Editing Palm Beach, Florida (section)

=== 1990–2010 ===
On October&nbsp;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 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806024006/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50915390/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }}</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&nbsp;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&nbsp;people in the 2000&nbsp;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]] &ndash; under the guidance of Police Chief [[Michael Reiter (police officer)|Michael Reiter]] &ndash; 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&nbsp;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>