Vero Beach High student to serve 3 years in youth program for bomb threats

Student charged after making threats targeting Vero Beach High School

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A Vero Beach High School student was arrested Tuesday after deputies said he made threats targeting staff and other pupils last week. The student - who officials said made threats of violence - had been suspended from the school on Friday before making the threats later that day. "The investigation revealed a student who was suspended earlier on Friday, sent threatening messages using the school district's FOCUS messenger account, to multiple staff members," Indian River County sheriff's officials said in a statement. "In total, 10 staff members, to include teachers, guidance counselors, and support staff, received similar messages indicating threats to themselves, their families, and the campus." The student - a juvenile - was charged with ...

Appeals court denies Damien Gilliams’ request to remove judge from case

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Fourth District Court of Appeal last Friday denied Damien Gilliams' request to have Circuit Court Judge Michael Linn removed from his criminal case, court records show. Gilliams, a former Sebastian City Councilmember convicted on charges of violation of the Sunshine Law and perjury, filed a motion on June 14 requesting Linn be removed from his case. Gilliams said he feared he did not receive a fair trial because of prejudice or bias from Linn, noting that Linn's wife previously worked at the state attorney's office. Gilliams and another former councilmember, Pamela Rapp Parris, were both convicted last month on charges stemming from an April 22, 2020 meeting described by prosecutors as illegal. Prosecutors said the ...

Low beach attendance for January; no water rescues

VERO BEACH — While chilly temperatures caused a drop in beach attendance last month, lifeguards are happy to report that there were no water rescues that occurred in January. "It's a great thing," Vero Beach Lifeguard Association officials said in a statement. "We hope people are paying attention to lifeguards and condition signs before they go into the water." The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association recently released its monthly report for the beaches at Jaycee Park, Humiston Park and South Beach Park. Lifeguards said about 54,105 beachgoers flocked to the shore in January. The highest beach-attendance record of 65,700 was set in 2019 for Vero Beach, lifeguards said. The record low for beach attendance was set in 2016 with 36,000 people, ...