California State

Inmate on death row for 33 years must either be released or retried over prosecutorial misconduct

California inmate on death row for 33 years must either be released or retried due to prosecutorial misconduct

Irvine, CA

Contributors represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. They have also demonstrated their experience writing hard news for other outlets. Contributors are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

contributor

NewSantaAna

The Irvine Police Department’s Spectrum team was notified of a woman shoplifting at Sephora on Wednesday. When loss prevention tried to stop her, she refused to stop. As the Spectrum team arrived, loss prevention lost the suspect in the parking lot. An excellent citizen told the officers they observed the suspect enter a white Tesla and crawl into the trunk.

Shoplifter arrested after hiding in her Tesla’s trunk at the Irvine Spectrum

Manatee County, FL

Distractify

After legal proceedings that lasted less than seven days, the jury for the Black Swan murder trial handed down a guilty verdict for former ballerina Ashley Benefield. In September 2020, she killed her estranged husband Doug Benefield, claiming it was self-defense. The state argued that Ashley was singularly focused on being a single parent, and did not want Doug involved in the life of their then 2-year-old daughter.Obviously the jury felt the prosecution presented a case strong enough to possibly send Ashley to prison for quite some time. It should be noted that the trial was held in the state...

The Black Swan Murder Trial Has Ended With a Guilty Verdict — When Is the Sentencing?

Mississippi State

Meridian, MS

The Mirror US

Emily Lawhead, a spokesperson for Management and Training Corporation, which manages the facility, said Clarence Gillie, 59, was found unresponsive in his cell on Thursday

Mystery deepens as third inmate found dead in cell this month at Mississippi prison

South Carolina State

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The appeals are just beginning for disgraced former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, who is almost three years into a life sentence without parole for killing his wife and son. The South Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to hear Murdaugh’s appeal of his murder convictions....

3 years into a life sentence, Alex Murdaugh to get his day before the South Carolina Supreme Court

Waller County, TX

Fox News

A Texas man was sentenced to four decades in prison as part of a plea agreement after pleading guilty to decapitating his newlywed wife in 2023.

Texas man sentenced to 40 years in prison for decapitating his wife, leaving her head in the shower

Coffee County, GA

Daily Coffee Press

Last week, two individuals from Coffee County were charged with trafficking methamphetamine following a search at a residence on Willacoochee Highway. On August 13, detectives with the Coffee County Drug Unit conducted an operation involving Charles Black, which led to a search of his residence on Willacoochee Highway. According to the report, Black left his residence before the warrant was served and was subsequently detained.

Two Charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine After Search in Coffee County

Columbia, SC

South Carolina Daily Gazette

COLUMBIA — South Carolina can execute condemned inmates by electrocution or firing squad after the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that both options are constitutional. In a split decision, the high court ruled the methods are neither cruel nor unusual, noting both are options for carrying out a death sentence. “Choice cannot be considered cruel […]

SC high court rules electrocution and firing squad are allowed execution methods

Los Angeles County, CA

Community Voices represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program but not yet verified their accounts. Community Voices are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

community_voice

Herbie J Pilato

As Alfalfa in the classic Our Gang/Little Rascals comedic feature film shorts-turned-TV-series, former child star Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer brought to the screen his unique brand of humor, coupled with an unmelodic voice, freckles, and a protruding hair cowlick. The Gang/Rascals franchise was later rebooted on the big screen with a cast of new young stars.

Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer: A Tragic Child Star Story of a Dog, a Few Dollars, and a Deadly Altercation

Kansas State

Saint Louis, MO

CBS News

A Missouri man was freed from prison Tuesday after his murder conviction was overturned after 34 years behind bars, despite the state attorney general's efforts to keep him there. "I never gave up because my family never gave up," Christopher Dunn said from the steps of the downtown St. Louis courthouse. "It's easy to give up in prison when you lose hope. But when the system throws you away, you have to ask yourself if you wanted to just settle for it or fight for it."As time progressed, Dunn said he missed being with family."I had some family members ...

Christopher Dunn freed from prison after murder conviction overturned

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

A historic marker could be erected to honor the victims of the racist mass shooting at the Dollar General store in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood nearly a year ago. If approved by the Jacksonville City Council, a marker would be installed at Kings Road and Canal Street on Aug. 25, a day before the first anniversary of the shooting, when a white gunman took the lives of three Black people.

Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims

Polk County, FL

Fort Meade, FL

Uncovering Florida

The Polk County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest after conducting an investigation into a case of credit card fraud involving 28-year-old Burger King employee, Kellyn Miley. The incident was discussed in detail during this morning's briefing with Sheriff Grady Judd.

Burger King Employee Caught Using Customer's Credit Card for Food at Former Job

Douglas, GA

A local Walmart employee was recently arrested on a misdemeanor charge after allegedly stealing over $60 worth of merchandise from the store. Additionally, she faced a felony charge after officers discovered suspected methamphetamine in her locker during the arrest.

Douglas Walmart Employee Arrested for Methamphetamine Possession and Shoplifting

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Pittsburgh, PA

In a decisive move against large-scale drug trafficking, Racoco Williams, a 43-year-old Jamaican national, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti. Williams’s conviction on six counts, including violations of the federal “Kingpin” statute for leading a continuing criminal enterprise, marks a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking.

Recidivist Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Life in Prison

Columbus, OH

The Lantern

One man is dead after a five-hour standoff with police Sunday morning near Ohio State’s South campus. Credit: Lantern File Photo. One man is dead after an over-five-hour-long barricade standoff with the Columbus Division of Police Sunday morning.

One dead after five-hour standoff with police in the University District Sunday morning

Missouri State

BIN: Black Information Network

A Missouri man has been freed after spending over 30 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

Black Man Who Spent Over 30 Years In Jail For Murder He Didn't Commit Freed

Georgia State

Winder, GA

A 50-year-old former jailer has been charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) with cruelty to inmates and violation of oath of office. On Sunday, July 21, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate an incident involving one of their jailers, Lolita Lightner of Winder, Georgia.

Former Jailer at Georgia County Jail Arrested

Apple Valley News Now

(CNN) — Missouri death row inmate Marcellus Williams is expected to be resentenced to life without parole under a consent judgment reached Wednesday, the St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced, just over a month before he was scheduled to be put to death for the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, a killing he denies committing.

Missouri death row inmate expected to be resentenced to life without parole under new agreement

The Independent

 Magistrates have been asked to stop jailing criminals for several weeks in a bid to ease pressure on Britain’s overcrowded prisons.The Times reported Lord Justice Nicholas Green, who sits on the Court of Appeal and is the deputy senior presiding judge for England and Wales, issued a “listing direction” to the managers of magistrates’ courts across the two countries, advising offenders likely to be jailed should have sentencing postponed until the Government’s early release scheme comes into effect on September 10.A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the guidelines did not apply to high-risk offenders who were already on remand.Independent...

Magistrates urged to delay locking up criminals in a bid to ease overcrowding

NewsBreak

Goon Squad member appealing sentence

The highest-ranking member of the Rankin County \"goon squad\" is appealing his sentence. Brett McAlplin is serving more than 27 years in prison for his role...

The highest-ranking member of the Rankin County "goon squad" is appealing his sentence. Brett McAlplin is serving more than 27 years in prison for his role...

Goon Squad member appealing sentence

Comments / 0