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CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Man accused of trying to persuade 15-year-old girl into having sex for $2,000, Miami Police say
A Miami man has bonded out of jail after being accused of trying to persuade a 15-year-old girl into having sex for $2,000, police said. Lester Tellez, 45, was arrested earlier this week and charged with lewd and lascivious conduct on a child under age 16, seducing a child into engaging in sexual acts and promoting sexual performance by a child after an investigation into allegations of underage sexual coercion, City of Miami Police said. "The safety and well-being of the community, particularly its youth, remain a top priority for law enforcement," Miami Police said. "We urge anyone with additional information about this case or similar incidents to come forward." According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Tellez was released from jail on Wednesday. Police said the incident began when Tellez unexpectedly came to the victim's home to pick up his son from the victim, who was babysitting for her older sister, on Monday. Arrest documents obtained by CBS News Miami said that the victim's sister, who was at work, contacted the victim on her cell phone and told her that Tellez, the older sister's ex-partner, was outside their apartment and wanted to see his son. According to the arrest documents, Tellez had not seen his son in two years and showed up "unannounced" to the home that day. The older sister was upset at Tellez but allowed him to take his son shopping. So she called the victim and told her to open the gate to let him in. The victim told police that she sent her nephew downstairs and he left with Tellez. Sometime later, Tellez returned and dropped off his son. Then, Tellez allegedly called the victim and told her he took his son shopping but "did not get her anything." At this time, Tellez told the victim that he would pay her $2,000 if she would "spend the night with him," the arrest documents said. The victim then told him not to talk to her like that and hung up the phone. Following the phone call, Tellez allegedly tried contacting the victim again on WhatsApp, reiterating the inappropriate message and soliciting other sexual favors, police said. The victim took screenshots and showed the messages to her sister once she got home. According to the arrest documents, the older sister called Tellez and yelled at him, and the victim subsequently blocked his number. The victim and her sister then contacted police, where detectives launched a controlled communication strategy during which Tellez allegedly "continued to use explicit language and attempted to proposition the juvenile," Miami Police said. Following these efforts, Miami Police detectives found and arrested Tellez without incident. After he was interviewed, he was taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center for processing.
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Man convicted of revenge killing executed in Florida
A 54-year-old man convicted of a 1993 revenge killing has been put to death in Florida, in the 26th execution in the United States this year, the most in a decade. Michael Bell was executed by lethal injection at the Florida State Prison in Raiford for the murders of 23-year-old Jimmy West and 18-year-old Tamecka Smith. A brief statement from the Florida Department of Corrections confirmed that the execution was carried out at 6.25pm (11.25pm Irish times) yesterday. There have been eight executions in Florida this year and 26 across the nation, the most since the 28 executions of 2015. Nine other executions are currently scheduled this year. Bell was convicted in 1995 of shooting Mr West and Ms Smith in Jacksonville and sentenced to death. According to court records, Bell was seeking revenge for the killing of his brother Lamar Bell several months earlier by Mr West's half-brother, Theodore Wright. Citing new evidence and recanted trial testimony, Bell had been seeking to halt his execution, but the Florida Supreme Court denied his latest appeal, saying the evidence of his guilt was "overwhelming." Twenty-one executions have been carried out by lethal injection in the United States this year. Two have been by firing squad and three by nitrogen hypoxia, which involves pumping nitrogen gas into a face mask, causing the prisoner to suffocate. The use of nitrogen gas as a method of capital punishment has been denounced by United Nations experts as cruel and inhumane. The death penalty has been abolished in 23 of the 50 US states, while three others - California, Oregon and Pennsylvania - have moratoriums in place. President Donald Trump is a proponent of capital punishment, and on his first day in office called for an expansion of its use "for the vilest crimes."
Boston Globe
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
A Florida man is set to be the 26th person executed in the US this year, surpassing 2024's total
Advertisement John Blume, the director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project, says the uptick in executions doesn't appear to be linked to a change in public support for the death penalty or an increase in the rate of death sentences, but is rather the function of the discretion of state governors. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'A number of these people being executed are people that have been in the system for a long time; they've been on death row for a long time,' Blume said, adding that there are aggressive executives and attorney generals 'who want to execute these people.' He pointed to a sweeping executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day back in office aimed at urging prosecutors to seek the death penalty and preserving capital punishment in the states. Advertisement 'The most cynical view would be: It seems to matter to the president, so it matters to them,' Blume said of the governors. Florida Department of Corrections spokesperson Ted Veerman said Tuesday that the department was well-prepared to do its duty as assigned by the courts and the governor. This undated provided by the Florida Department of Corrections shows Bell, who is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke on Tuesday. Uncredited/Associated Press Bell would be the eighth person put to death in Florida this year, with a ninth scheduled for later this month. The state executed six people in 2023 but only one last year. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, with Texas and South Carolina tied for second place at four each. Alabama has executed three people, Oklahoma has killed two, and Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee each have killed one. In December 1993, Bell spotted what he thought was the car of the man who fatally shot his brother earlier that year, according to court records. Bell was apparently unaware that the man had sold the car to West. Bell called on two friends and armed himself with an AK-47 rifle, authorities said. They found the car parked outside a liquor lounge and waited. When West, Smith and another woman eventually exited the club, Bell approached the car and opened fire, officials said. West died at the scene, and Smith died on the way to the hospital. The other woman escaped injury. Witnesses said Bell also fired at a crowd of onlookers before fleeing the area. He was eventually arrested the next year. Bell was later convicted of three additional murders. He fatally shot a woman and her toddler son in 1989 and killed his mother's boyfriend about four months before the attack on West and Smith, officials said. Advertisement Prison officials said Bell woke up at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and ate his last meal, which was an omelet, bacon, home fries and orange juice. He met with a spiritual adviser but did not have any other visitors. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Bell's request to stay the execution Tuesday. His lawyers argued in their state filing that Bell's execution should be halted because of newly discovered evidence about witness testimony. But justices unanimously rejected the argument last week and pointed to overwhelming evidence of Bell's guilt in a 54-page opinion. Associated Press reporters Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Fla., and Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.
Toronto Sun
15-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Revenge killer to be executed in Florida
-/Florida Department of Corrections/AFP Photo by - / Florida Department of Corrections/AFP MIAMI — A 54-year-old man convicted of a 1993 revenge killing is to be put to death in Florida on Tuesday in the 26th execution in the United States this year, the most in a decade. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Michael Bell is to executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. at the Florida State Prison in Raiford for the murders of Jimmy West, 23, and Tamecka Smith, 18. There have been seven executions in Florida this year and 25 across the nation. Bell's execution will take the US total for the year to 26, the most since the 28 executions in 2015. Nine other executions are currently scheduled this year. Bell was convicted in 1995 of shooting West and Smith outside a liquor store in Jacksonville and sentenced to death. According to court records, Bell was seeking revenge for the killing of his brother Lamar Bell several months earlier by West's half-brother, Theodore Wright. Citing new evidence and recanted trial testimony, Bell has been seeking to halt his execution but the Florida Supreme Court denied his latest appeal, saying the evidence of his guilt was 'overwhelming.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Twenty executions have been carried out by lethal injection in the United States this year. Two have been by firing squad and three by nitrogen hypoxia, which involves pumping nitrogen gas into a face mask, causing the prisoner to suffocate. The use of nitrogen gas as a method of capital punishment has been denounced by United Nations experts as cruel and inhumane. The death penalty has been abolished in 23 of the 50 US states, while three others — California, Oregon and Pennsylvania — have moratoriums in place. President Donald Trump is a proponent of capital punishment, and on his first day in office called for an expansion of its use 'for the vilest crimes.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO NFL Editorial Cartoons Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Columnists
The Sun
25-06-2025
- The Sun
Florida executes killer, Mississippi set for first since 2022
MIAMI: A man sentenced to death for murder in the state of Florida was executed late Tuesday, one of two executions in the United States this week. Thomas Gudinas, 51, was scheduled to die by lethal injection at 6:00 pm (2200 GMT) at the Florida State Prison in Raiford. Thirteen minutes later, the Florida Department of Corrections confirmed in a statement that the execution had been carried out. Gudinas was sentenced to death in 1995 for the murder of Michelle McGrath, who was last seen leaving a bar in the city of Orlando in the early hours. McGrath's battered body was found the next day and Gudinas was arrested shortly afterwards. Florida has carried out more executions -- seven -- than any other US state so far this year. Meanwhile, a Mississippi man on Death Row for 49 years is to be executed by lethal injection at 6:00 pm Central Time (2300 GMT) Wednesday, at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman. Richard Jordan, 79, was convicted and sentenced to death in 1976 for the murder of Edwina Marter, the wife of a bank executive in the town of Gulfport. Jordan, a shipyard worker, kidnapped Marter from her home and demanded a $25,000 ransom. He was apprehended when he went to pick up the money. Jordan confessed to murdering Marter and led the authorities to her body, which had been hidden in a forest. She had been shot. The execution in Mississippi will be the first in the southern state since December 2022. There have been 24 executions in the United States this year: 19 by lethal injection, two by firing squad and three by nitrogen hypoxia, which involves pumping nitrogen gas into a facemask, causing the prisoner to suffocate. The use of nitrogen gas as an execution method has been denounced by United Nations experts as cruel and inhumane. The death penalty has been abolished in 23 of the 50 US states, while three others -- California, Oregon and Pennsylvania -- have moratoriums in place. President Donald Trump is a proponent of capital punishment, and on his first day in office called for an expansion of its use 'for the vilest crimes.'
