Crash on CR 512 sends 10 to hospitals

County upgrades inventory systems after Burkeen tire scheme

By sentencing Indian River County Fire-Rescue’s former second in command Brian Burkeen to 12 years in prison plus 18 years probation, Circuit Court Judge Dan Vaughn broadcast loud and clear to anyone who might think about ripping off the taxpayers: If you do it, you will suffer major consequences for the rest of your life.  Burkeen, a 30-year county employee and long-time Fellsmere resident, must also make more than $300,000 in restitution for the tire-theft scheme he carried on for the five years preceding his retirement in 2018. Burkeen pleaded no contest in March just before his trial was to begin.  He could have been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison, but Assistant Public Defender Michelle Rhodeback petitioned ...

Burkeen: Tire theft scheme brings 12 years in prison

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Brian Burkeen stood in the courtroom and turned to his wife and mother after getting a 12-year prison sentence in connection with a scheme to resell tires bought with thousands in tax-payer funds. "I hope it was worth it," Judge Dan Vaughn said to Burkeen, the former assistant fire chief, before he laid out the sentencing Thursday morning. Burkeen's wife, Ginger, sat next to him in the audience and appeared to be crying during the proceeding. Burkeen - who was fingerprinted by court deputies, then led away -  was given a one-day credit for the day he spent at the county jail. Burkeen was also ordered to serve 18 years of probation following his prison sentence ...

Virus postpones Burkeen sentencing, again

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The sentencing hearing for former Assistant Fire Chief Brian Burkeen was postponed again Wednesday after his wife revealed she recently tested positive for coronavirus. Burkeen and his wife, Ginger, tuned in by phone Wednesday to Judge Dan Vaughn's courtroom for Burkeen's sentencing for a nearly $300,000 tire theft scheme, a crime officials said Burkeen committed between 2013 and 2018. Vaughn agreed to postpone Burkeen's formal sentencing to 8:45 a.m. July 16 after Ginger Burkeen told the courtroom she tested positive for coronavirus Tuesday. Brian Burkeen, 57, of the 10000 block of 138th Avenue, Fellsmere, pled no contest to the theft charges in March. If convicted, Burkeen could face the maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. ...