FORT PIERCE — A St. Lucie County Fire District firefighter who took a man’s foot and part of his leg from an Interstate 95 crash scene last year was sentenced Friday to six months’ probation on a charge of second-degree petit theft.

County Judge Philip Yaccuci withheld adjudication against Cynthia “Cindy” Economou, 38, who admitted she took the foot belonging to Karl Lambert, who was seriously injured in the accident, but said she did so to help train her body-recovery dog.

Economou had faced up to 60 days in jail. Assistant State Attorney Gayle Braun had asked that Economou be sentenced to five days in jail, one for each day Economou had the severed foot before turning it over to authorities.

“I never meant any malice,” Economou said at Friday’s hearing. “I never meant to cause (Lambert) any pain.”

Standing on crutches, Lambert said, “I’ve got to live with this the rest of my life.”

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A man who befriended people through little league baseball convinced them to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in his medical products company and then used their money to pay bills and buy booze, authorities said.

James William Downing, 46, of Port St. Lucie was arrested on securities transaction fraud charges.

Downing, who had previous security and wire fraud convictions, pocketed a total of $353,250 from a handful of trusting investors and then spent $45,518 on cars, bills, food and liquor, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators suspect more victims have yet to come forward.

Anyone with information can call Detective Sgt. Frank Pellegrini at (772) 462-3602.

~ michael_laforgia@pbpost.com

The Martin County Health Department has confirmed its first case of the H1N1 Flu, or swine flu, in Martin County.

The case involves a student at Pinewood Elementary School.

The Health Department is in touch with the family of the student and is providing a medical evaluation and follow-up.

Following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), school closure is not recommended at this time.

Staff and parents at Pinewood Elementary School are advised to monitor for flu symptoms including cough and fever and to continue to encourage good hygiene including hand washing.

Anyone presenting with flu symptoms should remain at home for at least seven days – even if symptoms subside and to contact their health care provider with any additional questions or concerns.

Additional information about the H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) can be obtained at www.cdc.gov

A toll free hotline with automated information is available through the Florida Department of Health: 1-800-775-8039.

Former state Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, announced this morning she’ll make another run for District 81. The seat, which Harrell held until term limits forced her out last year, is currently held by Rep. Adam Fetterman, D-Port St. Lucie.

For more, go to Post On Politics.

STUART — It just doesn’t make sense to Bill Wallace.

Why would Chrysler close a profitable dealership in a growing area?

Why would the beleaguered automaker allow a franchise in out-of-the-way Okeechobee to remain open, while closing several on the more populated Treasure Coast?

He’s selling cars. He bought more of them than he needed from Chrysler this year, at the urging of the company’s top brass, he says.

But his Wallace Chrysler Jeep in Fort Pierce is still slated to shut down after June 9, along with 788 other dealerships that Chrysler decided to close as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition.

“We weathered this tsunami, and in America, you should be rewarded for that, not punished,” said Wallace, a third-generation dealer whose grandfather opened a Chevrolet dealership in West Palm Beach in the 1930s.

Wallace is among more than 300 dealers across the country who have joined forces to fight Chrysler’s decision. The group, called the Committee of Chrysler Affected Dealers, wants more time. More time to prove it would be a mistake to ax them.

But if Chrysler gets its way in bankruptcy court - as many industry watchers believe it will - five Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealers between Indiantown Road in Jupiter and Vero Beach will be among those that close next month. (more…)

Gary Thibodeau

Gary Thibodeau, 55, was shot during the Thursday night break-in and later pronounced dead at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute, according to police spokeswoman Audria Moore. Thibideau’s brother, Douglas Costa, 54, was pistol whipped. He was treated and released from the hospital, Moore said.

At 10:36 p.m. that night, police responded to the victim’s home in the 500 block of Hampton Place for shooting activity. When officers arrived they found Thibodeau still alive lying on his side.

Thibodeau, his brother and two other people had been sitting in the living room when two men entered the opened front door, ordered them to the ground and robbed them at gun point, Moore said. The suspects pulled their shirts up above their noses to cover their faces.

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Jillian Nedd

Willie E. Gary

Attorneys for Jillian Nedd and Gary’s firm - Gary, Williams, Finney, Lewis, Watson and Speranado - argued over whether the case should be dismissed for the fourth time earlier this month before Judge Elizabeth Metzger.

Judges three times in the past have thrown out the suit but given Nedd’s attorneys Linda Capobianco, Jerome Stone and Mark Johnson permission to refile the suit with more specific information.

Metzger in her ruling wrote that Nedd’s attorneys did not have a viable claim under the part of their suit that alleged Gary committed the acts while he was employed to “further a purpose of interest, however excessive or misguided, of the employer.”

The judge, however, did allow Nedd’s attorneys to continue to pursue the lawsuit on the allegations that the firm was negligent in not trying to control or prevent Gary’s alleged actions.

Nedd in the summer of 2007 accused Gary of raping her at a Stuart hotel. Gary said the sex was consensual. Police at the end of a criminal investigation did not bring charges against Gary.

Authorities also did not seek charges against Nedd on accusations from Gary that Nedd, her husband and one of their friends used the rape allegations to extort $20 million from him.

John Williams

Hobe Sound resident John W. Williams told Martin County Sheriff’s deputies he had just put out a marijuana cigarette when he was stopped along Bridge Road on Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities said they searched his vehicle and found a baggie of pot and a manila envelope with cocaine inside.

Williams, 43, was arrested on misdemeanor marijuana possession and felony cocaine possession charges. His 2-year-old grandson was released to his mother.

Deputies issued Williams a traffic citation for failing to restrain the boy while driving.

Williams was released from the Martin County jail on Wednesday after posting $5,500 bond.

By ANDREW MARRA
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

A 65-year-old Jupiter man died in a car crash Wednesday morning on Beeline Highway in southern Martin County.

Benjamin Newlands was traveling west in a Buick station wagon when he veered across both lanes and crashed into a marsh, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

He died inside the car.

The crash happened about 10:20 a.m. The FHP said no other vehicles were involved and it was not clear what caused him to veer off the road.

andrew_marra@pbpost.com

Two Jensen Beach teens face burglary and theft charges after they told police they had been trolling for unlocked vehicles to break into.

The 16-year-olds were spotted early Wednesday morning in the area of Northeast Ivy Lane wearing black and carrying a back pack, Martin County Sheriff’s investigators said.

The pair cooperated with detectives, riding around in Jensen Park Estates with detectives to show them the vehicles they had burglarized over the past three nights, according to sheriff’s reports.

Items recovered include: stereo faceplates, knives, cellular phone chargers, weather receiver, 9mm magazine with ammunition, GPS unit, depth finder, boat radio, and currency.