Documents To Remain Confidential In Seminole Heights Murder Case

TAMPA, FL – Hillsborough County Circuit Court Judge Mark Wolfe has agreed to seal all documents related to the Howell Donaldson III murder case. Donaldson, 24, of Tampa, remains in jail without bond after being charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of four people in the southeast section of the Seminole Heights neighborhood.

Benjamin Mitchell, 22; Monica Hoffa, 32; Anthony Naiboa, 20; and Ronald Felton, 60, were randomly shot to death in October and November.

At a hearing Wednesday, Jan. 17, Assistant State Attorney Jay Pruner asked that all documents generated during the murder investigation, including search warrants, remain confidential. Donaldson’s attorney, Hillsborough County Public Defender Julianne Holt, agreed.

This means all documents in the Howell case are sealed to everyone except the Clerk of Circuit Courts and the prosecuting and defense attorneys. Courts spokesman Mike Moore said the order even locks the judge out of the courts electronic system's records concerning this case. If Wolfe wants to review any case documents, the Clerk of Circuit Courts will have to deliver a hard copy to the judge. After reading the document, the clerk will take the hard copy back.

"The state and the defense are just being very careful about any information leaking out to the public before they are ready to reveal it themselves," said Moore.

Florida state law allows documents to remain sealed if making them public could jeopardize the chances of seating an impartial jury and obtaining a fair trial for the defendant.

Moore said there's also been a change in the court schedule regarding the Donaldson case. A hearing set for Thursday, Jan. 25, has been moved to Friday, Jan. 26 at 8:30 a.m. The changed was made at the request of Ralph Fernandez, the attorney representing Donaldson's parents, Rosita and Howell Donaldson Jr. of Tampa, due to a scheduling problem.

The hearing before Wolfe will focus on two pieces of court business.

The state will state whether it intends to seek the death penalty if Donaldson is convicted.

It's also a status hearing for Donaldson's parents who have refused to answer questions from investigators about their son's actions and mental state prior to his arrest in December. The Donaldsons will have to explain to the judge why they should not be compelled to answer the prosecution's questions.

During a hearing in December, Fernandez said the Donaldsons' decision to remain tight-lipped could have far-reaching consequences. He said no parents should be forced to give testimony that might lead to a death sentence for their child.

"This is America on trial," Fernandez said. "Family values are on trial. We need to safeguard the sanctity of the home."

At the hearing, the Donaldsons will be asked to show cause why they should not be held in civil contempt for refusing to answer questions about their son.

Image via Octavio Jones/Tampa Bay Times via AP, Pool