National Roundup

Alabama Man sentenced in 2005 killing of roommate GREENSBORO, Ala. (AP) -- A Hale County Circuit Court judge has sentenced a Moundville man to 20 years in prison for killing his roommate in 2005. Michael Wayne Colburn pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Hale County Circuit Court on Tuesday. Hale County Assistant District Attorney Timothy Evans says the 40-year-old Colburn admitted killing 62-year-old Carlos Pursifull at a mobile home where the older man had let him live for about three weeks. Colburn initially reported finding Pursifull bleeding on the floor. Evans says someone went to authorities early this year and said Colburn had admitted responsibility. Evans says Colburn then admitted killing Pursifull during a dispute. Missouri Lawmaker sued over unpaid tab for birthday party ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A hotel is suing Missouri state Sen. Robin Wright-Jones over an unpaid tab at her 60th birthday party, claiming Capitol lobbyists picked up some -- but not all -- of the cost. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that the suit was filed this week by the Four Seasons Hotel, which shares a building with Lumiere Casino in downtown St. Louis. Wright-Jones, a Democrat from St. Louis, did not respond to messages seeking comment. The lawsuit filed in St. Louis claims the tab for the party in January 2010 was $6,000. It alleges Wright-Jones owes the Four Seasons $3,658 for the unpaid portion and additional costs. The newspaper cites court papers and other public documents suggesting that at least $2,000 of the bill was paid by lobbyists who work in Jefferson City. South Dakota Two men sentenced for assaulting hunter ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) -- Two men have been sent to prison for beating a hunter in South Dakota's Dewey County. Twenty-two-year-old Brandt Payne of Watertown and 21-year-old Tanner Nash of Isabel pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the case. The American News reports that they each were sentenced to serve six years in prison. Authorities say Payne and Nash beat a 30-year-old Aberdeen man who was in the Isabel area to hunt in mid-November. Court documents say that Payne and Nash continued to punch and kick the man outside a bar even after he was unconscious. State's Attorney Steve Aberle (AB'-ur-lee) says Payne and Nash also were ordered to pay for the victim's medical bills and lost wages. Wisconsin Appeals court up holds conviction in baby's death MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A state appeals court says a man accused of shaking an infant to death was properly convicted. A jury in 2007 convicted Craig C. Tolonen of first-degree reckless homicide in the death of 6-month-old Serenitee Halbert about a year earlier in Allenton. Tolonen told police he shook the baby and threw her onto a couch when she wouldn't stop crying. Tolonen, now 27, argues on appeal that his statements should have been suppressed, prosecutors didn't prove his actions killed the baby and he deserves a new trial because research on shaken baby syndrome has advanced. The 2nd District Court of Appeals ruled police properly questioned him and medical evidence tied the baby's injuries to Tolonen's actions. An attorney listed for Tolonen in online court records didn't immediately return a message. Montana 4 middle schoolers charged, me th found at school BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) -- Four students at a Billings middle school face charges in Youth Court after one student reportedly brought methamphetamines to school and three others tried to help cover it up. Sgt. Kevin Iffland says a 14-year-old boy is charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs after police say he brought five small baggies of meth to Castle Rock Middle School last week. Another boy is charged with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs by accountability for reportedly helping conceal three of the baggies in the boys' bathroom. Two 14-year-old girls are charged with misdemeanor obstruction of justice after two of those baggies were flushed down a toilet. Principal Shaun Harrington says the students were placed on emergency suspension pending administrative meetings. Kansas Nurses plead guilty to pain killer conspiracy TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Two Kansas nurses have admitted they conspired in 2009 with a pharmacist to illegally dispense painkillers. Thirty-seven-year-old Denise Carlson, of Riley, pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday in Topeka to conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone and Oxycontin. Prosecutors are recommending a two-year prison term Carlson admitted conspiring with 31-year-old Christine Swanson, another nurse at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, to obtain the drugs after learning Swanson's sister was a pharmacist at the Salina K-Mart. Swanson pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and obstruction in exchange for the government's recommendation of a three-year prison term. Both women face sentencing on June 13. Pharmacist Katherine Surowski is set to go on trial June 14 on charges of conspiracy, possession of controlled substances by misrepresentation and health care fraud. New York NY court hears case of missed police evidence ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York's top court will hear arguments whether a New York Police Department sergeant's failure to get statements from two witnesses to a stabbing in a Times Square theater means a man's assault conviction should be overturned. The trial judge refused to let defense lawyers cross-examine the sergeant about the unknown bystanders, who he overheard saying the injured man pulled the knife -- not suspect Kenneth Hayes -- but did not question because he was busy securing the scene. The judge also ruled the police failure to get their contact information didn't violate the Brady requirement that prosecutors disclose information to the defense that could prove their client innocent. A midlevel court divided 3-2 in rejecting Hayes' appeal. He was also found guilty of weapon possession in the scuffle with Charles Shell, although Hayes claimed self-defense. Arguments were scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Published: Thu, Mar 24, 2011