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speakup

Inexplicable

Prison reformer James McDonough revealed in February the extent of the mess he inherited when taking over the Florida Department of Corrections in 2006 (40 officials charged with crimes, 90 fired, 280 demoted) and said much of the problem centered on inter-department softball. Even though former officials had admitted to contract kickbacks and frequent taxpayer-funded “orgies,” McDonough said, “I cannot explain how big an obsession softball had become. People were promoted on the spot after a softball game ... to high positions in the department because they were able to hit a softball out of the park ... The connection between softball and the parties and the corruption and the beatings (of prisoners) was greatly intertwined.

CNN, 2-11-08

Accidents will happen

Ernest Simmons was convicted of attempted murder of two sheriff’s deputies despite his defense that he only “accidentally” shot at them (11 times, using two guns) (Orlando, January).

WFTV (Orlando), 1-31-08

Accused purse-snatcher Derrick Dale, 21, said that the purse fell on his foot and (according to the arrest report) “the next thing he knew, (it) was in his hands” (Destin, Fla., January).

Northwest Florida Daily News, 1-18-08