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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 10, 2002
DADE CITY -- Edwin Humphrey, already sentenced to life in prison and facing a possible death sentence if convicted of murder, got an extra six years added to his sentence Monday when he pleaded guilty to setting his jail mattress on fire.
Humphrey, 22, was convicted earlier this year of armed burglary at a Hudson motel and sentenced to life in prison. He's facing more charges. The state has announced it will seek the death penalty if Humphrey is convicted of murdering Robert Hay, 18, on June 27, 2001. He is also awaiting trial on charges of carjacking and kidnapping a taxi driver.
Although Humphrey has had problems with authority while he has been in jail, he was polite and quiet in front of visiting Circuit Judge Stanley R. Mills on Monday.
Mills recognized Humphrey from appearances on the west side of Pasco County, where Mills regularly presides.
"Ed and I have done business in the past," Mills said as Humphrey came forward. "You hear anything from your sister?"
Mills explained he had gotten to know one of Humphrey's sisters over the years. He said she has stopped by to visit on occasion.
Humphrey stuck to one-word answers Monday, but has a history of jail misbehavior.
In March, he swore at a judge when he was sentenced to life in prison, and earlier he earned a 179-day contempt of court sentence from County Judge William Sestak when he was profane and sarcastic at a hearing on charges that he destroyed the light fixture in his cell at the Pasco County jail in Land O'Lakes.
In December, authorities said he started a fire on his mattress early one morning, forcing the evacuation of nearby inmates.
According to the Sheriff's Office report, Humphrey said he did not set the fire but that "Satan had done it."