Rozita Swinton has been arrested in Colorado Springs in a reported connection to the call that alleged abuse at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas. The arrest further supports the concern that the original raid might have been based on a false call. Yet, even if probable cause is questioned, it will not likely help the parents who have lost their children in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Continue reading “Woman Arrested on False Reporting Charges in Colorado Springs — Tied to Polygamy Case in Texas”
Category: Criminal law
A Pennsylvania mother, Diane Rose Adorante, 40, will spend as much as 23 month in jail for hosting a birthday party where Samantha Scheuring, 16, drank herself to death. On Jan. 15, 2007, Scheuring was found dead at the apartment with a blood-alcohol content more than five times the legal limit. Continue reading “Mother Sentenced to Prison for Party Where Youth Drank Herself to Death”
Vancouver transit riders are being tasered. Documents show police have sued tasers on passengers 10 times in the past 18 months, including five occasions when passengers skipped fares.
It appears that the police view a taser as a standard response to a failure to obey police orders. In one case, a passenger accused of skipping the fare was tasered after he refused to let go of a railing. Continue reading “Pay or Play: Vancouver Police Taser Transit Riders Who Fail to Pay Fare”
The so-called “black widows” Helen Golay, 77, and Olga Rutterschmidt, 75, were found guilty of five counts. Golay was found guilty of the first degree murder of Kenneth McDavid, 50, in 2005 and Paul Vados, 73, in 1999 as well as conspiracy to murder for financial gain counts in both killings. Rutterschmidt, 75, was convicted of conspiracy to murder McDavid for financial gain. The men were killed for insurance proceeds as discussed in the video below. Continue reading ““Black Widows” Convicted Murder of Homeless Men”
The Supreme Court has handed down the much anticipated ruling over Kentucky’s use of lethal injection. In a fractured decision, the Court upheld the ruling for the state. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the decision, though his actual decision only garnered three votes. In the fractured opinions below, the majority agreed only in the result. two justices dissented: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter. Continue reading “Supreme Court Upholds Lethal Injection”
In Houston, prosecutors announced the indictment of Rep. Borris Miles, who is accused of bizarre conduct. Miles allegedly threatened people with a gun on two separate occasions and forced a woman to kiss him at a holiday party. Miles owns an insurance company and hopefully carries a generous lawsuit insurance policy. Continue reading “The Eyes (and Lips) of Texas Are Upon You: Texas Lawmaker Indicted for Pulling Gun (and Forced Kissing) at Two Events”
Bigamy cases remain relatively rare in the country with only a handful brought each year across the country. Yet, Kevin Michael Taylor, 31, and Sammantha Michelle Bailey, 21, have joined that ignoble roster of with a double bigamy charge. It appears that everything in Double T Trial, North Carolina is . . . well . . . double. Both husband and wife were allegedly married to other people. With the polygamy case unfolding in San Angelo, Texas, it is another example of our struggle with plural marriages. Continue reading “North Carolina Couple Charged With Bigamy”
In yet another controversy over attorney-client privilege and confidentiality, two attorneys in Chicago have revealed that their former client killed a security guard in 1982 and that an innocent man, Alton Logan, has been imprisoned for almost three decades for a crime that he did not commit. Bar officials in North Carolina and Virginia have faced similar questions over the limits of confidentiality, here. Continue reading “Lawyers Reveal 26-Year-Old Secret: Innocent Man Convicted of Murder of Security Guard”
In North Carolina, the bar is faced with a difficult question over the limits of confidentiality in a case of Staples Hughes. Hughes revealed a confidential statement made by his late client, who allegedly exonerated his co-defendant, Lee Wayne Hunt in a double murder case. Continue reading “Lawyer Faces Charges After Revealing Confidential Statement of Late Client to Exonerate Inmate”
In light of the recent hearing on mandatory asset freezing and restitution, Congress should look at the on-going controversy over an asset forfeiture in Lima Ohio. Luther and Meredith Ricks were victims of a break-in at their home by two burglars. Luther was able to kill one of the men and called police. The police, however, were quickly drawn to a small amount of marijuana in the house: used by Luther to deal with pain from arthritis and a recent surgery. The result? The feds (who were not involved in the case) have seized $400,000 of their life savings. Continue reading “Proving Forfeiture is an Ass – et: Feds Seize Couples $400,000 Lifetime Savings After Small Amount of Pot Found”
The seven Florida teens who filmed a brutal attack on Victoria Lindsay, 16, for the YouTube video shown below will be charged as adults and could see some serious jail time. Mercades Nichols, 17, Brittini Hardcastle, 17, and Britney Mayes, 17, will face charges of felonious battery, false imprisonment and kidnapping in connection with the attack. Cara Murphy, 16, Kayla Hassell, 15, April Cooper, 14, Zachary Ashley, 17, and Stephen Schumaker, 18, will face charges of felonious battery and false imprisonment. Now, an innocent couple (thought to be the parents of Zachary Ashley) have been hounded when their telephone number was posted on YouTube. Continue reading “Teenagers In YouTube Attack to be Charged as Adults”
I suppose one could expect this kind of conduct at a ride called the Mad Tea Party, but Gloria Walker, 52, is accused of “line rage” in Orlando Florida. Her trial has featured various witness, including a 10-year-old girl, who testified that she attacked Aimee Krause while waiting for her turn to ride at the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Continue reading “A Really Mad Tea Party: Disney Line Rage Case Goes on Trial”
Jose Merced, a Santeria Oba or priest, has appealed his challenge to a city ban on animal slaughtering in the home as a violation of his free exercise rights under the First Amendment. At issue is the refusal of the city of Euless, Texas to allow his religious practice. Continue reading “Fifth Circuit to Review Santeria Animal Slaughter Case”
In what could well prove the basis for a lawsuit, a Sheriff’s sergeant in Sacramento shot and killed a driver believed to be drunk.
Continue reading “California Police Officer Shoots and Kills DUI Suspect”
Atlanta Lt. John Oglesby was caught in the video version of a citizen arrest after a resident videotaped him allegedly cruising for sex in a red light district. The resident stated that Oglesby was a regular customer in the area known of its cross dressers and prostitutes. In one video below, Oglesby is allegedly recorded asking when he will be beaten again by a prostitute. He appears to have retired with Internal Affairs on his heels. Continue reading “Atlanta Police Lieutenant Caught in Prostitution Tapes”