Latest news with #gannett.com
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Monroe County Jail deputies plead guilty to role in inmate fights
Two deputies from the Monroe County Jail have admitted to official misconduct after an investigation into inmate fights last fall. Both deputies were arrested in March after a three-month-long internal investigation led to criminal charges. Deputy Dominic Kujawa, 21, was charged with felony assault and official misconduct after the sheriff's office accused him of "enabling" one inmate to assault another and failing to intervene during the fight. While investigating that incident, jail officials accused a second deputy, 20-year-old Dominic Denaro, of alerting inmates before cell searches. Denaro was arraigned on misdemeanor charges including official misconduct and obstruction of governmental administration. Both men pleaded guilty May 30 to the official misconduct charges, with an agreed-upon sentence of three years probation, the Monroe County District Attorney's Office confirmed. In March, the sheriff's office said it planned to fire Kujawa. He resigned shortly after. Denaro has also resigned from his post. Jail officials in December announced they were investigating a series of fights between two inmates inside the jail's housing unit. One person needed hospital treatment for injuries. An inmate told a supervisor about the fights and the alleged involvement of jail deputies during routine rounds, officials said. Two other unnamed deputies remain on leave as internal and criminal investigations continue. — Kayla Canne covers community safety for the Democrat and Chronicle with a focus on police accountability, government surveillance and how people are impacted by violence. Follow her on Twitter @kaylacanne and @bykaylacanne on Instagram. Get in touch at kcanne@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Dominic Kujawa, Monroe County Jail deputies, plead guilty to misconduct
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Everything you need to know about what's happening in June in America's oldest city
(This story will be updated regularly to include new information.) Welcome to St. Augustine's monthly list of events, a robust information source for what's happening in America's oldest city. The events follow in chronological order. We invite readers to share your happenings with us at Lviti@ Habitat for Humanity is hosting three home dedications on June 2 at 5 p.m. at 883, 887 and 891 Josiah St. in St. Augustine. Festivities include home blessings, ribbon cuttings and home tours. Refreshments will be provided. PokerAtlas Tour will be June 5 to June 15 at St. Augustine's bestbet. For more information go to: First Friday ArtWalk: June 6, filled with art galleries, museums and art-related businesses that cultivate St. Augustine as an art destination. Go to The 26 Anniversary Wildwood Inshore Fishing Tournament will be held June 6 and 7 at the St. Augustine Boating Club, 611 Boating Club Road in Vilano Beach. Mandatory registration will be June 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. Fishing starts June 7 at safe light. Weigh-ins will be held between noon and 6 p.m. Proceeds will be awarded to St. Augustine Youth Services. For more information go to River City Wrestling Con will be held June 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village. For more information go to Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Lodge will host a Bocce Tournament on June 7 at the St. Augustine Beach Pier. Registered players will be added on first-come, first-served basis. Payment deadline is June 6. Email or call 904-507-9183 for more information. Friends of Anastasia Island Branch Library Collectors' Corner Pop-Up Sale will be June 7 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Anastasia Island Branch Library, 124 Sea Grove Main St. All books are $4 and up. Proceeds are awarded to programs at the Anastasia Island Branch Library. The Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine presents the Summer Volksfest and Swap Meet on June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South St. Augustine location at 4730 Dixie Highway. The Coconut Barrel presents its summer splash market June 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Coconut Barrel Artisan Market, 2121 U.S. 1. Daily's Old School Kingfish Shootout, presented by Yellowfin will be June 14 at the Vilano Beach Fishing Pier. For more information go to: St. Johns County Parks and Recreation: Veterans Sunset Kayaking: June 12 at the Palmo Boat Ramp from 6 to 9 p.m. Registration is required. For information, go to Wings N' Wheels will be June 14 at the St. Augustine Airport (Northeast Florida Regional Airport) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with car show roll-in beginning at 6 a.m. For more information go to The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is hosting imperiled beach-nesting bird surveys from June 17 to June 19 for those interested in becoming an IBNB permitted monitor. Locations include Anastasia State Park, Summer Haven Beach, and Fort Matanzas National Monument. Space is limited. Contact Hailey Dedmon at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre's Night Market will be held on June 17 from 5 to 9 p.m. St. Johns County Parks and Recreation: Sunset Kayaking: June 18 at the Palmo Boat Ramp from 6 to 9 p.m. Registration is required. For more information go to St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Mobile Museum of Tolerance will host the 13th annual commemoration of the mass arrest of rabbis on June 18 at noon at the St. Johns County Jail Annex, 3955 Lewis Speedway. The Mobile Museum of Tolerance will be on site from 1:15 to 4 p.m. The St. Augustine Music Festival will be at St. Augustine's Cathedral Basilica June 19-22 and June 27-29. The free concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information go to: St. Johns County Parks and Recreation: Sunset Paddleboard: June 21 from the Palmo Boat Ramp from 6 to 9 p.m. Registration is required. For more information go to The Ancient City Gamefish Association presents the Ancient City Kingfish and Junior Kingfish Challenge June 26-28. For more information go to: The Veterans Council of St. Johns County will meet June 26 at 7 p.m. at the County Health & HumanServices Building in the Muscovy room at 200 San Sebastian View. Maggie Beckerman, VP/trainer, K9Line Inc.,and Kelly McDavid, Haven Hospice, will be the guest speakers. St. Johns County Parks and Recreation: Sunset Kayaking: June 27 from the Palmo Boat Ramp from 6 to 9 p.m. Registration is required. For more information go to Jazz Poetry Cafe will be held on Friday, June 27 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Willie Galimore Community Center, 399 Riberia St. St. Johns County Parks and Recreation: Geocaching 101: June 28 at Canopy Shores Park from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information go to The Battle of Bloody Mose will be June 28 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Fort Mose State Park, 15 Fort Mose Trail. The opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m., the first battle reenactment will be held at 11 a.m. The second battle reenactment will be held at 1 p.m. and the closing ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. For more information go to The Keys of Hope Gala will be June 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Ancient City Farmstead, 395 St. Marks Pond Blvd. Proceeds benefit Port in the Storm Homeless Youth Center. Music by the Sea occurs every Wednesday through June 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring coolers, picnic baskets, chairs, sunscreen and bug spray to the St. Augustine Pier. Chairs can be placed in the pavilion beginning at 4 p.m. An eclectic group of talent plays country, rock, 80s and 90s music, yacht rock, pop, blues, jam bands and folk music. Bands include Elizabeth Roth & ACR, Those Guys, The Edge, SoulFire, Paul Lundgren Band, Feedback the Band, Contact Buzz, Bad Dog Mama, Ray's Garage Band, and the All-Star Jam. The City of St. Augustine will host Thursday night free concerts through Aug. 29 at the Plaza de la Constitución beginning at 6 p.m. Concert guests include The Committee; Paige King Johnson; Crab Creek Band; The Groove Coalition; Shayla Nelson; Str8Up; JC Hatfield Trio; The Palmetto Pickers; Los Van Guardias; The Landfall Band, ZaZa Flamenca; The Morrow Family Band; Bad Dog Mama and the Think & Thin String Band. Concerts may be canceled or postponed due to inclement weather. Canceled concerts will be posted on the city website at and on Facebook at St. Augustine Alligator Farm: For more information on events go to: Go to for a complete schedule of events at the Pena Peck House. Go to for a complete schedule of water adventures from Florida Water Tours. Go to for a complete schedule of events at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Go to for a complete schedule of events at the Lightner Museum. Go to for a complete schedule of plays showing at St. Augustine's Limelight Theatre. Go to for a schedule of music events at St. Augustine's Cafe 11. Go to for a schedule of outdoor concerts at St. Augustine's Colonial Music Park. Go to for a schedule of A Classic Theatre. Go to for a schedule of historical and cultural events taking place in St. Johns County. Go to for a list of performing arts events taking place in St. Johns County. Go to for a complete list of events taking place at Third Street Improv. Go to 150 Years of History! - St Augustine Light House for a complete list of events held at the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. Send your events to be listed to Lviti@ This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: A listing of June 2025 events in St. Augustine
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Zanesville man who helped conceal his deceased father's body sentenced to nine years
ZANESVILLE ‒ One man saw his wife go to prison for murder earlier this year when a dead body was discovered in a backyard shed, but he also received a lengthy sentence for his ancillary role. David Ralph Cole Jr., 44, of Zanesville, received nine years in prison when he went before Judge Gerald Anderson May 28. He was convicted on five counts after entering a plea bargain on April 16, including tampering with evidence, obstructing justice, and endangering children, all third-degree felonies, and gross abuse of a corpse and possessing criminal tools, fifth-degree felonies. On Feb. 10, Zanesville police responded to Cole's Somers Street address. They found the body of his father, David Cole Sr., 80, wrapped in a tarp and plastic mattress cover and hidden in a shed. On Dec. 24, Cole's wife, Brittany Lee Cole, 38, gave her father-in-law double doses of Zzzquil and Tylenol No. 3, a combination of codeine and acetaminophen, after he became ill and bedridden and complained of pain. She had been his primary caretaker, noted an announcement from the Muskingum County Prosecutor's office. Brittany found Cole Sr. dead the next morning. Cole didn't check on his father often, the prosecutor's office noted, and he didn't discover his body until Jan. 8, after the family returned home from a trip. He then reportedly worked with Brittany to wrap the body and relocate it several weeks later, the prosecutor's office added. His body was found in an advanced state of decomposition, and his death was attributed to the medications, confirmed the Licking County coroner in February. Police later found incriminating texts messages, videos and Google searches from the Coles. "Although David Cole was not involved in his father's death, the evidence shows he wasn't much involved in his father's life," said Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle. "We hope that this sentence brings some closure to David Sr.'s remaining family and gives what dignity we can for a helpless victim who was badly mistreated both in life and in death." On Feb. 26, Brittany was convicted of murder, an unclassified felony, and gross abuse of a corpse, a fifth-degree felony. She was received life in prison with parole possibility after serving 16 years. She claimed she'd been helping her father-in-law, who had sunk into a depression and wished to be with his late wife. More: Philo woman who pleaded guilty to trying to run over victims is sentenced to four years Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@ or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Zanesville man who helped conceal father's body sentenced to 9 years
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Dresden man acquitted on rape charges after his wife was found guilty on lesser charges
ZANESVILLE – A Dresden man has been acquitted on seven sexual abuse charges originating from a three-person sexual relationship in March 2024. The jury found Wesley James Stotts, 40, not guilty on three counts of rape, first-degree felonies; three counts of sexual battery, third-degree felonies; and gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony; according to court documents. The trial ended on May 21. Stotts was indicted on Jan. 8, along with his wife, Ashton Whitney Stotts, 37, who was also accused of the same seven crimes. Ashton was found guilty on three counts of sexual battery after a trial May 29. The case's one female victim alleged that she was drunkenly raped by both during the encounter, noted Samuel H. Shamansky, a Columbus-based attorney representing Stotts. He was also counseled by Donald L. Regensburger. "Wesley was extremely grateful for the manner for which Judge Cottrill ensured a fair trial," Shamansky noted. He also applauded the jury for its ability to follow instructions and produce a fair environment. The prosecutor's office had no comment. Wesley and Ashton were both booked and briefly detained in the Muskingum County Jail Feb. 10 on $100,000 bonds. More: Zanesville police waiting for autopsy results of skeletal remains found on Adams Street Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@ or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Dresden man not guilty of rape; wife found guilty on lesser charges
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Appalachian Trail challenge: Franklin man's 100-mile run for a cause
Franklin resident James Flannery is preparing for a 100-mile run across part of the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness and support for mental health, according to a community announcement. The run, scheduled for June 20, will cover some of the northernmost leg of the trail, known as the 'Hundred-Mile Wilderness.' It stretches from Monson in Western Massachusetts to Abol Bridge in Maine, and is considered the most remote and rugged part of the trail, with a total elevation gain of 18,000 feet. It typically takes hikers eight to 12 days to complete, but Flannery aims to finish in less than 30 hours, according to the announcement. 'The goal for me is to make it end to end, raise money for SAFE, and have a good day,' he said in a statement. 'We have to respond': How Gov. Healey acknowledged May as Mental Health Awareness Month Flannery, an experienced trail hiker, runner and ultramarathoner, is no stranger to challenging terrains. He has previously 'yo-yo hiked' the 272-mile Long Trail in Vermont, summited 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado and hiked the Hundred-Mile Wilderness route, according to the announcement. 'It's about stepping into the unknown,' Flannery said. 'I like not knowing how my mind and body are going to respond. You get to the second 50 miles, that part you've never done before, and you think, 'This is new, this is fun.'' In addition to completing the run, Flannery hopes to achieve a "fastest known time" for completing the course. It's currently 29.5 hours. 'If I have a remarkable day, an FKT might be a cherry on top,' he said. Flannery said he's planning a rare southbound route, which will take him across the trail's highest elevation gains in the second half of his race. Streets of Lexington: Runner completes self-designed 50-mile ultramarathon 'The first 50 (miles) will be kind of casual,' he said, laughing. 'Then, I'll have enough in the tank to do the mountainous sections. That's more exciting for me.' Beyond the personal challenge, Flannery is committed to raising mental health awareness and increasing access to resources. He chose to fundraise for SAFE Coalition, a Franklin area nonprofit that offers support services like teen programing, support groups and one-on-one counseling at no cost. 'As someone who has struggled with mental health at times myself, I can definitely see why SAFE's work is helpful to folks,' he said. 'I am inspired to help the cause, and I don't have a ton of money to donate. But I can do this adventure run and raise money, and I hope it will be as helpful.' For more information about Flannery's run and to support his cause, visit or text "100run" to 50155. SAFE can be contacted at info@ or 508-488-8105. This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Franklin ultrarunner will take on 100-mile chunk of Appalachian Trail
