New Jersey
Man caught hawking police goods at Taco Bell
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Police in Trenton, New Jersey say a man sneaked into police headquarters and stole a police radio, a computer monitor and a sergeant's attache case.
Anthony Williams was arrested Sunday after authorities say he tried to sell the radio to customers at a Taco Bell drive-through.
Police say a video shows Williams attempting to get into the police station, but being turned away.
Later, authorities say the 41-year-old walked into an office when no one was manning the security station in the lobby.
They say Williams spoke on the police radio, which helped police realize the device was missing.
It was not immediately clear if Williams had a lawyer.
California
Police: Victims aid police in church attack
RICHMOND, California (AP) -- Police say the two victims wounded during a brazen shooting inside a Northern California church are brothers who likely knew why they were targeted.
Richmond police Sgt. Bisa French says the brothers, aged 14 and 19, had initially been reluctant to aid investigators, but have since begun cooperating.
She tells the San Francisco Chronicle that the teens have provided leads on two of the men involved in the shooting Sunday at the New Gethsemane Church of God in Christ in Richmond. The suspects are thought to be in their late teens or early 20s.
French says the brothers probably have an idea why the three men came looking for them.
The teens suffered non-life threatening injuries and have been released from a hospital.
North Carolina
State Supreme Court hears 'life' sentences dispute
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The North Carolina Supreme Court is hearing arguments about the prisoners who are seeking freedom from their decades-old life sentences.
The justices took up the cases of Faye Brown and Alford Jones on Tuesday morning. A judge had ruled in December that both Brown and Jones should be released immediately from the life sentences they received in the 1970s. State lawyers have appealed to keep them behind bars.
A Supreme Court decision could affect the cases of dozens of convicts like Brown and Jones who received life sentences between 1974 and 1978. Those terms are defined as no more than 80 years long, and the inmates contend that sentence-reduction credits mean they've served their time.
Maryland
In murder trial, women choose to go without lawyer
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Two women won't have the benefit of lawyers when they go on trial on charges they starved a 1-year-old boy to death while part of a religious cult.
Queen Antoinette and Trevia Williams have opted to represent themselves at their murder trial in Baltimore.
They're accused of denying food and water to toddler Javon Thompson because he wouldn't say "Amen" after meals.
Javon's mother, Ria Ramkissoon, was part of the cult and pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death. She remains jailed, but is likely to be released after she testifies against the other cult members.
The trial was scheduled to begin last week but was delayed because of snowstorms that shut down Baltimore's courts.
California
Affidavit: Teen suspect confesses to fatal stabbing
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- One of two teens charged as an adult for the fatal stabbing of a classmate has told police that he and another teen killed 15-year-old Michael Russell.
According to a search warrant affidavit, two days after the slaying 15-year-old suspect Jae Williams told San Jose police that he and another classmate, 16-year-old Randy Thompson, were responsible for the killing.
Prosecutors say Santa Teresa High School sophomore Russell was found dead in his backyard on Nov. 10 by his uncle.
The affidavit states that investigators took a pair of shoes, crumpled duct tape, an iPod, a slotted screwdriver and other items from the suspects' homes.
Thompson and Williams face life in prison if convicted, and have not entered pleas. They are due in court March 5.
Lawyers for Thompson and Williams did not return calls seeking comment.
Arizona
Phoenix couple indicted in child abuse case
PHOENIX (AP) -- Authorities say a grand jury has indicted a Phoenix couple on child abuse charges involving their 14-year-old daughter.
Police say the malnourished girl was locked in a bathroom without running water for two months, beaten with metal rods and forced to exercise until exhaustion because her father said she had stolen food and cheated on a home-school test.
Authorities say 33-year-old Scott Bass and 31-year-old Andrea Bass, who is the girl's stepmother, were arrested Feb. 4.
Maricopa County prosecutors say a grand jury indicted Scott Bass and his wife on three counts of child abuse and one count of kidnapping. It was unclear Monday whether they had hired lawyers.
The girl reportedly escaped through the attic and rode her bike to a coffee shop, where a worker called police.
Massachusetts
Ex-dispatcher set for trial in husband's slaying
BOSTON (AP) -- A former Boston police dispatcher is going to trial in the stabbing death of her husband.
Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of Sharon Fitzpatrick, who is charged with second-degree murder.
The 38-year-old Boston woman is accused of stabbing Sylvester Mitchell to death during an argument in their Boston home on May 5, 2007, Mitchell's 40th birthday. Prosecutors say Fitzpatrick was angry at her husband because he came home later than expected that morning.
Her former lawyer said she stabbed her husband in self-defense. Fitzpatrick's trial lawyer, Rosemary Scapicchio, would not comment on whether she plans to argue self-defense.
Fitzpatrick worked as a civilian police dispatcher for about two years. She was placed on administrative leave after being charged.
Published: Wed, Feb 17, 2010
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://test.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
