Crime and Punishment

Gary Condit Settles Levy Lawsuit vs. Tabloids

Former Rep. Gary Condit settled his libel lawsuit against three tabloid newspapers over articles connecting him to the disappearance and death of federal intern Chandra Levy — the case that led to his political demise. Lawyers for both sides confirmed the Aug. 18 deal but declined to discuss any details.

Federal Ban on Assault Weapons Set to Expire

The federal ban on assault weapons will expire Monday, as scheduled. Supporters had made a last-ditch effort to renew it, but Republican leaders in Congress say there won't be a vote. Senate majority leader Bill Frist says the American people don't want it renewed.

Three Killed in North Carolina Shooting Spree

A former corrections officer went on a shooting spree at a mobile home community, killing two people and wounding two others before killing himself, police said. One of the dead was believed to be the shooter's wife. At least one of the wounded had life-threatening injuries.

Two Teens Charged With Murder in Coach's Slaying

Two Kennewick teenagers were charged today with murder in last weekend's slaying of a high school football coach. Robert A. Suarez, 16, and Jordan E. Castillo, 14, were accused of killing King Robert "Bob" Mars, whose body was found Sunday morning inside Kiona-Benton Middle School in nearby Benton City.

FBI Joins Probe of Black Teen's Hanging Death

The FBI has joined a probe into the August 26th hanging death of a 15-year-old Alabama boy. Relatives have said they disagree with a preliminary ruling that the youngster committed suicide. The Escambia County sheriff's department said its findings were in part, based on a note left at the scene and no signs of violence. The body of Woodrow Riley was found hanged from an elastic cord on his back porch.

L.A. Judge Overturns Death Sentence

A Los Angeles federal judge has overturned one of California's oldest death sentences, sparing a convicted killer of two elderly Long Beach women because his trial was tainted by unreliable jailhouse informants and poorly performing lawyers.

Woman Charged With Murder In Baby's Meth-Related Death

A mother whose baby was stillborn because his body was wracked with methamphetamine was charged with first degree-murder Wednesday in Oklahoma County District Court. The charge is the first of its kind filed in Oklahoma. Theresa Lee Hernandez's son, born April 17, had twice as much methamphetamine in his body as would kill an adult.

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Teen Indicted for Creating Sasser Worm

An 18-year-old student in Germany, known in court records only as Sven J., has been indicted by German prosecutors on suspicion of creating the Sasser computer worm that affected millions of computers and caused millions of dollars in damages.

Judge Delays Sniper Death Penalty Trial

A judge has postponed until next year the second capital murder trial of convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad. The trial, which had been scheduled to start Oct. 4, is now set to begin Jan. 10. Fairfax County Circuit Judge Jonathan Thacher said too many pretrial issues remain unresolved to be able to start the trial in less than one month.

Man Pleads Guilty in Murder, Backyard Burials

A man accused of killing a friend and two women whose bodies were found buried in a back yard pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in his friend's death. As part of his plea, Richard Paul White will be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Former SLA Member's Sentence Reduced

A one-time member of the radical group that kidnapped Patricia Hearst had her sentence reduced by one year in the 1975 attempted bombings of two Los Angeles police cars. The 13-year sentence given Tuesday to Sara Jane Olson, a former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army, replaces the one handed down two years ago.

Grandma Arrested in Baby's Slaying

A grandmother was arrested on charges killing her four-month-old granddaughter two months ago. Mary P. Grandberry, 52, was charged with capital murder in the death of Daria K'Mya Grandberry, who was born March 19 and died of internal hemorrhaging.

Lionel Tate Charged With Probation Violation

A teen whose life sentence in the beating death of a 6-year-old playmate was thrown out on appeal went before a judge Wednesday on charges he violated his probation by walking around late at night with a pocket knife. Lionel Tate, now 17, had been the youngest child in modern U.S. history to be given a life sentence.

Woman Who Planted Razors Blades Arrested Again

A woman who pleaded guilty last year to placing razor blades and nails in southern Orange County playgrounds was arrested for allegedly violating the terms of her probation, authorities said. Lori Elizabeth Fischer, 24, was booked at Orange County Jail on Tuesday after sheriff's deputies found a box of nails in her car when they pulled her over last week.

Scouts Boot Leader Accused of Sexual Assault

A Boy Scouts leader charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy was not involved in an official scouting activity when the alleged incident took place, Boy Scouts officials said. Scouts leaders also said they have revoked the assistant Scout leader status of Leon Cattey III.

Father Charged With Baby's Death by Abuse

A Washington state man was charged with homicide by abuse in the death of his 3-month-old son. King County prosecutors say Tremaine A. Powell, 20, caused the baby's deadly head injuries -- and broke one of his legs in two places -- in frustration over the child's crying.

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Ward Weaver Competent to Stand Trial

A series of long trial delays apparently ended for Ward Weaver, accused of killing two teenage girls in 2002, when an Oregon City judge ruled he was able to stand trial after Weaver's attorneys withdrew their motion that their client was not mentally fit to assist in his own defense.

Defense: Police Ignored Tips to Pursue Peterson

As Scott Peterson's double-murder trial entered its 15th week, prosecutions witnesses tried to counter defense claims that investigators ignored other tips in the case because they were set on pursuing Peterson as their only suspect.

Victim Runs Over Armed Robber

An armed robbery suspect was in critical condition, police say, after his victim ran him over with a car along U.S. 31. Armondo Esteves-Torres, Indianapolis, was being treated at Methodist Hospital. He was charged with two felonies -- armed robbery, and criminal confinement with a deadly weapon.

Sentence for Child Molester Vacated

An appeals court threw out a child molester's sentence because of religious comments made by the trial judge - the same judge who had had another sentence thrown out for the same reason in 1998.

Mom Pleads Guilty to Giving Unborn Baby Cocaine

In a case that may set a landmark in Texas law, a 30-year-old Amarillo woman has pleaded guilty to second-degree felony charges of delivery of a controlled substance to a minor -- her unborn baby.

Former Police Officer Charged in Killing

A former police officer accused of killing a college student who had once been his lover pleaded not guilty in the man's death. Steven A. Rios, 27, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the June 5 death of Jesse James Valencia, a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Mississippi Court to Hear Death-Row Appeals

A Biloxi man sentenced to death for the killing of three members of a Gulf Coast family will argue for a new trial before the Mississippi Supreme Court on Sept. 21. The appeal from death row inmate Thong Le is one of two capital murder cases the justices will hear this term.

Salt Lake Mayor Charged in Funds Scandal

The mayor of Utah's most populous county was charged with misusing public money by placing a county employee at a nonprofit group as a bookkeeper to assist her daughter, who is the group's chief financial officer.

Police Seek Serial Killer in Kansas City

Police said they believe a single killer was responsible for the slayings of six people whose bodies were found within a blighted 18-block area frequented by drug addicts and prostitutes. Police Capt. Rich Lockhart would not say what led police to connect the killings to a single person; the crimes have not been linked forensically.

Peterson Knew He Was Followed

Testimony in the double murder trial of Scott Peterson focused on how he reacted after he realized that he was being followed, but the question raised concerned whether he knew it was the police following him, or the news media.

Salt Lake Mayor Charged in Funds Scandal

The mayor of Utah's most populous county was charged with misusing public money by placing a county employee at a nonprofit group as a bookkeeper to assist her daughter, who is the group's chief financial officer.

Father Charged in Death of Newborn Twin

With one of her newborn baby boys sick, Karyn Bottorff was already at Sherman Hospital on Friday morning when staff came to find her with horrifying news -- the boy's twin was also at the hospital with a serious injury to his head.

Boyhood Friends Killed At College Tailgate Party

Two boyhood friends from the Chicago-area were shot and killed at North Carolina State. A North Carolina State University student and his brother are in custody, charged in the shooting deaths of the men at a tailgating party before a NCSU football game.

10 Washington State Teens Arrested in Racial Attack

The Clark County Sheriff's Office has arrested 10 teenagers who are believed to have taken part in what authorities are calling a racially motivated attack on two black teens this summer.

Man Sues Over Seizure of Cash at Airport

A Salt Lake man is suing federal and city agencies, claiming $26,000 was illegally taken from him at Salt Lake City International Airport and it cost him $20,000 in legal expenses to get it back.

Dateline: Jackson Paid Off Another Accuser

Michael Jackson allegedly paid the 12-year-old son of a Neverland Valley Ranch employee $2 million to keep him quiet about another accusation of child molestation, according to a report to be aired by NBC's news magazine "Dateline."

Man Charged in 1968 Stabbing Death of Pregnant Teen

A man who once sat on death row for killing two women was charged Thursday with a third murder, more than three decades after a pregnant 16-year-old's husband came home to find her body riddled with stab wounds. The 1968 slaying of Sandra Bowman is the oldest "cold case" ever solved in Washington state, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecutor's Office.

Pennsylvania Man Charged With 1,002 Child-Porn Counts

A 52-year-old Pennsylvania man is behind bars, charged with 1,002 counts of possession of child pornography. Kevin Kelly, of Rose Tree Village, is behind held on $150,000 cash bail.

Two Girls Drowned in Pool; Adults Arrested

Two 9-year-old girls drowned in a swimming pool at a San Bernardino County home last night, and the mother of one of the girls is in custody for drug possession. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the mother of Nichole, Tracy Toca, under the influence of methamphetamine.

Father Arrested In Death Of 3-Month-Old Son

A 3-month-old baby who was critically injured Sunday at a Kenmore apartment died Wednesday night at a Seattle hospital. King County sheriff's deputies arrested the 20-year-old father early Thursday for investigation of murder.

Woman's Capital Murder Case Declared a Mistrial

A judge declared a mistrial in the capital murder case of the woman accused of killing a two-year-old last year. Since the jury was unable to agree on her punishment, a judge will decide how long Felicia Pelzel should go to prison for the death of Bailey Heald.

Doctor Charged With Pushing Oxycontin

A Cleveland-area doctor is behind bars Thursday, charged with pushing narcotics and ripping off the federal government. Doctor Jorge Martinez was put in handcuffs at his million-dollar Bath home Thursday morning as federal agents began to raid his offices. Over the past few years, the doctor has amassed a fortune in the pain management business.

Charges Against Kobe Bryant Dismissed

Kobe Bryant will not be tried on sexual assault charges after Judge Terry Ruckriegle accepted a prosecution motion to dismiss the charges because the woman who accused him of raping her decided not to testify. District Attorney Mark Hurlbert told Ruckriegle he requested dismissal "solely on the fact the victim at this time is unable to go forward."

Peterson Visited Marina Several Times

Several police witnesses who were assigned to follow Scott Peterson after his wife Laci disappeared testified that Peterson repeatedly visited the bay where her body was later found and appeared to try to allude the police who were tailing him.

Accused Ohio Highway Sniper Pleads Insanity

An Ohio man charged in a series of highway shootings is changing his plea to innocent by reason of insanity, his attorney confirmed. Charles McCoy Jr. is accused in a months-long shooting rampage around the city of Columbus. The shootings began last October, and resulted in one death.

Doctor Calls Accused Mailbox Bomber Delusional

A government psychologist says a Minnesota man accused of bombing mailboxes in several Midwestern states is delusional and shouldn't be freed because he's too great a risk to society. Dr. Andrew Simcox says 23-year-old Luke Helder of Pine Island believes he vibrates at a certain pitch and that physical death is insignificant because it just moves people to a higher plane of consciousness.

Decapitation Victim's Family Seeks Leniency

The family of a man decapitated in an alleged drunken driving accident is pleading with authorities to free his best friend, who was behind the wheel and apparently didn't notice that his passenger had been beheaded. Francis "Frankie" Brohm, 23, was killed on the way home from a bar with his high school friend John Hutcherson.

Man Arrested for Stem-Cell Lab Bombing

Police arrested a man in connection with last week's pipe bomb explosion at a Boston-area laboratory specializing in stem-cell research. Watertown police said they arrested Brad Karger, 29. He will be arraigned on charges of having placed an explosive device and burning a building.

5 Enron Defendants Want to Delay Trial

Attorneys representing five former executives from Enron Corp.'s defunct broadband unit want their October trial postponed to early next year and moved out of Texas or at least as far from Houston as Corpus Christi.

Police Officer Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges

A New Hampshire police officer has been arrested on sexual assault charges, accused of raping a 16-year-old girl while he was acting as her physical guardian, the attorney general's office said. William McClellan, 50, of East Conway, was arrested on four counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault. He is currently employed as a police officer in Conway, but has been on administrative leave.

Suspect in Shooting of Newark Cop Arrested

The last suspect wanted for shooting a city police officer in July has been arrested in North Carolina. Michael Turner was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force at a Holiday Inn in Greenville, N.C., where he was staying with his girlfriend.

Peterson Trial Turns to Dog-Tracking Testimony

In Scott Peterson's double-murder trial a search-and-rescue team testified that search dogs picked up Laci Peterson's scent at the Berkeley Marina where Peterson launched a fishing trip on the morning his wife disappeared, but under cross-examination Christopher Boyer admitted that the dogs could have picked up her scent from the boat or the truck and there was no way the dogs could determine when she may have been there.

Bryant Jury Questioning Enters Second Day

A total of 164 potential jurors have been questioned by attorneys in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case in the first two days of jury selection and both the defense and prosecution have voiced concerns about jurors having already made up their minds about the guilt or innocence of the defendant.

DNA Helps Free Wrongly Convicted Georgia Man

A man who spent 17 years in prison for the 1986 rape, kidnapping and robbery of a hospital worker was freed after DNA evidence cleared him. Clarence Harrison, 44, was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 on charges of sexually assaulting the woman as she waited for a bus.

Man Confesses To Burying Child's Body In 1969

The boyfriend of a woman suspected of killing her daughter 35 years ago in California reportedly has confessed to burying the girl's body. A detective in Illinois said James Michael Kent confessed to authorities that he did not kill the girl but helped bury her body in a mountain canyon. Kent was arrested in Illinois and has been extradited to California.

Lawsuit Planned in Arrest of 8-Year-Old at School

The mother of a third-grader handcuffed and taken to the police station after hitting another child with a basketball has filed a notice that she intends to sue the Espanola school district, city police and the jail. According to a juvenile citation for disorderly conduct, Jerry Trujillo, 8, was arrested and booked into the Espanola jail after he "got out of control and refused to go back to class."

Female Youth Counselor Charged in Relationship with Boy

A youth counselor at Connecticut Junior Republic in Goshen is charged with sexual assault for her relationship with a 15-year-old boy who visited her house for alcohol and sex. Stacy A. Mikolajczyk, 24, is charged with six counts of sexual assault in the second degree and four counts of risk of injury to a minor.

Suspended Police Officer Shoots Family, Self

A suspended police officer under criminal investigation shot his wife and 9-year-old son, then killed himself, police said. The bodies of Officer Michael Waleskowski, his wife and son were found in upstairs bedrooms of their Michigan home following a fire Sunday morning, but Robert Gerds, administrator for the Oakland County medical examiner's office, said all three died from gunshot wounds to the head.

Former Enron Broadband Exec Pleads Guilty

A former executive from Enron Corp.'s defunct high-speed Internet unit pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy related to the scandal-choked company's collapse. Kevin P. Hannon, 44, chief operating officer for Enron Broadband Services, was ordered to surrender $2.2 million in assets and $8 million in deferred compensation from Enron's bankruptcy estate to the Justice Department and $1 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission.