Educator Kathryn Parmley Gets Jail in Sex Case

(Farmington, Utah) In October 2006, a speech and language pathologist for the Davis County School District, Kathryn Louise Parmley, was summoned to court to face charges that she engaged in sex with a 17-year-old boy.

The boy dated Parmley's daughter before allegedly having sex with the mother and, interestingly, Parmley is married to a deputy prosecutor in adjacent Weber County.

Parmley was charged with two third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old in incidents occurring between September 2005 and June 2006.

Today, 49-year-old Parmley pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery in accordance with a plea bargain.

Second District Judge Jon Memmott imposed two years in jail on the misdemeanor counts, but suspended one year and ordered that Kathryn Parmley be allowed work release and treatment release privileges during the time she is in jail.

The judge said he was "very concerned" that Parmley did not appear to have fully taken responsibility for what occurred between her, then age 48, and the high school boy. Referring to a pre-sentence report and a psycho-sexual evaluation, Memmott said it seems Parmley "substantially minimized what took place" and tends to "shift the blame to the victim."

The judge accepted a recommendation from Adult Probation and Parole that Parmley get treatment along with a polygraph test so that she acknowledges what exactly occurred and her role in it. Otherwise, Memmott said, the information he has indicates Parmley is at an "elevated risk" of doing something like this again.

So, even though Parmley tends to blame the victim and is at an elevated risk of re-offending, she won't be required to register as a sex offender. Odd? I think so.

Nonetheless, the prosecutor and the boy's family reluctantly agreed to the plea deal. The boy's mother continues to be upset that Parmely didn't admit to all she did, stating that her son has changed dramatically.

"Over the last year, he has struggled," the mother said. "We trusted her with our son. This was a betrayal of that trust." The victim's mother said her son has changed from being happy-go-lucky to withdrawn, has shown frequent outbursts of temper, and feels guilty and blames himself for what occurred.

Parmley said she was sorry and hopes the best for the boy.

Tip: Don Morgenstern

Illegal Alien Accused of Serial Rapes

(Mount Holly, New Jersey) A 28-year-old illegal alien from Brazil, Marcelo G. Mota, was arrested Friday in Cherry Hill as an alleged serial rapist. Mota's DNA has been linked to rapes in New Jersey and Massachusetts.

He was charged in one rape and one attempted rape in Moorestown in September 2005. A warrant charges him as being a fugitive from Massachusetts, where police say a suspect they dubbed the "Metro West Rapist" attacked two women in 2003.

The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office said today that a key to the arrest was a national crime database of DNA. DNA evidence from one of the Moorestown assaults was submitted to the database, authorities said, and the database matched it with sex attacks in Westborough, Mass., in January 2006. That and other evidence led detectives to charge Mota.

Mota was booked into custody with bond set at $1 million.

Getting Your Date to Spread Eagle

Be prepared, you're going to need some cash. As a minimum, purchase of an airline ticket and a rental car will be required. Planning on an overnight stay would be prudent, therefore, that cost should be added.


A short ride northwest of St. John's, Newfoundland
First, an airline flight must be booked to St. John's, Newfoundland. Connections out of Ottawa, Montreal or Toronto via Air Canada are possible. Upon arrival, rent a car.

Taking Canada Route 1 west out of St. John's, continue a few dozen miles to the Blaketown/South Dildo turnoff and go north. Travel through Blaketown to South Dildo and then go west toward Old Shop. Note that the roads turn to unimproved, typically gravel, on the way to Old Shop. From Old Shop, continue on the unimproved road west toward Spread Eagle.

Alternatively, one may opt to continue straight north through South Dildo to Broad Cove. Exiting Broad Cove, you'll see Dildo. For a nominal fee, one could hire a dinghy and sail across the bay. It's a straight shot, Dildo to Spread Eagle. This option would likely be more scenic and enjoyable, weather permitting, and allow the vacationers to add "Dinghying between Dildo and Spread Eagle" to their travelogues.

For more information, email Double Entendre Vacations c/o this blog.

China Retaliates on Product Bans

(Beijing, China) Since the U.S. put bans on the import of some Chinese products because people and pets died, China has taken action which appears to be nothing more than retaliation.

The Shanxi Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau has discovered selenium in the protein powder imported from the U.S.-based Jarrow Formulas Inc. exceeded Chinese food safety standards, said sources with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

On Friday, the ChiComs also suspended imports of frozen pigs ears and chicken feet from the U.S. after "traces of chemicals and dangerous bacteria" were found.

Awfully suspicious, I think. Didn't the Chinese government just execute the head of its food quality inspection program for abject corruption? The answer is yes. I contend that Chinese food safety standards are malleable and determined by "Who is the guy and how much does he want?"

Not only that, but consumer protection in China has to be considered as foreign a concept as free speech. Think about it. The same country that gave the world such delightful problems as SARS and the avian flu all of a sudden is worried about imports. Doesn't make sense.

Parents Play Video While Babies Starve

(Reno, Nevada) A local couple, Michael and Iana Straw, were charged with child neglect for ignoring their two infant children while devoting all their time to the "Dungeons and Dragons" fantasy role-playing video game. Both children were malnourished and near death when finally seen by doctors last month.

Police said hospital staff had to shave the head of the girl because her hair was matted with cat urine. The 10-pound girl also had a mouth infection, dry skin and severe dehydration.

Her brother had to be treated for starvation and a genital infection. His lack of muscle development caused him difficulty in walking, investigators said.

On Friday, Michael Straw, 25, and Iana Straw, 23, pleaded guilty to neglecting their son, age 22 months, and daughter, age 11 months. Each faces a possible 12-year prison term when sentenced.

Tip: slwlion

Nothing Could Be Screwier

Did you hear about the cyber-terrorist, Tariq Al-Daour, who was jailed by the Brits who then gave him a laptop and Internet access in his jail cell? Guess what happened?

You're right. Tariq Al-Daour set up another cyber-terrorist website. Thank goodness he wasn't a bomber. The Brits might have given him bomb-making materials.

I know it's awful foggy in Britain. It's masking reason.

Ayesha and the Prophet

Disputing the general belief that Prophet Mohammad married wife Ayesha at the age of nine, Adil Salahi of the Arab News provides an argument.

I have written at length discussing this issue and concluded that Ayesha was between 18 and 22 at the time of her marriage to the Prophet.

Relying on a series of convoluted explanations, Salahi concludes that anything else is "highly unlikely" and "totally unreasonable." Being unlikely and unreasonable apparently makes something untrue.

So, there. The issue should now be clear to everyone.

Also, since it is unlikely and unreasonable for two jetliners to crash into the World Trade Center Towers, it obviously didn't happen.

Massive Child Porn Take-Down in Spain

Kudos to the Spanish Police. This news is welcome.

Spanish police have seized 48 million images and videos and arrested 66 people in a child pornography investigation, police said on Sunday.

Acting alongside Interpol, police tracked 5,000 downloads of pornographic material from archives located on servers in Germany.

The investigation, which started in September, found 85 computer users downloading the images leading to 66 arrests in different regions of Spain. Those arrested include architects, psychologists, doctors, lawyers and child sport coaches.

It's presently not clear whether those arrested merely downloaded the kiddie porn or whether they were also involved in production. Nevertheless, the quantity of child porn confiscated along with the fact that those involved represent all segments of society is ominous. One must conclude that all societies are infected with people agreeable to child sexual abuse. It would be negligent to believe it's only the Spaniards.

Presumed Consent for Organ Donation

The British Medial Association (BMA) is campaigning for a government initiative to make presumed consent for organ donation to be the default position after deaths of citizens in the United Kingdom. This means that doctors have the authority to slice and dice people upon death unless the deceased specifically opts out prior to dying.

Those who wanted to opt out would have to register in a similar way to those who now carry organ donor cards. This could be done through a central NHS database or through other documentation, such as driving licences.

So, unless you opt out, the government takes possession of your body upon your death.

Notably, Spain and Belgium have already implemented presumed consent and the number of human pieces parts available for transplantation has increased.

From an ethical standpoint, one has to wonder if the next step will be to authorize doctors to take selected parts of the bodies of living persons who have been diagnosed as having terminal illnesses. Under those conditions, if a person is presumed to die in the near future, then, with presumed consent, doctors could break out the surgical instruments and start cutting.

Of course, maybe I'm just reading too much into the issue.

Kindergarten Teacher Faces Drug Charges

(Cadiz, Kentucky) A 25-year-old kindergarten teacher at Crittenden County Elementary School, Amy Tabor, was arrested with passenger Dylan Winn, 27, early Friday on drug charges after a traffic stop. A search resulted in state troopers finding 12 grams of methamphetamine, 19 Lortabs, a methadone pill and various drug paraphernalia.

Tabor was charged with possession of a methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance not in a prescription container. Winn was charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Heh, meth -- again.

Brit Muslim Guilty of Terror Charge

(London, England) A 28-year-old British man, Yassin Nassari, was convicted yesterday of possessing plans for terrorism. Nassari and his wife, Bouchra El Hor, 24, were arrested in May 2006 following a search of their luggage at Luton Airport. Police found missile and explosives information on his computer.

Nassari said he knew nothing about the missile plans, and said he had loaned the computer to a friend who was also now facing a terror charge.

Right. He didn't know that his computer contained the following information.

. . . Nassari's computer included jihadist material and instructions on how to build rocket-propelled missiles of a type used by the Palestinian group Hamas, together with information on explosives such as land mines, TNT and nitro-glycerine.

El Hor faced charges after police found a letter written by El Hor to her husband which said,

"I am so proud of my husband. I am happy that Allah has granted you the chance to be a martyr . . . Maybe one day I can follow you.

"If I can't, I will send our son to you so he can follow his father's footsteps."

El Hor, a Dutch citizen, claimed that the letter was a work of fiction. It seems the court believed El Hor or displayed sympathy since she was found not guilty. El Hor was acquitted of a charge of failing to disclose information regarding her husband's actions. Yassin Nassari is scheduled to be sentenced next week.

One last observation; after reviewing at least a dozen news sources covering the Nassari and El Hor story, not once did I see the words "Muslim" or "Islam." The absence of those two words from all the reports cannot be coincidental.

Campus Supervisor Nabbed for Teen Booze Party

(Upper Arlington, Ohio) A 42-year-old campus supervisor at Upper Arlington High School, Wendy R. Kramer, was accused by police this week of allowing teens to drink alcohol in her home.

According to Upper Arlington police, neighbors called them about 9 p.m. on June 22 after they saw minors entering her home with alcohol. Police said 13 teenagers, all juniors at Upper Arlington High School, were identified there. They found alcohol in the teens' possession in the family room and hidden under tablecloths and behind pillows, the couch and television, the police report said.

Kramer told police she had just walked into the home as officers came to her back door and that she did not see the alcohol, the report said. However, officers said they didn't see Kramer enter her home. They also said they saw her with teens with alcohol and that the teens made no attempt to hide it from her.

According to defense attorney Steve Moyer, Kramer pleaded not guilty and she will be vindicated. Nonetheless, she resigned her position to avoid problems for her son who is a student at Upper Arlington High School. She also wants the issue resolved by the court and not the school board.

Worth mentioning is that Kramer has been in trouble previously. Last October, she pleaded guilty to a public indecency charge after being caught giving a guy a nobber in a restaurant parking lot. And in 1993, Kramer was found guilty of child endangerment for leaving her 3-year-old son unattended in a restaurant parking lot.

Teen Girl Guilty of Sex with Teen Boy

(Noblesville, Indiana) A 2006 graduate of Westfield High School, Laura Wilcox, 19, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of felony sexual misconduct for engaging in sex with a 15-year-old boy.

The sexual episode occurred in February 2006 when Wilcox, then 18, drove the 15-year-old to his home and was invited inside. They then had sex.

Notably, Wilcox's offense predates a recent change in Indiana law which decriminalizes sex between dating teens if their difference in ages is within four years. Under the new law, Wilcox would have faced no charges.

Wilcox is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14th in Hamilton County Court. It's expected that she will receive a suspended sentence in accordance with the plea deal.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 08/20/07]

From Noblesville Daily News:

A young woman who pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class D felony, will spend the next two years on probation for her actions.

Hamilton Circuit Court Judge Judith Proffitt Tuesday sentenced Laura Marie Wilcox, 19, to two years in the Indiana Department of Correction, but suspended the sentence. Instead, Wilcox will serve two years on probation. Proffitt dismissed a second count of sexual misconduct with a minor and also suspended a $1,000 fine.

Upon completion of her probation, Wilcox can then petition the court to reduce her charge to a Class A misdemeanor.

Heh.

Woman Accused of Busily Shagging Boy

(Tampa, Florida) A 26-year-old local woman, Jennifer Dodd, has been charged with lewd and lascivious battery for engaging in a long-term sexual relationship with a boy, starting at age 14.

The boy told police that he and Dodd would have sex four or five times a day. He came forward out of concern that he is the father of a child Dodd gave birth to almost two years ago. According to Tampa Police spokeswoman Andrea Davis, authorities are awaiting the results of DNA tests regarding paternity.

Jennifer Dodd admitted to police this week she had a role in all this. But she also says she has no idea who the father of the baby is.

Dodd also claims she has had a bad week.

Heh.

Terrorist Convicted

Congratulations to The Jawa Report for helping take down another terrorist.

Kudos and cake for everyone.

Drunk Lesbian Teacher Crashes, Loses License

(Lochwinnoch, UK) Apparently, the lady was drowning her sorrow and decided to drive. She crashed into an electrical substation.

Elizabeth Smillie, 26, of Dewfield Avenue in Lochwinnoch, was on her way to the party after learning that her 'intense' relationship with another lady teacher was over.

But her attempts to try and remonstrate with her lover came to a literal halt after the crash, and ended with an appearance at Ayr Sheriff Court last week, charged with drink driving after being found to have been four-and-a-half times over the legal limit.

Smillie loses her driving privileges for three years and must perform 180 hours of community service. It's suspected that she'll be "facing some difficulty" with the school system.

Thieving Teacher Gets Probation

(Tampa, Florida) Last February, a 32-year-old special education teacher at Chamberlain High School, Cheryl Foster-Lawrentz, was arrested for allegedly stealing almost $10,000 from a student prom fund. Reportedly, Foster-Lawrentz deposited 21 checks from the student fund into her personal credit union account.

Yesterday, Foster-Lawrentz pleaded guilty to the theft and was sentenced to 18 months probation and 50 hours community service. She was ordered to pay back more than $9,701.

Six Months for Honor Killing

(Amman, Jordan) A man was sentenced to six months in prison for murdering his pregnant sister in an honor killing. The court said the lenient sentence was justified by the "state of fury" her behavior caused.

According to the court, when the woman told her brother she was five months pregnant with her former husband's child, he began chasing her and pulled on her scarf to strangle her. He then put a pillow on her head and sat on it until she suffocated.

The court said the woman's confession angered her brother and caused him to act in an irrational way. The court also said the woman's "shameful behavior" deviated from the traditions of Jordanian society and harmed her family's honor.

Jordanian authorities don't release the names of people involved in honor killings.

Sick, isn't it?

Woman Gets Prison for Sex with Nephew

(Oakland, California) A 45-year-old mother-of-two, Edwina Marie Madeja, pleaded guilty before Oakland County Circuit Judge Rae Lee Chabot to second-degree criminal sexual conduct for engaging in sex with her 15-year-old nephew. The sexual episode occurred in June 2005 after Madeja gave the boy beer during a graduation party.

Subsequent to the sex, the boy exhibited signs of being suicidal and his parents sent him to a counselor.

When the counselor reported the allegations, police in Ohio recorded a conversation between her and the boy, in which she admitted she was the responsible party and she knew it was against the law.

Madeja was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months to 15 years in prison.

Tip: Don Morgenstern

Florida Rep. Allen Caught

(Titusville, Florida) This report makes me want to disinfect my brain.

Florida state Rep. Robert "Bob" Allen, R-Merritt Island, was arrested Wednesday and charged with soliciting an undercover male officer for sex at a park in Central Florida, according to police.

Investigators said Allen was acting suspicious and went in and out of the men's restroom at Veteran's Memorial Park, located on East Broad Street.

Minutes later, authorities said, Allen solicited the male officer inside the restroom, offering to perform oral sex for $20.

First of all, there doesn't seem to be any ambiguity about whether Rep. Allen wanted to pitch or catch, but it's not clear whether Allen was paying the undercover officer or asking to be paid.

If Allen paid the officer for the privilege of performing oral sex, it could be viewed as a bribe for the officer's vote. However, if he wanted to be paid to perform the oral sex, then Allen presumably was moonlighting at a part-time job to augment his income. Either way, the guy is a pervert -- and not a very bright one.

Tip: slwlion


[Update 11/10/07]

Allen convicted.

Kucinich Angers Jewish

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D - OH) has angered Ohio Jewish leaders by asserting that Iranian President Ahmadinejad didn't mean to say he wants to wipe Israel off the map when he said he wants to wipe Israel off the map. Instead, according to Kucinich, Ahmadinejad merely seeks regime change in Israel and doesn't desire the death of anyone.

Kucinich hopes his enlightened understanding of world affairs vaults him into the Office of President.

Yen For The Toilets

(Japan) Someone is leaving envelopes of money in men's rooms in city halls throughout Japan. Thus far, municipal toilets in at least 15 prefectures (states) have been targeted and it's estimated that over two million yen has been found in recent weeks.

Each package of 10,000-yen bills, some wrapped in traditional Japanese washi paper, was accompanied by handwritten letters that read "Please make use of this money for your self-enrichment," and "One per person," according to reports.

Officials are baffled over the identity of the benefactor or any motives, the reports said. Packages turned over to police were to be kept for some time in case someone claimed them.

I didn't do it.

Stuff Guys Don't Know

According to this source, the average young woman has 11 pairs of shoes and 14 bras.

I suspect that the average young guy has, at most, three pairs of shoes and one jock strap. To compensate, though, each guy likely has 30 pairs of skivvies.

Teacher Accused of Sex with Boy, 13

(Denton, Texas) A 28-year-old 7th-grade English teacher at Strickland Middle School, Lauren Cosgrove, has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with a 13-year-old boy she was babysitting.

The boy's parents alerted Denton Police after the boy admitted to them that he had sex with Cosgrove on at least two occasions. No sexual contact allegedly occurred during the school year.

Married and the mother of at least one child, Cosgrove faces two counts of aggravated sexual assault on a child. She was booked into the Denton City jail with bond set at $20,000.


[Update 10/25/07]

Cosgrove accused of tampering with a witness.

Osama's Son Marries Brit Grandmother

(Cheshire, England) A 51-year-old British grandmother, Jane Felix-Browne, married 26-year-old Omar bin Laden, the son of Osama bin Laden, in a Muslim ceremony in Egypt last April.

Besotted bride Jane told last night how she fell for the son of Bin Laden on holiday -- and now has the perfect hubby except for his NAME.

The 51-year-old mum of three, from Cheshire, confessed: "I won't be using it myself."

"Because my husband's name is Bin Laden he finds it very difficult to travel anywhere. He rarely leaves Saudi Arabia because of the problems he runs into at airports."

Parish councillor Jane tied the knot with the al-Qaeda supremo's 26-year-old lad Omar in Egypt.

Wedding Certificate

She insisted: "He is the most beautiful person I have ever met."

"His heart is pure, he is pious, quiet -- a true gentleman. And he is my best friend."

She also stressed she did not mind the scrap metal dealer ALREADY having a wife -- and a child. Jane has been married five times before and has three grown-up sons and five grandkids.

Since she has had five marriages to learn, I suspect she probably thinks she has it right this time. Interestingly, she only met Omar ONCE prior to their wedding night and he doesn't speak English. Omar lives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and seldom travels because people look at him suspiciously due to his name. Imagine that?

Hey, does this relationship make any sense?

Omar says he hasn't seen his father in seven years, when he returned to Saudi Arabia from Afghanistan. Now, logically, that means Omar was the 19-year-old son of Osama in Afghanistan during the planning stages for 9/11 -- not to mention the bombings of the Khobar Towers, the USS Cole, and the U.S. Embassies in Africa.

Being in Afghanistan while his father was at training camps plotting terror attacks leads me to assume that Omar, in all likelihood, was present. Even so, the son denies being in communication with Osama and has publicly voiced condemnation of Osama's terrorist atrocities. Omar does say he misses him, though.

Okay.

Tip: Barry

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Deportation Is Merely A Speed Bump

(Hamilton, Ohio) A 37-year-old illegal alien, Jose Valenzuela, was arrested yesterday for failure to register as a sex offender. Valenzuela was convicted in 1998 of a sex crime involving a juvenile girl and classified as a sex offender by the court.

However, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported him in 2004.

Deputies received information that Valenzuela was back in Butler County and took him into custody for failure to register.

Officials said when they asked why he came back to Butler County after deportation, Valenzuela said, "they never told me I couldn't come back." [ed. bold]

So, deporting illegal aliens isn't an adequate solution to the problem. Authorities must also tell them not to come back -- as if that would make a difference. Heh.

Aliens break the law without consequence by sneaking into the U.S. in the first place. If they are deported (a big "if"), their return should be expected since nothing prevents them from sneaking across the border again. And, other than deportation, there are no, nada, zilch consequences. Sneak in, sent back, sneak in, sent back -- it's a do-loop.

This is so stupid. As long as the border is essentially imaginary, deportation is meaningless. The illegal aliens simply get American-taxpayer-funded trips back home and then return as they please.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.

Raining On The Parade

(Pictou, Nova Scotia) Two local men, 18-year-old Corey Clarence Rondelet and 20-year-old Lee Aaron Yates, pleaded guilty to urinating out the second-story window onto a crowd of spectators lining the route of last Saturday's Lobster Carnival Parade.

Both will be sentenced on September 11th.

Akron Teacher Guilty of Sexual Battery

(Akron, Ohio) In March 2007, a special-education teacher at Springfield High School, Renee Smith, was arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with 17-year-old male students of which at least one was a special-needs student in her class.

The alleged sexual behavior was rumored at the school and ultimately became known to Superintendent Jerry Pecko who notified Springfield Township Police. Investigators later learned that Smith had sex with only one boy while providing another with drugs and alcohol.

Yesterday, 37-year-old Smith pleaded guilty in Summit County Common Pleas Court to to one felony count of sexual battery, two felony counts of corrupting another with drugs and two misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Sentencing by Judge Elinore Stormer is scheduled for August 15th. Smith will surrender her teaching credentials and must register as a sex offender.

Payoff in Teacher Duct Tape Case

(Rome, New York) A student, Adam Roser, accused remedial math teacher at W.A. Wettel Elementary School, Elaine Main, of wrapping "tape around Roser's head several times, covering his mouth, ears and nose for several minutes in January 2004."

Main was suspended for 30 days and deducted a week's pay.

Yesterday, Roser and his mother, Loree Larkin, received a settlement of $33,250 for a lawsuit filed against the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill school district in central New York.

Atypically, the teacher wasn't charged with assault or abuse.

Utah Teacher Caught Nasty with Boy

(West Valley City, Utah) A 33-year-old former English teacher at Cyprus High School, Christy Anne Brown, was arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly being caught in flagrante delicto in a parked car with a 17-year-old student.

According to the police, Brown had sex with the boy at least three times between April and last Sunday.

Brown quit her job with the Granite School District in June and planned to move to Texas to teach. Unfortunately, before she could leave, she got caught by an officer strolling by her car.

Today at arraignment, Brown was charged with three counts of forcible sexual abuse and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. Bail was set at $75,000.


[Update 08/29/07]

Brown pleads guilty. Sentencing is scheduled for October.

Teacher Gets Probation for Sex Crimes

(Valparaiso, Indiana) In June 2005, a teacher's aide in a special education class at Hebron High School, Amber K. Marshall, was charged with multiple felonies for having sexual intercourse and performing oral sex on two male students, ages 14 and 15. Ultimately, Marshall faced sex crimes charges in two Indiana counties, Porter and Lake.

Last May, 24-year-old Amber Marshall pleaded guilty to two counts of felony sexual misconduct with a minor as part of a agreement with the prosecution.

Yesterday, the plea deal was accepted by Porter County Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford and he sentenced Marshall to six years suspended and probation. She was ordered to have no contact with her victims, however, she will not have to register as a sex offender.

Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek and defense attorney Richard Wolter indicated to the court that Marshall has been most cooperative and has turned her life around. Marshall expressed regret and sorrow for her actions.

The status of Marshall's legal troubles in Lake County is unknown.

Jersey Woman Guilty of Sex Crimes

(Camden, New Jersey) A 48-year-old local woman, June C. Traenkner, pleaded guilty yesterday to the repeated sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy.

In a matter-of-fact tone, Traenkner told Superior Court Judge Louis Meloni she repeatedly had sex with the boy, often while her boyfriend participated. The investigation into the activities of that man, Attillo Daversa, is continuing, Assistant Camden County Prosecutor Donna Spinosi said.

Spinosi said law enforcement learned of the sexual assaults when the victim was hospitalized for a psychiatric crisis.

According to the plea deal, the prosecution will recommend four years in prison for Traenkner. Sentencing is scheduled for October 12th.

Tip: Don Morgenstern

Lesbian Convicted of Bigamy

(Shrewsbury, England) A 29-year-old mother-of-three, Suzanne Mitchell, was convicted yesterday of bigamy. Mitchell left her husband, Charles, and before their marriage was annulled, she entered into a civil union with a woman she met at the bus stop, Caroline Beddowes.

Mitchell was impressed with Beddowes because she dressed in trousers, had short hair and "looked like a boy." However, "the sex wasn't as good as it was with Charles." As a result, Mitchell returned to her husband.

Nevertheless, Mitchell pleaded guilty before Judge Robin Onions in Shrewsbury Crowne Court to violating the 2004 Civil Partnership Act with allows same-sex couples to "marry." She had falsified her application by indicating she was a single lesbian. Upon learning of the deceit, Beddowes (aka Beddows) was livid.

"It is her fault if she lied on the certificate and said she was single. When I found out she was still married to Charles about a month after our civil partnership ceremony I went ballistic. Before the ceremony Suzanne insisted I changed my name to hers so we would be a proper couple. Now I will have to change it back by deed poll."

Mitchell is free on bail as she awaits her sentencing appearance on August 6th. Judge Onions specifically instructed her not to talk to the media.

Obviously, questions remain. Was Beddowes just a lousy lesbian or can it be assumed that lesbians are no better at satisfying women than men are? Also, do UK lesbians usually hang out at bus stops to pick up women?

Teacher Accused of Child Endangerment

(Portsmouth, New Hampshire) A 34-year-old special education teacher for the Seabrook School System, Holly Spreen, was arrested last Friday for child endangerment when fellow passengers aboard a harbor cruise ship reported that an inebriated Spreen dropped and dragged her child.

Medical professionals at Portsmouth Regional Hospital indicated that Spreen's blood alcohol content was .49, typically high enough to induce a coma or cause death.

Spreen was booked into the Rockingham County House of Corrections and her car was impounded. Today, Spreen was arraigned in Portsmouth District Court and formally charged with child endangerment. Judge Sawako Gardner set bail at $3,000 personal recognizance and $1,500 cash.

A trial in district court is scheduled for August 14th.

Notably, Spreen has been in trouble before. In December 2005, she was arrested for domestic assault and obstruction of justice. And last month, Portsmouth Police arrested her for simple assault.


[Update 11/06/07]

Spreen sentenced.

Woman Booked in Baby Meth Case

(Fort Worth, Texas) A 48-year-old Richland Hills woman, Jana Louise Beau, was arrested earlier today on a charge of child endangerment related to her eight-month-old grandson being found with amphetamine in his system last April.

Three months of investigation preceded Beau's arrest. Police indicate that preparations are underway to also file charges against the baby's mother.

Beau was booked into the Richland Hills Jail with bond set at $3,500.

Muslim Juror Arrested for Listening to MP3 Under Hajib

(London, England) Frankly, a person could hide many things under a hajib. However, it's not a good idea for a juror to be listening to an MP3 player during a high-profile murder case.

From TimesOnline:

In what is considered the first case of its kind, the woman was arrested for contempt of court after another member of the jury passed a note revealing the indiscretion to the judge, Roger Chapple.

The judge - who previously suspected that he had heard "tinny music" in the background, but dismissed it as his imagination - called the woman into court on her own, and said: "You are going to be discharged from this jury. You will play no further role."

A police officer then stepped forward and escorted her from court. Outside the woman - who is in her 20s, but cannot be identified for legal reasons - was searched, the MP3 player was found and confiscated, and she was arrested. Contempt of court carries a maximum sentence of an unlimited fine and indefinite imprisonment.

The woman involved was a problem juror for the court. She repeatedly tried to avoid jury duty and, when she was finally selected and seated, she couldn't show up on time. Also, some individuals in court were concerned about her lack of interest and participation. With the MP3 incident, she now has a court date of her own on July 23rd.

Regarding what she was listening to? I'm guessing Cat Stevens.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Teacher Accused of Giving Alcohol to Minors

(Jefferson, Iowa) A first-year teacher at Jefferson-Scranton Middle School, Ashley Keller, surrendered herself to police on June 25th to face charges of providing alcohol to two 15-year-old boys who attended a party at her apartment.

Keller faces two counts of providing alcohol to a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The teens face underage possession charges.

The mother of one of the boys alerted the police.

Keller taught physical education for the Paton-Churdan and Jefferson School Districts and coached middle school softball. It's reported that Keller is no longer employed by the school districts.


[Update 07/28/07]

Keller violates no-contact order. She was arrested again and charged with 986 counts of contempt for text-messaging one of the boys 986 times.

Teacher Heminghaus Guilty

(St. Louis, Missouri) In January 2006, a 46-year-old special-needs teacher at Ferguson Middle School, Cathy Heminghaus, was charged with 19 felony counts of statutory sodomy resulting from allegedly engaging in oral sex with behaviorally-maladjusted students aged 13 to 15.

Heminghaus apparently told her friends that she had performed oral sex on students beginning in October 2005. Her friends told school officials. According to Prosecutor John Quarenghi, "the victims told police that some of oral sex acts took place in a classroom at the middle school while one boy would serve as lookout for another."

Earlier today, Heminghaus, now 47, pleaded no contest to 21 counts of statutory sodomy before Judge David Lee Vincent III in St. Louis County Circuit Court. She also pleaded no contest to two counts of a teacher having sex with a student and two counts of giving the students alcohol.

Heminghaus told Judge David Lee Vincent III today that she is aware her no contest plea means she is not admitting guilt but is conceding there is a substantial likelihood of a guilty verdict if she had proceeded to trial.

There was no plea deal. As a result, Judge Vincent III will rule within the range of probation to a possible sentence of life in prison plus 150 years.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 14th. The prosecutor said he would recommend a sentence of at least 12 years in prison. I'm thinking 15 years or more would be appropriate, something closer to retirement age.


[Update 7/3/08]

Heminghaus convicted by a jury on seven counts of sex crimes with students. Sentencing is scheduled for August 20.

What Is Sparking the Wildfires?

Across several Western states, wildfires are raging with reports of hundreds of thousands of acres ablaze. Homes have been evacuated, homes have been destroyed and firefighters have been injured. One homeowner was killed yesterday in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Agreed, wildfires are not new nor is it new that the authorities seldom seem to find the actual cause of the fires. Often, the media only reports of suspected causes, which are usually lightning or careless campers. Consequently, why hasn't anyone asked if there is a connection among the fires?

Simply put, how hard would it be for a serial arsonist or terrorist, domestic or international, to obtain a car, a book of matches and a map? A check of the weather reports on television would be all that's needed to prompt a fire-starter to take a trip and ignite vulnerable grass and wooded areas. Havoc is created, private and public property is destroyed, first responders are exhausted, and all too frequently, lives are lost. With it being so easy to cause massive damage, the possibility that a series of wildfires in several states, and in proximity to interstate highway corridors, were started intentionally shouldn't be ignored.

For the arsonist, there's an added benefit of not having to return to the scene to enjoy the handiwork. The MSM headlines their news reports with dramatic video footage of leaping flames.

In nutshell, why has there been no inquiry into possible nefarious links among the causes of wildfires? I suggest that most are classified as simply unknown with lightning the usual unconfirmed suspect.

Staying in Las Vegas, Forever

(Las Vegas, Nevada) No charges will be filed against a store clerk who shot and killed an armed robber yesterday. Based upon recent incidents, Las Vegas oddsmakers are likely handicapping armed robbery as a long-shot proposition.

An employee shot and injured an armed intruder at a smoke shop near Washington and Lamb last month. Two weeks later, the owners of a jewelry store at Charleston and Mohave wrestled the gun away from a would-be robber and shot and killed him during the scuffle.

On Sunday morning, North Las Vegas Police say a convenience store clerk threatened at gunpoint pulled out his own gun and shot the armed suspect killing him.

"This has been more common here recently that our store owners are not laying down to be victims, they're taking steps to protect themselves and other patrons in the store," said Sean Walker, North Las Vegas Police Department.

Consequently, on all over-and-under wagers for armed robbers, go with the "under." Chances are that an armed robber in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas.

Heh.

Commercial Satellite Snaps ChiCom Nuke Sub

While reviewing Google Earth, Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists' Nuclear Information Project, found a commercial satellite image of the newest Chinese nuclear-powered, ballistic-missile submarine.

The submarine is a Jin-class (Type 094) SSBN, believed to have at least 12 missile tubes. It was photographed in port at Xiaopingdao Submarine Base south of Dalian, approximately 193 miles north of Qingdao.


Satellite image Jin-class SSBN (top), U.S. Navy diagram (bottom)
The Jin-class submarine is believed to be larger and quieter than previous designs and it's expected to carry missiles with a 5,000-mile range, a dramatic advance over previous capabilities of 1,100 miles. Chinese intentions are being questioned because the ability to project power by the Jin-class submarine is greater than any regional needs.

Heh.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.

NC Woman Jailed for Sex With Challenged Woman

(Asheville, North Carolina) A 26-year-old woman, Jennifer Lynn Keith, was arrested on Friday for an alleged sex offense against another woman.

According to the arrest warrant, Keith committed the offense in June with a woman who at the time was, "mentally defective, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless."

Keith was booked into custody with bond set at $10,000.

Al Gore On Stage

"Take the pledge, baby!"

Caution! This will burn your eyes.

Idaho Woman Accused of Sex with Boy

(Boise, Idaho) A 33-year-old Boise woman, Karol Barnes, was arrested this week for allegedly having inappropriate sexual contact with a male child.

Reportedly, a concerned citizen called police on July 4th regarding a child in danger in a home. Boise Police investigators then discovered the inappropriate sexual contact.

Barnes was booked into the Ada County Jail on charges of lewd conduct with a minor.

Indiana Woman Gets Prison for Sex Crimes

(Anderson, Indiana) In May, 30-year-old Misty Zicafoose pleaded guilty to several counts of engaging in sexual misconduct with neighborhood teenage boys. Numerous sexual episodes occurred in 2004 and Misty's husband, Deckard "Kevin" Zicafoose, 41, was involved. Mr. Zicafoose was also charged with sexual misconduct.

According to court documents, Misty L. Zicafoose engaged in oral sex and intercourse with one youth on several occasions in 2004, when he was between 14 and 15 years old.

She also had threesomes with a 15-year-old boy and her husband several times during 2004, according to court documents. She also engaged in a threesome with both boys at least once.

Last month, Deckard Zicafoose pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct with a 15-year-old boy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16th.

On Friday, Misty Zicafoose was sentenced to two years behind bars by Madison Circuit Court Judge Fred Spencer. She also received four years probation and will be required to register as a sex offender. Addressing the court:

"I just want to say I'm sorry to the boys and I'm sorry to the families," Zicafoose said. "I'm not a troubled person, and I won't be in trouble again. If I'm allowed to remain in society, I'll make you all proud."

Okay.

Live Earth Pledge

Former Vice President Al Gore wants everyone to sign the seven-point Live Earth Pledge. But first, everyone must "Answer The Call." That requires the following:

- I will change four light bulbs to CFLs at my home.

- I will shop for the most energy efficient electronics and appliances.

- I will shut off my equipment and lights whenever I'm not using them.

- I will ride public transit or carpool one or more times per week.

- I will forward a Live Earth email message to 5 friends.

- Add my name to the Live Earth pledge.

Apparently, after the call has been answered, people must raise their right hands and recite the following Live Earth Pledge.

1. To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;

2. To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral;"

3. To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;

4. To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;

5. To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;

6. To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,

7. To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

Regarding No. 2 above, here's some guidance.

So let's say you are an average American emitting about 20 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year and manage to cut your emissions in half -- that still leaves you having to offset 10 tonnes a year to become "carbon neutral." You can plant trees to soak up emissions but they take time to grow.

Climatecare.org, which allows you to invest in renewable energies or forest plantings to soak up emissions, advertises offsets costing about $150 for 10 tonnes.

There you go. Just figure out how much carbon dioxide you are personally responsible for and send a check. If you've got lots of cash, send it in and don't worry about a thing. Presto simple!

I think I'll become an offsetter. A mailing address will be posted when I work out the details. I anticipate offering a "Two tons of carbon offset for the price of one" Grand Opening Special for the business. And to assure that offsettees' carbon footprints are kept confidential, I expect to deal exclusively in precious gems, gold coins and cash.

Keep checking back for information on how you can become carbon neutral inexpensively the Interested-Participant way. I guarantee a cheaper price than any other carbon neutrality provider (CNP).

Piles of Dead Goats

(San Rafael, California) Sixty-two-year-old truck driver, Ed Gibson, was hauling more than 400 Spanish goats in a 32-foot livestock trailer when a tire blew and the truck overturned. More than 240 goats died, mostly from suffocation.

Onlookers watched in horror as officials pulled twisted carcasses from the tipped metal trailer sprawled on Kerner Boulevard near Irene Street. Dead goats were spread across the road about 10 deep beside the tipped vehicle as emergency service officials spent more than an hour digging through the piles of animals, many pinned under loose metal shelves.

[ ... ]

The horrific scene took its toll on Marin Humane Society officials.

Humane Society Sgt. Michelle Rogers, among the crew digging through wreckage, said 243 dead goats were pulled out of the tipped truck.

"I need a moment," she said, stepping away to compose herself.

The goats are used for brush-clearing and owned by the Goats R Us Company. Valued at $150 each, the dead goats represent a loss of more than $35,000. The dead carcasses were piled into a dumpster and hauled to Petaluma.

Tip: Vicki

For Sale: Chocolate Factory

(Oakdale, California) The Hershey Company is selling its 417,000-foot production facility on 85 acres in Oakdale for $18.5 million. Purchaser will also take possession of a nut storage building, bean storage areas and a warehouse. CB Richard Ellis, a major commercial real estate company, is handling the property.

The entire workforce of 575 employees will be gone by January with today being the last day for the 99 people on the Hershey's Kisses and Kisses With Almonds production lines.

The plant's closure is part of a system-wide restructuring plan that includes the closure of five other plants in the U.S. and Canada this year. For the future, Hershey long-haulers will truck Kisses made in Mexico.

Employees contacted by the Modesto Bee refused to comment about the closure due to confidentiality agreements. It's not known what was received in return for signing the agreements.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.


[Update 07/10/07]

An emailer notes that the shutdown of the plant curiously coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Hershey Company. Heh.

UFO Group Endorses Hillary Clinton

The Extraterrestrial Phenomenon Political Action Committee has decided to endorse Hillary Clinton for President with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as her running mate.

With the Extraterrestrial Phenomenon PAC's main goal being to prove that the government is covering up the existence of extraterrestrials, Executive Director Stephen Bassett thinks Hillary will take action because "the White House under Bill Clinton was aware of extraterrestrials."

Gov. Richardson was chosen because he has stated that the serious business of the Roswell incident should be reinvestigated, according to Bassett.

Congressmen for Israel's Destruction

On June 22nd, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a Mike Pence (R - IN) amendment to HR2764 which would prohibit American taxpayer funds from being given to groups that deny Israel's right to exist. The amendment passed 390 - 30.

However, 27 Democrats and three Republicans voted to support the destruction of Israel.

- Baird (D - WA)
- Capps (D - CA)
- Capuano (D - MA)
- Carnahan (D - MO)
- Carson (D - IN)

- Christensen (D - VI)
- Clay (D - MO)
- Cleaver (D - MO)
- Dingell (D - MI)
- Ellison (D - MN)

- Gilchrest (R - MD)
- Jefferson (D - LA)
- Johnson, E. B. (D - TX)
- Jones (R - NC)
- Kanjorski (D - PA)

- Kaptur (D - OH)
- Kennedy (D - RI)
- Kilpatrick (D - MI)
- Kucinich (D - OH)
- LaHood (R - IL)

- Lee (D - CA)
- McDermott (D - WA)
- Miller, George (D - CA)
- Moran (D - VA)
- Rahall (D - WV)

- Slaughter (D - NY)
- Stark (D - CA)
- Waters (D - CA)
- Watt (D - NC)
- Welch (D - VT)

Now, it's logical that Rep. Ellison, a Muslim, would support the destruction of Israel. It's not clear why the others want Israel destroyed.

Tip: John Ray

6th Circuit Junks NSA Spying Case

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court ruled that the plaintiffs had no standing in claiming that the NSA Terrorist Surveillance Program is unconstitutional. The ruling resulted from the fact that the ACLU, et al., couldn't prove that any of the plaintiffs had actually been monitored under the program.

The district court's ruling was vacated and the case was remanded with instructions to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. Good.

There's a good synopsis with illuminating commentary at Stop The ACLU. Go visit.

Taliban Website Is Back

Let's help shut it down again. Participate.

Donna Moonda Guilty of Murder

Breaking news!

(Akron, Ohio) In July 2006, Donna Moonda was implicated in the May 2005 murder of her husband, 69-year-old Dr. Gulam Moonda.

Today, a federal jury convicted Donna Moonda.

The jury now will decide whether Moonda, 48, of Hermitage, should be executed for hiring her lover to kill Dr. Gulam Moonda, 69.

Damian Ray Bradford, 25, a smalltime drug dealer from Center, testified during the three-week trial that he fatally shot Gulam Moonda along the Ohio Turnpike near Cleveland because Donna Moonda promised him a share of her husband's multimillion-dollar estate.

The jury of seven women and five men had deliberated since Thursday afternoon. They convicted Moonda of all the charges she faced: murder for hire, interstate stalking and two counts of using a firearm.

I'll be available for consultation in the event that the court is undecided on what her sentence should be. For the sake of full disclosure, however, I sense that my internal compassion scales are leaning away from understanding and forgiveness toward excruciatingly painful punishment and retribution.


[Update 09/21/07]

Moonda gets life in prison.

Congratulations Joey Chestnut!

(Coney Island, New York) This year's Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition at Nathan's on the boardwalk was won by an American, Joey Chestnut. Perennial champ Takeru Kobayashi of Japan was dethroned.

Chestnut downed dogs at a rate of one every 10.9 seconds, 66 in 12 minutes. What a guy!

Going unreported is the story of PETA coming out as pathetic losers. The animal rights group was intent on disrupting the event but failed. The fun-loving crowd took the view-obstructing PETA placards down and stood on them. Pictures at the link.

Socialized Medicine Anecdote

Many people don't realize that the single payer national health care system means that individuals could no longer rely on having one doctor treating them, rather they would see a series of doctors provided by the government. Chances are that a person would see a different doctor every time treatment is sought.

One person relates a bad experience, with pictures.

Woman Jailed for Sex with Boy

(Gloucester, England) A 34-year-old mother of two, Ruth Lee, was sentenced yesterday after being convicted of engaging in sex with a 13-year-old boy. Lee admitted to having had sex with the boy twice at her home.

Lee took the boy back to her house after meeting him on St Valentine's Day, the court heard. The pair then had sex.

The boy bragged about the encounter to friends and took some of them back to Lee's home in Gloucester the next night.

Although she was drunk, she let them in and went upstairs for sex with the 13-year-old, unaware they were being filmed on a mobile by another teenager.

The friend played the short clip to his mother, who called the police.

Judge Martin Picton of Gloucester Crown Court said Lee's behavior was "deviant" and sentenced her to 15 months in jail.

UK Girl, 3, Kidnapped in Nigeria

(Port Harcourt, Nigeria) Adding to the more than 100 foreigners kidnapped in the Niger Delta this year is the abduction of 3-year-old Margaret Hill, reported to be the daughter of an expatriate British worker.

Margaret was snatched by gunmen at 0730 (0630 GMT) on Thursday after they smashed a window of her car as it stood in traffic.

The kidnappers called Margaret's mother, Oluchi Hill, and demanded that her husband be provided in a swap for the toddler or they would "kill Margaret." Mrs. Hill said the gunmen have not contacted her since the initial demand.

The kidnapping occurred earlier today as Margaret was being taken to school in the city of Port Harcourt in the lawless southern oil region of Nigeria. Gunmen frequently take hostages for ransom but seldom target women and children. Ransoms are customarily paid out of unregulated security slush funds and are considered essential to doing business in the region.

The British Foreign Office has called for the "immediate safe release" of Margaret Hill.

EUTube

Since the European Union is about as popular as the U.S. Congress, it has launched a European version of YouTube, called EUTube, to help bolster its image. Based upon the following, it doesn't seem to be producing desired results.

Alongside a number of videos focusing on more mundane aspects of EU policy -- such as "For a Smoke-Free Europe" (561 views), "The European Anti-Fraud Office" (1,437 views), and "The Reform of the Common Market Organisation for Sugar" (215 views) -- is a short, 44 second video with the unassuming title "Film Lovers Will Love This." In two weeks, it has been viewed over 280,000 times. Criticism hasn't been far behind.

The film, part of a series of short outtakes highlighting an EU fund that helps distribute films made in Europe across the continent, shows racy sex scenes from a number of European movies. As the groaning, moaning and shrieking reaches a crescendo, the words "Let's come together" flash across the screen.

European Commission spokesman Martin Selmayr says that the mini-film has generated a huge amount of complaints, including many from Poland about one brief image which shows two men having sex. A Polish member of European Parliament from the conservative party League of Polish Families says the commission is using "immoral methods" to connect with European citizens.

According to Margot Wallstrom, European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy, it's a priority to improve the EU's public image and all possible means will be used.

I suggest that the U.S. Congress won't be influenced by the EU public relations porn tactic. In general, members of Congress don't care what people think about the institution. They only care about what their constituencies think about them individually. Not only that, but the simple idea of porn approved by Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi is too bizarre to imagine.

Homeowner, 79, Shoots Intruder with Warning Shot

(Hickory, North Carolina) A 23-year-old man, Derek Scott Frenceschini, was shot in the head after breaking into a Hickory home. According to Hickory Police Lt. Hank Guess, 79-year-old homeowner Dwight Cook was watching television about 10:15PM when he heard his sliding glass doors break.

Cook sent his wife to a neighbor's for safety and went to investigate, Guess said.

"He tried to throw a big flowerpot into the (glass) door ... but it bounced off, so he grabbed a rock and broke the door with that," Cook said. "He came in and I saw him go into the spare bedroom.

"I went to get my .22 caliber gun that I keep in the hallway. I had it in my hand, and I asked him what he was doing. He turned around, and I saw that he had something in his hand. I didn't know what it was, so I fired a warning shot up into the ceiling," Cook said.

The bullet ricocheted off the ceiling and part of it hit the intruder in the forehead, Guess said. The suspect fell onto the bed, and Cook held the gun on him while he called 911.

Frenceschini was treated for a gunshot wound to the skull and booked on felony first-degree burglary.

U.S. First in Global Prosperity

(London, UK) The Global Prosperity Index has been released for the past 12-month period by the independent think tank, Legatum Institute for Global Development. The London-based Legatum Institute is supported by the Dubai-based Legatum investment group. Legatum's mission is to promote excellence in both global investment and sustainable development.

Fifty nations were rated based upon national statistics on income, political rights, freedom of choice, health, climate, religious faith, civil liberties, unemployment rate, divorce rate and others. Notably, the top countries are mostly European. Also note that Mexico is more prosperous than Britain, France and Japan.

The U.S. is tied with Norway and Sweden for first place. At the bottom is Zimbabwe. Here's the ranking.

1. Norway
1. Sweden
1. United States
4. Austria
5. Canada
6. New Zealand
7. Denmark
8. Finland
9. Germany
10. Switzerland

11. Australia
12. Netherlands
13. Singapore
14. Ireland
15. Iceland
16. Mexico
17. Israel
18. United Kingdom
19. Belgium
20. Spain

21. Argentina
22. South Korea
23. France
24. Czech Republic
25. Italy
26. Chile
27. Greece
28. Croatia
29. Japan
30. El Salvador

31. Portugal
31. Venezuela
33. Slovakia
34. Brazil
35. Hungary
36. Philippines
37. Bulgaria
38. Poland
38. South Africa
40. Indonesia

41. Romania
42. China
43. Jordan
44. Russia
45. Turkey
46. India
47. Bangladesh
48. Egypt
49. Pakistan
50. Zimbabwe

With only 50 nations evaluated, obviously many are not addressed. Presumably, data are not available. Still, it's seems odd for virtually the entire continent of Africa to be excluded from the rankings. Only South Africa, Egypt and Zimbabwe are represented. Also, a number of Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Southeast Asian countries are missing from the list.

Mosque Cleric Arrested in Burqa

(Islamabad, Pakistan) Clashes at the Red Mosque, or Lal Masjid, on Tuesday left a reported two dozen dead while under siege by government forces. Today, one of the senior clerics tried to sneak out.

Abdul Aziz Ghazi was captured on Wednesday as he tried to escape the compound where more than 1,000 students and their leaders are believed to be holding out.

"I can confirm his arrest. He was trying to escape with the girls and was wearing a burqa," Mohammad Ali Durrani, Pakistan's information minister, told AFP news agency.

[ ... ]

Television footage showed security officials dragging Aziz towards a black car before he was driven away. Officials said he was caught in a screening centre set up to check people leaving the mosque.

"He was the last in a group of women all wearing the same clothes. He was wearing a burqa that also covered his eyes," a senior security official told AFP.

"Our men spotted his unusual demeanour. The rest of the girls looked like girls but he was taller and had a pot belly."

Heh.

Al Gore's Inconvenient Youth

(Laguna Niguel, California) Twenty-four-year-old Albert Gore III, son of the former Vice President, was pulled over by police about 2:15AM for traveling 100MPH down the San Diego Freeway.

A search of Gore's vehicle, a Toyota Prius, resulted in police finding marijuana, Xanax, Valium, Vicodin and a prescription drug for treating attention deficit disorder (ADD). Gore was unable to produce prescriptions for the drugs.

Gore was arrested for alleged possession of marijuana and prescription drugs. He was booked into the Santa Ana Jail with bail set at $20,000.

Tipster slwlion remarks that Al Gore should be proud of his son since he was driving a hybrid.

Personally, I'm surprised by this incident. Who knew that a Prius could go 100MPH?

Men in Burqas

(Sarajevo, Bosnia) Armed men decked out in Muslim burqas robbed the Union Bank in Sarajevo of $40,000, authorities reported yesterday.

"Everything happened in a moment. Two persons in black niqabs (burqas) came into the bank. I thought they were ladies," the Sarajevo daily Oslobodjenje quoted bank customer Mehmedalija Komarac as saying.

It's not known whether the men were actual Muslims and stealing money for terrorist ambitions or common criminals using the burqas to hide in plain view and steal money for drugs, sex and American music.

Either way, there should be some suspicion whenever a person appears in public completely costumed in female Muslim attire. Hell, it could be anyone from Osama bin Laden to Kim Jong-il.

Teacher Gets Hand-Slap for Long-Time Sex with Student

(Roseville, California) In April 2007, a 28-year-old teacher at Silverado Middle School, Kelly Christine Spaich, was arrested for allegedly engaging in a six-month sexual relationship with a 16-year-old former student.

Today, Spaich pleaded no contest to felony unlawful sexual intercourse and to misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Placer Superior Court Judge Robert P. McElhany sentenced Spaich to four years of felony probation and ordered her to serve 400 hours of community service. It's not known whether she will be required to register as a sex offender.

Judge McElhany said Spaich is eligible for alternative sentencing and Spaich's attorney, Tim Balcom, confirmed that she would apply for it. It's not clear what the alternative sentencing entails, however, it must be more lenient than probation.

In any event, Judge McElhany was in a charitable mood today.


[Update 07/06/07]

Kelly Spaich's husband weighs in with his angry thoughts in an interview with News10.net.

"By her having some type of probation and not getting any time, she doesn't quite know what she's actually done," said her husband. "To me she's a typical manipulator, a predator."

[ ... ]

Jon Spaich, who did not want News10 to show his face in the interview, said that in early March he became suspicious of his wife. "Gaps of time and expenditures that just didn't make sense, credit cards that didn't make sense, cell phone bills that didn't make sense," he said.

Once he felt his suspicions were on target, he notified police. "I did the right thing. I feel sorry for the (16-year-old) kid, his family, our daughter, my family." Around that same time, he filed for divorce.

Police said the affair may have gone back six months before the arrest, creating more emotional turmoil for the husband. "Our child was four months old and that's something I have a hard time believing and coming to grips with," he said.

"I have lost everything in my life and it's not fair. It's easy for her ... to change her last name and use her maiden name (Kerrigan), when my daughter and I, we can't. My family can't. Our name has been drug through the mud and we had nothing to do with it," he said.

His words ring with heartbreak and despair. Meanwhile, his wife gets an alternative to punishment, which means essentially no punishment.

Four-Year-Old Killed for Interrupting Lovers

(Akita Prefecture, Japan) A 31-year-old mother, Mika Shindo, and her 42-year-old lover, high school janitor Hiroshi Hatakeyama, were making love in the front seat of a parked car with Mika's 4-year-old son, Ryosuke, asleep in the back seat. The boy woke up and thought his mother was being attacked so he started hitting Hatakeyama.

"Ryosuke wouldn't stop crying because he thought his mother was being hurt, so Hatakeyama withdrew from Mika, who turned around and punched her little boy in the face," the [Shukan Shincho newspaper] reporter says. "Hatakeyama then jumped in, smashing a can of coffee into the boy's face any number of times, then throttling him until he stopped breathing."

Ryosuke was still breathing at this stage, but it wasn't going to last much longer.

"Hatakeyama was worried that he was going to get caught for bashing Ryosuke, so he convinced Mika to dump the boy. He told her that he was about to be made a full-time employee and that she could go and live with him as long as she promised not to tell anybody he was involved in the boy's injuries," the reporter tells Shukan Shincho. "Mika believed him and hurled Ryosuke into the rice paddy ditch and they left him there."

One month after the discovery of Ryosuke's body, Mika Shindo and Hiroshi Hatakeyama were arrested for the boy's murder. The evidence that broke the case was a unique imprint on the boy's face left by a ring his mother was wearing when she punched him.

Playboy Playmate Pinched

(Oberlin, Ohio) Jennifer Lyn Jackson, Playboy Playmate from April 1989, was arrested this past weekend on charges of allegedly driving under the influence, possession of drugs and theft.

Police pulled 38-year-old Jackson over on State Route 58 for allegedly driving erratically and found marijuana in her car. It's also alleged that Jackson stole gasoline at a Murphy's station.

Notably, this is not the first time that Jackson has had legal troubles. In March 2005, Jackson was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property resulting from a burglary investigation. It's not known how the case was resolved.

Companion posts at The Jawa Report.


[Update 07/31/07]

Jackson arrested again.

Democrat Values: Golf With Strippers

(Toledo, Ohio) From a report citing a Blade article, the Lucas County Democrat Party golf outing at a public course last Friday featured local strippers providing drinks and entertainment. One official remarked that "he witnessed one woman lift up her top and reveal her chest to a group of golfers. She then lowered her shorts for their benefit."

Hubba! Hubba! My score is already impeded by trees and sand traps. I can't imagine the obstacles posed by bare chests and lowered shorts.

In any event, the Democrat-stripper connection reported by the liberal media isn't the sensational headliner it likely would be had the participants been Republicans.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Woman Shoots, Kills Intruder

(Hagerstown, Maryland) An intruder with a .22 caliber rifle, James Michael Conely, 32, is dead after being shot and stabbed about 3:40AM Sunday morning by a woman protecting her home. Conely and an accomplice, 21-year-old Michael John Watkins, forced their way into an apartment occupied by 22-year-old Carri Humphrey and 24-year-old Michelle Reeder.

Long story short, Reeder got her gun, shot Conely and he died. The women were able to flee from the apartment.

Later, Watkins was apprehended nearby by sheriff's deputies and he confessed to the break-in. He said he didn't know that Conely was armed.

Watkins faces multiple burglary and armed robbery charges.

Aussie Accused of Abducting NC Boy

(Greenville, North Carolina) A 31-year-old Australian woman, Tamara Broome, was jailed on June 25 for allegedly traveling from Australia to North Carolina to abduct a 17-year-old boy she met over the Internet.

Broome has been charged with abduction of a child.

The chief of detectives in the city of Greenville, Lee Moore, says the pair began a relationship while playing World of Warcraft.

"The best that we can discover is that they wanted to meet," he said.

"To be honest with you, if someone were to fly from here to Australia or them to here, there's got to be some kind of romance somewhere."

Detective Moore says the pair had been communicating for about a year.

"What we understand she was trying to do was to get him to leave the country and go to Australia to meet her," he said.

It's widely reported that some people believe Broome's arrest was a "set up" by the boy's parents.

Broome was booked into the Pitt County Detention Center on $2.4 million bail. A court appearance is scheduled for July 11th.

Tip: Barry


[Update 08/07/07]

Broome takes plea.

Good Humor Sex Offenders

(Illinois) Two ice cream truck drivers have been arrested in the last two weeks for being registered sex offenders in contact with children.

Raymond Mitchell, 58, was charged Saturday after DuPage County sheriff's detectives allegedly saw him talking to children while selling ice cream from a truck parked near Glen Ellyn, police said.

It's the second suburban arrest in a week in which an ice cream truck driver is accused of having illegal contact with children.

Last week, ice cream truck driver Douglas Jones of Aurora was arrested in Kane County for allegedly exposing himself to a 3-year-old boy. Jones, 46, is a substitute teacher, a member of the Kane County Regional Board of Education and an ordained minister, according to authorities.

They're everywhere.

Teacher Meredith Kane Guilty

(Lawrence, Kansas) In March, a 24-year-old first-year teacher at Lawrence High School, Meredith L. Kane, was arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with a 15-year-old male student.

Kane faced two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and two counts of sodomy.

Today, Kane pleaded guilty before Douglas County District Court Judge Stephen Six to one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a student in accordance with an agreement with District Attorney Charles Branson. In exchange, one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and two counts of sodomy were dropped.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 12th when Kane faces 55 to 247 months in prison.


[Update 08/28/07]

Out on bail awaiting her sentencing, Kane decides to violate her conditions of release. She ignored the no-contact order issued by the court. As a result, her fanny was planted back in the Douglas County Jail yesterday at 6PM.


[Update 12/20/07]

Meredith Kane sentenced to 59 months in prison.

Mrs. Teacher Clobbers Cops

(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) A 26-year-old social studies teacher at Southern Lehigh High School, Katie Quartuch, was arrested last week for an alleged physical altercation with two off-duty police officers.

Quartuch faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, obstructing the administration of law, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. She was arraigned before District Judge Diane Repyneck of Lower Saucon Township and released on $25,000 bail.

The charges resulted from an incident at Starters Riverport restaurant about 2 AM when Quartuch attacked the officers as they were attempting to usher another customer from the establishment. She hit one officer in the chest and another was kicked in the groin. Quartuch's husband, Matthew, 32, was cited for disorderly conduct.

For being a social studies teacher, Quartuch was arguably quite anti-social.

Porn Kitten Goes Down on Traffic Beef

(Wilson County, Tennessee) Tennessee-based 21-year-old porn starlet, Justis Richert (aka "Barbie Cummings"), was issued a speeding ticket by Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Randy Moss. During the traffic stop, Trooper Moss apparently found some illegal pills in Richert's possession and, according to Richert, he agreed to throw them away in return for oral sex.

However, once it became known that Richert traded her services to avoid an illegal pills charge, Trooper Moss, 40, resigned his position.

Under her porn film name, Cummings wrote on her blog that Moss took photos and video of their encounter in May and sent copies to her.

She also wrote that she told the trooper she made "dirty movies" and they then watched sex videos together in his patrol car.

It appears that Richert couldn't keep her trap shut about the whole situation and Moss lost his career.

Presumably, Richert/Cummings thought she could also blow off the speeding ticket so she didn't appear in court on Friday. By failing to appear, she lost the chance to have the charge dismissed because Moss wasn't in court. She now must pay $159 within two weeks.

Companion posts at The Jawa Report and Conservative Thinking.


[Update 10/17/07]

Trooper Moss indicted.

Jeni Dinkel Plea Deal Rejected

(Covington, Kentucky) In April, 51-year-old Hollywood makeup artist Jeni Lee Dinkel was charged with rape and sodomy for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old Catholic schoolboy.

In May, Dinkel pleaded guilty to third-degree rape in accordance with a plea deal negotiated with Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders. Because Dinkel has no criminal record and the fact that she's a girl, Sanders said he would recommend to Kenton Circuit Judge Gregory Bartlett that Dinkel be given probation when sentenced on July 2nd.

Today, Judge Bartlett rejected the Dinkel plea deal. It's back to the drawing board for Sanders and the defense. Obviously, Judge Bartlett thinks as I do. Probation for rape is ludicrous.

Another court appearance is scheduled for July 16th.


[Update 08/09/07]

Dinkel sentenced.


[Update 12/02/07]

Dinkel released from jail.


[Update 02/19/08]

Dinkel arrested for violating her probation.

Mrs. Speaker Has Terror Connection

Isn't this special?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has disclosed that she holds stock valued at up to $15,000 in Alcatel-Lucent (formerly Alcatel SA), a company with extensive investments in Iran and Sudan -- nations that sponsor terrorism.

Alcatel-Lucent provides data transmission hardware, communications switching networks and underwater fiber optic cables for Iran, Sudan, North Korea and others.

Tip: slwlion

Segregated Saudi Banks

(Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) Word is that segregation of men and women in the banking business will soon be strictly enforced. The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) officials have refused to confirm the imposition of a new directive but admit that segregation is expected.

According to various reports by news agencies that have spoken to bank managers and women bankers, Saudi authorities have ordered banks to separate female and male workers at their headquarters where they used to work together.

Reportedly, authorities have given banks until the end of the summer to implement the measures.

The banks are expected to provide separate floors, elevators, entrance and cafeterias for the men and women.

The Ministry of Labor will send inspection teams to verify compliance. Regarding the Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) bank employees, the segregation rules are considered not applicable, rather an unspoken "don't tell, don't die" policy is in general acceptance.

Sexual Frustration Among Saudi Youth

Check out this excerpt from a new book, The Islamist, by former radical Muslim, Ed Husain, 2007.

After a month in Jeddah I heard from an Asian taxi driver about a Filipino worker who had brought his new bride to live with him in Jeddah. After visiting the Balad shopping district the couple caught a taxi home. Some way through their journey the Saudi driver complained that the car was not working properly and perhaps the man could help push it. The passenger obliged. Within seconds the Saudi driver had sped off with the man's wife in his car and, months later, there was still no clue as to her whereabouts. We had heard stories of the abduction of women from taxis by sex-deprived Saudi youths.

Why had the veil and segregation not prevented such behaviour? My Saudi acquaintances, many of them university graduates, argued strongly that, on the contrary, it was the veil and other social norms that were responsible for such widespread sexual frustration among Saudi youth.

So, the veil and other social norms cause kidnappings? I think not. Criminals cause kidnappings, despite their motivations. Nevertheless, the book is worth a read for the anecdotal experiences of a reformed jihadist.