Zachary Wester, the former North Florida deputy convicted in May on drug-planting charges was sentenced Tuesday. Facing a maximum sentence of 85-plus years, the sentence handed down was for 12 years, six months and eight days in state prison. A jury found the former Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputy guilty in May on charges of racketeering, fabricating evidence, false imprisonment, perjury and possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.  The judge denied the defense's motion to allow Wester to be released from custody pending appeal.

Zachary Wester, the former North Florida deputy&nbsp;convicted in May on drug-planting charges was sentenced Tuesday. Facing a maximum sentence of 85-plus years, the sentence handed down was for 12 years, six months and eight days in state prison. A jury found the former Jackson County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office deputy guilty in May on charges of racketeering, fabricating evidence, false imprisonment, perjury and possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; The judge&nbsp;denied the defense's motion to allow Wester to be released from custody pending appeal.

News briefs from the state of Florida.

Florida News Briefs - Florida Podcast

News Briefs from the state of Florida.

Florida News Briefs - Florida

Florida- Ex-deputy Zachary Wester sentenced to more than 12 years for drug planting, other charges

Ex-deputy Zachary Wester sentenced to more than 12 years for drug planting, other charges

A stray dog caused an eight-vehicle collision on a Florida highway early Friday. The overnight wreck left three people with minor injuries, and shut down all westbound traffic on the I-10 in Jefferson County, Florida Highway Patrol said. The accident began when a sedan hit a dog, rendering the car QUOTE "inoperable" in the middle of the highway, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. A second sedan crashed into that vehicle, then a semi-tractor smashed into both cars and a concrete barrier wall. Debris reportedly scattered across the highway and impacted six other vehicles. A Florida Highway Patrol sergeant said the stray dog was killed in the crash. He did not know its breed.

A stray dog caused an eight-vehicle collision on a Florida highway early Friday. The overnight wreck left three people with minor injuries, and shut down all westbound traffic on the I-10 in Jefferson County, Florida Highway Patrol said. The accident began when a sedan hit a dog, rendering the car QUOTE "inoperable" in the middle of the highway, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. A second sedan crashed into that vehicle, then a semi-tractor smashed into both cars and a concrete barrier wall. Debris reportedly scattered across the highway and impacted six other vehicles. A Florida Highway Patrol sergeant said the stray dog was killed in the crash. He did not know its breed.

Overnight I-10 wreck involving eight vehicles kills dog, injures three people, FHP says

A "security incident" that shut down a Florida county's tax collection office was the result of hacking, Treasure Coast Newspapers reports. Little has been released about what type of breach occurred or whether taxpayers' confidential information was exposed. Officials initially blamed BlackByte for the attack before retracting their statement, TCPalm reports. BlackByte is a new type of ransomware, which is used to encrypt data, demanding payment in order to unlock it. The breach prompted the abrupt closure of the Martin County Tax Collector's Office more than a week ago, and the office is expected to re-open in a limited capacity on Monday. The Martin County Sheriff's Office announced it will suspend writing tickets to local residents for expired driver's licenses and license plates until the tax collector's issue is resolved.

A "security incident" that shut down a Florida county's tax collection office was the result of hacking, Treasure Coast Newspapers reports. Little has been released about what type of breach occurred or whether taxpayers' confidential information was exposed. Officials initially blamed BlackByte for the attack before retracting their statement, TCPalm reports. BlackByte is a new type of ransomware, which is used to encrypt data, demanding payment in order to unlock it. The breach prompted the abrupt closure of the Martin County Tax Collector's Office more than a week ago, and the office is expected to re-open in a limited capacity on Monday. The Martin County Sheriff's Office announced it will suspend writing tickets to local residents for expired driver's licenses and license plates until the tax collector's issue is resolved.

Expert: Ransomware attack on Martin County Tax Collector's Office could inflict data damage

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has reached agreements with five pari-mutuel facilities to help market sports betting. The gambling deal, which was negotiated by Gov. Ron DeSantis (de-SAN-tis) last spring and approved by lawmakers during a May special session, allows the tribe to operate online sports betting available to people throughout the state. The tribe has reached agreements with five facilities, including the Palm Beach Kennel Club, Hialeah Park Casino, and Tampa Bay Downs. The new Florida law will allow gamblers to place sports bets on smartphones or other online devices, with the bets run through servers on Seminole Tribe property. Pari-mutuels that enter contracts with the tribe will market sports betting at their facilities, and will receive a percentage of the profits.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has reached agreements with five pari-mutuel facilities to help market sports betting. The gambling deal, which was negotiated by Gov. Ron DeSantis (de-SAN-tis) last spring and approved by lawmakers during a May special session, allows the tribe to operate online sports betting available to people throughout the state. The tribe has reached agreements with five facilities, including the Palm Beach Kennel Club, Hialeah Park Casino, and Tampa Bay Downs. The new Florida law will allow gamblers to place sports bets on smartphones or other online devices, with the bets run through servers on Seminole Tribe property. Pari-mutuels that enter contracts with the tribe will market sports betting at their facilities, and will receive a percentage of the profits.

Ex-deputy Zachary Wester sentenced to more than 12 years for drug planting, other charges

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