Page 36 - Florida Sentinel 4-2-21

Crime
Teenager Charged With Seffner Murder
Man Pleads Guilty To Arson Charge During Civil Unrest
TERRANCE HESTER, JR.
A 20-year-old Tampa man pleaded guilty in federal court to setting a fire inside a local shoe store. The incident took place during a period of Civil Unrest following the death of George Floyd.
He is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years and up to 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to court docu- ments, Terrance Lee Hes- ter, Jr., was a participant in the riots in Tampa. Around midnight on May 31, 2020, a protest at University Square Mall, 2301 E. Fowler Avenue, turned destructive. Looting, burglary, and destruction of property took place.
During the disturbance, the Champs Sports Store, lo- cated in the mall, was broken into and set afire. The building became fully engaged in flame, which resulted in mas- sive damage to the building and the loss of property. The loss to the building and other businesses was estimated at $1.25 million.
Success Coach
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to a murder that had taken place on December 14th, in the 5000 block of Bogdonoff Drive, in Seffner. Last Friday, they arrested a 19-year-old man and charged himwith committing the crime.
According to police, around 6:19 p.m., on Decem- ber 14th, several 9-1-1 calls alerted police to shots being fired in the area. When deputies arrived, they located an unresponsive male victim. Found in the middle of the road, the man was trans- ported to a local hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
The investigation led po- lice to develop Luis Natal, Jr., as a suspect in the mur- der. He was already in the Hillsborough County Jail on unrelated charges. At the
Sex With Student
Young Mom, Man
Shootings
LUIS NATAL, JR.
conclusion of the investiga- tion, detectives charged Natal with first-degree, pre- meditated murder, armed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Natal remains at the Hills- borough County Jail without bond.
In addition to the new charges, Natal is also being held for violation of proba- tion on the unrelated charges.
A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged with having sex with a stu- dent. He is facing six counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
According to the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Of- fice, their investigation began after it was reported that a College Success Coach was having a sexual relation- ship with a student at Lennard High School. A friend of the victim reported the relationship to an adult.
Investigators learned that Anthony Witter, a College Success Coach, was allegedly having an affair with a 16- year-old girl. Police said the girl was not a student of the teacher, but they met each other at school. The affair re- portedly began November 12, 2020 and continued through March 19, 2021. Witter was arrested on March 25th, He was released after posting bond.
Chad Chronister,
Hillsborough County Sheriff said, “Anthony Witter knew that his action were
ANTHONY WITTER
wrong, and as the adult, he should never have allowed this relationship to develop with a minor. No parent should have to worry about their child being preyed upon when they send them to school.
“We are thankful that an- other student bravely came forward to report this inap- propriate and unacceptable behavior.”
Detectives said that at this time, it appears to be an isolated incident and do not believe there are other vic- tims.
Charged With Having
Victims In Fatal
The St. Petersburg Police Department is investigatng two separate, deadly shoot- ings. Both took place Tuesday afternoon.
The first shooting took place shortly before 4 p.m. When police arrived at the home located at 1227 Fargo St., South, they found the vic- tim, 19-year-old Dquaz Davis. Davis was trans- ported to a local hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
The investigation is un- derway, but no arrests have been made.
Police also responded to a fatal shooting that took place at 2216 18th Avenue, South. The victim, identified as Ms. K’Mia Simmons, 21, was a passenger in a vehicle with a man and her two children. Ms. Simmons was struck by one of the bullets.
The suspect, who fired from another vehicle, fled the scene after the shooting.
The shooting took place at
DQUAZ DAVIS
the intersection of 22nd Street, South and 18th Avenue, South. She was transported to a local hospital, where she died as a result of her injuries. No
one else was injured.
Police said there is no ob-
vious connection that the two shootings are connected. However, they said, it is be- lieved that the dark colored Volvo was targeted.
Anyone with information about either of the shootings is asked to contact the St. Pe- tersburg Police Department at (727) 893-7780.
UNCLE SANDY
Embrace the present moment fully and with passion, 8, 17, 30, 45, 54 because only through the present moment do we truly live. 2, 15, 29, 41, 52,61.
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