Contempt motion filed against father of accused Seminole Heights killer

TAMPA, Fla. - The accused Seminole Heights killer is headed back to court Friday. But FOX 13 News has learned his father, Howell Donaldson, Jr and mother Rosita Donaldson may have their own legal problems.

Howell "Trae" Donaldson, III faces four counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors say he shot and killed 4 innocent people: Benjamin Mitchell, Monica Hoffa, Anthony Naiboa, and Ronald Felton in Seminole Heights over a six-week span.

The parents, according to a motion filed by the Hillsborough State Attorneys Office, refuses to cooperate.

The State Attorney's Office is seeking civil contempt charges against Donaldson. One motion reads:

"Mr. Donaldson's willful non-compliance with a lawfully issued subpoena is an act of contempt of court... The State moves this Honorable court hold Mr. Donaldson in contempt of court," wrote Prosecutor Jay Pruner.

The motion seeks sanctions against the Donaldsons which could include anything from house arrest to jail time.

It's unclear if this contempt motion will be addressed at Friday's hearing.

Attorney Anthony Rickman says the state would not go after the Donaldsons if their information was not important to the prosecution's case.

"This isn't a state attorneys office that just wants to throw people in jail because they want to go on a fishing expedition," said Rickman.