supercentex
07-30-2005, 12:09 PM
Devine and Deion head for Texas
Sanders confirms North Fort Myers football star is in Dallas with him
The News-Press has learned that there will be a hearing regarding the guardianship status of former North Fort Myers football star Noel Devine at 9 a.m. Monday at the Lee County Court House in downtown Fort Myers. The hearing will take place before Judge R. Thomas Corbin.
The hearing, also known as a "status conference", will be held to discuss the ongoing effort by North Fort Myers graduate Deion Sanders to become Devine's legal guardian, according to Harley Brook, the Fort Myers-based attorney representing Sanders in this case.
Sanders told The News-Press at 2:40 p.m. on Friday that he and Devine were in Dallas. Sanders was unavailable for further comment.
Brook said Friday that Devine's grandmother, Lee Bertha Thomas, is still the legal guardian for Devine, who is 17 and is classified as a minor in the state of Florida. Devine will turn 18 next February. Sanders is considered to be the petitioning guardian of Devine. Fuller recently signed a consent form to transfer guardianship to Sanders, Brook said.
Sanders and Devine do not have to appear at Monday's hearing Brook said. Brook said he will be looking to finalize the guardianship transfer as soon as possible. He would prefer the case to be finalized before school begins on Aug. 15 in Prosper, Texas, where Sanders and his family reside.
Sanders had said in a previous interview with The News-Press that he planned to take Devine with him to the Baltimore Ravens' training camp in Westminster, Md. The Ravens are scheduled to report on Sunday. Sanders is a defensive back with the Ravens.
Conflicting reports emerged late Thursday night and early Friday morning regarding the future of Devine, who, according to his friends, was having second thoughts about moving to the suburban Dallas home of Sanders.
Lee County sheriff’s deputies were called Thursday night to investigate a claim that Devine did not want to leave with Sanders, who had flown into Southwest Florida to pick up Devine.
The family with whom Devine has lived the past three years plans to hire a lawyer and seek custody of Devine.
Sanders, however, told The News-Press Thursday night that he’s acting in the best interests of Devine, who he plans to adopt. Like Sanders, Devine played at North Fort Myers and is regarded as one of the nation’s top high school football players.
Devine could not be reached for comment.
At 10:24 p.m. Thursday, Lee deputies were contacted to check on the well-being of Devine — an act that angered Sanders.
“We were sitting around his grandmother’s house having dinner, and the police called,” Sanders said. “The grandmother is his legal guardian. How can you kidnap someone from their legal guardian?”
Deputies spoke to Sanders and Devine between 11 p.m. and midnight.
“We located Deion and Noel in a Fort Myers residence,” Cpl. Larry King said. “He’s with Noel and Noel is with him and they will be departing. Deion has custody of Noel.”
Deputies spoke to Sanders and Devine separately to make sure everything was OK.
“We checked on their well being and everything seems to be in order,” King said. “They’ll be departing the area. I don’t know specifically when.
“He’s content with being shipped over to Deion,” King added.
Sanders told The News-Press, “This is crazy, man. I’ve got to sit up in front of the police and say, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ How would I come and kidnap a guy to Dallas? Please. That family has some nerve. They really do.”
Sanders was referring to Robert Harlow Sr. and his wife Liz.
Devine, an incoming junior who rushed for 2,760 yards and 34 touchdowns over the past two seasons, has spent the past three years living at the home of the Harlows, whose son Robert Jr. played football with Devine at North Fort Myers.
Devine’s parents are deceased.
Devine’s grandmother told deputies Thursday night that Devine would be better off with Sanders.
Meanwhile, the Harlows hope to take legal custody of Devine, Harlow Sr. said.
That also angers Sanders.
“The (Harlow) family tried to get him to sign these documents, saying he’d be acting as an adult,” Sanders said. “That’s nonsense for a 17-year-old junior to act as an adult. He’s been acting as an adult, and that’s why he has almost two kids now.”
Devine has a four-month-old daughter named Abbigail.
Devine’s presence at the fatal shooting of a teenage boy in North Fort Myers in December prompted the Baltimore Ravens cornerback and 1985 North High graduate to seek guardianship of the fellow Red Knight.
“He needs to act as a child with with structure and discipline in his life,” Sanders said. “That’s what I want to give him.”
Sanders flew into Page Field Thursday on a charter flight to retrieve Devine, according to Alonzo Stewart, one of Devine’s longtime friends.
Sanders plans on taking Devine with him to the Ravens training camp in Westminster, Md., before sending him back to Prosper High in time for the first day of school there Monday, Aug. 15.
“He’s trying to take Noel with him,” Stewart said. “Noel changed his mind. He doesn’t want to go. I don’t want him to go, either.”
Harlow Sr. agrees.
“We’re trying to get custody of him for (today),” said Harlow Sr., a North Fort Myers electrician.
“He wants to stay here,” Harlow Sr. said. “He does not want to go with him. We have a lawyer coming (today). We have to have a lawyer.”
Devine already has re-enrolled at North High and plans to return for his junior season, Harlow Sr. said.
“Noel just doesn’t want to go,” Harlow Sr. said. “This is his home. This is his family and friends. He wants to stay here.
“He can go back to North High. We’ve already got him signed up.
“My wife already talked to the principal.”
North principal Kim Lunger would not comment about the situation late Thursday night.
Sanders said the Harlows enrolled Devine at North, but Sanders claims the school’s staff actually has been working with him on Devine’s transfer.
— The News-Press staff writers Sarah Lundy and Deron Snyder contributed to this report
Sanders confirms North Fort Myers football star is in Dallas with him
The News-Press has learned that there will be a hearing regarding the guardianship status of former North Fort Myers football star Noel Devine at 9 a.m. Monday at the Lee County Court House in downtown Fort Myers. The hearing will take place before Judge R. Thomas Corbin.
The hearing, also known as a "status conference", will be held to discuss the ongoing effort by North Fort Myers graduate Deion Sanders to become Devine's legal guardian, according to Harley Brook, the Fort Myers-based attorney representing Sanders in this case.
Sanders told The News-Press at 2:40 p.m. on Friday that he and Devine were in Dallas. Sanders was unavailable for further comment.
Brook said Friday that Devine's grandmother, Lee Bertha Thomas, is still the legal guardian for Devine, who is 17 and is classified as a minor in the state of Florida. Devine will turn 18 next February. Sanders is considered to be the petitioning guardian of Devine. Fuller recently signed a consent form to transfer guardianship to Sanders, Brook said.
Sanders and Devine do not have to appear at Monday's hearing Brook said. Brook said he will be looking to finalize the guardianship transfer as soon as possible. He would prefer the case to be finalized before school begins on Aug. 15 in Prosper, Texas, where Sanders and his family reside.
Sanders had said in a previous interview with The News-Press that he planned to take Devine with him to the Baltimore Ravens' training camp in Westminster, Md. The Ravens are scheduled to report on Sunday. Sanders is a defensive back with the Ravens.
Conflicting reports emerged late Thursday night and early Friday morning regarding the future of Devine, who, according to his friends, was having second thoughts about moving to the suburban Dallas home of Sanders.
Lee County sheriff’s deputies were called Thursday night to investigate a claim that Devine did not want to leave with Sanders, who had flown into Southwest Florida to pick up Devine.
The family with whom Devine has lived the past three years plans to hire a lawyer and seek custody of Devine.
Sanders, however, told The News-Press Thursday night that he’s acting in the best interests of Devine, who he plans to adopt. Like Sanders, Devine played at North Fort Myers and is regarded as one of the nation’s top high school football players.
Devine could not be reached for comment.
At 10:24 p.m. Thursday, Lee deputies were contacted to check on the well-being of Devine — an act that angered Sanders.
“We were sitting around his grandmother’s house having dinner, and the police called,” Sanders said. “The grandmother is his legal guardian. How can you kidnap someone from their legal guardian?”
Deputies spoke to Sanders and Devine between 11 p.m. and midnight.
“We located Deion and Noel in a Fort Myers residence,” Cpl. Larry King said. “He’s with Noel and Noel is with him and they will be departing. Deion has custody of Noel.”
Deputies spoke to Sanders and Devine separately to make sure everything was OK.
“We checked on their well being and everything seems to be in order,” King said. “They’ll be departing the area. I don’t know specifically when.
“He’s content with being shipped over to Deion,” King added.
Sanders told The News-Press, “This is crazy, man. I’ve got to sit up in front of the police and say, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ How would I come and kidnap a guy to Dallas? Please. That family has some nerve. They really do.”
Sanders was referring to Robert Harlow Sr. and his wife Liz.
Devine, an incoming junior who rushed for 2,760 yards and 34 touchdowns over the past two seasons, has spent the past three years living at the home of the Harlows, whose son Robert Jr. played football with Devine at North Fort Myers.
Devine’s parents are deceased.
Devine’s grandmother told deputies Thursday night that Devine would be better off with Sanders.
Meanwhile, the Harlows hope to take legal custody of Devine, Harlow Sr. said.
That also angers Sanders.
“The (Harlow) family tried to get him to sign these documents, saying he’d be acting as an adult,” Sanders said. “That’s nonsense for a 17-year-old junior to act as an adult. He’s been acting as an adult, and that’s why he has almost two kids now.”
Devine has a four-month-old daughter named Abbigail.
Devine’s presence at the fatal shooting of a teenage boy in North Fort Myers in December prompted the Baltimore Ravens cornerback and 1985 North High graduate to seek guardianship of the fellow Red Knight.
“He needs to act as a child with with structure and discipline in his life,” Sanders said. “That’s what I want to give him.”
Sanders flew into Page Field Thursday on a charter flight to retrieve Devine, according to Alonzo Stewart, one of Devine’s longtime friends.
Sanders plans on taking Devine with him to the Ravens training camp in Westminster, Md., before sending him back to Prosper High in time for the first day of school there Monday, Aug. 15.
“He’s trying to take Noel with him,” Stewart said. “Noel changed his mind. He doesn’t want to go. I don’t want him to go, either.”
Harlow Sr. agrees.
“We’re trying to get custody of him for (today),” said Harlow Sr., a North Fort Myers electrician.
“He wants to stay here,” Harlow Sr. said. “He does not want to go with him. We have a lawyer coming (today). We have to have a lawyer.”
Devine already has re-enrolled at North High and plans to return for his junior season, Harlow Sr. said.
“Noel just doesn’t want to go,” Harlow Sr. said. “This is his home. This is his family and friends. He wants to stay here.
“He can go back to North High. We’ve already got him signed up.
“My wife already talked to the principal.”
North principal Kim Lunger would not comment about the situation late Thursday night.
Sanders said the Harlows enrolled Devine at North, but Sanders claims the school’s staff actually has been working with him on Devine’s transfer.
— The News-Press staff writers Sarah Lundy and Deron Snyder contributed to this report