I am a general assignment reporter with specific and varying niches – the local film industry, U.S.-Cuba relations, Tampa history, professional wrestling and the odd and unique people who make up this area. I have been a journalist in Tampa since 1999. In my younger years, I was also an independent filmmaker best known for an award-winning documentary on Charlie Wall, Tampa’s first crime lord. At home, I am married to a woman who is way out of my league and a father of four kids who have diverse career goals – engineer, veterinarian, ballerina, and a “fighting ninja.” As opposed to a pacifist ninja.
![At the Tampa Bay History Center, Thomas English of Creekside Digital uses high definition photography to digitally scan one of the first maps of Tampa, from 1853. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times] OCTAVIO JONES | Times | Tampa Bay Times](https://www.tampabay.com/storyimage/HI/20190820/ARTICLE/308209838/AR/0/AR-308209838.jpg&MaxW=576&ImageVersion=Rotator "At the Tampa Bay History Center, Thomas English of Creekside Digital uses high definition photography to digitally scan one of the first maps of Tampa, from 1853. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times] OCTAVIO JONES | Times | Tampa Bay Times")
![Troma Entertainment founder Lloyd Kaufman and his iconic superhero character the Toxic Avenger. [Troma Entertainment]](https://www.tampabay.com/storyimage/HI/20190820/ARTICLE/190829994/AR/0/AR-190829994.jpg&MaxW=576&ImageVersion=Rotator "Troma Entertainment founder Lloyd Kaufman and his iconic superhero character the Toxic Avenger. [Troma Entertainment]")
![Two pregnant who agreed to give up their babies for adoption while in the Pinellas County jail are both accused of defrauding the adopting couples, according to deputies. Left: Ceara Stowe, 26, of Pinellas Park, faces two felony counts of adoption deception because she gave birth to twins. Right: Angelica Lopez, 30, of Largo, faces a single count in her case. [Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office]](https://www.tampabay.com/storyimage/HI/20190817/ARTICLE/190819770/AR/0/AR-190819770.jpg&MaxW=576&ImageVersion=Rotator "Two pregnant who agreed to give up their babies for adoption while in the Pinellas County jail are both accused of defrauding the adopting couples, according to deputies. Left: Ceara Stowe, 26, of Pinellas Park, faces two felony counts of adoption deception because she gave birth to twins. Right: Angelica Lopez, 30, of Largo, faces a single count in her case. [Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office]")
![Tenant representative Reva Iman said people living at Robles Park Village are eager to move out no matter what the reason. Relocation may come sooner rather than later as archaeologists scan the property to see whether bodies were left behind in the long-forgotten Zion Cemetery. [JAMES BORCHUCK | Times]](https://www.tampabay.com/storyimage/HI/20190816/ARTICLE/308169845/AR/0/AR-308169845.jpg&MaxW=576&ImageVersion=Rotator "Tenant representative Reva Iman said people living at Robles Park Village are eager to move out no matter what the reason. Relocation may come sooner rather than later as archaeologists scan the property to see whether bodies were left behind in the long-forgotten Zion Cemetery. [JAMES BORCHUCK | Times]")
![James Hanson Jr., the suspect in Tuesday’s Valrico bank robbery and subsequent carjacking and murder, is seen at a pre-trial detention hearing on Friday, Aug. 09, 2019 at the Hillsborough County courthouse in Tampa. [ALLIE GOULDING | Times]](https://www.tampabay.com/storyimage/HI/20190813/ARTICLE/190819922/AR/0/AR-190819922.jpg&MaxW=576&ImageVersion=Rotator "James Hanson Jr., the suspect in Tuesday’s Valrico bank robbery and subsequent carjacking and murder, is seen at a pre-trial detention hearing on Friday, Aug. 09, 2019 at the Hillsborough County courthouse in Tampa. [ALLIE GOULDING | Times]")