Another motion was filed Monday in the case, to determine the suspect s indigency status.
To qualify for indigency, an applicant’s income must be equal to or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
An application filed with the St. Johns County Clerk of Courts by the suspect s mother May 14 was approved. An application for the same cause submitted by his father (the couple do not live together) was denied.
The motion, filed by Assistant Public Defender Liana Dolores Orta, requests that the court hold a closed hearing to determine the youth s indigency status “due to the extensive media coverage of this case and the nature of the charge.”
Our ratio of people to judges is just super high, she said.
Sen. Travis Hutson and Stevenson filed identical bills, SB 816 and HB 417, requesting an additional county judge. While those haven t advanced, the request was included in HB 5301.
The cost to the state for an additional judge would be about $300,000 a year for the judge and support staff, Stevenson said.
St. Johns County s population, caseload grows
The county is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court, which also includes Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties. Judges in the circuit are based at several courthouses in the region. In St. Johns County, four circuit judges and two county court judges hear cases at the county courthouse.
The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Fiscal Year 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
“This prestigious award recognizes what we all know. St. Johns County maintains a high level of transparency and accessibility with its finances, primarily communicated in its annual financial report,” said Clerk of Courts and County Comptroller Brandon Patty in a news release.
This is the 28th consecutive year St. Johns County received the certificate of achievement by the national association.
The association’s website states that “GFOA’s Awards for Excellence in Government Finance recognize innovative programs - contributions to the practice of government finance that exemplify outstanding financial management. The awards stress practical, documented work that offers leadership to the profession and promotes improved p
PEBB Enterprises and Falcone Group announced March 16 they closed on 47 acres in the Beachwalk community, property they have planned to purchase since December.
PEBB and Falcone purchased the property for $13.25 million, according to the deed filed March 12 with the St. Johns County Clerk of Court.
The two groups plan to build 170,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and a 110-room hotel. It will include multitenant parcels, leased pads and waterfront restaurant space, the news release said.
The 47-acre site is along the southern end of Beachwalk’s 14-acre Crystal Lagoon.
The 47-acre site is along the southern end of Beachwalk’s 14-acre Crystal Lagoon. Beachwalk is a 3,000-acre community in St. Johns County along County Road 210 with residential, office, industrial and educational facilities.