Crime

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Jacksonville’s CBS affiliate reports: 50-year-old Paul Mauricio will be spending the next 25 years behind bars for sex crimes involving a 12-year-old girl. As part of a plea deal, Mauricio, who was an eight-year veteran of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, pleaded guilty to four out of seven sexual assault charges. A judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison …

The New York Daily News reports: The woman caught on video burning a gay pride rainbow flag outside a SoHo restaurant has been nabbed, police said Wednesday. Angelina Cando, 30, was busted Tuesday — her third arrest in less than a month — and charged with arson, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment, all as hate crimes. The ponytailed Cando was …

Oklahoma City’s NBC affiliate reports: A Chickasha area pastor has been arrested on allegations of indecent acts with a minor according to Chickasha Police Department. Chickasha Police officials say Matthew Reiber has been booked into the Grady county jail. Police officials confirm that on February 7, they were contacted about a possible Sexual Assault, by a neighbor. After further interviews …

Raleigh’s NBC affiliate reports: A former Wayne County teacher on Friday agreed to an Alford plea, admitting that the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction on charges he molested two 11-year-old female students at Faith Christian Academy. The plea is not an admission of guilt by Warren Riley, 53, and it brings to an end a trial that lasted …

The Wall Street Journal reports: Ensign Peak Advisors Inc., which oversees a $32 billion equities portfolio for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will pay $4 million to settle regulatory claims that the money manager obscured the church’s investment holdings. The church will also pay a $1 million fine, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Tuesday. The money …

The Guardian reports: A 65-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of David O’Connell, an Irish prominent priest who was shot on Saturday in Los Angeles. Carlos Medina, the husband of the bishop’s housekeeper, was arrested on Monday morning for the murder of the 69-year-old. Police said a source tipped them off that Medina claimed O’Connell owed …

Joplin’s NBC affiliate reports: A Wyandotte pastor charged with felony child sexual abuse was assaulted by a member of the victim’s family, according to Miami Police Chief Thomas Anderson. The Ottawa County Prosecutor filed the sexual abuse charge against Fred Gammon, Jr, 42, of Miami on Monday, Feb. 13. Court records show Gammon’s wife, Tonya, posted his $35,000 bail. “The …

Madison’s CBS affiliate reports: A Diocese of Madison pastoral associate in the DeForest parish who is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a teenager pleaded guilty to child enticement Monday, online court records show. Rajnal Rehmat, 31, was charged with one count of child enticement and one count of sexual assault of a child by a person who works …

The Los Angeles Times reports: Authorities investigating the killing of a Los Angeles bishop Saturday have made an arrest in the case, law enforcement sources said Monday. Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell, 69, was killed Saturday afternoon in the Catholic archdiocese-owned home in Hacienda Heights where he lived alone, authorities say. One law enforcement source said O’Connell was found dead …

New York City’s CBS affiliate reports: Police say a Pride flag was intentionally set on fire outside a restaurant overnight in Manhattan. The incident is now under investigation as a potential hate crime. It happened around 1:30 a.m. Monday at Little Prince restaurant on Prince Street in SoHo. Police say the suspect pulled up, got out of a car, set …

From the Justice Department: U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced that Tye Braxton Stiger, age 35, of Jonesville, made his initial appearance in the Western District of Michigan on February 14, 2023. A federal grand jury previously returned an indictment charging him with two counts of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of …

Raleigh’s NBC affiliate reports: A Raleigh man has been arrested and charged with sex crimes involving a 7-year-old child. Kenneth Newcomer, age 61, faces two counts of first degree sex offense with a child and three counts of indecent liberties with a child. Court documents show the date of the offense was back in August of 2007. Newcomer’s bond is …

New Orleans’ CBS affiliate reports: Authorities say officers at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport stopped a passenger with an “assault rifle” and 163 rounds of ammunition from being carried onto a plane headed for Houston this week. According to the Transportation Security Administration, a 52-year-old man from Jefferson, La., now faces a fine that could be as high as …