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Archive of Crime & Courts on Tuesday November 03, 2009
NY: Cuomo -- Reform pension account
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Saying corruption has robbed the state's pension fund of hundreds of millions of dollars over generations, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo on Monday proposed changing the way the $120 billion fund is managed and regulated. Read More
US: States are pondering fraud suits against banks
PHOENIX — Newly empowered by the Supreme Court, the attorneys general of several states hit hard by the housing collapse are exploring consumer fraud suits against major mortgage lenders. Read More
AL: Former Coosa County sheriff arrested in theft, ethics case
Former Coosa County Sheriff Ricky Lovell Owens of Kellyton has been arrested on charges of theft and violating Alabama's ethics law. Read More
AL: Sen. Richard Shelby backs up his Luther Strange endorsement with big donation
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Richard Shelby's political action committee has given $25,000 to Luther Strange's campaign for Alabama attorney general. Read More
AL: Former Coosa County Sheriff Ricky Lovell Owens of Kellyton has been arrested on charges of theft and violating Alabama's ethics law.
Former Coosa County Sheriff Ricky Lovell Owens of Kellyton has been arrested on charges of theft and violating Alabama's ethics law. Read More
AL: Rant might affect Langford sentence
Larry Langford blamed everyone but himself when he stood outside the courthouse moments after he was convicted on federal corruption charges and ousted as Birmingham's mayor. He said he'd been treated worse than Jeffrey Dahmer, the infamous mass murderer and cannibal. That exercise in free speech could cost Langford additional time in prison at his sentencing, one of Langford's lawyers said Monday. Read More
AR: Prison officials delay opening new Malvern unit
The state Board of Corrections voted today to delay opening a 360-bed unit in Malvern and temporarily halted payment of unused holiday pay because of recent budget reductions. Read More
AZ: Plan would shift court costs
The state judicial branch has proposed shifting more than $12 million in costs to the county level - a suggestion that has Maricopa County budget officials on edge. Read More
AZ: Justices may hear disputed Arizona law
The U.S. Supreme Court has indicated it is interested in hearing an appeal from business groups that, for the past two years, have been trying to have Arizona's controversial employer-sanctions law thrown out. Read More
CA: Lobbyist calls Duvall's sex claims untrue
The female lobbyist who was the subject of sexual boasting by former Assemblyman Mike Duvall issued her first public statement Monday,describing his allegations as untrue and her experience as a "professional and personal nightmare." Read More
CA: FBI clears former Assemblyman Duvall
Former Assemblyman Michael Duvall of Yorba Linda will not face any federal charges after an FBI investigation into his comments, made over an open microphone, that he had a sexual relationship with a woman who was believed to be a Sempra Energy lobbyist, officials announced Monday. Read More
CO: Ritter defends ex-aide over restricted records
Gov. Bill Ritter on Monday publicly defended Stephanie Villafuerte, the White House's nominee for U.S. attorney in Colorado, as questions linger about whether she played a role in the accessing of a restricted federal database while working on Ritter's 2006 gubernatorial campaign. Read More
CO: Up to 225,000 Colo. drivers without valid license still on the road
More than 200,000 people might be driving illegally in Colorado, and such drivers were involved in crashes that caused nearly one-fourth of all state traffic deaths last year, state auditors reported Monday. Read More
CT: High Court refuses to hold hearing on sex abuse cases
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport's appeal of a state court decision to make public more than 12,000 pages of sexual abuse files involving clergy. Read More
CT: Blumenthal investigating possible vaccine price gouging
Doctors, nursing agencies and other health care providers have reported to state regulators that the price of seasonal flu vaccine has shot up to as much $100 a dose in some cases, triggering an investigation by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal into possible price gouging. Read More
FL: Operation Transit Shield gets a second run at protecting Tri-Rail
DANIA BEACH, Fla. -- Local, state and federal law enforcement officials are taking aim at potential terrorists and kicking off a campaign to keep South Florida's Tri-Rail transit system safe this fall. Read More
GA: Child custody employment program expands
Nationwide, data shows that while fewer parents are falling behind in child support payments, those who do are increasingly likely to seek help from programs like Georgia's as they find it harder to find work. Read More
GA: Georgia court tosses murder suspect's confession
ATLANTA — Georgia's top court approved a decision by a trial judge to throw out a confession by a murder suspect who says he was coerced by authorities after his arrest in North Carolina. Read More
HI: Hawaii inmates to get swine flu vaccine soon
Hawaii inmates in high-risk groups are expected to receive swine flu vaccines shortly. Read More
IA: Culver releases redacted list of budget plans
Gov. Chet Culver released more information Monday night about how public safety and other areas of government will be affected by deep budget cuts, but few details were available because the document was heavily redacted. Read More
IA: Iowa sued over halt to film tax credits
A group of international filmmakers has sued Iowa's Department of Economic Development after having to postpone a multimillion-dollar project due to problems with Iowa's tax-credit program for filmmaking. Read More
ID: Idaho prosecutors opting not to seek executions
For Owyhee County prosecutor Kristina Schindele, the decision was simple: The only way Mexico would extradite accused triple-murderer Jorge Orozco to Idaho was if the county agreed not to pursue the death penalty. Read More
IL: Illinois teen abortion law delayed for at least a day
It requires parental notification, but state regulators extend grace period to discuss judicial waiver process on Wednesday. Read More
IN: Official -- Voter ID still required in referendums
Secretary of State Todd Rokita says Indiana residents voting in upcoming special elections will still be subject to the state's Voter ID law despite a recent court ruling. Read More
KS: Attorney General candidate wants to allow more cases in small claims court
Kansas Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt wants to allow more cases to be settled in small claims court. Read More
KY: Court denies stay of sex-offender ruling
The Kentucky Supreme Court has denied a stay of an October ruling that allows sex offenders who were convicted before July 2006 to choose where they live without restrictions. Read More
MA: Group -- Crush wine law
Nearly a year after winning a federal court battle that opened the doors for all out-of-state wineries to ship directly to Massachusetts homes, a California trade group was back in a Boston courtroom yesterday to argue against the state's appeal. Read More
ME: Group goes to court for referendum
A Maine anti-tax group has gone to court against the state because election officials have failed to meet a deadline to rule on a referendum proposal. Read More
ME: HUD finds conflicts on housing authority board
BREWER, Maine — Officials with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have found that federal violations occurred when officials from the Brewer Housing Authority authorized contracts with the Ellen M. Leach Memorial Home. Read More
MI: Gorcyca faces misconduct charges again
The Attorney Discipline Board has reinstated professional misconduct charges against former Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca. Read More
MI: Scammers target those with Michigan unemployment insurance debit cards
Those who receive state unemployment insurance debit cards are the targets of an attempt to steal unemployment benefits, according to Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Read More
MS: Owner of raided facility owner on federal docket
TUPELO, Miss. -- A Memphis man accused of involvement in a black-market cigarette operation gained official criminal-docket status Monday in the U.S. District Court for Northern Mississippi. Read More
MT: Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar's ethics hearings begins Wednesday
Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar, facing ethics charges on his alleged misuse of state equipment and corporate donations, gets his day in court this week. Read More
NC: Audit reproaches Golden LEAF
The Golden LEAF Foundation failed to effectively oversee hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development grants and violated open meetings laws, according to the State Auditor's Office. Read More
NE: School aid in budget cut plan
Nebraska school districts wouldn't get additional state aid to cover rising costs. Vacant state jobs would be eliminated, including 11 state trooper positions. Read More
NE: CSI chief pleads not guilty to state charge
PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. -- An Omaha-based crime-scene investigator has pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence in a 2006 case in which two innocent men were wrongly charged in a double murder. Read More
NJ: N.J. joins Delaware in suing to block dredging of Delaware
In what has become a quagmire of politics, turf, and divided interests, the New Jersey attorney general yesterday followed the State of Delaware's Friday lead and sued to block the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from deepening the Delaware River. Read More
NJ: Judge -- Corzine can aid effort for sports betting
Gov. Jon Corzine can join a legal battle to bring sports betting to New Jersey, a federal judge ruled yesterday in a move that could boost efforts to reverse a 17-year ban on the wagering in the state. Read More
NV: Controller hires stimulus officer involved in Gibbons lawsuit
Controller Kim Wallin has hired Mary Heating as her American Recovery and Reinvestment Act reporting and accountability officer. Read More
NY: Two views of Bruno are presented at his trial
The corruption trial of Joseph L. Bruno, the former State Senate majority leader, opened in federal district court here on Monday, with a who's who of state lawmakers and lobbyists expected to take the stand over the next few weeks. Read More
OK: Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry sees crisis as revenue declines
Plans to wait until legislators return to appropriate money to state agencies and programs reeling from recent 5 percent monthly budget cuts are in jeopardy if revenue collections continue to come in 20 percent or more below estimates, Gov. Brad Henry said Monday. (Also see: AZ: Gov. Brewer set to call back Legislature ) Read More
OK: Fake checks hit Oklahoma victims in wallet
Tom Farrier said a check that arrived in his mailbox two weeks ago at first seemed like a blessing. But it was a trap. Read More
OR: Oregonians fall victim to latest wave of "grandparent scam"
Attorney General John Kroger reports that the Oregon Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Hotline has received a number of recent calls regarding the ruse, which targets grandparents with fake stories about family members stranded abroad, in urgent need of money. Read More
OR: State high court ponders award in cigarette lawsuit
A multimillion-dollar award from Philip Morris to the estate of a Salem woman will hinge on a narrow legal point argued Monday in the Oregon Supreme Court. Read More
PA: State breaks up marijuana ring
The Pennsylvania attorney general's office says it has broken up a $2.5 million marijuana distribution ring that moved the drug from New York to the Easton area and then resold it on Kutztown University's campus. Read More
PA: Mayoral, Supreme Court races top ballot
Control of the Pittsburgh mayor's office and state Supreme Court is up for grabs today. Read More
PA: BRT decision to end assessments violated state law
The Board of Revision of Taxes' long tradition of ignoring the state Sunshine Act continued with its decision last month to put itself out of business, the city solicitor has concluded. Read More
SC: Sanford ethics report ruling nears
After two weeks of legal back and forth, the S.C. Supreme Court is now set to decide if Gov. Mark Sanford can shield from House lawmakers an investigative report looking into the governor's travel. Read More
SC: Few nominated for chief judge of appeals court
A state judicial screening panel Monday nominated Circuit Judge John Few of Greenville as one of three candidates to become the chief judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals. Read More
SC: Sanford visits Clemson, puts focus on small business
CLEMSON, S.C.-- Gov. Mark Sanford said landing Boeing in South Carolina is "good news," but he kept his focus on small businesses when his statewide civic club tour touched down Monday in Clemson. Read More
SD: State's high court commissions study on language barriers
A 15-member committee appointed by the South Dakota Supreme Court will study the use of interpreters and translators in the state's court system. Read More
TN: Backers of closing TN handgun database request records
Supporters of blocking public access to the names and addresses of Tennesseans with handgun carry permits appear to have a hard time keeping their hands off the records. Read More
TN: Correction chief says putting all killers in maximum security would be costly
Convicted killer Letalvis Cobbins was transferred to maximum-security housing at a West Tennessee prison on Monday, but state Correction Commissioner George Little said giving other convicted murderers the same treatment would cost "millions of dollars." Read More
TX: Disabled students restrained, injured in public schools
Texas educators forcibly pinned down students with disabilities more than 18,000 times in the last school year, sometimes injuring them in the process. Read More
TX: Lawyers say lottery won't pay defrauded winner
Texas Lottery officials Monday told a Grand Prairie man who said his million-dollar lottery ticket was stolen by a store clerk that even though the clerk didn't play fair, by state rules, the clerk is the winner. Read More
UT: Shurtleff launches campaign ... for his novel
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff already is running for the U.S. Senate. Read More
UT: Banner year for Utah judges -- No sanctions
For the first time in a dozen years, there were no Utah judges sanctioned by the Utah Supreme Court for misconduct. Read More
VT: Slaughterhouse was cited three times
A Grand Isle slaughterhouse shut down last week after workers were caught on video abusing days-old calves was cited three times earlier this year for mistreating animals, a Humane Society of the United States official said Monday. Read More
VT: Vt. slaughterhouse closed for inhumane treatment
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- A Vermont slaughterhouse ordered closed Friday after video showed calves kicked, shocked and cut while conscious had its operating license suspended three times earlier this year for similar conduct. Read More
WA: New agency for open records?
A state task force on open records issues has agreed unanimously that the Legislature should create a new Office of Open Records that can sort out public-records disputes. Read More
WV: Feds request plea hearings in contract fraud case
Federal prosecutors expect admissions of guilt from the remaining three defendants accused in the mishandling of a $100,000 state grant. Read More
WY: Wyoming briefs
The next public hearing of the Access to Justice Commission is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the former Natrona County Courthouse in Casper. Read More |
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