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 TAMPA---Prominent Tampa attorney Dennis Hernandez whose firm includes the son of the judge who ruled in 1990 that Terri Schindler-Schiavo was incapacitated and granted full guardianship to Michael Schiavo without the knowledge of her parents, has been arrested.
Hernandez has been charged with domestic battery and kidnapping charges for allegedly beating his former girlfriend, Rebecca Crigler, at his south Tampa home Sunday about 6:30 p.m. According to the affidavit filed by Crigler with the police, Hernandez allegedly slapped her, threw her to the ground and kicked her when she tried to leave. She says he tried to pull the shirt and pants off her, made unwanted advances and held her against her will at his $2.5 million home. According to the affidavit, photos of Crigler which showed her injuries have been filed with the police report.
He turned himself into police about 12 hours later and spent the night at the Orient Road Jail in Tampa. He was released Monday afternoon without having to post bail.
Crigler and Hernandez are the parents of a three year old son. Hernandez claims that she has filed the charges in order to get the advantage in a custody dispute. Hernandez has two other children who were not at home at the time of the alleged altercation.
Hernandez is the owner of the law firm he founded in 1996, Dennis Hernandez & Associates.
One of the firm's associates is Robert "Bo" Michael, son of retired Pinellas-Pasco County Circuit Court Judge Robert Michael. On June 18, 1990, Judge Michael, without the knowledge of Robert and Mary Schindler, parents of Terri Schiavo, held a hearing on petition of Michael Schiavo, represented at the time by St. Petersburg attorney Daniel Grieco, the same attorney who appeared at the hospital within 48 hours after Terri mysteriously collapsed at her home on Feb. 25, 1990. Schiavo was an employee of Grieco's at Grieco's restaurant Augustino's.
There have long been allegations of domestic violence and abuse surrounding the Schiavo case.
At the June, 1990 hearing which was not attended by the Schindlers or their representative because they had not been given notification, Michael ruled that there were no conflicts of interest and appointed Michael Schiavo plenary guardian or in order words, full guardian who had total control to exercise all delegable legal rights and powers of the ward, Terri.
In his order, the elder Michael falsely stated that notice of petition and hearing had been given to all known next of kin pursuant to Florida guardianship law. The Schindlers say they never received notice, a statement borne out by the records on file in the Schiavo case at the Pinellas County Clerk's office. There is no time-stamped affidavit on file as required of notice of service of the guardianship petition and scheduled hearing to the Schindlers.
The elder Michael is currently vice chairman of the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, founded in 1983, seven years before Terri's collapse. The seminary is an independent evangelical seminary offering degrees and educational programs.
Michael's son and Hernandez's associate, Robert Jr., 45, is a former assistant attorney general under Charlie Crist. He has vied unsuccessfully three times for a judgeship since 2000. 1-04-06
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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