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Ex-mayor in Florida town guilty in scheme with predecessor

Former Port Richey Mayor Dale Massad, right, and his successor, Terrence Rowe, left, were arrested for conspiring against a Port Richey police officer.

PORT RICHEY, Fla. – The former acting mayor of a Florida city was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to a scheme with his jailed predecessor.

The Tampa Bay Times reported Thursday that 65-year-old Terrence Rowe was sentenced recently to two years probation and 50 hours of community service. Rowe, who was mayor of Port Richey, was also ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

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Rowe pleaded guilty in December to two felony charges after a March 3 phone call with jailed former Port Richey mayor Dale Massad. Authorities say the two discussed ways to intimidate a police officer who was investigating Massad’s case.

Massad, 69, is jailed on attempted murder charges after he was accused of firing shots at a Pasco County Sheriff’s SWAT team trying to serve a warrant at his home Feb. 21. The raid was part of a state investigation into allegations that Massad, a former physician, was practicing medicine without a license.

Massad awaits trial on those charges. He previously was convicted by a jury for taking part in the intimidation scheme.


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