5 Locals Among Those Arrested CLERMONT SUSPECTS
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PRSRT-STD HARVEST FEST: Thousands Postal Customer U.S. Postage have stomping good time at Clermont, FL Paid 34711 Clermont, FL winery’s annual celebration Permit #280 SEE PAGE A5 REMEMBER WHEN | B1 Serving Clermont, Minneola, Groveland, Mascotte, Montverde FRIDAY, JUNEOUTH 24, 2011 LAKE RESS50¢ NEWSSTAND S www.southlakepress.com P CLERMONT INSIDE TODAY SEX STING NABS 32 SPECIAL SECTION 5 locals among those arrested CLERMONT SUSPECTS ncludes stories on travel tips for seniors, how to manage I your medicines at home, the ROBERT BENT JASON advantages of ‘green’ living, the VILLEGAS upside to getting older, working after retirement, and things to do with your spare time. CLERMONT LELAND LITTLE Juneteenth JOSEPH celebration PENNELLA is Sunday MUGSHOTS COURTESY ROXANNE BROWN | Staff Writer LAKE COUNTY [email protected] SHERIFF’S OFFICE The Juneteenth of Cler- mont committee wants to RODNEY KOST VICTORIA ALDRICH/DAILY COMMERCIAL make sure people know Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders, right, listens as Lt. John Herrell describes the arrests of 32 men during the recent “Operation For a complete list of those arrested, where to celebrate the Summer Nights” Internet sex sting operation in Clermont’s Four Corners. see Page A3. commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. According to committee Undercover detectives worked on the case for 6 days Vice President Bertie New- bern, people interested in MILLARD K. IVES | Staff Writer Each of the men, ages 19 to 63, ONGOING OPERATIONS Two of the suspects had joining in on the June- [email protected] was charged with traveling to weapons with them. teenth festivities should be Over a span of three months, a total of The children in a Clermont meet a minor for sex, obscene 54 men have been arrested in sex-sting Most were from Florida, but at Jenkin’s Auditorium, 694 vacation home weren’t real, just communication using a comput- operations in Lake and Sumter counties. some came from as far as Georgia W. Montrose St., in er, and lewd and lascivious and Texas. Clermont, from 5 to 7 p.m. fictitious Internet personas of 9- Last March, four Lake residents and to 14-year-old girls looking to behavior, the sheriff’s depart- one from Lake Panasoffkee were among Included were six Lake County Sunday for awards, food have sex with grown men. ment said. They face 25 years in 22 from across Florida arrested in a men: Robert Bent, Leland Little, and fun. But inside were Lake County prison if convicted. “Dateline NBC”-style sex sting by the Jason Villegas, Rodney Kost and And for those who do Sheriff’s deputies, in a predator “These suspects came with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. In that Joseph Pennella, all of Clermont, not know anything about intention of having sex with a operation, undercover detectives from and George Richards of Leesburg. Juneteenth, they should sex-sting operation. Lake, Sumter and Citrus counties, as It was something that almost child, instead they went to jail,” According to the suspects, their come anyway and learn well as the Florida Department of Law more about it, she said. three dozen suspects found out Sheriff Gary Borders said in a Enforcement, lured men to meet minors occupations ranged from an the hard way when they showed press conference Tuesday to at a Wildwood home after posting adver- employee with a Tavares car deal- “A lot of people don't up in this Four Corners commu- announce the operation. tisements on Craigslist. ership, to contractors and con- know what Juneteenth is, nity with Skittles, M&Ms, vodka, The sting began June 14 and struction workers. so we want to educate them,” Newbern said. “It’s condoms and lubricants. ended Sunday. The effort was for men who are interested in Suspect Brian Weiss told arrest- an important date.” After corresponding with coordinated by the sheriff’s Cyber having sex. When a suspect ing officers he was an official with undercover detectives online, the Crimes Unit, but included law showed up at the door, deputies the Tampa Buccaneers, sheriff’s Clermont's celebration, 32 men were arrested — includ- officials from several surrounding emerged and arrested him. Lt. John Herrell said. in its fifth year, focuses on ing an official with the Tampa Bay counties. Borders said with summer According to the website red- the commemoration of American freedom that Buccaneers — this past week Undercover detectives with the beginning and children out of carpetmonday.com, Weiss is a after being accused of trying to fairly new unit pretended to be school, the unit decided to con- luxury suite sales manager for the occurred in June of 1865 engage in sex with children. children in chat rooms, looking duct a giant operation now. team. SEE JUNETEENTH | A2 INSIDE SORRENTO | CAMP CHALLENGE Counselor Nichelle CLASSIFIED B10 Curtis pulls CROSSWORDS B2 New pool is needed by 2013 Matthew DEATHS A5 Saul during REAL ESTATE C1 a race at to meet code requirements Camp REMEMBER WHEN B1 Challenge. SPORTS B6 THERESA CAMPBELL | Staff Writer Monday while wearing his blue jeans VOICES A4 [email protected] and T-shirt, and he received several KERI WORD ON THE STREET A2 RASMUSSEN- Young campers at Easter Seals hugs from tickled campers, many of BEKIER | whom are faced with cognitive or DAILY Camp Challenge squeal with delight COMMERCIAL SOUTH LAKE PRESS chanting “Archie! Archie! Archie!” as physical disabilities, including au- tism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome VOLUME 96, NO. 24 | 3 SECTIONS they invite the camp director to join them in the swimming pool for some and spinal cord injuries. ©2008, HarborPoint Media. exciting water races. “I’m going as fast as I can,” the director said grinning as he raced All rights reserved. Michael “Archie” Archbold fulfilled www.southlakepress.com their request. He got into the water on SEE CAMP CHEER | A2 A2 SOUTH LAKE PRESS Friday, June 24, 2011 What South Lake residents are saying about the... South Lake Briefs GROVELAND Wordon the CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL Fourth of July celebration Street Are the outside antics diminishing seriousness of trial? to be an all-day affair The second annual South Lake Fourth of July Festival will take place July 4 at Lake David Park in downtown Groveland. The festival starts with a classic car show at 8 a.m. and ends with spectac- ular fireworks over Lake David at 9:15 p.m. In between, there will be music, food, rides, contests, historical exhibits, arts and crafts demonstra- tions, and lots more. Visitors can stop by the Lake David Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and check out the Friends of the Library Yes, it’s getting to be a Yes. I just can’t imag- Yes. It’s too much Yeah, it’s like a show. I I don’t think so. I book sale, and the Women’s Club little ridiculous. It’s ine why people are attention from the don’t even understand think the case is still white elephant sale. like a circus, but that interested in media on all the why people want to sit the main focus on The Puryear Building will feature Orlando is making being there; waking craziness and the there and listen to the everybody’s mind. local arts and crafts vendors from 9 out well as far as up at 3 a.m. or stand- other things besides gory details of a baby’s a.m. to 5 p.m. JUSTIN FERWORN The headline act for the evening is restaurants and hotels ing in line, fighting the actual case, and death. I thought there TAMPA go with all the people and just acting like prosecuting the was more to do in this country music artist Daryle Singletary there to get in on the animals to sit in the mother for allegedly world. It’s sad to know trial. courtroom. It’s ridicu- killing her child. that people are more CLERMONT ELLIS CUMBO LOUISE ZEBROWSKI lous. Same with the interested in that kind Volunteers, supplies are PALATKA MINNEOLA attorneys. They know of thing that so many needed for summer prom their jobs and they other good things out should just do it more there. Building Blocks Ministries is hosting professionally. I think a summer prom for adults and teens M. BARKER with disabilities from 6 to 9 p.m., July the judge is great GREENSBORO, S.C. though in trying to 30, at Jenkins Auditorium in down- control all that. town Clermont. Volunteers are needed to help deco- CAM AMELKOVICH rate the auditorium. The theme, “It’s a CLERMONT Small World,” will feature decorations from around the world. Building Blocks also is seeking HOW TO HELP donations of formal/prom type dress- CAMP CHEER CALL: Julie Wright, Easter Seals es for individuals ranging in sizes CONTINUED FROM A1 Florida at 407-629-7881, ext. 12101, from 10 to 28. or email [email protected] Donations are currently accepted against his younger competi- at 835 Seventh St., building B, Suites 1 tors. “I’m catching up with and 2, in Clermont. you!” tub drain. The child died from For information, call 352-536-9264. The campers won each and drowning, but the real cause of every time. her death was suction entrap- GROVELAND Just as being in the pool was ment due to a faulty drain cover. fun for the youths, Archbold Applications for FAITH Wright said Camp Chal- scholarships due July 1 found it to be a nice break lenge’s pool is safe for campers from his normal office work to use this year and also in The FAITH Neighborhood Center, a and administrative duties.