A hearing was held this week to determine whether convicted drunk driver Zasha Colon can file a late appeal of her 25-year prison sentence. Colon claims she was not aware of the 30-day deadline to appeal after her 2024 sentencing. Both she and her attorney testified they were emotional at the time and may have missed or not clearly communicated that deadline. Colon also told the court she only recently began to understand the details of her sentence. A judge will now send findings to an appeals court, which will decide whether Colon can move forward with a late appeal.
The Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce has opened applications for the 2025 Sebring Chamber Awards. Community members can apply for honors including Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, and Citizen of the Year. Applications are available now at sebring.org and will also be featured in the Chamber’s weekly E-News. The deadline to apply is April 27th. Winners will be announced at the Chamber’s Annual Banquet on May 29th.
A Lake Wales man is facing serious charges after deputies say he attacked someone with a golf club—not on the course, but inside a home. Investigators say 54-year-old Reuben “Buddy” Free the Third struck an acquaintance multiple times while the victim was asleep. Witnesses told deputies the attack may have been fueled by accusations involving an ex-girlfriend, and stepped in to stop it. The victim was hospitalized with possible broken bones. Free now faces a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
A Brevard County teen learned looks won’t beat the law after getting pulled over twice within minutes on I-4 near Davenport. Polk County Deputies say 19-year-old Rolando Pichardo Jr. was first stopped for driving on a suspended license and told not to get back behind the wheel. About ten minutes later, another deputy spotted the same SUV—still being driven by Pichardo. When arrested, he reportedly told deputies he was “too pretty to go to jail.” Deputies disagreed, and he was taken into custody.