PROSECUTOR RESIGNS AFTER JUVENILE REVIEW

ERICA AREND, THE WIFE OF STATE ATTORNEY LON AREND, HAS RESIGNED A WEEK AFTER HER REVIEW FOUND PROBLEMS WITH HOW JUVENILE CRIMINAL CASES WERE BEING HANDLED.  AREND GAVE HER THIRTY DAY NOTICE TUESDAY AFTER 15 YEARS WITH THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, SAYING SHE IS TAKING A JOB WITH AN INSURANCE DEFENSE FIRM IN TAMPA.  AREND REVIEWED NINE MONTHS OF JUVENILE CASES AFTER ERRORS IN THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE LED TO THE RELEASE OF 16 YEAR OLD SHAWN TYSON JUST HOURS BEFORE HE ALLEGEDLY SHOT AND KILLED TWO BRITISH TOURISTS IN THE NEWTOWN SECTION OF SARASOTA.  TYSON WAS INDICTED ON FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES EARLIER THIS WEEK.  AREND SAID THE MOVE TO THE TAMPA FIRM HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RESULTS OF HER INQUIRY.