Latest news with #SouthFloridians
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Barahona competent to stand trial for murder of daughter, torture of twin brother
Jorge Barahona, a Westchester electrician charged with unspeakable acts that resulted in the death of one adopted child and badly injured another, is competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Wednesday. The gruesome discoveries of the 10-year-old twins also roused state legislators and put the state's leading child welfare agency under withering criticism for improper oversight that led to a multimillion dollar settlement. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson's decision came at the end of a two-day hearing in which forensic psychologists dueled over Barahona's competency and opined on his ability to help his defense team at trial. In the end, the judge determined Barahona, 58, met the criteria necessary to sit at a defense table across from jurors and fight for his life. Though the judge didn't set a trial date, she said she believes Barahona is capable of aiding his defense attorneys, and that he understands the charges and the severity of the penalties should he be found guilty. Then she told the defendant he's surrounded by one of the finest defense teams in the state. 'I truly encourage you to work with them,' Wolfson said. Wolfson found Barahona incompetent to stand trial in March 2024 and ordered him released from Miami-Dade jail and sent to the Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center to recover. Twice in the past six months evaluations there determined he was well enough to be competent at trial. Most experts who testified this week attributed that to a series of factors that included more constructive surroundings than jail. State prosecutors and defense attorneys will return to court for a status update on Sept. 19. A young girl burned to death with chemicals The shocking 2011 death of 10-year-old Nubia Barahona and the near death of her twin brother Victor shocked South Floridians, remained in the headlines for weeks and rocked the state's Department of Children & Families like few cases before it. Nubia's badly decomposed body was found by police wrapped in plastic and covered with chemicals in the back of Barahona's pick-up truck on the side of I-95 in West Palm Beach. Victor, who somehow survived, was in the truck's cab suffering seizures from chemical burns. Next to Victor in the driver's seat: Barahona, who also managed to burn himself with chemicals, police said. It wasn't long before an investigation of the family's Westchester home uncovered the numerous gruesome acts the Barahonas did to their adopted children, police said. They said Barahona and his wife Carmen Barahona, 74, beat and tortured the twins, tying them with electrical cord and shocking them in a bathtub with the door locked. A state legislator said the couple smeared feces into the twins' faces when they were upset with them. Both Barahonas were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and several counts of aggravated child neglect. Carmen flipped in 2020, agreeing to a life sentence in exchange for her testimony. Jorge, who will now stand trial, is facing the death penalty. The trial was delayed for more than a decade as hundreds of depositions were taken and as the state's child welfare agency dealt with the fallout. Victor, who was last known to be living with relatives in Texas, was awarded $3.75 million by Florida state legislators in 2017. Experts: Barahona understands ramifications The hearing concluded Wednesday with two final expert witnesses offering contrasting opinions on Jorge Barahona's ability to stand trial. 'If he's calm, he can help and understands,' forensic psychologist Dyra Bodan said before leaving the stand. Psychologist Sandra Klein, though, said Barahona seemed unable to move past delusions that included missing evidence and pictures that just don't exist. 'I've never found that Mr. Barahona did not have a level of difficulties,' she said. Finally, the attorneys closed, with lead defense attorney Khurrum Wahid telling Wolfson she needed to signal that Barahona be surrounded by an environment of mental health experts who could give him cognitive behavioral therapy and put him on specific medications to be functional— something that wouldn't happen in jail. 'We do it in probation orders. I'm not sure it would be completely outside the realm of the court's power,' said Wahid. Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney Laura Adams had a different perspective. 'At the end of the day,' she said, 'this defendant's stubbornness does not render him incompetent.'
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
‘Don't Lie for the Other Guy.' ATF targets straw purchases of guns
In the year Ashley Perez has worked as a cashier for an indoor gun range, she has witnessed a grim trend that firearm retailers have seen in recent years. 'I had a homeless lady come in. ... She was trying to purchase a gun, but just with dollar bills. ... [Another time] a mother came in to buy her younger son a gun, saying, 'It's for me,' while the son was saying it's for him,' the 24-year-old described seeing last summer. Perez and her team at Top Gun Indoor Range Florida in Kendall identified the pattern in both cases almost instantly. They were tell-tale attempts at straw purchases — buying firearms for people legally prohibited from owning them. It's a federal crime that could land an a offender a $250,000 fine and a 15-year prison sentence. A 2022 act signed by then-President Joe Biden tacks on 10 more years behind bars if the gun is used to commit a felony, an act of terrorism or a drug-trafficking crime. In a public campaign, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is warning potential straw purchasers about those steep penalties. . 'The message behind the campaign is simple: If you're buying a gun for someone who can't legally own one, you are committing a crime,' said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent John Vecchio during a Friday press conference at the gun range. 'You're helping potentially arm someone with dangerous intentions.' Vecchio joined the ATF, Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office and National Shooting Sports Foundation at Top Gun to announce the newest iteration of the 'Don't Lie for the Other Guy' campaign, which aims to curb the crime. Next month, South Floridians can expect to see billboards and posters with messaging that includes 'Buy a gun for someone who can't and buy yourself 15 years in jail.' Listeners of top radio stations and podcasts will hear the same. The 25-year-old, nationwide campaign isn't changing its strategies, but instead focusing on South Florida, which is a magnet for domestic and international gun trafficking. 'The availability of firearms is higher here and the restrictions on sales are a little bit less than they are in some states,' explained Rob Cekada, the ATF's deputy director, on why the crime is prevalent in the area. 'One of the reasons we picked Miami ... there's a lot of firearms trafficking that begins here and ends up in the Caribbean and also ends up in Mexico as well.' But the real danger behind straw-purchasing, Cekada says, is how it arms South Florida felons and encourages violent crimes. The deputy director's latest investigation, he shared, is still turning up illegally traded guns at crime scenes that happened in Miami and Margate and are linked to two Florida straw purchasers who bought more than 48 firearms. A 2024 ATF report confirms the pipeline nationwide, revealing that of the 7,000+ cases between 2017 and 2021 in which firearms were peddled, 60% of the 'end users' had at least one prior felony conviction. 'Rarely do we recover a firearm at a crime scene that was purchased by the perpetrator,' said Hayden O'Byrne, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, at the briefing. He added that retailers such as Top Gun and other federal firearm licensees play a large role in preventing straw purchases, calling them 'the first line of defense.' FFLs are individuals or businesses allowed to manufacture, import and deal firearms and are required to renew the permit with ATF every three years. Because Florida gun laws require only federal firearm licensees — not private sellers — to conduct background checks when transferring firearms, employees such as Perez are crucial to preventing the crime. 'We look out for signs, that's the first thing we do. The second we see a person walk through the door, we see the way they stand, the way they're speaking, if they're grabbing their phone too much,' she said. 'We want our hands [clean], and we want to do it the right way and the legal way.' That's why the 'Don't Lie for the Other Guy' campaign is teaching retailers how to identify straw-purchasers. 'This is a two-prong approach,' said Joseph Bartozzi, president of the NSSF, which launched the campaign with the ATF in 2000. 'Part of it is we help to work with the retailers like this to teach them about how to identify the red flags.' The other half? To warn everyday people unaware of the crime's severity before they make the mistake. Bartozzi cleared up that though money is a key motivator for those initiating straw purchases, it's not the only one. Peer pressure and 'a sense of loyalty' to family or friends explain why some participate in the crime. Others are emotionally manipulated or threatened with physical harm by those barred from owning guns themselves. Some just don't know it's illegal. 'It's not just criminal, but even unwitting, law-abiding people that might be caught up with a boyfriend or girlfriend,' he said. 'We want to make sure everyone understands that it is a crime, even if it's unintentionally related to a crime that's going to be committed later on.'
Miami Herald
07-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
What makes it so hard to live in South Florida? See some of the housing issues
Real Estate News What makes it so hard to live in South Florida? See some of the housing issues The following articles explore the challenges of living in South Florida. They highlight the region's unaffordable housing market, rising costs and gentrification pressures. In Miami, residents face rising rents and financial strain. Many spend over half their income on housing. Condo buyouts become more common in South Florida. Structural issues and rising costs push some condo owners to sell. Developers target these properties, viewing them as prime redevelopment opportunities. Black South Floridians struggle with homeownership in gentrifying Miami communities. They face barriers like predatory lending and low credit scores. Read the stories below. North Bay Village, junto a la bahía y muy cerca de la playa de Miami Beach, recibe proyectos residenciales de lujo, que aumentan precios inmobilarios. Un programa de vivienda de la ciudad ayuda a los residentes y trabajadores esenciales a comprar condos, alquilar o pagar servicios públicos atrasados. By MATIAS J. OCNER NO. 1: IS YOUR CONDO RIPE FOR A BUYOUT? SEVEN SIGNS THAT DEVELOPERS MIGHT TARGET YOUR BUILDING The Miami Herald spoke with three real estate experts who weighed in on the telltale signs a condominium is ripe for redevelopment. | Published October 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by rsanjuan@ San Juan Stephania Germain, 24, who is on a Section 8 housing voucher, poses inside her apartment that she lives in with her daughter on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Miami. Germain was raised in foster care and is doing the best she can for herself and her baby. She says that even with the voucher, with recent increases it makes paying rent tough. 'It just keeps going up and I don't get a break to save, and I need new baby clothes, ya know they grow out of them so fast,' said Germain. By Alie Skowronski NO. 2: MIAMIANS ARE THE MOST RENT-BURDENED PEOPLE IN AMERICA — AND THEY'RE STRESSED ABOUT IT New Census Bureau data shows that Miamians spend a larger chunk of their incomes on housing than residents in all other major American cities. | Published October 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Max Klaver Sabrina Guillaume stands outside the duplex she owns in Liberty City. Guillaume spent several years trying to buy a property in the neighborhood where her parents live and she grew up. By Carl Juste NO. 3: BLACK SOUTH FLORIDIANS STRUGGLE TO BUY AND KEEP HOMES IN MIAMI'S GENTRIFYING COMMUNITIES 'We're losing ground every day.' | Published April 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Raisa Habersham Michael Butler The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
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Miami Herald
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
South Florida is in for a wet weekend as tropical system chances rise
Florida is in for a wet weekend as the chances that a tropical system will develop continue to climb. The National Hurricane Center raised the likelihood of development for a potential system near the northeast coast of Florida to 60% in the next seven days — up from 40% the day before — and for the first time gave the system a 20% chance of strengthening in the next day or two. Over the last few days, the hurricane center has nudged the blob on the map, representing where it believes the system could form, from across the north half of Florida to a decidedly Atlantic position. Storm models suggest that if something does form, it could head north along the southeast coast of the U.S. But South Florida is still likely to get soaked. In a Thursday morning update, the Miami office of the National Weather Service said that 'regardless of the final outcome,' South Floridians can expect 'rounds of showers, with global models depicting widespread rain across (South Florida).' Models suggest around 2 to 3 inches of rain could fall throughout the weekend, with scattered and numerous thunderstorms daily. 'There is potential for periods of heavy rain resulting in localized urban flooding, especially over the east coast metro areas,' NWS said. At its highest, forecasters predict some areas could see 4 to 5 inches of rain.
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Former Broward County high school football and baseball stars making moves
Three former Broward County prep stars have made news recently – Roman Anthony, the No. 1 prospect in baseball; Damien Alford, the No. 1 pick in the Canadian Football League draft; and Brian Van Belle, who was traded three weeks ago and may be on the cusp of the major leagues. Here's a closer look: ▪ Anthony, who played his high school ball at Stoneman Douglas, has had a monster month. On June 7, while playing for the Boston Red Sox Triple-A team, Anthony hit a 497-foot grand slam that was the longest homer in pro baseball this season. Two days later, he made his MLB debut. Then, on June 10, he earned his first major-league hit, a two-run double. And, on Monday, he blasted his first MLB homer, a 391-foot shot that helped Boston defeat host Seattle, 2-0. 'He looks really comfortable,' Douglas coach Todd Fitz-Gerald said of Anthony's adjustment to the majors. 'He's not overmatched. He looks like he belongs. 'I was happy to see him get his first homer out of the way. Now he can relax and do what he was born to do, which is to be a big-leaguer for a long time.' That homer, by the way, was hit off 2024 All-Star Logan Gilbert, and the exit velocity was 104 mph. None of this is surprising for Anthony, who is already an important Red Sox player at age 21 as he is batting third and playing right field. Out of high school in 2022, Anthony turned down a scholarship offer from Ole Miss, choosing instead a $2.5-million signing bonus with the Red Sox. Anthony could turn out to be a steal for the Red Sox, who drafted him with pick No. 79. He is on a team with other South Floridians – manager Alex Cora is a former Miami Hurricanes shortstop; and first baseman Triston Casas, who is currently injured, played for Plantation American Heritage. At 6-3 and 200 pounds and with a lefty swing, Anthony has long had impressive power. Three years ago, while still in high school, he slugged a 450-foot homer during an all-star game at Colorado's Coors Field. Since then, he has honed his game, and scouts say he makes good swing decisions. Couple that with his raw power, and Anthony's future is bright. 'He's playing in a great city – they are really passionate about baseball in Boston,' Fitz-Gerald said. 'The more he performs, the more he will be loved there.' ▪ Alford, a 6-6 and 210-pound wide receiver from McArthur High, was selected No. 1 overall this year by the Calgary Stampeders. A native of Montreal who is fluent in French, Alford made his CFL debut on June 14, grabbing one pass for 31 yards against the Toronto Argonauts. Pierre Senatus, who now coaches Southridge, mentored Alford at McArthur. Alford played his college ball mostly at Syracuse, although he spent the 2024 season with Utah. Senatus said Alford, a 24-year-old who also competed in basketball in high school, could play in the NFL at some point in his career. Alford has extremely large hands, and Senatus compares him to former NFL star Terrell Owens at similar stages of their careers. 'Damien has a freakish skill-set,' Senatus said. 'He has a huge catch radius and legit 4.4 speed on every rep. 'With his long strides, he closes gaps on defensive backs, and then he accelerates past them. 'Once he gets a shot at a contested catch, he can use his basketball background to put his foot on the ground and go get the ball.' ▪ Van Belle, a right-hander who played his high school ball for Archbishop McCarthy, was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. He had posted a 5-1 record with a 2.29 ERA with Boston's Triple-A team. At age 28, Van Belle could be close to getting that call to the majors. 'He was a late bloomer,' said Rich Bielski, who coached Van Belle at McCarthy. 'But it won't surprise me when he does great things in the majors.' The 'late bloomer' tag makes sense. After all, Van Belle was an ace reliever but not a starter on the powerhouse McCarthy teams that won two state titles while he was there – in 2013 and 2015. He then spent three years at Broward College – including two that he sat out due to injuries – before becoming a standout (11-2 record) in two seasons at the University of Miami. In 2020, the Red Sox signed him as an undrafted free agent, and now he is on the MLB doorstep with a Reds organization that is lacking rotation depth.
