Emily Sander College Student Needlessly Killed, Israel Mireless Sought as Suspect 12-20

It has been suggested to Legal Pub that Cupuacu, a tree found in the Amazon Rainforest, has numerous health benefits such as: increased libido, reduced signs of aging, and high antioxidant content. So is it true, especially about the increased libido? We could have asked some what of an expert in stimulation of libido, Emily Sander, aka Zoey Zane, but someone apparently needlessly took her life without reason. Sander was a college student at Butler Community College in Kansas. On the side, she apparently stared as an internet stimulator of libido (porn star.) By all accounts to date, Emily Sanders was a kind hearted person who will be greatly missed by both family and fans of her website.

Emily Sander was way too young to die. At 18 her whole life was ahead of her. Emily was last seen leaving an El Dorado bar Friday with Israel Mireles, age 24. Police subsequently found large quantities of blood in his Kansas motel room. A body found in Kansas appears to be that of Emily. A physical description of the body found about 50 miles east of El Dorado, Kansas matches Emily Sander.

Israel Mireles (pictured above) is the subject of a massive manhunt. His rental car was found abandoned Tuesday in Vernon, Texas. Israel Mireles is innocent until proven guilty. After all, there may be a legitimate excuse for the blood in his motel room. For example, it could have been an exploding cell phone that caused her death. You know, like the alleged accidental explosion of an L.G. phone in Seoul South Korea. You know the story, a quarry worker supposedly died when his cell phone battery exploded. (Oh no, that won't work. the co-worker of the victim admitted that he made up the story after accidentally striking the victim with a drilling vehicle. The South Korean victim, Seo, was found dead Wednesday with a melted phone battery in his shirt pocket. Police and a local doctor originally agreed that a malfunctioning battery may have killed the man. But the autopsy exposed the lie as Seo's damage to internal organs was too great to be caused by a cell phone explosion. )

If you see this scumbag (sorry, gentleman) please call Crime Stoppers!

Update 12-14: Israel Mireless is charged with aggravated indecent liberties with Victoria Martens (age 16). Mireless is the chief suspect in the death of 18-year-old Emily Sander.
Update 12-20: Busted! Mireless the chief suspect in the slaying of Emily Sander has been charged with capital murder, rape and criminal sodomy. Mireles was captured in Mexico yesterday. A U.S. marshall says Mireles is being held in Mexico until he can be extradited to the U.S.

Lawyer Bad Judgment - by Surfer Dude

The Red Cross Executive Dude may have exercised bad judgment. But it was nothing like alleged stupidity of a North Carolina lawyer. I picked up this scoop while visiting Wrightsville Beach. Great place for inventing air planes but not too impressive for boarding. So being bored with the boarding, I thought I would share beach legend with Legal Pub.

Supposedly a Charlotte, North Carolina lawyer purchased a box of rare and expensive cigars, The lawyer then insured the cigars against loss from water damage and fire. Within a month he smoked all of the cigars and then filed a claim against the insurance company. In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were destroyed 'in a series of small fires.' Intuitively, the insurance company refused to pay because the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued and won!
Even though the judge ruled for the attorney, he stated that but for the ambiguous language in the policy, the claim would be frivolous. However, because the lawyer held a policy which warranted that the cigars were insurable in the event they were destroyed by fire (and what is considered to be unacceptable fire' was not defined) the insurer was obligated to pay the claim.

Rather than appeal, the insurance company paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss.
But the story supposedly does not end their. After the lawyer cashed the check, the police arrest him on 24 counts of arson!The lawyers own testimony from the previous case was used by the prosecution to convict the lawyer of intentionally burning his insured property. Supposedly the lawyer was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.

Now Snoops will say the story is not true, but it certainly provided great entertainment on an otherwise dull day at the beach.

Surfer Dude

Don't Have Your Honey Where You Make Your Money, Mark Everson, FORMER Red Cross CEO- by Legal Pub

It can be detrimental to job security to violate Legal Pub's fundamental principle: Don't Have Your Honey Where You Make Your Money. Mark Everson, former head of the Red Cross, resigned because of a "personal relationship" with a subordinate employee. According to the Red Cross, this "reflected poor judgment ... and diminished his ability to lead the organization." Bad judgment, yes, but is that fair to ask for his resignation?

Why is it poor judgment? Statistics document that the work place is the number one place where people meet their significant other. "Poor judgment?" Everson is no dummy. He was formerly a corporate executive and commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. He was hired as the CEO of the Red Cross in May of 2007 to help improve the charity's public image post Hurricane Katrina. Consequently, at first glance, one would be hesitant to criticize Everson's decision making without more facts.

So, if it is common for work place romances to take place and Everson is a bright guy, why was it poor judgment? Everson is 53 years old, married and has two children. (Enough said.)

Was he fired or did he quit? The Red Cross asked for and received Everson's resignation. Apparently, the Red Cross learned approximately 10 days ago that Everson was involved in a personal relationship with a woman on the staff. The Red Cross board apparently was pleased with Everson's performance prior to learning of his personal relationship with a staff member.

What does Everson have to say? "I am resigning for personal and family reasons, and deeply regret it is impossible for me to continue a job so recently undertaken."

Is there a problem with turnover at the Red Cross? Everson's resignation is par for the course. Two women preceding Everson as president resigned amid conflict with the board of governors. (Bernadette Healy after the Sept. 11 attacks and Marsha Evans after Katrina.) Jack McGuire, served as interim president between Evans' departure and Everson's appointment.
Who takes over the position? Mary S. Elcano, Red Cross general counsel, was appointed as interim president and CEO.

Where does this leave Everson? In a July Associated Press article after taking the job, Everson had said, "My 18-year-old daughter said, 'People will like you now."' After his recent publicity concerning bad judgment involving a relationship with a staff member, it is unlikely that his daughter's prognostication as to his popularity will remain true.

2-3-10 Update: To comment any further on the article, email legalpub@legalpub.com Your comment will then be posted. This procedure is simply to reduce the number of spam posting that has started to occur.

Marriage Can Be A Terrifying Experience; Ask Haider al-Bahadli!

Sure, we have now all heard the Marriage Strike Advocates warning of the pitfalls of marriage. We have even seen how husbands like Scott Peterson and Drew Peterson are suspected of killing their wives. But get a look at this dangerous Baghdad beauty of a bride. Soldiers stopped a wedding party at a check point and discovered one of the homeliest brides that ever existed. Iraqi Defense Ministry official's revealed that the bride was Haider al-Bahadli, a partially bearded male terrorist wearing a white bride's dress and veil.

According to the Iraqi Defense Ministry, Bahadli and "groom" Abbas al-Dobbi are both wanted in connection with terrorism. An alternative charge would be "nightmare bride."

Peggy Fossett Seeks Court Declaration That Millionaire Husband Steve Fossett is Dead. Update 2-16-08

Steve Fossett on the surface appeared to have every thing. He was a millionaire adventurer who had on previous occasions laughed in the face of danger. For example, Fossett had previously survived a 30,000-foot fall in a crippled hot air balloon. He had successfully completed a dangerous swim of the English channel and had once survived being stranded for hours in shark-infested seas. Fossett completed Alaska's Iditarod race. He climbed some of the world's tallest mountains, sailed and flew around the world, and set several aviation records.
All of these successful adventures now seem less relevant after Steve Fossett disappeared in September while flying his plane. His wife, Peggy Fossett, has now asked a Cook County (Illinois) court to declare Fossett legally dead.

"As painful as it is for Mrs. Fossett, other members of the family and his many friends, it is time to initiate this process," said attorney Michael A. LoVallo. This is the first legal step in settling and estate estimated to be well over $10,000,000.

Steve Fossett was 63 when he disappeared Sept. 3. His single-engine plane took off near Yerington, Nev., and was heading toward Bishop, California when it disappeared. Fossett was supposedly on a pleasure flight according to court documents. He did not have a parachute. He was not wearing his watch that had a transponder. While there was a transponder aboard, no signal was received. Fossett had only a single water bottle.

According to his wife's petition, "Fossett did not have any reason to disappear... (he) was happy and passionately involved in his pursuit of adventure."

What is the rush? There may be millions of reasons... perhaps some have to do with money? Difference between Drew Peterson who claims his wife is still alive and Peggy Fossett who seeks a declaration that her husband is dead? An educated guess is over $10,000,000 and perhaps freedom to choose residency for the next 40 years. But who really knows? In a perfect world, Peterson's wife turns up with Fossett joyfully pursuing outdoor adventures in the wild which end up being shown on the Discovery Channel. Steve Fossett, R.I.P. you will undoubtedly be missed by your friends and family.

Update 2-16-08 Despite the John Darwin possibility (see Legal Pub Story) and the fact that no wreckage or body was ever found, the court has declared Steve Fossett officially dead.
Update 10-3-08: The plane wreck has been found. One source reports that A small amount of human remains has been found in what remains of the plane. The wreckage was found in California's Sierra Nevada on Thursday. However, according to NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker, "very little" remains were found among the debris. Hikers found a sweatshirt and credit card believed to be Fossetts. It is doubtful that anyone could have survived the crash.

Linda Hogan Files for Divorce From Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea). Mary Delgado Punches Boyfriend

Does Hogan really know best? Having money, a reality t.v. show and a beautiful home in Florida is not always enough. Sure women like strong confident men. But they also like caring sensitive, good listeners. Go figure. The A.P. has reported that Linda Hogan has filed for divorce from Hulk Hogan. You may recall Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) from the early days of wrestling. He became even more popular when he appeared in Rocky III. He wrestled around with an undersized Sylvester Stalone. The divorce is filed in Pinellas County. Don't be surprised if their reality t.v. series does not cover the split up and ensuing custody issues.

Update 5-12-08: Both Linda and Terry Bollea spoke on their son, Nick's, behalf. Nick was sentenced to 8 months in jail and 5 years probation for the alcohol related accident that resulted in severe injury to his friend.

Update 4-17-09: Hulk Hogan claims that his comments to Rolling Stone magazine that he can "totally understand" O.J. Simpson are being misunderstood. Hulk had stated that he "took the high road" and "didn't do the O.J. Simpson thing" despite his bitter divorce. (No matter what you meant, not a smart statement, Hulk!)

Mary Delgado: In other reality T.V. news, Mary Delgado, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer cheerleader, was accused of assaulting her live in boyfriend because she punched him in the mouth. Delgado was proposed in 2004 to on the reality TV show "The Bachelor" by Byron Velvick (fishing pro.)

Mary Delgado (a.k.a. Maribel Liliana Delgado) was apparently charged with battery and being under the influence of alcohol. The name of the victim was not officially released but everyone and his sister assumes it is Velvick. The couple were apparently arguing in the car. Mary apparently punched Byron Velvick in the face and Mary's engagement ring cut his lip. To listen to see ABC video interview and listen to the 911 call click on the link. LINK

Sean Taylor: Meanwhile in unrelated news, Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor was apparently shot in the leg at his home. He was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital where he later died of complications from blood loss. See Viper's comments for more details.

Be Thankful You are Not Warren Jeffs, Allen Steed, Elissa Wall of A Latter Day Saint

Legal Pub opines many reasons to be thankful this holiday season. Begin by being thankful you are not part of the Utah T.V. reality show that has dominated a lot of news time. The blow up of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Jeff, Steed, Wall soap oprah has forever changed many lives, starting with Jeff's. The polygamous-sect leader, Warren Jeffs, 51, was convicted this fall of two counts of "rape as an accomplice" because he arranged the marriage of a 14-year-old follower and her 19-year-old cousin in 2001. Jeffs has now been sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison. A Utah parole board will ultimately decide how long he actually stays in jail but an average sentence for sex related crimes is around seven years. The parole boards first opportunity to review the length of actual incarceration will be in 2010.

Jeffs' attorney, Wally Bugden, unsuccessfully argued for concurrent sentences. "This was all about religion... The foundation of this case was the prosecution of Mr. Jeffs because of placement marriages," exclaimed Bugden.

As head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jeffs often participated in arranging polygamist marriages that sometimes involved placing young girls with older men. Prosecutors claimed Jeffs enticed Elissa Wall (ABC photo above) into marriage and sex against her will saying that the relationship was commanded by God.

A 14-year-old can consent to sex if it is consensual and the other partner three years older.
Wall, now 21, testified that Jeffs failed to help her when she protested the marriage and when she later asked for a divorce from Allen Steed (now 26). Steed claims it was Wall who initiated sex and denied that she had cried during their wedding. Wall had the right to receive $5,000 in restitution from Jeffs but she declined the compensation. Judge James Shumate presided over the hearing.

Jeffs has been quoted from his jail cell as saying that he had not been worthy of the "priesthood" for decades. Allen Steed was charged with rape and his case remains pending. Walls is hitting the media circuit speaking out against cults and offering support to victims. Seems that all of those involved have been touched by this apparent tragedy originally masked in the holy bliss known as matrimony.

4-5-08 Update: Fifty two children, including eighteen girls have been removed from a Texas compound of followers of Warren Jeff. Eighteen girls are in the temporary custody of the state according to Child Protective Services spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner. At least one suspect is being sought by police. A Child Protective Services spokesman, Darrell Azar, said the 18 girls appeared "...abused or were at immediate risk of future abuse."

D.E. Paulk is Not Only The Son of Preacher Man, Earl Paulk, He is Also His Nephew! Update 12-7 Other Preacher Under Attack

By most accounts, Earl Paulk for many years apparently had a pretty good gig (an 80-year-old archbishop of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church.) Paulk apparently was not only made a decent living, but also enjoyed a great deal of power among his followers. There may also have been other "perks" that came with the job. As is often the case, with power, comes sex. Apparently the leader of the Atlanta church was not an exception to this phenomenon as he not only slept with his brother Don's wife, he actually fathered his nephew, D.E. Paulk.

Archbishop Paulk revealed the secret to his congregation after a recent court-ordered paternity test confirmed the DNA link. Paulk could be in trouble with the law for lying under oath about the affair in a deposition. (34-year-old D.E. Paulk might constitute living evidence of the lie!) Cobb County district attorney's office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are apparently investigating Earl Paulk for possible perjury.

Archbishop Earl Paul, his brother and the church are apparently being sued by Mona Brewer, a former church employee who claims Earl Paulk manipulated her into an affair from 1989 to 2003 by telling her it was her path to salvation. (Earl Paulk apparently admitted to the affair last January.) However, in a 2006 deposition the archbishop allegedly said under oath that the only woman he had ever had sex with outside of his marriage was Brewer. The paternity test screams to the contrary!


D.E. Paulk, was anointed head pastor a year and a half ago. The church began in 1960. It now covers a 100-acre spread with a collection of buildings and a neo-Gothic cathedral. At its peak in the 1990s, it claimed 10,000 members and 24 pastors. By collecting tithes of 10 percent from its members, the church was apparently able to build a Bible college, two schools, a worldwide TV ministry and a $12 million sanctuary.

No one said salvation was cheap $$$

Update 12-7-07 Scrutiny of church finances may have only just begun. Senator Chuck Grassley sent questions to a half-dozen high-profile ministries asking about salaries, perks and private jets in a quest to determine whether tax emempt rules had been broken. Georgia megachurch pastors Creflo Dollar and Bishop Eddie Long have objected to the request. Long, of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., issued a statement that the senator's request "clearly disregards the privacy protections of the Church under law and appears to cross the line of Constitutional guarantees for churches" Questions about constitutional protections given to churches seems to be a common objection. Texas-based faith healer Benny Hinn has asked for more time to respond. Preacher Creflo Dollar apparently thinks the inquiry shoud be handled by the IRS. Preacher Joyce Meyer, gave detailed financial and board oversight information for the inquiry. So have Kenneth Copeland and his wife Gloria.

Legal Pub Endorces Crazy Joe's (Sheriff Joe Arpaio) Solution to Animal Control Problems -idea by R.K. of Naperville

R.K. of Naperville, Illinois liked Legal Pub's Harrell Franklin Braddy Solution to reduce the number of our soldiers killed in Iraq (LINK). He inspired Legal Pub to suggest solutions to additional problems such as the cost of animal control. It didn't take long to discover that Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Crazy Joe) of Maricopa County, Arizona had a solution worth exploring.

Who is Crazy Joe? He is the incumbent Maricopa, Arizona Sheriff who created the "Tent City Jail." (See 1999 CNN Photo at left.) Jail meals cost 40 cents a serving and he charges the inmates for the food.

Crazy Joe banned smoking and porno magazines in the jails. He removed all of the weight lifting equipment from the jail and banned all but "G" movies. He created chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects. He even created chain gangs for women so that no one could accuse him of sexual discrimination. He removed coffee from the jails since it has no nutritional value.

Has Crazy Joe's reforms always been legal? No. The sheriff's removal of cable TV violated A Federal Court Order requiring jails to be equipped with cable t.v. so that privilege was reinstated. However, Crazy Joe restricted the channels to The Disney Channel And The Weather Channel. He also piped in Newt Gingrich's lecture series.

How does Crazy Joe handle complaints? Sheriff has been quoted as telling inmates,"This is not the Ritz/Carlton.....If you don't like it, don't come back."

What was the problem?
Maricopa county was apparently spending $18 million dollars a year on stray
cats and dogs.

What did he promise to do about the problem? Sheriff Joe offered to run animal control and promised that he could cut the tax payers bill by at least a third.

What did the Sheriff do? He staffed the animal shelters 100% with prisoners. Inmates
feed and care for all of the strays. Every animal is walked twice daily. Some prisoners have been educated to the point that they are experts in animal nutrition and behavior. Some inmates even conduct classes for the public on animal care and on animal adoption. Some of the animals cared for by the inmates have even participated in dog shows.

Did the Sheriff keep his promise? You bet! His budget for the entire department is now under $3 million (one sixth of the original budget!)
How much does it cost to adopt a dog from the Maricopa County shelter? A dog that is neutered, and current on all shots, with a microchip locater inserted costs approximately $78.

What is in it for the inmates? Inmates are paid the standard $0.28 an hour; however, the real perk is that they get be out of their cells for the day. Inmates are paid from adoption fees. The bulk of the budget is for building maintenance and utilities.

What other programs does he offer inmates? Crazy Joe uses a large farm donated to the county and has the inmates grow the prison's fresh vegetables by hand. He also staffs a hog farm, which provides meat, and fertilizer. Some of the fertilizer is used at a Christmas tree nursery which employs some of the inmates. ( A Christmas tree can be purchased for under 10 dollars that can actually be planted after the Holidays.)

How do voters like Crazy Joe and his "ideas?" Crazy Joe keeps getting reelected.

Does everyone like the Sheriff? No. He is often at odds with ACLU. For example, he painted county buses with murals, that include a phone number to report suspected illegal aliens. The county apparently operates 4 buses just to transport illegal aliens back to the border. In another example, with global warming like temperature over 115 degrees, some inmates lived in tents surrounded by barb wire. Inmates were allowed to strip down to their "pink boxer shorts." Some inmates have complained that it is inhumane. Joe Arpaio, countered that it is hotter in Iraq and our soldiers have to wear full body armor and they did not commit any crimes.

Does Legal Pub endorse his ideas? At the risk of receiving 100s of email from ACLU supporters, yes. It is worth exploring. Perhaps if all prisons were more like Joe's and less like holiday Inns (See Legal Pub Story LINK HERE) repeat offenders may decrease in numbers. Joe's use of prisoners to staff local humane society and government controlled animal shelters is certainly superior to throwing all convicts into an alligator pit as some have suggested in the Braddy case (LINK) and in the case of the alligator who ate the robber (LINK).

Russian Doomsday Cult Says World to End, Adenovirus Kills 10, Related?

About 30 members of a Russian doomsday sect have barricaded themselves in a cave to await the end of the world. They are all Christians and are threatening to commit suicide if police intervene. "They are simple Christians... They say the Church is doing a bad job and the end of the world is coming soon," said a local priest, Father Georgy, to a NTV television station.

Perhaps in related news, a new and virulent strain of adenovirus, which causes the common cold, has apparently muted and spread in parts of the United States. As a result of the virus mutation, 10 people have died and dozens have been hospitalized according to U.S. health officials. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports provide details of several cases
in New York, Oregon, Washington state and Texas.

Consequently, we will shorten today's story and enjoy the day, just in case!

Alligator Plays Role Of Cop, Judge, Jury and Executioner Of Burglary Suspect

A man was breaking into a car. Police saw him and a chase ensued. The man jumped into a lake to flee police. A good samaritan 9 foot alligator took a bite out of crime by killing the suspect. Perhaps this will deter others from burglarizing vehicles in the parking lot of the Miccosukee Resort and Convention Center.

Dexter Lehtinen, one of the tribe's police legal advisors described the suspects fate for the media.Tribal police divers recovered the alligator teeth marked body. The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department confirmed that the alligator was the executioner. A suspected accomplice in the alleged burglary has also been arrested.

In the interim, the alligator (executioner) has been destroyed. A sign at the lake warns people: "Danger Live Alligators." Generally gators avoid people, but this one was aggressive and showed no fear of humans. (Sounds like Harrell Franklin Braddy!)

Khiel Coppin Violates First Rule of Dueling: Never Take a Hair Brush To A Gun Fight!

Enough already! Here is Legal Pub's story on "gunslinger" Khiel Coppin, age 18. Coppin met the "Marshall" and his "deputies" at the O.K. Corral (Brooklyn) according to script. The kid was fast. Fact is, Coppin drew first and got the drop on law men. But the law men shot him dead because the kid forgot the first cardinal rule of engagement: Don't bring a hairbrush to a gunfight!
Police are investigating what exactly happened. One theory favored by law enforcement is that perhaps the man held the brush under his shirt to prompt officers to shoot at him ("suicide by cop. " A Harvard Medical School study in 1998 looked officer shootings in Los Angeles County over a 10-year-period. It found that “suicide-by-cop” incidents accounted for 11 percent of the shootings and 13 percent of the fatal shootings.) Some witness say they heard the man tell officers he had a gun. Others say the man was shot as he dropped the brush and attempted to raise his hands in surrender.

Police were responding to a 911 call from Mr. Coppin’s mother reporting "domestic abuse" On the call, a man was apparently overheard threatening to kill her saying “I have a gun.”

Andre Sanchez, 17, said he saw from the hallway that the officers inside were talking to Mr. Coppin, who was in a bedroom possibly with a knife in his hand. Coppin then apparently climbed out a window and confronted more officers outside the building. Shots were fired and Mr. Coppin fell to the ground. Coppin was handcuffed and taken to Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center, where he was pronounced dead. Two other bystanders say that they saw that Coppin was armed only with a hair brush.

Psychiatric workers had been at the apartment earlier that day but Mr. Coppin was gone. Coppin returned after the workers left.

As many as 150 people protested the shooting as police brutality. Thesurrounding blocks were roped off as dozens of police officers, detectives and community affairs officers arrived to investigate the shooting. City Councilman Albert Vann was present after the shooting.


One witness claims that an officer told Mr. Coppin to put up his hands. Coppin complied and at the same time dropped the hairbrush. Contemporaneously with the dropping of the brush, police opened fire. Another witness, Precious Blood, 16, said she heard 10 shots. She thought most of the shots came from one officer. Another officer yelled: “Stop, stop, stop shooting — he’s down,” she said. At least one law enforcement official said that Mr. Coppin charged toward the officers and refused orders to stop. The investigation continues.

Nun Norma Giannini Allegedly Sexually Assaulted Children Back In Her Teaching Days

A story out of Milwaukee, reminds readers that sexual assault allegations are not limited to public schools. Sister Norma Giannini (now 79 years old) was charged several months ago with sexually assaulting children while serving as a Catholic nun who was principal of a Milwaukee school. She is accused of sexually assaulting children as many as 200 times. In particular, two male students came forward with tales of abuse in the 1960s at St. Patrick's Elementary School in Milwaukee.

For example, according to the criminal complaint Giannini instructed one boy to open the buttons on her habit. He apparently was unable to do so, so she opened up her own buttons and told him to feel her breasts. Another accuser claims he sat on a sofa and Giannini removed his pant . (This could have been a good old fashion paddling!) She then allegedly pulled him on top of her. (Oops there went the corporal punishment defense.) The Sisters of Mercy statement read, "Whether old or new, such a matter still runs counter to the very ministry of the Sisters of Mercy."

Sister, Giannini at age 79 has pleaded no contest to two counts of indecent behavior with a child for incidents which occurred back in the 1960s.

What Does Legal Pub Look Like?

To answer this weeks most popular email question, Legal Pub is a multi-talented diverse group of individuals searching for the truth! If the truth can be told with a humorous slant, it will. While there is one chief editor, it would not be possible without all of the contributors. And to answer the second most popular question, Your Secret L.A. Reader and Blond Bombshell's emails will never be made public. Nor will anyone elses! Confidentiality is strongly encouraged.
Without confidentiality, we would not enjoy the high quality, often famous posters who share their thoughts. Third question, while this is a blog, it is really a free online interactive news magazine which does not wish to accept money for advertising. While some day the Best of Legal Pub may be available in book format, that is some time in the future.

Any questions, feel free to email legalpub@legalpub.net.

Finally, to go back to question number one, here is a photo of the editor in chief!

Why Would Any Woman Named Laci or Stacy Marry A Peterson? Sgt. Drew Peterson Now Suspect in Stacy Peterson Disappearance and Perhaps in Savio Death?

Legal Pub attempts to take the high road in reporting alleged crime. Legal Pub completely avoided coverage of the murder trial of Scott Peterson (convicted of killing Laci Peterson.) But in a current search for justice, Legal Pub could no longer avoid the story growing out of Bollingbrook, Illinois where Sgt. Drew Peterson, 53, is now considered by police to be a suspect in the disappearance of his 23-year-old fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. After much pressure from Stacy's family members and the media, the case is now considered a potential homicide investigation. State Police Capt. Carl Dobrich officially declared that Peterson is now formally a suspect. The gauntlet has been thrown down and the O.J. Simpson like media frenzy concerning the potential homicide is unavoidable. (Unavoidable, yes. Fair, perhaps not!)

The alleged victim, Stacy Peterson, was last seen Oct. 28, 2007. However, Sgt Peterson apparently claims his wife subsequently phoned him and said she was leaving him for another man. Stacy's family members do not buy it! Stacy's family says she was scared of Drew. Stacy apparently shared with family plans to divorce Drew. A huge custody battle over the couple's two children was anticipated. (Drew also had two sons not born to Stacy and as Viper has taught us, the parent who has custody of the children controls the money. ) "We're sad, but we needed to move on, and this is something we've needed to hear for a long time," said Pamela Bosco, Stacy Peterson's adoptive stepmother.

Investigating police recently obtained court approval to exhume Drew's ex-third wife, Kathleen Savio. Savio was found dead in a bathtub in 2004. In 2004, a coroner's jury ruled the death of Savio was an accident, even though there was no water in the bathtub and the 40-year-old's body was found face-down. Savio's hair was soaked in blood from a head wound. Investigators theorized that she had fallen and hit her head and that the water had drained. Although her death was originally thought to be an accidental drowning, subsequently, additional experts have apparently pontificated that the evidence could be "consistent with the 'staging' of an accident to conceal a homicide." Family members such as Melissa Marie Doman (Savio's niece) supported the decision to exhume Kathleen's body.

According to Savio's family members, Kathleen Savio expressed that her life was in danger prior to her "accident." After an altercation with Drew, she allegedly told authorities that her life was in danger. (However, she was actually charged with domestic battery instead of Drew Peterson. Savio was twice charged in 2002 with domestic batteryand on both occasions found not guilty.) Savio obtained a protective order in 2002 because of an alleged pattern of physical abuse and threats.

Susan Savio (Kathleen's sister) told the coroner's jury that her sister feared Peterson.
Savio allegedly told her family that if she died, no matter what, her death would be "no accident." Will County states attorney, James Glasgow now apparently feels Savio's death was no accident. Peterson is represented by attorney, Fred Morelli. Drew Peterson has denied involvement in his ex-third wife's death or in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. DREW PETERSON IS INNOCENT UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVEN GUILTY!
Update 11-11 On 11-10, Peterson took his defense directly to the media.Drew spoke to Geraldo Rivera. Drew reiterated that he had nothing to do with his wife’s disappearance. Drew complained to Fox that stress caused by media coverage has caused him to lose 25 pounds. More than 100 volunteers have scoured forest preserves and ponds looking without success for Stacy. Rivera relayed denials of any role in his wife’s Oct. 28 disappearance or the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio to the media.“I’ve done nothing wrong,” Rivera quoted Peterson.
Update 11-12: Drew if you want a fair forum to reach the masses, Legal Pub is your opportunity. Speak up and remove the speculation or hold your tongue. Your choice.
Update 11-19: Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City chief medical examiner, has examined Savio's remains at the request of her relatives. Dr. Baden opines that Savio died after a struggle and that her body was placed in the tub.
Update 11-26: The FBI has joined in the hunt for Stacy Peterson. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Peterson allegedly was seen removing a blue barrel (used to store pool chlorine) from his garage around the time Stacy reportedly disappeared.
Update 12-12: Peterson's website says he wants to collect money from people who believe he deserves a defense. "For the cost of a few cups of your morning coffee, you can help to ensure that Drew can afford to support his ongoing legal defense, find his missing wife, and divert any remaining funds into a trust for his children."Attorney, Joel Brodsky, said any money collected on DefendDrew.com will go into a trust account over which Peterson will have no control. (Last we checked the website was not working!)
Update 1-2-08: A grand jury is supposedly considering the evidence to date. Grand jury testimony is secret therefor no testimony can be published. In the mean time, some folks are looking at a canal in Romeoville to see if it holds any clues in the disappearance of Stacy Peterson.
Update 4-30-08 Peterson has apparently had problems with his next door neighbor, Sharon Bychowski. Bychowski apparently was friends with Stacy. Bychowski apparently does not believe Drew's theory that Stacy ran off with another man. About a month or so ago, Bychowski had signs in her windows asking "Where is Stacy?" She also had a 3-by-4-foot sign outside her home. Other neighbors may also allow a sign in their yards. No one knows at this point if Peterson will later be proved guilty. But our law presumes that a suspect is innocent until proven guilty. It appear that Peterson is being harassed and convicted without a trial. Ridicule and threats are not appropriate. At times when the news media attention is especially intense, Peterson apparently gets gets death threats. This is not something we as a society can tolerate. Drew's attorney, Joel Brodsky said."It's a mob mentality that has run away." Keep in mind folks, Drew is innocent until proven guilty. It is not just an idea, it is a fundamental principal of our system of justice.

Update 4-30-10: Update 4-30-10: Lawyering up. Drew Peterson has added Chicago defense attorneys Steven Greenberg, Ralph Meczyk and Darryl Goldberg to his defense team. The three join Joel Brodsky, his partner Reem Odeh and attorney Joseph Lopez. Peterson will be tried in June for the alleged murder of his third wife Kathleen Savio in 2004.

Merck Appears To Resolve Legal Uncertainty By Settling Vioxx Suits For $4.85 Billion Update 11-10

Having arthritis may have become a little less painful. Vioxx was touted as a near miracle drug. Many arthritis patients cringed when Merck pulled the product from pharmacies. For those who have survived complications of the drug, getting up in the morning may be a little bit easier. Merck & Co. will pay $4.85 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits concerning Vioxx, an anti-inflammatory drug. There were potentially 26,600 lawsuits representing 47,000 plaintiffs. In addition there were potentially 265 class action cases. Plaintiff's claim that they or family members who used the drug had disabling or fatal consequences. The agreementattempts to settle all of the cases filed in federal and state courts. In order for the deal to be binding, 85 percent of all plaintiffs must agree to drop their cases. Three of four judges who are overseeing most of the Vioxx claims participated in the settlement discussions. It is estimated that the average settlement may be about $100,000 per injured party.

After losing the first Vioxx case for $253 million, Merck has won a several civil cases in numerous states. Merck put $70 million in reserves for defending lawsuits. As of Sept. 30, Merck had reserved a total of $1.92 billion for legal expenses and spent a total of $1.2 billion.
Settlements under the plan would vary depending on injuries and the length of time the injured party used Vioxx. "We've been asked by the judge to talk to the plaintiffs and we are talking to them.. right now there is no finalized agreement," said Kent Jarrell, spokesman for Merck. Even if the lawsuits are settled, Merck must still contend with a number of state and federal investigations. To date there is no indication that the executives will face criminal charges like the Purdue executives faced with Oxycontin. See 7-21-07 Legal Pub Oxycontin Article. Legal Pub Link.

Priest David Ajemian Arrested For Stalking Childish Conan O'Brien? Update 4-9

Yesterday we gave the clergy props for being out of the news and letting teachers fill the pedophile spotlight. Unfortunately, a priest steps up into the media spot light for stalking, not a child, but a childish comedian, Conan O'Brien. (Ever watch O'Brien's antics during his introduction?) Rev. David Ajemian, a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston, was arrested on charges of stalking late-night talk host Conan O'Brien. Allegedly, Father Ajemian wrote O'Brien threatening notes on parish letterhead (talk about leaving a paper trail), contacting O'Brien's parents and even showing up at NBC.

Why did the arrest occur? Rev. David Ajemian was arrested last week because he attempted to enter a taping session of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" at New York's Rockefeller Plaza.

What did the priest write? Ajemian referred to himself as "your priest stalker" in one note. When denied access to one of the tapings, Ajemian apparently wrote, "Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fan?"

When did this stalking allegedly occur? The letters and e-mails apparently started in September 2006, continued even after Ajemian was asked to stop. "I want a public confession before I ever consider giving you absolution -- or a spot on your couch," apparently wrote Ajemian. (Is this a sexual reference?)

How does O'Brien know this priest? O'Brien has been silent and has not publicly explained if he knew Ajemian. However, it is believed that O'Brien has participated in fund raising activities for the archdiocese. Furthermore, Ajemian and OBrien may have attended Harvard University at the same time. O'Brien graduated in 1985, and Ajemian apparently also attended Harvard in the early 80's. O'Brien apparently also has another priest friend from the same arch diocese.

What possible penalty does the priest face? A conviction for aggravated harassment and stalking carries a penalty of up to a year in jail.

One thing we learned a few weeks ago in Southern California is that where there is smoke, there may be fire. Look for possible news to develop on the relationship (whether real or imaginative) of O'brien and Ajemian. After all, with the T.V. writers on strike, reality news moves into the entertainment spotlight.
Update 4-9-08. The Priest was found guilty and sentenced (if you will) to staying away from Conan O'Brien for two years. Is that cruel and unusual punishment?

Robert A. Singer CEO of National Children's Museum Arrested For Show and Tell With Child Pornography While Anne Knopf teaches by Action? Update 11-10

Infamous teachers are not the only alleged perverts. While teachers like Kelsey Peterson continue to fill the entertainment void left by the writers strike, ex teachers like Mrs. Anne Knopf (a substitute teacher at Prescott Middle School in Wisconsin) are also doing their part. Knopf helps entertain the masses with allegations that she sexually assaulted her daughter's 13 year old ex boyfriend. (The 39 year old Knopf allegedly had sex with a teenage boy in her basement while her husband and daughter were sleeping upstairs.) Video LINK. Anne is represented by attorney Fed Bruno who maintains that his client is innocent. She may be. No one knows until Court T.V. televises her trial. In the interim, she is attractive and the story has more entertainment value then anything writers could make up.

Ensuring that teachers do not monopolize all of the media focus, Robert Singer steps into the lime light. Singer is the chief operating officer of the National Children's Museum. He was arrested and is charged with distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Robert A. Singer, age 49, allegedly sent images depicting child pornography to people he believed to be a 12-year-old girl and her 33-year-old mother, according to U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia. Unfortunately for Singer, his 12 year old victim turned out to be an undercover detective for the New York Police Department. (Talk about a mistaken identity.) Some of the pornographic images were apparently sent from Singer's computer at the museum which makes his alleged crime even more offensive.

The Washington museum said on their website that they are "horrified" by news of Singer's arrest. Singer apparently has been suspended from his post and is barred from the property.

Who is Robert Singer? Singer resides in Falls Church, Virginia.

What exactly did he allegedly do that was illegal? Apparently Singer sent several instant messaging "chats" and e-mail communications with the undercover detective. Singer apparently also participated in an Internet chat room on AOL which tends to attract those who trade pornographic images.

How many times did he do it? "On five separate occasions in August 2007, Singer sent several images of child pornography over the Internet to the mother and the daughter, including images depicting sexual acts between minors and adults. The images apparently included known victims of child exploitation," according to prosecutors.

What will be his punishment if convicted? Singer is charged with five counts of distributing child pornography in interstate commerce. If convicted he could face a sentence of up to 140 years in prison.Singer was expected to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge later Tuesday.

What is Legal Pub's advise to the Suspects? To quote a song from Pink Floyd, "Leave those Kids Alone!"

In Absence of T.V. Writers, Darren Mack Entertains Court T.V. Audience By Pleading Guilty to Murder of His Wife And Shooting His Divorce Judge

Since the t.v. writers are all on strike, viewers turn their attention to reality shows like Court T.V. for entertainment. Darren Roy Mack, the wealthy Reno businessman accused of killing his estranged wife and shooting their divorce judge, did not disappoint his audience. Mack pleaded guilty to murder Monday, the first day of the evidence portion of his trial.

Under the plea, Mack, 46, will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years of a life sentence for the 2006 fatal stabbing of his wife, Charla. District Court Judge Douglas Herndon will formally sentence Mack on Jan. 17. although he is expected to accept the plea. Mack addresses the court and discusses his plea in open court. (VIDEO)

Mack also acknowledged guilt in the sniper-style attack on Judge Chuck Weller, a Washoe County family court judge who presided over the couple's $1 million divorce settlement. Weller survived the attack and apparently was a spectator at Mack's trial.

Dirty laundry has always been popular. In these trying times, divorce drama fuels gossip and speculation that can perhaps fill the void left by the t.v. writers strike. Few soaps are as entertaining as the real life Mack case where an estranged spouse was stabbed and the divorce judge shot. Call Mack a strike breaker if you want, but scabs like Mack and other reality idiots may make writers obsolete.

Cell Phone Jammers Solve Rude Gabbing In Public Places? Idea by T.Jethro Update 11-10

Sitting in the dentist office waiting to get your teeth worked on is not an enjoyable experience. The sounds of the Dentist office are not reassuring. We all recognize those sounds, the whining of the drill, the occasional gasp of a patient and others waiting in the lobby gabbing on their cell phones. Most annoying sounds of modern society must be tolerated. But not everyone agrees that a passive approach is the correct choice. One of Legal Pub readers says there is a device the size of a pack of cigarettes that generates a powerful radio signal that blocks cellphone transmission anywhere in a 30-foot radius.

What is the Problem? Public cell phone use makes it impossible not to know half of every one's business.

Is this an answer to noise pollution caused by excessive public cellphone use? At first blush, the cellphone jammer appears to be a gentle way to restore society to a time when better manors prevailed. Use of the jammer requires no direct confrontation with the cell phone owner. The device is small and non cumbersome to transport.

How easy is it to purchase one of these jammers? Hundreds of these signal blocking devices are being imported into the United States each month. Purchasers include public speakers, theater operators, salon owners, bus drivers, and even churches.

What is the cost of a jammer? The devices costs between $50 and $200. Larger models can create a no-call zone.

But is it legal? In the U.S., the devices are not legal. The FCC can fine first time users of the device up to $11,000. Admittedly, it would be hard to detect any small hand held jammer.

Should jammers be legal? The danger with legalizing jammers is that violent criminals might use them to block their victims cell phone calls for help. Advocates of the device argue that insensitive talkers impose their racket on the defenseless public. However, jammers punish not just the offender (the excessive cell phone user) but anyone wishing to use a cell phone. James Katz, of Rutgers, sums up the paradox, "The cellphone talker thinks his rights go above that of people around him, and the jammer thinks his are the more important rights.”

Wisdom from children?
Q: How can you delay milk turning sour?
A: Keep it in the cow.

Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A: He says good-bye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery.

Speaking of "jammers" and "adultery"...

A married man and a married woman, who had never met before, found themselves assigned to the same sleeping room on a transcontinental train. Though uneasy over sharing a room, they both quickly fell asleep ...he in the upper bunk and she in the lower. At 1:00 AM, the man leaned over and gently woke the woman saying,
"Ma'am, would you be willing to reach into the closet to get me a blanket? I'm awfully cold."

"I have a better idea," she replied. "Just for tonight, let's pretend that we're married."

"Wow! That's a great idea!" he exclaimed.

"Good," she replied. "Get your own damn blanket!"
After a moment of silence, he farted

6th Grade Teacher, Kelsey Peterson and 13 Year Old Fernando Rodriguez Ditch School To Run Away? Update 9-30

Those demanding sex education be taught in schools may be getting more than they argued. Inappropriate teacher conduct has hit Nebraska hard. Fernando Rodriguez, a 13-year-old boy and Kelsey Peterson, a 25 year old female middle school teacher are believed to be on the lamb running from Nebraska police. The pair disappeared after an investigating had been initiated as to whether the pair had an intimate relationship. (While hundreds of teenage boys across the country may be cheering them on, it remains a crime.)

Sixth grade teacher Kelsey Peterson is suppose to be teaching math and coaching basketball. However, she was placed on administrative leave from Lexington Middle School pending the results of the investigation. Now, a judge has issued an arrest warrant charging her with kidnapping, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. They are thought to be traveling together in Peterson's car. "We're still focused on locating both of them, whether they're together or not," Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman said.
Apparently, several e-mails and letters document the mutual affection between Peterson and Rodriguez. Rodriguez apparently refers to Peterson as his "Baby Gurl" and explaining that their relationship was "just not about the sex but that it was pretty good," according to pleadings.

The boy's aunt, Laura Rodriguez, apparently told an AM station in Lexington, Nebraska that the family thinks Peterson gave the boy a cell phone so she could reach him more easily. Rodriguez apparently contacted his family over the weekend and said the two were in Grand Island, about 85 miles east of Lexington. Police indicate the couple may have been spotted Friday night at a Denver convenience store and Sunday in Ogallala. They will be caught. After all how hard should it be to spot this odd couple, the one where the teen age boy has a huge grin on his face?

In Paris, Illinois, there is a report of a 25 year old teacher having sex with a 17 year old female student. There are just so many cases in the media that one must conclude that this has become a common problem that needs to be addressed. While home school may be a knee jerk reaction, better solutions need to be found. In the mean time, one must ponder when will these inapropriate student-teacher relationships stop?

Update 11-4 Busted in Mexico: As Legal Pub scooped, teenage boys talk about things like this! Calls from the teen, including to his aunt, provided a trail to Mexico where Kelsey Peterson was arrested in Mexicali in a mall parking lot. The teenager returned to his family.
Update 11-12: The 13-year-old "victim" was an illegal immigrant. He could be eligible to return to the United States with a new visa pursuant to a new law designed to protect victims of sex crimes who testify against their perpetrator. The visa would allow the boy and his family to stay in the U.S. for four years and then make them eligible for permanent residency in the U.S. Teacher Kelsey Peterson is charged with "child abuse" and "kidnapping." Peterson remains in federal custody in El Centro, California without bail. She will likely be returned to Nebraska to face federal charges of crossing state lines to have sex with a minor (punishable by 10 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.) The boy is apparently willing to testify (perhaps in hopes of securing the visa for he and his family. ) Regardless of promises, the teenager should tell the truth and if a crime was committed then appropriate punishment should be administered!
11-13 Update: Attorney James Martin Davis said that kidnapping charges against Kelsey should be dropped because he went with her willingly. "It's my understanding he was grooming her and she wasn't grooming him.... I see true victims every day. This young man is no victim," Davis said. Davis also suggested that the boy may be 16 or older! He shaves and has a mustache. Davis will seek his Mexican birth certificate.
9-30-08 Update: Kelsey was sentenced to 13 years in prison!

Michael John Anderson Accused of Killing Craigslist Respondent Katherine Ann Olson

A popular country song is about pretending to be some one else on myspace. The Internet is the home of many harmless fantasy lives. Unfortunately, fantasy can quickly turn into danger. For instance, take Katherine Ann Olson, 24, of Minneapolis. She responded to an add on Craigslist (a popular Internet bulletin board) for a babysitting job. Only problem is that the hiring party "Amy" was apparently a 19 year old male killer named Michael John Anderson.

Olson's trip to a home in Savage, Minneapolis turned brutal when she was shot in the back. The 19-year-old suspect, John Michael Anderson, who apparently lived at home with his parents, allegedly stuffed the bleeding Olson into the trunk of her car.

Defense attorney Robert M. Speeter, said: "I think in a case like this, we'll just let the judicial process take its course.”

This was not the first time Olson had taken baby sitting jobs from the Internet. It was however her last. This particular ad was set up by "Amy." Matt Thiede, Olson's roommate believed that Olson had spoke with "Amy" and had commented that ‘she’ seemed "strange." (Insane would have been a better description.) The phone number and address apparently match Anderson’s address and cell phone number. Katherine was the daughter of Rolf and Nancy Olson.

It is possible that there may have been more unsolved crimes linked to use of Craigslist. Investigation continues. In the meantime Legal Pub warns:

1. Ask for references before meeting anyone from the Internet.

2. Verify the references.

3. Meet for the first time in a public place.

4. Bring someone with you when you meet for the first time.

5. Let other's know about the meeting and when you expect to be back.

6. Keep your cell phone handy at all times.

Update 3-16-09: The trial of Michael John Anderson is under way. May justice prevail.