Closing Arguments Expected Today in Johnston Murder Trial by VALLI FINNEY Not Reach a Verdict, They Will Be Sequestered
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NOW THREE DAYS A WEEK * * * POST COMMENTS AT ON CAPE-CORAL-DAILY-BREEZE.COM On the CAPE CORAL prowl Ida Baker’s boys oust Cape in District 4A-11 tourney BREEZE —SPORTS MID-WEEK EDITION WEATHER:Partly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Clear • Wednesday: Mostly Cloudy — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 49, No. 9 Thursday, January 28, 2010 50 cents Closing arguments expected today in Johnston murder trial By VALLI FINNEY not reach a verdict, they will be sequestered. Defense attorney David Brener said he Reese they were fine with the jury being [email protected] However because of one juror’s religious was concerned that an option the judge gave allowed to go home Friday night even though In an unusual twist, if the jury in the faith, she cannot participate from sundown — give closing arguments on Thursday and they would be sequestered Thursday. Kemar Johnston double-murder trial can’t Friday through sundown Saturday. She is the bring the jury back Monday to begin deliber- Assistant State Attorney Bob Lee said he come to a verdict by sundown Friday, they only black juror and is a Seventh Day ations. would stipulate to the request, but only if it will be allowed to go home for the weekend Adventist. “It’s been my experience that jurors tend was clear the prosecution was not the side even though they will be sequestered tonight. Other jurors attend church on Sunday and to remember the evidence better when they asking for the move. Typically once a jury if no verdict is reached. one has to be at work at 7 a.m. Monday for hear it, and they have a closing argument begins deliberations and is sequestered, it is Closing arguments will be given and the about an hour, a spokeswoman for the jury closer to the time of deliberations,” he said. for the duration until a verdict is reached or jury will be given the case today. If they can- told Judge Thomas Reese. The defense, and Johnston himself, told See TRIAL, page 9A Shades of green Cape Coral crime rate drops 15.7 percent Cape Coral saw a sig- major crimes reported on nificant drop in crime in the Uniform Crime Report. 2009 with a 15.7 percent These crimes are murder, decrease in serious crimes forcible reported to the state, offi- sex cials said Wednesday. offenses, The decrease comes on robbery, the heels of a 9.4 percent aggravat- reduction in 2008. ed Cape Coral police assault, reported 4,565 total index burglary, crimes in 2009, down larceny from 5,417 crimes report- and motor ed the previous year. vehicle These numbers are prelim- theft. Petrovich inary pending official The review and confirmation index crime rate for Cape by the Florida Department Coral dropped from 3,271 of Law Enforcement. Index crimes are the See RATE, page 16A District contemplates transportation audit By MCKENZIE CASSIDY $100,000 or the Florida MICHAEL PISTELLA [email protected] Association of District Lee Schools Superintendents for a Superintendent James lesser amount to conduct Nationally-known watercolor artist Don Andrews demonstrates the different shades of green Browder discussed this the transportation audits. during the first day of his landscape workshop Wednesday at the Cape Coral Art League. The week the details of a Browder said auditors Art League is located at 516 Cultural Park Blvd. For more information, call 772-5657 or log onto transportation audit that could begin within 30 www.capecoralartleague.org . For more information about workshops and classes, call 543- was announced during the days and it would be fin- 5333. board’s retreat last year. ished by four to six Transportation has weeks. grown into a major issue He said that even in 2010 with some in the though FADS would be district expressing their less expensive, the organ- Officials: New ID plan to enhance safety concern over a depart- ization didn't have the ment that was budgeted capacity to finish the audit as quickly as a By MCKENZIE CASSIDY for $48 million this year and parents complaining national company. [email protected] “We have made huge gains in terms of security The board gave con- Lee County School District officials about long bus rides for countywide. It is important we keep our schools their children. sensus for Browder to announced this week that all employees collect more information would receive new identification focused on security and ensuring that children are After discussing whether to hire a national badges meant to enhance school securi- in safe environments.” See AUDIT, page 6A ty. — Superintendent James Browder company for $75,000 to page The five members of the school board were the first to get the brand new “We have made huge gains in terms The next step in enhancing security Electrical fire displaces cards, which include a photograph of of security countywide,” said is providing schools with driver’s that particular employee, as well as a Superintendent James Browder. “It is license scanners for visitors seeking a district logo and a magnetic strip to important we keep our schools focused temporary identification to go inside of Cape Coral family assist with accessing secure areas. on security and ensuring that children schools. Most importantly, the new cards are in safe environments.” “Right now we are using different By MEGHAN McCOY tions that morning. standardize the forms of identification Even though identification badges systems and currently working on look- [email protected] Firefighters were able to pre- carried by district staff. Cards used by are in compliance with state regulations, ing at which ones will meet our needs," The cause of the fire that vent the flames from spread- different schools and facilities currently the district wants to make it easier for all said Cole. displaced eight people and ing into the living room, she vary, explained Dr. Ann Cole, coordina- employees to identify who does and Browder also pointed out that the caused $225,000 in dam- added. tor of Safety, Security and Inspections, doesn’t belong in a school. new identification cards are cheaper ages was accidental and Barron said the family with some not having photographs and “This is a huge project and we are than the ones currently issued by the electrical in nature, officials escaped from their home others coming in different colors or getting a jumpstart,” said Cole. district. have determined.. with no injuries due to an designs. The State Fire Marshal’s early warning from the fire Office assisted in the investi- alarm. gation, city spokesperson The occupants were stay- Cape man sentenced to four years Connie Barron said in a pre- ing with friends, she said. pared statement. The electric power to the The house fire, which house was disconnected and occurred Monday, forced red tape outlined the perime- in prison in DUI manslaughter death eight individuals and two ter of the garage area while family pets out of their home yellow tape surrounded the By MCKENZIE CASSIDY and $100 for the costs of prosecution. Schaufert was unable to stop his vehicle after they received an early other side of the house, [email protected] His license will be permanently and struck the real wheel of Johnson’s warning from their fire Barron said. A Cape Coral man charged with revoked, Schaufert will have to attend motorcycle. alarm. She explained that the DUI manslaughter in July was sen- DUI school and he must submit a DNA Johnson was brought to Lee Barron said emergency yellow tape means that tenced this week to four years in prison. sample to the state. Memorial Hospital but later died as a workers had received the repairs need to be done to Ryan Scott Schaufert, 24, struck According to the police report, result of his injuries. call at 12:07 a.m. at 5307 that section of the house motorcyclist Ronald Johnson in April of Schaufert had a blood alcohol content of According to the State Attorney’s Skyline Boulevard and fire- before the family can return last year. Johnson died of his injuries. .086 and tested positive for the chemi- Office, Schaufert was also sentenced to fighters responded to a sig- to their home. Schaufert was sentenced to 15 years cal THC found in marijuana. nine months in prison for damage to nificant fire burning in the The fire caused but, will serve four as long as he com- Police also found 2.5 grams of mar- person and property and one year in garage area. $225,000 in damage, which pletes 11 years of probation, according ijuana and a marijuana pipe in prison for possession of marijuana. “Our firefighters did a included two vehicles that to the State Attorney’s Office. Schaufert’s vehicle. Both of these sentences will run con- great job,” she said, espe- were parked in the garage Schaufert also was issued a $2,000 While attempting to stop at a traffic currently with the first charge. cially with the wind condi- area, Barron said. fine and has to pay $393 in court costs light at Southeast 26th Street last April, ATAGLANCE AROUND THE AREA NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Italian-American Festival Cape Coral Farmers Annie’s Mailbox........9A Horoscopes........8A of set of weekend Market set for Saturday The Cape Coral Italian-American Club The Cape Coral Chamber Farmers Cape Fare..............5B Obituaries..........3A Florida will present the Italian American Festival Market is open every Saturday, from 9 a.m. Classifieds.............1-6B Police Blotter......2A Lottery of Cape Coral Jan. 30-31 at the Bavarian to 1 p.m., through May 8, 2010 at Club Comics.............12A Sports........14-15A Garden at the German American Society Square, S.E.