Two Florida Firefighters Accused of Student`s Rape

Feb. 10--MARGATE -- The attorney for two city firefighter/paramedics accused of raping one of their students argued in arbitration Friday that the men should not have been suspended without pay.

Eric Stevers, now 31, and Michael Shannon Henneforth, now 27, have been charged by Broward prosecutors with sexual battery. A criminal trial date has not been set.

They were suspended without pay in May, then fired on Sept. 5.

At an arbitration hearing Friday, attorney Matthew Mierzwa Jr. argued the city rushed to a conclusion without conducting its own investigation. But City Attorney Gene Steinfeld said the city deliberately backed off because the State Attorney's Office was handling the case and had decided to prosecute.

City officials also said they couldn't keep the two men in the department because they need to treat female patients and sleep six feet away from female colleagues in the firehouse.

The two also plan to appeal their termination. If acquitted, they want to be reinstated with full pay dating back to May.

According to the state's complaint affidavit, on May 2, Stevers and Henneforth, who had been teaching a paramedic class at Broward Community College, went with their graduating students to Hooters at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.

One of the female students told the two men she was gay, but alleges Stevers told her, "you know you want to be with a guy." She told Seminole Police he brought her to the pool area of the hotel and allegedly ripped off her pants and fondled her. Then, she told authorities, he brought her into the men's bathroom stall and raped her as Henneforth held her. Henneforth, according to the affidavit, apologized to her immediately afterward.

The two men were initially charged with false imprisonment, but those charges were later dropped.

"Firefighters operate in positions of public trust," said attorney Robert Soloff, who is representing the city at the arbitration hearing. "They breached that trust. It is impossible for them to function as firefighters."

The city's fire chief said it's important the public believes its paramedics, 90 percent of whom are men, can be trusted in vulnerable times.

"They look at us like their grandsons to take care of them," said Chief Garry Westbrook.

But union attorney Mierzwa said the city rushed to judgment.

"The city made a conclusion ... based on hearsay of a police officer," he said. "These people lost their livelihood."

More than 50 Margate paramedics came to Friday's hearing wearing white union T-shirts to support Stevers and Henneforth.

Arbitrator Stanley Sergent said a ruling might not come for several months.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at or 954-572-2008.

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