Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast UniversityMissing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Ian.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
LABELLE City of LaBelle under precautionary boil water notice A water main break has the City of Labelle under a precautionary boil water notice.
ESTERO FGCU student wins ice dancing national championship FGCU sophomore Lucas Appel wins his second US Senior Solo Dance National Championship in three years.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office: Parent brings weapon to Lehigh Acres school According to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, there is probable cause to believe a woman unintentionally brought a firearm to school.
The Cape Coral boy found delinquent of texting a violent threat is sentenced to probation. As we’ve been reporting for the past year, Daniel Marquez sent private texts to a friend he says were a joke about a scam involving money and guns, followed by a reference to a school event. Daniel was arrested, charged and found delinquent at his July trial of a second-degree felony. His case made national and international headlines, after the Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno posted the boy’s perp walk on Facebook three hours after the arrest. Lee County Judge Carolyn Swift didn’t say how long Marquez would be on probation, but the conditions include a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, a diversion class, an appearance before a neighborhood accountability board, and a 500-word essay defining a school threat and what he has learned from this case so far. Judge withholds adjudication What we learned today is the judge decided to withhold Daniel’s conviction. “The court will withhold adjudication, even though I have previously adjudicated him based on the youth’s young age and the state attorney’s non-objection to a withhold order,” said Swift. Daniel’s attorney Alex Saiz explains the significance of that decision. “It matters for the purposes of a criminal record, and when things are sealable or not sealable,” he said. “But for the purposes, the court did find him delinquent in the trial, and then gave him the withhold adjudication afterwards.” Prosecutor turns focus to Daniel’s father Prosecutor Scott Miller then took aim at Daniel’s father, Derek. Miller asked the judge to punish him for a TikTok video he once posted of himself with his oldest son—not Daniel—lip-syncing to a song that included vulgar lyrics. “Here is this father who is responsible for modeling and teaching appropriate social media responsibility, and communication,” said Miller. “And I believe what your honor is about to see is demonstrating that Derek Marquez would benefit from services teaching him better skills set to model and teach Mr. Daniel Marquez, social media responsibility.” Both Derek and Saiz argued the TikTok video wasn’t relevant to Daniel’s case, and the prosecutor’s attempt to sanction the father was a clear violation of his constitutional rights. “There’s no allegation that this is by itself, a criminal action. This isn’t a threat,” said Saiz. “He said words that we would rather he not say, which is at its core, what the First Amendment is designed to protect.” The judge agreed and dismissed the request. “Mr. Marquez, just like every parent, has their First Amendment rights,” said Swift. Derek believes that the move by the prosecutor was payback for not backing down when it comes to defending his son. “I feel that it was the prosecutor’s way of embarrassing me,” said Derek. “But I feel like I don’t get easily embarrassed or intimidated.” State Attorney Amira Fox sat quietly in the courtroom while the hearing took place. State Attorney Amira Fox attends Marquez sentencing hearing and declines an interview with WINK News. We asked for an interview, and she turned us down. She said she wasn’t sure if she wanted to comment on the case. Instead, she directed us to her communications team. In the meantime, the Marquez family is appealing the verdict and has 30 days to file the paperwork. You can watch our entire series here: Exclusive: 10-year-old arrested, accused of threatening mass school shooting speaks out Cape Coral 10-year-old accused of threatening a mass shooting officially charged 10-year-old accused of mass shooting threat declines plea deal, says not guilty Alan Dershowitz gives case analysis of SWFL 10-year-old accused of threatening mass shooting Law enforcement weighs in on 10-year-old accused of threatening mass shooting ‘She should be euthanized’; Experts weigh in on Lee sheriff’s commentary on suspects Family of 10-year-old charged with mass shooting threat requests DOJ investigation into LCSO Police recordings released for 10-year-old Daniel Marquez, accused of school shooting threat More twists: Lawyer quits Daniel Marquez case; new text messages revealed ‘An attempt to go viral’ Daniel Marquez’s attorney questions Lee Sheriff’s motive Could Sheriff Carmine Marceno be charged under Florida statute used to arrest Daniel Marquez? Inappropriate vs. Threat: New twist in battle over Florida law following 10-year-old’s arrest by Lee County Sheriff’s Office EXCLUSIVE: Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy explains arrest of Cape Coral 10-year-old under oath EXCLUSIVE: 10-year-old Cape Coral boy accused of making school threat headed to trial U.S. Supreme Court decision impact on case against Lee County 10-year-old accused of violent threat SCOTUS increasing ‘true threat’ burden of proof to convict could impact Lee County 10-year-old’s trial Did Lee County Schools fail to investigate possible threat before 10-year-old’s arrest? Court finds Cape Coral boy made school threat via textProsecutor in Daniel Marquez school threat case tries to punish father for TikTok video