TALLAHASSEE REPORTS
Page 4 August 28, 2021
Local News
Lincoln Community Center to House Mental Health Pilot Program By Lynsey Kirk
mental health specialist can provide a referral to a community partner agency for more assistance, if needed. The Neighborhood-Based Mental Health Pilot Program is a part of the city’s larger plan to create “Resilience Hubs”, to enhance public safety and quality of life for Tallahassee citizens. To carry out the new program and build Resilience Hubs, the city is enhancing some of its existing facilities, including the Lincoln Center. Mayor John Dailey stated in the announcement that “supporting our community’s mental health needs is a top priority for our City. I am proud that we continue to innovate and
The City of Tallahassee recently announced the creation of a Neighborhood-Based Mental Health Pilot Program which will be located at the Lincoln Center. The initiative will bring mental health services closer to neighborhoods. Through the new program, residents can participate in up to three free one-on-one counseling sessions with a certified mental health provider, regardless of health insurance status. After the third free appointment, the
U.S. Attorney Press Release
12 Noon - 1 pm
WEEKLY CRIME TRACKER The tables and charts below track public safety data in Tallahassee and Leon County. The first set of data tracks crime incidents as reported by the Tallahassee Police Department. The table compares selected property and violent crime incidents in 2021 to the same time period during 2020. This weeks report shows the continuing trend of lower property
crimes, but higher violent crime incidents. The second set of data tracks arrests in Leon County as provided by the Leon County Sheriff 's Office. The data shows that arrests 2021 are mirroring the number of arrests in 2020. For more information on the data behind the Weekly Crime Tracker visit tallahasseereports.com
YTD TPD Incident Comparisons Jan 1 - Aug 22 2020 2521 1886 1259 627 635 380 107 148
Total incidents -- Property Auto Burglary & Theft Res. & Comm. Burglaries
--Violent
Assault & Battery Sexual Battery Robbery
2021 2365 1609 1033 576 756 505 117 134
Chg
%Chg
-156 -277 -226 -51 121 125 10 -14
-6.2% -14.7% -18.0% -8.1% 19.1% 32.9% 9.3% -9.5%
YTD Incident Category Comparisons Jan 1 - Aug 22
1000
1259 1033
2020 627 576
500 0
Auto Burglary & Theft
Res. & Comm. Burglaries
380
2021
505
Assault & Battery
107 117
148 134
Sexual Battery
Robbery
YTD Arrest Comparisons Jan 1 -Aug 22 Total Arrests --Jail --Violent --Drug --Property --Weapons
2020
2021
4455 3207 1189 642 1228 490
4434 3194 990 909 874 435
Change
%Change
-21 -13 -199 267 -354 -55
-0.5% -0.4% -16.7% 41.6% -28.8% -11.2%
YTD Arrest Category Comparisons 3500
Jan 1 - Aug 22
3207 3194
3000 2020
2500
2021
2000 1500
1189
1000
990 642
909
1228 874 490 435
500 0
Individual counseling sessions are available by appointment from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Lincoln Center. To make an appointment, you can call (850) 523-3333, extension 3221.
J.T. Burnett Found Guilty on Five Charges
New Time
1500
find new ways to reach our residents in need and connect them to free counseling. This new service can help members of our community navigate, or prevent, a crisis with the guidance of a mental health professional.”
--Jail
--Violent
--Drug
--Property
--Weapons
the City of Tallahassee,”stated Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “Our citizens TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – deserve and expect that those in public A federal jury in Tallahassee has office will act in the public’s interest, convicted John Thomas Burnette, 44, rather than their own and that of their of Tallahassee, Florida of one count confederates. Those who violate their of Extortion Under Color of Official oath and betray the public’s trust will Right, two counts of Honest Services be the subject of this office and our Fraud by Bribery, one count of Use law enforcement partners’ unwavering of Interstate Commerce Facilities efforts, which will continue beyond to Promote Bribery, and one count this verdict.” of Making False Statements to a “Our citizens are entitled to Federal Officer. The guilty verdict decisions based on the best interests was returned August 13, 2021, at the of the public, not the best interests conclusion of a fifteen-day trial. of corrupt public officials and bribeActing United States Attorney for paying business owners seeking to line the Northern District of Florida, Jason their own pocketbooks,” said Rachel L. R. Coody, Assistant Attorney General Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice FBI Jacksonville Division. Department’s Criminal Division, and “Let there be no doubt – bribes are Special Agent in Charge Rachel Rojas not good business in Tallahassee, nor of the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office anywhere else. The FBI remains fully made the announcement. committed to ensuring that anyone In December 2018, a federal who violates the public’s trust is held grand jury charged Tallahassee City accountable.” Commissioner Scott Maddox and Burnette’s sentencing hearing is Paige Carter-Smith in a forty-four scheduled for October 28, 2021, count indictment. In May 2019, a at 1:00 pm at the United States grand jury returned a superseding Courthouse in Tallahassee before the indictment adding Burnette as a Honorable United States District Judge defendant. Maddox and Carter-Smith Robert L. Hinkle. subsequently pleaded guilty to two Burnette faces maximum penalties counts of Honest Services Fraud by of 20 years in prison for Counts Two, Bribery and one count of Conspiring Five, and Six (the Extortion and to Interfere with the Lawful Function Honest Services Fraud offenses) and 5 of the IRS. In October 2019, a grand years for Counts Eight and Nine (the jury returned a second superseding Use of Interstate Facilities to Promote indictment against Burnette. Bribery and Making False Statements At trial, the government presented to a Federal Officer offenses). evidence that Burnette engaged in a Scott Maddox and Paige Cartermulti-year scheme with Maddox and Smith’s sentencing hearing is Carter-Smith to commit extortion, scheduled for September 9, 2021, fraud, and bribery. During the scheme, at 10:00 am at the United States Burnette and Maddox extorted bribe Courthouse in Tallahassee before the payments from FBI undercover agents Honorable United States (“UCs”) who were posing as real District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. estate developers and entrepreneurs. Both Maddox and Smith face Burnette instructed the UCs that to maximum penalties of 20 years in obtain preferential treatment, they prison for the Honest Services Wire must pay bribes to Maddox through Fraud and Honest Services Mail Fraud Governance Services. Burnette, offenses and 5 years in prison for the Maddox, Carter-Smith, and the Conspiracy to Defraud the United UCs agreed that the UCs would States offense. pay Governance Services $10,000 The conviction was conducted by per month in exchange for Maddox the Federal Bureau of Investigation agreeing to perform official acts meant and the Internal Revenue Service to benefit the UCs’ sham development – Criminal Investigation. The case company. against Maddox and Carter-Smith In 2017, FBI agents approached was prosecuted by Assistant United Burnette, identified themselves as FBI States Attorneys Stephen M. Kunz, agents, and asked Burnette about his and Andrew J. Grogan of the Northern involvement in the bribe payments District of Florida, and Deputy Chief to Maddox. During the interview, Peter M. Nothstein, and Trial Attorney Burnette repeatedly lied about his Rosaleen T. O’Gara of the Department knowledge of the UCs’ payments to of Justice, Criminal Division’s Public and involvement with Maddox. Integrity Section. “Today’s verdict affirms a multi-year investigation of public corruption in ####
Jackie Pons Takes Principal Job in Jefferson County PONS, From Front Page
as the transition principal at JeffersonSomerset K-12. Jackie Pons, a former school superintendent in Leon County, has been appointed the transition principal, a role he will share with Somerset’s current principal, Cory Oliver. Pons is expected to permanently fill the principal role in 2022. For two weeks prior to school starting, Pons had been on campus working with Oliver to help make the transition a success. He has also met with many parents at an open house and had received a warm reception from the community. Superintendent Eydie Tricquet introduced Pons to the Jefferson County School Board on August 9th. According to the Jefferson County Journal, the Board members welcomed him, stating they had heard positive comments from parents who were planning to return their children to school. Pons said he is excited to be at Somerset and
if he can prove himself, he plans on being there for a while. Pons explained, in an interview with the news, that he will be learning about the school system from top to bottom by shadowing Oliver. He said that Oliver will be running the daily operations while he learns about the protocols and procedures. He added that his goal is to continue improving the school’s academic performance and attracting back the many students who have opted to pursue other avenues for their education, such as homeschooling and private schools. Pons began his career as a teacher at Rickards High School in Leon County. He then became assistant principal at Rickards and then the principal at Deer Lake Middle School. In 2006 he became Leon County school superintendent, replacing Bill Montford. Pons served as superintendent for 10 years, before he lost to Leon County’s current superintendent, Rocky Hanna.
