Crime

MAGA Pastor Says He Won’t Take Plea Deal In GA Case

The Chicago Tribune reports: An Orland Park pastor charged with conspiring with others in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia says he is not planning to take a plea deal, but his attorney said that going through a trial would likely be very expensive. The Rev. Stephen Cliffgard Lee, pastor at Living Word Lutheran Church …

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Russian Hackers Breached State Records In Maine

The Hill reports: About 1.3 million people were affected by a data breach in Maine earlier this year, the state revealed Thursday. The breach was part of a massive cyberattack in May that exploited a vulnerability in the widely used MOVEit file-transfer system. Maine said the affected data included names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, driver’s license or state …

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Paul Pelosi Attacker’s Defense: QAnon Made Me Do It

The Washington Post reports: A key element of both the assault and attempted kidnapping charges is that the alleged crimes were in retaliation for Nancy Pelosi’s work in the House. Opening statements made clear that the defense strategy will be to try to undercut that part of the prosecution’s case by showing that it was instead Daviud DePape’s belief in …

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MI Baptist Youth Pastor Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Michigan Live reports: Convicted of assaulting young boys as a Little League coach in North Carolina, Jonathan S. Russell relocated to Saginaw Township. He’s now facing charges in two Michigan counties for allegedly assaulting numerous children by exploiting his position in a local church. In February, Michigan State Police troopers began investigating allegations Jonathan S. Russell had been abusing children …

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Mormon Ex-Gay Torture Therapist Arrested On Rape Charges After Standoff With Police, Held Without Bail

The Salt Lake Tribune reports: Former Utah therapist Scott Owen was arrested Wednesday in connection with accusations that he sexually abused patients during sessions. Owen, 63, was booked into the Utah County jail on suspicion of six counts of object rape and four counts of forcible sodomy. A Utah County judge has ordered that Owen remain in jail without the …

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Court: LDS Church Had No Duty To Report Incestuous Child Porn Admitted To During “Spiritual Confession”

Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate reports: An Arizona judge has dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ruling that church officials who knew that a church member was sexually abusing his daughter had no duty to report the abuse to police or social service agencies because the information was received during …

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Accused Rioter Flees The Feds, NJ Manhunt Underway

Newark’s NBC affiliate reports: A manhunt is underway in Helmetta as police and the FBI are searching for a wanted man who fled on foot into a wooded area, officials say. The FBI said in a statement that it is looking for Gregory Yetman, 46, of Helmetta. He is described as a white man in his 40s wearing a red …

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OK Baptist Pastor Arrested On Child Porn Charges

Oklahoma City’s NBC affiliate reports: The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was notified by the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center in regards to possible computer crimes by 40-year-old David Prince, who is a chaplain and associate pastor in McAlester. Officials say on November 6, the OSBI ICAC unit, along with other law enforcement agencies, served a search warrant at Prince’s …

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Baptist School Teacher Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Click Orlando reports: A former teacher at an Orlando Christian private school faces several charges of sexual activity with a minor, according to Orange County court records. In addition, the victim is suing The First Academy, The First Baptist Church of Orlando and her former teacher for sexual abuse and for failing to notify law enforcement after learning of the …

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NC Baptist Pastor Arrested On Child Porn Charges

Charlotte’s CBS affiliate reports: A pastor at a Caldwell County church is facing child sex charges after the execution of recent search warrants. Investigators served warrants against 51-year-old Ashley James Crouse on Nov. 3, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said. Both deputies and agents with the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) participated in the searches. Officials said both Crouse’s …

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4 Charged In Theft Of $6M Gold Toilet Titled “America”

The Associated Press reports: Four men were charged Monday over the theft of an 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, the sprawling English mansion where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was born. The toilet, valued at 4.8 million pounds ($5.95 million), was the work of Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan. It was part of an art installation at Blenheim Palace, …

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Indiana Woman Charged With Ramming Her Car Into “Jewish School” Actually Run By Antisemitic Hate Group

Indianapolis’s Fox affiliate reports: IMPD officers arrested a woman, who they labeled a “terrorist,” after she drove her car into a building that she thought was a Jewish school. However, the building is used by the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge which has been labeled an antisemitic hate group. Ruba Almaghtheh, 34, was arrested on a preliminary charge …

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Man Get Three Years In Anti-LGBTQ Hate Crime Spree

Via press release from the Justice Department: An Oregon man was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for attempting to run over three people with a car as part of a week-long crime spree targeting the LGBTQI+ community around Boise, Idaho, in October 2022. According to court records, on Oct. 8, 2022, while …

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Rioter Gets Seven Years In Notorious Assault On Cop

Via press release from the Justice Department: Steven Cappuccio, 53, of Universal City, Texas, was sentenced to 85 months in prison and 24 months of supervised release on multiple felony charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers. At approximately 3:06 p.m., Cappuccio approached the entrance to the Tunnel, recording video on his cell phone of the scene outside the Capitol. Cappuccio …

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Baptist School Teacher Gets Ten Years For Child Sex

La Crosse’s CBS affiliate reports: A former Tomah Baptist Academy teacher will spend 10 years in prison for repeated sexual assault convictions. Friday, Monroe County Judge Richard Radcliffe sentenced 75-year-old Anne Nelson-Koch to 10 years prison, 15 years supervised release for convictions on 25 counts of sexual assault. Nelson-Koch was convicted in July of repeatedly forcing a 14-year-old student to …

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“American Idol” Pastor Charged With Identity Theft

Memphis’s Fox affiliate reports: A well-known Shelby County pastor who appeared on “American Idol” and “The Voice” was arrested and charged with identity theft. Pastor Steven Flockhart of 901 Church was charged with identity theft and theft of merchandise $2,500-$10,000 on Thursday. Flockhart and another member of the church agreed to open a joint credit card specifically for the church. …

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Boastful Trump Appointee Rioter Sentenced To Six Years

NBC News reports: A former Donald Trump political appointee at the State Department who tried to storm the Capitol and assaulted law enforcement officers on Jan. 6 was sentenced to 70 months in prison on Friday. Federico Klein was arrested in March 2021 and convicted of eight felonies as well as misdemeanor offenses by U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden, …

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“Execute Mike Pence” Rioter: It’s My “Great Honor” To Go To Prison Today For 19 Months For Glorious Leader

Via press release from the Justice Department: An Ohio man was sentenced in the District of Columbia today on five offenses, including a felony, committed during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Alexander Sheppard, 24, of Powell, Ohio, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates to serve 19 months in prison and 24 months …

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FL Pastor Accused Of Beating Third Graders With Belt

Click Orlando reports: Orlando police responded to a preparatory school in Orlando on Thursday following reports of a pastor “whipping” students with a belt during class. News 6 found police outside the school near 1960 Bruton Blvd. responding to a call about a “general disturbance.” A parent told News 6 that his son was one of eight students struck by …

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Crypto Mogul Found Guilty In $8 Billion Fraud Scheme

Reuters reports: FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty on Thursday of stealing from customers of his now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange in one of the biggest financial frauds on record, a verdict that cemented the 31-year-old former billionaire’s fall from grace. A 12-member jury in Manhattan federal court convicted Bankman-Fried on all seven counts he faced after a monthlong trial in …

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