A North Carolina prison inmate won a $10,000 settlement from the state after filing a lawsuit alleging he was repeatedly pepper-sprayed by corrections officers – twice while he was naked, the Charlotte Observer reports. Inmate Bill Rayburn contended officers at Lanesboro Correctional Institution sprayed him four times last year after he asked to be moved away from an inmate who’d been threatening him. Then, Rayburn said, those officers refused to let him wash off the burning chemical.
An investigation by the state correction department found that employees involved in the incident had violated the agency’s use-of-force policy. That policy says guards may use pepper spray to deter “violent, threatening or aggressive” inmates or to defend against an assault. Inmates are supposed to be given “an immediate opportunity” to wash off the chemicals. After that investigation, state officials replaced a top administrator at the prison and disciplined six other prison employees.
California’s next attorney general must deal with a federal court challenge on prison overcrowding, a battle over gay marriage, how to proceed if a marijuana-legalization ballot measure passes, and whether to follow other states in cracking down on illegal immigration, among many issues, says Stateline.org. Voters have historically focused on one issue above all others in the attorney general’s race — how tough the candidate is on crime, even though it’s local district attorneys who are responsible for criminal prosecutions.
A Field poll this summer found 70 percent of Californians backing the death penalty. That’s why in this historically Democratic state, the Democratic candidate for AG, a twice-elected San Francisco district attorney, Kamala Harris, is widely thought to face an uphill battle in November against Los Angeles DA Steve Cooley. In contrast to Cooley, who is an unambiguous supporter of the death penalty, Harris personally opposes capital punishment, typically favoring life without parole. Harris has pledged to carry out capital punishment whenever her office handles a death row appeal, the same stance as current AG (and gubernatorial nominee) Jerry Brown, who also personally opposes the death penalty. Harris’ reputation for hesitancy in seeking capital punishment could be one of the biggest challenges she faces on the campaign trail.
Former military members who end up in the federal criminal justice system in Buffalo, N.Y., may have a chance to enter a local court dedicated to their rehabilitation, reports MainJustice.com. It’s the first time that military veterans charged with some federal crimes can participate in the Buffalo Veteran’s Treatment Court, the first such tribunal in the U.S., established in 2008.
“As a lifelong prosecutor, I have sadly come to realize that our criminal justice system, with increasing regularity, finds itself coming into contact with individuals who are military veterans,” said U.S. Attorney William Hochul. “Often times that contact is the result of mental health and/or drug and alcohol dependency issues related to their military service. Experience has shown that our traditional criminal justice system is ill-equipped to deal with these veterans.” The Crime Report explored the issue of veterans and the criminal justice system in this series: http://thecrimereport.org/2009/11/10/from-the-battlefield-to-prison-troubled-soldiers-and-the-u-s-justice-system/
The Official Crimefile Review of Call Northside 777
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Chicago, IL—This was a true story about the December 9, 1932 murder of 9thn District officer William Lundy, 55 inside an Ashland Avenue grocery store. Two unknown men entered the store and soon the 29 year police veteran was shot dead.1932 was a tough year for Chicago that recorded 364 murders. Eight of the victims were Chicago cops. The police stars they wore hang in the lobby of Chicago Police Headquarters today.
Some 18 years later in 1948 a classic movie was made of this compelling tale starring Jimmy Stewart, Richard Conte and Lee J. Cobb. This film is available at Netflix.
The locations used in Call Northside 777 are all very real including the old Cook County Jail, Criminal Court Building, a Chicago police district station, Stateville Prison and Tribune Tower. The Chicago police uniforms with the authentic stars and shields of that day were used by the filmmaker and director Henry Hathaway.
The relatively new pseudo science of lie detection through the polygraph machine was used in this film. Playing the role of the examiner was none other than real polygraph pioneer, Leonarde Keeler. Keeler played himself before he died only a year later at age 49 from too much booze, cigarettes and hard living.
They changed the names of the real characters including changing Lundy’s name to Bundy.
A real surprise for me to learn was that most of the cops in the film were not Hollywood actors but Chicago cops! The director found some pretty decent actors in the station houses.
One scene in the film shows an actor climbing some stairs with the narrator saying he was he was turning himself into a police station. That grand staircase is really just inside the former main entrance of the old Cook County jail. It is still there but sits behind a fence now.
You won’t find this style of film made today and that’s a crying shame. This was what Film Noir was all about. This is riveting stuff and a must for Chicago cops, prosecutors, defense attorneys and crime reporters to watch.
I keep asking myself why, they don’t make movies like this masterpiece anymore. This film still rocks today.
Other than to say the acting, direction, and story-telling was first rate. They did get a little melodramatic with the ending but it added to the excitement. I don’t want to spoil your experience by giving away the story line. This trailer will give away too much as it is.
Courting the First Amendment
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (First Amendment of the Constitution for the United States.)
At a recent dinner celebrating Ramadan, the President made it abundantly clear to us that our nation’s religious freedoms grants any group the right to build on private land. Clarifying the next day, he didn’t mean to imply that he thought it is “right” or “wise” to build a community center containing a mosque close to Ground Zero in NYC. (If “walking back comments” becomes an Olympic event, Mr. Obama may be eligible for the American team!)
Most Americans are well aware of the religious freedom provisions in the First Amendment. Though, admittedly, some get confused about freedom of religious vs. freedom from religion. This is a religious nation, a pluralistic society in which we all try to live in religious harmony. It’s disappointing that there are people and groups that single out certain religious faiths (Christians and Jews come to mind) as less deserving of “tolerance.” And of course, there’s the famous July 2010 story of the students banished from praying on the Supreme Court steps. We truly are living in strange times. But I digress.
The NY Mosque case highlights the current administration’s mixed messaging over the past 20 months about the freedoms protected by the First Amendment. The rights are not granted BY the government, they are protected FROM government infringement because they are natural rights, inalienable rights accorded to all of God’s creatures.
Consider Nancy Pelosi’s recent challenge that individuals opposing the NY Mosque should be investigated to learn how they are funded. What is wrong with individuals lawfully offering opinions and personal feelings regarding this proposed building? To have the government investigate you is an intimidating process, yet Speaker Pelosi feels comfortable to offer such a threat on camera! Strange times in an America that has always lauded the First Amendment, indeed. By the way, Pelosi may also make that Olympic “walking back” team as her spokesperson later said we should also investigate the funding of the Mosque.
Step in the way-back machine to 2009 and let me remind you of an Oval Office conversation with Republicans during which the President “called out” Rush Limbaugh, a private citizen. “You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done.” The problems continued in a CBS interview, Obama called both Limbaugh and Beck “troublesome” and the interviewer Harry Smith replied, “It’s beyond that.” (Good news here is that Smith didn’t jump into Obama’s lap during the interview) Yay, free press!! (It’s only “free” if you agree with this bunch as evidenced by the engineered attack against Fox News.) What is truly “troublesome” is the practice of the President and the likes of Nancy Pelosi concerning themselves publicly with the words of private citizens.
Julie Ranson is the mother of three who lives and teaches at a community college in Virginia.
Ex-con charged with sexual assault, murder of teen girl
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By BILL DRAPER
GREAT BEND, Kan. – A 36-year-old factory worker who spent much of his adult life in prison was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting and murdering a 14-year-old girl whose badly burned body was found behind gravel piles at the asphalt plant where he worked.
Adam Joseph Longoria, left, was charged with capital murder, criminal sodomy, vehicular theft and vehicular burglary and in the August death of Alicia DeBolt. He could be sentenced to death if convicted of themurder charge, but prosecutors said they hadn't decided whether to seek such a sentence.
During Tuesday's hearing in Barton County Court, Longoria stood with his fists leaning on the table in front of him and stared frequently at Alicia's family. Asked by the judge if he understood the charges, Longoria looked away from the judge and said, "Yeah."
Alicia, who would have been a freshman at Great Bend High School this year, disappeared after leaving home on Aug. 21 to go to a party. Her family reported her missing the next day, leading to an intense search until her body was found Aug. 24 behind gravel piles at an asphalt plant in the city where Longoria, also known as "Rocco," worked. The city is home to about 15,000 people and in the middle of the state.
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Photograph of John Doe 18 |
Unidentified shirt logo, possibly from a uniform |
Unknown Suspect
THE DETAILS SURROUNDING THE CRIME
Law enforcement officials are seeking information which will lead to the identification of this unknown suspect. It is alleged that he may be involved with child exploitation and the sexual abuse of a minor. Images of this person were found on the Internet.
The individual is described as a Hispanic or Dark-Skinned male, possibly in his 20s or 30s. He wears glasses.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PERSON, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FBI OFFICE OR THE NEAREST AMERICAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE.
 ROBERT S. MUELLER, III DIRECTOR FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535 TELEPHONE: (202) 324-3000 |
