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Florida prosecutes more children as adults than any other state, but new Legislation would reform he way the state handles non-violent offenses committed by minors.

Miguel Rodriguez was sentenced as an adult for breaking into a home at the age of 15.

“We thought this abandoned house was abandoned and nobody was going to be hurt by what we were doing,” said Rodriguez.

After breaking his parole at the age of 21, he was sent to prison for three years.

“I was arrested for a technical violation where I was at work past curfew,” said Rodriguez.

Since 2009 14,000 kids like Miguel, some as young as 10-years-old, have been indicted as adults in Florida.

The new legislation would prohibit children under 14 from being prosecuted as adults for non-violent crimes. It would also take away the power of prosecutors to directly send 14 and 15-year-olds to adult court.

“Kids are going to make mistakes,” said PTA Committee Member Dawn Steward. “Should they pay for the rest of their life because of a non-violent crime or a non-violent issue?”

The Campaign for Youth Justice found Minors held in adult prisons are 36 times more likely to commit suicide compared to those in juvenile detention centers.

A study found 80% of Floridians believe juveniles convicted of a crime as an adult should serve their time in juvy until they turn 18.

The proposal would require juveniles serving in adult prisons be segregated from adult prisoners.

Senate Sponsor Bobby Powell says lowering the amount of minors prosecuted as adults will also help the economy.

“It definitely is a blemish on their record and makes it more difficult for them to get a job,” said Powell.

The Legislation would also prevent children from losing their right to vote as a result of being prosecuted as an adult.

The proposal also gives judges more say in prosecuting children as adults and require them to justify why adult penalties are necessary when a minor is given an adult sentence.

As the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case in which a Colorado baker refused to make a specialty cake for a gay wedding, claiming it violated his Christian faith, a Florida Lawmaker has filed a bill taking the bakers side.

The Legislation would protect businesses in the state from state sanctions in cases where they refuse to create something because of their religion. Social Justice advocates fear the proposal would open the door for discrimination to be disguised as religious freedom.

Sponsor Representative Jay Fant says it will make Florida more attractive to businesses.

“That’s why I call it the Free Enterprise Protection Act. We want to expand business in Florida. We want to employ more people. We want Governor Scott to claim that he has even more jobs in the state. This is to give comfort to small business owners and entrepreneurs to say, ” I’m not going to be persecuted by the state for my religious beliefs,” said Fant.

Fant says the protections granted to businesses in his bill wont allow for discrimination of minority groups, noting the Civil Rights Act protects special classes from being denied a service.

State Senator Jack Latvala says he’d rather fight than quit over allegations of sexual harassment. The Clearwater Senator has fought back against a lone accuser over claims he touched her improperly. Now, State Senator Travis Hutson has become the first Senate colleague to call for his resignation.

“And I don’t know if he is guilty of this or not. That’s between him and her. But attacking his accuser publicly, releasing text messages, I mean he is coming after this entire political process. I feel like he is trying to burn it all to the ground. I really do. And I think it’s only going to get worse for everyone involved, and I think the best thing would be a resignation from Senator Latvala” says Hutson..

Latvala has repeatedly said he is not guilty and is still a candidate for Governor, although he’s acknowledged the investigation has sidetracked his efforts, He says with the campaign all but gone he has only his name and reputation for which to fight.

Sexual harassment charges in the state Capitol are escalating.  A special prosecutor has now been requested to investigate the claims. The request comes, as Mike Vasilinda tells us, following the hiring of a private security firm to protect the woman who is making the harassment claim.

The letter dated Sunday, requests a special prosecutor to look into a battery against Senate Staffer Rachel Perrin Rogers. Lawyer Tiffany Crews says her client was the victim of battery after unwanted touching by State Senator Jack Latvala.

Last week, Governor Rick Scott called the whole matter distracting. He says “It seems that everyone in Tallahassee is talking about this and not how to make Florida better.” The Senate cancelled two meetings Monday.  Senator Linda Stewart says at the investigation is taking it’s toll.
Q:”It seems like the Senate business has slowed down, a month away from the beginning of session?”

“I agree with you there.”

Q:”It has slowed down?”

“It has definitely slowed down” Stewart told us.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is also weighing in, saying the accuser is “a woman who I’ve known and respected for years” adding “My heart breaks for her”.

“I’ll tell you, I can’t remember some of the cases I prosecuted so long ago” Bondi told us.

Bondi herself has said she has been the object of unwanted attention.

“But I can remember every single incident when I felt like I was inappropriately approached by a man. None of them were ever supervisors, ever” she continued.

And in odd twist, the accuser has hired a body guard.

Neither the alleged victim nor the Security guard were in her Senate Majority office Monday at noon. But included in the gallery of Senate Republicans on the majority office wall?  The man she is accusing of harassment and now a crime.

And another powerful man in the state Capitol is paying the price for his actions. Former State Representative Rich Workman was appointed to the Public Service Commission in September. He resigned today after the Senate Rules Chairman, Lizbeth Benacquisto, said she had been improperly touched by Workman.

20-year-old Pi Kappa Phi pledge Andrew Coffey died November third, at an off campus fraternity party.

The Tallahassee Police Department says results of a toxicology report have yet to be released.

No arrests have been made.

The department is still in the process of interviewing at least 50 people.

“And that is simply what’s taking the time is that we have to go through each and every person, because if this was your loved one or family member you would not want us to stop at 22, because 23 may have the most important information in the case,” said TPD Public Information Officer Dave Northway.

In the days after Coffey’s body was discovered the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at FSU was permanently closed.

The university also moved to suspend all Greek Life following the death.

Some students on campus say they’ve noticed a change in the atmosphere over the past month.

Ariel Baron says the ban has made a positive impact on the campus.

“It just seems to be a little bit less tense. A little less like, it always seem like someone was trying to hid something I guess,” said Baron.

Others like Sam Morrison say they miss the charitable side of Greek Life.

“I think that’s more the thing than the actual drink ban,” said Morrison.

At least one student told us, despite the alcohol ban,  FSU’s partying habits remain unchanged.

Student’s have simply had to find new venues.

“Just the lack of fraternity parties. There’s just a couple more house parties, a couple more [people] going out,” said Sonja Mihailnovic.

FSU tells us talks between the university and Greek Life are on-going.

They’re working on programs, policies and procedures that the university can create and implement to prevent future deaths.

The goal is to announce those policies sometime next semester.

We reached out to the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at FSU for an update on the discussions between the university on Greek Life following the suspension, but were denied comment.

A ceremony honoring Veterans was held at the State Capitol Monday morning.

It was part of a national program called Wreaths Across America.

Th program began with the laying of 5000 wreaths in Arlington National Cemetery, but soon spread across the country and even to over seas cemeteries, with over 300 ceremonies.

Retired Naval Captain Charles Parker says he knows how hard the holidays can be for soldiers overseas.

“Well sometimes I say it’s like, it’s the loneliest time in the world surrounded by 5,000 people who are experiencing the same thing, but you know the comradery is there and the Government always takes wonderful care of us on Christmas. It’s a time you’re sorry you can’t be with your family, but you’re glad you’re with friends,” said Parker,.

The holidays are also hard on families of service members.

Especially for those like Tammy Wise-Thrash, who lost her son.

“It’s always soothing and healing to understand that the one that you love so much is remembered by so many and this particular ceremony is very important because it really target our young people and gets the young people involved and that means the world,”: said Wise-Thrash.

This is the ninth year the ceremony has been held at the State Capitol.

There are new text messages from the accuser tonight in the ongoing sexual harassment investigation of Clearwater State Senator Jack Latvala. The message surfaced after Latvala released dozens of messages Thursday. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, employment experts say the messages raise serious concerns.

In a newly released text message sent by accuser Rachel Perrin Rogers to another female Senate employee, Perrin Rogers says she had a dream about State Senator Latvala, including that he lost weight, a hundred pounds, and had dark hair. It follows the release of dozens of other messages between the accuser and Latvala in which she asks for help getting her step father out of jury duty, sends smily faces, and offers him cake. Employment lawyer Marie Mattox says the messages complicate her claim

Q: “Do those things, as an attorney, dilute her claim?” We asked.

“Absolutely” says Mattox. “If you have someone who is continuing to communicate and it appears to be an ongoing consensual relationship, than that would affect not only a lawyer’s evaluation, but its likely also how a jury looks at the case.”

In another text message obtained by Latvala’s lawyers, Rachel Perrin rogers says the message about the dream was a fake.

Latavala says the messages, which were all sent after the time Perrin Rogers says the harassment began exonerate him.

“Preparing meals for me, and so forth I think refutes this whole line of complaints that she has made” Latvala says.

The lawyer for Perrin Rogers confirms she was interviewed by the Senate Special master on Friday morning. She also says a criminal complaint remains an option.

Attorney Tiffany Cruz did not return a followup email when we asked about the dream text. Her statement was made earlier in the day before the latest text message

A 35 year old State Senate employee has identified herself as the person who filed a complaint against Clearwater Senator Jack Latvala.  A written copy of the complain six instances she say the Senator touched her, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Latvala has released dozens of text messages that paint a complicated picture.

35-year-old Rachel Perrin Rogers has come forward saying she is the woman who filed a sexual harassment complaint against State Senator Jack Latvala. In a statement provided by her lawyer she says:

“The confidentiality that I was promised under Florida law has been violated. I am fearful of the effect that this unethical action will have on other victims.”

The Clearwater Senator  countered by providing more than 130 text messages between the two, some work related, others political, some friendly.

“She obviously communicates with me unsolicited on a very frequent basis and has for four or five years. Has invited me and asked me to meet with her alone” Latvala told us.

In one message, Rogers tells Latvala there’s BBQ for lunch in her office. He says save me some, she responds with a plate and smiley face, and in another she says she donated to Latvala’s reelection effort. Perrin Rogers husband, Brian Hughes, is a political consultant.

“I believe it’s all political” says Latvala.  “I don’t think there’s an accident that out of 200 female employees in the Senate the one who has purportedly filed a complaint against me, is the wife of a political consultant. I don’t think it’s an accident.”

Citing the confidentiality of the investigation, the Senate President’s Office says it has no comment about these text messages.

In a response to the text messages Perrin Rodgers’ attorney tells us:

“At no time did my client invite or encourage Jack Latvala to touch private parts of her body. At no time did my client ask to be subjected to verbal or physical harassment.”

Latvala spent three hours with the special master investigating the case on Wednesday. Perrin Rogers has a Friday appointment. Meanwhile, the Senate President was meeting today with outside lawyers hired by the Senate.

After five years of trying to ban greyhound racing in the state legislature, voters may soon get to decide the fate of thousands of dogs. A panel of the Constitution Revision Commission today agreed to put the ban before voters in 2018. Sponsor Tom Lee says the revision effort won’t face the same obstacles that have thwarted lawmakers.

“Well the Legislature has different pressures than the Constitutional Revision Commission has. The Constitutional Revision Commission isn’t reliant upon special interest money to get reelected. They’re more free to vote their conscience and less encumbered by the deep pockets of some of these industries that have locked this bill down in the last few years” say Lee.

The ban would phase racing out over a three year period. An estimate eight thousand dogs are currently being bred or racing in the state. In a statement, Jack Cory from the Florida Greyhound Association says “if this proposal were passed it would result in the largest expansion of gambling in Florida’s history…it would convert all of Florida’s dog tracks into mini-casinos, which was amended on to this very bad proposal today.

Dr. Larry Robinson was unanimously voted in as the 12th President of Florida A&M University by the school’s board of Trustees.

“I just want to sort of start reaching out to our constituents and letting them know how important they are to us,” said Robinson. “That includes students, faculty, staff, alumni. So I’ll be meeting with my leadership team, talking about what we will do during the next days, weeks and months.”

It’s the latest achievement in Robinson’s 20-year career at the historically black college, but this isn’t the first time the nuclear chemist has led the school.

He was Interim President before the university hired its first female President, he took to position again after she was fired.

He also held the same title for a short period in 2007.

The university asked for and got permission to forego a national search for a new President.

Trustees Chairman Kelvin Lawson says it was the right decision.

“So in our mind there was just not a need to go out and expend the resources and time to search for an individual that was right under our nose,” said Lawson.

When we asked students what they wanted to see Robinson improve most didn’t know who he was.

The one student we found who did know Robinson wants to see the school do a better job of helping students navigate the financial aid process.

“I feel as though most students don’t know where to look for help as well as for monetary guidance,” said Raiyana Malone.

Robinson has work to do.

The six year graduation rate is only 39 percent and until this year, student enrollment has been faltering.

Robinson has already had some success attracting new students.

Under his leadership the school’s freshman enrollment up about 10% over last year.

A woman dubbed the “killer babysitter” was turned down for parole today. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, her murders of five children in Florida more than two decades ago had parents everywhere questioning whether it was safe to leave their kids with a babysitter.

Christine Falling was just 19 when she plead guilty to killing three children. In exchange, the state didn’t pursue charges for two other kids who died in her care, and it didn’t seek the death penalty. The charges may never have been filed is she hadn’t confessed.

“I choked here till she quit breathing and she’d turned purple” Falling said in the confession.

As a child, Falling reportedly strangled or dropped cats from high places to test their 9 lives. Her stepfather, Jessie Falling, who adopted her at age 4 was bewildered.

“Because she was a lover of children. I still say that” the stepfather told us in the fall of 1982.

Falling also later confessed to killing a 70 your old man her first day on the job as his housekeeper.

By law, Falling remains eligible for parole. But prosecutor Joy Powell from Perry told the review panel that the so called baby sitter from hell deserved no mercy.
“This woman killed five babies, from age two months to four year old. She says she just did it the way she saw on TV. She says she doesn’t know why she did it. Sometimes they cried and they made her mad. One time she just felt the urge” says Powell.

No one showed up on Falling’s behalf,

The panel showed no mercy. Christine Fallings presumptive release date is 2254, likely long after she dies.

Falling gets another hearing in 7 years. But the question asked across the county in the wake of the deaths: can you trust your babysitter? Is as relevant today as it was 25 years ago.

Until the final death, the first four children who died as well as the 70 year old man were all thought to have died of natural causes.

As the State Senate investigates harassment claims against a State Senator, a new report shows the state has spent 11 million dollars settling sexual harassment claims, mostly in the executive branch over the last 30 years. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, one veteran lawyer expects to see a hundred potential clients before the year is over.

The harassment payments go back to 1987, when the state legislature security paid 47 thousand dollars to analysts Kathy Jennings, who alleged improper touching.

“I said you know, Fred, come on, don’t mess up my hair and he said I don’t want to mess up your hair, I want to….”

Rick Johnson was the woman’s attorney. He still practices in the State Capitol and expects to see a hundred cases before the year is out.

Q:“How many instances go unreported to everyone that comes forward?”

“Oh, the vast majority, ten to one easily. Even that ones that come to me.”

The only other documented legislative settlement was 20 years ago, when lawmakers paid out 165 thousand dollars.

State Senator Jack Latvala is currently being investigated for allegedly improperly touching lobbyists and staff members.

6 our of 10 cases the state has settled come from the department of Corrections. The state paid 1.3 million to nurses who filed a class action suit. Attorney Johnson says when a claim is filed against the state, its fights tooth and nail.

“It undermines their human resources department, which is saying that we don’t put up with this and we encourage everybody to report it.

Earlier they year, Governor Rick Scott signed lHouse Bill 397, making it easier for sexual harassment to be reported.

The Governor’s office also asked us to tell you, only 2 percent of the claims paid were under his watch since taking office.