The case against the man accused of defacing Delray Beach’s LGBTQ Pride intersection is becoming a spectacle.
Nineteen-year-old Dylan Reese Brewer faces one charge of criminal mischief over $1,000—a felony—and one count of reckless driving—a misdemeanor—for allegedly burning his truck tires three times across the intersection on Feb. 4. Brewer has pleaded not guilty.
Two weeks ago, Brewer added Anthony Sabatini to his legal team. Sabatini is a former Republican state legislator from Lake County, northwest of Orlando. It is one of the most right-wing areas of Florida. While running and while in office, Sabatini was one of the state’s most anti-LGBTQ public figures.
Sabatini said, “It’s time to crush Pride Month and the businesses that promote that toxic, anti-American garbage.” He called the rainbow-striped Pride flag, after which the intersection was modeled, an “anti-Christian hate symbol.”
In addition, news reports showed that Sabatini appeared in blackface at a 2005 event. When the story broke, Sabatini dismissed the controversy.
Scott Sale is one of Brewer’s two other attorneys. On Monday, he called Sabatini “a family friend who’s just helping out.” Sale said he doesn’t expect Sabatini to appear in court. Sabatini, who has no substantial record as a lawyer, is running for Congress. That suggests his involvement is more about his campaign than Brewer’s defense.
Further evidence came two months ago, when Sabatini on social media demanded “A FULL PARDON FOR POLITICAL PRISONER DYLAN BREWER, WHO HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR THE FAKE CRIME OF DRIVING OVER LGBTQ GRAFFITI PAINTED ON OUR CITY STREETS.”
Another sign of outside interest is the $34,000 raised for Brewer through the GiveSendGo crowdfunding site. GiveSendGo calls itself “the leader in freedom fundraising,” and its website says, “Money is temporary. Jesus is eternal.” The page for Brewer says that a donation “champions the fundamental American values of free expression and the right to a fair trial.” The fundraising goal is $50,000.
This is the second defacing of the intersection. The first time, Alexander Jerich was driving his truck in a birthday parade for Donald Trump. Brewer, who lives north of Tampa, had a Trump flag on his truck. Jerich got probation.
Rand Hoch founded the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. Hoch considers the new case more serious because Brewer drove over the intersection multiple times and, according to the charging documents, came “very close” to hitting a man on a scooter.
“I hope they start taking these things seriously,” Hoch told me Monday. “Hate crimes are continuing.” Hoch argued in court that Jerich should get jail time.
A status check on the case had been scheduled for today, but the defense asked for a continuance, and the state attorney’s office did not object. The lawyers will gather on June 4 while the outside noise goes on.
Boylston files to dismiss defamation suit from Carney
Former Delray Beach City Commissioner Ryan Boylston has filed a motion seeking to dismiss the defamation lawsuit that Mayor Tom Carney filed against him.
Carney defeated Boylston last month. During the campaign, Boylston’s campaign used a Facebook post and a mailer to accuse Carney of committing a second hit-and-run accident in 2016, following a similar incident in 2007. Carney denied the accusation and cited “actual malice,” meaning that Boylston knew that it was false and used it anyway.
In his motion, Boylston argues that the lawsuit is “meritless as a matter of law” because there was no actual malice. The motion says the accusation “relied on official court documents and sworn eye-witness (sic) statements.” Boylston argues that the lawsuit violates the law designed to restrict Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP).
Because of those sources, Boylston argues, he had no basis to check the accusation for “probable falsity.” He wants a judge to delay discovery—giving Carney the documents he has requested—until a ruling on the motion to dismiss.
Last year, Chris Davey used the anti-SLAPP argument against the defamation lawsuit by Rob Long, who was running for the city commission seat he would win. Davey prevailed.
I’ll have more when Carney files his response.
Election fields set for Boca and Delray congressional races
The fields are set for the congressional races in districts that include Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
After my post last Thursday, two more candidates qualified for the Republican primary in District 23. The winner will face incumbent Democrat Jared Moskowitz. The district includes Boca Raton, West Boca and parts of Broward County.
The latest entrants were Carla Spalding and Darlene Swaffar. Spalding lost to U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the general election for a central-Broward seat. Swaffar ran third in the GOP primary for the District 23 seat in 2022.
Spalding has raised about $550,000, the most of any Republican in the race. Swaffar has raised about $14,000. Six candidates are running for the nomination. In District 22, which includes Delray Beach and West Delray, three Republicans are running to challenge Democrat Lois Frankel.
Gumbo Limbo welcomes another sea turtle
The Coastal Stewards last week announced the arrival of the first sea turtle for the new rehabilitation program at Boca Raton’s Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
According to a news release, the turtle’s name is Terra. She had fishhooks in her flipper and esophagus. Coastal Stewards staff will treat her until she can return to the ocean.
Thirteen months ago, all turtles were removed from Gumbo Limbo as part of the transition to the non-profit group taking over the rehab program. Two resident turtles, which are under the city’s care, arrived earlier. The Coastal Stewards had to obtain a new state permit to restart rehabilitation.
Coco Gauff makes the cover of Vogue
It seems a safe bet that no Delray Beach native had made the cover of Vogue until the current issue.
On the cover is tennis prodigy Coco Gauff, who won her first major championship last September at the U.S. Open. Vogue calls Gauff “the most electrifying superstar in tennis.” The package includes a two-page picture of Gauff and her family—parents Candi and Corey and brothers Codey and Cameron. Gauff is ranked third in the world in singles.
Clarification
I wrote last week that the Boca Raton City Council was set to consider plans for Martin Manor and a downtown luxury condo called The Concierge. The council only introduced the ordinances to consider the proposals. They will go to the council for a second reading, with public comment, at a meeting in May.
A farewell to Marie Speed
Today is Marie Speed’s last day as group editor of all JES Publications magazines, including Boca Raton magazine. It’s hard to express how much I will miss her in that role.
Ten years ago, after I left The Palm Beach Post, Marie offered me the chance to write this blog. Since then, her guidance and support have never wavered. She knows everyone in Boca Raton and Delray Beach and has been a constant source of tips and good advice. Marie is the epitome of a trusted colleague and friend.
