WOKC Local News – July 16, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Vincent’s sentence reduced with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy, a Central Florida man who destroyed lives when he ran over two people on a motorcycle at nearly 100 miles an hour. Originally got 45 years in prison last week. His sentence was reduced to 39 years. He did get five years probation. Prosecutor Assy Albright explained why Vincent got a re-sentence after 20 years. An unfortunate loophole in the law that should be fixed. Back when he was sentenced, there was no requirement that a person have to have DUI school. And it makes no sense if a man’s got a mandatory life DL revocation and he’s doing a 45-year sentence. But because of that technicality, he was entitled to a new sentence in order for the court to add a condition of DUI school. Vincent still has about 16 years left to serve. He killed Indian town residents Carl Pettybridge and Robin Rollerson near the old Happy Hour Tavern. Martin County will work with the state to get a Rural and Family Lands Program easement for the Turnpike Dairy. It’s 525 acres off the Martin Grade and Fox Brown Road. County Commission Chair Sarah Hurd says Turnpike Dairy and other properties will help the county’s water quality. These three parcels will provide enormous environmental benefit to us. So really, really fine work. The operator of the locks around Lake Okeechobee dealing with an insurance problem, Nick Mancino, says he’s been unable to get an agreement with South Florida Water Management District and was denied mediation. My biggest concern is insurance. The district says I need commercial insurance to operate the boat locks. But you can’t buy that insurance. They require marine insurance, which is much more expensive. The locks on Lake Okeechobee are closed due to low water right now. At the governing board meeting, activist Newton Cook says the district did well with muck removal and burns this year. But he’d like to see even more efforts put in. We have a big problem in Florida. We’re killing our lakes. We’re just killing them. It’s just sad to see when you’re out there. Now, you’ve got to have spring. I totally understand we have to have some spring. But it’s way, way beyond what we need today. Some children gave the bird to adults in an RV park, resulting in two fathers fighting. There were minor injuries sustained by both men. Part of the fight was caught on video. Sheriff DeBatey is unable to determine who was the aggressor and did not make arrests. The Hokies looking to add a hotel. They’re getting help from the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic Alliance. Julia DePloy told the commission that it would be good for the Glades region. We said, we need a hotel. Everything else really doesn’t matter. Yes, of course, we want new business. But we can’t have the bass tournaments that we want. We can’t do the things that we need to boost tourism out here until we’ve got a place for people to spend the night, go to the bathroom, and go to the restaurant. Florida’s executed its oldest death row inmate in state history. Dennis Soker was 74 years old when he was put to death by lethal injection in Stark last night. He was on death row for a 1982 rape and murder of an 18-year-old girl in Fort Lauderdale. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).