BRUNSWICK - Daryl Keon Jones spent his first day free on bail behind the closed doors and covered windows of his grandmother's weather-beaten home less than a quarter-mile from the home of the family of the 17-month-old girl he's charged with killing.

A young woman who came outside told the Times-Union that Jones had no comment about his release or the charges against him. She didn't identify herself or her relationship to Jones before returning inside.

Jones, 33, is awaiting trial on murder and felony cruelty to children charges in the death of Brianna Kichelle Hester. She died while hospitalized with severe head injuries on May 1, 2009. Brianna was the daughter of Kim Hester, who at the time was Jones' live-in girlfriend.

Jones faces life in prison if found guilty of murder.

He was jailed for nearly 16 months before being released Tuesday night on $25,000 bail set by Superior Court Judge Anthony Harrison, who also imposed a series of conditions for his release. Jones is confined to house arrest and must wear a real-time monitoring ankle bracelet that has a global positioning system device.

In addition to the bail, Jones' family also had to pay about $5,000 in court fees and assessments before he was released. The cost of the monitoring bracelet, however, is being paid by the Glynn County Sheriff's Office, records showed.

Harrison granted bail because of Jones' deteriorating health. His medical condition made it no longer practical to continue housing him at the Glynn County Detention Center, according to Harrison's bail order.

Jones has had kidney dialysis three times a week while jailed. By law, the county must pay for Jones' medical care while he's jailed.

Those costs totaled nearly $305,000 for the fiscal year that ended June 30. That comes out to be about 35 percent of the Sheriff's Office total budget for inmate medical care.

His lawyer, James Yancey Jr., told a Glynn County judge Wednesday morning that money problems are also hampering Jones' defense. Assistant District Attorney Greg Perry, however, announced the state is ready to try Jones.

Yancey told Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett during a hearing about the status of the case that he is not ready for Jones to stand trial. He said he is waiting for Harrison to issue an order authorizing money for the defense. Yancey previously told the Times-Union the money is needed to pay an expert to assist with the case.

Jones was not required to attend the hearing and was not present.

Scarlett said he would not get involved in the issue and instructed Yancey to take it up with Harrison. Until the issue is resolved, no trial date can be set, court officials said.

Brianna's maternal grandmother, Debra Hester, led the family's opposition to Jones' release. They live within walking distance of where Jones is staying with his grandmother, who posted his bail.

Debra Hester told the Times-Union she fears for her life and the life of her daughter, Kim, as the result of Jones' release.

teresa.stepzinski@jacksonville.com, (912) 264-0405

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio sounds as if he is ready to lead the fans in a cheer Sunday for the season opener.

"Love it," he said of the feeling on opening day. "The atmosphere on opening day is always great, and we really appreciate the support that we've had in the community. The numbers that have come in are staggering, really. For us to sell in this economic climate almost 15,000 seats, season tickets, that's strong."

He added, "This community has answered the call. A strong call went out, and we're a part of this community. We're engaged out in this community and for them to step up like that, believe me, it gave our entire building a lift. We'll kick if off, and those people that bought season tickets, we're looking forward to putting on a good show for them."

He said as the team has success, the confidence will grow.

"And this place is ready to ignite. Jacksonville's fired up, and when we go out and play well, and they see the type of young men we have battling their butts off, I think they're going to like it. I think this place has a chance to explode, so I'm looking forward to it," he said.

Garrard encouraged about lack of sacks

Quarterback David Garrard, who said the team has been working on the game plan for Denver since training camp, echoed a similar theme.

"You definitely want to perform in this game. It's the home opener in front of your home crowd. It's the first game of the season. It's big," he said.

Garrard, who was the most-hit quarterback in the league last year, is encouraged that he wasn't sacked in the preseason.

"I'm excited to keep that streak going and, hopefully, break the record here of fewest sacks allowed in Jaguars history [28]," he said.

Garrard said he hopes to have explosive plays by having the receivers making big gains after they catch the ball, but he said it's not easy to throw deep on the Broncos because their defense features a single high safety.

"If you watch film, he's 25 to 30 yards back there. He's just waiting for you to throw it up in the air, so we have to be smart about things," Garrard said.

Jags like warm weather

With the forecast remaining at a high of 91 degrees for Sunday, the Jaguars are on track to play in 90-degree (temperature-wise) weather for the first time in team history. Their previous high was 88.

And the Jaguars figure it gives them an advantage.

"It would be great for us on game day," Garrard said of the forecast. "He [the sun] better show up Sunday."

But when Denver coach Josh McDaniels was asked if he's concerned about the heat, he said, "Concerned, I don't know. There's nothing we can do about it, and that's the reason we're not going to make too much of it to our players."

Being home favorite not always good thing

The Jaguars are favored, but that might not be a positive sign. They're 0-10 against the spread as home favorites the past two years, but they're 14-9 ATS in September home games, according to walterfootball.com.

They're also 4-16 ATS against non division foes the last two years.

The Broncos aren't noted for playing well in Florida. Although they're 2-1 in Tampa, they're 1-2 in Jacksonville and 0-7 in Miami.

Few injuries hamper Jaguars

The Jaguars were plagued by injuries during training camp, but they might be getting healthy at the right time.

They had only two players — kick returners Scott McGee and Deji Karim — on their first injury report Wednesday. McGee missed practice with a shoulder injury, and Karim was limited with a thumb injury.

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who sat out the past two weeks, wasn't on the report. Neither was defensive end Aaron Kampman, who is returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and didn't appear to have a wrap on his knee.

vito.stellino@jacksonville.com,
(904) 359-4279

In the final moments of Isaac Siliman’s life, he shared a cigarette with his killers and showed them pictures of his family – the wife and children he was working tirelessly to relocate from violence-plagued Sudan.

It was a sign of blossoming trust, not a plea for mercy.

The story unfolded from the witness stand Wednesday as a Duval County jury began hearing evidence against Merlin Williams Jr., 33, the man accused of plotting to rob Siliman after beating him into submission with a hammer, stun gun and pepper spray in September 2009.

Siliman, 37, was killed in the attack. Authorities say Williams and his girlfriend, 24-year-old Ashley Nichole Jerrell, made off with his wallet, computer and sport-utility vehicle. They used his bank account to buy Chinese food, beer from a convenience store and more than $700 worth of clothing. 

Had authorities not caught up with them as soon as they did, Williams and Jerrell had plans to torch Siliman’s black Nissan Xterra using a jug of gasoline found inside the SUV, authorities say.

Jerrell has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, armed robbery and grand theft auto in an arrangement in which she testified against Williams. She is awaiting sentencing.

She wept as she answered questions about what happened. She said she and Williams were broke and living in his truck. They decided to rob Siliman, a man Williams had done a small job for about a week before the murder. 

Williams had been marketing himself as a cable installer and computer technician, Jerrell said. He typically earned $65 to $85 per job, but the work became scarce as he had frequent fallouts with customers about service.

Jerrell said Siliman welcomed her and Williams into his home at Lighthouse Bay Apartments the night of the attack. She said he shared his cigarettes with them on the back patio. He also pulled out the family photo album.

Siliman, a Sudanese refugee, had been in the United States for about five years. He found a job at Swisher International, where he would volunteer for extra shifts to save up the money he needed to move his wife and children to Jacksonville.

Related: Jacksonville homicide victim's wife, brother can't get to U.S. for trial

Jerrell said the photos thrust her into another mind-set and she wanted to leave. But her emotional turnaround came too late. She testified that, after a brief trip to the bathroom, Williams came out with a stun gun and shocked Siliman in the arm.

She described a frenzied ensuing scene. She said she tried to pepper-spray Siliman but missed and hit Williams. She said Siliman tried to run but smashed his head on the corner of a wall. Then, she said Williams began beating him with a hammer.

“He was screaming: 'Please don't kill me,'” Jerrell testified. 

She said Williams told her to hit Siliman with the hammer, too. She did, twice.

In all, Siliman took 17 blows to the head during the attack, according to Associate Medical Examiner Aurelian Nicolaescu.

Jerrell emphasized Williams’ role in the crime, but Assistant Public Defender Gregory Messore asked her about transcripts of her interview with police.

“You said, 'He was still alive and I just had to make it so he wasn’t alive anymore,'” Messore asked.

Jerrell said she did not kill Siliman, although she admitted hitting him with the hammer.

The trial continues today.

david.hunt@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4025

Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray. Based on the Bestselling Young Adult Book Series from Alloy Entertainment Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season Two vampire brothers - one good, one evil - are at war for 17-year-old Elena

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Having grown up in Jacksonville and having played his entire NFL career in his hometown, Rashean Mathis has a solid grasp on the small-market franchise's recent struggles

Visa is kicking off its 15th season as sponsor of the NFL with new marketing plans, including greater emphasis on local teams. Visa has become the exclusive payment services sponsor of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts and

clutch.mtv.com: Racoon-eyed "Gossip Girl" star Taylor Momsen, who also fronts the post-grunge band "The Pretty Reckless," set her dog's neutered balls ablaze in a fire pit in her band's studio

To: Subject: Message: BARBADIANS HAVE BEEN taken to task for using the internet as a tool for rumour, gossip and to hurt people. http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/dottin-knocks-rumour-gossip-on-internet/

The differences between Solange and Beyonce never cease to amaze us.

Take the latest one for example… Beyonce and her husband go on vacation and they cannot escape the paparazzi, even on the remotest of islands. Solange and her son go on vacation and they take lots of pictures which they promptly share with the rest of the world.

Jeez, we wish BeyBey would act a lil more like Solo sometimes!

Source

Stay up-to-date with the latest news in a minute from the world of showbiz, Hollywood gossip, television, fashion and music

Britney Spears is being hit with a lawsuit that alleges — of all things — that she sexually harassed her bodyguard. SHOCKING!

The bodyguard who filed the suit also says Spears abuses her children. SMH.

According to TMZ reports:

… a bodyguard who claims to have been sexually harassed by Britney Spears is filing a lawsuit today, claiming Britney repeatedly exposed herself to him and abused her children.

According to the suit, a copy of which TMZ has obtained, Fernando Flores claims Britney made “repeated unwanted sexual advances” toward him by exposing herself in front of him in her home.

Flores alleges, on one occasion — in a scene right out of “Legally Blonde” — “She was wearing a white lace, see-through dress. She walked over close by [Flores], intentionally dropped her cigarette lighter on the floor, bent over to retrieve it and thereby exposed her uncovered genitals to [Flores].” The lawsuit goes on, “The incident caused [Flores] shock and disgust.”

The suit then goes on to describe another alleged instance where Britney summoned Flores to her room, where she was standing naked. The suit claims, “After an awkward silence during which [Britney] just stood naked before [Flores], [Flores] asked Spears if she needed anything. After some hesitation, Spears asked [Flores] to get her two bottles of 7 Up.”

One time after allegedly exposing herself, the suit claims Britney said, “You know you liked it.”

And the suit says, “In addition to exposing herself to [Flores], Spears engaged in numerous sex acts in front of [Flores].” There’s also an allegation Britney was “loudly having sexual relations” in a hotel suite where her kids were present. The suit does not say if the kids saw anything.

And there is a more serious allegation — The suit claims on one occasion Britney allegedly demanded Flores’ belt, then walked in the house and allegedly twice “savagely hit the small child [Preston]” with the belt.

And the suit claims on another occasion Britney fed both kids crabmeat even though she knew they had serious fish allergies. The suit claims both kids started vomiting and Spears allegedly prevented anyone from seeking medical help, allegedly telling them, “Mind your own f**king business!”

Although it is not mentioned in the lawsuit, sources have told TMZ … Flores contacted the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services. And we’re told DCFS investigated and determined the claim had no merit.

The suit will be filed this afternoon in L.A. County Superior Court.

No immediate comment from Britney’s camp.

Is anyone surprised by these allegations???

Anyone? Anyone?

Just sayin’.

Bauer Griffin

The daughter of reggae legend Bob Marley has confessed to harvesting marijuana in her Caln, Pennsylvania home.

Makeda Marley, 29, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possessing several large ganja plants inside her home, roughly 30 miles outside of Philadelphia.

Click Here To Read The Rest At HipHopWired

9/08/2010 5:35 PM ET By John Oehser PrintAText Size John Oehser NFL Writer The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't picked by many to make a postseason push. Jack Del Rio cares about that not a bit. Del Rio, entering his eighth and perhaps

Jacksonville firefighters may not vote next week on a proposed deal with a temporary 2 percent pay cut, the union president said Wednesday.

Without a vote, Mayor John Peyton’s office said there would be layoffs and demotions.

Related: Jacksonville police union boss to firefighters: Don't take city deal

Related: City, firefighters agree: Wage cuts, but no layoffs

That comes the same day Peyton’s staff thought the path for a vote was cleared when the Police and Fire Pension Fund board agreed to examine the plan and accepting that “meaningful modifications” are coming.

Not so fast, according to Fire Union President Randy Wyse.

None of the numbers in Peyton’s plan — including raising the minimum service to retire from 20 to 25 years — have been approved by the pension board.

And the union still doesn’t have a copy of the contract to give to its 1,200 members that are scheduled to vote Tuesday through Thursday of next week.

If the union doesn’t vote next week, the deal’s off, Peyton spokeswoman Misty Skipper said.

And the layoffs of 26 recent fire recruits and demotions of dozens of mid-level managers — spared when the fire union tentatively agreed to a deal in July — would become a reality.

Related: Jacksonville police, fire pension fund and the city reach tentative deal

The fire union was the first of the city’s six unions to reach a tentative deal, and the three others that agreed have gotten the same as the firefighters — a 2 percent pay cut that’s restored in 2012 and employees picking up 5 percent of their personal health insurance costs. The Fraternal Order of Police is one of two unions that still hasn’t agreed.

The fire union has yet to formally vote on the contract because Peyton insisted it was contingent on pension reform.

The pension board said on Wednesday it will hold a series of meetings to delve into the proposal Peyton issued last month, but it agreed that adjustments to the plan for new workers are forthcoming.

That’s good enough for Peyton’s office, but Wyse said he needs his attorneys to look it over and may not have a decision until Monday.

Fund executive director John Keane said Peyton’s office asked for Wednesday’s vote, held a week before its regular monthly board meeting, presumably to get it done before the fire vote next week.

Peyton has estimated the changes would save the city $700 million to $800 million over the next 35 years.

The proposal would overhaul the Deferred Retirement Option Program. In it, employees pick their retirement date up to five years out and, for those five years, the money they would have drawn in a pension accumulates in an account drawing a guaranteed 8.4 percent interest.

Instead, employees would have the option to retire and pick a date as far as eight years back. 

They would revert to the pension benefits – for example, for someone worked 25 years instead of 33 — and get a lump sum for part of their previous pension contributions.

The interest rate may vary over the years but will not be higher than 8 percent.

Other elements of the city proposal include:

- Increasing the retirement eligibility from 20 years of service to 25.

- Increasing the employee contribution from 7 percent to 8 percent.

- Basing the pension on average pay over the last three years instead of the last two.

Peyton’s initial pension reform proposal to the unions last fall would have saved the city $1.3 billion.

The city wants a union vote by next week so savings can be reflected in the new city budget that starts Oct. 1.

matt.galnor@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4550

Beyonce put her money where somebody else’s mouth is! Paying a disgruntled man a settlement in the thousands after he filed a lawsuit over the filming of her “Why Don’t You Love Me” video.

According to TMZ reports:

We just spoke with Philip Markowitz — the guy who sued Beyonce and her production crew back in May for allegedly wreaking havoc in his neighborhood — and dude told us he just scored a 5-figure settlement to drop the case.

The trouble began when Beyonce used a home in the Hollywood Hills to shoot a music video for the song “Why Don’t You Love Me” … and the crew allegedly trespassed onto Markowitz’s driveway.

Markowitz tells us, “I’m happy with the settlement, but this lawsuit shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

He adds, “They set up on my property without asking and [the settlement] should send a notice to other production companies that they need to respect the rights of property owners.”

They say closed mouths don’t get fed, and apparently it also pays to be whiny douchelord.

SMH… Some folks just aren’t impressed by BeyBey!

Television and Movie Actress Regina King has penned an op-ed piece about the lack of color during this year’s daytime Emmy’s Awards show. Talk about stating the obvious. However King, who is probably most known for her roles in 227 and The Boondocks, struggled immensely to draft this said piece regarding the number of people of color mentioned, celebrated or honored in the history of the televised Emmys.

Up to and including this year, there have been only 53 non-white actors nominated for Emmys out of nearly 1,000 possible nominations in the top four acting categories for drama and comedy, she said. And to add insult to racial injury, Rutina Wesley from the HBO Vamp-series “True Blood”, who attended this year’s Emmys, walked the red carpet with the caption, “Regina King enters the 62nd Emmys,” displayed under her for the television viewing audience.

Read More at The Atlanta Post

Extract not available.