TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a guilty conviction for Deandre Devone Williams on four felony counts for sexually abusing a minor. Williams traveled from Illinois to Florida to commit these crimes.

“Thanks to our law enforcement partners and Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Emily Frazier and Johnna Lessard for bringing this sick predator to justice,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Child sexual abuse is heinous, and anyone who harms a child will be held accountable. Our office will continue prioritizing these cases and ensure those who commit such disgusting crimes face the consequences.”

According to the law enforcement investigation, Williams, a resident of Illinois, contacted a 13-year-old victim through social media. Williams convinced the child that the two were in a romantic relationship and traveled from Illinois to meet the child in St. Augustine. The defendant then took the child to Ft. Lauderdale, where Williams spent the weekend with the victim in a hotel room. Williams sexually abused the child, then later dropped the victim off at a train station in Ft. Lauderdale, where the minor was unable to get home.

Williams was found guilty of four felony counts of lewd and lascivious battery, traveling to meet a minor, and interference with the custody of a child. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced in St. Johns County on May 2, 2025, and faces up to 50 years in prison.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – Florida State University’s Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU Health will host the Pediatric Rare Disease Symposium on Monday, October 7, 2024, from 9 AM to 4 PM Eastern, bringing together the nation’s leading experts in pediatric rare disease research. The symposium aims to foster collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to advance treatment and research for pediatric rare diseases.

State Representative Adam Anderson will kick off the event with special opening remarks, where he will present a $5 million funding check to support the Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases at FSU Health.

“Florida State University is at the forefront of pediatric rare disease research. This symposium will be the catalyst for a collaborative nationwide effort, ensuring that institutions share the best knowledge and practices to bring new cures and hope to millions of children and their families,” said Rep. Anderson.

Other highlights of the event include:

• Keynote address by Dr. Terence R. Flotte, Executive Deputy Chancellor and Provost at UMass Chan Medical School
• Presentations from experts representing NIH, Harvard, Stanford, University of Florida, University of Miami, and Nicklaus Children’s Health System
• Industry roundtable focusing on the intersection of industry, healthcare, and academia in advancing pediatric rare disease research

What to Bring:

• Relevant research materials or presentations
• Questions for the panelists and speakers

Note: The symposium is focused exclusively on pediatric rare disease research. For more information or to register, visit med.fsu.edu/iprd/.

FSUHealth, RareDiseaseResearch, PediatricCare, MedicalBreakthroughs, FSUSymposium

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – The Harris for President campaign is set to kick off its largest mobilization effort to date in the Florida Panhandle, capitalizing on the surge of grassroots energy across the state. This massive weekend of action, marking 100 days until the general election, comes just days after Vice President Kamala Harris secured her position as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

Starting tomorrow, the campaign will engage thousands of supporters through over 36 events statewide, including canvass launches, press events, and appearances by notable Democratic leaders such as Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Florida House Representative and Attorney General candidate Sean Shaw, and Florida House Representative Kevin Chambliss.

Key Points:

• Mass Mobilization: More than 36 events will take place across Florida, including the Florida Panhandle.
• High-Profile Support: Democratic leaders like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sean Shaw will participate.
• Grassroots Energy: Over 7,000 organic volunteer signups have been recorded.
• Campaign Goals: Harris is focusing on strengthening democracy, protecting reproductive freedom, and ensuring economic opportunities for all.
• Opposition Stance: The campaign contrasts Harris’s vision with Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, which they claim would threaten rights and hurt the middle class.

The weekend’s events, open to media, include the Harris for President – 100 Days of Action Weekend Black Men’s Roundtable in Hillsborough County on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 3:00 PM EST.