Local

Photo 1:  A mother and her son were gunned down Sunday afternoon in the front yard of this High Springs home.   Russell Hogg has been arrested, and has been charged with two counts of premeditated capital murder for the deaths of his wife and son. Photo 2: Russell Hogg has been charged with two counts of premeditated captial murder for the deaths of his wife and son.

Russell Dewayne Hogg, 58, has been arrested in the shooting death of his wife, Trenda Hogg, 48 and their 22 year old son, Anthony Wayne Hogg.

According to an arrest report, just before 1 p.m. Sunday, Russell Hogg, last known to be employed as a welder, pulled into the driveway of the family home at 240 Poe Springs Road in High Springs.  He allegedly exited his vehicle, pulling out an AK-47 rifle and pointed it at his son stating, “I told you I was going to kill you,” to which Anthony Hogg replied, “shoot me then.”

Russell Hogg reportedly fired two rounds at his son, striking him in the torso.  The report states, “[Russell Hogg] then walked up to him and shot one round to his face.”

Upon realizing Anthony Hogg had been shot, Trenda Hogg ran outside where “Russell [Hogg] pointed the gun at her and fired several rounds at her,” the arrest record states.

Russell Hogg then threw the gun down and an eyewitness grabbed the gun and threw it under the house to prevent further access to it.  Russell Hogg then got into his car and left, officials report.

When deputies arrived at the scene, both victims were lying in the front yard and pronounced dead, according to Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) Spokesman Sergeant Todd Kelly.  He said there are some reports that Russell Hogg may have stopped in the Winn Dixie shopping plaza after the shooting.  Kelly was uncertain as to whether or not Russell Hogg had been residing at the family’s residence.

Two witnesses told investigators that Hogg stated his intentions to commit the crime beforehand.  “Russell was at their home and made the statement he “was going over to kill them.”  After the shooting, Russell Hogg allegedly returned to the witnesses’ home where he stated, “I told you I was gonna’ kill them,” the report states.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Russell Hogg on U.S. Highway 441 a short time after the shooting.

After being read his Miranda rights, Russell Hogg made several statements acknowledging that he killed his wife and son, according to ACSO Detective Sandra Myers.

Among his statements to investigators was that, “Tony [Anthony Russell] had gotten too big for his britches,” and that if he could have whipped his son, he would have, “rather than having to kill him.”

Myers wrote, “Russell [Hogg] also stated that it hurt him to see his wife laying there barely breathing because he did not want her to die.”

“I just killed my family and the bread winner of the home,” Russell Hogg allegedly said.

Kelly did not know if Russell Hogg was intoxicated in any way.

Russell Hogg was transferred to the ACSO Department of the Jail Monday.  Tuesday morning, he made a first appearance, Kelly said.

Russell Hogg is being held without bail on two charges of premeditated capital murder.

State Attorney Bill Cervone said the case will be presented to a grand jury within 21 days.  Grand jury presentations are required in first degree murder cases.

The city has no plans to remove the attorney. Instead, the commission will continue the relationship on a month-to-month basis.

Mayor Larry Travis said, “I think he’s done a great job. We’re getting a pretty good bang for our buck.”

Commissioner Dean Davis feels that continuing Depeter’s employment on a non-contract basis is the best path to take given High Spring’s current economic situation.

Retaining Depeter on a non-contractual basis relieves the city of buying out his contract should the city decide at some point to let him go. “I think the buy-out is one of the problems we’ve had with our budget this year,” Davis said. “We’ve had to spend so much money in the past two years on buy-outs.”

The City paid severance to former city manager Jim Drumm when he was terminated last year prior to his contract expiration date.  Just weeks ago, former police chief Jim Troiano was let go prior to his contract expiration, and he will be receiving severance pay as well.

Depeter said that severance pay allows the commission to not have to explain why it is releasing an employee, thus preventing legal action.

“It provides a certain level of security, but it doesn’t guarantee anything,” he said.

Charter officers like the city attorney exist at the discretion of the city commission. They can be terminated at any time if the commission deems it appropriate.

“A contract doesn’t make the appointment of someone as your city attorney; the city commission voted to appoint me as the city attorney,” Depeter said. “Just because the contract expires doesn’t mean the appointment expires.”

He explained that the only ways of terminating a city attorney’s employment are the attorney resigning or the commission following the appropriate procedure.

Depeter agreed to continue on without a contract, stating that his rates would remain the same as they had been.

“I enjoy working for the city, and I hope to continue to be your city attorney,” he said.

High Springs hired the city attorney in 2007 with a two-year contract. The contract was renewed in 2009 for another two years.

The changes proposed in a new contract were a reduction of early termination pay from three months to two and the removal of budgeting for training conferences.

Depeter’s contract expired on Saturday.

Collision recorded by deputy’s dash cam

A four-car pileup on U.S. Highway 441 Sunday afternoon sent two people to the hospital, including 21-year-old Fernando Carlo who was transported via helicopter.

The accident occurred at the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 and County Road 235A around 5:37 p.m. Sunday.

A black Saturn sports utility vehicle (SUV) being driven by 21-year-old Fernando Carlo was traveling in the southbound lane of U.S. 441 at speeds estimated to be well above the limit of 45 miles per hour.  Carlo may have been traveling at speeds closer to 60 or more m.p.h., police said.

The accident was caught on the dash camera of an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was parked along the roadside.

Police say video footage shows that brakes were never applied before the Saturn struck the rear end of a Lincoln Town Car being driven by John Brown.  Brown was stopped at a red light, a police report indicates.

Brown’s Lincoln was then forced into a white BMW, which subsequently struck a silver Hyundai.

The Saturn SUV being driven by Carlo flipped and came to rest on its roof.

Carlo was transported to an area hospital via ShandsCare helicopter.

Brown was also taken to an area hospital, and later released.

Police aren’t sure how many people were transported for medical treatment as they described the scene as chaotic.  They are awaiting additional information from fire rescue services who triaged the injured and transported them.

Carlo and the other five passengers of the SUV appeared to have been returning from area springs.

Alachua Police Department (APD) Spokesman Jesse Sandusky said police believe the accident may have been alcohol related.

Blood was drawn from Carlo to determine the possible presence of any intoxicating substances, and authorities are awaiting toxicology reports, which can take weeks to months.

Both the Lincoln and the Saturn SUV were total losses, sustaining substantial damage.

Each Crystal Performance Award recipient ranked among the top two or three percent of all credit unions analyzed by RFG for two consecutive reporting periods. SunState Federal Credit Union was one of only 20 credit unions nationally to receive the award.

“We are very pleased to recognize those credit unions that have shown outstanding results this past year,” said Bill Handel, Vice President of Research and Product Development with RFG. “These organizations have consistently performed at a high-level and exhibit operational excellence in managing efficiency. Credit unions that receive this accolade tend to perform well despite the interest rate environment and challenges in their local economies.”

“It is an honor to be recognized by Raddon Financial Group for our continued devotion to maintaining high-performance standards,” said Jim Woodward, President/CEO of SunState Federal Credit Union. “Our commitment to exceptional member service and quality products set us apart in the market and helps better serve the needs of our diverse marketplace of consumers and small businesses. This award serves as positive reinforcement that our strategies are indeed industry best practices.”

A company that runs a chain of adult novelty stores filed a lawsuit Friday in federal court against the City of Alachua challenging Ordinance 11-06 passed earlier this year which prevents the store from opening in a building that had been home to The Western Teepee several years ago.

The ordinance restricts the types of businesses allowed to operate within an area labeled the “Gateway Activity Center,” a 2,000-foot zone surrounding the intersection of Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 441.

Alachua Retail 51, L.L.C., operating under the name of The Lions Den Adult Boutique is also seeking immediate injunctive relief from Ordinance 11-06 citing claims that not allowing the adult novelty to open would result in “irreparable injury.”

Representing The Lions Den is Attorney Gary Edinger, the same Gainesville attorney who represented owners of Adult World, another sexually-oriented business, which sued the City after it was not permitted to open in 2003.

City of Alachua Attorney Marian Rush said she received a telephone call from Edigner’s office asking if the City would agree not to enforce the ordinance which prevents the store’s opening.  Rush said she was presenting the matter to the commission for consideration.

Vice-Mayor Ben Boukari, Jr. said, “It would be laughable to think that we wouldn’t enforce an ordinance we passed and something that’s been in the works for several years and not just something that happened in the last six months.”

In February, The Lions Den submitted a partial application to the City to open its shop in the vacant building which front U.S. Highway 441.  Meanwhile, the City was in the throes of drafting an ordinance detailing the permitted types of businesses in the Gateway Activity Center area.  The City adopted a moratorium preventing any new businesses from opening in the 2,000-foot zone until the final ordinance could be completed.

Commissioners approved the Gateway Activity Center ordinance on May 23.  Sexually-oriented businesses were among those uses not allowed.

Monday, commissioners voted unanimously to continue enforcement of Ordinance 11-06.

The possible acquisition of the Canterbury Equestrian Center will be discussed Monday at 6 p.m., where Newberry Parks and Recreation Director Richard Blalock hopes to lay rumors to rest.

Blalock said there are rumors about the city buying the center to make it into another sporting facility, and removing the equestrian component from the property.  That is not the case with Canterbury, he said, since the main purpose of the purchase is to maintain the aesthetics of the building and keep it as the place to have equestrian events.

If Newberry were able purchase the property, Blalock said the purpose of the center would be expanded to host festivals and trade shows. Before the city commission considers purchasing the center, Blalock said the city wants its residents to be involved with the project.

“We are making sure everyone is on the same page,” he said.

Officials say a price and restoration budget has not been set for the equestrian center, since the Sept. 19 meeting will be the first step in determining Canterbury’s future if the City does indeed purchase it. Blalock said the money would probably come from a mix of private funding and the hotel bed tax.  County officials have already designated a portion of bed tax funds to Newberry’s $7 million Nations Baseball Park.

After one citizen raised concerns Monday evening about the status of the City’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and the Triangle Park, City officials vowed to take community input on those recreation facilities during the town hall meeting slated for Sept. 19.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the Oak View Middle School cafeteria, 1203 NW 250th Street in Newberry.