National Roundup

Florida Prosecutors to seek death penalty in girl's death MIAMI (AP) -- Prosecutors in Florida say they will seek the death penalty against the couple accused in the slaying of their 10-year-old adopted daughter. Prosecutor Gail Levine made the announcement Monday morning as Jorge and Carmen Barahona appeared in a Miami-Dade County courtroom. The Barahonas, who face first-degree murder charges and a slew of child abuse and neglect charges, both pleaded not guilty. Jorge Barahona cried in court on Monday and wore a vest used for inmates on suicide watch. Authorities say for months the parents hit twins Victor and Nubia with a shoe, whip or broom, bound their hands and feet, and locked them in a bathroom, sometimes for days. Nubia's body was found on Valentine's Day in the back of Jorge Barahona's truck. Victor, who survived, was doused in a toxic chemical. Vermont Police use DNA hit to solve Bristol burglary BRISTOL, Vt. (AP) -- Vermont State Police say DNA tests of blood left at the scene of Bristol burglary helped lead them to a suspect. Police say 39-year-old Andrew Carter of Bristol was cited into court on Sunday after DNA tests linked him to an April 2009 burglary on the Lower Notch Road in Bristol. Investigators found blood and submitted it for DNA testing. It came back with a match to Carter who had provided a DNA sample while in jail in New York on other charges. Carter was tested again last summer and the samples matched. Carter is due in court next month to answer the burglary charge. Georgia High court rejects appeal from death row inmate WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, clearing the way for the state to resume planning for Davis' execution. The justices on Monday refused to order the federal appeals court in Atlanta to examine Davis' case and they declined to do so themselves. In 2009, the high court ordered a federal judge to examine evidence Davis said would show he was innocent of the 1989 killing for which he has been sentenced to death. But the judge decided last year that Davis had failed to clear his name. At the moment, executions are on hold in Georgia after federal agents seized the state's supply of a key lethal injection drug. Kentucky Farmers target tobacco merchant in suit LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Several Kentucky farmers have filed a class-action lawsuit against a tobacco merchant. Their lawsuit claims that Universal Leaf North America failed to honor contracts to purchase burley tobacco from them at the end of the 2010 crop year, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. The suit, filed last week in Harrison Circuit Court, says hundreds of farmers have lost out on millions. The plaintiffs say agents of Universal Leaf North America refused to accept tobacco. The suit is seeking monetary damages. A phone message left with Universal's parent company was not immediately returned Monday. Pennsylvania Celebrity pursuer gets probation in cop case MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- A northwestern Pennsylvania woman who has targeted Michael Jordan and Paris Hilton in frivolous lawsuits has been sentenced to one year on probation and ordered to undergo a mental evaluation. Thirty-eight-year-old Lisa Miceli was convicted in February of harassing the police in her hometown of Meadville, about 90 miles north of Pittsburgh. Authorities say she kept calling to complain about Internet postings on her life. Miceli sued Jordan in 2004 claiming he fathered her son, forcing the former NBA star to get court orders keeping her away from him even after paternity tests were negative. Two years ago, a Crawford County judge dismissed her suit against Paris Hilton that alleged Hilton tried to interfere with Miceli's relationship with a prince in Dubai. The Meadville Tribune says Miceli denied having a mental health problem at Friday's sentencing, apologized and then told a judge she still plans to get married in Dubai. Alabama State chief justice pushes sentencing revisions BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama's chief justice says bills that would change the state's prison sentencing and the corrections system are aimed at reducing the prison population and saving money that could be used to improve public safety. Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb says the bills introduced in the Legislature this year would save $106 million in prison costs within five years. The measures call for putting fewer non-violent offenders in prison. They would be diverted to special courts or community-based corrections. Cobb says the changes would reverse a trend that has sent prison populations and costs soaring but has had a limited impact on the crime rate. The reforms were recommended by the Alabama Public Safety and Sentencing Coalition, which includes legislators, judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, law enforcement officials and others. New York Court throws out NYC officer's $5M award NEW YORK (AP) -- An appeals court has thrown out a verdict that awarded $5 million to a former New York City police officer who accidentally shot himself in the knee. Anderson Alexander had sued the city, claiming he accidentally shot himself in 2002 while leaning back in a faulty chair in Brooklyn's 73rd Precinct. He retired from the force after undergoing several surgeries. A jury in 2008 awarded him $5 million in damages. It found the city was negligent despite testimony that nothing broke on the chair. A Supreme Court justice declined to throw out the verdict. But last week, the Appellate Division overruled the judge, saying there was no evidence to show the city knew the chair was defective. Alexander's lawyer, Matthew Naparty, said his client is evaluating his options. Published: Tue, Mar 29, 2011