Bradwell Institute Graduate loses house from fire
Lewis Levine
It was supposed to be a night of celebration for a Bradwell Institute graduate Javier Mojica Jr., instead the senior was on his way with family and learned their house was on fire the evening of May 22, shortly before 9:30 p.m.
According to Walthourville Fire and Rescue Chief, Anthony Burns, the BI graduate and his family of six were displaced after their home on the 300 block of Thompson Road was destroyed by the blaze.
Burns said the family had just left the graduation when they received a phone call that the family home was on fire. Mojica, still wearing his cap and gown, stood in silence along with his family as flames shot through the roof of the single-story home. It is unknown what started the fire at this point.
Tatiana Mojica, Javier’s sister, said the family felt helpless just watching the home go up in flames. While speaking with reporters she burst into tears saying the family’s nine-year old dog, Snookie, didn’t survive the fire. She said firefighters managed to retrieve of few photos of her other brother Sergio, who passed away eight weeks ago, but otherwise the family has lost everything in the fire.
Mojica said the family was set to celebrate her brother’s graduation and had decorated the home and cooked up a huge family meal. She said they had family from Florida drive up for the occasion and planned for some of her brother’s closest friends, who are like family, attend the party.
“Instead, we all stood outside,” she said. The kids range in age from 3 up to 23 years old.
A Go Fund me account has been opened to help the family: https://gofund.me/e69df36f
Speeding and trafficking drugs lands Hinesville man in jail
Lewis Levine
A Hinesville man found himself in hot water the afternoon of May 17, after he was stopped for exceeding the posted speed limit on Dunlevie Road in Walthourville.
According to Walthourville Police LT. Anderson Deliford the stop was a routine stop until he was hit with the strong smell of marijuana as he started talking with the driver identified as Molbro Roberts, 26 of Hinesville.
According to Walthourville Police Chief, Alfonza Hagen, Deliford detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and notified the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Canine unit. When the canine officer arrived he had his drug detection dog walk around the vehicle which yielded a large seizure of narcotics in the trunk of the vehicle.
Deliford along with the Liberty County Deputy found an estimated 100 Xanax pills, 20 heat sealed bags of marijuana weighing 5 pounds each, a handgun and other drug paraphernalia.
Hagen said it appears Roberts had just made a trip to Florida to purchase the drugs but was caught when Deliford, who was using a radar gun, stopped him for speeding.
Roberts was arrested and has been charged with one count of DUI, one count of failure to maintain his Lane, one count of trafficking narcotics, one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, one count of carrying a firearm.
Roberts had bail set at $1,905 for the traffic violations but was denied bond on the criminal charges. He is currently in the Liberty County jail.
HPD Blotter
Patty Leon
Criminal trespass
Officers were dispatched to an apartment on Brett Drive and spoke to a man who said an extremely drunk female friend was refusing to leave his apartment. He said the woman had become loud and belligerent and he asked her to leave but she refused. He said he and his roommate put the woman outside, but she kicked in the door and came back in. The woman admitted she kicked the door in but was unable to give officers much of a statement. The woman was given a courtesy ride to the Military Police Station.
Simple battery
Officers wee sent to a home on Blane Lane after receiving a call of a possible domestic situation. Officers spoke with a man who said he and his wife were arguing about relationship issues. He said his wife pulled his shirt, bit him, and took his wallet to stop him from leaving the house. The officer spoke to the wife who had a different version of the story. She said her husband walked into the living to separate from her for a couple of hours because the argument was heating up. She locked herself in their bedroom. After a while, the husband came to the bedroom door and was yelling through the door. She said he then kicked in the bedroom door and they “tussled,” on the bed. She claims her husband held her down by placing his hand around her neck, so she bit him to get him off her. He left the room and she called 9-1-1.