Boot camp death was unexpected addition to legislative agenda

BRENT KALLESTAD

Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It happens nearly every year: An unforeseen issue that changes the game plan in the Florida Legislature.

A year ago it was the kidnapping and slaying of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford two weeks before the session began and the end-of-life battle between Terri Schiavo's husband and parents that consumed lawmakers' activities. In 2004, lawmakers reacted similarly to the kidnapping and murder of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia.

It was no different this year.

The 2006 session started and ended with most lawmakers deeply troubled by the January death of a 14-year-old boy in the state's care at a Bay County boot camp. A videotape showed Martin Lee Anderson being manhandled by a half-dozen, burly, uniformed guards.

Anderson's death not only distracted them throughout their nine weeks at the Capitol, but resulted in major changes to the way Florida will discipline troubled juveniles in the future.

The military-style boot camps once in vogue were replaced with programs at four sites across the state modeled after a successful three-tiered, yearlong Martin County program. It forbids physical intervention except for self-defense and adds an aftercare component that requires follow up with the youngsters after they're returned to the community.

Teens who come into the system now must receive a physical by a registered nurse upon entering and leaving any facility and there will a hot line number available to make complaints about any excessively abusive behavior by guards.

The state anted up $10.6 million for the new plan, which will be called the Sheriff's Training and Respect program, or STAR, in the bill named after Anderson.

From day one the legislative black caucus kept the heat on, pushing for arrests of the camp guards who manhandled Anderson and the dismissal of the medical examiner who ruled the youngster died of sickle cell trait, not generally considered a life-threatening condition. Neither has yet happened.

But the nosiest of everyone was Rep. Gus Barreiro, a Cuban-American from Miami Beach who chaired the House Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee.

Barreiro believes the system not only failed Anderson but tried to cover up the death and he moved his colleagues and eventually Gov. Jeb Bush in their pursuit of answers.

"One person can't get anything done here, but as a group we can accomplish so much," Barreiro said.

Bush named Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober a special prosecutor and a second autopsy was conducted on the youngster's exhumed body amid growing concern about how he died, especially after the videotape's release.

The second autopsy, just released Friday, supported skeptics of the initial finding. The new examiner concluded that Anderson suffocated when guards shoved ammonia tablets up his nose while covering his mouth.

"I'm pleased that the first step toward having justice be shown to the whole world, the state of Florida and Martin Lee's family has begun," Bush said Friday.

"It showed what most believed was the case," Bush said. "Now we're hopeful Mr. Ober's investigation will be completed as soon as possible and the process of a possible prosecution can begin as well."

And that's what Anderson's parents have sought since their son's death Jan. 6.

"If you have a badge and a gun, that doesn't put you above the law and let you get away with murder," said Benjamin Crump, a Tallahassee attorney suing the state Department of Juvenile Justice and Bay County Sheriff's Office on behalf of the family. "Make no mistake about it, we believe they murdered this child.

"It's inevitable after the truth comes out, we can get to justice," Crump said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which would normally investigate such matters, was pulled out of the case after it was learned former Commissioner Guy Tunnell inappropriately communicated with Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen on the case.

Tunnell, who resigned last month, had previously been the Bay County sheriff and had begun the military-style program in Panama City that shut down soon after Anderson's death.

Bush met with student leaders who conducted an overnight sit-in at the Capitol to keep attention on the Anderson case, met with Martin's parents and prayed with the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton after they spoke at a rally of nearly 2,000 in the Capitol Courtyard last month.