Month: April 2024

Monroe Co. woman charged with murder in boat club crash that ‘took those babies’

Ana R. Cheatwood

Monroe — Distraught relatives of two young siblings killed by an alleged drunken driver at a birthday party at a boat club lashed out at the suspect Tuesday in a Monroe County courtroom, accusing her of taking “those babies from us,” while the woman’s attorney suggested she suffered from a seizure that contributed to Saturday’s crash.

Marshella Chidester, 66, showed little emotion as the aunt of the two children who were killed, Lana Phillips, 8, and Zayn Phillips, 4, addressed the court before Chidester’s bond was set.

“She chose to drink and those were my grandbabies. She made the choice to get in that car, and she chose to drink and drive, and she took those babies from us,” grandmother Kathy Phillips said.

Chidester, a former commodore of the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township where the crash took place, was formally charged in Monroe’s 1st District Court with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing death and four counts of operating under the influence of alcohol causing serious injury. She faces up to life in prison if she is convicted.

At her arraignment, Chidester limped into the courtroom with her right arm in a splint.

In an unusual move during the arraignment, District Judge Christian Horkey allowed relatives of the crash victims to address the court in person and via Zoom before setting bail at $1.5 million for Chidester. Some blared out comments via Zoom.

Marshella Chidester, right, was charged Tuesday with second degree murder and other charges connected to the Saturday crash at the Swan Boat Club in Berlin Township. Chidester's attorney Bill Colovos, left, said his client drives “like a little old lady” and has a history since November of having epileptic-type seizures in her legs that result in paralysis.

Bill Colovos, Chidester’s attorney, said his client believes she had a seizure at the wheel Saturday and said she does not remember entering the parking lot of the boat club or anything that happened leading up to the crash. He said she was invited to the birthday party by the person hosting it.

“She was meeting

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How will Arizona’s near-total ban on abortion be enforced?

Ana R. Cheatwood

PHOENIX — There are many questions about how Arizona’s Supreme Court ruling and near-total ban on abortion will be enforced.

Under the ruling, there is a 14-day stay followed by another 45-day delay in enforcement stemming from another court case. After that, it’s unclear how or if the law will be enforced.

Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes made clear Tuesday she will not prosecute any abortion cases, even though the 1864 law reinstated by the state supreme court mandates prison time for anyone providing an abortion.

“Let me be completely clear: As long as I am attorney general of the State of Arizona, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law,” Mayes told a crowd of people outside the Arizona Capitol.

Governor Katie Hobbs signed an executive order last year, giving all the power to enforce abortion laws to the state attorney general and essentially stripping the state’s 15 elected county attorneys of their authority to prosecute abortion cases. But county attorneys could challenge the order.

“What I have said and what the governor has said in her executive order is that … the authority for prosecuting abortion sits now in my office where it belongs,” Mayes said.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell issued a statement about the ruling Tuesday, urging the governor and legislators to delay enforcement of the decision.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a serious one that needs to be addressed by lawmakers,” Mitchell said in the statement.

Mitchell also said her office has not received any requests, in almost two years, to prosecute an abortion case.

“It is important to remember that under Arizona’s law, women who get an abortion cannot be prosecuted. Today’s ruling does not change that: women cannot and will not be prosecuted for receiving an abortion,” Mitchell also

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Alleged arsonist won’t get hate crime charge in synagogue fire

Ana R. Cheatwood

The Broward State Attorney’s Office has decided to charge Scott Hannaford with arson and not a hate crime for a fire that destroyed a synagogue.

The Broward State Attorney’s Office has decided to charge Scott Hannaford with arson and not a hate crime for a fire that destroyed a synagogue.

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A blaze “intentionally” started by a mentally ill man that destroyed a Fort Lauderdale synagogue and restaurant last month was not deemed a hate crime by Broward prosecutors. However, arson charges were officially filed against him Wednesday.

On March 16, Scott Hannaford set fire to Rabbi Chaim Slavaticki’s car near the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, the Broward State Attorney’s Office said. It quickly spread to the synagogue and the Friendship Grill inside.

Hannaford, 50, tried to set fire to the Kavasutra Kava Bar next door ten minutes earlier, the state attorney’s office said.

Broward prosecutors say that attempted arson to a nonreligious location was a key factor in determining why there was no hate crime enhancement, which would have increased the already lengthy prison time Hannaford is possibly facing.

Hannaford was charged with first-degree and second-degree arson, third-degree felony criminal mischief involving a synagogue or place of worship and third-degree felony possession of cocaine.

“Our commitment to combating hate crimes is steadfast and vigorously pursuing these heinous and serious crimes is a top priority for me and the Broward State Attorney’s Office,” said Broward State Attorney Harold F. Pryor in a statement. “When there is evidence to support a hate crime enhancement, we will file it.”

If he is convicted and sentenced to the maximum penalty for the four charges, Hannaford would face 65 years in state prison.

As of Wednesday, he was still being held at the Broward Jail on a $102,000 bond.

“During my meeting with the rabbi this week, I assured him, his congregation, and our entire Broward community that we will continue to stand together against

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Boise hangar collapse investigation continues

Ana R. Cheatwood

BOISE, Idaho — Attorney Enrique Serna gives Idaho News 6 an update on his investigation into the cause of the Boise hangar collapse.

  • Serna says the families of two of the victim’s families are frustrated
  • More people are coming forward with information
  • Serna hopes people won’t have to look at the wreckage much longer

(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story.)
 

I spoke with Attorney Enrique Serna representing the families of two of the three victims killed here at the hangar collapse near the Boise Airport. I asked Mr. Serna how the families of Mariano Coc Och and Mario Sontay are doing at their homes in Guatemala. “Well, the families are hoping for a prompt resolution they are indigent they do not understand our processes they don’t understand the law the jury and trial system they don’t understand timelines from OSHA and Federal government or State authorities so we’re explaining it to them”.

 
I then asked Enrique Serna about the scope of the investigation. “Let me tell you that I’m grateful for everyone who watches this broadcast. We have had a lot of people coming forward to us of two types. They told us to keep my information confidential, or please let me share it with you so I can share it again. That has led us to dive deep into the documentation that we get from the state and city and some of the participants here.

 
I wanted to know if people are still coming forward with information about the hangar collapse. ”This time I find that the people that I find come forward they come forward with true conviction they drive by here and see this wreckage they don’t want to see it like this it doesn’t feel right in their heart.”

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Attorney plans Orangeburg winery

Ana R. Cheatwood

A prosecuting attorney from Savannah is planning to open a winery on family land Orangeburg.

Harrison Pratt has purchased 4.46 acres of family property on Watersprings Road in Orangeburg with the intention of building a moderately sized winery and vineyard on the lot. Watersprings Road is located off Columbia Road.


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His plan is to construct a 2,500-square-foot to 3,000-square-foot winery building and a 2-1/2-acre to 3-acre vineyard where there will be a fully functional vine-to-bottle operation.

Grapes will be harvested and processed into wine on site, Pratt said.

He anticipates making 20,000 to 30,000 bottles of wine annually.


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If all goes well, Pratt expects to be able to open to the public in the summer of 2027, depending on zoning, permitting and funding. Pratt estimates the winery will employ about five to six people.

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Pratt’s great-grandfather on his mother’s side, Charles Harrison Hubbard, was a farmer who passed down his land to his children and then grandchildren.

“One of his children, Robert Hubbard, built the first Hubbard Vineyard in Orangeburg back in the late 80s/early 90s,” Pratt said. “In his vineyard, he grew muscadine grapes and eventually began to make wine and share it with family and friends.”

“After his passing in 2015, the wine making had stopped, but his vineyard still lived on,” Pratt continued. “I was lucky enough to try some of his wine before he passed, but had no idea the small tasting at his house would set me down a path to build my own vineyard and winery.”

In the summer of 2017, Pratt moved to Orangeburg while studying for the South Carolina Bar exam.

“While living out in the country, I got to spend a lot of time in my great-uncle Robert’s vineyard,” Pratt said. “I was curious if

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Rashee Rice was driving Lamborghini involved in Dallas crash, lawyer says

Ana R. Cheatwood

Rashee Rice admits to driving Lamborghini in crash

Rice’s attorney, State Senator Royce West, spoke publicly for the first time Thursday at a short news conference. Rice was not at the news conference.

DALLAS – Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver and former SMU standout Rashee Rice was behind the wheel of one of the two vehicles that triggered a chain-reaction wreck along Central Expressway over the weekend.

Rice’s attorney, State Senator Royce West, spoke publicly for the first time Thursday at a short news conference. Rice was not at the news conference.

West started his news conference saying they recognize this is a very important incident in the city and one that has gained national attention. He said police told him there will be charges filed, but he did not say what those might be or when.

“I want to say on behalf of Mr. Rice that he has fully cooperated with the Dallas Police Department,” he said. “Every question that was asked of him, he responded to.”

With his law partner, Craig Capua, at his side, West admitted for the first time that Rice was driving one of the two vehicles that caused Saturday’s violent crash.

New details on Rashee Rice’s link to Dallas crash

A crash in Dallas has Kansas City Chiefs player Rashee Rice facing some questions. TMZ has been all over the story and has details about what he may have been doing just before the accident.

“During the interview, Mr. Rice acknowledged that he was driving the Lamborghini,” he said. “That was the question that was asked, and he responded to that.”

Six cars were involved in the accident with at least four victims. Some had to go to hospitals.

Dash camera video shows a Lamborghini SUV and Corvette losing control and colliding with other

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Eileen O’Neill Burke won the razor-thin primary for Cook County state’s attorney. How did she do it?

Ana R. Cheatwood

Complete coverage of the local and national primary and general election, including results, analysis and voter resources to keep Chicago voters informed.

This year’s Democratic primary for Cook County state’s attorney was one of the narrowest local primary election wins in recent memory.

Eileen O’Neill Burke barely squeaked past Clayton Harris III in a race where the outcome wasn’t decided for nearly two weeks. In heavily Democratic Cook County, O’Neill Burke, who will face Republican nominee Bob Fioretti in November, is all but assured to be the county’s next top prosecutor.

Speaking to reporters during a Monday morning news conference, O’Neill Burke said she intends to provide Cook County residents with the level of public safety they desire.

“I spoke to people all over the county, all over the city. And what unites us is more than what divides us. People told me, everywhere, they want to be able to go out at night and not be worried,” O’Neill Burke said. “They want to ride on a safe public transportation system. People want illegal guns and assault weapons off of our streets. Those are all things we all want. We can do that. We can move this county forward. Whether you voted for me or not, I’m promising today that I will work tirelessly as your state’s attorney.”

While O’Neill Burke’s overall margin of victory was incredibly small — about 1,500 votes or 0.3 percentage points — the results were anything but close in most precincts across Cook County, according to a WBEZ analysis of election returns as of March 31.

Both O’Neill Burke and Harris won hundreds of precincts by wide margins of 20, 30 and even 50 percentage points or more, the analysis shows.

The margin of victory was at least 20 percentage points in more than 71%

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Colorado Republican Party attorney recommended for disbarment

Ana R. Cheatwood

A judge has recommended that conservative attorney John Eastman lose his California law license over his efforts to keep Trump in power after the 2020 election.

LOS ANGELES — A judge has recommended that conservative attorney John Eastman lose his California law license over his efforts to keep former President Donald Trump in power after the 2020 election.

Eastman, a former law school dean, faced 11 disciplinary charges in the state bar court stemming from his development of a legal strategy to have then-Vice President Mike Pence interfere with the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.

State Bar Court of California Judge Yvette Roland’s recommendation, issued Wednesday, now goes to the California Supreme Court for a final ruling on whether he should be disbarred. Eastman can appeal the top court’s decision.

“Dr. Eastman maintains that his handling of the legal issues he was asked to assess after the November 2020 election was based on reliable legal precedent, prior presidential elections, research of constitutional text, and extensive scholarly material,” Eastman’s attorney, Randall Miller, said in a statement after the ruling. “The process undertaken by Dr. Eastman in 2020 is the same process taken by lawyers every day and everywhere – indeed, that is the essence of what lawyers do.”

The judge found Eastman liable for 10 of the 11 charges, including misleading courts, moral turpitude, making false statements and plotting with Trump to hinder the transfer of power.

“Eastman conspired with President Trump to obstruct a lawful function of the government of the United States; specifically, by conspiring to disrupt the electoral count on January 6, 2021,” Roland wrote in her 128-page decision.

The California State Bar is a regulatory agency and the only court system in the U.S. that is dedicated to attorney discipline.

RELATED: How Trump first connected with

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Pammy Maye competent to stand trial, attorney says

Ana R. Cheatwood

Maye is accused of killing the 5-year-old boy and putting his body in a sewage drain last month.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An attorney representing the woman charged in the death of 5-year-old Darnell Taylor said she is competent to stand trial.

Pammy Maye appeared in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on Monday for a scheduled hearing. Earlier this month, she pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse in connection with Darnell’s death.

Sam Shamansky, Maye’s attorney, said Maye is likely to change her plea to not guilty by insanity at a later date. 

Shmanksy also asked the court for a private mental evaluation. But, the judge hasn’t yet made a decision on that evaluation.

10TV’s Tara Jabour spoke to former Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien about why an attorney would ask for a private mental evaluation.

“This case involves the death of a 5-year-old by someone who was a custodian of them. So there are psychologists and psychiatrists that specialize in adults that cause harm and kill children,” said O’Brien.

On Feb. 14, an AMBER Alert was issued for Darnell after he was reported missing to police. Maye’s husband had called 911 and said that his wife had killed the little boy and had fled the home. Later that morning, Maye’s car was found abandoned in a Cleveland suburb.

Maye was found in the Cleveland area less than two days later and was taken into custody.

After interviewing Maye, detectives learned that Taylor’s body might have been placed in a sewage drain on Marsdale Avenue in Franklin County. Authorities later found his body there.

When Maye and Shamansky appeared in court earlier this month, the attorney asked the magistrate to consider transferring Maye to a secure psychiatric facility. But the

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Eileen O’Neill Burke Wins Democratic State’s Attorney Primary

Ana R. Cheatwood

COOK COUNTY — Retired judge Eileen O’Neill Burke has won a nail-biting battle for the Democratic nomination for Cook County state’s attorney, 10 days after polls closed and the ongoing vote count shrank her narrow lead to just 1,500 votes.

The Associated Press called the race for O’Neill Burke shortly before 5 p.m. Friday. She secured 50.1 percent of the vote to 49.9 percent for Clayton Harris III.

The AP’s projection came after newly-counted provisional ballots reported by the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners did not yield enough votes for Harris in the extremely close race.

O’Neill Burke was 1,556 votes ahead of Harris as of Friday evening. She holds 264,289 votes to 262,733 votes for Harris in the unofficial results for the March 19 primary. That includes votes from Chicago and suburban Cook County. 

“It was worth the wait,” O’Neill Burke said in a statement. “I’d like to congratulate Clayton Harris on a hard-fought campaign. While we may have had our differences in this election, we share a love for our beautiful city and Cook County.”

Unofficial results remained in limbo for days as Chicago elections officials counted tens of thousands of mail-in and provisional ballots, which gradually saw Harris gain ground. All provisional ballots have been counted as of Friday, officials said.

There were just over 53,000 outstanding mail ballots as of Friday evening, but many of them are not expected to be returned to and counted by election authorities, elections board spokesperson Max Bever said.

Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Clayton Harris III addresses his supporters at his election night party as the election is too close to call at Taste 222 in West Loop on Election Day, March 19, 2024. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

Harris conceded the race, saying his campaign fell “a bit short

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