Amanda's Story
My Story in a Women's Prison
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Marion
County sheriff’s detectives are asking any other potential child
molestation victims to come forward.
Marion
County Sheriff's Office detectives believe a 34-year-old man arrested
Wednesday on child molestation charges may have abused other children
as well and are urging any victims to contact them.
The
suspect, Lt. Keith Mitchell Turner, was one of four Lowell
Correctional Institution corrections
officers accused by lawyers in the Aug.
21 beating of an inmate that
left her paralyzed.
That
incident is still under investigation, but following the arrest,
Turner is losing his job with the Florida Department of Corrections.
"The
Sheriff's findings in this case against Mr. Turner are abhorrent and
in complete contrast to the values and integrity held by our staff,"
Secretary Mark S. Inch said in a statement issued Thursday. "We
are moving forward with his immediate dismissal."
Turner
had been employed by FDOC since 2004, except for a voluntary
separation of 11 months in 2006 and 2007.
In
the child molestation case, Turner is charged with sexual battery,
lewd or lascivious exhibition, and two counts of lewd or lascivious
molestation.
On
Aug. 8, detectives said they received a report concerning sexual
abuse after a girl told a family member about repeated abuse over
several years that began around 2012, according to Turner's arrest
report. The child was 6 to 8 when the abuse allegedly began.
While
investigating the case, detectives learned of second girl he may have
sexually molested.
They
contacted the second person and confirmed that Turner had committed
crimes of a sexual nature against that child, the report says.
Turner
was being held in the Marion County Jail Thursday without bond.
During
their investigation, Sheriff's Office officials came to believe there
may be more victims.
As
for the Lowell incident, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is
investigating the alleged abuse in which 51-year-old inmate Cheryl
Weimar was severely injured. She and her husband have filed a lawsuit
in the case.
The
amended complaint cites "Turner's violent, threatening, and
abusive conduct towards women based on dozens of inmate complaints
against him" in describing him as a "risk to female inmates
at Lowell CI."
"I'm
just speechless," said John Vernaglia, an attorney with the
Andrews Law Firm in Tallahassee, which filed the lawsuit.
"It's
a very sad day, he said in a written statement. "Our thoughts
are with the child victims as they seek to heal from this tragedy. I
hope there is as much support for these victims as there has been for
our client."
"I'm
saddened that innocent children had to endure the abuses this monster
inflicted, and I'm most happy with an arrest," said Debra
Bennett, a former Lowell inmate who has organized protests in support
of Weimar. She hopes Turner and the other corrections officers are
arrested over Weimar's case.
Vernaglia
said Thursday that Weimar — who was hospitalized for a time — is
at an FDOC reception center in Lowell. Although Weimar is doing a lot
better, he said, she is still "in a lot of pain." He is
hoping to move her to another facility so her condition can improve.
Under
Florida law, mug shots of law enforcement officials can be exempt
from public records. This case, however, involves an exception, MCSO
spokesman Sgt. Paul Bloom said.
"The
need to find other victims and protect other victims outweighs any
protection he's afforded," Bloom said.
Anyone
with information on possible child abuse is urged contact Detective
Ian Simpson at (352)3683586.
He has 100 plus pages of complaints of sexual abuse, physical abuse and on and on since 2010 and still he was promoted within Lowell.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Silent No More!
The first silent protest a Lowell 3 weeks ago.
One of the banners for protest No. 2 at Lowell on Oct 19. Many more women
have joined. This was started by former inmate Deborah Bennett who spent over 20 years
at Lowell for having oxy's.
Friday, October 11, 2019
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