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Ex-Pro Wrestler Mark ‘Van Hammer’ Hildreth Charged with DUI after Striking 5-Year-Old on Bike

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automobile-automotive-car-1073031-300x178Police in Boynton Beach announced the arrest of retired pro-wrestler Mark ‘Van Hammer’ Hildreth for allegedly speeding while intoxicated and injuring a five-year-old boy.

Hildreth, 60, was charged with DUI with injuries and leaving the scene of an injury. He is being held in Palm Beach County Jail on $125,000 bond. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

According to Boynton Beach police, the alleged incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. on January 26 on the 3400 block of South Seacrest Boulevard in Boynton Beach’s south end. A man was reportedly driving a black Mercedes-Benz S-550 at 58 mph in a 35-mph zone when he struck a five-year-old boy on a bicycle.

The boy was riding with his father on Seacrest when the accident happened. He veered in front of the Mercedes-Benz and was thrown atop the vehicle’s hood, police said. He was taken to Delray Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries and is reportedly in stable condition.

Witnesses told police that the driver pulled off the road, jumped out of the vehicle, and said, “He jumped in front of me.” He then leaped back into his car and then drove off south, even as bystanders yelled for him to stop.

One of the witnesses followed the driver to his home and took pictures of his license plate and of him inside the vehicle. Moments later, police arrived at the address and found the man, who was identified as Hildreth, sitting outside. His home was reportedly near the crash site.

Police said Hildreth “made statements about being involved in the crash,” according to the arrest report. The officers noted that he slurred his words, had the smell of alcohol on his breath, and staggered when he stood up. He purportedly denied drinking but later said he had some drinks the previous night. He refused to perform field sobriety exercises or provide a breath sample, police said.

Hildreth was a professional wrestler under the name ‘Van Hammer’ for 12 years before retiring in 2002. He moved to Boynton Beach in 2013, sources indicate. Records show this isn’t his first run-in with the law on DUI charges. He was reportedly arrested for a DUI in 2004 in Georgia.

Florida has some of the most stringent DUI laws in the U.S. The state requires local law enforcement agencies and the Florida Highway Patrol to use a zero tolerance standard when enforcing these laws.

Police use checkpoints, breathalyzers, roadside tests, and video evidence to enforce DUI laws. As a result, a high number of people are arrested on DUI charges every year. In 2015, almost 47,000 people were arrested in Florida for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

South Florida DUI Attorney

Have you been arrested for a DUI? Contact Brian Silber, P.A. to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced DUI attorneys.

Source: 1.28.20 Boynton man, ex-pro wrestler, charged with DUI, striking 5-year-old on bike.pdf

Boynton Beach Police Officer Gabriel Albala Arrested on Federal Child Pornography Charges

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car-1531273_1920-300x200Boynton Beach police officer Gabriel Albala was arrested on August 29 by the FBI for allegedly buying child pornography from an Alabama man who recently pleaded guilty to multiple child pornography charges.

Albala, 45, faces federal charges of child pornography. He is being held without bond in Broward County’s Main Jail. The press did not name an attorney for him.

According to the federal indictment, FBI agents became aware of Albala through an ongoing investigation that began in August 2018, and led to a guilty plea from David A. Drake of Alabama on a five-count federal indictment for the advertisement, sale, and possession of child pornography.

Federal agents allege that Albala bought child porn from Drake. As part of his plea agreement, Drake reportedly gave investigators information about his porn sales, and that eventually led them to the Boynton Beach deputy.

Drake purportedly used his Tumblr page to direct users to a separate website, where he sold child pornography for between $10 and $50. He reportedly used Amazon, Venmo, and the Cash App for the transactions.

He told agents that he instructed his customers to say the transactions were for “tutoring, books, or other college-related expenses” because he was a college student, and he believed it would mask the true nature of the transactions.

The FBI agents went through Drake’s Venmo records and identified a user who made multiple payments to him in September and October 2018. The payments were from an IP address and bank account that have reportedly been linked to Albala.

The agents found Albala’s home in Margate, FL, in July 2019. They reportedly noticed a Boynton Beach Police Department vehicle parked in front of the house. There was no one at home, and a neighbor told them that Albala was out of town for a funeral.

They returned in August 2019 with a warrant to search the house, and this time Albala was home. They purportedly found a desktop computer that contained multiple child porn files, the indictment indicates.

The agents believe Albala “knowingly, willfully, and intentionally possessed” pictures that showed “minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.” They interviewed him on the morning of August 29 and arrested him on the same day without incident.

Sources indicate that Albala has been relieved of duty. Boynton Beach Police Chief Michael Gregory released the following statement to the press:

“When the trust we have built with our community is threatened, it is paramount that we hold those responsible accountable, and provide the transparency our community deserves. Moving forward, the department will continue to cooperate and assist the FBI as needed.”

Possession of child pornography is a serious charge that carries severe penalties. A conviction typically involves a lengthy prison sentence, hefty fines, and lifetime registration in the national sex offender registry. It is crucial for defendants charged with possession of child pornography to hire an experienced attorney who can come up with strategies for minimizing, and possibly completely eliminating, the penalties of a conviction.

Boynton Beach Child Pornography Attorney

If you are involved in a child pornography case, then you should hire an attorney. Contact us to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of Palm Beach County’s most experienced child pornography attorneys.

Source: 8.31.19 Florida officer bought child pornography on the internet, arrested by FBI.pdf

Darran Johnson of Boynton Beach, FL Faces DUI Charges in Crash That Killed BSO Deputy

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squad-car-1209719_1920-300x162Darran Johnson of Boynton Beach, Florida was arrested on August 14 for his alleged involvement in last month’s crash that killed Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy Benjamin Nimtz.

Johsnon, 32, was charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI with damage to another’s property, vehicular homicide, reckless driving causing injury, driving with a suspended license, and possession of marijuana. He was also ticketed for speeding and running a red light. He was ordered held without bond.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Nimtz, 30, was responding to a domestic violence call in Deerfield Beach at approximately 3 a.m. on July 21 when the crash happened. He was driving his patrol cruiser south on Military Trail with his vehicle’s emergency lights and siren activated.

Johnson was driving a Toyota Tundra east on SW 10th Street above the speed limit, police said. He ran the red light at the Military Trail intersection and crashed into Nimtz’s vehicle.

Nimtz was rushed to Broward Heatlh North, where he was later pronounced dead. Johnson was taken to the same hospital and was released a few days later.

The arrest affidavit states that Johnson was traveling 13 mph over the 45 mph speed limit and was under the influence of alcohol. Nimtz was also reportedly driving at 65 mph to 75 mph, bringing into question who had the right of way when the collision happened.

Records show Johnson has had his driver’s license suspended at least three times: once for failing to complete court ordered schooling and twice for failing to pay traffic fines.

Cases of DUI manslaughter are common occurrence in Broward County. Just earlier this month, Craig Jacob Wilk was arrested on August 7 for his role in a DUI car crash that killed one and injured two others.

Wilk, 34, faces over a dozen charges, including DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and possession of marijuana. He was ordered to remain in jail without bond. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

According to Broward police, the crash occurred at around 10:45 p.m. March 26 in the 800 block of East Dania Beach Boulevard. Wilk was allegedly driving at speeds as high as 91 mph when he attempted to switch lanes and crashed into the back of a Hyundai Sonata.

Audrey Jackson of Opa-locka was driving the Hyundai with two passengers, John Davis, and Malcolm Clark. They were all rushed to Broward Health Medical Center with serious injuries. Jackson was later pronounced dead.

Wilk allegedly agreed to give police a sample for a blood-alcohol test. The results showed that his blood alcohol content was .16, which twice the legal limit for driving in Florida.

Records show that Wilk has had numerous past traffic violations, including running a red light on three occasions in the past four years, driver’s license suspension, and being ticketed for driving 22 mph over the posted speed limit.

Broward County DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested for a DUI, then you should hire an attorney. Contact us to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of Broward County’s most experienced DUI attorneys.

Source: 8.14.19 Driver in crash that killed a BSO deputy faces DUI charges.pdf

Darran Johnson of Boynton Beach, FL Faces DUI Charges in Crash That Killed BSO Deputy

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squad-car-1209719_1920-300x162Darran Johnson of Boynton Beach, Florida was arrested on August 14 for his alleged involvement in last month’s crash that killed Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy Benjamin Nimtz.

Johsnon, 32, was charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI with damage to another’s property, vehicular homicide, reckless driving causing injury, driving with a suspended license, and possession of marijuana. He was also ticketed for speeding and running a red light. He was ordered held without bond.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Nimtz, 30, was responding to a domestic violence call in Deerfield Beach at approximately 3 a.m. on July 21 when the crash happened. He was driving his patrol cruiser south on Military Trail with his vehicle’s emergency lights and siren activated.

Johnson was driving a Toyota Tundra east on SW 10th Street above the speed limit, police said. He ran the red light at the Military Trail intersection and crashed into Nimtz’s vehicle.

Nimtz was rushed to Broward Heatlh North, where he was later pronounced dead. Johnson was taken to the same hospital and was released a few days later.

The arrest affidavit states that Johnson was traveling 13 mph over the 45 mph speed limit and was under the influence of alcohol. Nimtz was also reportedly driving at 65 mph to 75 mph, bringing into question who had the right of way when the collision happened.

Records show Johnson has had his driver’s license suspended at least three times: once for failing to complete court ordered schooling and twice for failing to pay traffic fines.

Cases of DUI manslaughter are common occurrence in Broward County. Just earlier this month, Craig Jacob Wilk was arrested on August 7 for his role in a DUI car crash that killed one and injured two others.

Wilk, 34, faces over a dozen charges, including DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and possession of marijuana. He was ordered to remain in jail without bond. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

According to Broward police, the crash occurred at around 10:45 p.m. March 26 in the 800 block of East Dania Beach Boulevard. Wilk was allegedly driving at speeds as high as 91 mph when he attempted to switch lanes and crashed into the back of a Hyundai Sonata.

Audrey Jackson of Opa-locka was driving the Hyundai with two passengers, John Davis, and Malcolm Clark. They were all rushed to Broward Health Medical Center with serious injuries. Jackson was later pronounced dead.

Wilk allegedly agreed to give police a sample for a blood-alcohol test. The results showed that his blood alcohol content was .16, which twice the legal limit for driving in Florida.

Records show that Wilk has had numerous past traffic violations, including running a red light on three occasions in the past four years, driver’s license suspension, and being ticketed for driving 22 mph over the posted speed limit.

Broward County DUI Attorney

If you have been arrested for a DUI, then you should hire an attorney. Contact us to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of Broward County’s most experienced DUI attorneys.

Source: 8.14.19 Driver in crash that killed a BSO deputy faces DUI charges.pdf

Pascal Joly of Boynton Beach, Florida Accused of Sexually Assaulting a Child

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accident-barrier-caution-tape-923681-300x200Pascal Joly of Boynton Beach, Florida is accused of inappropriately touching a child earlier this year.

Joly, 63, was charged with child abuse and sexual assault of a minor. He was ordered held on $25,000 bond. Attorney information was not available.

According to Boynton Beach police, the alleged sexual assault occurred in late February. The victim, whose age and gender has been redacted in the police report, told investigators that Joly inappropriately touched them and attempted to persuade them to go to bed with him.

The child recorded the conversation using a cell phone. Investigators said it was clear from the recording that Joly was “soliciting sexual activity” from the child.

Joly reportedly flew to Haiti shortly after the allegations of sexual assault came to light. He was arrested by U.S. Marshals at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on June 5, police said.

Joly allegedly told investigators that he was joking around with the victim. He purportedly admitted to inappropriately touching the child during a second interview.

Cases of sexual activity involving adults and minors are not uncommon in South Florida. Just last week, a 70-year-old Boca Raton man was accused of impregnating a 13-year-old girl.

Renaud Jerome was charged with illegal sexual activity with a minor and impregnating a child. He is being held without bond at Palm Beach County jail and is not to have any contact with minors. It is unclear if he has acquired the services of an attorney.

According to the police report, the 13-year-old victim was taken to North Broward Medical Center on May 24 after complaining about abdominal pain. An examination revealed that the young teen was actually 14 weeks pregnant.

Medical staff informed child protective services and the police about the pregnancy. When interviewed by police, the 13-year-old reportedly said that the father was Jerome. She said he had sex with her on multiple occasions, according to the report.

It is unclear how the two are related, but the report indicates that they lived in the same home in Boca Raton. The report doesn’t say if anyone else lived with them in the home.

Investigators questioned Jerome about the allegations and he reportedly admitted that he had sex with the 13-year-old three times over the past few months. He also allegedly admitted that he was the father of the unborn child.

The age of consent in Florida is 18. Teens aged 16 and 17 can give consent to a partner no older than 23, but anyone under 15 cannot legally consent to sex. It is considered statutory rape to have sex with a child under 15.

Unlawful sexual activity with a minor is a second degree felony. In addition to jail time, sex offender probation, and hefty fines, a conviction would also require registration in the sex offender registry. The defendant would be required to comply with sex offender registration laws for the remainder of their lives.

South Florida Sex Crimes Attorney

If you have been arrested or charged with a sexual offense in South Florida, then you should hire an attorney. Contact us to set up a free initial consultation and work with one of South Florida’s most experienced sex crime attorneys.

Source: 6.6.19 Boynton man accused of sexually assaulting child arrested at airport.pdf