Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Paige Grable

A young girl who killed a classmate while driving drunk last fall is set to be released from prison this Friday. Paige Grable has been serving her sentence since May of this year. Her original release date was August of 2008.
http://www.wlky.com/news/14462271/detail.html

Monday, October 29, 2007

Justin Smith

A young man from Radcliff, Kentucky was arrested last week on charges of murder, providing false information to obtain a operator's permit, and failing to properly use a car seat following an accident in late June where his daughter was killed. Justin Smith's 5 month old daughter was thrown from the car during the accident and died as a result. At the time of the accident, officers determined that speed and wet conditions on the road were likely the contributors to the accident. Officers also allege that Mr. Smith improperly put his daughter in her car seat by allowing the seat to face forward in the car. Many in the small community are upset by these charges and feel Mr. Smith has suffered enough by losing his young daughter in this tragedy. He is scheduled to appear in court again on November 13.
http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2007/10/28/news/news01.txt

Friday, October 26, 2007

Genarlow Wilson - Finally Free!!!


After spending more than two years in prison for having oral sex with a 15 year old girl when he was 17, Genarlow Wilson was finally released from prison today when the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that his sentence of 10 years amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/26/wilson.freed/index.html

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Willie "Pete" Williams


After serving 22 years (half his life) in a Georgia prison for a crime he did not commit, Willie "Pete" Williams was finally exonerated. Mr. Williams was convicted of rape, kidnapping, and aggravated sodomy of a woman at the age of 23 in 1985. The testimony of three eyewitnesses who claimed to recognize Williams as the attacker was the key reason for his conviction. Mr. Williams is 1 of 208 people to be successfully freed through the tireless efforts of the Innocence Project.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/25/innocence.project/index.html

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Back to Prison

A fugitive was arrested 28 years after he escaped from a New Jersey prison at his home in Philadelphia. The man is now 75 years old. At the time of his escape, he had served 4 months of a 4-10 year sentence on drug charges.
http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1024/fugitive_found_ap.html

New Charges Added in OJ Simpson Case

http://www.courttv.com/trials/oj-simpson/102407_ap.html

Scott Speer

An Ohio man was found guilty of aggravated vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter in the death of his friend. Scott Speer had been charged with aggravated murder and murder, but the jury was able to find him guily of the lesser charges. Speer's friend went overboard while the two were out on Lake Erie back in 2002. Prosecutors alleged that Speer either pushed his friend off the boat or drove too fast while his friend was on the boat to cause him to fall off. The victim's family believed that he was getting ready to testify against Speer in his divorce trial. Speer was allowed to remain free on bond until his sentencing on October 31st where he could receive a sentence of probation.

http://www.courttv.com/trials/speer/102407_ctv.html

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Megan Williams

The 20 year old black woman who was held captive for at least a week in West Virginia by six white men and women spoke extensively about her experience today. Megan Williams was forced to eat rat feces and was raped numerous times while being tortured by the group. Due to pending litigation, all the horrific details of the victim's experience have not been revealed. Currently, all six could face life in prison on charges of rape and kidnapping. The victim and her family hope the crime is prosecuted as a hate crime.
http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1023/woman_tortured_ap.html

Monday, October 22, 2007

Not a Morning Person . . .

A man beat his girlfriend's 2 year old son because he was not "a morning person." The child suffered several bruises on his face and body and was diagnosed with bleeding around the brain. As a result, the judge ordered the Defendant to undergo psychological and psychiatric treatment. He will be sentenced sometime in December and could face up to 20 years.
http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1022/morning_ap.html

Executions Halted

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1022/executions_ap.html

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Federal Authorities Will Review Tragic Boot Camp Death

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/13/bootcamp.death.ap/index.html

This is just awful

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5idyLoqqS9X9NPwBW4nRtunEfJ0MgD8S82I400

Cursing at Toliet = Jail Time

A Scranton, Pennsylvania woman was cited for disorderly conduct when she cursed at her overflowing toliet. Her profanities could be heard through an open window by a city police officer. As a result of the charge the lady could face up to 90 days in jail!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21334238/

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Execution Stopped With Minutes to Spare

Nevada halted an execution today 90 minutes before it was to take place. In light of the Supreme Court's decision to evaluate the method of execution by lethal injection, several states have halted their impending executions. The condemned inmnate did not desire to have his case appealed and was supposedly "ready to die," but the ACLU filed a petition to have the execution stopped.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/16/nevada.execution.ap/index.html

Monday, October 15, 2007

Never serve drinks to underage kids . . .

A homemaker with no prior criminal record was sentenced to two years for serving alcohol to underage drinkers at her home in Virigina.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19187758/

OJ Simpson Co-D to Testify

Today it was announced that a Defendant in the OJ Simpson armed robbery saga will testify against OJ as well as the other defendnats in the case. Charles Cashmore has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge and will likely receive a lighter sentence in exchange for his cooperation with authorities.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Acquitted

The former guards at a Florida boot camp were acquitted today on charges of manslaughter in the death of 14 year old Martin Lee Anderson. Guards denied any wrongdoing throughout the trial despite the fact that they were caught on camera dragging, kicking, and beating the young boy after he was unable to finish a mandatory run.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/12/bootcamp.death.ap/index.html

Mychal Bell To Spend 18 Months in Juvenile Facility


Mychal Bell, one of the members of the "Jena 6," was ordered back to a juvenile facility after being released on $45,000 bail on September 27th. After a two day closed juvenile court proceeding, the judge found that Bell had violated his probation for earlier juvenile offenses. He is now to serve 18 months in a juvenile facility. The decision will appealed.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/11/bell.jail/index.html

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Jail time for feeding the homeless?

A trial was held this week in Florida to determine if a man willfully violated a municipal ordinance which forbids the public from feeding the homeless. The ordinance was enacted to prevent the congestion of homeless people in public parks. The man was found not guilty.

http://www.wesh.com/news/14300798/detail.html

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Another Wrongful Imprisonment

After serving 12 years in a Texas prison for a crime he did not commit, a man was released yesterday. Ronald Taylor is the third man to be released because of problems with the Houston Police Department's Crime Lab. Mr. Taylor intends to try to fix the justice system that put him away. His first stop after being released was City Hall to speak to the city council concerning the wrongful imprisonment of others.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

But they will give 7 months to a lady who shoots her husband in the back . . .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21191119/

Floyd Lee Brown

A developmentally disabled individual was held for 14 years after he was found incompetent to stand trial for murder and robbery. A judge finally ordered him to be released, following years of family, friends, and lawyers fighting for his release. Evidence that prosecutors say supports his guilt has now disappeared and his lawyers claim the confession they obtained from him was bogus. Floyd Lee Brown was held at a mental health hospital during his ordeal.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Tragedy Unfolds


Over a week after Taylor Bradford was shot, three people were arrested in connection with his murder. The University of Memphis football player tried to drive after being shot and eventually crashed his car into a tree. More arrests are expected in the case.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/08/memphis.university.shooting/index.html

Saturday, October 6, 2007

This is why you check social security numbers . . .

Marvin Lopez went to the Orange County Courthouse to pay traffic tickets and ended up in jail on outstanding warrants. Mr. Lopez spent 37 days in jail for crimes he did not commit. Another man who went by the alias of Marvin Lopez was the actual culprit and the mistake was finally noted after 37 days. Mr. Lopez is now threatening to sue Orange County unless they pay a substantial amount of money for this injustice.
http://www.wftv.com/news/14279010/detail.html

Friday, October 5, 2007

Sen. Larry Craig


A judge denied Sen. Larry Craig's motion to set aside his plea of guilty yesterday. His guilty plea stemmed from charges filed after an exchange between the senator and a police officer in a Minneapolis airport bathroom. Pressure is mounting in his homestate of Idaho for the senator to give up his seat.
http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1004/craig_ap.html

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Who would steal the newlywed's wedding gifts?

A minister stands accused of stealing giftcards from a couple on their wedding day. Kitty and Shawn Sonnenschein had requested gift cards from their friends as wedding gifts, but when all the guests left their wedding, they only had three gift cards. Circumstances eventually led them to believe the minister they found online stole the gift cards. Surveillance video showed the minister purchasing items at Home Depot with gift cards that were meant for the couple. Police arrested the minister on a charge of second-degree theft.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

OJ Simpson

OJ Simpson was ordered by a judge to hand over a Rolex watch and other assets in order to satisfy the civil judgment where OJ was found liable in the death of Ron Goldman and Nicole Simpson. The items will be auctioned off and the proceeds will be given to Fred Goldman.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

A 10 year old killer?

In a small Ohio town, a young 10 year old boy stands accused of setting a fatal house fire that killed his mother, sister, and three young children. Yesterday, the young boy was released to the custody of his grandmother. The boy has denied that he is responsible for the deaths.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/01/arson.child/index.html

Monday, October 1, 2007

Carol Ann Gotbaum

A 45-year-old mother of three died in police custody at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport on Friday. Carol Ann Gotbaum was arrested allegedly acting disorderly in the airport. Authorities belive she may have accidentally strangled herself while trying to free herself from the handcuffs. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/01/phoenix.airport.death/index.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/10/01/2007-10-01_gotbaum_kins_plea_before_dying_im_not_a_.html