Legal News Archive For
November, 2009

Guilty Verdict in Anchorwoman's Rape, Fatal Beating

Added: 2009-11-30 10:53:01

Little Rock, AK—The trial of a man accused of beating a television anchorwoman to death has ended with a conviction. Curtis Lavelle Vance, 29, was also convicted of residential burglary, rape and theft of property. The attack took place on October 20, 2008, when Vance, who was looking for laptop...

Orlando Shooting Spree Perpetrator Held Without Bond

Added: 2009-11-27 10:07:23

Orlando, FL—A man who is accused of embarking on a shooting spree which killed one person and wounded several others is being held without bond after appearing in court over the weekend. Jason Rodriguez, 40, allegedly shot several people on Friday morning at an Orlando office where he had once...

Teens Who Set Boy on Fire To Be Charged As Adults

Added: 2009-11-26 10:12:19

Fort Lauderdale, FL—On Monday, three teenage boys who are accused of having deliberately set another teenager on fire will be not only charged as adults, but also charged with attempted murder, according to prosecutors. The incident occurred on October 12, when the boys allegedly doused 15-yea...

Man Who Stabbed Pregnant Muslim Woman Sentenced to Life

Added: 2009-11-25 10:32:16

Dresden, Germany—A German man was found guilty on murder charges stemming from a courtroom incident in which he stabbed a pregnant Muslim woman. Alexander Wiens, 28, confessed during a court hearing in July that he had stabbed an Marwa al-Sherbini, but said that it was not a premeditated crime...

Supreme Court to Argue Constitutionality of Juvenile Life Imprisonment

Added: 2009-11-24 10:17:24

Washington—The Supreme Court will debate today over whether or not it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment to sentence juveniles to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, for a non-homicide crime. The death penalty for juveniles was struck down in 2005, by a vote of 5-4, in par...

Salvadoran Woman Sues Sheriff's Department over Detainment

Added: 2009-11-23 12:58:39

Baltimore, MD—Two immigrants' right groups are assisting a Salvadoran woman who claims that she was unconstitutionally detained and interrogated last year by the Frederick County, Maryland sheriff's department. Roxana Orellana Santos was sitting on a curb eating her lunch when two deputies beg...

Settlement Reached in Adult-Diaper Construction Case

Added: 2009-11-20 10:35:19

Philadelphia, PA—A gender discrimination suit that centered around the lack of adequate restroom facilities for female construction site employees has been settled out of court. Lisa Drozdowski, 37, claimed that the construction company for which she works, Danella Construction Corporation, re...

Reward Increased in Slaying of Seattle Officer

Added: 2009-11-19 08:05:28

Seattle, OR—Despite a reward for information, and the public outcry for justice, the killer of a Seattle policeman remains on the loose. Now the Seattle police union's president is speaking out. “This does not happen in Seattle,” said Police Guild President Richard O'Neill in an interview,...

Pair Arrested, Charged with Stealing 1,000 Pieces of Luggage

Added: 2009-11-18 14:41:12

Phoenix, AZ—An arrest has been made in the case of two people suspected of stealing hundreds of pieces of luggage from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Keith Wilson King, 61, and Stacy Lynne Legg-King, 39, were arrested on Monday on charges of theft of property and possession of stole...

Judge Orders Redaction of Documents in Polygamist's Sexual Abuse Case

Added: 2009-11-17 09:12:20

Eldorado, TX—A judge presiding over the hearing of polygamist and accused child abuser Raymond Jessop has ordered that some documents be redacted. The document in question shows that Jessop, 38, had four or more wives who were either nursing or pregnant at the same time. District Judge Barbara...

Report Detailing Investigation of Turkey Plant to Be Sent to Prosecutors

Added: 2009-11-16 11:31:24

Des Moines, IA—An investigation into an Iowa turkey-processing plant, which faces charges of exploiting mentally retarded workers, has been completed and the final report is being sent to the Muscatine County attorney's office. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has finished its inves...

Rape Arrest Warrant Turns Up Six Decomposing Bodies

Added: 2009-11-13 13:13:31

Cleveland, OH—Authorities who went to the home of a convicted rapist to arrest him on further charges of rape and felonious assault didn't find the accused – but they did find a makeshift grave in the stairs under the basement of the home, as well as six badly decomposed bodies. Anthony Sowe...

White Supremacist Blogger Granted Bail

Added: 2009-11-12 15:05:38

Newark, NJ—A white supremacist blogger and Internet radio host who had threatened the lives of three Chicago-area federal judges has been granted bail after 119 days in federal custody. Harold “Hal” Turner was released on $500,000 bond on October 21, 2009. He was ordered to remain on house...

“Bling Ring” Charged with Celebrity Burglaries

Added: 2009-11-11 10:12:05

Five young adults who have been burglarizing the homes of celebrities have been charged, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. The teens, who allegedly went on a crime spree that took them to the homes of Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox, Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom, Audrina Pa...

Suspects Arrested in California Teen's Brutal Rape

Added: 2009-11-10 08:57:32

Oakland, Calif.—Police have arrested five suspects connected to the brutal rape of a 15-year-old Richmond, Calif. girl on her high school campus. The suspects, Salvador Rodriguez, 21; Manuel Ortega, 19, and three juveniles aged 15, 16, and 17 have all been taken into custody. Each faces multip...

Two Men Arrested, Charged in Overseas Terrorism Plot

Added: 2009-11-09 11:04:05

Chicago, IL—Two men from Chicago have been charged in a terrorist plot that allegedly targeted an editor and cartoonist behind a controversial series of Danish newspaper cartoons. United States federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday that the men, David Coleman Headley, 49, and Tahawwur Hussain...

Three Soldiers Implicated in Scheme Involving Russian Brides

Added: 2009-11-06 11:50:47

Wilmington, NC—Two United States Army paratroopers are facing up to five years in federal prison after taking part in an illegal marriage scam with women from Russia, according to prosecutors. The arrangement provided United States citizenship for the women, who were immigrants from Russia liv...

Suspect in New Jersey Priest's Murder is Hospitalized

Added: 2009-11-05 09:49:59

Chatham, NJ – As investigators work tirelessly to get more answers from Jose Feliciano, the suspect was suddenly hospitalized Sunday afternoon. Prosecutors have not yet clarified the cause for hospitalization. Feliciano, 64, is charged with the murder of Rev. Ed Hinds on Oct. 22nd. Police say ...

Feds Serious About Foreclosure Scams

Added: 2009-11-04 14:48:57

The state of the economy has already caused a drastic home foreclosure rate, but along with that have also come foreclosure scams. The Obama administration, which is cracking down, has announced a multi-agency effort to eliminate scams which prey on struggling homeowners. "Just as this administ...

U.S. House Passes Credit Card Bill Which Helps You

Added: 2009-11-03 10:06:55

WASHINGTON, D.C.--The House of Representatives approved a bill that was given the nickname “The Credit Card Holder's Bill of Rights.” The bill's basic functions force credit card companies to eliminate sudden interest-rate hikes, retroactive rate hikes, late fees, and “double-cycle” bill...

Suspects Arrested in College Athlete's Murder

Added: 2009-11-02 09:56:38

Hartford, Conn.—Connecticut police have arrested four suspects in connection with the murder of University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard, 20, which happened last month. John Lomax III, 21, has been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit assault. His bail has been set at $2...

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