Anticipating a Decision in Arkansas' Lethal Injection Case: Four Arkansas death row inmates, Don William Davis, Jack Harold Jones Jr., Terrick Nooner, and Frank Williams Jr., are challenging the constitutionality of Arkansas lethal injection process. Associated Press writer Jim Salter reports that an attorney for the four inmates argued to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals that even with the new methods in place, the state's lethal injection procedure can cause pain and suffering. (oral arguments found here) After last years Supreme Court ruling in Baze v. Rees, opinion found here, Arkansas prison officials introduced thorough procedures, to ensure that the inmates do not suffer. Arkansas is not the only state that has legal challenges involving lethal injections. A lawsuit in Missouri claims that Missouri cannot carry out lethal injection procedures correctly. Reginald Clemons execution was scheduled for June, but the Eighth Circuit granted an indefinite stay without giving a reason. Other death penalty states are waiting for the outcome of this case. It is not expected for weeks.
Most Wanted Fugitive Steals Video Games: Lee County's most wanted fugitive, Daniel Larson, 32, was caught after allegedly trying to stealing about $120 worth of Nintendo DS games from Walmart. Fort Meyers, Florida News-Press writer Evangelia Ganosellis reports on Larson's attempted theft to support his 15-year-old heroin habit. Larson has an long criminal history including his 1999 and 2004 convictions for armed robbery with a deadly weapon, and his 1999 conviction for kidnapping. Larson's criminal history has landed him on Lee County's most wanted list. Before Larson's attempt to steal video games, he was arrested September 5 on larceny charges, but used a fake ID to secure his release. Sgt. David Velez said that "if you got arrested tomorrow, you could say 'Wilma Flintstones,' and we'd book you under that name." Larson faces charges of violating pretrial supervision, larceny, resisting a property recovery retail merchant, using a false identification that adversely affects others, forgery of a public record certificate, and violating parole.
DNA Advancements Brings Hope To Rape Victim: The FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) has picked up the 19-year-old rape and abduction case of Jennifer Schuett. It hopes to retest DNA evidence that was considered too small to test before. CNN writer Mayra Cuevas-Nazario reports on a young woman's story of survival after she was abducted from her Dickson, Texas apartment on August 10, 1990, raped and left for dead. Part of the reason that CARD picked Schuett's case is that she survived. FBI Special Agent Richard Rennison says, "[t]his is the only [case] that I can think of that the victim has suffered some traumatic injuries and survived." Investigators gathered evidence from the field where Schuett was found 19 years ago. It includes, the underwear and pajamas Schuett was wearing, as well as a man's underwear and T-shirt. In 1990, the clothes were tested, but the sample was to small to get conclusive results. Once the FBI gets the DNA results back, they will run it through their database to see if they can find a match. The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to a break in the case.
Homeless Sex Offender Challenges Alabama Law: Part of an Alabama state law, requiring sex offenders to give a verifiable address to be released from prison, was struck down as unconstitutional by a Montgomery Circuit Court. Montgomery Advertiser writer Markeshia Ricks reports that several homeless sex offenders have sought to have their charges for non-compliance with the law dismissed as violating their rights. The law at issue is the Alabama Community Notification Act, which requires incarcerated sex offenders to provide a verifiable address of where they will be for 45 days after their release. If they do not comply, the offender is immediately taken to county jail. Attorney General Troy King says that the law is very broad, they could give the address of a park bench if they wanted. He does not believe that being homeless is a good reason to make a sex offender exempt from the law. Over the past few years, Alabama passed a lot tougher sex offender laws because it had become a safe haven for sex offenders. Sheriff D.T. Marshall says that he is fine with the tougher laws for sex offenders, but along with passing the laws, the state should provide the funding to enforce them. Law enforcement currently doesn't have the man power or the funding to keep up. King knew that there would be legal challenges when his office started pursuing tougher sex offender law laws, but "It comes down to the protection and safety of the children of Alabama," he says.
Most Wanted Fugitive Steals Video Games: Lee County's most wanted fugitive, Daniel Larson, 32, was caught after allegedly trying to stealing about $120 worth of Nintendo DS games from Walmart. Fort Meyers, Florida News-Press writer Evangelia Ganosellis reports on Larson's attempted theft to support his 15-year-old heroin habit. Larson has an long criminal history including his 1999 and 2004 convictions for armed robbery with a deadly weapon, and his 1999 conviction for kidnapping. Larson's criminal history has landed him on Lee County's most wanted list. Before Larson's attempt to steal video games, he was arrested September 5 on larceny charges, but used a fake ID to secure his release. Sgt. David Velez said that "if you got arrested tomorrow, you could say 'Wilma Flintstones,' and we'd book you under that name." Larson faces charges of violating pretrial supervision, larceny, resisting a property recovery retail merchant, using a false identification that adversely affects others, forgery of a public record certificate, and violating parole.
DNA Advancements Brings Hope To Rape Victim: The FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) has picked up the 19-year-old rape and abduction case of Jennifer Schuett. It hopes to retest DNA evidence that was considered too small to test before. CNN writer Mayra Cuevas-Nazario reports on a young woman's story of survival after she was abducted from her Dickson, Texas apartment on August 10, 1990, raped and left for dead. Part of the reason that CARD picked Schuett's case is that she survived. FBI Special Agent Richard Rennison says, "[t]his is the only [case] that I can think of that the victim has suffered some traumatic injuries and survived." Investigators gathered evidence from the field where Schuett was found 19 years ago. It includes, the underwear and pajamas Schuett was wearing, as well as a man's underwear and T-shirt. In 1990, the clothes were tested, but the sample was to small to get conclusive results. Once the FBI gets the DNA results back, they will run it through their database to see if they can find a match. The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to a break in the case.
Homeless Sex Offender Challenges Alabama Law: Part of an Alabama state law, requiring sex offenders to give a verifiable address to be released from prison, was struck down as unconstitutional by a Montgomery Circuit Court. Montgomery Advertiser writer Markeshia Ricks reports that several homeless sex offenders have sought to have their charges for non-compliance with the law dismissed as violating their rights. The law at issue is the Alabama Community Notification Act, which requires incarcerated sex offenders to provide a verifiable address of where they will be for 45 days after their release. If they do not comply, the offender is immediately taken to county jail. Attorney General Troy King says that the law is very broad, they could give the address of a park bench if they wanted. He does not believe that being homeless is a good reason to make a sex offender exempt from the law. Over the past few years, Alabama passed a lot tougher sex offender laws because it had become a safe haven for sex offenders. Sheriff D.T. Marshall says that he is fine with the tougher laws for sex offenders, but along with passing the laws, the state should provide the funding to enforce them. Law enforcement currently doesn't have the man power or the funding to keep up. King knew that there would be legal challenges when his office started pursuing tougher sex offender law laws, but "It comes down to the protection and safety of the children of Alabama," he says.
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