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US FL: Convicted Cop Remains Free
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n945/a08.html
Newshawk: http://www.november.org
Votes: 1
Pubdate: Fri, 02 Jul 2004
Source: Charlotte Sun Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2004 Sun Coast Media Group Inc.
Contact: hackworth@sun-herald.com
Website: http://www.sun-herald.com/newsch.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1708
Author: Christy Arnold, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)
CONVICTED COP REMAINS FREE
Former detective Wyatt Henderson will remain a free man despite being
convicted of pistol-whipping a teenager then lying to his supervisors and
the FBI. He received seven years in prison.
But Henderson, 45, isn't going to prison anytime soon.
U.S. District Judge Anne C. Conway has delayed Henderson's surrender date
again. This time, indefinitely.
Conway has been unsatisfied with the Bureau of Prison's decision to send
Henderson to a medium-security prison in Coleman, in Central Florida. The
judge wants the 6-foot, 5-inch, 250-pound former officer placed in a
minimum-security prison in Eglin, in the Florida Panhandle. She had given
Henderson until Aug. 9 to surrender.
But a decision Conway made this week postpones his surrender indefinitely,
granting the defense's motion for release pending the appeal.
U.S. Attorney Douglas Molloy wrote in an argument that the U.S. Bail
Reform Act mandates that those who committed "crimes of violence" should be
detained pending appeal.
Molloy did not want to comment Thursday.
The defense argued that Henderson does not pose a threat to the public and
he is not a flight risk. Molloy, however, has argued that the government
does not want those convicted of violent offenses housed in the same
place -- Eglin -- where there are high-ranking military officers.
Henderson was convicted on several charges stemming from a May 2002 incident
in which he pistol-whipped a teenaged drug suspect during a marijuana deal
at the Port Charlotte Beach Complex. Then, Henderson lied to his superiors
and the FBI about the pistol-whipping.
After being convicted, Henderson received a little more than seven years in
prison followed by two years of probation.
Supporters of Henderson claim he is a "decorated police officer with a
virtually blemish-less record," wrote Herbert Hoelter, director of National
Center on Institutions and Alternatives, an organization which helps
families and defendants adjust to prison life.
"Virtually blemish-less" may be an understatement.
Henderson took education incentive money he didn't earn. He fired a weapon
inside the Charlotte County Sheriff's narcotics office. And he repeatedly
lied about accolades he didn't receive.
Henderson purchased a bogus college degree purporting to be from Florida
State University. For $599, he bought the degree from a Web site that gave
him a pocket-sized degree plus a "real one," which had the wrong type, wrong
commencement date and wrong names of FSU officials. With the fake degree,
Henderson took $1,300 in education incentive money that made his salary
$43,304 -- more than most corporals.
Henderson resigned three days after being compelled to answer questions
about the diploma. He could have been arrested on a first-degree
misdemeanor for the bogus degree.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was sent a notice indicating that
Henderson resigned while under investigation for what would constitute a
"moral character violation."
After being questioned once for buying a degree online, Henderson did it
again.
Henderson paid $6,000 to another Internet company for two degrees from St.
Regis University, an Africa-based online firm.
"I wanted to prove to myself I could get a real college degree," Henderson
said during a cross-examination about buying more degrees online, instead of
actually enrolling in a college.
In addition, Henderson claimed to have earned a number of accolades
including Walton County Sheriff's "Deputy of the Year" in 1993 and 1994 and
Florida Highway Patrol "Trooper of the Year 1983 ( second quarter ),"
according to his personnel file at the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
Officials from the Walton County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol
disputed this as well.
At the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, officials suspended Henderson for
two days after he fired a plastic "training bullet" into a wall inside the
office.
It is unknown if, when or where Henderson will serve the seven-year prison
sentence.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin
***********************
Mark
Sign on my front door
___________________________
Notice posted.
This is not a peanut free zone!
The use of adult beverages, tobacco products, sugar,
salt, caffeine, high fat foods and firearms (when necessary)
is encouraged on these premises.
Jack-booted government thugs without warrants
will be shot upon entry.
Have a nice day :-)
____________________________
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Aw Florida, the U.S. state vying for label of "most corrupt" & "most like a
banana republic"
I heard last night on a political radio talk program that they are still
playing with the voters rolls down there, weeding out anyone they can using
the reason "ex-felon" (whether or not the label is applicable or appropriate
of course - it is Florida after all)
& Jeb Bush heads it, amazing :-) where will it go this year, around & around
& around she goes, where she stops, nobody knows :-)
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