Hollywood appears ready to step into the controversy over the pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spear in a truly signature way: it is ordering a special for television. While a debate rages over why this is being treated as an entertainment rather than criminal issue. Jamie Lynn’s 19-year-old boyfriend, Casey Aldridge, could be charged with statutory rape, carnal knowledge with a minor and even a Mann Act violation. Continue reading “Spears Pregnancy May Result in Television Special Rather than Criminal Charges”
In one of the most bizarre stories of the year, staff members at the Judge Rotenberg Education Center in Boston received a prank call that ordered an excessive level of electric shock treatments for two two emotionally disturbed teenagers — and proceeded to do so based on the telephone call. Continue reading “Seven Staff Members Fired After Giving Teens Electric Shocks Following Prank Call”
One of the most controversial laws in Germany is the criminal ban on Nazi symbols. In the United States, such symbols are viewed as both obnoxious and legal. Recently, the Germans prosecuted people who produced teeshirts with an anti-Nazi image: a swastika with a red strip through it. At the same time, a bizarre man in Berlin with pro-Nazi views was prosecuted for, among other things, his dog Adolf’s pet trick of giving the Nazi salute. The dog was taken from his owner, who had promised to kill him on the Fuhrer’s birthday due to the expense of criminal fines. Continue reading “Germany Criminally Punishes Citizens for Anti-Nazi Teeshirts Showing Swastika — and a Dog Named Adolf That Gives Nazi Salute”
As both Democratic and Republican candidates battle for the religious vote and proclaim the importance of faith, they seem to be ignoring or unaware of a huge number of citizens who are atheists or without religion. A recent study shows that the number is 30 million and that number increases exponentially when one adds secularists.
As noted in this recent column, Democrats like Clinton and Obama have been openly vying to close the “God gap” and claiming the mantle of faith as one of their qualifications. Other candidates have openly dismisses members of certain religions or the non-religious from being qualified for office. Thus, under the definition of some of the candidates, 30 million Americans are qualified to led but not to lead.
For an article on the study, click here
Of course, a motion to continue could be more efficient and hygenic, but 37-year-old Walter Barrett stripped and covered himself with his own feces to avoid court. He also spit and threw waste at guards.
As a result, Barrett, convicted of a violent home invasion, was forced to wear a bag over his head in court. His attorneys are seeking (not surprisingly) a competency hearing.
Guards are routinely the target of such acts, though some actually file criminal complaints. This is the case with
Desmond Turner is awaiting trial for battery by bodily waste by spitting on a jail guard.
Turner and James Stewart face murder charges for the June 2006 shooting deaths of four adults and three young children in a home on the city’s east side. Their trial is scheduled for February 2009. For that story, click here
For the earlier video and story, click here
The Fifth Circuit is on the brink of making history, just not the type of history that anyone would want. Two district court judges — Samuel Kent and Thomas Porteous — are facing calls for impeachment. Both cases now appear quite serious and worsening by the day. Continue reading “Two Federal Judges — Kent and Porteous — in Fifth Circuit Face Possible Impeachment”
In yet another alleged case of taser abuse, Florida Yoga instructor Elizabeth Beeland was tasered by Daytona Beach Officer Claudia Wright for being loud and profane. She was later charged with the highly enigmatic crime of resisting a police officer without violence as well as disorderly conduct. Continue reading “Video: Yoga Instructor Tasered for Being “Loud” and “Profane””
There seems to be an increase in officers accused of crossing the thin blue line to free lance in crime. On the same day, New Orleans officer Danny Lohman was accused of stealing a driver’s money in an invalid arrest while Harrisburg, Pa. officer Joseph Kelly resigned after a prostitute that he allegedly hired walked off with his service weapon. In the meantime, Ryan Osbrink in Oregon has admitted to accidently shooting and killing his wife while practicing a fast draw with his service weapon. Continue reading “Officers In Trouble: One Had Gun Stolen by Prostitute; Another Shoots Wife While Practicing a Fast Draw; Another Accused of Stealing a Driver’s Money”
England is investigating a highly disturbing video directed at child as an apparent recruiting device. This follows other such children terrorism pitches — which mainstream Muslim groups have denounced. Continue reading “Videos Recruit Children as Suicide Bombers — England Investigates Possible Criminal Charges”
One of the least discusses problems in the medical field is substance abuse by practicing doctors. A recent estimate puts as much as 15 percent of physicians nationwide will have a substance abuse problem during their careers and an estimated 7,500 to 8,000 practicing doctors are probably in confidential treatment. Continue reading “An Estimated 15 Percent of Doctors Have Substance Abuse Problems”
The Bush Administration has blocked an effort by California and other states to require higher emissions limits for cars and trucks to improve the air for their citizens. After waiting and hoping that federal courts would side with industry in litigation over the question, the Administration was forced to come up and oppose the environmental effort when the industry lost in court. Continue reading “Bush Administration Blocks Efforts of the States to Improve Clean Quality”
The extensive media coverage of the pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears — sister of Britney Spears and television star in her own right — has focused on the sensational while ignoring the legal story: the articles describe a technical case of statutory rape. If Aldridge was having sex with Spears at age 15 or 16, he would be subject to a variety of criminal charges. The case should bring some attention to the inconsistent prosecution of statutory rape claims around the country and a reexamination of what we should be trying to achieve in these cases. Continue reading “Can Casey Aldridge Be Criminally Charged with Statutory Rape and other Offenses of Jamie Lynn Spears?”
After Democratic senators saved Attorney General Michael Mukasey from having to recognize that waterboarding is torture, the person nominated to serve as his deputy has done the same thing. Of course, Mark Filip today did not testify (as Mukasey did) that he simply did not know what waterboarding is. However, Filip refused to acknowledge that is torture despite ample cases establishing that fact. The question is whether Democrats will again avoid the issue by confirming a nominee who refuses to acknowledge the illegality of a heinous practice. Continue reading “Nominee for Deputy Attorney General Refuses to Recognize Waterboarding as Torture”
In what could be an interesting torts case, the respected Mayo Clinic is facing a lawsuit over the bizarre act of Dr. Adam Hansen, chief resident of general surgery, who took a picture of a patient’s penis during surgery. Strip club owner Sean Dubowik has a tattoo at that stop that reads: “Hot Rod.” Continue reading “Respected Mayo Clinic Doctor Facing Lawsuit for Photographing Patient’s Private Parts”
Recently, a viewer asked if I was not a bit too critical of tasers and asked if they were not better than having to resort to guns. The most obvious answer is that tasers are now used by some officers as a first response, though most officers use them appropriately. The choice is not between a taser and a gun. However, the case below shows this perils of such a choice and confusion with Madera officer Marcy Noriega. Continue reading “California Cop Mistakes Gun for Taser and Kills Handcuffed Suspect”