Judge says testimony irrelevant

By Rick Cundiff, Staff Writer, Ocala Star Banner OCALA — As the federal trial of Dr. James Scott Pendergraft IV and Michael Spielvogel resumed Monday, the judge dealt a blow to the defense. Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges…

Defense attorney: FBI probe of abortion doctor was 'attempted entrapment'

Naples (Florida) Daily News – Associated Press OCALA – The FBI investigation into abortion provider Dr. James Scott Pendergraft was “attempted entrapment,” his defense attorney said Friday in federal court. Pendergraft’s attorney, Jacob Rose, accused FBI …

FBI agents testify during Pendergraft trial

By Rick Cundiff, Staff Writer, Ocala Star Banner OCALA — Even as Michael Spielvogel was under investigation by the FBI for allegedly trying to extort money from Marion County, he was volunteering to secretly tape Marion County Commissioner Larry Cretul,…

Local attorney testifies at Pendergraft trial

By Rick Cundiff, Staff Writer, Ocala Star Banner OCALA — The federal extortion trial of Michael Spielvogel and Dr. James Scott Pendergraft IV turned into a lawyers’ duel Wednesday. Local attorney Virgil “Bill” Wright III spent the day on the…

Jurors Watch Abortion Doctor Video

The FBI Secretly Recorded The Doctor And His Lawyer Threatening To Bankrupt Marion County In A Lawsuit By Pedro Ruz Gutierrez of The Sentinel Staff OCALA — Jurors in the attempted extortion trial of an Orlando abortion doctor watched a…

Judge recesses Pendergraft trial

By Rick Cundiff, Staff Writer, Ocala Star Banner OCALA — Less than three hours after prosecutors showed a videotape Tuesday in which Dr. James Scott Pendergraft IV pledged to put a statue of himself in the center of Ocala, the…

Commissioner Testifies

OCALA — A Marion County commissioner testified Monday at the attempted-extortion trial of Dr. James Scott Pendergraft that he never tried to coerce the abortion provider into committing a crime. Commission Chairman Larry Cretul, the prosecution’s key witness, den…