Your daily look at news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today.
ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES TO BE DROPPED AGAINST MOM WHO DROVE KIDS INTO OCEAN
An attorney for a mother charged with trying to kill her three children by driving them into the ocean off Daytona Beach says prosecutors will drop attempted murder charges and she will plead not guilty by reason of insanity to child abuse. Ebony Wilkerson’s attorney says a judge will consider the proposed deal later this week.
CANADIAN TEEN ACCUSED OF 3 PRANK ‘SWATTING’ INCIDENTS IN FLORIDA
Officials have arrested a Canadian teenager after Polk County sheriff’s detectives say the 17-year-old boy was involved in three Polk County “swatting” pranks. “Swatting” is a prank that involves reporting a false emergency to law enforcement so that a SWAT team responds to a specific address.
NO BAIL FOR VERMONT MAIN IN FLORIDA POLO MOGUL TAMPERING CASE
A Vermont man will remain jailed until trial on fraud charges after he allegedly tried to tamper with a jury considering DUI manslaughter charges against a prominent Florida polo mogul. A federal judge refused bail Tuesday for James Perron of Tinmouth, Vermont, who has pleaded not guilty. Trial is currently set for Jan. 12.
FLORIDA SELLING OFF SHUTTERED MENTAL HOSPITAL IN ARCADIA
Florida is selling off a closed mental hospital and nearly 500 acres in Arcadia to a company that is promising to build a driver training center and hotel. Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday voted to sell the former G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital to Power Auto Corporation for $2.5 million.
FLORIDA MAN CONVICTED OF THEFT WITH SHAM RECORD COMPANY
A Kissimmee man has been convicted of grand theft for wooing investors through a sham record company. The statewide prosecutor said Tuesday that 49-year-old Scott Campbell netted $1 million over 10 years from the scheme. A jury convicted Campbell of first-degree grand theft after a week-long trial.