Crime

Cops: Florida Pastor Secretly Sold Church For Drugs

Miami’s ABC affiliate reports: A Broward County pastor has been arrested on multiple charges after he defrauded a church to support his drug habit, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Wednesday. According to the FDLE, James Edward Smith II, 49, of Lauderhill, was the pastor of the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Pompano Beach. Agents began investigating him last …

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FL Man Found With Literal Ton Of Printed Child Porn

Law & Crime reports: A 72-year-old man in Florida was arrested last week after authorities say they recovered so many images depicting child sexual abuse that the total weight of the printed photos tipped the scales at more than 2,600 pounds, well over one ton. Paul Stephen Zittel was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with 25 counts obscene …

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Cardinal Cites Dementia In Bid To Dismiss Abuse Case

Reuters reports: Lawyers for former Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick on Monday asked a Massachusetts judge to dismiss a criminal case charging him with molesting a 16-year-old boy in 1974, saying the 92-year-old is not mentally competent to face trial due to dementia. McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington, D.C., last July became the only current or former U.S. Catholic …

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Arrest Warrant Issued For Rapper Pardoned By Trump

Tampa’s ABC affiliate reports: An arrest warrant was issued for rapper and Florida native, Kodak Black, who authorities said violated his bail conditions when he failed a drug test earlier this month. According to the Broward County Clerk of Courts, Kodak Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, violated the conditions of his pretrial release after he failed to submit …

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Felon Tried To Board Flight With AR-15 And Fake Badge

NBC News reports: A New Jersey felon attempted to board a flight late last year with an AR-15 rifle, a Taser and a fake U.S. Marshal badge, according to a federal complaint that was unsealed Monday. Seretse Clouden has been charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and fraudulent possession of an identification document and …

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Woman Convicted In Theft Of Lady Gaga’s Dogs Sues For $500,000 Reward: “You Said No Questions Asked”

Law & Crime reports: A woman charged in connection with the violent theft of Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs is suing the star singer for the reward money, alleging that the superstar broke a promise to give $500,000 for the safe return of her dogs. Jennifer McBride, 52, was one of five people charged in connection with the Feb. 24, 2021 …

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CA Youth Pastor Gets 12 Years For Child Sexual Assault

The Orange County Register reports: A 60-year-old former Santa Ana church youth pastor pleaded guilty and was immediately sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl. The victim came forward to police in October 2018 and said Jonathan Lamont Jenkins started making “sexual advances toward her” in January 2018, according to police. She was at …

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PA Pastor Arrested On 880 Felony Child Porn Counts

The Olean Times-Herald reports: A Christian musician, pastor and former Bradford store owner is in McKean County Jail, charged with more than 880 felony counts of child pornography. Daniel W. Merrick, 64, of 858 Route 446, Smethport, is charged with 570 counts of child pornography-involving indecent contact, second-degree felonies; 316 counts of child pornography-involving nudity, third-degree felonies; and one count …

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Man Charged With Death Threats Against Dem Senator

Missoula CBS affiliate reports: A Kalispell man is accused of threatening to kill Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester. Kevin Patrick Smith, 45, is charged with two counts of “threats to injure and murder a United States Senator,” a felony. Smith pleaded not guilty to those charges in U.S. District Court in Missoula Thursday afternoon. In the indictment, prosecutors say on …

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Killer And Rapist Of Multiple Florida Gay Men Thanks Judge For Imposing Death Penalty As He’d Requested

Law & Crime reports: A 64-year-old admitted double murderer who insisted upon receiving the death penalty in Florida bizarrely thanked his trial judge for the capital sentence Friday and asserted this his “soul is fine.” Steven Lorenzo had already confessed in December to murdering Jason Galehouse and Michael Wachholtz, both 26, in 2003. Prosecutors said that Lorenzo drugged, sexually assaulted, …

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Megachurch Youth Pastor Gets 60 Years For Child Sex

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: A former youth pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Shelby County pleaded guilty Friday to 13 sex-related crimes involving children. Keenan Maurice Hord received 60 years for the crimes but will be eligible for parole in 15. He must also register as a sex offender and have no contact with any children. At Hord’s bond …

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Australian Guilty Of 1988 Murder Of Gay US Tourist

NPR reports: An Australian pleaded guilty on Thursday to the manslaughter of an American who fell to his death 35 years ago from a Sydney clifftop that was known as a gay meeting place, with the victim’s family welcoming the latest twist in their long campaign for justice. Scott White’s admission in the New South Wales state Supreme Court comes …

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Texas Pastors/Brothers Arrested On Child Sex Charges

College Station’s CBS affiliate reports: Two Leon County brothers with pastoral leadership positions at churches in Centerville and Buffalo were arrested following grand jury indictments Wednesday. Clark A. Travis was arrested in Buffalo by Leon County Sheriff’s deputies without incident Tuesday night. Matthew T. Travis Jr. surrendered himself to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office jail late Wednesday night. The duo …

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Mississippi Youth Pastor Arrested On Child Sex Charges

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports: An east Tupelo youth pastor accused of having sex with a 16-year-old church member was ordered held without bond Thursday. Alexander Blackwelder, 26, of Tupelo, is charged with two counts of sexual battery and enticement of a child to produce visual depictions of adult sexual conduct. Tupelo police detective Hal Veal said authorities received …

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Cops: Ex-NFL Player Assaulted Son And Son’s Boyfriend

CBS News reports: Former NFL player Joe Staysniak was arrested at his Indiana home after allegedly assaulting his son and his son’s boyfriend, according to a probable cause affidavit from a responding Hendricks County Sheriff’s deputy. The 56-year-old Staysniak, who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 1992 to 1995 and on several other NFL teams, has been charged with one …

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MA Youth Pastor Sentenced To 3-4 Years For Child Rape

The Salem News reports: The vulnerable teens were steered toward a local United Methodist Church — and into the path of a lay pastor, a man who, though not ordained, had been given a type of license by the church to work as a youth minister. On Thursday, Russell Woodman Davis, 70, pleaded guilty to raping and attempting to rape …

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Imprisoned NC Pastor Hit With New Child Sex Charges

The Johnston County News reports: Less than two years after being sentenced to prison for sex crimes involving three juvenile victims, Stephen Arthur Morris of Four Oaks was returned to Johnston County today (Thursday) to be formally charged with more crimes. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said a family member of the former pastor recently came forward and reported she …

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Harvey Weinstein Gets 16 Years In California Rape Case

Deadline Hollywood reports: Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Thursday in downtown Los Angeles to 16 years in prison for rape and other sex crimes. With the already incarcerated former producer in attendance at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center courtroom today, the somewhat delayed ruling by Judge Lisa B. Lench is in addition to the 23 years the much-accused Weinstein …

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IL Church Choir Director Gets 88 Years For Child Porn

Illinois Public Radio reports: A Normal man was sentenced to 88 years in prison on Wednesday for criminal sexual assault of a minor and possession of child pornography. Michael D. Schneider worked as a staff member at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington before his arrest in June 2021 on the felony charges. The victim, now a college student, struggled …

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NYC Pride Flag Arsonist Has Screaming Fit In Court

The New York Post reports: The woman accused of setting a pride flag on fire outside a Manhattan restaurant sparked chaos in court Wednesday, repeatedly shouting during her first appearance before a judge. Angelina Cando, 35, interrupted the proceeding in Manhattan Criminal Court several times as prosecutors accused her of going on a vandalizing spree over the weekend that included …

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