It's a Crime
Though there was an interesting development in that regard the other day. Virginia authorities charged a man will intentionally misleading them regarding the D.C.-area sniper. A 37-year-old Fall Church man allegedly told police that he'd seen the killer escape in a cream-colored van with a burned-out taillight. Turns out Matthew Dowdy was lying, though his motive was unclear, though there was speculation that he might have been going after a share of the $500,000 reward. He faces a maximum penalty of only six months in jail. He is the second person to mislead the police. A fast-food worker who wanted the day off called in a false report during the second week of the investigation.
Federal prosecutors have indicted 40 Aryan Brotherhood prisoners on charges ranging from assault to murder. All of the crimes were committed behind bars. It seems that will little to lose, life becomes increasingly cheaper in prison, and with ineffective controls, security goes by the boards. A number of those charged will face the death penalty, with the rest looking at spending the rest of their lives in prison. No comment on the potential for more violence among those with nothing to lose.
Three Alameda County, California high school athlete types face murder charges for allegedly killing a schoolmate who dressed like a girl. Said a female classmate, "He was probably a prettier girl than most of the girls I know. He had better hair than me. It would be easy for a guy to hit on him." The 17-year-old showed up at a party, got into a fight, and disappeared. Two days later, his mother reported him missing, and police, acting on a tip, found the boy buried in a shallow grave 125 miles away. Said another classmate of the purported perps, "They were like the cool guys."
American Catholic victims of clerical abuse are unhappy with the Vatican's refusal to endorse the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Rome said it found the proposal by American Catholic offices confusing, ambiguous and hard to reconcile with church law. American Catholic church officials were quick to say that the differences were minor and could be handled. But, said David Clohessy, who leads the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, "We know that historically, with any wiggle room, any vagueness, the bishops have sided with the priests and now frankly they're under more pressure to do so. We fear this will be a shot in the arm for abusers to return to ministry or to keep their jobs."
His lawyer says Robert Goldstein has a history of emotional problems, but a judge has ruled that the 37-year-old Florida podiatrist is competent to stand trial. He is accused of planning to blow up Islamic centers and mosques. When he was arrested last August, authorities discovered several high-powered guns and 20 bombs in his home, along with a list of 50 possible targets.
Finally, Kirby Puckett, a former all-star player and now executive with the Minnesota Twins, is said to have dragged a woman into a restaurant restroom and grabbed her breast. The woman complained that her ankle was bruised in the attack. Said his attorney, "The only reason Kirby Puckett was charged today is because he is a famous person. If this were anybody else, this case would have never seen the light of day."
And that's SetonnoteS...I'm Tony Seton.
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