WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
It was impossible to feel settled with the threat of arrest and deadly force hanging over them. But where else could they go?
Read More »Gainesville homeless campers fear arrest, lack legal alternative
US judge considers motion to block evidence in terrorism case of ex-UF student
A federal judge is considering a request by a former University of Florida student to block prosecutors from using his own statements to the FBI years ago in the Middle East in his upcoming terrorism trial. It was the latest twist in the legal case against Mohamed Fathy Suliman, 34, …
Read More »Woman whose boyfriend died in crash urges judge never to allow other driver behind wheel
A woman in a 2018 collision on a motorcycle with her boyfriend – who died in the crash – told the judge she found forgiveness toward the other driver accused of driving under the influence of marijuana, until she learned about the man’s driving history. Now she’s asking the judge …
Read More »Race to the bench: Sean Brewer and AuBroncee Martin go head-to-head for open 8th Circuit judge slot
In August, four candidates sought to become the next Eighth Circuit Judge. Sean Brewer led with 38% of votes and AuBroncee Martin with 25%. Dan Weisman finished third and Nathan Skop, fourth. Now, two candidates are left vying for the position: Brewer and Martin. Brewer Graduated from Seminole Highschool in …
Read More »Grand jury indicts man on murder charge in shooting at apartment complex
A grand jury on Monday indicted 35-year-old Michael Gregory Davis of Gainesville on charges of premeditated murder in the death of Calvin Leon Woodard Jr. Davis will face arraignment and trial at a later date. Alachua County Sheriff’s officers responded to reports of a man shot at an apartment complex near the Oaks Mall in June. Deputies found Woodard at the scene with a gunshot wound to the chest. He later died from his injury. Davis also had his phone privileges revoked at the Alachua County jail due to an open felony obstruction of justice case, in which he attempted to tell witnesses from the homicide investigation to retract their statements. Davis is scheduled for case management on Nov. 15 for the premeditated murder of Woodard.
Read More »Alachua County makes history with approval of equitable criminal sentencing technology
Alachua County made the joint-effort of state attorney Brian Kramer and public defender Stacy Scott a historic reality: Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit will become Florida’s first judicial circuit to integrate equitable sentencing software as an official part of its case management system and plea-bargaining process. Roughly 95% of cases are settled in plea negotiations. Known as the Equity in Sentencing Analysis System (ESAS), this fairly new software provides legal practitioners with a searchable database of statewide sentencing data from the Florida Department of Corrections going back to 1998.
Read More »Snapchat drug ring suspects dodge trial by accepting plea deals
Three Gainesville men accused of operating a drug-trafficking ring using Snapchat avoided trial Monday after negotiating last-minute plea deals. Authorities began investigating the group after a late-night shootout at Cabana Beach — an apartment complex popular with University of Florida students.
Read More »Florida’s own version of ‘Tinder Swindler’ to plead guilty in US court; accused of impersonating surgeon, scamming 21 women in 8 states
Brian Brainard Wedgeworth, 46, swindled Johnson of thousands of dollars in 2017, federal prosecutors said. A grand jury indicted him in October, and he was arrested in Nashville shortly afterward.
Read More »Former UF student accused in terror case attempts to convert trial judge to Islam
Mohamed Fathy Suliman, 34, lived most of his life in Florida but in the years after he was arrested in Turkey in 2014, he traveled extensively overseas until he was arrested in India in January 2021 on a U.S. criminal warrant.
Read More »Ocala crash that resulted in one death progresses toward a trial
The crash on Oct. 12, 2021, resulted in Munir Shrouf’s death.
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