended up spending nearly four months in the hospital. Sometime during her life and death battle, doctors delivered her daughter, Parker Christine Opdyke, by emergency C-section, even though the pregnancy was only 27 weeks along. The child died within minutes of delivery, possibly from side-effects of the medications given to her mother.

On October 1st of this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that of the likely millions of cases of Swine Flu in the United States, 100 pregnant women had been sent to intensive care by the disease, and 28 of them have died. Pregnant women are at a disadvantage when contracting the disease because pregnancy suppresses the immune system. Ms. Opdyke has come forward to warn other pregnant women of the dangers and encourage them to get vaccinated and not to ignore flu symptoms. Unlike other families who have lost loved ones to the disease, they are not planning to sue anyone. They believe that their physicians and the hospital did everything they could have to help them.

You can read more about this family and their ordeal at Flu Story: A Pregnant Woman’s Ordeal.

Victor Steen, 17, of Pensacola, Florida, died after being run over by a police car while being chased on his bicycle. The incident began when Officer Jerald Ard saw the boy around 2 am in a construction site. When Steen fled the scene on his bicycle, Ard pursued him in his police car. During the chase, Ard attempted to stun the teenager with a taser. Some time during the chase, Steen crashed his bicycle in the path of the police car and was run over.

Even though it does not appear that Steen was stunned by the taser, the incident has raised interest from a national civil rights group, which advocates a national stun gun policy. The group, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said that it will release a report in December that shows that 400 people have died from stun gun incidents. In response to concerns, the Pensacola police department changed its policy from “reasonable use” of stun guns to prohibiting shooting a stun gun from or at a moving vehicle.

Th Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating Steen’s death. Officer Ard has been placed on administrative duty. It will ultimately be up to the Florida attorney general to decide if charges will be filed in this case.

Find out more about this teen’s tragic death at Deadly chase brings new look at stun gun use.

The eight-year old daughter of Adriyanna Herdener and her boyfriend, Wilfredo Rivera, was allegedly forced to chew on soap for ten minutes after saying an expletive. According to the Palm Bay Police Department, the child was vomiting, crying and begging to rinse her mouth, but Rivera told her she would have to clean up the mess first. The girl and her younger sibling were placed in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Young children will periodically use swear words, whether they are ignorant of the meaning or testing their parents. Submitting the child to ten minutes of ingesting a poisonous substance is not an appropriate reaction for a parent. It is unfortunate that poor parenting skills often lead to abuse.

Find out more about this story at Child Forced To Chew Soap As Punishment.

This past April, seven-year-old foster child, Gabriel Meyers, apparently committed suicide after taking prescribed psychiatric drugs. The death has caused a debate that is slowing the flow of prescribed medications to children in state care in Florida.

After the child’s death, the Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF) launched an investigation into his death, and found that many foster children were taking medications without the proper consent forms in place. Lawmakers have vowed to create new laws to try to prevent the overuse of drugs by foster children. Fear of an increased suicide rates among children taking psychotropic drugs has prompted the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to put a black box warning on them.

Child advocates approve the recommendation of getting the proper consent, but worry that slowing down or stopping treatment for troubled children could lead to more problems. In some instances, a foster child's behavior that is not controlled by necessary medication may make it more likely that they will be rejected by foster families who do not know how to deal with these children.

Alan Abramowitz, director of DCF’s Family Safety Program Office, said that physicians with any questions about a prescription should contact his agency.

Read more about this story at Florida foster kids slower to get medications now.

Even though officials in other Florida counties have decided against using a nasal form of the H1N1 vaccine, Santa Rosa County, Florida officials have approved using the nasal vaccine, because it is less traumatic for children. The counties that declined to use the nasal vaccine cited concerns that the version of the virus used in the nasal vaccine might actually spread the virus. The Santa Rosa School District has made an effort to educate parents about their vaccination options.

No child will be given the vaccine without the permission of their parent or guardian. Parents who are unsure of which vaccination method is best for their child should contact their family physician / pediatrician.

Find out more about the H1N1 nasal vaccine at Santa Rosa to administer H1N1 vaccine.

Rifqa Bary, a 17-year-old Sri Lankan girl who had been living in Ohio with her parents, ran away from home after converting to Christianity. Mohamed Bary, the girl’s father, reported that the police tracked Rifqa to Pastor Blake Lorenz of the Global Revolution Church in Orlando, Florida. Bary is claiming that the Orlando church is a cult and that Lorenz has brainwashed his daughter. Rifqa has claimed that she feared her parents would kill her for turning her back on Islam.

An Orlando judge ordered the girl into the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families until a hearing could be held. At the hearing, Orlando Judge Daniel Dawson ruled that the proper jurisdiction for the case was Ohio. The case has been complicated by the Bary family’s failure to produce proper immigration documents to prove that Rifqa and the rest of the family are in the country legally. The judge ruled that Rifqa must remain in Florida until the immigration documents are furnished.

Find out more about this story at Runaway Christian convert's dad: Orlando church is a cult, and
Judge: Bary's Immigration Papers Must be Produced.

Inexperience, immaturity, driving while intoxicated, and carelessness all contribute to a fatal crash rate among teen drivers that is three times higher than for other drivers. For example, in 2008 in Florida, over 68% of children from 0-17 years old who were killed in car accidents died because they were not properly restrained with a seatbelt or car seat. In the same year, 18-year-old Florida teens had the highest rate of crash involvement and 19 year olds had the highest fatality rates from car crashes.

Research has shown that teens learn driving habits from their parents, so it is important for parents of teens to take an active role in teaching their children good driving skills. This includes always using a safety belt, not exceeding the speed limit, and not being distracted by passengers while driving. Distraction has been cited as the number one cause of teen crashes in the US.

Find out more about this story at Florida to Observe National Teen Driver Safety Week.

Somer Renee Thompson of Orange Park Florida was walking home with two siblings when they got into an argument and Somer ran off alone. Her mother notified police when she failed to return home. She was last seen on October 19th, at around 2:45 p.m. Approximately 100 deputies and detectives from the Clay County Sheriff’s office have been sent out in search teams to help find the girl. The St. Johns and Jacksonville Sheriffs’ offices have also sent personnel to the area, and FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials are on the scene as well.

Police are concerned by a similar incident that occurred ten days before Somer’s disappearance; two men and a woman in a blue Nissan tried to talk a five-year-old girl into their car. The girl screamed and ran away.

Clay County Sheriff, Rick Beseler is asking residents to be watchful and report anything unusual to the police. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the CCSO non-emergency line at 904-264-6512 or 911.

You can find out more details about the search for Somer at Search Continues For Missing Girl.

A German Shepherd K-9 unit escaped from Sarasota, Florida Police Officer Sean Gleason and attacked 12-year-old Angela Berk as she rode down the street on an electric scooter. The girl required 14 stitches in her right leg. She was unable to take pain medication because of the interaction with her medication for utism. The dog was allowed to continue working as a K-9 unit until he was retired for old age some time later.

The city offered the family a $15,000 settlement, but the child’s father, Ray Berk, declined the offer and filed a lawsuit asking for more money. Her lawyers noted that her developmental disability makes it more difficult for her to get past the trauma of the event.

Police officers acting as K-9 unit handlers have a responsibility to keep their dogs restrained and under control at all times. The officer was apparently negligent in his duty having left the door of his car open while the dog was unrestrained in the back seat.

Find out more about this story at Police dog attack on child inspires lawsuit.

Twelve-year old Jennifer Valdivia was attending a Florida Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies baseball game last July when Ryan Howard hit his 200th career home run. Jennifer was lucky enough to catch the ball, but Howard apparently wanted the ball back.

A representative from the Phillies ball club approached Jennifer in the stands, and told her that if she handed over the ball, he would have Howard sign it for her and Howard would give it back to her personally after the game. After the game, Howard was nowhere to be seen, but a security guard found Jennifer and gave her ball that had been autographed by Howard - a brand new ball, not the one she had caught.

Upon learning what happened, Jennifer’s mother, Delfra Vanegas, called the Phillies and asked them to give her daughter the ball back. The Phillies did not respond until the family’s attorney sued the club for $15,000 and the ball. The Phillies then returned the ball to Jennifer, who says she has no plans to sell it.

When a fan catches a ball in the stands, it is generally accepted that they are allowed to keep it. Taking a ball from a small child because it is believed to be worth a lot of money is an act that is bound to make both Howard and the Phillies look bad to the general public. The fact that they mislead the girl into giving them the ball with false promises would have undoubtedly helped the girl’s case if it had gone to trial.

Find out more about this story at Jennifer Valdivia 12-Year-Old Sues Philadelphia Phillies Over Ball.

Mesac Dumas of Naples Florida admitted to killing his wife and five children, aged 11 months to nine years old, after his wife threatened to divorce him and take the children. Damas bound his wife, Guerline Damas, and the children with rope, then slit their throats despite Mrs. Damas’ pleas for mercy. Damas admitted to having second thoughts about killing them, but was afraid to let his wife go because he thought she would call the police. Damas sited “bad spirits” as the reason for his actions. He tried to flee to Haiti, but was deported by authorities back to Florida where he was charged with murder.

This case is yet another in a seemingly growing trend of “familicide,” a special kind of murder/suicide that has risen in public awareness over the past several years. Financial difficulties can lead to familicide, but the most common reason cited is romantic trouble between the partners. It is tragic that the children are caught in the crossfire as adults attempt to erase their troubles with violence.

Find out more about this story at Florida Man Says 'Bad Spirits' Made Him Kill Family.

Twenty-one year old Christian Woods, of Belleview Florida originally told Escambia County, Florida deputies that her 18-month-old daughter was missing after she left the child, her twin sister, and a 2-year-old boy home alone while she went to Mobile, Alabama for the weekend. Escambia County, Florida authorities reported that Ms. Woods left the children with 6 containers of Jell-O and no water or electricity.

The 18-month-old girl was later found dead in a trash can, and her mother admitted to putting the girl there after she returned home to find the child dead. Ms. Woods has been charged with murder and two counts of child abuse. The other two children have been taken away by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The article did not mention what drove Christina Woods to leave her children alone for the weekend with no food, water or electricity. It is almost inconceivable that a mother would subject her own children to such abuse and neglect. Children should be cherished and protected by their parents; when they are not the results can be quite tragic.

Find out more about this story at Deputies: Mom Put Dead Girl In Trash.

At Morningside Elementary School in Port St. Lucie, Florkda, a teacher (Wendy Portillo) was fed up with disciplinary issues she had been having with 5-year-old Alex Barton, decided to let the other children in her class vote to decide if the child should be thrown out of class. Alex, who is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, was made to go to the front of the class and listen while each of his classmates was invited to say what they did not like about the boy. Alex lost the vote at 14-2 and was sent to the nurse’s office for the rest of the day.

The child’s mother, Melissa Barton, has filed a complaint, but the state attorney's office has said that the incident did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed. The Port St. Lucie, Florida Police have documented the claim but are no longer investigating it. Ms. Barton is considering legal action.

Asperger's syndrome is a type of high-functioning autism. Children with Asperger's often exhibit anti-social or disruptive behavior. Because of his disability, Alex has had disciplinary issues. Since the incident, Alex has refused to return to school.

It is absolutely outrageous that a teacher would treat a special needs child this way. Children with disabilities should be treated with extra care and attention, not ridicule and embarrassment.

You can read more about this incident at Teacher lets Morningside students vote out classmate, 5.

The Panama City, Florida Police Department has arrested 63-year-old Louis Miles Treckey, Jr. and charged him with one count of lewd and or lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12 years.

According to a story posted at the www.panhandleparade.com website, Treckey, an acquaintance of the child’s family, had been asked by them to drive their 2 ½ year-old child to daycare. Treckey arrived at the daycare nearly two hours after picking the child up at home. The child said things to the daycare providers that caused them to suspect that the child had been molested by Treckey. They notified the child’s family, and the child was examined at a local hospital. Treckey was arrested without incident sometime later that day.

Of course, Mr. Treckey will be entitled to a criminal defense attorney / lawyer on this case. The news story did not report the exact statements of the child or what forensic evidence (if any) was obtained through the medical examination at the hospital. The story also did not mention whether Mr. Treckey had any kind of explanation for the extended or prolonged time period between picking up the child and delivering the child to the day care center.

The day care center did the right thing in reporting this matter. It was not only the right thing but it is also the law in Florida. A day care provider has a duty to report suspected cases or matters of abuse to the Florida Department of Children and Families. A day care provider does not actually have to witness the incident. The day care provider only needs to have a reasonable suspicion of abuse under Florida law.

Parents should not have to worry when they send their child to school with a trusted adult. It is a shame when a child’s family was fooled by their acquaintance into believing that he was a trustworthy person. The daycare staff should be commended for noticing the child’s cry for help and taking the appropriate steps to protect the child by reporting this matter to law enforcement officials / Florida Department of Children and Families.

To find out more about this case, visit Panama City Police Department Arrests Man on Lewd and Lacivious Charges .

In Florida and other states, teachers, aides, and school administrators have a duty to supervise and educate our children. During the time that teachers are "on duty", it is vital that teachers are alert and awake so that they can properly supervise the children under their care. In Tampa, Florida, a middle school teacher (Kylene Nelson) went to work under the influence of alcohol. Her blood alcohol level was reported to be .26 which is more than three times the legal limit to drive an automobile in the State of Florida. Kylene Nelson entered into an agreement to resign and be eligible to return to a classroom in June 2013. The agreement must be approved by the State of Florida Education Practices Commission.

There were no reports that any children under this teacher's care suffered any personal injuries or harm on the date of the incident. Nevertheless, this teacher's intoxication needed to be addressed because it did put students in danger. Middle school student often times have poor judgment and safety awareness. As such, it is important for teachers to be watchful and ready to step in if there is a dangerous situation to the children. Furthermore, our children deserve the best that a teacher can offer. Having an impaired teacher because of drugs or alcohol certainly does not create an ideal learning environment for the students. You can read more about this story at Florida Middle School Teacher Agrees to a Suspension - Teachers Should Not Drink and Teach.

Last June, law enforcement officers in Polk County Florida arrested 45 men for downloading child pornography from the internet. The rise in arrests was not attributed to the county having a higher than usual child pornographer rate, but rather to the efforts of the Polk County, Florida Sheriff, Grady Judd as well as investigators, detectives, and deputy sherrif officers. Those arrested included a retired teacher, a Sea World employee and 3 Florida high school students.

According to law enforcement officials and child welfare workers, child pornography has become so commonplace on the internet that police departments all over the country could literally spend every day tracking down and arresting offenders. And the internet actually makes it easier to track these criminals down, as they leave an electronic trail of their activities. The fact that Sheriff Judd is willing to expend more time and resources than other agencies has resulted in 176 arrests in the county since 2006.

While exemplary police officers / detectives / sheriffs like Judd are a credit to their profession, the alarming fact is that child pornography has exploded as internet use has made it easier to distribute and buy pornography. Many law enforcement agencies do not put child pornography crimes at center stage the way Judd does, meaning that the vast majority go undiscovered and unpunished. The fact is that if these agencies simply devoted a few more man hours per week to stopping child pornographers using the internet, they could take significantly more of these offenders off the street.

Of course, we are in a recession. As such, law enforcement agencies have been forced to cut budgets, lay off employees, and re-allocate or re-adjust resources. With a decreased budget, it can be quite challenging to devote sufficient resources to combat child pornography and other crimes involving the molestation, assault, or exploitation of children.

You can find out more details on this Polk County, Florida story at Child-porn arrests: `Shooting fish in a barrel’

Glen Maxey of Fort Myers, Florida was arrested for drunk driving by deputies when Maxey’s ex-wife reported that she had witnessed him put one of their children on his lap while driving his swamp buggy earlier in the day. She said that he was driving erratically and one of the children fell out, badly bruising his back and causing him to vomit. Maxey admitted to having a hard day and drinking a few beers before driving the children around in the swamp buggy.

Accidents caused by drunk driving are so easily preventable. It is very frustrating to DUI related automobile accidents and related injuries making news headlines day after day. Alcohol impairs not only a person’s motor skills, but also his judgment – which leads many people to believe they are “OK to drive” even when they are putting the lives of their own children, not to mention other drivers, on the line.

To date, Maxey has only been charged with drunk driving, but child endangerment or child abuse charges may be forthcoming. You can read more about this Fort Myers, Florida child injury case at Child injured in alleged DUI, swamp buggy incident.

In Wesley Chapel, Florida, students at Pasco County's Wiregrass Ranch High School are often times encouraged to use their mobile phones / cell phones for educational purposes. Some may argue that mobile phones have no place in the classroom because the devices are distracting and often times misused. Some educators will argue that mobile phones are merely a tool that can be properly used for educational studies and discussion. At Wiregrass Ranch High School, a teacher may be discussing a particular topic like a book, an author, or a historical event and ask students to go on their phones to find answers or facts regarding the topic. If teachers can keep children engaged, focused, and interested, the use of technology like mobile phones certainly have an important role to fill in today's classroom. You can read more about this story in a very good article posted by writer Jeffrey S. Solochek at the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper website.

What happens when you travel over state lines, have sex with a 14 year old, and try to hide under her bed to avoid being caught by a parent? Well in the case of John Barry Coe, you get arrested and sent to prison. Mr. Coe, age 20, was recently sentenced to a term of 87 months (just over 7 years) for his criminal activities in Florida. Mr. Coe, who was released on bond from a case in Montana for similar crimes, met a 14 year old at an online game site. Mr. Coe then travelled to Florida by bus and then took a taxi cab to the child's home. It was reported that at some point in time Mr. Coe had sexual intercourse with the 14 year old girl. Since a 14 year old girl cannot legally give consent to such acts, some child safety advocates may refer to this conduct at child rape regardless of the so called participation of the child. The 14 year old lied to her mother and told her mother that Coe was a 16 year old high school student. When the mother found Coe under a bed, she called police and the true age, identity, and conduct of Mr. Coe was discovered by the mother and law enforcement authorities.

With the Internet and predators like Mr. Coe out there, children are in danger every day even within the confines of their own homes. You can read more about this story at Colorado Man (John Barry Coe) Sentenced to Prison for Crimes Against a Child.

In Florida, adults, who travel to high schools with plans on having sex with underage students, get arrested. The Florida Times Union (Jacksonville) newspaper reported that Obtravies Andre Watkins was arrested and charged with a felony crime. Mr. Watkins and a 16 year old girl exchanged text messages. The child's father contacted police about this matter after he found several text messages on his daughter's phone. Mr. Watkins made arrangements to meet the girl at school where he was ultimately arrested at Flagler (Florida) Palm Coast High School.

Of course, Mr. Watkins will be entitled to a defend himself through a criminal defense attorney. However, it would appear that the evidence on this case in the form of the text messages and his driving to the high school will be hard to overcome.

Furthermore, Mr. Watkins was already a registered sex offender even before this arrest. It seems that Mr. Watkins did not reform himself from his prior crimes even with the knowledge of the consequences of his actions.

Some may argue that the girl was 16 year old and certainly knew what she was doing; however, it is important to note that States like Florida need to set the age limit for sexual intercourse at some age. Teenagers including those at 16 and 17 are vulnerable to the advances of older men and Florida law should protect these children.

The Internet is being used by child predators and sex offenders throughout the United States. One common technique used by child predators is to befriend children online, gain their trust, and then make arrangements to meet the children for sex. Some predators even go as far as to make bus or flight arrangements to travel over State lines to meet up with children for sex.

A Florida man was recently arrested for having sex with a 15 year old Ohio girl. As reported in the Florida Times Union, Nicholas W. Neff, Jr. from Jacksonville, Florida was arrested after police in Cincinnati, Ohio received a tip about the conduct of Mr. Neff and the 15 year old girl in Lincoln Heights. For months prior to the criminal sexual contact / conduct, Mr. Neff had been talking or communicating over the Internet with the girl.

Mr. Neff will be entitled to be represented by a criminal defense attorney. In many jurisdictions, the knowledge of the child's true age is not a defense. Initially, Mr. Neff stated to police that he thought that she was 19 years old but Mr. Neff later admitted to knowing the girl's age prior to a sexual encounter with the girl.

You can read more about this story at Florida Man Arrested in Ohio for Sex with a Teenage Girl.

A fatal SUV accident was recently reported by the Florida Highway Patrol. The accident involved a Ford Explorer which had three different brands of tires on the SUV. One of the tires that separated was quite worn and may have been the cause of the SUV losing control, hitting a guardrail, and then flipping over. A 6 year old child died as a result of this crash.

This crash was recently discussed in the blog article Florida Highway Patrol Reports SUV Crash in Volusia County - 6 Year Old Boy (Abimael Saint Juste) Dies as a Result of the Crash.

This crash shows the importance of vehicle maintenance and inspection. All parents should have frequent maintenance of their vehicles including but not limited to tire and brake checks. Tires do not last forever and parents should be diligent in making sure that tires have sufficient tread for safe driving of the vehicle. You can read more about the FHP investigation including a discussion of the tires at Florida Highway Patrol Investigation Studies Tire Tread and Cause of Accident.

In Florida and other States, the family pet or dog often time causes serious personal injuries to children. Some family pets are indoor / outdoor dogs and are family members. It should still be noted that they are still animals. As such, dogs can bite even if they have not history of aggression or bites. Other dogs are outdoor / outside dogs. Some are allowed to roam around the property. Others are chained. Whatever the living arrangements for the dog, there is a danger to children when dogs are present. Some believe that certain breeds of dog are more dangerous than others. I believe the danger of a dog depends on the dogs breed, upbringing, living environment, and other factors. In Gilchrist County, Florida, a 3 year old suffered serious personal injuries when the boy was bitten by the family's pit bull dog who was on a chain outside. The Gilchrist County Animal Control took possession of the animal and are investigating the incident. You can read more about this dog attack at Gilchrist County, Florida Boy in Critical Condition Following Pit Bull Attack.

A Ford Explorer SUV recently crashed while traveling in a Church caravan traveling from Orlando to Florida. A 6 year old boy (Abdmael Saint Juste) died and 7 other children suffered personal injuries in this crash. It was reported by the Florida Highway Patrol that a tire blew on the Ford Explorer. Thereafter, the Ford SUV hit a guardrail and then flipped over two times. When crashes like this take place, many issues / questions are raised:

What was the make and model of the Ford SUV?

How many miles were on the tire that blew?

Did the tire have a manufacturer defect that caused it to blow?

Were the children wearing a seat belt? Booster seat?

What speed was the SUV traveling?

Did road conditions contribute in any part to the crash?

Florida Highway Patrol and possibly other law enforcement agencies will conduct a further investigation into this tragic automobile accident. You can read more about this story at 6 Year Old Boy Dies and Other Children Injured in SUV Crash in Volusia County, Florida.

In Bay County, Florida, police officials reported that a baby suffered serious personal injuries while his parents were smoking methamphetamine (meth). It is clear that intoxication or impairment due to alcohol or drug consumption impacts a person's ability to use good judgment including the judgment needed to properly supervise a child. The two year old boy suffered a head injury from a chair that broke. Instead of calling 911 immediately or getting the child needed medical care, duct tape was put on the child's head. Thereafter the parents kept on smoking meth. It was not until the next morning that the parents sought medical care for their son. Police authorities arrested the parents (Jessica Huskey and John Huskey) for child abuse and possession of methamphetamine.

Jessica Huskey and John Huskey will be entitled to a criminal defense attorney regarding these charges. Child neglect and endangerment charges do not require the element of drug use. Certainly, the use of drugs did not help the situation. In dealing with child neglect charges, police and State prosecutors evaluate each case to determine the level and extent of neglect. Each case must be reviewed based on the particular facts. In this matter, it would be interesting to know the following:

What symptoms did the child have after the head injury?

How often was the child evaluated by the parents after the initial injury?

How much drugs were consumed between the time of the injury and the time that the child received medical care?

Is it possible that the extent of the child's injuries were not readily apparent by the parents?

If the child received more timely medical care, what would the child's condition or prognosis be?

Why didn't the parents immediately call 911 or take the child to the emergency room?

You can read more about this story at Baby Critically Injured While Parents Doing Drugs in Bay County, Florida.

People visit gun ranges as a safe way to fire guns / weapons in a secure and controlled environment. Unfortunate, incidents take place at gun ranges that cause serious personal injuries and, in some instances, death. In Lakeland (Polk County), Florida, a man from Ireland (Gary Flynn) suffered serious personal injuries when he was accidentally shot by a gun owned by Michael and Sherri Thourot of Tampa, Florida. The rights of a victim for injuries and damages suffered by such incidents will depend on the facts and actions / inactions of those involved or responsible for the gun fire. Many questions / issues arise in cases of this nature. In particular, it would be important to know the following:

What was the make and model of the gun involved?

What training / experience did the gun owners have with such a gun?

Did the gun malfunction in any manner?

Was the gun range set up in a manner that would help prevent or reduce incidents of this nature?

What were the policies and procedures of the gun range?

Did the gun range have video cameras set up that recorded the incident as well as actions / inactions that took place prior to the incident?

What statements were made to the gun range personnel and the police about the incident?

You can read more about this incident at Gun Mishap in Lakeland (Polk County), Florida.

In South Florida, a 7 year old girl suffered serious personal injuries when an Iguana bit her foot. Just prior to the Iguana attack, the girl was feeding the Iguana strawberries. Iguanas are not known for attacking humans / children according to Wildlife officials; however, Iguana like dogs are animals. As such, the actions of an Iguana cannot be predicted with certainty. It is possible that the Iguana thought that the foot of the girl (Madison Wells) was a food item. The injuries required 23 stitches and caused some damage to Madison's tendons. You can read more about this story at Iguana Bites Girl in South Florida.

In Orange County (Orlando), Florida, a 17 year old girl (Bree McMahon) suffered a serious personal injury shen she was pinned between a car and a wall at a car wash fundraiser. Bree was later taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center for evaluation, treatment, surgery, and admission. Bree suffered severe crush injuries to both legs. Her left leg had to be amputated and her right leg was severely injured and will need extensive physical therapy.

Many legal and financial issues or questions arise from such an incident:

What safety precautions were in place to prevent such incidents from taking place?

Where was the car wash being held? Who owned the property where the car wash was being held?

Who was operating the vehicle at the time of the incident?

What adults were supervising the car wash?

What was the involvement of the soccer club as to the fund raiser?

What insurance will apply to the injuries? Health insurance? Automobile insurance? Business liability insurance? Homeowner's insurance? Club liability insurance?

What safety precautions should have been in place to prevent this incident?

Bree McMahon will have a long period of rehabilitation. Bree will face certain challenges in life in dealing with these injuries. Furthermore, it will be a challenge for her family as well. Hopefully, safety precautions will be taken in the future to prevent incidents like these from taking place. Fundraisers and car washes can be fun but they can also be dangerous without safety precautions and proper supervision in place. You can read more about this story 17 Year Old Girl Suffers Serious Injuries at Soccer Fundraising Car Wash.

The Florida Department of Children and Families has ordered that a Waldo, Florida day care center shut down. According to an article in the Gainesville Sun newspaper website, Little People's Palace has been shut down at the order of the Florida DCF. This day care center was previously operating for approximately one month without a license. The Florida DCF had cited with compliance violations. There were also concerns regarding criminal / employment background checks and the history of the owner and employees. In Florida, a day care center can operate under a regular license issued by the State of Florida or a religious exempt status if the day care center is part of a bona fide religious institution. Even religious exempt day care centers have employment screening and background checks as well as other requirements.

Day care licensing regulations are enforced and monitored by the Florida Department of Children and Families. Is it important for day care centers to follow the regulations? Absolutely. Many of the regulations involve staffing and safety measures which help promote the health and well being of the children. These regulations also help prevent the incidence of personal injuries to children in day care centers. Day care center operators who try to avoid regulations often times skip over other details as to safety. When enrolling a child in a Florida day care center, ask for documentation regarding licensure, staffing, and background checks. It is also helpful to contact the local office for the Department of Children and Families to get information on the facility and owner.

The Associated Press and the Gainesville (Florida) Sun reported that a 10 year old from Polk County died from an disease / infection that he acquired from an Auburndale, Florida lake. The name of the infection is Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis. Symptoms from this disease / infection can include fever, nausea, headaches, stiffness in the neck, and some confusion. Other symptoms can also include loss of balance and body control as well as seizures, and hallucinations. Naegleria fowleri is the infection that leads to this most serious and deadly disease. Naegleria fowleri forms in warm, stagnant bodies of freshwater. It forms typically in summer months. Since this disease is deadly / lethal if left untreated, a prompt diagnosis and administration of intravenous medication is vital for a chance of recovery or cure from this disease.