Palm Beach, Florida Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === 1990β2010 === On October 31, 1991, the [[1991 Perfect Storm|Perfect Storm]] produced waves {{convert|20|ft|m}} in height in Palm Beach. About {{convert|1200|ft|m}} of seawall at Worth Avenue were destroyed, while some parts of the town experienced [[coastal flooding]], especially along Ocean Boulevard.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50915390/the-palm-beach-post/|date=November 1, 1991 |first=Kirk |last=Brown |title=20-footers pummel shoreline, damage homes, sea walls, pier|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|page=1A|access-date=May 13, 2020|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> By that afternoon, police allowed only residents to enter the town.<ref name="timeline3"/> The trial of [[William Kennedy Smith]], a member of the [[Kennedy family]], drew international media attention in 1991. Smith had been accused of committing rape at La Querida, but a trial at the Palm Beach County Court resulted in his acquittal on December 11, 1991. Another notable mayor, [[Paul Ilyinsky]], son of [[Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia]] and [[Beneficiary|heiress]] [[Audrey Emery]], was elected to the office in February 1993.<ref name="timeline3"/> The town's population peaked at 10,468 people in the 2000 census.<ref name="rogers">{{cite news|url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/palm-beach-tracking-down-reasons-census-shows-population-drop-for-town/oDo3zQ3m18XDkbn1bWpEZK/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309195437/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/palm-beach-tracking-down-reasons-census-shows-population-drop-for-town/oDo3zQ3m18XDkbn1bWpEZK/|archive-date=March 9, 2021|title=Palm Beach tracking down reasons Census shows population drop for town|first=David|last=Rogers|date=May 7, 2011|newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News|access-date=April 25, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2005, the [[Palm Beach Police Department]] – under the guidance of Police Chief [[Michael Reiter (police officer)|Michael Reiter]] – began the first inquiry into the crimes committed by [[Sex trafficking|sex trafficker]] [[Jeffrey Epstein]], leading to his arrest and indictment in July 2006. Despite an [[FBI]] investigation discovering at least 40 victims, the state attorney of Palm Beach County only charged Epstein with soliciting a prostitute and [[Child prostitution|soliciting a minor for prostitution]] in June 2008. He pleaded guilty on both counts and received a controversial [[Plea bargain|plea deal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20191113/jeffrey-epstein-how-case-unfolded-in-palm-beach-county|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193914/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20191113/jeffrey-epstein-how-case-unfolded-in-palm-beach-county/|archive-date=March 9, 2021|title=Jeffrey Epstein: How the case unfolded in Palm Beach County|date=November 13, 2019|newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News|access-date=May 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page