MIAMI BEACH, Fla. ā WhenĀ Richard Powell appeared before a judge Tuesday, itĀ wasn't his first rodeo with the Florida criminal justice system - not by a long shot.
Powell, 57, has been arrested 344 times with charges ranging from drinking in public and stealing a milk crate to strong-arm robbery andĀ sexual battery.Ā
Recently, Powell, who is homeless,Ā was banned from Miami Beach, south of 40thĀ Street.Ā But police found him violating that order, yelling in the middle of the street whileĀ carrying a beer. OfficersĀ said heĀ had marijuana stuffed in his shoes.Ā
Powell will now spend the next 90 days behind bars with credit for time served. He essentially took a pleaĀ and avoided trial.Ā
However Miami-DadeĀ Circuit Court Judge Andrea Ricker WolfsonĀ Ā had a stern warning.
"Youāre on the radar my friend. Essentially, the officers, the residents who live in that area know who you are, and they will call the police if they see you. And youāll be right back here where you are right now," Ricker Wolfson said.Ā "And IĀ can guarantee you that if you violate the order again, the state wonāt even discuss a plea with your lawyers."Ā
PowellĀ hasĀ been convicted five timesĀ in the last 12 months.Ā
For John Deutzman, Powell's longĀ history or arrests and release is part of a larger problem.
Deutzman and other residents startedĀ the MiamiĀ Beach Crime Prevention andĀ Awareness Group last year.Ā
The group wants to stop the revolving door of repeat offenders who are arrested, released and return to the beach. Armed with information, they attend court hearings to persuade judges to keep the chronically accused in custody.
"We are focusing on the repeat offenders in MiamiĀ Beach that are making our beach unlivable,"Ā DeutzmanĀ said.
But Deutzman saidĀ heĀ hopes this stint in jail finally sends a message to PowellĀ and others like him.Ā
"Hopefully itāll sink in," he said.
Law enforcement officials areĀ on the record supporting the citizens engagement.Ā
But Carlos Martinez, MiamiĀ Dade'sĀ public defender, saidĀ their involvement catches defendants by surprise at their bond hearings and theirĀ testimony sometimes isĀ hearsay or irrelevant.
Others such as the ACLU of Florida are concerned the group's efforts could lead to racial profiling andĀ the harassment of homeless people.