Did Regivaldo Pereira Galva Put Out A Mob Style Hit On 73 Year Old Sister Dorothy Stang Because Of Her Benevolence Toward Peasants?

Regivaldo Pereira Galva, a Brazilian man, is accused of ordering the murder of sister Dorothy Stang, a 73-year-old American nun. Sister Stang is a U.S. missionary sister who worked in the Amazon forest in Para, Brazil. Stang was killed in 2005.

Regivaldo Pereira Galvao was recently seen at the site of the 2005 murder. He is accused of pressuring peasants into giving him their property rights according to prosecutor Felicio Pontes. The 7,400 acres of land in dispute is known as "Lot 55" in the Amazon.
Charges against Galvao include charges of land fraud and slavery. He is already charged with conspiracy to murder because of sister Stang's death. Sister Stang had been an advocate for the rights of landless peasants by giving them access to public land and promoting sustainable farming practices. She helped create a land distribution project, the Project for Sustainable Development (PDS), which had the support of the Brazilian government.

If Regivaldo Pereira Galva caused this sister's death, may heaven help him. In the mean time, he must be presumed innocent.

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Is Miss Hispanic America, Laura Zuniga, Involved In Drug Trafficing Or Just A Clueless Girl?

One thing is clear, Laura Zuniga is beautiful. The 5 feet 7 inches tall beauty queen won the Miss Hispanic America title in October. She was the center of the media buzz. But oh how press can change in just a matter of months. Just recently, Laura traded in her crown for a pair of handcuffs. (No, nothing kinky...) Laura was arrested by police and allegedly was in an SUV which contained 9-mm pistols, semiautomatic rifles and $53,000 in cash. A judge has ordered Laura and her boyfriend, along with six others, to be detained for 40 days pending charges on racketeering, drug trafficking, guns and money laundering.

The 23-year-old beauty queen is from Sinaloa. Laura was once compared to the heroine of Queen of the South, a fictional work about a beautiful drug trafficker. (Pictures of the center of Mexico's drug-trafficking industry.) Just a few weeks later, has Laura become just another fallen star whose deterioration is attributable to crime? (Read TIME's top 10 crime stories of 2008.)

Keep in mind, Laura is innocent until proven guilty. Who knows how deeply she was involved in drug trade? Perhaps, she was simply oblivious to what was going on around her as her father suggests. But some things look bad. Her boyfriend, Orlando Garcia Urquiza, is allegedly a high-ranking member of the Juarez Cartel, which allegedly controls smuggling into west Texas. Garcia's brother, Ricardo Urquiza, is allegedly the cartel's operational commander. Ricardo was arrested three years ago. Laura's family continues to deny her involvement in any illegal activity. Perhaps they are correct. But the lure of high class living can be too powerful for some. See TIME's Pictures of the Week. Let's hope Laura bounces back from this experience.

Laura Zuniga is presumed innocent until otherwise proven in a court of law. Please read the Time Article which served as one of the references for this story.

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Attic Bandit Stanley Carter, Arrested As He Exits Stacy Ferrance's Attic, Warrants Sympathy

You might not like what I have to say about Stanley Carter, an alleged burglar and an alleged thief... but times are hard. Carter should be offered a favorable plea agreement and real help. Keep in mind, Carter stayed in the attic in the Ferrance family duplex without them realizing that he had been in there for days. As for breaking and entering, he really did no such thing. He had been staying with friends in the attached duplex until they had apparently kicked him out. Rather then leave with no place to go, he entered the common attic thorough a trap door in the duplex. Carter, 21 years old, stayed in the attic and was using it as a temporary residence. Apparently when the family was gone, he would enter the Ferrance duplex through a trap door in the closet from the common attic. Stanley then would borrow clothing, food, an ipod and perhaps some money. Interestingly enough, he made a list of everything that he took and one might suspect, he probably was going to try to pay it all back once he was back on his feet. But of course, this never happened because Stanley Carter was apprehended by police after a dog search led to the uninvited visitor in the attic. Carter was charged with several counts of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass.

According to Stacy Ferrance, the home owner, "When he came down from the attic, he was wearing my daughter's pants and my sweat shirt and sneakers." This is hardly the description of a hardened criminal. Police said the Friends reported Carter missing on Dec. 19. They even filed a missing person report a few days before Christmas. Ferrences laptop computer and iPod have apparently been returned. Carter is now temporarily residing in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. His preliminary hearing set for Jan. 5. If the Christmas spirit still exists, perhaps the victim can find it in her heart to ask the prosecutor to go easy on this young man and help him get the help that he apparently needs. I suspect that the Holiday spirit of Stacy Ferrance and the possibility for movie rights, makes this a real possibility.

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, Dressed As Santa, Massacres Invitees To His Ex-Inlaws Christmas Party

On Christmas Eve day, food baskets were delivered to people in need. The baskets were very much appreciated. If everyone could see the glisten in the eyes of the children who saw that the basket contained chocolate milk and pumpkin pie, perhaps there would be no more starvation on future Christmas Eves... Yet the news is not all good. In a country where divorced men are too often treated as second class citizens, domestic violence continues to rise. Bruce Jeffrey Pardo serves as a blatant example that the institution of divorce is broken in America. Dressed as Santa on Christmas Eve, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo went to his ex-in-laws' home in Covina, California. An eight year-old girl answered the door, and Pardo shot her in the face.
With a gun in one hand and a present in the other, he continued to shoot people. Watch police description. Approximately 25 friends and family members were present for an annual Christmas party to which Pardo was no longer invited. Neighbors called 911 shortly before 11:30 p.m. When police arrived, the home was in flames. Six bodies were initially recovered. Two more were apparently subsequently discovered. The names have not yet been released. by authorities. Three people are not accounted for: Pardo's ex-mother-in-law, ex-father-in-law and ex-wife. Fortunately, the 8-year-old, is going to survive. A 16-year-old with a gunshot wound and a woman who jumped out the window were recovering in the hospital.

After Pardo set fire to his in laws home, he changed into regular clothing and went to another relative's home where he committed suicide. One of Pardo's rental cars was blown up. A second rental car was not destroyed. Police suggested the recent divorce was a possible motive for the attack. Pardo and his wife of one year finally settled a contentious divorce last week. Allegedly, one of the reasons for the divorce involved his wife's displeasure with Pardo having a disabled son by a previous relationship and the tax implications of the same. Pardo was not happy with the divorce and apparently did not want to lose his new wife and step children. In July, Pardo also lost his job. To be clear, there is never an excuse for domestic violence. But the current system is spawning more and more violence. Nothing will ever excuse Pardo for his irrational violent behavior. This is not intended to place any blame on the victims. Nothing that can be written nor anything that can be said will restore the joy of Christmas for those touched by these senseless deaths.

Update 12-29-08: Domestic violence is the enemy of the state. Legal Pub made a proposal to help reduce friction in divorce. http://legalpublication.blogspot.com/2008/01/legal-pubs-proposal-to-reduce-post.html While it may not be directly applicable to this case, it may help reduce future incidents of violence. Your comments are appreciated.

Update 6-3-10: Due to spamming, any further comment on this thread must be presubmitted to legalpub@legalpub.net.

Courtney Cox Could Put Me Out of Business ~by Viper

It is true. Actresses like Courtney Cox could put me out of business. But that would not necessarily be a bad thing. While divorce is more popular than a runny nose, Courtney Cox told The Daily Mail that while she understands that some marriages end, divorce is not an option for her. Said Cox, "I get shocked by people getting divorced all the time, that's why I choose to work on it... marriage takes work. " You May Have Missed

Is it religion that causes Courtney to be so anti divorce? Cox is the daughter of divorced parents. Prior to his death, Courtney's dad told her that one of his big regrets was that he hadn't worked on his marriage enough. Wises words were perhaps never spoken. Hey folks, make it your New Years resolution to put me out of business in 2009!

Drugs Kill. Drug Dealer Decapitated!

Thinking about heading to the beach? The warm Mexico sun and sand can seem inviting. On the other hand, nine human heads and nine headless bodies were discovered in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Some were soldiers, all appear to be drug crime related according to Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora. The heads were found in Chilpancingo. The bodies were found at a different location. They appear to be eight soldiers and one high-ranking former police officer.
Guerrero is in southern Mexico on the Pacific coast. It includes the resort city of Acapulco.
Decapitation is a trade mark of drug cartels.

Any one thinking of a warm vacation may wish to rethink their vacation plans.

Keri Shyrock Is A Fallen Angel Whose Death Will Return Her To Heaven For Chrismas

A Christmas Angel has fallen from the sky. She shall return to the heavens for Christmas.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the friends and family of 23 year-old Keri Shyrock. (Reported in the media as Keri Shyrock.) Keri was acting in a Christmas pageant, suspended 25 feet in the air by an overhead rope, when she fell headfirst onto a concrete church floor. She died shortly thereafter at the hospital. Keri and two other performers were playing wise men on their way to Bethlehem at Crossroads Community Church when she fell. Approximately 2,000 parishioners were in attendance watching the play according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Keri died at University Hospital on Thursday morning. Police are investigating the cause of the accident. Shyrock graduated from Bowling Green State University. She is a former gymnast at Bowling Green. She worked as an assistant in the Office of Commuter Services and Off Campus Living at Xavier.

Church spokesman Matt Chandler, described the play as a "figurative and artistic version of the Christmas story found in the book of Luke." The mega-church was founded in 1996. It's membership is around 10,000. Keri will be missed by family and friends.

Not All News Coming Out of the Florida Reform School is Bad

No one said reform school was a nice place. Bryant Middleton pointed out to reporters thirty-one crosses on the grounds of a reform school in Marianna, Florida. When boys disappeared from the school, administrators explained it away according to former student Roger Kiser.
Watch Middleton kneel by the crosses »
On the orders of Gov. Charlie Crist, the Florida Dept. of Law enforcement began investigating the burial site. Former students allege that the graves will contain the bodies of former students beat to death by school employees. Right now, it's just allegations. Nothing has been proven. Most of the administrators and employees of the reform school are dead. Former students describe beatings with a strap. Yet not all of the news coming out of the reform school was bad. One of the former students is an electrician. He learned his trade at the school and now owns a multimillion-dollar company in Baltimore, Maryland. Dick Colon even created a scholarship fund for high achievers at the very same reform school called the Arthur Dozier School for Boys.

Ottis Toole Revealed As Murder of Adam Walsh. Meanwhile, Padres Outfielder Brian Giles Accused of Being More than Just a Batter?

John Walsh sought justice. Finally, his 6-year old son's murder has been solved. It only took 27 years to discover that a serial killer who died more than a decade ago is the murderer. Ottis Toole decapitated Adam Walsh, the 6-year-old son of "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh, in 1981.This closes a case that has haunted the Walsh family for over 20 years. It inspired the television show about the nation's most notorious criminals. "Who could take a 6-year-old and murder and decapitate him? Who?" an emotional John Walsh inquired. We know know that it was pedophile and convicted sex offender, Ottis Toole

Speaking of losing a child. Padres outfielder Brian Giles is being sued by his former girlfriend for more than $10 million. His ex-girlfriend alleges that he battered her which cause her to have a miscarriage. According to the San Diego Tribune, the law suit has been filed in the San Diego Superior Court. Keep in mind, civil defendants do not have the burden of proof. It is the plaintiff that must prove that her allegations are true.

Rao Devi Gives Birth At Age 70 While A Texas 4 Year Old Enjoys Toys At 3:00 a.m.

Christmas is a time when children make news. Afterall, over 2000 years ago a child named Jesus was born. His birthday makes headlines each year around this time of year. Another child is also making headlines. Rao Devi just had a baby daughter. What makes this birth different is that Rao Devi is 70 years old. She underwent invitro fertilization at the Hisar fertility clinic in India. This daughter was her first child. She was born on November 28, 2008. She and her husband had been childless during their 50 years of marriage.

Mean while, another child makes headlines in Texas. A Family Dollar Store in Beaumont, Texas was recently the subject of a burglar alarm. Police responded to the store's alarm only to find a 4-year-old boy playing with toys. "When the officers got there, he was showing them his toys." The boy apparently unlocked the front door of his family home at 3:00 a.m and walked across a highway to the store. Surveilance video shows the child rattling the locked door and entering the store through a second door which was not locked. A family member who discovered out looking for the little boy. Child Protective Services took custody of the child, but he will be allowed to stay with relatives until their investigation is complete.

For those wanting even more dirt, a story about a YouTube video allegedly of a parent swinging a baby can be located here: http://www.parentdish.com/2008/12/16/man-arrested-for-posting-baby-swinging-video/?icid=200100397x1215571860x1201010051

New Hampshire, President Bush and Homayoon Ziqar Are All In The Dark

There is a mass black out in New Hampshire because of severe ice storms. New England church's serve as shelters for those without power and food. While power lines snapped by New England's devastating ice storm leave many New Englanders in the dark, some say our President has been in the dark of years. Winter Weather

President Bush was in the middle of telling the Iraqi journalists just how well the war on terror was going when his apparent ignorance was illustrated by an Iraqi reporter who threw both of his shoes at our President. As the Iraqi journalist flung his shoes at President Bush, he called our leader a "dog." (Throwing shoes is a sign of disapproval in Iraq and in most marital homes!)

Finally, India has considered creating its own darkness in retaliation for the Thanksgiving terrorism courtesy of Pakistan radicals. The response was for India's air force to go on alert. What does that mean in such a tense region? Business as usual according to Pakistan. While the two nuclear powers may have been close to conflict in the days after the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan is probably right, it is business as usual. Apparently, U.S. officials take credit for encouraging India to exercise restraint. One would suspect that India was smart enough to figure that one out by itself. (After all, think of all the impact on the Indian economy of losing all those outsourced telephone support jobs for business in the U.S. like Dell and AOL...) Air Commodore Homayoon Ziqar, a spokesman for the Pakistan Air Force, had no comment other than saying, "Everything is normal." (Sounds like Pakistan is also lobbying for outsourced customer service jobs.)

Suleman Ali and Lannie Haszard Demonstrate That Timing Can Be Everything... Update 9-11-09

Timing is everything! Suleman Ali, a 26 year old former Microsoft employee, sold Esgut, his portfolio of Facebook applications, for seven figures in April of 2008. He founded Esgut within months of Facebook's developer platform being launched. In April, Ali sold Esgut to the Social Gaming Network, a Silicon Valley company for seven figures.

Facebook has taken off! What started as a networking site for students at elite universities has expanded as a legitimate adult network. Millions of people have joined. MySpace, Friendster, and Hi5 have also improved their developer platforms. Fast forward a few months and the market for such innovations is over saturated with entrepreneurs with very few buyers. Ali suspects that Facebook is still a winner. He thinks it will be an IPO in 2011. But then again, timing is everything. For example take paramedics...

Paramedics can save lives and ease discomfort if they arrive "just in time." In fact, timeliness is so important, the law allows them to speed and break traffic laws. but there are limits! Over the past 18 months, at least 129 ambulance attendants across the U.S. have been accused of sex-related crimes many of which have allegedly occurred while on duty according to The Associated Press. Alleged molestations have occurred in the back of ambulances.
'A Dream Job for a Sexual Predator'?

Lannie Haszard, age 62, is serving a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to inappropriately touching female patients in the backs of ambulances. According to the A.P., Haszard is one of 129 ambulance attendants across the country have been accused of sex-related crimes in the past 18 months.This Oregon paramedic is serving a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges that he inappropriately touched four female patients while they were being taken by ambulance to hospitals. But Lannie Haszard, 62, is not a unique kind of criminal. An Associated Press investigation finds that at least 129 ambulance attendants across the country have been accused of sex-related crimes in the past 18 months, some while on duty. Greg Kafoury, a Portland, Ore., lawyer who represents three women allegedly groped by a paramedic thinks the job may attract improper applicants. "Everything is there: Women who are incapacitated, so they're hugely distracted. Medical cover to put your hands in places where, in any other context, a predator would be immediately recognized as such."
But how many of these EMTs were only doing there job? From convictions of a Standish, Mich., paramedic, a Pinellas County, Fla., paramedic, and a Chester County, Pa., paramedic, it's clear that not every one thinks these health care providers are just doing their job. 23 states have received sex-related complaints involving EMS workers. New York reported 17 of which 13 claims were believed to have been substatiated. Texas was next in frequency with 13 complaints. However, not all complaints arose from conduct that occurred while on the job. There are nearly 900,000 EMTs in the U.S. Statistically speaking, there are bound to be a few bad apples among such a vast number. "That number in and of itself doesn't shock me, knowing the number of providers we have in the country," said Steve Blessing, state EMS director in Delaware. Lannie Haszard was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of attempted sexual abuse. Three of the four women who accused Haszard of sexual abuse have sued American Medical Response, Haszard's employer at the time. The lawsuits contend that the company failed to react to previous complaints involving Haszard. One of the allegations is that Haszard touched a 28-year-old single mother's genitals while she was en route to the hospital for a gastrointestinal condition. As stated earlier, timing is every thing.

Update 9-11-09: A Multnomah County Circuit Court jury let AMR know their version of justice by awarding Royshekka Herring $2.25 million arising from allegations that Lannie Haszard sexually assaulted her while she was being transported in an AMR ambulance. Haszard, the former EMT, is currently in prison on sexual assault charges. Greg Kafoury, the plaintiff’s attorney, argued in closing that this case was about “corporate responsibility” and that AMR should have firedd Haszard. (There were three previous sexual-assault accusations against Haszard before he allegedly assaulted Herring.) Paula Price has also filed a report with Portland Police alleging she had been molested by Haszard.

Kafoury told the jury they “set the standard” for the community’s response to how corporations behave. He reminded them that Haszard had three complaints against him in 14 months while working for AMR but kept his job. He also argued that AMR kept information about previous accusations reported to them from the police police. (AMR serves the greater Portland area for 911 calls.) James Dumas represented AMR.

1-27-10: Thanks to spammers. Comments are suspended for a while.

3-24-11: The timing of unwanted touching is always wrong! Especially wrong when the target is underage. Otis Magee, a 54-year-old substitute teacher at a Phoenix high school has been arrested for allegedly inappropriately touching a minor. (He was apparently charged with two counts of assault arising out of an alleged 2008 incident, and one count of sexual abuse and one count of kidnapping arising out of an alleged incident in the 2011.)

While Magee teaches at Pinnacle High, none of the alleged conduct occurred at the school or involved any of its students. However, according to police, Magee was teaching at Precision High School last December when he allegedly inappropriately touched a 15-year-old girl while giving her a ride home from a restaurant. During the investigation, police allegedly learned that Magee may have inappropriately touched a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old girl in 2008. Those girls were students of Precision and the alleged occurrences appear to have happened at the high school. If convicted, unwanted touching constitutes an assault.

Like all suspects, Magee is presumed innocent of all allegations unless proven in a court of law.

Teen Age Nude Texting (Sexting) Steals Headlines And Diverts Attention

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Gov. Rod Blagojevich Is Innocent! Here is Why...

What has happened to the good old days? You know, when delusions were limited to a white Christmas with Santa delivering lots of toys and goodies? Politics and corruption are apparently a place where the delusional can thrive. For example, if the allegations concerning Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich are true, he is nothing short of delusional. Perhaps an even more powerful demonstration of his altered state of mind is his plan to return to work today, a day after his indictment on federal corruption charges. Who in their right mind would not take a sick day after such an experience? Someone who thinks they are or actually is innocent!

What is the basis of the charges? Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, is accused of trying to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. He is currently out of jail on $4,500 bail. "He's sad, surprised and innocent," Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky told the press. FBI agents also arrested Blagojevich's chief of staff, John Harris. Ironically, Sheldon is probably right. If the charges are true, Blagojevich is probably incapable of being guilty. After all, who in their right mind believes that a governor can sell a Senate seat or a toll way. (See sale of the Indiana Toll Road by Governor Daniels.)

To begin with, did the accused really try to sell or trade President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife, Patti? All that can be said with certainty is that if the allegations are true, Gov. Rod Blagojevich would have to be totally delusional. If he is in fact totally delusional, then he is incapable of having the mens rea to commit the offense. (Lack of capacity to commit the crime.) If he made no such proposals or attempts to bribe, he is innocent. If he did do it, he had to be crazy and therefore, he did not have the mental capacity to understand that what he did was wrong. Therefore he is again innocent. So, folks, don't rush to judgment.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers are attempting to remove the governor's power to fill the vacant Senate seat. If Blagojevich won't sign the law, they will override his veto. Despite the charges, the Governor may still attempt to nominate someone for Obama's replacement. I suspect a nomination of Patrick Fitzgerald, the U.S. Attorney prosecuting charges against the Governor, would cement his case for an insanity defense. Somehow, I doubt that Mr. Fitzgerald would accept.

What does this do to the government's image? The federal government apparently bugged the governor's campaign office, placed a tap on his home phone and listened to the governor talk about wanting possible deals according to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
At first blush, the average citizen has got to wonder if any conversation can ever be considered private in the United States. The most incriminating statement may be when Blagojevich allegedly said of the Senate seat: "I've got this thing and it's [expletive] golden and uh, uh, I'm not just giving it up for [expletive] nothing." That alone tends to prove that the Governor needs to work on his linguistic skills.

Both Blagojevich and Harris face a count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and a count of solicitation of bribery. Based on what has been released to the public, it appears that at times the Governor seemed to discuss the possibly of obtaining a healthy salary for himself at a nonprofit group or an organization affiliated with labor. At other times he mentioned the possibility that his wife might be appointed to a paid corporate board position. During one conversation, Blagojevich allegedly said he needed to consider his family and that he was financially hurting. (Whose 401 K hasn't taken a beating?)

In addition, Blagojevich allegedly suggested that state assistance to the Chicago Tribune would be withheld unless members of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board were fired. "Our recommendation is fire all those [expletive] people, get 'em the [expletive] out of there and get us some editorial support," the governor allegedly said. (Keep in mind that the Tribune owns the Cubs and it has been said that they will never win a world series until h*ll freezes over. With such poor judgment in buying the Cubs, why shouldn't a few people be axed?)

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said, "I recommend to the governor to realize ... that he cannot carry out his responsibilities of office today, and he should, in my opinion, step aside." Quinn said he had not spoken to Blagojevich at length since summer 2007.
Blagojevich, 52, is in his second four-year term as Illinois governor. He served as a U.S. congressman for Illinois' 5th Congressional District from 1997 until 2003. He has two daughters.
The state's last governor, George Ryan, was convicted in April 2006 on racketeering and fraud charges. Ryan reported to a federal prison in Wisconsin in November 2007 to serve a 6½-year sentence. RYAN LEGAL PUB STORY.

UPDATE 1-26-09: Gov. Blagojevich's impeachment trial begins today. But the Governor will not be present. He plans to hit the talk shows instead. Perhaps not a bad move as he will not be under oath at the talk shows!

Update 1-30-09: Gov. Blagojevich was removed as governor by the Illinois Senate despite the governor personally giving the closing argument. The criminal trial is next...

Update 6-2-10: The trial has begun. It could take up to 4 months. Adams one of the attorneys for ex Gov. Blagojevich seems to have a good sense of humor. The judge has ruled that the jurors identity will remain unpublished until after the trial. See comments for more details.

Update 7-21-10: The defense rested without the defendant testifying. The defense did not call a single witness. (Robert Blagojevich, the former governor's brother and a co-defendant, did testify in the prosecution's case in chief.) Outside the Chicago courtroom, Blagojevich told The Chicago Tribune reporters. "Sometimes you've gotta listen to the advice of your lawyers... I've learned a lot of lessons from this whole experience and probably the biggest ... is that I talk too much..."

Update 8-5-10: It appears that the crux of the defense is that Rod Blagojevich talks too much and bullsh*ts way too much. Stupid for a governor yes, criminal no!

Update 8-18-10: After 13 days of deliberations, a federal jury deadlocked Tuesday on all but one of 24 charges against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The jury could not reach a unanimous decision as to whether the former Governor tried to sell an appointment to President Barack Obama's old Senate seat. Blagojevich was convicted on a single count of lying to federal agents. The Governor says he will likely appeal. The State claims that they will seek a retrial on the other 23 counts. Just keep in mind, we predicted this one first. Sounds like at least one juror followed the jury instructions as they all promised to do in Voire Dire.

Update 5-31-11: Retrial. This time, the former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich took the stand and testified that he wasn't interested in taking campaign donations in exchange for President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat. (The defense was much more formalized instead of just coming right out and saying that the governor was just Bullsh!tting.)

Update 6-28-11: Yesterday a jury returned a verdict against the defendant on 17 counts. Rod Blagojevich may face up to 6 years in prison. Perhaps he should not have taken the stand...

Rep. Vito Fossella Pays the Price For DWI and Extra Marital Affair

Rep. Vito Fossella of New York made a mistake. On Monday he had to pay. Rep. Fossella was sentenced Monday to five days in jail for drunken driving. The Republican congressman was arrested on May 1 in northern Virginia. Unfortunately, he was persecuted in the media which led to his admission that he has a 3-year-old daughter from an extramarital affair.

Fossella decided not to seek re-election because of the scandal. He will leave office in January.

Sunny von Bulow Not Mrs. Clause or Faux Palin Has Passed On.

Has the final chapter on the "trial of the century" finally closed? No, this is not about O.J. Simpson who will serve at least the next 9 years in jail barring an overturning of his conviction on appeal. Nor is this about the death of Mrs. Santa Clause as my children first feared when they heard the news that Claus ex-wife had passed away. This is about a famous coma victim who after spending nearly 28 years in a coma, has now passed on. This is about the heiress and socialite Martha "Sunny" von Bulow (ex-wife of Claus) who at age 76 has now been laid to rest.

Who is Sunny von Bulow? Was she a Grace Kelly clone, Mrs. Santa Clause or a Faux Palin? Neither. She was born Martha Sharp Crawford. In 1957 she married Prince Alfred von Auerspergin her first marriage. She was thought to have inherited 75 million dollars. The couple had two children, Alexaneder and Annie Laurie. Von Bulow married Claus in 1966 and had a daughter, Cosima. She was married to Claus at the time she slipped into a coma. Keeping with the theme that the husband is always the first suspect, Claus was accused of trying to kill her with an overdose of insulin. Claus was originally convicted of making two attempts on her life, but the conviction was overturned on appeal. After a second trial, Claus was acquitted in 1985.

So what exactly happened? On December 22, 1980, family members found Martha von Bulow unconscious in the bathroom. She never regained consciousness. Approximately, a year earlier, she had been hospitalized after lapsing into a coma but recovered. She was thought to have had hypoglycemia (low blood sugar.) Prosecutors accused Claus von Bulow of twice attempting to kill his wife by injecting her with insulin. The accusations led to the movie, "Reversal of Fortune" with Actor Jeremy Irons winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Claus. Defense attorney Alan Dershowitz, successfully won the appeal that allowed Claus von Bulow a new trial. Ddershowitz has always maintained that the injection was self-induced. At the second trial, th defense team maintained that Martha von Bulow's alcohol use, among other factors, caused her coma. Martha von Bulow is survived by her children, their spouses and nine grandchildren.

Alexander von Auersperg and Ala von Auersperg Isham, filed a civil suit against their stepfather after his acquittal. The case was allegedly settled out of court in 1987. It is believed that Claus von Bulow agreed to waive his claim to his wife's money and to a divorce in exchange for the suit being dropped. Cosima, the couple's daughter, sided with her father.

Police Chief Edward Fleury Indicted For Accidental Death of Christopher Bizilj From Self Inflicted Uzi Wound.

Police are human and they make mistakes too. Unfortunately, lapses in judgment can be detrimental. Why should this come as a surprise? Hillary Clinton is critical of the GM bail out, yet she is looking for help to reduce her campaign deficit. Why expect better judgment in corporate CEOs then in politicians? Or police?

Three men, including Edward Fleury, a Pelham, Massachusetts police chief, were indicted Thursday on involuntary manslaughter counts. Charges arise from a gun-fair death of Christopher Bizilj, an 8-year-old who accidentally shot himself in the head with an Uzi. Prosecutors claim that the boy should not have been allowed to handle the uzi. The fair had promised certified instructors in an advertisement, but District Attorney William Bennett said the child was supervised by an uncertified 15-year-old.

Edward Fleury allegedly told the gun owners that children could legally use the Uzi.
Christopher apparently lost control of the 9mm micro submachine gun as it recoiled. At the time, he was shooting at a pumpkin at the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo at the Westfield Sportsman's Club. Pelham Police Chief Edward Fleury was charged because he owns the sponsor of the gun fair, COP Firearms & Training. Carl Guiffre of Hartford, Conn., and Domenico Spano, of New Milford, Conn., also were indicted. Involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence, but the term could be five years or less for someone with no prior convictions. Thomas Drechsler, an attorney for the club, extends "deepest sympathy" to the Bizilj family, but denies any wrongdoing.

All suspects are to be presumed innocent.

Update 8-16-11: In January, a Hamden Superior Court jury found Edward B. Fleury innocent of involuntary manslaughter in the death of the eight year- old boy who shot himself. If convicted, he could have faced up to 20 years in jail.

Was Gabriele Markert's Attempt to Steal Christmas in Manchester, Maryland Foiled By Top Notch Detective Work?

This could be a great return to Mayberry Christmas tale starring the Don Knotts and the Grinch. But this is not fiction. The county sheriff's office in Manchester, Maryland told Fox News that51-year-old Gabriele Markert is accused of stealing her neighbors Christmas decorations. Apparently, three area homes were affected by her confiscations. Apparently, around 4:30 a.m., a woman reported a loud noise and discovered her 4-foot-tall Santa and snowman had been taken from her yard. Not wanting Christmas to be ruined, deputies went to the victim's home. At the scene, another neighbor who was walking her dog, allegedly told deputies that she too had been targeted by a thief set out to steal Christmas spirit.

Markert was apparently named a suspect after a deputy observed a four foot plastic Santa and a snowmn apparently being held against their will in Markert's home. She is currently awaiting a bail review hearing which is scheduled for Monday. Markert is charged with misdemeanor theft. While Markert is entitled to a presumption of innocence, the county sheriff's office said that Makert was found in her Manchester home with decorations from at least three area homes. Apparently the plastic Santa and Snowman were not injured. Now, if Gabriele Markert is innocent, this will make for one heck of a "Christmas Story."

Sexism is Alive And Well As Illustrated By Gov. Ed Rendell's Inappropriate Remark ~ by Blond Bombshell

Sexism is alive and well in America. On Tuesday, the lectern mic at the National Governors Conference picked up Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's inappropriate remark. Offering an opinion about President-elect Barack Obama's choice for heading Homeland Security he said about Janet Napolitano: "Janet's perfect for that job. Because for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19-20 hours a day to it."

This would never be said about a man! Current Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is married with two grown children. His predecessor, Tom Ridge, also was a family man. Just when we start to think this country is making progress toward ending sexism and racism, idiotic comments like those of Gov. Rendell bring us back to reality. ~Shell

P.S. A Girl Scout leader and her husband may not be setting the best example for young girls either. Michael Schumacker and his wife were arrested after an emaciated, terrified and nearly naked 17-year-old showed up at a gym with a chain locked to his ankle. The boy claims Schumacher and his wife had held him captive. Tracy Police Department is investigating the allegations of torture.

34-year-old Michael Schumacher and Pam Lau (believed to be his wife) have been charged with torture and other counts. Police were also seeking the boy's aunt (Caren Ramirez) concerning an outstanding felony warrant for an earlier alleged assault against the teen. Ramirez had become the boy's guardian after child welfare removed him from the home of his allegedly abusive father.

According to the Troy teen, he had been held captive for nearly a year. Police arrested Kelly Layne Lau, 30, and Michael Schumacher, 34. Charges of torture, kidnapping and child abuse are now pending. The couple are being held at San Joaquin County jail in lieu of bail in the amount of $1.2 million each.

Lau has been a local Girl Scout leader since September according to Pam Saltenberger, chief executive of Girl Scouts Heart of Central California.
On her MySpace Web page, Lau describes herself as a stay-at-home mom and says her husband worked as a contractor. She posted photos of her family, friends and pets. Maybe Gov. Rendell is right, perhaps Lau would not make a good Homeland Security head... there simply are not enough ankle chains.

~Shell

"All Suspects are innocent until proven guilty," says Legal Pub.

Was Lois K. Feldman Unjustly Terminated Because Of Metrodome Sex With Ross Walsh?

Football can be very exciting. Especially this time of year, when each game has significant bowl implications. Unfortunately, the implications of games are not limited to what happens on the football field. Lois K. Feldman, 38 of Carroll Iowa, allegedly had sex with Ross Walsh in the handicapped stall at the Metrodome during a college football team. She recently said that the incident ruined her life. She claims that she was so drunk on wine that she did not remember hooking up with Ross Walsh. (Does that sound like she lacked the ability to consent or does it sound like an excuse?)

Who is Lois K. Feldman? Feldman is an attractive married woman who is the mother of three. She apparently is a good church going mom by most accounts. Feldman told a newspaper that she was fired from her job as an administrator at an assisted living center because of the incident. If Feldman's next statements are true, her termination is very troublesome.
“I don’t know what happened... “But I don’t deny that it did happen, because, obviously, there are police reports.”

Feldman says that said she had never met Walsh prior to this incident. Yet, how could she not know what was happening when she was cheered on by a crowd of football fans during the sex?
Walsh was not married; however, he did have a girlfriend at the game. Is he proud of nailing an older, hot woman if she was so drunk that she can't even remember having the sex? Was she so drunk that he should have known that she was not capable of consenting to sex. Or is this just a fib by Feldman to make her sound less culpable for the incident? If it is any indication of what the police think, they have closed the investigation.

In the day of the internet, it is possible to learn more than by conventional means. Ross Walsh has an accessible Myspace. Is Ross a stud? Was he a good listener who swept the hot MILF off her feet with his sensitivity? Or was Ross a bad boy who was just irresistable? Or was Ross a real bad boy who should have known better? In any event, the Hawkeyes won the game and that in and of itself may heal the debates on this restroom topic among the Hawkeye faithful.

Lavell Vance Named Suspect In Murder of Anne Pressly

Anne Pressly, a popular Little Rock, Arkansas television anchor, was found beaten in her home in October. She died a couple of days later from trauma to the brain in the hospital. Curtis Lavell Vance, 28, was arrested Wednesday night in connection with the 26 year old's death. KATV-TV in Little Rock (A CNN affiliate) reported that police were tipped off to Vance's location after he was publicly identified as a suspect. Police Chief Stuart Thomas did not reveal why Vance was identified as a suspect. Vance will be charged with capital murder. Suspect faces murder charge

Pressly may have been the victim of a burglary because her purse and credit card were missing. A credit card was actually used at a gas station recently. A $30,000 reward from KATV was offered for information leading to the arrest of Pressly's attacker. It is not clear if any one provided the tip that lead to the arrest.

All suspects are innocent until otherwise proven guilty!

Update 11-11-09: Justice marches forward. Curtis Lavelle Vance, a 29 year old man who told police he had been hoping to steal a laptop, was convicted of capital murder of Anne Pressly, an Arkansas TV anchorwoman. Anne had been battered so badly that her face was shattered. She never regained consciousness. The jury panel will also consider whether Vance should be executed or sentenced to life in prison without parole. Vance was also convicted of residential burglary along with rape and theft of property. After the jury vacated the courtroom, Vance gestured toward the empty jury box, pointed to his eyes and ears and shook his head. Sounds like justice to me.

Update 11-13-09: The Pulaski County, Arkansas, jury decided whether the aggravating circumstances in favor of the death penalty outweighed the mitigating circumstances. The jury dicided to sentence Vance to confinement for the rest of his natural life in a 6-by-9 cell with nothing to think about but what he has done. Again, sounds like justice.

Wal-mart Black Friday Rush Results In A Fatality

Black Friday should not really be black. And stores should not hold back customers just to create a line of those greedy to purchase a hot item like a Wii. When will it stop? A Wal-Mart employee died and four others were hurt in the Black Friday rush to get into the Valley Stream Wal-mart this morning. How could any one not say this is a marketing scheme gone bad? The injuries occurred as the shoppers crammed into the Wal-Mart when the doors opened at 5 a.m.
Shoppers knocked a 34 year old Wal-mart employee to the ground at 5:03 a.m. In other words, by playing on greed of getting a resource artificially believed to be in short supply, injuries occurred within three minutes of the mad house beginning. The story ends with this 34-year-old suffering a fatal heart attack.

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was also injured. Fortunately, her baby is fine. And the marketing was a failure any way. The store was closed to incoming shoppers following the incident. Those already inside were allowed to make their purchases and leave.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in Bentonville, Ark., have been quiet about the incident. "Local authorities are looking into the situation,"according to Wal-Mart representative Dan Fogleman.

Store managers have some common sense. Shoppers have some common courtesy. After all. what is the rush? Aren't we suppose to be in a recession or something?

Teacher David Grant Accused of Striking 8 Year Old Student

"Be thankful that it is not another teacher sleeping with a student."
"Is that suppose to make it all seem better?"

The couple were discussing the latest alleged teacher mishap down in Florida. David Adam Grant, an elementary school teacher, was arrested by Fort Lauderdale police for punching an 8-year-old student in the face.

Grant, a 36 year old art teacher at Sunland Elementary School, surrendered to the police Tuesday in connection with the November 5 incident. According to police, a "preliminary investigations revealed that an 8-year-old student ... had been battered."
Reportedly the young boy was struck near his left eye. Grant faces child abuse charges. The incident remains under investigation and Grant is to be presumed innocent until otherwise proven.

Eryn Bloomfield Hopes To Reunite With Her Son (Who Is Accused of Murdering His Dad) Over The Holidays

Eryn Bloomfield, the mother of an 8-year-old boy suspected in the shooting deaths of his father (Vincent Romero) and another man (Tim Romans), says that her son "loved his dad." Vincent Romero and Tim Romans were found dead in Romero's house in St. Johns, Arizona. Eryn Bloomfield maintained her son's innocence on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Prosecutors in Apache County, Arizona, recently dismissed one of the two murder charges. (This apparently was the charge for the murder of his father.) A videotape of the boy's police interview initially denied any involvement in the shootings, but later said he had shot his already-wounded father "because he was suffering." Boy interview with police » The video may not be admissible because no attorney or parent was present. Interrogation 'out of bounds'

The boy lived with his 29 year old dad in St. Johns, Arizona. His mom lives in Mississippi.
The mother had weekly visitation rights and holiday visitation. Tim Romans rented a room in Romero's home. Both were killed with a .22-caliber weapon. Why the interrogation is troubling »
Bloomfield will be allowed 48 hours with her son at home over the Thanksgiving holiday. Otherwise, he is in a juvenile detention facility. A court-appointed guardian will be present during the visit.

Listen to the tapes. The boy does not sound like a killer. Was he coerced into a confession?

Indiana Adopts A Rule Restricting Judges From Surfing the Internet

An ex parte communication is a one-sided communication with the judge.
Black’s Law Dictionary defines ex parte as “on one side only; by or for one party; done for in
behalf of or on the application of, one party.” This can be an important issue for both lawyers and non lawyers. Ex parte communications are prohibited in order to preserve the fundamental fairness of the American legal system. Consequently, judges and attorneys are forbidden by the
Indiana Rules of Court from engaging in ex parte communications.

The federal law also prohibits ex parte communication in order to provides due process for participants in the legal system. Due process includes the right to notice of the complaint or criminal charge, the right to be notified of and to be present at a hearing, and the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses. Our system of justice is founded upon the principle that a person has the opportunity to present his own evidence and witnesses in support of his case. This means that judges are to decide the case based solely on the evidence and testimony in the court. With the advent of the internet, the fear is that judges may have been conducting their own independent research. For example, it may not be admissible in a child custody case that one of the parties has been charged with multiple crimes but never convicted. Nevertheless, if the judge uses the internet, she may learn of such charges which otherwise would not be admissible.

A new Judicial Cannon, 2.9 C will go into effect January 1, 2009. It would seem to prohibit Indiana judges from using the internet to learn more about the background on cases. Is this good or bad? Should all states adopt such a rule?

Why Dogs Make Better Mates Then People - by Viper

1. The later you are, the more excited your dogs are to see you.

2. Dogs don't notice if you call them by another dog's name.

3. Dogs like it if you leave a lot of things on the floor.

4. A dog's parents never visit.

5. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across.

6. You never have to wait for a dog; they're ready to go 24 hours a day.

7. Dogs find you amusing when you're drunk..

8. Dogs like to go hunting and fishing.

9. A dog will not wake you up at night to ask, "If I died, would you get another dog?"

10. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and give them away.

11. A dog will let you put a studded collar on it without calling you a pervert.

12. If a dog smells another dog on you, they don't get mad. They just think it's interesting.

13. Dogs like to ride in the back of a pickup truck.

14. If a dog leaves, it won't take half of your stuff.


Viper

For scientific research that proves pets are better partners then humans, follow this LINK.

Michel Lapointe Knows Where The Beef Is... More Importantly, He Knows That Beef Can Buy You An Early Release!

For some folks, weight has always been a problem. But for some, being overweight can translate into preferential treatment. Michel Lapointe may fit that category. He weights 430-pounds. He was serving time in a Canadian prison but was released early because the facility could not accommodate his massive frame.

The Quebec Parole Board sided with Michel's claims that he just did not fit in the prison scene. Given his good behavior and what could be legitimate health concerns, Michel received early parole. "Big Mike," as he's known, was in the joint for conspiracy and drug trafficking. Rumor has it he celebrated his early release by a great meal.

For the next few days Legal Pub will be catching up on new law for 2009. So don't expect a new post for a few days.