Franklin Laine Tomes, 59, allegedly has a unique way to convincing neighbors to stop making noise . . . he fires a dozen rounds from his AK-47. Tomes is now under arrest in Oregon for the incident at an apartment complex in Portland, Oregon. He allegedly hit two men as they fled and then barricaded himself in his apartment until finally surrendering to SWAT officers. Tomes had previously complained about the kids of one of the victims making too much noise. Continue reading “Oregon Man Upset With Noisy Kids Allegedly Fires Over A Dozen Rounds From AK-47”
Category: Criminal law
Below is my column in the Washington Post on the statement by lead Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani that Special Counsel Robert Mueller had assured the Trump team that he would not seek an indictment against Trump while in office. As I have previously written, I do not agree with those who maintain that a sitting president cannot be indicted. However, what is most striking is how many assume that it is better for the President to face an impeachment (which is part of a political process) than an indictment. For a criminal defense standpoint, the opposite may be true. Indeed, the best possible scenario for Mueller would be to have an impeachment before an indictment. None of this means that there is a strong case for either impeachment or indictment, but the sequencing laid out by Giuliani is no favor to Trump.
Here is the column: Continue reading “The Law Of Unintended Consequences: Mueller’s Promise Not To Indict Trump In Office Is No Favor”
The alleged owners of Mugshots.com—Sahar Sarid and Thomas Keesee—are now among the mugshots of the week. The company has long been criticized as little more than a shakedown of people desperate to remove embarrassing mugshots on the Internet. California prosecutors alleged Sarid, Keese, Kishore Vidya Bhavnanie and David Usdan engaged in with extortion, money laundering, and identity theft through the site. Continue reading “California Charges Mugshots.com Owners . . . Then Releases Their Mugshots”
Eleven people in Oregon have been charged in what have been described as “kind of demented social club” that would kill and even decapitate animals in thrill kills that became a massacre. The poachers killed bears, deer, and other animals in a disgusting competition of who could rack up the greatest number of kills. Despite the carnage, they only face misdemeanors, albeit over 100 such charges. Police have already confirmed seven bobcats, four cougars, five bear, 35 deer and one silver gray squirrel among the trophy kills.
Timothy Manley, 59, is under under FBI investigation after a bizarre confrontation on a Frontier flight from Colorado Springs to Orlando. Manley is accused of not just hitting a deaf pregnant woman in the stomach, but slugging her service dog. Continue reading “Man On Frontier Flight Accused of Slugging Both A Deaf Pregnant Woman In the Stomach As Well As Her Service Dog”
Larry Wayne Price Jr., 39, allegedly wanted to “disappear” with his mistress. Eventually, however, his brilliant plan would involve a hoax about kidnapping bikers, drugs, and finally criminal charges.
Below is my column in the Hill newspaper on the release of the transcripts from the investigation into the infamous Trump Tower meeting. The testimony of key players is consistent with a reckless effort to get dirt of Hillary Clinton but, if anything, it undermines claims of collusion or conspiracy with the Russians. The answer may lie in the writings of 13th Century English Franciscan friar William of Ockham.
Here is the column: Continue reading “Ockham’s Razor And The Trump Tower Transcripts”
Tragic mauling deaths are unfortunately not uncommon. However, Tracy Garcia, 52, was initially listed as the victim of a pack of pit bulls in Ardmore, Oklahoma. It turned out that it was actually a pack of dachshunds, or wiener dogs. Police are now considering charges against their owner.
Continue reading “Oklahoma Woman Mauled To Death By Pack Of Dachshunds”
We often discuss the choice of whether to smile in a mugshot (at the risk of appearing gleeful) or frowning (at the risk of looking guilty). Angenette Welk, 44, chose poorly. Her smiling mugshot has prompted an outrage from people over the fact that, before she took the picture, she killed a 60-year-old mother in a drunk driving accident.
Continue reading “Florida Woman’s Smiling Mugshot Triggers Public Outcry After Lethal DUI Accident”
Michael Bickerton, 49, insisted that his interest in sexual relations with children was purely fantasy. That did not sit well with English police who arrested Bickerton after he drove 130 miles to meet at 10-year-old for sex. It also did not help that he brought a cheerleading outfit with him in the car.
Cumberland (Wis.) police posted an interesting message for the Cumberland High School students responsible for this year’s prank. Using a black tarp, the students made it look like a car had crashed into Cumberland High School.
The police posted the image above with the message “Hats off to the Cumberland High School Class of 2018 on your senior prank. Congratulations Class of 2018 on one of best senior pranks that Cumberland High School has seen.”
That is high praise from your local police station.
Adrian Abramovich has distinguished himself in infamy, which a record FCC fine of $120 million for his key role in making nearly 100 million robocalls between 2015 and 2016. Last week, the FCC fine handed down in June, was finalized.
Continue reading ““Kingpin” of Robocalls Fined $120 Million By FCC”
Today we discussed the curious case of the so-called “Dine-and-Dash Dater.” Paul Gonzales is accused of running out on several women at restaurants after expensive meal. As we discussed, much of the alleged crime would depend on the expectations or understanding of the daters. Below is a poll designed to gauge how jurors might view such a case.
Continue reading “Pre-Trial Poll: Should Men Still Pay For Dinner On the First Date?”
We have previously discussed Antifa and its violent anti-free speech philosophy. The latest violent clashes occurred at Berkeley where middle school teacher and Antifa leader Yvonne Felarca, 47, was arrested for battery and resisting arrest for fighting in Berkeley’s much maligned “empathy tent.” Felarca has fought the charges and called the charges a “witch hunt” to convince the court to drop the charges against her. It did not work with a California judge who refused to discuss her felony charges. What was surprising was the language used by her lawyer in both courts filings and public statements.
There is a novel criminal charge in Los Angeles where Paul Gonzales has been accused of being the so-called “Dine-and-Dash Dater.” He allegedly would take women to expensive restaurants and then bolt after the meal — leaving several women with restaurant bills. He arranged the dinners through dating apps. He is already facing allegations of petty theft.
Local media has been broadcasting his image above to warn women about Gonzales and his alleged eat-and-bolt technique. Continue reading ““Dine-and-Dash Dater”: California Man Facing Charges After Running Out On Expensive Meals With First Dates”