Two prominent art curators in Moscow, Yury Samodurov and Andrei Yerofeyev, are facing three years in prison for showing art that insulted the Russian Orthodox Church. It is the latest example of blasphemy prosecutions, a growing trend in the West and industrialized nations.
Continue reading “Criminalizing Art: Two Prominent Art Curators Face Three Years in Jail for Offending Orthodox Church”
Category: Criminal law
Police in Waterbury, Connecticut have arrested Rev. Kevin J. Gray, 64, of Sacred Heart parish for allegedly not just stealing $1.3 million from the church coffers but spending it on male escorts, hotels, and even tuition at Harvard for a male friend. He reportedly told police that he “had grown to hate being a priest” and tired of having “to fix problems made by the previous priests.” Well, now others will be fixing his little problem.
Below is today’s USA Today column on the arrest of individuals for telling obvious jokes on airplanes and at airports.
Continue reading “Airlines Should Go After Hoaxers, Not Jokesters”
Picture this scene out of Midnight Express, police surrounding a nervous man late at night on an airport tarmac. Pulling away his shirt, they find taped to his body . . . steaks. A beef mule. That could be the scene in Karnataka, India where the government is about to make the possession of beef a criminal offense. Presumably, possession of beef with intent to distribute will receive a higher sentence.
Continue reading “Do The Prime, Do The Time: India Legislators Move To Criminalize Beef Possession”
The Obama Administration filed a challenge of the Arizona immigration law in a move that comes with great legal and political risks. As noted in a recent column, the Arizona law remains quite popular around the country and the Administration will be in the unenviable position of arguing that increased enforcement conflicts with its own policies. Legally, the Justice Department will have to make out a case for implied preemption.
Continue reading “Obama Administration Challenges Arizona Law”
We often run Iranian blogs to show clown-like policies such as requiring Islamic haircuts or mannequin mascetomies. However, it is important to remember the plight of women and dissidents under Iran’s medieval Sharia system. There is no more frightening example than the scheduled stoning of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, for conducting an “illicit relationship outside marriage.” Convicted in May 2006, Ashtiani has already been given 99 lashes under her Sharia sentence.
Continue reading “Iran Set to Stone Woman To Death — After Giving Her 99 Lashes — For Adultery”
Now you can finally have hair like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian government has released the results of a list of acceptable and banned hair styles for men.
College lecturer TJ Joseph was attacked on a roadside in India by Muslim extremists who stabbed him and cut off his hand for insulting Mohammed in a question for a class paper.
Continue reading “Publish and Perish: Muslim Extremists Chop Off Hand of Professor For Blasphemy in Class Question”
We have previously followed the dangerous things that drivers do in their cars while driving. An Ontario truck driver, however, added the unique category of dental work.
Continue reading “Truck Driver Arrested For DWD (Dentistry While Driving)”
We have another case out of Land O’ Lakes, Florida. This time it is the arrest of Vanessa Kimball, 29, who was tired of seeing her neighbor’s trailer left in her apartment complex loaded with old furniture. Kimball allegedly decided to post an ad on Craigslist for anyone “come get this trailer, attach it to your car and get it out of here.” They did and now Kimball is charged with grand theft.
Continue reading “Florida Woman Arrested After Using Craigslist To Have Neighbor’s Trailer Taken Away”
There is a shocking case out of Siberia this week after a mayor was arrested for questioning the legality of a secret resort run by the the F.S.B., the main successor to the Soviet-era K.G.B. Tatyana Kazakova called for criminal charges after finding that the resort was endangering the village. Instead, the FSB had her arrested.
Continue reading “Russian Mayor Arrested for Questioning a FSB Resort Endangering Her Town”
The hot dog eating world has its buns in a knot today after scandal hit the sacred stage at the Nathan’s annual contest in Coney Island. As three-time world hot dog–eating champion Joey Chestnut took the prize over 15 rivals, former champion Takeru Kobayashi rushed the stage and was arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest. That is nothing to relish.
This video (on YouTube) raises a long-standing question of the liability for stupid pranks. This woman is clearly and understandably traumatized by what appears a well-orchestrated prank by what appears to be a television show, She clearly did not consent and is clearly harmed emotionally by the prank.
Continue reading “Video Raises Questions of Liability for Prank”
Columbian drug traffickers now have their own World Cup . . . literally. A replica World Cup trophy made out of cocaine was seized in Columbia. The 14 inch, 24 lb statue was made mixing cocaine with gasoline or acetone.
It is not uncommon for former police officers to become private detectives and leverage their connections with colleagues to drum up business. However, Michael Sianez, 53, is charged with using his former service to threaten disgruntled customers and engaging in a series of bizarre crimes, including soliciting women to have sex with his dog.
Continue reading “Man’s Best Friend: Ex-California Police Officer Charged With Bizarre Series of Crimes”