Latest news with #13thJudicialCircuit
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Retired Tampa police officer sentenced to more than a century in prison after child porn conviction
The Brief A former Tampa police officer will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was handed a lengthy prison sentence on Friday. It comes after he was convicted earlier this year on 100 counts of possessing child pornography. He was working as a reserve officer with TPD when more than 100 images of child pornography were found on his devices. TAMPA, Fla. - A former Tampa police officer was sentenced to more than a century in prison. On Friday, Paul Mumford was sentenced to 111 years in prison, after being convicted earlier this year of 100 counts of possession of child pornography. Mumford worked for the Tampa Police Department from 1986 to 2015, when he retired as a Sergeant. He returned shortly after as a reserve officer. RELATED: Retired Tampa police officer arrested on 100 counts of child pornography, TPD chief says The backstory A tip in 2021 led investigators to search Mumford's devices. In 2022, they also searched his home and found more than 100 images of child pornography on his devices. "There are at least 162 identified, exploited children that were located in the images on his device," a prosecutor with the 13th Judicial Circuit said. At the time of his arrest, TPD confirmed that Mumford worked on the department's sex crimes unit from 2008-2009. On Friday, the state pointed to other evidence that was revealed during Mumford's trial earlier this year. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "Also in his possession were numerous stories that did come out during the course of the trial that confirmed Mr. Mumford's wants, desires and, quite frankly, his like and interest in the child pornography that was located on his devices," the prosecutor said. The other side However, Mumford's attorney argued that this was all one incident, as opposed to many different incidents. "It is one criminal act of pointing and clicking and downloading a series of files," Mumford's attorney said. His attorney argued that the sentencing guidelines are disproportionate and incredibly harsh for the conduct that he was convicted of. READ: Grady Judd: 255 suspects, including 36 illegal immigrants, busted in operation 'Fool Around and Find Out' "These files were, whomever deleted them, were deleted in a 26-second period within the first six hours of the charging information, so to say that there is some evidence of multiple downloads or multiple images is contrary to the evidence that their expert agreed to," Mumford's attorney said. Mumford's attorney also pointed out that Mumford has no prior criminal record and has a record of service to the community. The prosecutor pointed to data shown during the trial, that there were multiple access dates and modify dates recorded on the device. What they're saying "There was no evidence that this was a one-time click," the prosecutor said. "There was no evidence that Mr. Mumford simply got onto Google, searched for "child pornography" and then, all of a sudden, all of these images magically appeared on his devices." When the judge sentenced Mumford, he shared some remarks of his own. "This was not just an accidental click on Google where these child pornography pictures showed up," Judge Robin Fuson said. "One does not find child pornography accidentally." The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kylie Jones. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Miami Herald
28-02-2025
- Miami Herald
Dad called fatal shooting of 5-year-old an accident, Florida cops say. He's convicted
A dad fired five shots as his two kids were lying in a bunk bed, killing his 5-year-old daughter and wounding his 8-year-old son, Florida authorities said. The 32-year-old father said it was an accident, but a jury has now convicted him of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and aggravated child abuse in the 2022 incident, according to the Florida State Attorney's Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit. McClatchy News is not identifying the dad to protect the identity of his surviving son. 'What happened on that day is very tragic and sad, but my client did not shoot his children,' defense attorney Jennifer Spradley told the jury during opening statements broadcast by Court TV. Spradley said the 8-year-old boy's DNA was also on the gun, leading to 'more questions ... than answers.' Defense attorneys declined to comment to McClatchy News. First responders arrived at the Hillsborough County home the evening of Aug. 29, 2022, to find the father in the living room holding his 8-year-old son, who had a gunshot wound to the head, according to an affidavit. The mom had left the home to call 911, as neighbors also called in reports of gunfire, officials said. Deputies said the dad told them to call paramedics and that no one else was in the home, but when they went upstairs, they found his 5-year-old daughter lying in bed with multiple gunshot wounds, including one in the middle of her forehead. 'He didn't beg them to go save her,' State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in closing statements. 'He didn't beg them to help her. He said nothing happened upstairs.' The dad told investigators he was trying to remove the magazine from his semiautomatic Glock when the gun 'went off,' deputies said. But detectives found five bullet casings in the bedroom, which didn't align with his statement that the shooting was an accidental discharge, according to the affidavit. Both his children had gunshot wounds to the head, deputies said. 'Those are aimed, precise, deliberate bullet holes,' Lopez said. 'That is not an accident. That is not loading the firearm and it going off.' The 8-year-old boy was awake and complaining that his head hurt when first responders arrived, and he was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, deputies said. The brother survived, but his sister did not. The girl was a kindergarten student and cheerleader who loved butterflies and eating cinnamon rolls for breakfast, according to her obituary. Her grandmother described her as 'precious and lovable.' The jury found the father guilty on all charges Feb. 27, and he'll go to prison for life, prosecutors said. Hillsborough County includes the Tampa Bay area.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Prosecutors file charges against 5 teens, adult for ‘brutal' Tampa dog park attack
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Five minors who were arrested after assaulting another teenager at the Davis Island Dog Park earlier this month have been charged as adults, according to prosecutors. On Feb. 13. the five suspects approached a pickup truck where the victim was sitting. St. Petersburg family left without AC for months, despite warranty The State Attorney's Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit said cell phone videos captured at the scene showed the suspects pulling the victim out of the truck and beating him repeatedly until he lost consciousness. Prosecutors reviewed the videos of the incident and have charged the five juveniles as adults. An additional perpetrator who was already 18 will also be charged. The individuals involved and their charges are as follows: Owen Callahan, 17, charged with attempted murder in the first degree Jacob Ely, 17, charged with attempted murder in the first degree, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and throwing a deadly missile at or into a vehicle. Joseph Gesuale, 16, charged with attempted murder in the first degree, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Jace Villanueva, 16, charged with attempted murder in the first degree, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon Grayson Shearer, 16, charged with attempted murder in the first degree Orian Robinson, 18, charged with Felony battery, and burglary. Prosecutors will request a judge to hold the defendants behind bars until trial, which will be decided over the next few days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
