Man Sentenced in Tampa Scandal

BACKGROUND: The story still reverberates throughout much of Tampa: how on the night of April 27, 1991, five young men all sons of prominent families--met a 23-year-old woman in a bar, “dosed” her with LSD and subjected her to a night of abuse in the home of James F. Urbanski, former president of the Tampa Tribune (View, March 23).

UPDATE: On July 27, Carl J. Allison, now 27, was sentenced to eight months in Hillsborough County jail and eight years probation, including 18 months of house arrest. Allison, the only one tried, was convicted of intent to deliver LSD and evidence tampering--both felonies--and a misdemeanor charge of petty theft. He was acquitted in March of three sexual battery charges.

Mark Urbanski, James Urbanski’s 25-year-old son, pleaded guilty to evidence tampering and received six years probation. He is in an alcohol rehabilitation program. The three others were granted immunity for testimony against Allison.

Before being sentenced by Judge Barbara Fleischer, Allison apologized for his actions. Said Fleischer: “All I’ve read, heard and seen convinces me . . . you lack a sense of decency and moral fiber.”

Norman Cannella, Allison’s attorney, called the sentence too harsh and plans to appeal it and the drug conviction.

Meanwhile, Barry Cohen, an attorney for the woman, said he was negotiating with Urbanski’s insurance company over compensation--”in excess of $1 million”--to cover “therapy and psychological and physical abuse.”