Following Entry Posted 9/30/2007 11:59:00 PM

Women With Troubles - September 2007

Reported in the news during September 2007, here is the compilation of the women with troubles. Each name is linked to a blog entry displaying details. For a more comprehensive listing, check the Women With Troubles category link.

(AL) Holly Nicole Faircloth, 25,
teacher - Arrested for theft from students' lockers,

(AR) Amy Hilbun, 25,
teacher - Gets 3 years prison for abuse of son, 6,

(AR) Laura Elizabeth Newberry, 32,
nurse - Charged with sex assault of boy, 16,

(AZ) Alejandra "Alex" Rivas, 28,
juvie home worker - Arrested for sex with boy, 15,

(CA) Alexis Luz Garcia, 41,
neighbor - Charged with exposing herself to boy, 14,

(FL) Crystal Marie Bashford, 21,
teacher - Charged with lewd and lascivious battery of boy, 14,

(FL) Caroline Corbett, 22,
Boy Scout chaperone - Arrested for sex with Boy Scout, 15,

(FL) Ronda Lynn Lipko, 38,
neighbor - Arrested for sex with autistic boy, 7,

(FL) Vicki Tucker,
elementary school teacher - Cited for DWI on way to class,

(FL) Jessica Wink, 22,
deputy's wife - Arrested for sex with boy, 16, caught on video,

(FL) Noel Marie Wood, 28,
youth minister - Charged with unlawful sex with boy, 16,

(GA) Lora Hubbard, 56,
teacher - Arrested for possession of marijuana,

(IA) Kelli Cuperus (aka Kelly DeBoer), 39,
teacher - Sentenced to 4 months treatment for violating probation on sex crime conviction,

(ID) Sheryl Nawahine, 35,
neighbor - Charged with sexual battery of boy, 16,

(IN) Michelle VanMeter, 35,
teacher - Arrested for sex with 3 brothers (2 boys & deaf adult), having child by one,

(KS) DeAnna M. Abasolo-Farley, 34,
teacher - Guilty of unlawful sex with student,

(KS) Ashley N. Thompson, 22,
married neighbor mom - Charged in two states for sex with boy babysitter, 14,

(KY) Stephanie Burton, 31,
neighbor - Charged with rape of boy, 13,

(MA) Cathleen Trotta, 39,
neighbor - Gets 20 years probation for home invasion, kidnapping,

(MD) Robin Denise Lawrence, 24,
youth counselor - Guilty of sex abuse of boy, 16,

(MI) Janelle Batkins, 42,
teacher - Charged with criminal sexual conduct for sex with male student, 17,

(MI) Stephanie Ann Stein, 31,
teacher - Arrested for sex with boy, 15,

(MO) Rachelle Leslie,
caregiver - Accused of theft from mentally-challenged patient,

(MS) Carla Hughes, 27,
teacher - Charged with murder. Wants leniency due to being a descendant of slaves,

(MT) Koby Gayle Murray, 41,
teacher - Arrested for fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs,

(MT) Rachel (Rachael) O'Brien, 24,
neighbor mom - Charged with felony endangerment of her kids, ages 2 and 3,

(ND) Kimberly Nack, 28,
teen counselor - Gets probation for sex with boy, 16,

(NE) Christine Croissant-Smith, 46,
neighbor - Charged with attempted murder of son, 6,

(NE) Krista Crosby, 34,
teacher - Arrested for heroin possession,

(NE) Jodi Reeder, 29,
teacher - Charged with 4th DWI,

(NE) Brandy Reynolds, 25,
teacher - Gets minimum 4 years prison for sex with boy, 15,

(NE) Tammy Walnofer, 38,
neighbor - Charged with sex assault of boy, 15,

(NY) Rebecca L. Becker, 29,
teacher - Guilty of rape of boy, 16. Sentencing in November,

(NY) Morgan R. Crawson, 25,
neighbor - Guilty of rape of boy, 14, 2nd offense,

(NY) Dena Greene, 36,
neighbor - Arrested for rape of two boys, both 15 years old,

(NY) Stephanie A. Gross, 24,
teacher - Sentenced to probation in straddling of boy, 16,

(NY) Elizabeth Munn, 32,
teacher - Charged with rape of boy, 15,

(NY) Heather Mezzenga and Richard Werner,
mortgage brokers - Arrested for operating brothel in New Rochelle,

(OH) Donna Moonda, 48,
neighbor - Sentenced to life in prison for murder of husband, Dr. Gulam Moonda,

(OH) Kendra L. Sasser, 30,
neighbor - Charged with sexual exploitation of boy over Internet,

(OH) Brenda Slaby (aka Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby), 40,
assistant principal - Left baby to die in hot car,

(OH) Jennifer Whitson, 20,
neighbor - Guilty of sex with boy, 12. Sentencing in November,

(OK) Alicia Su-Lyn Groom, 23,
neighbor - Charged with rape of boy, 13,

(OK) Crystal Dawn Outlaw, 27,
neighbor - Charged with rape of boy, 14,

(PA) Teri Rhodes, 18,
college student - Arrested for killing her newborn,

(PA) Christine Carver-Schlesser, 30,
neighbor - Guilty of raping two boys, ages 12 & 13,

(PA) Tina Martinez, 42,
prison drug counselor - Gets probation for sex with inmate,

(PA) Heather D. Sites, 23,
neighbor - Charged with corruption of minor for sex with boy, 17,

(SC) Karen Robbins, 49,
teacher - Charged with unlawful sex and lewd acts on child under 16,

(SC) Allenna Williams Ward, 23,
teacher - Convicted of criminal sex and lewd acts with five boys, ages 14 and 15,

(TN) Dianne Dubay Dieterich, 35,
teacher - Gets probation for rape of boy, 17,

(TN) Julie E. Petty, 37,
teacher, coach - Indicted for rape of girl, 14,

(TN) Dana Faye Queen, 25,
neighbor mom - Charged with statutory rape for sex with boy, 15,

(TX) Sandra Borrego, 41,
dance teacher - Arrested for sex assault of boy, 13. Possibly had child by boy,

(TX) Beverly Renee Conditt, 35,
teacher - Gets probation for improper relationship with boy, 12,

(TX) Laura Hall, 24,
neighbor - Guilty of tampering with evidence in dismembering body of homicide victim,

(TX) Emily S. Willis, 28,
teacher - Gets 180 days jail for sex assault of boy, 14,

(WA) Lindsay Hall, 26,
neighbor - Charged with kidnapping, sex assault of boy, 12,

(WA) Jennifer Leigh Rice, 31,
teacher - Faces new charges of rape of boy,

(WI) Norma Giannini, 79,
nun - Charged with molesting schoolboys 40 years ago.

As always, thanks to all the tipsters.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 9/30/2007 07:54:00 AM

Texas Dance Teacher and Boy, 13

(Corpus Christi, Texas) A 41-year-old dance instructor at Most Precious Blood Catholic School, Sandra Borrego, has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with a 13-year-old boy. Borrego is charged with aggravated sexual assault on a child.

The alleged sexual episode occurred 10 months ago but was just recently reported to authorities. The boy victim is now 14 years old and possibly the father of a child that Borrego recently gave birth to. The Nueces County District Attorney Carlos Valdez is investigating the possibility. A warrant to draw blood from Borrego is being sought.

The Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi issued a statement indicating that its primary concern is protection of children but would wait for the law enforcement investigation to conclude before taking action.

Borrego was booked at the Nueces County Jail and released on bond.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 01/26/08]

DNA results obtained. Borrego indicted on 22 counts of sexual abuse of a child.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/30/2007 06:00:00 AM

Porn Star Protests Animal Porn

(The Netherlands) A Dutch porn star, Charisma Gold, has been lobbying against bestiality and animal pornography which has resulted in a law being proposed in parliament to criminalize both.

Apparently, the issue is quite controversial. Gold claims to have received death threats.

Gold, photographed in her S&M cellar with a wall full of whips, says the Netherlands is one of the leading producers of animal porn for the simple reason that it is not illegal.

"It is completely sick what Dutch porn makers are producing," she tells the paper, before going into the gory details.

Gold's lobbying has resulted in the Labour party submitting a bill banning sex with animals to parliament. MPs will vote on the issue at the end of this year.

The owner of porn company Book and Film international, which claims to be the world's number one in beastiality (their spelling) tells the paper that animals are never forced to perform for the cameras.

Never forced to perform for the camera!

What the hell does that mean and how many animals even know what a camera is? It seems only a pornographer could rationalize his actions in that manner.

Regarding Charisma Gold, I question her motives. Since when do porn stars have a sense of morality? I would suggest that her protests are borne from a desire to shut down the competition. Nonetheless, I hope the Dutch are successful in shutting down a sick and deviant industry.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/30/2007 12:13:00 AM

Living in the Faslane Peace Camp

Check this out.

The Faslane peace camp (and, more recently the Faslane 365 crowd) has been a blight on the landscape of Helensburgh, Scotland comparable to the San Francisco parks from the 1960s - and just about as clean - since 1982. More importantly than that though, is what a horrible effect it has on the surrounding community and how they frankly just don't give a damn about anybody but themselves.

Hippies in Scotland, fighting the man with slogans, cardboard and decrepit buses.
Obviously, the hovel-dwellers haven't launched any community beautification campaigns over the last few decades. It's also apparent that the local population has been bend-over tolerant of people creating and living in roadside dumps. For years and years and years.

More here with additional pictures.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/29/2007 08:09:00 PM

Shock and Disgust in Gaza

(Gaza Strip) A cellphone video of a particularly brutal honor killing in the Gaza Strip shows the apparent participation of an entire neighborhood. Any rational human being should be disgusted by the barbarism and gripped by the sadness.

The 16-year-old girl is seen being dragged to the street and pummeled savagely and mercilessly by male relatives and Hamas members. No one in the crowd attempts to intervene.

The scenes of the girl lying on the ground as frenzied men trample her are unimaginable.

At one point, the girl tries to cover her head with her hands to avoid the kicking. She then tries to rise to her feet, only to be stabbed repeatedly by one of the men.

As she collapses, one of the attackers pulls down her skirt so that the rest of his friends will not see her underwear. The girl is required to maintain her "modesty" even as she is being preyed upon.

And just when you think the lynch is about to end, someone emerges from the crowd carrying a large white stone.

He throws the stone at the girl's back as she lays face down, motionless.

Seconds later, another man throws a large stone at the back of her head. The video ends with the girl laying in a pool of blood. [vidcaps here]

Scant news reports covered the bloody public murder. One Hamas security official stated that honor killings happen regularly even though Hamas is "against these killings because we don't want anyone to take the law into his own hands."

Eleven women have been killed this year in the Strip according to the Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights. Of course, that number excludes the many victims never reported and buried secretly.


[Update 09/30/07]

It's a hoax -- sorta. The killing actually occurred but not in Gaza, rather in Iraq in May 2007.

From lgf:

The Jerusalem Post has removed the article, and zombie received the following interesting note from the author:

Thanks, but it appears we were the victims of a hoax. the film was taken in Iraq, not Gaza. we have been misled deliberately...we have removed the story..apologies!

This was probably part of the ongoing Fatah-Hamas propaganda war, with the added benefit to Fatah of embarrassing the Jerusalem Post.

[ ... ]

UPDATE at 9/29/07 10:02:26 pm:

We've now received confirmation that this story was concocted by the "moderate" Fatah to discredit the "extreme" Hamas. Fatah is preying on the mainstream media's desire to promote them as "moderates."

The State Department and President Bush are living in a fantasyland if they think supporting Fatah will lead to peace; there is no difference between these two corrupt Islamist thugocracies.

Therefore, ignore the links to the story and keep in mind that the media are the frequently intentional and sometimes unintentional tools of the terrorists and their supporters.


[Update 10/01/07]

JPost adds clarification:

Both Fatah and Hamas are engaged in a campaign of disinformation aimed at discrediting each other. But the timing of the latest Fatah hoax was clearly intended to coincide with PA President Mahmoud Abbas's visit to New York.

Heh.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/29/2007 06:18:00 AM

Tennessee Teacher Guilty of Statutory Rape

(Knoxville, Tennessee) A 35-year-old business teacher, Dianne Dubay Dieterich, pleaded guilty yesterday in Knox County Criminal Court to statutory rape of a 17-year-old Knoxville Catholic High School student. Dieterich taught at Knoxville Catholic until August 2007 when she was terminated.

Dieterich's guilty plea, a last-minute addition to the Friday docket of Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz, was part of an agreement between Knox County Assistant District Attorney General Charme Knight and defense attorney Gregory P. Isaacs. In return, the married mother of two will receive four years probation with the chance of clearing her record if she stays out of trouble.

Details of the relationship with the 17-year-old were not disclosed.

Rich Haglund, general counsel for the Tennessee Board of Education, said Friday that Dieterich's case would be reviewed for consideration of license revocation.


[Update 11/29/07]

Dieterich reported pregnant by student.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/28/2007 04:59:00 PM

Ohio Woman Guilty of Raping Boy, 12

(Lebanon, Ohio) A 20-year-old local woman, Jennifer Whitson, was convicted by a jury of committing sex crimes against a 12-year-old boy in July 2006. The Butler County jury deliberated less than 30 minutes prior to finding Whitson guilty of rape and gross sexual imposition.

According to Prosecutor Robin Piper, the boy was visiting a friend when Whitson, a relative of the boy's friend, commenced being naughty with the boy.

"He and his friend were playing video games and stuff, and at some point in time the 20-year-old and 12-year-old were alone and she made these overtures and one thing led to another," Piper said.

Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Muench-McElfresh stated that both the victim and Whitson testified during the two-day trial with Whitson admitting to fellatio and masturbation with the victim.

Sentencing by Common Pleas Judge Noah Powers is scheduled for November 6th. According to Piper, prison time is mandatory but the judge doesn't have to impose the full possible 15 years for the offense.


[Update 11/07/07]

Whitson sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/28/2007 11:36:00 AM

National Health Care Secretly Denies Services to Affluent

According to a report in today's Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian socialized medical scheme secretly diverts funding away from affluent areas on the basis that people with some means can pay for their health care at private facilities. Therefore, one can expect to find noticeably fewer hospitals, clinics, equipment, supplies, doctors and nurses in well-to-do areas and regions.

A SENIOR doctor who worked at Royal North Shore Hospital says staff were told 10 months ago it was State Government policy to slash the hospital's budget because "people on the North Shore had money" and could afford to use private hospitals.

Linda Dayan, a former staff specialist in sexual health at the hospital, said yesterday she left her job after being told by two managers in a meeting at Gosford Hospital in November that a "redistribution formula" had shown Royal North Shore "didn't need as much funding as other hospitals" because North Shore residents were affluent.

It's no surprise that administrators of the Aussie national health care system dispute the accusation.

A spokesman for the Health Minister, Reba Meagher, said: "We utterly reject that claim. We are bound by the Australian Health Care Agreement to provide equal access to services regardless of where people live."

Heh. I believe the doctor. A secret funding diversion scheme! It's likely a necessary element of any socialized medical system.

Why? Because there are never enough dollars to give everything to everybody. So, forget the promises of national health care, people will be denied. It's guaranteed by history. Socialism has only been successful at making everyone equally poverty-stricken.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/28/2007 09:41:00 AM

Myanmar Protests, Violence & World Outrage

(Yangon, Myanmar) Yesterday and today, crowds taunted as police and soldiers strived to stop the demonstrations prompted by a steep rise in fuel prices. Groups of several hundred protesters shouted in English "F**k you, Army. We only want democracy!" Squads of soldiers charged the demonstrators.

Several shots were fired, but there was no immediate word of more casualties a day after troops swept protesters out of the city centre, giving them 10 minutes to leave or risk being shot, then pursued knots of demonstrators through the city.

 
Photo left: Man with camera as soldier approaches. Photo right: Man lies motionless afterward. Believed to be Japanese photographer Kenji Nagai, 50, shot point-blank.

There was no sign of the monks who turned what started as small protests against shock fuel price rises last month into a mass uprising by lending their huge moral weight to demonstrations against the junta.

Troops fired on several crowds on Thursday, and the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission said eight people were shot dead in a single incident in the northeastern Yangon district of South Okkalapa.

Loudspeaker trucks toured South Okkalapa on Friday, announcing a four-hour extension in the area to the overnight curfew that was imposed on Yangon and the second city of Mandalay on Tuesday, witnesses said.

State-run television admitted that nine people had been killed in Yangon, but Australian Ambassador Bob Davis told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio that should be multiplied several times to get the real figure.

At least six Buddhist monks are believed to have been killed. Others have vowed not to give up. They said they had formed a "united front" of clergy, students and activists to continue the struggle.

Myanmar generals have cut telephone and Internet communications. News reports are intermittent. At the Thailand-Myanmar border, a surge of Burmese troops arrived to guard against an incoming flood of people wanting to join the protests. If unrest continues, the troops are staged to close the border. Thai fishing trawlers have been warned not to encroach in Myanmar's waters.

From Bangkok Post:

It seems clear that the entire world, China especially, is standing by, holding the coats of the Burmese dictators while they mop the Burmese floor with the blood of the Burmese clergy and that of the people of Burma.

The bloody crackdown has prompted outrage across Asia and Myanmar's embassies are being thronged with protesters, notably Taiwan, Bangkok, Manila, Jakarta, Phnom Penh and Canberra.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/28/2007 07:40:00 AM

Salmon Produce Trout Offspring

Researchers are injecting embryos from one species with cells from another species to create offspring of a desired species.

Marine biologist Goro Yoshizaki from the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology has used the method to successfully breed trout from salmon.

The embryos they produced developed into adult trout of both sexes, capable of producing either trout sperm or eggs. These were then combined to produce healthy trout offspring.

The scientists say the technique could be used to preserve threatened species if traditional methods such as reducing fishing, breeding in captivity or restoring their habitat fail.

Sounds fishy to me.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/28/2007 06:09:00 AM

Another Radical Imam at Islamic Center of Cleveland

(Cleveland, Ohio) Readers may recall from 2004, the imam of the Islamic Center of Cleveland, Fawaz Damra, was convicted of lying to federal authorities on his citizenship application. Damra failed to disclose his support and fundraising for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a recognized terrorist organization. As a consequence, Damra was deported.

This week, the Islamic Center of Cleveland announced that a permanent replacement for Damra has been hired. According to David Briggs of the Plain Dealer:

Imam Ahmed Alzaree, an Egyptian-born cleric who led a mosque in Omaha, Neb., for the past five years until his contract expired in July, will join the Islamic Center of Cleveland Nov. 1, leaders of the mosque said.

They said Alzaree, 37, is a scholar whose strengths include working with young people.

Dr. Jalal Abu-Shaweesh, mosque president, said Alzaree should bring a "great deal of stability" to the Islamic Center.

Alzaree would not confirm his hiring, at one point saying he would not come to Cleveland because a reporter was inquiring about his background.

Interesting. Alzaree won't go to Cleveland because a reporter is asking questions. Which reporter isn't known. However, a query by Tom Blumer of BizzyBlog found a sermon that Alzaree gave at the Omaha Islamic Center in 2003 which contained the following.

“The hour of judgment shall not happen until the Muslims fight the Jews. The Muslims shall kill the Jews to the point that the Jew shall hide behind a big rock or a tree and the rock or tree shall call on the Muslim saying: hey, O Muslim there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him, except the Gharqad tree which will not say, for it is the tree of Jews."

Although there's no indication that Alzaree directly supports terrorism, it appears that he thinks like them.

Additionally, according to Patrick Poole of Ohioans Against Terror, Alzaree laments that Muslims are not receiving the "jizya" tax from non-Muslims as required by the Quran.

One must question Dr. Abu-Shaweesh's definition of a "great deal of stability." Since Alzaree promotes killing Jews and imposing taxes on non-Muslims, there's a great deal of something but it's not stability.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.


[Update 10/30/07]

Alzaree resigns due to bloggers.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/27/2007 09:43:00 PM

Animal Lover Arrested

The ethical animal advocates are relentless in trying to further their beliefs. Just this week I learned that another ethical Hollywood actress took her clothes off in a gesture of ethical nudity to forward the cause. You never know what will come next in their campaign to shove radical veganism down the throats of everyone in society. Even so, I'm not sure that the following episode is in the ethical playbook.

(Denver, Colorado) A 33-year-old volunteer at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter, Gustavo Castanon, was arrested yesterday for allegedly having a basset hound perform a sex act.

Castanon has been charged with cruelty to animals. Another shelter employee reportedly saw a partially-naked Castanon and the basset being naughty behind the building.

According to Ellen Dumm, a spokesperson for Denver Environmental Health, Castanon was suspended as a volunteer.

Castanon was booked and released on $10,000 bond.

Tip: slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 9/27/2007 08:26:00 PM

Youth Counselor Guilty in Sex Case

(Germantown, Maryland) In February 2007, a 24-year-old counselor at the M.S. Youth Services group home in Germantown, Robin Denise Lawrence, was arrested for engaging in sex with a 16-year-old boy under her care.

Two other workers at M.S. Youth Services, teacher Joy Morrow-Hargrove and counselor Koreen Avery, were also arrested and each was charged with sexual abuse of a minor. Subsequently, charges against Morrow-Hargrove were dropped due to lack of evidence. Meanwhile, 38-year-old Koreen Allen Avery is scheduled to go to trial in February 2008.

Regarding Robin Lawrence, yesterday she pleaded guilty in accordance with a plea agreement. Sentencing is scheduled for November 19th. According to the deal, Lawrence faces a possible 18 months in prison.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/27/2007 06:46:00 PM

Couple Rescue Dogs, Leave Boy to Burn

(Center, Pennsylvania) James Chandler, 33, and his girlfriend, Crystal Adams, 31, escaped a fire in their mobile home while rescuing their dogs and marijuana. Unfortunately, they forgot to rescue Chandler's son, four-year-old Adam Chandler, who firefighters found cowering and crying in the corner of a bedroom.

"It blows my mind. I'm a father of three children. When they brought that boy out, it hits you totally," [Center Fire Chief] Brucker said Tuesday.

"How do you put somebody to bed and not remember that they're inside? I just find it hard to believe."

Both Chandler and Adams were charged with reckless endangerment. Also, Adams was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. An officer saw her try to hide a baggie of dope in her pants.

Adam Chandler was treated for smoke inhalation. Authorities would not comment on who presently has custody of the boy.

This case appears to support the contention that marijuana makes people stupid. Smoke enough dope and you forget you have a child. Frankly, I wouldn't call that NORML.

Tip: slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 9/27/2007 05:55:00 PM

Tennessee Teacher Erin McLean

(Knoxville, Tennessee) Readers likely recall the ongoing story of the high school teacher, Erin McLean, who mixed it up with a student, Sean Powell, who subsequently was allegedly murdered by Erin's husband, Eric McLean. It's a troubling story.

Eric McLean faces murder charges, Sean Powell is dead and it appears that Erin McLean still has an eye for high school boys.

The estranged wife of a North Knoxville man who shot her alleged teen lover has reportedly lost a teaching job in Middle Tennessee after claims of "inappropriate contact" with another teenage boy.

The CBS television affiliates in Nashville and Knoxville are reporting that Erin McLean got a job teaching English at Pioneer Christian Academy.

She used her maiden name, WTVF-TV in Nashville reported this evening. WVLT-TV in Knoxville picked up its sister station's story on its Web site.

The stations reported that McLean started about a month ago but that students went to the headmaster recently, complaining she made several phone calls to a 17-year-old senior.

There appears to be something seriously askew in Erin McLean's thinking. Her alleged promiscuity led to one death and now she has been fired from a job for the same reason. Does anyone else see a trend?

In my opinion, Erin McLean should face charges for taking advantage of students by a person in a position of authority. Let a jury decide.

Tip: WW
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       Following Entry Posted 9/27/2007 04:59:00 PM

Oklahoma Woman Nabbed for Boy Rape

(Bartlesville, Oklahoma) A 27-year-old local woman, Crystal Dawn Outlaw, was arrested this week for allegedly raping a 14-year-old boy. Outlaw has been charged with second-degree rape. The boy's mother alerted authorities that Outlaw had raped her son.

Two sexual episodes allegedly occurred in early and mid-August at a local residence, according to the boy. The teen also said that another incident occurred at a different residence and was witnessed by a 13-year-old girl who walked in on the boy and Outlaw in flagrante delicto. The girl confirmed the teen's story.

Outlaw was booked into custody at the Washington County Jail with bond set at $50,000.


[Update 12/26/07]

Outlaw faces new charges.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/27/2007 07:02:00 AM

Florida Youth Minister Accused of Sex with Boy

(Largo, Florida) A married, 28-year-old youth minister at the Real Life Christian Church, Noel Marie Wood, was arrested Tuesday for engaging in sex with a 16-year-old boy in her youth group. Wood faces two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Wood allegedly performed sex acts on the boy during two occasions in August.

The incidents came to light Tuesday when the teen's mother met with Wood to ask why she was spending so much time with her son.

Wood had been calling and sending text messages to the teen, prompting his mother to arrange the meeting, police said. During that meeting, Wood acknowledged having sexual contact with the boy, they said.

Wood was booked into custody at the Pinellas County Jail with bail set at $20,000.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/27/2007 05:14:00 AM

Texas Teacher Gets 180 Days in Sex Case

(Katy, Texas) In March 2007, a 28-year-old eighth-grade math teacher at McDonald Junior High School, Emily S. Willis, was caught by Harris County Sheriff's deputies engaging in sex with a 14-year-old student in her car. Willis was charged with sexual assault of a child.

Last month, Emily Willis pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a child, an offense which carries a possible 20 years in prison. A pre-sentencing evaluation was ordered by District Judge Caprice Cosper.

Yesterday, Willis was sentenced to deferred adjudication consisting of 180 days in jail and 10 years probation.

It's not known whether Willis will continue teaching or be required to register as a sex offender. It is known, however, that 180 days is considerably less than the possible 20 years she reportedly faced. Six months in jail is nothing to laugh at but I suggest that a male teacher convicted of child sexual abuse of a 14-year-old in the same jurisdiction would probably have been treated more harshly.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/26/2007 08:36:00 PM

Human Leg in a Smoker

(Maiden, North Carolina) Local police were quite curious to learn why a severed human leg was found in a smoker. After a few questions, the mystery was solved.

Some time ago, John Wood was injured in a plane crash and had to have his leg amputated. Reportedly for religious reasons, he kept the leg, wrapped it in paper and stored it in a smoker. Yesterday, a buyer purchased the smoker at an auction of items abandoned at a storage locker and discovered the leg.

According to John Wood's mother, Peg Steele, her son will soon be traveling to Maiden to retrieve his leg. So, case closed.

Well, not exactly. Several salient points have not been disclosed. For example, was the leg actually smoked? If so, is the smoker useable after smoking human flesh? If not, is the smoker usable after housing decomposing human flesh? Also, what religion requires the retention of surgically removed body parts but doesn't necessarily require that a person remembers where a body part was stored?
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       Following Entry Posted 9/26/2007 05:45:00 PM

Rex Farrance Murder

(Pittsburg, California) In January 2007, a senior editor for PC World magazine, Rex Farrance, 59, was murdered in his home by a gunshot wound to the chest during a home invasion. His wife of 21 years, Lenore Vantosh-Farrance, was pistol whipped before three intruders left.

At the time, investigators speculated the crimes were drug-related since the Farrance home housed a marijuana farm ran by the 19-year-old son, who had a valid medical marijuana license.

Yesterday, charges were filed against three suspects, all three of which are in custody on unrelated charges.

Tremaine Cleothius Amos, 25, of Bay Point, and Darryl Westley Hudson, 23, and Montrell Hall, 23, both of Pittsburg, were charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, two counts of robbery and one count of burglary, said Pittsburg police Lt. Brian Addington. The three men are in custody and could face the death penalty if convicted.

During the attack, the intruders stole marijuana and weapons. By tracing the weapons and through ballistics tests, investigators were able to identify the suspects.

Kudos to the law enforcers on this case. However, one question does arise. How can a 19-year-old minor, who is prohibited from imbibing in alcohol, obtain a license to farm, harvest, process, package, distribute and use marijuana? Since a person has to be 21 years old to drink a beer, it would seem prudent to have an age requirement associated with being a big-time medical dope dealer.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/26/2007 03:37:00 PM

NY Teacher Guilty of Rape of Boy

(New Windsor, New York) In June 2007, a 28-year-old teacher, Rebecca L. Becker, and a teacher's aide, Maria E. Zurita, same age, at McQuade Children's Services in New Windsor were charged with sex crimes after an alleged Memorial Day weekend of sexual encounters with two 16-year-old male students. An investigation was launched when the two boys failed to return to the school after the weekend.

Both Becker and Zunita were booked on counts of rape and child endangerment.

Last Friday, Rebecca Becker, now 29, pleaded guilty to third-degree rape in Orange County Court.

Becker's lawyer, John Ingrassia, said Becker was confronted by overwhelming evidence, including her own statement to New Windsor police and grand jury testimony from the boy.

Becker will face a possible six-month jail term and 10 years of probation when sentenced on November 30th.

The same deal was offered by the prosecution to Zunita. So far, she hasn't accepted. Zunita has a court appearance scheduled for November 1st. If she decides to go to trial and is convicted, a much stiffer sentence is possible.


[Update 02/05/08]

Marie Zurita, 29, trial now underway.


[Update 05/10/08]

Zurita convicted and sentenced to jail.


[Update 05/21/08]

Becker sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/26/2007 07:20:00 AM

Florida Teacher Arrested for Sex with Boy

(North Port, Florida) A 21-year-old local woman and caretaker at Palm Christian Academy, Crystal Marie Bashford, was arrested Monday for allegedly engaging in sex with a 14-year-old boy. Bashford has been charged with one count of lewd or lascivious battery.

According to Detective Mary Thoroman, Bashford and the boy were friends who had sex one time.

The boy confided in an employee at the George Mullen Center in North Port, who in turn contacted the Department of Children and Families, which then contacted North Port Police, said Thoroman.

The victim said the sex occurred in November 2006, when he was 14 years old and Bashford was 20, according to records.

Bashford was booked at the Sarasota County Jail and released on $2,500 bail.

Palm Christian Academy provides daycare and pre-kindergarten. North Port is a small town about midway between Sarasota and Fort Myers.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/25/2007 11:59:00 PM

Feds Nab Ohio Woman in Sexual Exploitation Case

(Miamisburg, Ohio) A 30-year-old local woman, Kendra L. Sasser, was arrested today by the FBI for allegedly soliciting a 16-year-old Yuma, Arizona, boy via MySpace.com on the Internet. Kendra's husband, Ron Sasser, alerted the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office after noticing the relationship on his home computer.

The two were chatting online on Aug. 27 when Kendra Sasser sent the boy a picture of her face. The boy asked for more pictures.

"This last pic is 4 ur personal enjoyment *grinzz* you gotta make sure this last pic no one sees okay?" Kendra Sasser wrote. "You might wanna hide this one. You can't let parents see it or ur screwed srsly!"

Sasser then downloaded a picture of her genitals from her cellular phone, then sent it to the boy via email. The two then continued in sexually explicit conversation.

Records of their chats indicate that Sasser knew the boy was only 16.

Sasser faces a federal charge of sexual exploitation of a minor which carries a mandatory minimum of 15 to 30 years in prison upon conviction.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/25/2007 08:56:00 PM

Texas Family Sues Over Girl's Pic in Ad

(Dallas, Texas) A 16-year-old girl, Alison Chang, was photographed by a youth counselor last April during a church fundraiser and the counselor subsequently uploaded Chang's picture to the photo hosting site Flickr.

Advertising executives for Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) saw the picture and decided to use it in their "Are You With Us or What?" campaign.

The ad created consists of Chang's picture superimposed with the wording "Dump Your Pen Friend" and "Free Text Virgin To Virgin."

The Chang family was less than amused and filed suit in Texas state court against Virgin Mobile USA, Virgin Mobile Australia and Creative Commons Corp., a nonprofit organization that licenses the sharing of photographs from Flickr.com.

The complaint asserts that Chang has been humiliated, embarrassed, frustrated, ... yadda-yadda-yadda, and seeks damages for "injury to her reputation and good name in the community, which exposes her to contempt and ridicule among her peers, neighbors, relatives and friends, and impairs, among other things, her ability to gain acceptance to the universities of her choice."

It's unclear how this case will play out. Presumably, the Chang family is looking for a handsome payday when all is said and done. VMA may or may not fight the case, opting to just write a check. Creative Commons involvement doesn't appear to include verifying that the photographer obtained permission to use the picture. And, above all, the ability of a state court to impose a ruling on a company in a foreign country is being tested.

My legal opinion is uneducated but it sure seems that the Chang family should be suing the photographer for using the photo without permission. Of course, I'm not excluding the fact that Virgin Mobile also has responsibility to assure the property they use has been obtained properly.

A more informed discussion regarding the intricacies of the case can be found at the comment thread here.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/25/2007 05:59:00 PM

Prost! It's Oktoberfest!

(Munich, Germany) An estimated one million visitors invaded Munich this past weekend for Oktoberfest.

In brilliant sunshine, the Oompah bands played as buxom waitresses served more than one-half million liters of beer.

Munich Mayor Christian Ude ceremonially tapped the first keg

The Red Cross ambulance service counted only 60 so-called "beer corpses" -- people who had drunk themselves into unconsciousness -- on Saturday, half as many as last year, but a spokeswoman for the Munich police had her doubts about the figure. "I can't imagine it was so few," she told SPIEGEL ONLINE, adding that the police attended to 112 incidents over the weekend and detained 53 people for a variety of offenses.

The incidents reflected Oktoberfest's truly international character. An over-exuberant American man, for example, threw a 15-centimeter carrot through a tent, slightly injuring a 29-year-old woman from Chile just below the eye.

And one drunken 22-year-old Swiss man who visited a ghost train, one of the attractions at the Oktoberfest, got so scared by a mechanical ghost that he literally punched its lights out.

Most of the 14 giant tents, some holding as many as 10,000 people, were closed to newcomers by noon Saturday.

Incidentally, 11 oxen were eaten, two more than last year. The festival continues until October 7th.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/25/2007 04:38:00 PM

Oklahoma Woman Accused of Raping Boy. 13

(Chouteau, Oklahoma) A 23-year-old local woman, Alicia Su-Lyn Groom, was arrested last week for engaging in sex with a 13-year-old boy. Groom has been charged with first-degree rape.

Chouteau Police Sgt. Rod Howell said while investigating an assault and vandalism, the police department was given information that a lot of parties with teenagers were going on at Groom's residence.

Through the investigation, the parent of the 13-year-old boy was contacted and put police in touch with the boy.

The 13-year-old admitted to having consentual sex with Groom.

Groom was booked at the Mayes County Jail and later released on bond of $5,000.

Chouteau is a small community about 25 miles east of Tulsa.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/25/2007 06:11:00 AM

China Revokes Food Licenses

(Beijing) The Chinese government says it has revoked the food production licenses of 564 companies in a crackdown on unsanitary and unsafe food manufacturing practices. Only three companies have been identified.

They were the Shijiazhuang Good Cook Food Factory, a monosodium glutamate factory in northern China's Hebei province, the Hefei Wanmaomao Quick-frozen Food Co in Anhui province in the east, and Kaiping Shagang District Xinfengsheng Rice Factory in the southern Guangdong province.

The other companies had their food production licences revoked because they were found to be manufacturing goods they weren't licensed to make, or because they had moved or were being renovated, it said.

The ChiComs are attempting to win back consumer confidence in Chinese products.

Let's be honest. Anything the ChiComs have done or say they will do is pure horseflop. They're communists! Therefore, the economy at all levels is corrupt. Setting standards and revoking licenses is meaningless.

Caveat emptor -- buyer beware!
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       Following Entry Posted 9/25/2007 06:08:00 AM

Actor Kevin Spacey Meets with Hugo Chavez

(Caracas, Venezuela) How nice! Actor Kevin Spacey had a three-hour dinner meeting yesterday with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The content of their extended discussion wasn't disclosed.

Nonetheless, one could easily speculate that Kevin Spacey is an advocate or, better yet, a useful idiot for police-state socialism. The Oscar-winner joins other leftist cheerleaders such as Sean Penn, Danny Glover and Cindy Sheehan in being privately hosted by Chavez.

Reportedly, Chavez is trying to create a Venezuelan version of Hollywood in Caracas.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/25/2007 12:08:00 AM

Idaho Mom Indicted for Sexual Battery of Boy, 16

(Fruitland, Idaho) A 35-year-old local mom, Sheryl Nawahine, has been indicted by a Payette County grand jury on three counts of sexual battery of a minor between the ages of 16 and 17.

The Payette County Sheriff's Office says Nawahine turned herself in Saturday morning, but bonded out of jail not long after.

The charges include sexually explicit conduct and showing a sexually explicit video and/or photograph to a minor.

The sexually explicit conduct charge stems from a long record of more than 900 text messages between Nawahine and a minor -- many of them explicit in nature.

The relationship was discovered by the 16-year-old boy's football coach who saw a picture of Nawahine exposed from the waist up on the boy's cell phone. The coach alerted the authorities.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 09/26/07]

This is interesting. Check out some of the text messages (among the 900 plus) sent between Nawahine and the boy. Obviously, there was something serious going on.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/24/2007 08:33:00 PM

Various

Hillary Clinton proposes universal health care for the U.S. with an estimated price tag of $110 billion. Calculated cost of universal health care for the state of Ohio alone is $50 billion. Something doesn't jive. Tom Blumer explains. Read & remember.

The gay crowd bemoans the reduction in the number of alternatively oriented characters on scripted broadcast network shows. Last season, there were nine. This season only seven. Well, shucks.

Rosie O'Donnell won't promote her new book, "Celebrity Detox," because she's not ready to discuss or defend what she wrote. That's a shame.

Condolences to Debbie Schlussel and her family. A week ago, cancer took her father, H.L. Schlussel, M.D.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/24/2007 04:48:00 PM

Nebraska Teacher Brandy Reynolds Gets Prison

(Fremont, Nebraska) In May 2007, an arrest warrant was issued for Brandy Reynolds, a 25-year-old former teacher at Omaha Baptist Academy, for engaging in a two-year sexual relationship with a male student starting when the boy was 15.

In June 2007, Reynolds was arrested and released on bond. In August, Reynolds pleaded no contest to reduced charges.

Today, Reynolds was sentenced.

Dodge County District Judge John Samson sentenced Brandy Reynolds to a minimum term of four years and a maximum of eight years in prison.

Judge Samson denied a request for leniency. Reynolds' attorney, Steve Lefler, said there are no plans to appeal.

After sentencing, Reynolds put her head on the wooden defense table and sobbed. More than a dozen friends and relatives, including Reynolds' husband, packed the courtroom to show support.

Abbi Andersen, a friend of Reynolds' who lives in Blair, said she believed that the only reason Reynolds received a prison sentence was because the judge did not know her.

Fortunately, there is no requirement in the law for the judge to "know" the defendant.

Notably, Judge Samson proved my speculation to be in error. Based on many recent cases, I predicted no jail or very little. Thankfully, Judge Samson didn't follow the the general trend in American jurisprudence to consider female sex offenders as not all that criminal. Reynolds' sentence is likely comparable to that which would be imposed on a male sex offender in the same jurisdiction.

Kudos to Judge Samson.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/24/2007 12:30:00 AM

Gay German-Israeli Denies Being Spy

(Beirut, Lebanon) A investigation into the murder of Lebanese citizen Moussa al-Shalaani has prompted police to arrest Daniel Sharon, a dual citizen of Germany and Israel, on espionage charges. Sharon admits to being homosexual but denies being a spy.

According to Lebanese publication Al-Akhbar Wa-Sapir, Sharon was arrested on Thursday during an investigation into the murder of a Lebanese citizen.

During questioning, it emerged that Sharon had visited Lebanon 11 times on his German passport over the last two years. He denied allegations he was on an espionage mission and said he was in Lebanon for leisure purposes, according to the source.

Sharon is linked to, and spent a lot of time with, a Lebanese security agent who was the roommate of the murdered al-Shalaani. Also, the security agent's gun was used in the killing -- he claims he lost his gun.

Nevertheless, Sharon calmly denies everything.

"He is denying charges of espionage and insists that he is gay and he likes to have sexual relations with Lebanese men and that is why his visits to Lebanon were frequent," the source said.

"But further investigations into the case showed that Sharon had a friend in the Lebanese security offices who used to facilitate his entries to Lebanon and with the help of a hotel clerk he managed to hide his real name," the source added.

Based on the reporting, it appears that Sharon frequently travels in and out of Lebanon while trying to maintain a low profile and is remotely connected to a murder. As a result, Lebanese authorities believe he is a spy, although it's not clear who he would be spying for. Sharon explains that he's really just a homosexual who prefers Lebanese men.

It's hard to analyze what's going on in this case so its importance remains unknown. One thing that is known, however, is that it must be a rarity for a German-Israeli to openly claim homosexuality in the Muslim Middle East as his defense against accusations of espionage.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/24/2007 12:22:00 AM

SC Teacher Faces Child Sex Charges

(Laurens County, South Carolina) Karen Robbins, a 49-year-old former special education teacher at the Thornwell School and the Bell Street Middle School, was arrested Saturday by Clinton Police for allegedly engaging in sex with a child under 16.

Robbins has been charged with three counts of a lewd act on a child, and three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a child.

According to arrest warrants, the incidents happened over a three month period back in 2005. Police claim Robbins had sex with a teen victim at her house, and in her car off Mill Pond Road in Clinton.

All of this happened while Robbins was teacher at the Thornwell School in Laurens County. The school's President, Skip Stansell, says he's shocked by the allegations. "I'm dumbfounded. I'm stunned. I'm offended."

Stansell says Robbins taught special education at Thornwell for more than a decade. She left on good terms in 2006, right before the school closed its doors. Robbins then taught at Bell Street Middle School through August of this year.

Robbins was booked at the Laurens County Detention Center and released on bond Saturday night.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/23/2007 11:36:00 PM

Kansas Teacher Guilty in Sex Case

(Wellington, Kansas) In February 2007, a 34-year-old educator at Wellington High School, DeAnna M. Abasolo-Farley, was arrested by Wellington Police for allegedly engaging in sex with a student.

Abasolo-Farley was booked into the Sumner County Jail on charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and unlawful sexual relations between a teacher and student, age 16 or 17. Abasolo-Farley resigned her teaching position in mid-January.

In July, Abasolo-Farley pleaded not guilty to the charges at a preliminary hearing.

On Thursday of this past week, Abasolo-Farley changed her mind and decided to plead guilty to the charges in accordance with a plea deal with the prosecution.

According to the plea agreement, Abasolo-Farley will spend 30 months in jail with 36 months of post-release supervision, and will be required to be on the registered sex offender list for at least 10 years.

Defense attorney Phillip White asked Sumner County District Court Judge Scott McQuin to allow Abasolo-Farley to remain free on bond until her sentencing. Judge McQuin consented. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 4th.

Wellington is a small community about 30 miles south of Wichita.


[Update 10/07/07]

Abasolo-Farley sentenced per schedule in accordance with the plea agreement.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/23/2007 05:48:00 PM

Placebo Tops HIV Vaccine

(Trenton, New Jersey) Merck and Co. officials have halted testing of a new experimental HIV vaccine due to complete failure. The new vaccine infected more people than a placebo.

Officials at the New Jersey-based company told The Associated Press that 3.2 percent, or 24 of 741 of those who got the vaccine got HIV; 2.8 percent, or 21 of 762 of those on a placebo got it.

Heh.

I suppose it would be tacky for the half-empty crowd at Merck to take a lesson from P.T. Barnum and start marketing sugar pills as "more effective than the latest experimental HIV vaccine."

Tip: slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 9/23/2007 08:26:00 AM

Fast-Tracking Canada's Nukes

Critical of the burdensome Canadian environmental reviews required for nuclear plants, Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory vowed to fast track the building of new nukes.

"The people of the province need to know that when they get home at the end of a long day and turn on the lights that those lights will come on," he told reporters in Tiverton, the Bruce Power nuclear generating station on Lake Huron looming large behind him. "I think there's a way we can have absolute and complete consultation and review of these projects and get it done faster if the will is there."

Frankly, this is all just political rhetoric for now. The general Canadian mindset is liberal and won't likely change unless the lights go out.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/23/2007 12:32:00 AM

Illegals Bottlenecked on French Coast

That's right. Illegal immigrants are crowding into makeshift camps on the northern French coast from Calais to Cherbourg waiting for the chance to get into Britain. Elite French anti-riot police, the CRS, have been dispatched to quell the increasing violence from growing numbers of frustrated "asylum seekers."


Cherbourg illegal immigrant camp
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has taken a strict law and order approach to the refugee problem. Last Thursday, the elite police arrived in Normandy and commenced 24-hour patrols to counter the "growing menace caused by illegal immigrants." Ironically, the people causing the problems in France would prefer to leave France but are unable to traverse the natural barrier of the English Channel to get to Britain.

In Cherbourg, up to 160 would-be asylum seekers try to jump on to lorries heading for Britain every night, according to the ferry port's management.

Serge Henry, the port director, said urgent action is needed. "The problems never end and, if anything, are getting worse."

Police guarding the area are stretched to the limit, but almost 300 a week are arrested.

Officers said troublemakers are arrested on a regular basis.

But as immigrants have no fixed abode, or official papers, dealing with them is difficult.

"In many cases, there is absolutely nothing we can do," said a police spokesman.

"They do not want to claim asylum here. All they want to do is get to Britain."

According to authorities, many immigrants come from war-torn places like Iraq and Afghanistan and are seeking to collect on Britain's generous social welfare benefits. Others simply want to participate in Britain's "burgeoning black economy."

Just a thought, the U.S. would benefit by having a natural barrier like the English Channel on the southern border but, since that's not possible, maybe a man-made barrier would work -- like a fence.

Frankly, I would suggest that were the English Channel to silt up, creating a land bridge between the continent and Britain, UK citizens would demand that the government have it dredged. And the British government, like the U.S. government, would probably ignore the citizens' demand for a barrier at the national border.

Tip: slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 9/22/2007 10:04:00 PM

Deputy's Wife and Boy on Video

(Royal Palm Beach, Florida) Twenty-two-year-old Jessica Wink, the newlywed wife of sheriff's deputy John Wink, was arrested Wednesday for engaging in sex with a 16-year-old boy and videotaping the episode.

Jessica Wink's co-worker at the supermarket, German Armentano, 28, was also arrested and accused of actually taping the sex.

According to a police report, Armentano got into an argument with Wink and decided to show her husband the videotape he made of her and the teenage boy on June 18.

Armentano told Wink's husband, "I don't want to ruin your day," before the two met at a Checker's in Wellington where they viewed the tape, according to the report.

Investigators said Armentano told police that he, Wink, and the teen had previously talked about videotaping sexual activity between the three, but, on this occasion, Armentano did not engage in sexual acts while it was being recorded.

Also, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff's spokeswoman Teri Barbera, the 16-year-old was arrested because he knowingly was involved with videotaping of a minor engaged in sex.

John and Jessica Wink became man and wife in November 2006 and, sadly, by the following June Jessica had developed adulterous sexual relationships with two males.

Tipped by Don Morgenstern & Slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 9/22/2007 05:21:00 PM

Woman Gets 20 Years for Kidnapping

(Middlesex County, Massachusetts) Two weeks ago, 39-year-old Cathleen Trotta was convicted by a jury in Middlesex Superior Court of home invasion and kidnapping charges.

The jury returned a verdict after deliberating for about eight hours on convincing evidence that Trotta and boyfriend Denis Piper had plotted to abduct Trotta's two daughters and flee to Florida.

In November 2005, Trotta and Piper invaded the home of Rebecca and Chris Borey, foster parents of Trotta's daughters. They kidnapped one daughter, 5-year-old Grace Trotta, and the Borey's 3-year-old son, Christian Borey, while beating Rebecca Borey with a billy club. The other daughter, Elizabeth Trotta, was in school on the day of the kidnappings.

The kidnappings prompted a statewide Amber Alert and, later the same day, Trotta was found at a hotel near Logan Airport with her daughter Grace packed in a suitcase. Three-year-old Christian Borey was found at the home of one of Piper's co-workers.

Yesterday, Cathleen Trotta was sentenced to 20 years in prison during proceedings which included a dramatic stunt by Trotta.

Trotta, 39, let her body go limp in her chair and then put her hands around her throat in an attempt to choke herself as court officers rushed the table.

Four officers wrestled with Trotta and bent her over the table before handcuffing her and putting her back in her seat.

Piper accepted a plea deal earlier this month and was sentenced to 13 and one-half years in prison.

Trotta told the court that she was sorry for her actions in November 2005 and that she has struggled with drugs throughout her life. Her first arrest on drug charges was at 17.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/22/2007 12:31:00 AM

Nun Faces Molestation Charges

(Milwaukee, Wisconsin) In December 2006, a 78-year-old nun and former principal at St. Patrick's Congregation grade school, Norma Giannini, was charged with two felony counts of indecent behavior with a child. Giannini allegedly engaged in sex with two schoolboys 40 years ago. A warrant was issued for Giannini's arrest.

On Wednesday of this week, Norma Giannini, now 79, turned herself in to face charges.

According to the criminal complaint, Giannini confessed to the Milwaukee Archdiocese 11 years ago that she'd had sex with boys on numerous occasions at St. Patrick's Elementary School in Milwaukee, often in the church's convent and school office.

Those admissions weren't reported to police, however, until the accusers themselves reported it last year, the TV station reported.

Giannini could strike a plea deal, but a trial also is a possibility.

"We're prepared to go to a jury trial if that's what it takes. I know it would be a couple of days really, really rough for us, but just to get some finality to this after all these years," accuser Jim St. Patrick said.

Giannini was released on a $10,000 bond and allowed to return to her nursing home outside Chicago.

Jeez, at 79 years of age and living in a nursing home, it seems that there's not too much they can do to her, if she's found guilty. Of course, the diocese can probably be held somewhat liable and a lawsuit might bring a big payday for the plaintiffs.

Heh.


[Update 11/12/07]

Giannini pleads no contest.


[Update 02/01/08]

Giannini sentenced to one year in jail.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/21/2007 07:51:00 PM

Donna Moonda Gets Life in Prison

(Akron, Ohio) In July 2007, a federal jury of seven women and five men convicted Donna Moonda of all the charges she faced in the death of her husband: murder for hire, interstate stalking and two counts of using a firearm.

Today, a loud Donna Moonda, 48, was sentenced.

A defiant Donna Moonda declared Friday that with her very last breath she would fight her conviction for killing her husband, Dr. Gulam Moonda, a prominent Mercer County urologist.

"I am a victim of May 13, 2005," Donna Moonda said at her sentencing in U.S. District Court. "I am innocent, as God is my witness, and I stand here today to be sentenced for something I have not done."

Judge David Dowd sentenced Moonda to life in prison for the contract killing of her husband along the Ohio turnpike more than two years ago.

Well, that's a shame.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/21/2007 09:22:00 AM

Dracula's Kittens Fed to Pit Bull

(Dracula, Georgia) A 21-year-old Dracula man, Tye Hilmo, was arrested by Gwinnett County Sheriff's deputies for animal cruelty. It was discovered that Hilmo was feeding neighborhood kittens to his pit bull.

Deputies got a tip that some sort of animal cruelty had been going on at the Hilmo's house in Dacula, involving the pit bull there. They found two pounds of marijuana, a sawed-off shotgun and other weapons, and two dead kittens. How those kittens died is what brought the cruelty charges against Hilmo.

"He was getting the kittens and cats from the neighborhood," said Stacey Bourbonnais of the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office. "And he was injuring those kittens and cats before he was giving them to the pit bull to maul and kill."

One more piece of evidence from the case was on Hilmo's cell phone. He had a picture on his phone of his dog, with parts of a kitten in its mouth. The caption on the picture read, "Good Dog."

Regarding this all happening in Dracula, make your own joke.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/21/2007 08:09:00 AM

Ohio Islamic School Vandalized

(Sylvania, Ohio) High school vandalized.

Several swastikas were spray painted on windows and trees outside of an Islamic high school in Sylvania early this morning, the school's principal said.

Two of the building's windows were broken out and two trucks in the parking lot were also vandalized, said Aalaa Eldeib, the principal.

This is news to me. I didn't know there was an Islamic high school in Ohio. Oddly, the article failed to identify the school by name.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/21/2007 07:32:00 AM

Tent Rape Charged in Florida

(Collier County, Florida) Reportedly homeless, 45-year-old Lance Hicks has been charged with sexual battery.

A homeless man was arrested Wednesday night after a woman told authorities he raped her while she was sleeping inside his tent.

This is an outrage. Hicks wasn't homeless. He had a tent and it came with its own Goldilocks. After all, Sheriff Joe Arpaio houses thousands of prisoners in tents and they are not called homeless. Nor are the Bedouins and other nomadic tribes who roam the deserts of the Middle East and Africa while living in tents.

Regarding the alleged rape, Hiicks was arrested and claimed that he and the woman had consensual sex "all the time." This time, however, she was mad because he kicked her out of his tent.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/21/2007 06:33:00 AM

Islamists Targeting Cartoonist, Swedish Firms

(Stockholm, Sweden) No surprise here, again the followers of the religion of peace and tolerance and diversity are furious about a cartoon.

Websites run by militant Islamists have listed the names of over 100 Swedish companies as possible targets in the ongoing row surrounding the publication in Swedish newspapers of a caricature of the Muslim prophet Muhammad.

Detailing the addresses, maps and logos of Swedish businesses, the websites called for their readers to boycott these firms and "take revenge" on Sweden for the publication of a controversial cartoon by artist Las Vilks.

The cartoon apparently is a caricature of Muhammad as a "roundabout dog" and it was drawn to test the limits of art, says cartoonist Vilks.

A few days earlier, a bounty was offered for the death of Vilks.

An al-Qaeda front organization in Iraq, the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq, issued a statement on the Internet on Saturday offering $150,000 to anyone who slit the throat of Lars Vilks, whose sketch depicted Muhammad as a dog.

It also offered $50,000 for the death of the editor-in-chief of the Nerikes Allehanda newspaper, Ulf Johansson, who published the caricature.

Additionally, the Swedish government has received formal complaints from Iran, Egypt and Pakistan. Naturally, the situation is being taken seriously by the government and Vilks is in hiding under police protection.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/21/2007 05:37:00 AM

Iowa Teacher Sentenced Again

(Sioux City, Iowa) In May 2007, 39-year-old married mother of three and former teacher at Boyden-Hull Community School, Kelli Cuperus (aka Kelly DeBoer), received probation for repeatedly engaging in sex with a 15-year-old male student. Most observers would likely say she was treated leniently by the court. I'd say she was given a gift.

Nevertheless, it seems that probation was too hard for Cuperus (DeBoer) and, in June 2007, she was arrested for a probation violation.

Cuperus' probation officer, Kimberly Waagmeester, said in the court documents that it's apparent that Cuperus isn't "taking her probation seriously and feels she can do as she chooses."

Immediately after her her probation was imposed, Cuperus/DeBoer apparently crashed a family camping outing and, without consulting with adults in attendance, she spent an entire day playing with youngsters and imbibing in a reported six-pack of Mike's Hard Lemonade. Both activities were prohibited by the terms of her probation. Additionally, she also wasn't sporting her ankle monitor as required.

As a result, Judge Edward Jacobson found Cuperus/DeBoer guilty of violating her probation and sentenced her to four months at a residential treatment facility in Sioux City. If she keeps a clean record during her stay, the judge said he may overturn her conviction.

So, in a nutshell, a teacher gets essentially no punishment for child sex crimes, violates probation and receives a hand slap. One has to wonder what makes Cuperus/DeBoer so special, other than the fact that she is female. Holy moly, if a male teacher had been convicted of child sex crimes with a female student and then violated probation, I don't believe he would breathe air as a free man for many years.

Hey, it ain't over either. Given her demonstrated disregard for the law, Cuperus/DeBoer will likely be back in the news soon. Stay tuned.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/20/2007 05:29:00 PM

Missing Mom Pleads Not Guilty in Sex Case

(Madison, Nebraska) A 38-year-old woman from the rural town (pop. about 1,000) of Battle Creek, Tammy Walnofer, faces a charge of sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy in a relationship which occurred two years ago.

This case is odd since Walnofer was listed as a missing person from May 2006 to March 2007. She apparently took off to parts unknown, taking her teenage daughter, Kylee Walnofer, without telling anyone. Their car was found abandoned in May 2006 in Logan, Utah.

Interestingly, some insight into the thinking of Walnofer and her daughter is illustrated by the statements of Norfolk, NE, Police Detective Joe O’Brien.

O'Brien said the Walnofer women had an interesting relationship and were more like best friends than mother/daughter. He said Tammy Walnofer mostly spent time with her daughter and her male friends.

After interviewing Kylee Walnofer's school friends, O'Brien said, he discovered that Kylee would often talk about her and her mother running away to Texas.

Authorities and concerned citizens searched for a year before they were found in March 2007 at a motel in Oxnard, California. Arrested on a charge of sexual assault of a minor, Tammy Walnofer was held in a California prison before being extradited back to Madison County, Nebraska.

In July 2007, a preliminary hearing was held in Madison County Court.

A former Norfolk Police Investigator took the stand to answer questions about his investigation involving an "intimate relationship" between Walnofer and a 15-year-old juvenile male who was staying in a group home.

He said the boy filed a complaint with the sheriff's department telling them that he was in an inappropriate sexual relationship.

A judge indicated that there was probable cause to have the case heard in District Court.

Today, it's reported that Tammy Walnofer pleaded not guilty to first-degree sexual assault. Her trial is scheduled for next month. Daughter Kylee Walnofer is in the care of her grandparents.


[Update 8/26/08]

From Norfolk Daily News:

A Norfolk woman accused of first-degree sexual assault of a minor has entered a no contest plea to a lesser charge.

The Madison County Attorney's Office filed an amended charge of child abuse Friday morning against Tammy Walnofer, 38, of Norfolk in Madison County District Court here.

Consequently, the court found Walnofer guilty of felony child abuse. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 20.


[Update 11/12/08]

Walnofer sentenced to prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/20/2007 02:55:00 PM

Student Arrested for Killing Newborn

(Erie, Pennsylvania) An 18-year-old student at Mercyhurst College, Teri Rhodes, was arrested and charged with homicide for allegedly killing her newborn girl.

Erie police said a Mercyhurst College student accused of killing her newborn researched abortion methods on her computer before she gave birth.

Teri Rhodes, 18, hid the pregnancy from friends and teammates, told a doctor two days before the birth that she didn't think she was pregnant and did Internet research on topics including "what can kill a fetus," police said.

After giving birth in her campus apartment Aug. 12, Ms. Rhodes put the newborn in a plastic bag and left it on the floor of a bathtub as she showered, according to the criminal complaint.

She was charged yesterday with homicide, abusing a corpse and concealing the death of a child. Her attorney, Philip Friedman, declined to comment.

The coroner ruled the death a homicide by suffocation. The child was alive for about 10 minutes before being snuffed. Police found the infant's body in a plastic bag on the bathroom floor of Rhodes' apartment.

Since Rhodes researched methods to kill prior to committing the act, any defense citing lapse in judgment or confused ignorance won't play at a jury trial. Expect a plea deal to be accepted.

Rhodes was booked and released on $25,000 bond.

Tip: slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 9/20/2007 08:42:00 AM

Ahmadinejad & Ground Zero

More than once I've heard the suggestion that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should have his own Ground Zero so he can leave ours alone.

Kidding aside, I fear he'll go there and pull a stunt to honor the terrorists who brought the towers down. For sure, it would make the homicidal Islamists more anxious to kill infidels.

Barricades should be placed to keep his evil ass away from Ground Zero.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/20/2007 08:14:00 AM

Alabama Teacher Arrested for Theft

(Dothan, Alabama) A 25-year-old high school math teacher at Northside Methodist Academy, Holly Nicole Faircloth, was arrested this week by Houston County Sheriff's deputies for theft of students' property.

Faircloth faces two counts of third-degree theft of property and one count of third-degree theft of property by deception.

According to Investigator Bill Rafferty, Faircloth stole two Vera Bradley bags from student's lockers at the school. Security cameras caught the act on tape, Rafferty said.

Also, Faircloth had been soliciting students for a supposed mission trip to Jamaica, according to Rafferty. The solicitation had been unknown to school officials, a violation of Northside policy.

Faircloth was booked into the Houston County Jail and released on bond.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/20/2007 07:07:00 AM

Deported Alien Returns, Kills Cop

(Phoenix, Arizona) Throughout his young life in Phoenix, illegal alien Erik Jovani Martinez has been in trouble with the law. He was a documented gang member, spending time in juvenile detention, the Maricopa County Jail and prison. Assaults, theft and drug charges pepper his rap sheet starting with his first arrest in 1999.

In March 2006, Martinez was finally deported.

In May 2006, Martinez returned to the Phoenix-area and was arrested by Scottsdale Police for a domestic dispute. Upon release from custody, a judge ordered Martinez to attend domestic-violence counseling. Martinez didn't attend and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

This week, 22-year-old Erik Jovani Martinez gunned down Phoenix Police Officer Nick Erfle.

My condolences to the family and friends of Officer Nick Erfle.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/20/2007 12:44:00 AM

Stupid Criminal

(Lawrence County, Pennsylvania) Robbing a gun store is high risk when the owner is behind the counter.

A Lawrence County gun store owner confronted by an armed robber yesterday grabbed his own gun and foiled the attempt, sending the suspect running out of the shop.

"I always planned for this," said Donald Pieri, 60, owner of Triangle Gun Shop in Perry Township. "You have to think it out."

State police charged Jeffrey J. Ierino, 32, of Wampum, Lawrence County, with attempted robbery and other offenses after tracking him to his house.

Tip: slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 9/20/2007 12:25:00 AM

Big Idea and Cocaine

Don't you just hate losing something that belongs to someone else?

Leroy Carr, 46, called Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on August 7 to report that two backpacks he had stashed near the border containing 31 kilograms of cocaine were missing.

Department of Justice spokeswoman Emily Langlie said Carr asked the agents to put out a press release saying the drugs had been seized so that the people he worked for would not think he stole the cocaine.

About two weeks after he lost the drugs, a Boy Scout ranger found them and notified authorities. Subsequently, Mr. Carr was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Thirty-one kilos is a large load of cocaine for a mule on foot, almost 70 pounds, which will likely send Mr. Carr to prison for a long time. Of course, there's always the possibility that he will help himself by rolling on the organization.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/19/2007 11:57:00 PM

Pennsylvania Woman Guilty of Raping Boys

Christine Carver-Schlesser sentenced to prison. See updated post here.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/19/2007 06:05:00 PM

NYTimes Bends Over Best for Gays

Rated the most accommodating newspaper company for alternative sexually-oriented people is the New York Times, according to the latest Corporate Equality Index of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation.

The Times Co. scored a "perfect" 100 in the HRC Index. Cox Communications was rated a 95. Gannett Co. was rated 65, and Dow Jones & Co. was scored as 30.

Presumably, with a 95 rating, Cox should soon slip into the elite "perfect" circle. On the other hand, Dow Jones apparently needs a hard push to get off the bottom.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/19/2007 02:19:00 PM

The First Clue of Subservience

This story from Britain cracked me up.

A HIGH school teacher told a student he was allegedly having sex with not to scream "Yes, sir!" during their cocaine-fuelled sessions in bed.

Andrew Riley, a married father-of-two, allegedly gave the A-level student cocaine before they first had sex in June 2005, thesun.co.uk reported.

Prosecutor Dennis Watson said Mr Riley told the student that "sex and coke is mind-blowing" in a chatroom message.

Riley added: "You have to promise, in the heigh of passion you don't scream 'Yes, sir! Yes, sir!' because it will put me right off what I'm doing."

Interestingly, the girl didn't complain until she was in college.

Obviously it's not an absolute truth that every Brit sings "God Save The Queen" during sex.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/19/2007 12:26:00 AM

Teacher Sentenced for Child Abuse of Son

(White County, Arkansas) In April 2007, a 25-year-old teacher at Jacksonville Elementary School, Amy Hilbun, was arrested for alleged child abuse of her six-year-old son. Another teacher, 35-year-old Stephen Rose, was also arrested for the same offense.

A hotline tip of child abuse to the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services prompted the investigation and arrests.

According to Prosecuting Attorney Chris Raff, Hilbun "whipped the child with a belt, hit him with a cat stick, a toy you play with cats with, grabbed him and shook him and caused him some bruising, in excess of a normal grabbing." The child, however, required no medical care.

Last week, a White County Circuit Court jury convicted Hilbun of two counts of second-degree battery and she was sentenced to three years in prison.

Stephen Rose is scheduled for a jury trial on October 9th.

I don't know about this case. Three years seems harsh for Hilbun, especially since Mary Winkler only got five months for fatally shotgunning her husband in the back while he slept.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/18/2007 10:42:00 PM

Georgia Teacher Caught in Pot Bust

(Athens, Georgia) A 56-year-old teacher at Oglethorpe Elementary School, Lora Hubbard, was arrested at the school last week for possession of marijuana.

According to Athens-Clarke Police Lt. Mike Hunsinger, Hubbard's arrest resulted from an Athens Clarke-County Drug Task Force investigation which also netted her husband and son.

Husband Ronnie Jay Hubbard, 54, was arrested for possession of marijuana. Son Jay Warren Hubbard, 22, was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of Xanax and felony intent to distribute marijuana. Both were booked and released on bond.

According to Kevin Kiger, human resources director for Oglethorpe schools, Lora Hubbard resigned her teaching position the day following her arrest.

Lora Hubbard was booked into the Clarke County Jail and released on $1,000 bond.


[Update 7/6/08]

According to a comment by Lora Hubbard, charges were dismissed against her due to lack of evidence.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/18/2007 12:59:00 PM

Doctor: You Want Treatment? Get Out of Canada!

Both BizzyBlog and Porkopolis grabbed this story before me.

From TheStar.com:

OTTAWA–Belinda Stronach, the MP for Newmarket-Aurora and former cabinet minister, travelled outside Canada's health-care system to California for some of her breast cancer treatment earlier this year.

Stronach, diagnosed in the spring with a type of breast cancer that required a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, went to California in June at her Toronto doctor's suggestion, a spokesperson confirmed.

This illustrates a major problem with universal health care. Too many problems chasing too few dollars produces unhealthy waiting times for care. Lack of prompt health care equals reduced levels of health care.

Assuming Bill Clinton back-doors a third term in the Oval Office and he and Hillary take a second, and successful, shot at socialized medicine, what on Earth are the Canadians going to do? Think about it. As a minimum, there should be some rumblings of Canadians protesting universal health care in the United States.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/18/2007 10:48:00 AM

God Sued for Disasters & Terroristic Threats

(Omaha, Nebraska) Democratic State Senator Ernie Chambers has filed a lawsuit in Douglas County Court against God. The suit alleges that God is responsible for worldly disasters and "defendant directly and proximately has caused, inter alia, fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornados, pestilential plagues..."

Chambers seeks a permanent injunction ordering God to stop causing disasters and cease making terroristic threats.

The action by Chambers is a publicity stunt to focus attention on the necessity of keeping the court open to frivolous lawsuits and not pass laws which restrict them.

"The Constitution requires that the courthouse doors be open, so you cannot prohibit the filing of suits," Chambers says. "Anyone can sue anyone they choose, even God."

Frankly, I see this lawsuit going nowhere other than as material for late-night television talk shows. Wouldn't it be interesting, though, if Chambers decided to withdraw his complaint after a couple near-death experiences.

"Yes, your Honor, the plaintiff chose to withdraw his lawsuit after the second lightning strike."

Heh.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/18/2007 12:47:00 AM

Indiana Teacher Arrested for Molesting Three Brothers

(Fort Wayne, Indiana) A 35-year-old former teacher at St. Jude Catholic School, Michelle VanMeter, was arrested last Thursday for engaging in sex with three brothers, one of which is a mentally handicapped and deaf adult and the other two are ages 13 and 15.

Additionally, VanMeter gave birth in June to a child fathered by the 15-year-old, according to DNA testing. VanMeter had access to and sometimes cared for the boys through a close friendship with their mother.

VanMeter sent the mother a letter about the birth of her child, a girl, and said it was the result of a one-night stand with a man she met at a bar. According to court records, the mother said this sounded fishy because VanMeter was not known to go to bars. Her suspicions were further raised when she saw the baby and thought it resembled her 15-year-old son. Days later she went to police.

When the mother questioned her three sons, according to court records, they each told of sexual acts they did with VanMeter while at her home. According to court records, VanMeter met with police July 24 and admitted to the sex acts in an interview with detectives. She said she knew what she did was wrong, the records said.

VanMeter faces charges of three counts of child molesting, three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one count of sexual battery.

Vince LaBarbera, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, confirmed that Vanmeter is a former teacher at St. Jude but delineated nothing further.


[Update 11/30/07]

VanMeter arrested again for molestation of 12-year-old boy.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/18/2007 12:43:00 AM

Lettuce Recall

E. coli found in bagged lettuce. AP report:

The voluntary recall affects all packages of Dole's Hearts Delight salad mix sold in the United States and Canada with a "best if used by" date of September 19, 2007, and a production code of "A24924A" or "A24924B," Dole said.

The product was sold in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces in Canada and in Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,and Tennessee starting around Sept. 8, said Marty Ordman, a Dole spokesman. The product may have been available in other U.S. states wholesalers distributed to, Ordman said.

The romaine, green leaf and butter lettuce hearts that went into the blend were grown in California, Colorado and Ohio, then processed at Dole's plant in Springfield, Ohio on Sept. 6, according to Ordman.

Munch safely.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/17/2007 10:32:00 PM

Florida Woman and Boy, 7

(New Port Richey, Florida) A local woman, Ronda Lynn Lipko, was arrested by Pasco County Sheriff's deputies for allegedly engaging in sex with a 7-year-old autistic boy.

Lipko faces charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and promoting a sexual performance by a child.

According to deputies, Lipko's boyfriend witnessed Lipko engaging in the sex act with the boy. The boy's relationship with Lipko and the boyfriend has not been disclosed.

Lipko was booked into custody with bond set at $170,000.


[Update]

Another source states that 38-year-old Lipco is being held at the Land O'Lakes Jail with bail set at $40,000. Also, the boy has been placed in state care.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/17/2007 04:25:00 PM

Islamic Charity Funding Terror via Palestinian Universities

Patrick Poole of Central Ohioans Against Terrorism has exposed an Ohio-based Islamic group that is funneling money to HAMAS through Palestinian universities with apparent impunity.

Specifically, the not-for-profit group, Arab Student Aid International (ASAI), has pumped millions of dollars to the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) which has been recognized by Congress as a fungible cash resource for HAMAS terror activities. U.S. public funds are barred from distribution to IUG. Nevertheless, private American sources continue to provide money to the IUG and other HAMAS-connected schools.

Now, since the government has shuttered the Holy Land Foundation and other Islamic "charities" for funding terrorist organizations, why has ASAI been allowed to continue to send money and assistance to HAMAS through the Palestinian universities?

In this regard, Congress only stopped public money, via the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), from going to IUG and other terrorist-connected schools, however, nothing specifically prohibits private American dollars from being sent and used to purchase suicide belts, AK-47s or Katyusha rockets..

Frankly, the issue of private funds being slithered through universities to terrorist organizations is news to me and I'm made to wonder how widespread the practice might be. For instance, is the U.S. providing funds for the Taliban through Pakistani and Afghan schools? Or, is Hezbollah getting U.S. dollars through Syrian or Lebanese universities? And what about Jemaah Islamiyah? Is it getting American cash through Indonesian or Malaysian universities?

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/17/2007 05:57:00 AM

Teacher Gets DUI On Way to Class

(Orlando, Florida) A teacher of the emotionally-challenged at West Oaks Elementary School, Vicki Tucker, was arrested for driving under the influence on her way to morning classes.

According to witnesses, she was seen swerving about the road and bouncing off curbs.

Investigators say Tucker had bloodshot eyes and was slurring her speech when she was approached. A search of her vehicle resulted in finding a cold, but empty, beer can and several bottles of medication -- including oxycodone and xanex.

In her defense, Tucker told officers that she had just learned that she had a terminal illness.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/17/2007 05:14:00 AM

Brit Hospital Bans Knitting

(Cheshire, England) From a therapeutic standpoint, knitting is considered to be a beneficial activity for sufferers of arthritis and a relaxing pastime for hospitalized patients. Even so, the politically correct safety police forced officials at Congleton War Memorial Hospital in Cheshire to ban knitting because the needles are too sharp.

The action has created controversy.

Tory MP Philip Davies said: "Whoever made this decision is completely barmy. It is a typical act by a bureaucratic jobsworth with too much time on their hands and nothing to do.

"People young and old have been knitting for centuries at home. When was the last time you heard of a spate of knitting needle accidents?

"If there had been a serious injury, I can understand health and safety stepping in, but if no one has ever been hurt, why ban it now?"

However, the Director of Nursing at East Cheshire NHS Trust, Bernie Salisbury, stated that, "We believe this sensible and proactive measure will avoid preventable accidents." So, it's sensible to take action to prevent something that's never occurred. Sure it is -- if you're an idiot.

Holy moly! The Brits have gone crazy with the nanny state. They have gun control, knife control and now knitting needle control. What's next? Anything with a sharp point? Pens? Toothpicks? Thumbtacks?
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       Following Entry Posted 9/17/2007 12:30:00 AM

Report: Marijuana Prevents Mad Cow Disease

There may be a bit of skepticism about this report.

The National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml) says a French study shows cannabidiol may be effective in preventing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), known as mad cow disease.

Scientists at the National Centre for Scientific Research in France found cannabidiol - a non-psychoactive ingredient - may prevent the development of prion diseases, the most well known of which is BSE.

I guess this means that consumers should imbibe in marijuana before eating beef -- just to be safe.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/16/2007 10:41:00 PM

Counselor Gets No Jail for Sex with Inmate

(Greensburg, Pennsylvania) A 42-year-old drug counselor at the Greensburg State Prison, Tina Martinez, has been convicted of engaging in sex with an inmate. The Westmoreland County jury of six men and six women found Martinez guilty of felony institutional sexual assault.

Martinez claimed she felt compelled to yield to the inmate's sexual advances for fear she would lose her job. Therefore, she performed oral sex on the convicted murderer in the therapy room of the prison.

Judge Debra A. Pezze sentenced Martinez to six months probation.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 12/27/07]

Martinez ordered to register as a sex offender.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/16/2007 05:56:00 AM

Al Qaeda Group Announces Ramadan Offensive

Reported as a new development yesterday from al Qaeda in Iraq:

... an insurgent group linked to Al Qaeda declared an offensive to coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The offensive was named in honor of Abu Musab Zarqawi, an insurgent leader who was killed by U.S. forces last year, according to the announcement that was posted on an Islamist website. It will last until about Oct. 22.

The declaration was made in the name of Abu Omar Baghdadi, who U.S. military officials say is a fictional character invented to give an Iraqi face to the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella organization for a number of like-minded Sunni extremist groups. A man, purportedly Baghdadi, read the announcement in a recording posted on the Internet.

In total, the announcement says a holy month homicidal offensive by radical bombers and killers of the religion of peace has been launched in honor of a dead fanatical leader and named for a fictional person. Got that?

Well, I don't. In fact, it seems that the entire value system of the extremists is based on a stew of irreconcilable polar-opposite beliefs and practices.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/16/2007 12:12:00 AM

HIV in NYC

(New York City) The mainstream media likely won't be prominently reporting this story.

Infection rates for the virus that causes AIDS rose over the past six years among gay men under 30, reported city health officials.

New diagnoses of the human immunodeficiency virus among gay men in that demographic increased by 33 percent during the past six years, from 374 in 2001 to 499 in 2006, said a report released Tuesday by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Gay males aged 13 to 19 also saw an increase in HIV rates: from 41 new cases six years ago to 87 in 2006.

The overwhelming majority of the HIV cases are black and Latino men.

The report from the health department did not offer explanations for why rates among young gay men under 30 or teens between the ages of 13 and 19 have increased.

Jeez, I think it would be nice to have an explanation regarding why the number of 13-year-old males becoming homosexual funboys and acquiring HIV has increased. If the number of 13-year-old girls becoming pregnant had doubled, I guarantee someone would want an explanation.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/16/2007 12:08:00 AM

Researchers Learn How to Kill Malaria Parasite

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute have identified a specific sugar that the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum uses exclusively for food. Without the sugar, found in the midgut of mosquitos, the parasite dies.

"This is the mosquito gut, filled with blood," demonstrates Professor Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, the senior author of the research. He says that by stopping the production of that sugar, the parasite dies.

It's an important discovery but still to be identified is a way to deny the parasite any access to the sugar. One suggestion is to develop a human vaccine with antibodies to block sugar production in the mosquito. The antibody would be ingested by the mosquito when it feeds on human blood.

Jacobs-Lorena says it will take at least a decade to find practical applications of the discovery.

A while back, I recall reading somewhere that 90 percent of all the people who have lived in human history have died of malaria. The contention is arguable and I don't remember the source, but it's not arguable that malaria has been a menace to mankind. Kudos to the scientists at Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute for their efforts.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/15/2007 07:02:00 PM

Canada Attacked on Human Rights

(Geneva, Switzerland) Canada and Iran had heated words yesterday at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council. Iran's envoy, A. Eshragh Jahromi, asserted:

"Human rights violations include social exclusion policies, blatant racism and racial discrimination, police brutality, unlawful detention, torture and deaths in custody, violence against women and children and indigenous people, who are being treated as second class ... by the Canadian government," Jahromi said.

Despite anything the Canadians are doing, I think Iran is the last country that should be complaining.

What can we expect next? Michael Vick complaining that dogs are being eaten in Zimbabwe?
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       Following Entry Posted 9/15/2007 05:16:00 PM

Nebraska Teacher Collects Fourth DWI

(Omaha, Nebraska) A 29-year-old physical education teacher and softball coach at Central High School, Jodi Reeder, was arrested this past Monday for driving the wrong way down a one-way street while under the influence of alcohol. Reeder's blood-alcohol level was 0.189, over twice the legal limit.

Reeder was released from jail on Tuesday after posting bail. On Wednesday, Reeder was charged with felony drunken driving.

Records indicate that Reeder has three previous drunken driving convictions, one in 1998 and two in 2003. All were classified as misdemeanors.

The Omaha Public School District is investigating. Reeder's first court appearance has yet to be scheduled.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/15/2007 02:42:00 PM

Teacher Arielle Beck Molestation Case

This report has been carried forward and updated from a previous post (03/06). Scroll down for today's update.

(Salt Lake City, Utah) Former teacher and girls' athletics coach, Arielle M. Beck, 26, was convicted in 2003 of forcible sexual abuse, supplying alcohol to a minor, and stalking. Judge Lyle Anderson sentenced her to three consecutive one-to-15-year terms in prison. Beck has a parole release date of October 24.

Nonetheless, her conviction at the 2003 jury trial is being appealed. According to Beck's attorney, Edward Brass, a reversal of the conviction is warranted based upon bias by Judge Anderson during the trial. Not everyone agrees.

From AttorneyGeneral.Utah.gov:

The Utah Attorney General's Office will ask the Court of Appeals to uphold the conviction of a Moab volunteer teacher and softball coach who engaged in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student. A jury found Arielle M. Beck guilty of 3 second-degree felony counts of forcible sexual abuse, 1 class-A misdemeanor count of supplying alcohol to a minor and 1 class-A misdemeanor count of stalking.

According to testimony presented at the trial, Beck started "grooming" the student for a sexual relationship in the summer of 2002 shortly after she became the girl's coach in a community softball league. Beck then pursued the relationship while volunteering as a teacher's assistant in the victim's English class. Students and teachers started noticing that the two were having an inappropriate relationship. In addition, the victim's mother discovered love letters and e-mails from Beck to the victim. The victim's mother then secured a restraining order against Beck-an order that was violated by the defendant.

The victim testified at the trial that the relationship was confusing to her and that she had twice attempted to commit suicide. After the trial was over, the victim took her own life.

My take is that Beck probably deserves more, not less, punishment. Also, with parole only months away, it's unclear why the defense would even pursue an appeal. Furthermore, since prima facie evidence indicates that Beck's actions were a contributing factor in the girl's death, it appears that she could be charged with reckless indifference to human life.

Of course, Beck denied the charges against her and claimed the girl made up a story. So, the Court of Appeals will look at it. The victim's mother, Sherilyn Sowell, is obviously not happy. Her daughter is dead and Beck will walk out of prison fairly soon, with or without a reversal.


[Update 05/05/06]

From SLTrib.com:

Citing the trial judge's "obvious error," the Utah Court of Appeals has granted a new trial for Arielle Beck, a volunteer Moab teacher and softball coach who was convicted of sexually abusing a 14-year-old student.

But prosecuting Beck again may be more difficult because the alleged victim has since committed suicide.

In a ruling handed down Thursday, the appeals court said jurors in Beck's trial in September 2003 may have been unduly influenced by the pointed questions put to Beck by 7th District Judge Lyle Anderson.

Anderson engaged in "prolonged and adversarial questioning" of Beck while she was on the witness stand, according to a unanimous decision written by appellate Judge James Davis.

Sad case, eh?


[Update 09/15/07]

Beck is released.

From SLTrib.com:

The convictions were overturned Aug. 12. Defense attorney Edward Brass on Aug. 28 filed motions in 7th District Court requesting Anderson's recusal, citing bias, and asking for Beck's immediate release, citing the Utah Supreme Court decision.

Judge George Harmond on Thursday ordered Beck's immediate release from jail. Beck, who is free on her own recognizance, must appear for all court hearings and have no contact with witnesses in the case or members of the alleged victim's family.

It's not clear whether Beck will be retried. The primary witness and victim committed suicide, along with her brother.

For those who believe that adult females mixing it up sexually with kids is harmless, please remember this case. Two youths are dead due to a series of events that started with a female teacher engaging in sex with a 14-year-old female student.

Thanks to the several tipsters on this story.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/15/2007 01:13:00 PM

Group Home Worker Accused of Sex with Boy

(Phoenix, Arizona) A 28-year-old group home worker, Alejandra Rivas, was arrested this week for allegedly engaging in sex with a 15-year-old boy, a resident at the home.

Rivas faces two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

The director of the group home alerted the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office of the alleged behavior. It's reported that the boy admitted to investigators that he had sex with Rivas on several occasions.

Rivas was booked into jail.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 09/26/07]

Alejandra "Alex" Rivas was indicted by a grand jury on two felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor and two felony counts of forgery. Rivas has also been identified as an illegal alien so she is being held without bond in the Maricopa County Jail because of her immigration status.

Maricopa County sheriff's detective Aaron Douglas said Rivas admitted to having sex with the 15-year-old boy on at least one occasion.

Nine boys stayed at the Youth Enlightenment home at the time of the encounter, and court records show other boys witnessed the sex act and also saw the woman masturbating.

Youth Enlightenment operates one home for boys in the East Valley and another home for girls.

Court records show that Rivas lives in Chandler with her children, and neighbors said she has five children.

Illegal alien with five children and she's in jail, charged with child sex crimes. Freaking wonderful!
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       Following Entry Posted 9/15/2007 06:17:00 AM

Arrested for Drinking Blood

(Hong Kong) Here is a strange story.

A man has been arrested in Hong Kong for stealing and drinking blood samples from a hospital, police said.

The 29-year-old was reportedly caught on surveillance cameras in the early hours of Thursday morning as he stole three test tubes of blood from the Yan Chai Hospital laboratory.

He drank the vials and dumped the empty tubes in a rubbish bin in the hospital lift lobby before fleeing.

He was later arrested at his home after staff at the hospital noticed the theft and reported it to police.

Don't ask me why someone would steal and drink blood. I have no clue.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/15/2007 05:59:00 AM

Man Awakes From Pain During His Autopsy

(Venezuela) A 33-year-old man, Carlos Camejo, was declared dead after a highway accident and taken to the morgue. When the medical examiner started cutting during the autopsy, Camejo woke up and cried out in pain.

"I woke up because the pain was unbearable," Camejo said, according to a report on Friday in leading local newspaper El Universal.

His grieving wife turned up at the morgue to identify her husband's body only to find him moved into a corridor - and alive.

I'd guess that someone waking up during an autopsy would tend to scare the bejeezus out of the medical examiner. It probably occurs infrequently.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/15/2007 05:35:00 AM

Montana Teacher Nabbed on Drug Charge

(Billings, Montana) A 41-year-old special-education teacher at West High School, Koby Gayle Murray, was arrested this week for attempting to fraudulently obtain prescription narcotics.

According to police and court records, Murray is accused of calling a Billings pharmacy Monday to fill a prescription for the pain medication hydrocodone. Pharmacy staff believed the prescription was fake and called police, who arrested Murray when she arrived at the pharmacy.

The school district placed Murray on paid leave. Judge Larry Herman ordered Murray released from the county jail without bond.

If convicted of the felony charge of fraudulently obtaining dangerous drugs, Murray faces a possible five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/15/2007 12:58:00 AM

Mom Accused of Murder Try on Son, 6

(Lincoln, Nebraska) A 46-year-old local woman, Christine Croissant-Smith, was arrested for allegedly trying to kill herself and her 6-year-old son.

According to police, Croissant-Smith drove her car into the garage on September 5th, shut the garage door and kept the car running. Her son was asleep in the car.

Fortunately, the boy awoke and tried to revive his unconscious mother. He then went in the house and called 911. Both the boy and his mother were taken to the hospital and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. A suicide note was found.

Croissant-Smith faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder of her son. The boy has been placed in protective custody while Croissant-Smith has a court appearance scheduled for next month.

Someone please tell me this little boy won't have "mother issues" for the rest of his life. He saved her life while she was trying to snuff his. Sad story.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/14/2007 11:17:00 PM

Washington Woman Nabbed for Kidnapping Boy

(Olympia, Washington) A 26-year-old woman, Lindsay Hardy, was arrested for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a 12-year-old boy. Police say Hardy is being investigated for possible sex crimes.

The boy said he and the woman stayed overnight with a man at a home near Lacey. The boy told police Hardy gave him Vodka, held him down and made sexual advances.

"She said that she wanted to be my sexual friend," said the victim.

Police said the next day Hardy allegedly became abusive and started assaulting the boy.

Authorities said a neighbor called police who arrived and took Hardy into custody.

Hardy is in custody on assault and unlawful imprisonment charges. Police continue to investigate.


[Update 09/19/07]

All right, now I'm really confused. A different source indicates that Lindsay Hardy is actually Lindsay Hall. How the media were able to confuse her last name (?) is unknown.

Nonetheless, Lindsay Hall pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault of a child with sexual motivation, and one count each of kidnapping and furnishing alcohol to a minor. An evaluation determined that Hall was a danger to herself or others so bail was set at $250,000.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/14/2007 08:01:00 PM

Brunei Pursues Alternative Energy

The definition of alternative energy sources doesn't always conform to the Manbearpig Dictionary.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI: Brunei is trying to tap coal resources that have gone neglected for decades to help reduce its dependence on oil and gas, the government said.

Brunei has widespread coal deposits of reasonable quality, but their potential has not been systematically explored using modern technology, said Zolkiflee Abdul Karim, acting director of the government's Petroleum Unit, in a government statement Wednesday (12 Sept).

The Energy Ministry is formally pursuing efforts to map out potential areas for commercial prospecting, the statement added.

Heh.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/14/2007 07:02:00 PM

Most-Wanted Fugitive Caught in Philippines

(Manila, Philippines) A dangerous most-wanted fugitive Asian Boyz gang-member, Marvin "Shy Boy" Mercado, has been captured by Filipino immigration agents along with his brother, Pierre, in Quezon City.

Mercado, 34, has been hiding in the Philippines for 11 years while Pierre, 33, has been on the run since 2000.

From AMW:

Los Angeles Detectives have been tracking Marvin Mercado for more than a decade now. LAPD says Mercado is a feared member of the Asian Boyz, a violent Asian street gang in Los Angeles. Since the early 1990's, police have connected Mercado to multiple gang-related crimes including burglary, robbery, attempted murder, and murder.

According to Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan, deportation proceedings will be conducted immediately to return the two thug-criminals to the U.S.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.


[Update 10/01/07]

From Asian Journal:

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) have confirmed that the two Filipino-American brothers arrested by Philippine Immigration Authorities last September 13 in Quezon City are indeed fugitive FilAms Marvin and Pierre Mercado.

"Fingerprint analysis have verified that the two men apprehended by Manila authorities are the Mercado brothers," said FBI Spokesperson Laura Eimiller. "The information attained by Manila police authorities led to their capture."

The two brothers are being held on immigration charges in the Philippines.

Bully!
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       Following Entry Posted 9/14/2007 01:44:00 PM

Arkansas Nurse Arrested for Naughty with Boy

(Jonesboro, Arkansas) A 32-year-old nurse, Laura Elizabeth Newberry, was arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with a 16-year-old boy in a Consolidated Youth Services (CYS) classroom.

CYS is described as a shelter for boys and girls aged 8 through 17 who are homeless or delinquent due to drugs, alcohol or immaturity. The alleged sex is reported to have occurred in an empty classroom, however, it's not reported how the authorities were alerted.

Newberry faces one count of first-degree sexual assault, a crime which carries a possible 10 to 40 years in prison. Of course, given the general leniency shown towards female sex offenders, a conviction for Newberry will probably result in probation and community service.

Newberry was booked and released Tuesday on $1,500 bond.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/14/2007 12:09:00 AM

Bee Punctures Breast Implant

(Miaoli, Taiwan) It's reported that a 31-year-old woman was stung by a bee and it deflated her breast implant. She was riding a motorcycle around town while wearing a low-cut dress when the bee plunged its stinger into the taut, creamy skin covering her supple right breast implant.

"My right breast disappeared in only two days," said the woman, who received the implant three years ago, according to Southern China City News.

Surgeon Zeng Dingchang says the saline implant is supposed to resist pressure of up to 200 kg, and said it was "very strange" for one to deflate because of a bee sting.

Interesting but I'm a little skeptical. I've seen the implant sacs or bladders or whatever the name and they appear to be quite strong. Puncturing by bee sting seems highly unlikely.

Nevertheless, I'm more than a little curious about this town where women in low-cut dresses cruise around on motorcycles.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/13/2007 11:04:00 PM

'Men Only' Law Overturned

(Riverside, California) Readers may recall the October 2006 case of Alexis Luz Garcia who was prosecuted for indecent exposure. A charge was filed because Garcia allegedly exposed herself to a 14-year-old boy because he was making too much noise playing basketball.

A Riverside County judge dismissed an indecent exposure charge against a woman who allegedly disrobed in front of a 14-year-old boy, saying the law applies only to men.

Superior Court Judge Robert W. Armstrong said this week that the law mentions a person who "exposes his person."

"Usually when a section proscribes conduct, it's 'his or her.' This one is not," Armstrong said. "It's gender specific."

A screwy ruling, for sure, and it didn't stand on appeal. A three-judge appeals panel of the Riverside County Superior Court overturned the decision.

"We can find no logical or reasonable basis for concluding women are incapable of committing the crime of indecent exposure," the judges ruled in overturning the decision by retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert W. Armstrong.

Consequently, 41-year-old Alexis Luz Garcia will go to trial and, if convicted, faces a possible year in jail and lifetime registration as a sex offender.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/13/2007 09:20:00 PM

Hardee's Hot Teacher Ad Angers Educators

A recent commercial advertisement called Hardee's Flat Buns displays a sexy teacher climbing seductively on a desk and dancing provocatively in front of male students.

The commercial is part of the Hardee's summer advertising campaign.

Educators, however, are not amused.

In fact, they're outraged. According to Tennessee Education Association President Dr. Earl Wiman, it's "unbelievably demeaning."

"I am asking that all of our members and the public who care about children and their education to contact their local Hardee's to voice their concerns."

In it's defense, Hardee's says the ad was designed to be funny. Nonetheless, educators believe the commercial disrespects teachers and the teaching profession. As a result of the controversy, the ad was pulled.

Interestingly, while Hardee's was trying to be humorous, a serious subject was addressed. Female teachers are regularly mixing it up with male, and sometimes female, students. Episodes are plentiful with news segments reporting the most sensational teacher-student liaisons. About a week ago, one female teacher in South Carolina was convicted of molesting five boys, ages 14 and 15. And, just today, a female teacher in New York was accused of raping a 15-year-old male student.

Respect for female teachers is waning even while most are treated leniently by the courts. And, despite the fact that Hardee's was trying to be funny in its advertising, it highlighted an embarrassing side of the academic profession.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/13/2007 01:32:00 PM

Sunni Sheik Assassinated

(Baghdad) A prominent Sunni tribal leader and key ally of the U.S. in the Anbar Province of Iraq, Sheik Abdul Sattar Abu Reesha, was killed by a roadside bomb earlier today in Ramadi. Two bodyguards were also killed.

Abu Reesha, 39, was head of the Anbar Salvation Council -- also known as the Anbar Awakening -- a coalition of tribes that has been working with the U.S. military to counter al Qaeda in Sunni-dominated Anbar province.

The council, funded and supported by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, was formed last year.

Police said the attack happened about a mile from Abu Reesha's home, but the deputy head of the Anbar Salvation Council, Sheik Hameed al-Hayyes, said the bomb struck the convoy 50 meters from his home in a heavily secured zone surrounding the house.

Al-Hayyes said Abu Reesha was leaving his home to go to his nearby farm, a daily routine, when he was attacked.

It appears that someone was able to enter the "heavily secured zone surrounding the house" and plant a bomb. Inside job?

Al-Qaeda is suspected. Abu Reesha's high-profile cooperation with the U.S. and coalition forces made him a prime target. Achieving success in Anbar has roiled Abu Reesha's enemies.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/13/2007 12:27:00 PM

Alexander Pichushkin - Russian Serial Killer

(Moscow, Russia) Making news on the other side of the world is Alexander Pichushkin, an admitted serial killer. Pichushkin's trial on 49 counts of murder, versus more than 60 that he claims to have committed, starts today.

"Having caught me, they saved many lives. If they hadn't caught me, I would never have stopped, never," he said.

And, apparently Pichushkin is quite proud of the murders, targeting mostly men with many being homeless.

During a preliminary hearing at Moscow City Court a judge accepted Puchushkin's request that the jury trial should be open to the public - apparently appealing to his desire for notoriety.

The media have speculated that Pichushkin may have been motivated by a macabre competition with Russia's most notorious serial killer, Andrey Chikatilo, who was convicted in 1992 of killing 52 children and young women over the course of 12 years.

Reportedly, he kept track of each murder on a chessboard, aiming to fill all 64 squares with a victim. He confessed at length and his conviction is certain.

The Russian media has dubbed him the "Bitsevsky Maniac" after the park in southern Moscow where most of the murders were carried out.

The killings were committed over a 14-year period. Pichushkin would get his victims drunk and take them to Bitsevsky Park where he would bludgeon their skulls with a hammer.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/13/2007 08:01:00 AM

The Lonely Whale

(Seattle, WA) Everyone has likely heard of the recent incident in the Pacific Northwest where members of the Makah tribe illegally killed a whale. Outrage and disgust have been expressed by the media, conservation groups and politicians.

Most interesting to me is a letter to the editor of the Seattle Times which expresses outrage that the tribe didn't get to keep the whale.

I am most ashamed of our actions on the day the whale was killed. Had the Makah been left alone, they would have taken the whale back to the tribe. They would have said prayers over it, thanking it for its sacrifice so that they may live. Every part of that whale would have been used to sustain the tribe, without relying on outside help. Instead we took the hunters to jail, and the Coast Guard followed the whale until he died a lonely, unproductive death, and slid beneath the waves.

I wonder how the writer knew the whale was lonely.

Nevertheless, I agree. The tribe should have been allowed to keep the lonely whale. Then people could have eaten it instead of the slimy hagfish.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/13/2007 07:12:00 AM

Catfish Bait Heroin

(Lebanon, Ohio) Three people have been convicted on counterfeit drug charges in Warren County Common Pleas Court. William Perry, 22, and Rosanne Wead, 20, pleaded guilty this week to one count of trafficking in counterfeit controlled substances. Last month, 27-year-old Jerry Snowden pleaded guilty to counterfeit substance charges after arranging to sell fake heroin and LSD to an undercover officer.

Reportedly, the trio mixed catfish bait and vinegar to create the fake heroin.

"We have gotten no reports of anyone else getting them, but quite frankly the people who may have gotten them aren't likely to report it," prosecutor Rachel Hutzel said Wednesday.

Snowden was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Wead received six months. Perry has yet to be sentenced.

According to John Burke of the Greater Warren County Drug Task Force, the effects of injecting the catfish bait and vinegar mixture are currently unknown. Note, however, that catfish are attracted to material that's rancid and stinks and full of bacteria. Obviously, anything that is bacteria-laden wouldn't be healthy in the blood system.

On the other hand, I'd speculate that the mixture might work as a poor man's salad dressing. Just pour over lettuce and toss.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/12/2007 09:20:00 PM

Suspect Seeks Leniency Due to Slavery

(Madison County, Mississippi) In March 2007, a 27-year-old former teacher at Chastain Middle School in Jackson, Carla Hughes, was indicted for double murder in the killing of 27-year-old Avis Banks and her unborn child.

The killings took place in the carport of Banks' home on November 29th. Banks had been shot and stabbed in what police believe was a surprise attack. Lt. John Neal of the Ridgeland Police Department indicated the case against Hughes is "extremely solid."

This week, the defense spoke.

The attorney for a suspect accused of killing a pregnant Jackson woman is expected to ask a judge for leniency, because the defendant is a descendant of slaves, according to an area newspaper.

The connection escapes me. Not only that but the victim was probably descended from slaves also.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/12/2007 01:41:00 PM

Intruder Dies Catching Bullets

(Reno, Nevada) A 30-year-old home intruder, Robert Olin Conder III, died from three 9 mm shots to the torso on Monday. Reportedly, an armed Conder entered the home of 43-year-old James Corcoran intent on burglarizing it. After a struggle, Corcoran ended up with the gun and fired, killing Conder.

Corcoran was also wounded and is recovering at the hospital.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/12/2007 06:13:00 AM

Counselor Gets No Jail for Nasty with Boy

(Fargo, North Dakota) In January 2007, 28-year-old teen counselor Kimberly Nack was accused of engaging in sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old boy she met at the Luther Hall Treatment Center in Fargo.

Nack was also employed as a truant officer for the Morehead School District in Minnesota. Nack was charged with felony sexual assault and harboring a runaway minor.

In May, Nack pleaded guilty in accordance with a deal to one misdemeanor charge of corruption or solicitation of a minor. In return, the prosecution dropped the charge of felony sexual assault.

On Monday, Nack was sentenced to two years probation and 240 hours of community service. She also must register as a sex offender.

There's no information on the charge of harboring a runaway. It has yet to be adjudicated or maybe it just disappeared. I wonder.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/12/2007 12:41:00 AM

Women Killed As Children Hid

(Rineyville, Kentucky) Three children, ages 9, 5 and 18 months, heard gunshots in their home on Monday night and hid. Around noon on Tuesday, the children came out of hiding and 911 was called. Police subsequently found two dead women, 31-year-old Tracy Burke and 53-year-old Karen Comer.

State police said they still aren't exactly sure what happened because their only witnesses may be a 9-year-old and his young siblings -- who were hidden until Tuesday afternoon.

"We received a 911 call at the state police post from a child who was upset who had said that last night, he heard some noises in his house -- what he thought was gunshots. He was scared and concerned," said state Trooper Steve Pavey.

Investigators said they spoke with Comer's husband and examined his truck. They said, however, that they had no reason to believe at this time that the slayings were a domestic incident.

The dead women had lived in the home and are presumed to be related to the children. The Lincoln Trail Crisis Intervention Team is helping the children. Police have no suspects and no motive thus far.

Rineyville is a few miles southwest of the Fort Knox U.S. Army base.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/11/2007 11:59:00 PM

In Remembrance of Heartbeats Stopped

The horror of September 11th plagues me -- and will continue to do so for as long as I have a heartbeat. The following entry was posted last year and will remain at the top of the page for today. It's just part of the horror, some of the heartbeats stopped.

Above the 92nd Floor

American Airlines Flight 11, scheduled Boston to Los Angeles, took off from Logan Airport at 7:59am on September 11, 2001. Its flight path was due west.

About the same time, 44-year-old Obdulio Ruiz-Diaz arrived at One World Trade Center along with two coworkers, 43-year-old Manuel Da Mota and 37-year-old Joshua Poptean. The three men then took the minutes-long elevator trip to the Windows of the World restaurant on the 107th floor. Representing Bronx Builders, a woodworking and renovation company, Ruiz-Diaz, Da Mota and Poptean commenced planning and scheduling a remodeling project for one of the bars in the restaurant.

  
Obdulio Ruiz-Diaz, Manuel Da Mota, and Joshua Poptean

At 8:20am, Flight 11's pilots stopped transmitting a transponder signal and turned the plane northward, a dramatic change from the intended heading. Although the pilots had not actuated a distress call, controllers concluded Flight 11 had likely been hijacked.

At 8:28am, the controllers' traffic screens displayed Flight 11 making a 100 degree turn to the south.

Meanwhile, Obdulio, Manuel and Joshua concentrated on their job planning efforts. They discussed the client's desired results, took measurements, and identified necessary materials and equipment for the renovation project.

At 8:46am, traveling at 490 miles per hour, American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 carrying thousands of pounds of jet fuel, crashed into One World Trade Center between the 94th and 98th floors. The resultant fire and collapse of the building killed Obdulio Ruiz-Diaz and his coworkers. Their deaths have been confirmed by the coroner's office.

Obdulio Ruiz-Diaz, Manuel Da Mota and Joshua Poptean were targeted for murder, not by name, but by the fact that they were human beings in America. The Islamofascists didn't care who they murdered just as long as the body count was high. Approximately 3,000 people were murdered on September 11, 2001. Everyone above the 92nd floor of the North Tower, 1360 people, died. Obdulio, Manuel, and Joshua were three of them.

We won't forget you.

Link: 2,996: A Tribute to the Victims of 9/11

And, six years hence, the horror perpetrated on the United States has not been reciprocated. By comparison, in December 1941, the Empire of Japan perpetrated a horrible attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Less than four years hence, America reciprocated with two atomic bombs on Japan.

In my opinion, the enemies of America have not been made to pay for 3,000 murders.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/11/2007 06:37:00 PM

Female Teacher, 35, Boy, 12, No Jail

(Athens, Texas) Last June 20th, a 35-year-old married mother and teacher at R.C. Fisher School, Beverly Renee Conditt, was charged with having an improper relationship between a teacher and a student.

Beverly Conditt's husband discovered her mugging it up with a 12-year-old boy in the Conditt home about 2 AM one morning after a non-school event. The boy ran off and was picked up about 2:30 AM by Athens Police Officer Jason McIntire.

The Athens Independent School District suspended Conditt with pay on June 25th. On July 19th, Conditt submitted her resignation.

Yesterday in the 173rd District Court, Conditt entered a plea of no contest to the one felony charge of improper relationship between a teacher and a student. Judge Dan Moore accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Conditt to five years probation.

At Monday's hearing, Conditt said she wouldn't wait for an indictment by the Grand Jury before accepting the plea agreement. Judge Moore told her that she could still face trial, and the full range of punishment if convicted, if she violated her probation or new evidence against her arose.

"The evidence substantiates your guilt in this case, Miss Conditt," Judge Moore said.

Under the terms of the agreement, Conditt will be required to give up her teaching certificate and register as a sex offender. She will also be required to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs, pay $50 to the county's Child Advocacy Center, perform 300 hours of community service and attend deviant sex counseling, among other requirements.

Okay, let's recap. She's 35, the boy is 12. She gets to go home without spending even an afternoon in jail.

Oh, I don't know. Do you think a 35-year-old man would have been treated so preciously? I don't. After all, the improper relationship charge normally carries a punishment of two to 20 years in prison.

As a last thought, I sense that the powers in residence wanted to quickly make this case go away. Conditt pleaded no contest even before being indicted and before the public had a chance to mull over the circumstances and seriousness of the crime. In my opinion, the Conditt case deserves more exposure. Something is seriously wrong when a 35-year-old plays around with a 12-year-old.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/11/2007 04:30:00 PM

Bin Laden Video & Translation

Always on top of the latest:

The Jawa Report and LauraMansfield.com have obtained an exclusive copy of an unreleased al Qaeda video featuring Osama bin Laden. The video is the last will and testament -- or "martyr" video -- of Waleed al Shehri, one of the 19 hijackers responsible for the 9/11 attrocities.

Go visit this link.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/11/2007 01:11:00 PM

Missouri Caregiver Accused of Theft

(Ray County, Missouri) A contracted caregiver for Ray County Community Services, Rachelle Leslie, has been accused of theft while performing her duties for a mentally-challenged patient.

According to authorities, Leslie allegedly stole a Wal-Mart gift card from the patient during a home visit and subsequently used the card to purchase over $100 worth of merchandise.

Ray County sits about 25 miles northeast of Kansas City.

It just jacks my jaws when supposedly compassionate do-gooders turn out to be nothing more than opportunistic petty criminals.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/10/2007 10:02:00 PM

Kentucky Woman and Two Years of Child Sex

(Winchester, Kentucky) A 31-year-old local woman, Stephanie Burton, was charged last Friday for having a two-year sexual relationship with a boy, starting when he was 13 years old. Burton faces one count of second-degree rape.

According to Winchester Police Detective James Hall, both the boy and Burton admitted to the relationship when interviewed. Hall was unaware of Burton's profession but said she is not a teacher.

Burton was booked into the Clark County Jail with bail set at $15,000 cash.

I recall being 13. I wanted to play baseball.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/10/2007 09:07:00 PM

New York Pair Face Child Rape Charges

(Gates, New York) A 36-year-old local woman, Dena Greene, was arrested last July for allegedly raping two 15-year-old boys in the summer of 2005. Greene faces two counts each of criminal sexual act and rape, all felonies, and misdemeanor charges of unlawfully dealing with a child, endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of sexual abuse.

Today in Monroe County Court, Greene pleaded not guilty to the charges before Judge John R. Schwartz. Greene is free on an appearance ticket with no bail since she's not considered a flight risk. A November 2nd court date has been scheduled.

Meanwhile, Greene's boyfriend, Derrick McFadden, faces charges of rape for allegedly engaging in sex with a girl under the age of 11. The sex allegedly occurred at a home in Gates between 1995 and 2004.

According to Gates Police Chief David DiCaro, "It became a time when the child got old enough and felt safe enough to finally tell a responsible adult who would share the information with us."

McFadden was booked into the Monroe County Jail.

Tip: Anonymous Reader


[Update 09/11/07]

McFadden, 22, was offered a plea deal today. For pleading guilty to first-degree rape of the 10-year-old girl, he would receive five years in prison. The girl, now 16, and her family concurred with the deal. If McFadden elects to go to trial, he could face 25 years in prison.

I recommend that McFadden fight the charges at trial. Go for it.


[Update 12/04/07]

Greene pleads guilty. Sentencing in February.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/10/2007 02:46:00 PM

Brothel in New Rochelle

(New Rochelle, New York) Two mortgage brokers, Richard Werner and Heather Mezzenga, were having difficulty with their business endeavors so they turned their three-bedroom house on North Avenue into a brothel.

Both Werner and Mezzenga, along with four alleged prostitutes ranging in age from 21 to 30, were arrested Friday night and later freed on bail.

One neighbor said the house had heavy shades and looked unoccupied in the day time but at night there would be up to seven cars parked outside.

Tip: slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 9/10/2007 12:00:00 PM

McDonald's Premium Coffee Shops

Just what the world needs, another place to buy a trendy cup of luxury coffee. Enter McCafe.

Although McDonald's has been testing a handful of the gourmet coffee and snack bars in the U.S. since 2001, the real market is overseas, in 33 countries so far. McCafes are all over Australia, ramping up fast in Germany and just starting in Japan, where McDonald's has 3,300 restaurants. McDonald's opened the first 15 McCafes around Tokyo in late August, with menu items including green tea and red-bean shaved ice.

Interestingly, McCafes are beating Starbucks in Germany, however, McCafes are not expected to make a splash in the U.S. since customers associate the McDonald's name with low prices, a characteristic not quite consistent with menu items at fancy-schmancy coffee shoppes.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/10/2007 10:05:00 AM

Intruder Greeted with Shotgun Blast to Chest

(Comer, Georgia) A 41-year-old man, William Keith Parks, allegedly broke into a home near downtown Comer at 12:30 AM Sunday and was greeted by a shotgun blast to the chest.

Madison County Coroner Michelle Cleveland said Parks was shot in the chest with a shotgun at close range as he entered the house through the door of a rear porch.

There was no altercation prior to the shooting, she said, and the homeowner's wife called 911 immediately after the incident.

"It was dark and he just fired," Cleveland said. "We're still investigating, and an autopsy is scheduled (this) morning."

The officers of Madison County Sheriff Clayton Lowe continue to investigate.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/09/2007 07:45:00 PM

Neo-Nazis in Israel

(Jerusalem) As odd as it seems, it's not illegal to hate Jews in Israel. The founding fathers and all subsequent leaders never thought there would be the need for such a law. Unfortunately, times change.

Israeli police announced on Sunday the arrest of a gang of alleged neo-Nazis, all immigrants from the former Soviet Union, accused of waging attacks on foreigners and religious Jews, in a case that has deeply shocked the Jewish state.

The eight men, aged 16 to 21 and including the suspected leader of the group, were arrested after a year-long investigation, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.

One of the members of the group has left the country and remains at large, he said, adding that the first suspect was arrested on July 23 and the last on September 6 when he returned to the country from a trip abroad.

A search of the suspects' home found Nazi uniforms, portraits of Adolf Hitler, weapons and explosives. Meanwhile, community organizations emphasized that the neo-Nazi youths from the former Soviet Union (FSU) were unusual.

"We know from our research that these kids suffer from frustration, a lack of integration into Israeli society ... some of their aggressions come out through these kinds of terrible things. [But] we're talking about a small minority whose families suffered from anti-Semitism in their own original countries," Hermon continued, explaining that there were over 50,000 active neo-Nazis in Russia and the Ukraine.

[ ... ]

The theme of social alienation was heard frequently throughout the day - from the lead suspect's mother, who said that her "son does not understand any language other than Russian," as well as from Immigration and Absorption Minister Ya'acov Edri, who issued a statement stressing that unlike the suspects, "the majority of immigrant youth are normal and are absorbed and integrated into the daily life of Israeli society."

Even so, many voices are calling for a change in Israeli law and the revocation of the youths' citizenship.

Eight of the suspected members of a Petah Tikva-based neo-Nazi group were brought to the Ramle Magistrate's Court for remand extensions Sunday. Knesset members expressed anger and began to discuss ways of closing legislative loopholes that do not prevent the existence of such groups.

The suspects, including alleged ringleader Eli "Eli the Nazi" Boanitov, were brought to court, protesting their innocence. The remands of the suspects were extended until Tuesday.

Boanitov's mother also said her son was a victim of persecution of Russian immigrants. Apparently, the mother believes her son is justified in being a neo-Nazi in Israel because he doesn't speak the language and he's a victim of persecution. Of course, that's a mother's job -- to love her son even when he's a neo-Nazi thug.

One last thought, I believe I've heard the same excuse from Hispanic gangs and criminals about not knowing the language and being persecuted. It must be in the international criminal defense handbook.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/09/2007 02:59:00 PM

Brenda Slaby Killed Her Baby

(Union Township, Ohio) On Thursday, August 23rd, assistant principal at the Glen Este Middle School, 40-year-old Brenda Slaby (aka Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby), arrived at work about 7 AM, anxious to prepare for the opening day of classes the following Monday.

About 3 PM on that day, when the temperature was recorded to have reached 100 degrees, a passer-by noticed a child in the back seat of Slaby's car. The child, 2-year-old Cecilia Slaby, was pronounced dead in her car seat. The Clermont County Coroner's office stated that Cecilia died of hyperthermia. Cecilia had been in the car for more than seven hours.

Subsequently, Clermont County Prosecutor Don White stated that no charges would be filed against Nesselroad-Slaby since Cecilia's death was an accident due to a lack of attentiveness. An accident.

Call me flummoxed.

If a person drives down the highway not paying attention and causes a fatal accident, shouldn't there be some accountability for the death of a human being? I think so. As I understand, reckless disregard for human life resulting in death is a prosecutable offense in all jurisdictions.

Why Don White has decided not to present a case to a grand jury is beyond comprehension. A 2-year-old child is dead due to a combination of recklessness, inattentiveness, irresponsibility and lack of concern by the child's mother. Cecilia's death was not an accident and stupidity is not a defense.

District Attorney Mike Nifong got into trouble for blind, ambition-driven overzealousness. Mike Nifong was recklessly eager to prosecute the innocent Duke lacrosse players. On the other hand, Prosecutor Don White should get into trouble for non-performance of his public service job. Don White is recklessly ignoring a homicide committed in his jurisdiction. Anyone wanting to off a toddler in Clermont County has been shown how to do it with impunity.

Of course, I have to allow that Don White may be pulling a stunt to prompt public outrage and thereby direct more attention to the issue of children in hot cars. Yeah, maybe, but I don't think so. Any way I look at it, Don White should do his job and prosecute or submit his resignation.

Others are following the story also (see here, here, here) and reactions are anger and outrage. I feel the same. Also, Mark and Matt have been following the case closely with several informative posts. They conclude, as I do, that Slaby should face charges, pointing out that a claim of recklessness could easily rely on Slaby's observed history of leaving poor Cecilia strapped in a car seat alone in the car.

I encourage readers to check out the above links for more insight and information. My involvement with the case has been this one post whereas the other bloggers have been busy covering the story for a couple weeks.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/09/2007 09:55:00 AM

Intruder Gets Several to Chest

(Greenville, South Carolina) A 70-year-old man, William Willis, shot dead an intruder in his home on Tuesday night, according to Greenville County Master Deputy Michael Hildebrand.

Willis' wife woke him up when she heard a noise in the home and Willis got a gun before going to investigate. Deputies say Willis found a man in his living room and they began to fight.

Investigators say the intruder was shot several times in the chest, while Willis was cut with a knife several times on the arm.

The man died at the scene, while Willis was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.

The intruder's name wasn't released.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/08/2007 09:46:00 PM

Sanctuary San Francisco

City Supervisor Tom Ammiano is proposing that San Francisco issue ID cards for illegal aliens and homeless people.

The cards would be accepted by all city agencies and organizations that receive city funding. Ammiano plans to introduce the legislation within a couple of weeks. He also is trying to persuade financial institutions to allow residents to use the cards to open accounts.

Since illegal aliens frequently have several aliases, it would seem risky to loan money or offer credit. Of course, the idea may be a non-starter if a few more legislators get fed up with "sanctuary cities" and cut off federal funding.

Interestingly, while most cities try to attract business and stable families, San Francisco focuses on being more appealing to illegal aliens, homeless people and the radical political fringe.

Tip: A Guy in San Francisco
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       Following Entry Posted 9/08/2007 09:08:00 PM

Gay Couple Allowed to Molest Due to Political Correctness

(Wakefield, England) In June 2006, two homosexual men, Ian Wathey and his partner Craig Faunch, were sentenced to prison after being convicted of molesting young boys placed in their foster care. Wathey, 43, received five years and Faunch, 33, received a six-year prison sentence.


Ian Wathey and Craig Faunch
Since last year, an investigation has been conducted to determine how two homosexual foster parents could have sexually abused so many young boys for such a long time without being exposed.

In a scathing report published yesterday, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council was condemned for treating the men as "trophy carers."

The children's charity Kidscape said those in charge of overseeing the safety of children in the care of Faunch and Wathey had allowed political correctness to override common sense.

The report, following an independent review of the case, said: "One manager described the couple as 'trophy carers' which led to 'slack arrangements' over placement.

"Another said that by virtue of their sexuality they had a 'badge' which made things less questionable.

"The sexual orientation of the men was a significant cause of people not 'thinking the unthinkable.'

"It was clear that a number of staff were afraid of being thought homophobic.

"The fear of being discriminatory led them to fail to discriminate between the appropriate and the abusive."

The report also accused the council of failing to carry out proper assessments before and after the children were placed with Faunch and Wathey.

The report specified 41 recommendations for improving the foster care process.

Pretty sick, eh?

Tip: Travis Evans
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       Following Entry Posted 9/08/2007 06:14:00 PM

Duck and Cover Coming?

I can't describe how depressing it is to see the security of the United States being put at risk because of the questionable agenda and incompetence of our current political leadership.

This latest scheme of allowing Mexican trucks to travel the roads of America is an invitation to disaster, especially since Border Patrol agents have been instructed to give the trucks only cursory glances to help reduce "wait times" at the border checkpoints.

In other words, the agents have been told not to look very hard for problems. To illustrate, if wait times are long, Border Patrol agents can only verify the license plate and query the driver, not the passengers. Doing otherwise, agents risk reprimand.

When a captain insists on putting more and more holes in a boat while under attack by an unscrupulous enemy, he shouldn't be surprised when it sinks. Unfortunately, our captain doesn't see things that way. The border is being made more porous before we've patched the existing huge holes.


Fearing reprimand, border agent quickly checks Mexican convoy (typical)
Something catastrophic is coming, I fear.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/08/2007 02:21:00 PM

English Patients Falling Out Windows

Although the impossibly-burdened British National Health Service (NHS) has been criticized for all the inherent problems of socialized medicine, I doubt that that haste in patient discharges is being accomplished through defenestration.

The nettlesome number of incidents are called accidents.

ONE patient has died and a number injured after falling from hospital windows - bringing calls for better safety on the wards.

Mental health trust Pennine Care was prosecuted after a male patient died when he fell from a third-floor window at Birch Hill Hospital.

The Health and Safety Executive is working with the NHS to improve window safety. The windows caused seven fatal falls and 30 major injuries between 2002 and 2005. That's right -- the windows are blamed for the accidental deaths and injuries. As a result, about $1.6 million has been allocated to window improvement and surveillance.

Offhand, I'd say that the finger-pointers are trending toward blaming gravity.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/07/2007 02:10:00 PM

Naughty Vanessa Hudgens

The star cutie of the popular Disney-produced "High School Musical" is embarrassed. Vanessa Anne Hudgens, 18, apparently took a nude picture (NSFW) of herself for her boyfriend and it showed up on the Internet. Imagine that.

"It is unfortunate that this has become public," an unnamed rep for the 18-year-old singer/actress said in a statement released to Us Weekly.

The picture appears to have been taken in a bedroom or on-set production trailer. Standing and pulling her hair back with one hand, a smiling Hudgens shares the frame with a bed, a wooden dresser -- and nothing else.

"This was a photo which was taken privately," Hudgens' representative said in the statement, confirming the authenticity of the first leaked picture.

Although there is confirmation of the authenticity of the picture from publicist Jill Fritzo, a large number of people believe it is a fake. Check out the comment thread at perezhilton.com for examples. The picture (NSFW) is posted there also.

Disney hasn't commented yet. Presumably, there is some consternation regarding the impact of the picture on Disney's historic squeaky-clean reputation. It would be logical to assume that Vanessa Hudgens' future opportunities with Disney are in doubt. Even if she stays with Disney, the bosses will view her differently. Heh.

That said, Hudgens' picture may have advanced her entertainment career via other avenues. The instant boost in celebrity doesn't hurt. After all, how many more people know her name today versus yesterday. And there will always be promoters in the entertainment industry to advance the ambitions of young, provocative women.

Lastly, let's not forget that Vanessa Williams was stripped of her beauty pageant crown for appearing nude in a men's magazine and, guess what? She's an international star these days.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/07/2007 12:09:00 AM

16 Gitmo Detainees Sent to Saudi Arabia

(Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) According to Middle East sources, 16 detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were sent home to Saudi Arabia yesterday. Per agreement between the U.S. and Saudi governments, the detainees would be tried under Saudi law.

So far, a total of 93 Saudi Gitmo prisoners have been released while 37 remain. The numbers don't include three Saudis that allegedly committed suicide, one hunger-striker and two hangings, which are being investigated.

Interestingly, Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki of the Interior Ministry, stated that 54 of the released detainees "have been tried and have undergone a rehabilitation program before rejoining their families."

Isn't that nice? The detainees have been rehabilitated and are back with their families.

Pardon me for being skeptical about the radical Islamist rehabilitation program.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/07/2007 12:04:00 AM

Female Rapist Rapes Again

(Binghamton, New York) A 25-year-old local woman, Morgan R. Crawson, was convicted this week by a Broome County jury of two counts of second-degree rape involving a 14-year-old boy.

The jury deliberated for a mere 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to the guilty verdict for rapes that occurred during June and July 2006 in Crawson's Binghamton apartment.

Interestingly, Crawson has a prior conviction of second-degree rape so she is a repeat child sex offender and faces a possible 30 years in prison when sentenced.

Since Crawson is only 25, she must not have been treated very harshly during her first rape conviction or she would likely still be in jail. Imagine that. A female rapist is treated with leniency.

Crawson is scheduled to be sentenced on November 1st.

Okay, readers, explain this case. It's beyond me what Crawson could have been thinking. Meanwhile, if anyone finds a pic of her, let me know.


[Update 09/08/07]

Added pic from MySpace page where Crawson identifies herself as a proud parent, smoker, drinker, Wiccan anime artist in a straight relationship. Tip from commenter DB.

Interestingly, another commenter, DJBidwell, claims to be the father of Crawson's two children and writes that he set Crawson up to be indicted in the first place because she brought some guy home.

Additionally, from a 2004 cable news report of Crawson's previous offenses, 21-year-old Morgan Crawson faced rape charges for engaging in sex with a 13-year-old boy during a 4-day period in a motel room that she had broken into. The episode apparently led to Crawson's first rape conviction. Tipped by Don Morgenstern via email, no link available.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/06/2007 05:19:00 PM

No Links at the LATimes

This is somewhat comical.

A couple of months ago, the Los Angeles Times decision-makers updated the newspaper's web publishing software to, presumably, the latest in 21st Century technology. Unfortunately, due to oversight or mistake or incompetence, the new-fangled software cannot perform the simple task of inserting a hyperlink. Therefore, the LAT has stories without links.

Many folks are scratching their heads.

Via Amy Alkon
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       Following Entry Posted 9/06/2007 01:59:00 PM

NY Teacher Sentenced in Boy-Straddling Case

(Elmsford, New York) In May 2007, a 24-year-old social studies teacher at Lakeland High School, Stephanie A. Gross, was arrested and charged after she was caught having sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy in her parked car behind an Elmsford restaurant. While on routine patrol, an Elmsford police officer saw Gross "straddling the victim" in the car's passenger seat.

Gross was charged with third-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Oddly, Gross' behavior runs counter to her previous statements that she wants to become the first female President of the U.S. and that she strongly believes in doing the right thing.

Nevertheless, Gross, now 25, pleaded guilty yesterday in Elmsford Village Court to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct in accordance with a plea deal. In exchange, Gross agreed to pay a $300 fine and be on probation for one year during which she won't be allowed to teach. She also will not be required to register as a sex offender.

I suggest that this incident may affect Gross' future political plans to become President of the United States.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/06/2007 10:21:00 AM

Gay Pedophile Babysitters Convicted

(Northern Ireland) Two homosexual men have been convicted in Reading Crown Court of molesting a young boy, starting when he was an infant and lasting until he was four and one-half years old.

A mannequin-dresser, 34-year-old James Rae (pictured) and 39-year-old Alan Howitt, a former soldier, persuaded a female friend to allow them to babysit her son. The men were found guilty of repeated sex crimes against the boy.

Judge Christopher Critchlow heard last week that Howitt and Rae, lovers for more than 10 years, repeatedly sexually abused the tot over a four-year period - simulating sex acts with him and forcing him to have oral sex while he slept.

They photographed some of the assaults and one act filmed on video was described by the judge as "about as bad an example as there could be" of an indecent attack on a child.

The pair, who have since ended their relationship, stood side-by-side in the dock to be sentenced for offences against the boy, now aged seven.

In June last year Howitt admitted possessing and making indecent images of children, and four counts of indecent assault.

Rae was convicted of the same four sexual assault charges on the boy between the age of six months and when he was four-and-a-half.

This week, Rae was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Howitt is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2nd.

Contrary to frequent pronouncements that male homosexuality and pedophilia are not related, James Rae and Alan Howitt are examples that they sometimes are.


[Update]

Added picture of James Rae attempting to hide his face.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.


[Update 12/28/07]

Howitt sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/05/2007 11:57:00 PM

Kissing-Licking Teacher Reinstated

(Camden County, New Jersey) Last spring, a 42-year-old Spanish teacher at Haddon Township High School, Pamela Maier, was suspended for kissing a female student and licking her face. Although the incident was reviewed, no criminal charges were filed.

Yesterday, having completed the conditions of her suspension, Maier returned to the school to teach.

Needless to say, the buzz of controversy surrounding her return dominated the hallways. A number of people believe Maier shouldn't be allowed back into the school. Parents, in particular, expressed concern that Maier would be back in the same classrooms.

However, a restraining order against Maier was obtained by the parents of the girl who was kissed and licked. As a consequence, Maier will be confined to two classrooms at the back of the school. I suggest that she will be watched closely.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/05/2007 10:41:00 PM

Goats Sacrificed for Problem Airplane

(Kathmandu, Nepal) I don't have an airplane so the benefits of sacrificial goat maintenance is beyond me.

Officials at Nepal's state-run airline have sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god, following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft, the carrier said Tuesday.

Nepal Airlines, which has two Boeing aircraft, has had to suspend some services in recent weeks due the problem.

The goats were sacrificed in front of the troublesome aircraft Sunday at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu in accordance with Hindu traditions, an official said.

Apparently, it worked. The plane resumed flying. Nonetheless, if one is flying Nepal Airlines and an animal is sacrificed in front of your plane, you might want to think about taking a later flight.

Tip: Bubba Burton
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       Following Entry Posted 9/05/2007 02:26:00 PM

Blogger Hit by Storm Trojan

Listen up, folks.

Google's Blogger site is being used by malicious hackers who are posting fake entries to some blogs.

The fake entries contain weblinks that lead to booby-trapped downloads that could infect a Windows PC.

Infected computers are being hijacked by the gang behind the attacks and either mined for saleable data or used for other attacks.

The Blogger attack is the latest in a series by a gang that has managed to hijack hundreds of thousands of PCs.

Security researcher Alex Eckelberry from Sunbelt Software first noticed the booby-trapped links turning up on Blogger on 27 August.

Now many hundreds of blogs on the site have been updated with a short entry containing the link.

Mr Eckelberry said it was not yet clear how the links were posted to blogs. The bogus entries could have exploited a Blogger feature that lets users e-mail entries to their journal.

The blogs themselves could also be fake and set up solely to act as hosts for spam.

The virus has been dubbed "Storm Trojan." More at the link.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/05/2007 02:09:00 PM

Tennessee Woman and Neighbor Boy

(Chattanooga, Tennessee) A 25-year-old married woman, Dana Faye Queen, has been charged with engaging in sex with a 15-year-old boy who lived across the street. Queen faces one count of aggravated statutory rape and one count of theft.

The boy said he would go to the woman's house around 7:30 a.m. after her husband would go to work.

He said they started out kissing and it later led to sex in her bedroom on her waterbed, in the bathroom on the sink, and on the couch in the living room.

The boy said he told his mother about the alleged incidents after Ms. Queen told him she was pregnant. He said she always provided him with condoms during the sex.

Queen has a court appearance scheduled for next Tuesday.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/05/2007 12:28:00 PM

Homeless Parking Meters and Food Banks

(Denver, Colorado) Here's an idea. Take old parking meters and reuse them to fleece the public for homeless programs.

The idea is to encourage people to put the money into the parking meters instead of giving to panhandlers. Money raised from the meters will go to organizations fighting homelessness.

Just guessing, but the operability of the parking meters may be impacted if panhandlers are in the vicinity. I understand that chewing gum works. Great idea, eh?

But let's not forget that the purpose is to end homelessness. Unfortunately, it's DOA. Ending homelessness is an unachievable goal simply because a large number of people happen to prefer the lifestyle. Throwing money at programs to end homelessness is not much different from throwing bundles of cash into the ocean to stop driftwood.

What's really needed is a plan to end Help-the-Homeless programs because all they do is make the homeless lifestyle more appealing. For example, in Seattle some people with homes and a modicum of property actually pretend to be vagrants to take advantage of the public and private outpouring of compassion.

Ending homelessness is a pipe dream. There will always be people who are malingerers or unrecoverable addicts or wanting to simply disappear from society. In fact, the American abyss of homeless has a relatively new demographic comprised of convicted sex offenders and convicted illegal aliens. Homeless programs are a godsend for those who want anonymity and complete freedom as they travel from one do-gooder vortex to another throughout the country.

And, don't get me started on "estimates" of homeless populations which, by the way, provide the bases for the amount of money pumped into homeless programs. I will remind the readers that there were 80,000 homeless estimated to live in Chicago in 2004. When an actual census was performed, only 958 vagrants could be found. The lesson here is to never believe that homeless estimates are even in the same ballpark with reality. That's because the people providing the estimates get paid more when the estimate is higher. Virtually anyone under the same circumstances would be tempted to fudge the numbers.

As for another arena, food banks, I have strong suspicions that estimates of need are massively exaggerated. Why? Well, nothing factual, although I recall driving past a food bank several years ago and everyone in line out front was overweight, and not by a little. Nonetheless, food bank operators provide estimates of need whenever they plead to the government or the public for funds. The higher the estimate, the more moolah. Helluva deal! I'd like to be paid what I estimate my needs are.

All the while, these needy, hungry people are walking around in a society with a purported "obesity crisis." What is it? Is America too fat or without food? Forget estimates, implement accounting. Otherwise it's a black hole where compassion-driven dollars disappear.

Two things to remember are 1) help-the-homeless programs encourage homelessness and 2) estimates of homeless populations, or any estimate linked to a paycheck, are wildly exaggerated to benefit the estimator.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/05/2007 10:11:00 AM

Germans Foil Terror Plot

(Frankfurt, Germany) Three radical Islamists were arrested under suspicion of plotting bomb attacks at Frankfurt Airport and the U.S. airbase at Ramstein. About 20 policemen were involved in the arrests and, reportedly, shots were fired. Over 300 police officers were involved in the six-month surveillance of the group.

Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung called the terror suspects "an immediate threat."

According to information obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE, the three men were Daniel S. from the state of Saarland and Fritz G. from Neu-Ulm in Bavaria, both of whom are German converts to Islam, as well as Adem Y., who is believed to be from Turkey.

The three, who had apparently founded a terrorist cell, have been under intensive investigation for several months. All three men were considered radical Islamists and had contact with Islamist groups in Germany and Pakistan.

The investigators spontaneously made the arrests on Tuesday afternoon after the men were observed moving chemicals that could be used to make bombs from one storage location to another. Police believe that the men wanted to experiment in the coming days and weeks with the chemicals and possibly start building a bomb. They were, however, far away from making a bomb that could be detonated.

Federal Prosecutor Monika Harms said the terror suspects are members of the Islamic Jihad Union who attended a militant training camp in Pakistan last year. She also said that the men were able to collect massive quantities of hydrogen peroxide, the same material used in the London transport attacks. If turned into bombs, the material could have been used to produce an explosion equal to more than 1,200 pounds of dynamite.

According to Jorg Ziercke, head of Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the Islamic Jihad Union has ties to al-Qaeda. That's not surprising since they went to a training camp in Pakistan. Note, though, that the cell itself appears to be entirely home-grown on German soil. These guys were radicalized likely through a mosque or school smack dab in the middle of Germany.


[Update]

Rusty connects the dots on the Islamic Jihad Union at The Jawa Report. The group is linked to jihadists in Uzbekistan.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/04/2007 11:57:00 PM

Woman Charged in Relationship with Teen

(York, Pennsylvania) Here's an odd case. A 23-year-old woman, Heather D. Sites, has sex with a 17-year-old boy on 10 to 12 occasions and then goes to the police with allegations that the boy was forcing her to have sex.

Later, she admits that the sex was consensual. Then the boy tells investigators that Sites was stalking him and provided him and his buddy with alcohol and drugs.

Consequently, Sites is charged with corruption of minors and harassment.

I personally don't know what Heather Sites was thinking but relationships are seldom enhanced when the police get involved. She should have let things be.

Tip: Don Morgenstern
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       Following Entry Posted 9/04/2007 12:39:00 PM

Robbers Shot, One Killed

(Brunswick, Georgia) Two armed robbers high on crack cocaine intruded on a late-night party of young adults as partygoers kept arriving. The house, occupied by Josh Stout, Robert Herd and Leah Whitman, had one visitor who was carrying a .45-caliber pistol in his waistband. Hector, the visitor, interrupted the robbery.

"He took both of them out before either had a chance to shoot back," Herd said. "It all happened so fast ... It's a blur."

The suspect in the kitchen was shot in the abdomen; the one in the hallway was fatally shot in the right side.

"After Hector shot (the robbers), we all crawled out the windows of the house, and (Hector) stayed inside to make sure we got out safe," Whitman said.

The suspect who was fatally shot tried to run up the stairs after he was wounded and died at the top of the staircase, said witnesses at the home on Monday.The other suspect managed to walk out to the front porch, where he was found by city police and rushed to the emergency room of the Brunswick hospital of Southeast Georgia Health System.

Cheers for Hector!
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       Following Entry Posted 9/04/2007 08:31:00 AM

China Hacks Pentagon Computers

Last week it was espionage involving German computers and now it's being reported that China has hacked into the Pentagon's computers.

The Financial Times quoted US officials as saying the Chinese army made the attack, which crashed part of a system for the defence secretary's office.

[ ... ]

Chinese Foreign Ministry official Jiang Yu said Beijing "opposed and vigorously attacked" all attacks on the internet including hacking.

"Some people are making wild accusations against China ... These are totally groundless and also reflect a Cold War mentality," she said.

The Financial Times earlier quoted a senior official as saying the Pentagon had pinpointed the origins of the attack and another as saying there was a "high level of confidence" that the People's Liberation Army was responsible.

Naturally, China will assert that the People's Liberation Army wouldn't do anything sneaky. I'll assert they're fibbing.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/04/2007 07:39:00 AM

Danes Thwart Bomb Plot in Copenhagen

(Copenhagen, Denmark) With sketchy details, it's reported that Danish Police intelligence service (PET) arrested several people early today for planning a bomb attack somewhere in Copenhagen.

"The arrests are the result of prolonged surveillance of the persons concerned who are suspected of preparing a terrorist act with the use of explosives," PET said in a statement received by AFP.

The arrests were carried out around the Danish capital.

PET did not say how many people were under arrest or give their nationalities.

I'll make a wild stab and guess that those arrested were Muslim.


[Update]

From BBC:

The eight suspects arrested late on Monday in Copenhagen form part of a terror cell with links to a senior al-Qaeda figure, police said.

The suspects, aged between 19 and 29, were of Afghan, Pakistani, Somali and Turkish origin, police said.

Apparently, my stab wasn't so wild.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/03/2007 07:50:00 PM

Teacher Kills Student Lover, 16

(Yukon, Oklahoma) A 32-year-old former teacher at a Yukon alternative school, Robert Paul Roberson, was shot and killed by police Saturday morning while he was stabbing a 16-year-old former student to death. The female student, Bailey Rian Thrasher, became Roberson's lover at 13 and recently left him.

Roberson, wearing a wig, kicked in the door of the teen's apartment and made everyone inside line up against the wall, said Melissa Stringer, Thrasher's aunt.

"If Bailey doesn't come with me, I'm killing her first, then I'll kill all of you," Stringer said she was told the gunman demanded. "If anyone calls 911, I'll kill you all."

Meanwhile, Thrasher was able to call 911 with a cell phone without the gunman knowing, Stringer said. She decided to leave her apartment with her ex-boyfriend, stating as she left "He won't hurt me."

They got into a car, which was not his, Stringer said. As they left the apartment, an officer spotted the car and followed. A chase ensued. It ended on State Highway 152 in Mustang when an officer pushed the car off the road.

As officers approached the car, Roberson was stabbing Thrasher repeatedly, police said. He wouldn't stop, so officers fired several shots at him, killing him.

Bailey Thrasher died before help arrived.

Interestingly, the girl's father, Darin Thrasher, allowed his daughter to shack up with Roberson because he thought it would be a positive influence. Obviously, it didn't work out. Meanwhile, I wonder if the father is culpable in a crime for aiding child molestation.

Sad story.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/03/2007 02:42:00 PM

Texas Woman Guilty of Dismembering Evidence

(Austin, Texas) A 24-year-old local woman, Laura Hall, was convicted by a jury Friday for her part in dismembering the body of a woman, Jennifer Cave, killed in 2005. The jury reconvenes this week to determine punishment for felony tampering with physical evidence and misdemeanor hindering apprehension.

Hall was accused of helping dismember Cave's body after Colton Pitonyak shot and killed Cave on Aug. 17, 2005. Cave, a legal assistant, was a friend of Pitonyak's. Hall and Pitonyak, 24, fled to Mexico, leaving Cave's body behind in the bathtub of Pitonyak's West Campus condominium. Police expelled them from Mexico on Aug. 23, 2005.

Pitonyak, whose trial was in January, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Hall likely sealed her convictions when she bragged about dismembering Cave's body while in jail.

When sentenced, Hall faces a possible 10 years for the tampering conviction and one year for the hindering conviction.

As a first impression, Hall doesn't seem like a very nice or smart person. She hangs around with people who commit murder and helps dismember bodies and, astonishingly, brags about it. When she completes her stint in prison, hopefully she doesn't show up as my neighbor.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/03/2007 09:19:00 AM

Nebraska Teacher Faces Heroin Charges

(Omaha, Nebraska) A 34-year-old third-grade teacher at Florence Elementary School, Krista Crosby, was arrested last Thursday after a co-worker found drug paraphernalia in a locker accessible only to Crosby and the teacher's aide. A straw, a green baggie with rocks of heroin, and a dirty spoon were discovered.

Crosby's friends and acquaintances expressed shock and said they never knew.

Omaha Public Schools spokesperson Luanne Nelson said, "We have begun our human resources process in terms of her termination with the district pending the police investigation." Crosby had worked for the district school system for almost a decade.

Crosby was booked at the Douglas County Jail and later released on $25,000 bond.


[Update 10/28/07]

Crosby pleads guilty and is sentenced to a drug treatment program. If she successfully completes the program, her record will be cleared.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/03/2007 08:05:00 AM

Bush Surprise Visit to Iraq

(Al-Asad Air Base, Anbar Province, Iraq) President Bush secretly flew 11 hours from Washington to make a surprise visit to Iraq, presumably landing only a short while ago. Defense Secretary Gates also arrived for a visit by a separate airplane.

Apparently, nobody in the media was tipped off to the trip. Pundits peg the trip as a show of support for the Iraqi government and a morale booster for the troops.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/03/2007 07:47:00 AM

Intruder Shot and Killed

(Dudley, North Carolina) A 19-year-old home invader, Antione Logan Chestnut, was shot and killed by a homeowner after breaking into a house early Friday.

Three armed men broke into the home at 2546 Old Mount Olive Highway at about 12:30 a.m. while the family slept inside. The intruders held two adults and four children, ages 4, 5 and 8, at gunpoint and ransacked the house, authorities said.

During the robbery, one of the suspects fired a shot, prompting the man who lives in the house to grab a gun and shoot back, authorities said.

Chestnut was pronounced dead at the scene. The other two intruders escaped in a dark-colored vehicle.

Later Friday, 25-year-old Kayloe Lemont Middleton was arrested for the home invasion and charged with burglary and kidnapping. The Wayne County Sheriff is searching for the third intruder.

Note: Because the four children were reported to have three ages, it's assumed that two of the children are twins.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/03/2007 07:01:00 AM

Illegal Caught Fondling Girls

(Forest, Virginia) An El Salvadoran national, Santos Guzman, was arrested Saturday by Bedford County Sheriff's deputies at a Goodwill Store in Forest for allegedly fondling two 8-year-old girls and committing other undisclosed offenses.

Forest is a small community between Bedford and Lynchburg.

Store employees became suspicious of Guzman's behavior and notified the authorities, resulting in the arrest. No description was provided but, by his picture, he's Caucasian and appears to be around 30 years of age.

Reportedly, Guzman is an illegal alien from El Salvador who entered the U.S in 2004. Therefore, the arrest was reported to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) and more information about Guzman was requested. There is always the chance that Guzman is an alias.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/02/2007 09:41:00 PM

Mother Abandons Toddlers for 9 Hours

(Kallispell, Montana) A 24-year-old local woman, Rachel (Rachael) O'Brien, was arrested for abandoning her two young children in squalid conditions for nearly nine hours.

The children, a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, were home alone from 11AM on August 4th, when O'Brien went to work, until after 8PM even though she finished work at 4:30PM.

A concerned neighbor called police that evening after noticing the girls were home by themselves.

Officers found half-eaten food on the floor, a knife within the children's reach and a frying pan with rotting food on the counter.

The kitchen garbage was overflowing with dirty diapers.

O'Brien told police she didn't go home after work because she knew her children were going to be a mess and need baths.

O'Brien has been charged with two counts of felony endangerment.


[Update 10/26/07]

O'Brien sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/02/2007 07:03:00 PM

Lethal Injection Before Abortion

Abortion doctors need to be protected from the possibility that a fetus lives through an abortion. So, they kill the fetus first.

In order to avoid any chance of a live birth and prosecution, three major Harvard-affiliated hospitals -- Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women's, and Beth Israel Deaconess -- have made lethal injections in the womb a standard operating procedure for abortions at 20 weeks gestation or later.

The fetuses are injected with potassium chloride, also used to execute criminals, or digoxin, a heart drug.

Also, medical and nursing students can no longer view late-term abortions for fear that the horrible sight of the death of an essentially fully-formed baby would lead to a formal complaint.

Tricks and deceit are probably not directly called out in the Hippocratic Oath but I suppose clever practitioners can work them in.

Tip: slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 9/02/2007 03:55:00 PM

Snore Prevention

(London, England) Finally, some relief for those who have tried nasal strips and still suffer from snoring problems. Of course, included would be relief for those who have to listen to the snoring.

Next week, the British National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is expected to give its okey-dokey on the use of continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) devices (pictured).

NICE is expected to publish draft guidance on the use of the masks for sufferers of sleep apnoea throughout England and Wales next week. But provisional details issued by the watchdog to medical experts last month indicate that the masks could be recommended for patients with moderate or severe symptoms from next year.

Just think. No more sleepless nights after you outfit your spouse and family with these nifty strap-on nose appurtenances. The expected cost will be $800 to $1,200.

"Up your nose with a rubber hose" has a whole new meaning.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/02/2007 10:20:00 AM

What's the Officer, Problem?

(Abbotsford, Wisconsin) Two men, 43-year-old Harvey J. Miller and 55-year-old Edwin H. Marzinske, were arrested for drunk driving after both were found to be driving a 1985 Chevrolet truck while allegedly under the influence of alcohol.

The dual citations were issued when it was found that Miller, who has no legs, was steering the vehicle while Marzinske pushed the pedals. Since Miller was in the driver's seat, the only way this combination would work is if Marzinske was sitting on his lap or vice-versa.

In the end, both were cited for drunk driving and driving after their licenses had been revoked.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/02/2007 08:58:00 AM

Taliban Gets $20 Million From SKorea

(Kabul, Afghanistan) Kidnapping is one hell of a moneymaker.

South Korea paid Afghanistan's Taliban more than $20 million to release 19 missionaries they were holding hostage, a senior insurgent leader said on Saturday, vowing to use the funds to buy arms and mount suicide attacks.

"We got more than $20 million dollars from them (the Seoul government), the commander said on condition of anonymity. With it we will purchase arms, get our communication network renewed and buy vehicles for carrying out more suicide attacks."

The commander is on the 10-man leadership council of the Islamist Taliban movement, which is led by the elusive Mullah Mohammad Omar.

Heh.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/01/2007 11:50:00 PM

Teacher Indicted for Rape of Girl, 14

(White Bluff, Tennessee) In May 2007, a teacher and softball coach at William James Middle School, Julie E. Petty, was arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with a 14-year-old female student. Petty was charged with sexual battery and rape.

The school system suspended Petty without pay. Ultimately, she was released on $250,000 bail.

In the latest development:

Julie E. Petty, 37, of Leatherwood Road, was indicted on a charge of sexual battery by a person in authority and statutory rape by a person in authority. Both charges are Class C felonies with a possible punishment of three to six years on each count if convicted, according to 23rd Judicial District Attorney General Dan Alsobrooks.

Arraignment before Dickson County Circuit Court Judge Larry Wallace is scheduled for September 10th.


[Update 8/28/08]

After a year of legal wrangling, Julie Petty pleaded guilty this week to sexual battery by an authority figure in accordance with a plea agreement. In exchange, the prosecution dropped the rape charge.

Sentencing has been scheduled for an unspecified date in September. Petty could be sentenced to as much as six years in prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/01/2007 11:10:00 PM

Convicted Teacher Released Early

(Nashua, New Hampshire) In December 2006, teacher and married mother-of-two, Jennifer Malone, was found guilty of kidnapping after jury deliberations of 90 minutes.

In February, Malone was sentenced. For kidnapping, she received no jail. For violating bail conditions while awaiting trial, she received 12 months.

Less than eight months hence, 33-year-old Malone was released this week from the Hillsborough County House of Corrections. Malone had requested early release because of good behavior. Judge Bernard Hampsey Jr. granted the request.

In summary, a 30-something teacher has sex with a 16-year-old student, absconds to Florida with him, gets arrested after a nationwide search, is convicted of kidnapping and violation of bail conditions and, as a result, spends eight months in jail.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm guessing that a man committing the same acts would have been handed something less pleasant, like a few birthdays behind bars.
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       Following Entry Posted 9/01/2007 10:41:00 AM

Toronto Letter Bomber

(Toronto, Ontario) There has been scant exposure of this story while it appears to be at the scratch-the-surface stage. An investigation into a series of letter bombs in the Toronto area has led to the arrest of 37-year-old Adel Mohamed Arnaout, a Lebanese immigrant.

Arnaout is charged with counts of attempted murder, counts of intending to cause an explosion, a count of criminal harassment and a count of possession of explosive material.

Police, who have one man under arrest, are investigating the manufacture of at least six explosive devices -- three sent to unwitting recipients here and in Guelph during the past several weeks, and three found in the trunk of a rental car stopped Thursday night at an Esso station at Overlea Blvd. and Thorncliffe Park Dr. in Don Mills.

"We don't have a motive at this point," Toronto police Const. Wendy Drummond said. "We do know that the three victims -- the two in Toronto and the one in Guelph -- were not chosen at random."

According to Deputy Toronto Police Chief Tony Warr, the three bombs in Arnaout's rental car were each "about 14-18 inches long." Disposal came by detonation at the waterfront.

As news helicopters buzzed overhead, a 17-car police convoy crept slowly down the normally bustling Don Valley Parkway and under the Gardiner Expressway to a deserted spit of land on the Lake Ontario waterfront, carefully towing a trailer containing the three explosive devices seized earlier from a rental car.

Bridges over the busy parkway were sealed off and pedestrians and other vehicles kept hundreds of metres away until the bombs could be carefully deposited on an isolated peninsula jutting into Lake Ontario and blown up in a controlled explosion that could be heard kilometres away.

Sources say the letter bomb investigation began in June and three targets were identified. No information has been provided regarding the three intended victims other than their names. However, Chief Warr said that Arnaout had been under surveillance for at least a day prior to his arrest, and

"There's a pattern in his logic. They weren't just random (victims) picked out of a phone book," he said. "I can't get into the details of why they're connected, (but) we're just trying to emphasize the fact this is not an ideological or a political type of attack. These were more personal attacks."

Despite there being little information provided regarding the suspect, Adel Mohamed Arnaout, I'll make a wild stab that he's a Muslim and he feels persecuted. Incidentally, Arnaout lived in a house in a quiet neighborhood that had been modified with steel gates, double steel doors with tiny mesh peepholes and illegal brick extensions to the front. Called the "Bombay Bunker," the red bungalow "looked like a fortress" according to neighbors. Reportedly, as many as 30 people called it home.

Contrary to Chief Warr's assertions, I find it difficult to believe that Arnaout would have had personal problems with anyone other than the 29 people he lived with. He likely had more than plenty of reasons to be pissed off at home. Somebody had to use his towel or didn't put the top on the toothpaste or left the sink dirty. Going outside his house for personal problems wasn't really necessary and Arnaout probably didn't have the time. I suggest the letter bombs were motivated by something other than personal beefs.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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