Sex Crimes

Death Sentence in Clearwater Murder Case

Late last week, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Richard Luce sentenced John Lee Hampton to death for murdering Lashonda McKinnes in Clearwater in 2007. Hampton was convicted of the murder back in June 2009. After returning a guilty verdict and hearing additional... [Read More]

Death Penalty Trial Under Way in Pinellas County

The capital murder trial of John Lee Hampton is under way in Pinellas County this week. Hampton faces the death penalty if he is convicted of murdering Lashonda McKinnes in June, 2007 at her apartment in north Clearwater. Opening statements... [Read More]

Federal Law Restricts Discovery in Child Pornography Cases

The Adam Walsh Act was signed into law in 2006 and was largely concerned with the expansion of the National Sex Offender Registry and the grant of additional resources for Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces. One minor piece of... [Read More]

Mistrial is Declared in Assault of Girl, 8

A case in which a mother was caught between her child and her boyfriend ended in a mistrial Wednesday night when a jury could not decide whom to believe... [Read More]