COLUMBUS MAN RESIGNS FROM BOARD AFTER DRUG ARREST

A Columbus developer has resigned his position on the board of trustees of
a Florida university following a drug arrest last week.

Robert Schiffman, president of the Wynnton Group Inc., was arrested Nov. 15
in Newtown, Fla., and charged with felony possession of cocaine. About a
gram of cocaine in a plastic bag was found in the center console of the
Jeep Grand Cherokee he was driving, police said.

Schiffman, 44, was vice chairman of the board of trustees at New College, a
Sarasota, Fla., university. Schiffman, who was appointed to the New College
board in July by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, resigned his post Monday.

Schiffman said Tuesday he could not comment on the "legal matter in Florida."

The Wynnton Group has been involved in a major downtown Sarasota
redevelopment since 1997.

Chuck Williams

Man, 20, charged with statutory rape of girl, 15

A 20-year-old Columbus man who police said befriended a 15-year-old girl at
a shopping mall and days later slept overnight at her home was charged with
statutory rape on Tuesday.

Joshua J. Danford, of 3860 Gentian Blvd., faces charges of contributing to
the delinquency of a minor, interference with custody, and statutory rape.
The girl's mother called police two days after she became aware of the
incident.

Danford remains at the Muscogee County Jail, where his bond was set at
$10,000 for the rape charge and $2,000 for the other two charges.

Muriel Tan