Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Judge's stolen plate spotted on Facebook CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., March 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said an "idiot" thief stole a judge's nameplate from the door of a courtroom, then posted a picture of himself with the item on Facebook. Advertisement Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti said deputies arrested Steven Mulhall, 21, of Coral Springs, Thursday after seeing the picture of the suspect holding Broward Circuit Judge Michael Orlando's nameplate on Facebook and verifying he was in the courtroom Feb. 23, the day the plate went missing, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Friday. "The nameplate is like only $40, not that big of a crime, but what an idiot. He puts it on Facebook," Lamberti said. "Here he is flaunting it on Facebook. He violated the terms of his parole by stealing, from a judge no less. He's got multiple convictions for petty theft, so now this is a felony. Advertisement "We got the nameplate back. It will be returned to the rightful owner," the sheriff said. Deputies: Son attacked mom over taco sauce BRADENTON, Fla., March 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a 23-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman were arrested for allegedly attacking the man's mother for using their taco sauce. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said Christopher Phillips, 23, of Bradenton, and his girlfriend, Lisa Tyre, 27, were arrested on misdemeanor domestic battery charges Monday night, The Smoking Gun reported Friday. The sheriff's office report said Phillips, who lives with his mother, Rebecca, 55, argued with his mother Monday night "because Rebecca used Christopher's salsa and taco sauce on her dinner." Phillips allegedly "grabbed Rebecca in a head lock causing pain to her neck and breaking her eye glasses." The report said Rebecca freed herself from the headlock and Phillips went back to the bedroom he shares with Tyre, who emerged from the room a few minutes later and began shouting at the older woman. Tyre allegedly slapped Rebecca four times in the face, causing a small cut to the inside of her lip. Phillips was ordered held in lieu of $750 bond while Tyre was released Tuesday on her own recognizance. Advertisement Fla. woman wins pole dancing competition ORLANDO, Fla., March 9 (UPI) -- A fifth-generation aerial performer who began training as a circus performer at age 5 took the top spot at the first annual Florida Pole Fitness Championship. Nicole Landkas of Sarasota, who won awards for her performances at the International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, Italy, came in first place in the amateur division of the weekend's pole dancing competition in Orlando, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. Landkas said she took up pole dancing in 2005 and is now an instructor in the fitness activity at Apple Jelly Studios in Sarasota. Deputies: Job offer dissuades robber VOLUSIA, Fla., March 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a clerk at an adult video and novelties store talked an armed robber out of his crime by offering him a job. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Cody Conner, 17, walked into the Cupid's Corner adult store Thursday in Volusia and pointed a silver revolver at the clerk, Cheryl Hunter, The Dayton Beach News-Journal reported Friday. Hunter told deputies Conner demanded money and told her he needed it because his "family is sick." Deputies said Hunter convinced Conner robbing the store wasn't worth his efforts and told him she would give him a job if he filled out an application. Advertisement Hunter said she called 911 twice during the 20-minute encounter, once while he was filling out the application and once when she went to the convenience store next door for a "drink." Deputies said they searched for Conner at the address he provided on the application, but the residents there said he only lived there "on and off." He was later found walking and told deputies he tried to rob the store because he needed money to help his grandparents with their bills. The sheriff's office said deputies were unable to retrieve the weapon, which Conner claimed was a BB gun. Conner was arrested and charged with armed robbery.
