Florida Keys News
Friday, August 28, 2009
Jury to ponder schools case
BY JOHN L. GUERRA Citizen Staff

A jury is expected to begin deliberating today whether the suspended Monroe County schools superintendent is guilty of three counts of official misconduct.

Randy Acevedo's defense attorney rested her case Thursday afternoon without calling a single witness, ending two days of testimony and moving the trial to closing arguments, which attorneys are expected to deliver this mo...

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Guilty Verdict... YES!!! .. Now they need to finish clean house!

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 5:34pm
This Just proves that the system works. Now we need to get rid of the McPhearson's and Russel's and take back our school system. Dr. Burk is going to have his hands full weeding out all the thieves in the current school system including some principals. Success what ever it takes!!! I hope the next voters ballot puts the power to control the Superintendent back into the hands of the school board. A school board, that is led by a competent leader such as John Dick and not wishy washy Andy who is a friend of Acevedo's too. Those on the school board who have sided with Acevedo's positions need to go also... goodbye Duncan Mathewson, Debra Walker and Andy Griffith. These 3 have not done a thing worthy of keeping them on the board. Voters need to remember this and clean house. Maybe if people pay attention the keys can become an A school system Because at this time WE ARE NOT and our children are the ones suffering.

russel's

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 7:11pm
Who are the Russel's. maybe the coach at cshs he needs to be looked at

Guilty on all three counts!

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 4:23pm
Justice - it's a nice thing to finally see here in KW. Now let's see how the sentencing goes. Does that mean he won't be out partying with his Bubba-thug buddy, McPherson tonight? Such a shame!

Guilty

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 6:33pm by Shark
Lets see how mutch hes smurking now in his mug shot. mabey they will take to jail on the conch train. NA NA NA NA HEY HEY HEY HEY guilty.LIKE THE SONG ANOTHER BUBBA BITES THE DUST.

Guilty

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 6:50pm by Shark
Guilty!!!!!!!!!!like Forest Gup said stupid is as stupid does Vogel & Randy. Glade she is not respersenting ME Shure Made my NIGHT.

Guilty

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 5:55pm by Shark
Won my bet Will party all night long Like kiss i want to rock and role and party all night long.

School District Website

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 2:52pm
They need to update the website with the new superintendent's name in.

If Kathy just hadn't freaked.

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 1:11pm
This would have all worked out perfectly. Dammit. Why didn't someone get to her? There was plenty. We could have taken care of her, too. Who planned all this, anyway?

No one would testify on his behalf

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:36am
because they knew he was guilty. His lawyer wouldn't let him utter the first word in the courtroom because she knew his body and facial language would give speak volumes of his knowledge of the situation.

He was not only NOT clueless,

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:24am
but the ONLY person who not only knew how the "system" worked, but far more importantly, EXACTLY who all the charges had to be signed off with.To accomplish all this thievery without getting busted you had to know exactly where to run the charges through the "system". Only ONE person had the complete knowledge of who could be trusted. Monique did NOT know all this. She's not that smart. Guess who is.(was?)

Are you implying that

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 12:52pm
St. James and Henriquez were "involved"? Yikes. Could it possibly be?

For those of you who may be latecomers,

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:12am
or might just have memory issues...Before he was elected, Randy Acevedo was MCSD Executive Director of Business and Financial Services. And you still want to believe Ms. Vogel that he was totally clueless about how the "system" worked? It is physically painful to watch this.

Guilty or not guilty.....

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 10:28am
At least we got him out of office, and with board voting to oust him he will stay out!! That will some small justice!! The Acevedo name is Mudd around this town now......

Proof

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 9:54am
Isn't it proof that he knew about his wife mis-use of her school district credit card when he wrote a personal check to cover her expenses? I don't believe it was questionable whether or not Kathy Ritzel broght this to his attention so isn't it proof that since he did not (or he did not direct someone else to) discipline, suspend or terminate her after he found out that she broke school district policy by using her card for personal items? Isn't it proof that by his writing the check out of his personal account to pay back the school district for such a large amount of money that he was not doing his job by at least overseeing what the Finance Depatment was doing? Proof! I believe the proof is there, it is just a matter of whether or not the jury understands what they are supposed to be looking at. If you watched Channel 4 news last night - they certainly didn't have a clue what this trial was about.

Randy stands behind the fake

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 9:45am
Randy stands behind the fake MARC house letter. Before he himself presented it, he should have investigated it. He is lazy. If he did not know then what was going on, then he is part of the cover up for his wife. I think she has had the letterhead since December 08 (am I right?) What else has she used this letterhead for? Did she produce more letters asking for donations or was that her next plan.. The XM radio did not come in to light for a few months later, that is some pre-planning. Randy was to quick in turning in this fake letter. MO CAN'T FIND RECEIPTS ASKS HER STAFF TO FIND STUFF, BUT THIS LETTER SHOWS UP OVERNIGHT....HMMMM .... Randy knew or he would have had his sleaves rolled up and busy trying to get his wife in order and come forward and fix this. But he just let it go, and here we are today and I hope they jury finds him guilty. If Randy wins, I still don't want him back. I don't trust the guy.

spectators

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 6:41am by 4:25am by N. Sane
Was Mrs. Acevedo in attendance?

m.Acevedo.

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 7:14pm
I feel so sorry for their children. What will happen to them?

children

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 9:29pm by Shark
I will take them and teach them what is right not the bubba way. Truth and justic for all and forever. Evedently there parents did not think of that. What goes around comes around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now even if he gets no time he is done in this TOWN period!!!!!!!!!!

She was not.

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:53am by RANGOON
As a matter of fact the Defense threw her under the bus and then backed up over her. Randy should be ashamed of himself.

Randy has plans for friday night..

Submitted on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 11:15pm by Concerned
Randy has made plans to be out of town friday night...just ask Mc Fearsome where they will be...both of them and their bubba freinds.

So, will McFearsome have to party at the jail now?

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 4:26pm
Does that mean the party is off? I truly wonder what all McPh has done that's equally as nasty. We can thank the recession for this because in high-times, they're all so flush in cash that no one pays attention to the thievery. And in times like this when every penny counts? The thieves are going to be held accountable. Betcha Manny is trying to figure out who he is going to cuss out now? The jury? The judge?

so will

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 5:47pm by Shark
na na na na he he your done!!!!!!!!!! lets have a hog roast.

Already celebrating their victory

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:37am by 50 year resident of Marathon and voter
Now isn't that special.

Filthy people will hang out together - DO NOT REELECT MC P!!!!!

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 9:29am by *.*
This man is just as dirty as Acevedo.

filthy

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 5:50pm by Shark
BERDS OF A FETHER ARE GOING TO GO DOWN TOGETHER

This just goes to show you

Submitted on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 9:21pm
This just goes to show you that there is no hard evidence that he knew anything. Remember it is the obligation of the SA to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he knew and Vogel turned the whole thing around with the states own witnesses.

It just goes to show you...

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:13am
That you are some type of moron if you believe he is innocent. You might consider leaving Monroe County before you pass on... see what the real world is all about.

acevedo

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 9:51am
If he is found not guilty, there should be a backlash from tax payers. Just goes to show you he may not be guilty of covering up his wifes problems BUT he is guilty of incomptence and negligence. I dont want him handling my tax dollars. He blames everyone else for things he in the end is responsible for. Of course in this backwoods Bubbadom he will most likely get off as will his wife..and they will still say they were innocence but we the voters know better.

hmmm there was NO WAY Randy

Submitted on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 11:29pm
hmmm there was NO WAY Randy would take the stand - he would have certainly sunk his own ship if he had done so. Remember the defense theory was he was tooo busy being a public figure, being active in the community he could not have know what his wife was doing..HOWEVER the trial is not about whether he knew what Monique was doing at the moment she was stealing, etc - it is about when it was brought to his attention, when the evidence of her theft was revealed HE DID NOTHING, WAIT he did do something, HE TRIED TO COVER IT UP & DENY HE EVER KNEW IT HAPPEN!!! There is absolutely NO WAY a jury can find him NOT GUILTY, unless of course there is a juror on the panel who is there to ensure he walks and sabotages the whole trial...

I Hope for a Hung Jury

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:31am
Cuz the longer this process takes the more likely either the Governor will act or MO will be convicted - either way dragging this out works to the Prosecution's advantage in this quagmire of bubbadom

What A Pathetic Post

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 10:39am

No doubt all the good citizens of Monroe County are relieved that you have clarified what the trial is about and under what conditions the jury will find one way or the other.

No doubt you are descended from Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Good grief!

Doubt

Submitted on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 7:45pm
Maybe the Acevedo team feels that the state did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and that the jury will be intelligent enough and objective enough to see that. Not a strong defense because the best defense is an strong offense, but I guess they didnt feel they had that so they rested. Let nature take its course now. se la vie. I think we'll know the verdict tomorrow.

Who in the world

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 8:05am
... could the defense could have put on the stand that with any credibility could have said that Randy didn't know?

Absolutely no one.

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 10:38am
This was not some brilliant strategy on Ms. Vogel's part. It was her only option.That is not to say she's not a smart woman. She knows Randy is guilty in a much deeper way than any of us commenters. Her ONLY job is get him a "not guilty" verdict. It has NOTHING to do with him being "innocent". Do any of you, including his most ardent supporters, think that she really believes he didn't know? Please.Regardless of the outcome, though, Randy "serving time" seems senseless to me.It would accomplish nothing for the community.Recovery of all stolen funds(through civil action) would be very meaningful, and instructive to future potential thieves. So don't get all freaked out if he is found "not guilty". This is a minor event,being very overhyped, like prizefights often are. The salient fact here that must not be forgotten is that this community knows the truth. And will not forget. The Acevedos (and unwavering proclaimers of thier complete "innocence") will never again be trusted with a dime, much less $100,000,000 of the taxpayers hard earned money. As for all others involved, it will take a year or two to sort them all out.Some of them will follow Ms. St. James very prescient lead.Smart ones know just when to get out. The others? They will have to be dealt with. The truly innocent administrators(I believe it to be most of them) deserve our respect and admiration for having endured this Mess.For our children's sake. Remember, that's what this is supposed to be all about. We are on the right road back.Just hang on.To remind you, they are not "innocent" no matter what this or Monique's jury does, Just found "not guilty" in a court of law. Don't get too invested in this, OK? Lizzie Borden was found "not guilty" too....

And "not guilty" O.J.'s ....

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 1:23pm
still looking for the killers....

Wow. Just wow.

Submitted on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 7:36pm
Wow. Just wow.

HTA.....

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 7:33am
Mr. Ed Swift ..you need to fire Acevedo and the person that hired him.

cant fire yourself

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:49am
cant fire yourself

Pack your things, Randy...

Submitted on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 7:13pm
Whether you do time in the Big House or not, you are finished here. Start packing, but leave behind anything you and Monique bought with taxpayer money, OK? (Please note: this is not an "anti-Conch". It's anti-corruption.)

Such a shame..

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 7:28am
Schools still have his picture on the wall....He failed the Students, Parents and Staff.

HE IS STILL THE DULY ELECTED SUPERINTENDENT

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 8:30am
AND IS STILL INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AND IT IS STILL AMERICA

Oh Well!

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 5:35pm
We can say guilty now!

AND BOY DID THE VOTERS EVER

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 11:17am
AND BOY DID THE VOTERS EVER MAKE A MISTAKE ON THAT ONE!!!

Randy Is "Presumed" Innocent

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 10:56am

Yes, this is still America but I beg to differ with our statement. Regardless of Randy's actual guilt or innocence, he is "presumed" innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a judge or a jury of his peers. It is not an insignificant nuance that regardless of whether he is actually guilty or innocent of the crimes with which he has been charged, the burden of proof rests with the prosecutor and the jury's verdict will hinge on whether or not the evidence and testimony presented convinces them (the jury) "beyond the shadow of a doubt".

GUILTYYYYYYYYYY....

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 5:32pm
YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now what? You got your answer in the breaking news today. Or did you have your doubts to really know the TRUTH.

NOT ANYMORE, BUBBA!

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 4:27pm
He's been found guilty so no more of that worthless drivel from the Bubbas.

Doesn't matter, Bubba - he is out - gone

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 9:33am by *.*
The school board already asked the Governor (and the state legislature in turn) to remove him. It will take years and he's done. And he'll never be allowed to hold public office again, thank goodness. The theft and lying and malfeasance has to stop and removing him is a good first step.

Stop shouting,

Submitted on Fri, 08/28/2009 - 9:20am
we can hear you fine in lower case. Your statements may be true, but all that could change very soon. I understand wanting his picture removed, who still looks at him and says "What a great superintendant we have!" Especially when he has been suspended by the Governor and replaced, put Dr. Burke's picture up!!!

She's Taking a Gamble...

Submitted on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 6:37pm by Igotmine
Vogel obviously figures her cross examination of the prosecution witnesses will create enough doubt with the jury that Randy INTENDED to cheat. She's not saying he didn't. That's a fine legal line and if you're going to play that, don't throw a witness up there for the prosecution to cross examine. The strength lies in the defense in jury trials. Remember...in the eyes of the court, Randy is innocent. It's up to the prosecution to prove he intended to defraud and lie. We'll know tomorrow. If that jury takes more than a couple hours to deliberate, we might have something going on!

a verdict

Submitted on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 5:52pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
Hopefully we'll have a verdict by happy hour time--if Randy walks, one of my familiars will be paying for my drinks tomorrow afternoon. A little wager does make things more fun.
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