Prosecutors

‘Fairbanks Four’ freed in teenager’s 1997 murder

An Alaska state court judge has vacated the convictions of four men in the 1997 murder of a Fairbanks teenager. Three of the four men, known as the “Fairbanks Four,” were released after an unscheduled hearing Thursday on a settlement offer by the state. The fourth man was freed on…

Dec 21, 2015 5:15 PM CST

Millionaire lifer sought $50K contract hit on judge, offered $25K to kill prosecutor, charges allege

Already serving a life sentence imposed earlier this year, a millionaire convicted child molester is now facing new charges in Florida. Loomes Wheeler Jr., 72, is accused of conspiring with a fellow inmate in an effort to hire a hit man, reports the Orlando Sentinel. The alleged targets were Circuit…

Dec 18, 2015 12:25 PM CST

Chicago police officer indicted for murder one for shooting teen ‘without lawful justification’

A Chicago police officer accused of firing 16 shots “without lawful justification” at a 17-year-old who was moving away from him has been indicted for first-degree murder. It is the first time in almost 35 years that a police officer has been indicted for first-degree murder concerning an on-duty death,…

Dec 17, 2015 5:25 PM CST

DA unbuttons suit jacket, then brings down suspect fleeing courthouse

A suspect fleeing down the hallway of an Oklahoma courthouse last week was no match for the local district attorney and at least one fellow lawyer. Oklahoma County DA David Prater coolly unbuttoned his suit jacket, a security video shows, before grabbing Israel Pointer by the leg and holding on.…

Dec 15, 2015 11:05 AM CST

New Facebook post by judge on lack of jury diversity sparks new recusal motion

Mediation ordered by Kentucky’s top court apparently has not completely resolved a dispute between a Jefferson County trial judge and prosecutor. A lengthy Friday post on a Support Judge Olu Stevens page on Facebook has led to new objections and a motion by an assistant commonwealth’s attorney seeking the jurist’s…

Dec 14, 2015 2:30 PM CST

‘Humiliated’ ex-judge gets probation for running real estate business from chambers

Convicted earlier this year of theft of services and conflict of interest, for using his chambers and government staff to run a personal real estate business, a retired Philadelphia judge was sentenced Friday to three years of probation rather than jail time. But former Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Willis…

Dec 11, 2015 4:15 PM CST

Prosecutor ‘took care of business’ when she shot intruder, sheriff says

A prosecutor who was home sick on Thursday shot an intruder who kicked in the back door of her home in Inola, Oklahoma, according to the local sheriff. Assistant District Attorney Erin Oquin “certainly took care of business” when she shot the suspect, Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton said. KTUL…

Dec 11, 2015 10:26 AM CST

Former Alabama governor is stuck in solitary since call to talk show, his son says

Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman was sent to solitary confinement after calling a liberal talk show from prison and alleging his prosecution was politically motivated, according to his son. The Alabama Democrat has been in solitary since Oct. 15, when he called the talk show, said his son, lawyer Joseph…

Dec 11, 2015 6:59 AM CST

Lawyer who lives in Iowa seeks election as Illinois state’s attorney

Jack Schwartz lives in Iowa. But because he is licensed to practice law in Illinois, he is eligible to seek election in Illinois as a top county prosecutor, a state official says. That’s exactly what Schwartz has done, filing to run for election as Rock Island County State’s Attorney in…

Dec 10, 2015 4:30 PM CST

Another justice of Pennsylvania’s top court faces ethics complaint linked to ‘Porngate’

For the second time in little more than a year, a justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is facing a disciplinary probe linked to the so-called Porngate email scandal. This time it is Justice J. Michael Eakin who is actually charged in a legal ethics case, and he says he…

Dec 9, 2015 4:55 PM CST

Despite Holder’s call for clemency to free over 10,000, actual number so far is much lower

Updated: In a 2013 speech delivered at the American Bar Association’s annual meeting, then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced a new “Smart on Crime” initiative and called for a number of changes to reduce “shameful” sentencing disparities that often affect drug offenders. Among the measures he suggested was clemency. Yet…

Dec 9, 2015 3:20 PM CST

Rare murder case filed against dog owner after fatal mauling of boy, 4

The owner of four pit bulls that mauled a 4-year-old boy to death in Detroit, Michigan, last week is facing an unusual murder prosecution. In addition to second-degree murder, Geneke Antonio Lyons, 41, is also charged with manslaughter and possessing dangerous animals causing death in the Wayne County case, according…

Dec 8, 2015 4:25 PM CST

Prosecutor sought to force mistrial to avoid acquittal, judge alleges

A Houston judge says a Harris County prosecutor tried to avoid what appeared to be an impending acquittal by making improper comments that forced a mistrial. Judge Stacey Bond cited the prosecutor’s remarks in a decision tossing the criminal case against pediatrician Robert Yetman, who was accused of fondling a…

Dec 8, 2015 5:45 AM CST

Court-ordered mediation ends judge-prosecutor dispute; blanket disqualification motion is dropped

Mediation ordered by the chief justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court has apparently resolved a dispute between a Jefferson County judge and prosecutor. Jefferson Circuit Judge Olu Stevens and Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine met for several hours Friday, and Wine has dropped a blanket disqualification motion seeking to…

Dec 7, 2015 4:10 PM CST

‘Sovereign citizen’ gets 10 years for bogus liens on federal judge and prosecutor

A Texas man upset about his 2010 conviction and five-year federal prison term in a human smuggling and money laundering conspiracy case made a court filing or two soon after his release last year. That resulted in a new 10-year federal prison term for Tyrone Eugene Jordan on Friday, following…

Dec 7, 2015 2:05 PM CST