Latest news with #Holmes'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Yahoo
$1.7 million approved for wrongfully convicted Broward man sentenced to 400 years in prison
Gov. Ron DeSantis has approved a $1.7 million payment to a Broward man who was once sentenced to 400 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of serving as the getaway driver in a robbery near Fort Lauderdale. Sidney Holmes, now 59, can't get the 34 years he spent behind bars back, but he can live the rest of his days knowing that his name has been cleared. 'This a gesture that recognizes Mr. Holmes was wronged and that we, in the State of Florida and in the justice system, will help him and compensate him,' said State Attorney Harold Pryor, whose Conviction Review Unit identified Holmes' case and conducted the investigation that determined he was an innocent man. Holmes was 22 years old when he was accused of taking part in a Father's Day 1988 robbery at the One Stop store in the 2500 block of Northwest Sixth Street, in an unincorporated area west of Fort Lauderdale. The getaway driver was described by a witness as 'short and heavyset.' Holmes was a lanky 6 feet and 183 pounds. He also said he was at a family gathering at the time of the robbery. It didn't matter: A jury convicted him the following April, and the prosecutor, calling Holmes a habitual offender, sought a prison term of 825 years. Circuit Judge Mel Grossman, finding that sentence too harsh, ordered Holmes behind bars for 400 years. Exonerated Broward man seeks $1.7 million from state after serving decades of 400-year sentence 'The reason for my recommendation and an exceedingly high number of years is to ensure that he won't be released from prison while he's breathing,' the original prosecutor said at Holmes' sentencing hearing. The conviction review unit became aware of Holmes' case in 2020 and convinced a judge to release him in 2023. 'It's surreal,' Holmes said when he walked out of jail after spending more than half his life behind bars. 'I never would give up hope. I knew this day was going to come sooner or later, and today is the day.' Because of his prior criminal record, Holmes was not legally entitled to payment under the state's law on compensating victims of wrongful incarceration. A claims bill filed by state Rep. Michael Gottlieb and state Sen. Jason Pizzo was passed earlier this year and signed Tuesday by the governor. Holmes will receive $1,722,000 along with 120 hours of college or career center tuition and fees. 'Since his release from prison, Mr. Holmes has obtained full-time employment,' the State Attorney's Office announced in a news release. 'He has also visited our office and participated in training sessions by talking to our prosecutors about his experience and how to try to avoid wrongful convictions in the future.' Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@ or 954-356-4457. Follow him on
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Trump administration's MS-13 case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia crumbled in court
Before the Trump administration finally returned Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S. this month, officials kept claiming he belonged to the deadly MS-13 gang. Even if true, that wouldn't have been a valid reason for the government to avoid compliance with a court order for his return after illegally sending him to El Salvador in March. But in any event, it shouldn't escape notice that a federal judge just picked apart the gang claim that the Justice Department has continued to push since his return. That picking-apart came in Sunday's ruling that rejected the DOJ's bid to detain Abrego ahead of trial on criminal charges the government had waiting for him upon his return. He pleaded not guilty to allegations of illegally transporting undocumented immigrants. (U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes' opinion Sunday noted that his preferred surname is 'Abrego,' after he has been consistently referred to in court documents and reports as 'Abrego Garcia.') Abrego's criminal charges don't hinge on whether he's a gang member. But the issue arose in Holmes' detention ruling because the government argued that his alleged gang membership supported his detention. 'The Government's investigation has revealed that the defendant has a long history and association with MS-13,' prosecutors wrote ahead of a June 13 hearing. But in her ruling following the hearing, Holmes said the government's evidence of Abrego's MS-13 membership 'consists of general statements, all double hearsay, from two cooperating witnesses.' She said those statements, in turn, are contradicted by another witness who, the judge wrote, said that 'in ten years of acquaintance with Abrego, there were no signs or markings, including tattoos, indicating that Abrego is an MS-13 member.' Given the conflicting evidence, the judge wrote, 'the government's evidence of Abrego's alleged gang membership is simply insufficient.' So, after months of the administration insisting on Abrego's gang membership (again, not that it would excuse failing to return him as required by court order issued in April), there was a clear chance to prove it in court. The government failed to do so. That doesn't mean prosecutors won't be able to prove their underlying criminal case against Abrego or that he can't be legally deported in the future. It doesn't even mean that Holmes' release order will stand, given the government's pending motion to halt it and keep him in criminal custody. And if he is released from criminal custody, the government has indicated it will seek to hold him in immigration custody. So Holmes' ruling could wind up being an 'academic exercise,' as she noted while emphasizing the importance of providing due process in the meantime. But the failure to support the MS-13 claim is indicative of an amateurishness that has marked the government's conduct throughout this sordid affair. If it's a sign of things to come, it could bode well for Abrego's legal fight. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in the Trump administration's legal cases. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Engineers on site as sewage pipe burst near designated bathing spot
Southern Water engineers continue to work at a car park in Warsash after a sewage pipe burst in "close proximity" to a designated bathing spot. The utility company was alerted to a leak near Passage Lane car park on Saturday, which is close to a Site of Special Scientific Interest and shellfish waters linked to the River Hamble. The burst is believed to have been discovered when footpaths near the pay and display parking spot were flooded. While a social media post from Paul Holmes MP on Sunday confirmed that the spill had been stopped, Southern Water confirmed to the Echo that engineers are still on site today. A spokesperson from the Environment Agency told the BBC that there was "no indication" bathing water had been affected. READ MORE: Swanwick road set for temporary closure Tankers are still on site at the parking spot near the River Hamble to manage the flow of water. Mr Holmes' social media post said that Southern Water were taking a "number of mitigation actions to protect the environment". This included having environmental specialists take samples and the use of barriers to stop overland flows. A spokesperson from Southern Water told the Echo: 'Our teams are repairing a burst sewer main near Passage Lane car park in Warsash. "We currently have tankers on site to help manage the flow. "We're sorry for any disruption this is causing customers in the area.'
San Francisco Chronicle
15-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Holmes' 'special' game with 15 strikeouts is wasted in loss as Braves shift focus to visit from Mets
ATLANTA (AP) — Grant Holmes believed he was on the verge of a game to remember when the Atlanta right-hander reached 10 strikeouts for the first time in his career — and it was only the fifth inning. 'It was a special moment,' Holmes said. It was difficult for the Braves to explain how Holmes' milestone game, which started with five hitless innings and ended with a career-best 15 strikeouts, was wasted in Sunday's 10-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Holmes (3-6) did not allow a hit or a walk through five innings but trailed 1-0 thanks to his fielding and throwing errors on Ryan Ritter's grounder in the third. After the Braves tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth, Holmes gave up Ryan McMahon's go-ahead homer in the seventh. The right-hander gave up three runs, two earned, in 6 1/3 innings. 'It sucks to waste that start from him,' said Braves first baseman Matt Olson. Holmes' 15 strikeouts came one game after Spencer Strider's 13 strikeouts in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Rockies. 'I didn't see that coming,' said Braves manager Brian Snitker, adding that Holmes' strong start was not the only surprise. 'I felt good about putting runs on the board, too,' Snitker said, referring to the team's strong hitting in scoring a combined 16 runs while winning the first two games of the series. 'We're starting to click here and get this thing rolling,' Snitker said. 'We just can't get off the mat and get anything rolling for any extended time and we haven't all year.' Relievers Enyel De Los Santos and José Ruiz combined to give up seven runs after Holmes' exit. Even so, Holmes' start gives the Braves confidence in their rotation which also includes Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Chris Sale and Bryce Elder. 'Those guys are really good,' Holmes said. '... I feel like going forward if we stay like we are we'll be in a pretty good position.' The Braves have won back-to-back series against Milwaukee and Colorado, but they couldn't complete the sweep of the Rockies they hoped would provide momentum for a visit from the NL East-leading New York Mets. The three-game series begins on Tuesday night. The Braves tweaked their rotation, moving Sale from his scheduled start on Sunday so he could follow Schwellenbach against the Mets, with Strider planned for the third game. The Mets will be looking to rebound after being swept at home by Tampa Bay. They are still 13 games ahead of third-place Atlanta in the division. 'We've got to turn the page and get ready to play Tuesday,' said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza following Sunday's 9-0 loss to the Rays. 'We know when you look at this team on paper, that's a really good team,' Mendoza said of the Braves (31-39). 'We've got a chance to make up some ground,' Olson said. 'It will be our first time seeing them.' ___
Hamilton Spectator
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Holmes' ‘special' game with 15 strikeouts is wasted in loss as Braves shift focus to visit from Mets
ATLANTA (AP) — Grant Holmes believed he was on the verge of a game to remember when the Atlanta right-hander reached 10 strikeouts for the first time in his career — and it was only the fifth inning. 'It was a special moment,' Holmes said. It was difficult for the Braves to explain how Holmes' milestone game, which started with five hitless innings and ended with a career-best 15 strikeouts, was wasted in Sunday's 10-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Holmes (3-6) did not allow a hit or a walk through five innings but trailed 1-0 thanks to his fielding and throwing errors on Ryan Ritter's grounder in the third. After the Braves tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth, Holmes gave up Ryan McMahon's go-ahead homer in the seventh. The right-hander gave up three runs, two earned, in 6 1/3 innings. 'It sucks to waste that start from him,' said Braves first baseman Matt Olson. Holmes' 15 strikeouts came one game after Spencer Strider's 13 strikeouts in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Rockies. 'I didn't see that coming,' said Braves manager Brian Snitker, adding that Holmes' strong start was not the only surprise. 'I felt good about putting runs on the board, too,' Snitker said, referring to the team's strong hitting in scoring a combined 16 runs while winning the first two games of the series. 'We're starting to click here and get this thing rolling,' Snitker said. 'We just can't get off the mat and get anything rolling for any extended time and we haven't all year.' Relievers Enyel De Los Santos and José Ruiz combined to give up seven runs after Holmes' exit. Even so, Holmes' start gives the Braves confidence in their rotation which also includes Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Chris Sale and Bryce Elder. 'Those guys are really good,' Holmes said. '... I feel like going forward if we stay like we are we'll be in a pretty good position.' The Braves have won back-to-back series against Milwaukee and Colorado, but they couldn't complete the sweep of the Rockies they hoped would provide momentum for a visit from the NL East-leading New York Mets. The three-game series begins on Tuesday night. The Braves tweaked their rotation, moving Sale from his scheduled start on Sunday so he could follow Schwellenbach against the Mets, with Strider planned for the third game. The Mets will be looking to rebound after being swept at home by Tampa Bay. They are still 13 games ahead of third-place Atlanta in the division. 'We've got to turn the page and get ready to play Tuesday,' said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza following Sunday's 9-0 loss to the Rays. 'We know when you look at this team on paper, that's a really good team,' Mendoza said of the Braves (31-39). The Braves will visit New York for a four-game series June 23-26. 'We've got a chance to make up some ground,' Olson said. 'It will be our first time seeing them.' ___ AP MLB:
