Category Archives: Victimless Crimes

A family of fraudsters who pocketed more than 45 million in the largest payroll fraud of its kind in the UK have been jailed for a total of 27-and-a-half years.

Essex Police is also now looking to recover as much of the cash as possible from Geoffrey, Joshua and Andrew Copp, who pocketed money that should have gone to the public purse.

Geoffrey, 55, his son Joshua, 24, and brother Andrew, 51, ran Central Payroll Specialists (CPS), which was later rebranded as Quality Premier Services (QPS), based in Croxley Heath near Rickmansworth.

These were umbrella payroll companies, which were used by recruitment agencies to manage the wages of thousands of temporary workers.

Over the course of three years, the Copps did not pass the VAT they received from the recruitment agencies to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Instead, they split the cash to fund lavish lifestyles, buying luxury cars, watches and property.

The scam came to light after information was passed to Essex Police, resulting in an investigation led by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, with the assistance of HMRC's Criminal Taxes Unit.

Initial enquiries focused on Joshua and police found that during 2013/2014, 2.4million was transferred to his personal bank accounts from CPS, and a further 9.2million was transferred to him from CPS and QPS during 2014/2015.

READ MORE: Man who tried to burgle elderly Rosyton woman while on licence has jail sentence cut

Further investigations by Essex Police and HMRC found the two companies paid just under 4million in VAT between September 2012 and September 2015.

HMRC investigators estimated there was just under 46million in unpaid VAT.

Tax records also showed that Geoffrey and Joshua paid no income tax between 2009 and 2015, while Andrew had paid 15,930.

Warrants were executed at their homes in May and September 2015.

In March 2016 they were each charged with conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and conspiring to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or remove criminal property.

They stood trial at Wood Green Crown Court on April 4 and were found guilty by a jury on Monday June 5.

The court heard Geoffrey set up the businesses, later taking back seat in the day to day management and passing over that responsibility to Andrew. Joshua, who previously had very little work experience, also played a substantial role in the businesses.

They spent money on houses, expensive cars, jewellery, private jet travel and gambling.

The court heard Geoffrey Copp bought four homes, one in Spain and three in England, mortgage free between 2014 and 2015. Their combined value is 3million.

He spent nearly 300,000 on private jet flights to Spain between July 2014 and January 2015 and owned several racehorses.

When police executed warrants at Joshua's home in Olivers Lane, Stotfold, in May 2015, they found several cars worth 1million overall registered in his name and ten watches with a combined value of about 400,000.

READ MORE: Video shows men pulled out of van in Cheshunt and arrested

Police also found Joshua Copp's receipt for two seats at a Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao boxing match at the MGM Grand - each seat cost 10,000.

He also had a receipt for a 26,064 bar bill at the Rose club in Marylebone, London, where he left a 4,000 tip.

From February 2014, Andrew Copp bought four homes for 1,395,000 and six cars, including two Lamborghinis and a Bentley Continental.

They were sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court today, Friday, June 9.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Josie Hayes, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This was a sophisticated scam yet all three defendants consistently denied any knowledge that their companies owned such an enormous amount of VAT.

"They saw this money as a windfall to spend as they wished. But this was not a victimless crime.

"The vast sums of cash they spent so freely on their extravagant lifestyles should have gone into paying for public services such as health, welfare and law and order.

"All three were well aware of what they were doing and played a substantial role in this conspiracy.

"Geoffrey set up the payroll companies and the mechanism of the fraud.

"Andrew became the director of QPS during the time when most of the VAT was stolen.

"And Joshua played an administrative role and shared out the proceeds."

READ MORE: Burglars stole elderly woman's jewellery while she was in her back garden

She added: "Now they will all pay for their crimes with time behind bars.

"Essex Police will also begin the process of applying for confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover the cash that should rightfully have gone into the public purse, ensuring they do not benefit from their criminality.

"We have already obtained a restraint order for property and money valued at 22million, which 'freezes' property that may be liable to confiscation following a trial and the making of a confiscation order.

"I would like to thank the witnesses who provided evidence during the investigation and trial, and staff at HMRC's Criminal Taxes Unit, with whom we have worked with closely on this complex case."

QPS has been placed into liquidation as a result of a HMRC winding up petition. CPS was also liquidated.

HMRC's Criminal Taxes Unit is working closely with the liquidators in order to maximise recoveries for creditors.

Continued here:

Hertfordshire family jailed for 27 years for 45 million tax fraud - Hertfordshire Mercury

Independent business owners suffering from a burglary epidemic today thanked Merseyside Police and the ECHO for bringing those responsible to justice.

An emergency meeting was called in April this year after we revealed a crime wave plaguing bars and restaurants in Liverpool city centre.

Some victims were even considering hiring their own security wardens to tackle determined crooks operating in Bold Street and Dale Street.

Frustrated owners sought help from the police, council representatives and members of Liverpool Business Investment District (BID).

Officers have arrested 19 suspects since April 10 and six of these men are now facing more than 11 years behind bars in total.

They include:

Alan Bell, 45, of Prescot Road, Old Swan - jailed for 18 months

James Riley, 38, of Boundary Street, Vauxhall - jailed for two years and four months

Marshall Tung, 30, of no fixed address - jailed for three years

Daniel Tung, 18, of no fixed address - jailed for two years

James Quarton, 28, of no fixed address - jailed for five months

Colin Spicer, 47, of Seel Street, Liverpool - jailed for 20 months

Gareth Morgan, who owns Dead Crafty Beer Company, suffered 1,600 of damage to a window and till area when Spicer and Bell struck.

He described the crime spree as an epidemic, but today said: It just shows what the police can do when they have the right resources for something.

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Our CCTV has helped to catch one of these guys, so that was clearly worth the investment.

I think the ECHO drawing attention to it has certainly helped and possibly made the police step things up - which they have done and has clearly been a good thing.

Staff at nearby Dale Street Eatery were also happy with the results, tweeting they could sleep a little better after hearing Spicer had been jailed.

Tariq Batayneh runs the restaurant with his wife Lenka Balkova, which twice had its windows smashed during raids by Spicer and Quarton.

She said it was so sad to watch people on CCTV smashing through the business you have worked so hard on and ruining our livelihoods.

But today Mr Batayneh said: We feel a lot better after these results and we would like to thank the police for their work.

We would also like to thank the Liverpool ECHO who really helped us to get the message out. We just feel a lot safer now.

Both Dale Street Eatery and Dead Crafty Beer are now working with the council to look at installing new shutters at their premises.

City centre councillor Nick Small, who organised the urgent meeting, said small independent businesses were the lifeblood of our city centre.

The talks were also attended by Otto Mellouki, who runs Koop and Bakchich restaurants in Bold Street, both of which had been targeted.

A community policing team patrolled the areas to offer reassurance, while officers visited businesses to provide security advice.

Meanwhile undercover and uniformed officers walked city centre streets during the day and night to identify those responsible.

Superintendent Mark Wiggins said: Business burglaries are not victimless crimes.

Many of these businesses are local people who just want to earn a living and the actions of this group have not just left businesses out of pocket, they have the potential to damage the confidence of those local people running the businesses.

We committed resources to help combat this problem following a series of burglaries.

I hope todays result sends a strong message to anyone considering this type of criminality to think again.

Supt Wiggins said it was in everyones interest to help solve and prevent crimes against people providing a vital service to our communities.

He added: Liverpool city centre has continued year on year to be awarded Purple Flag status, and is consistently recognised as one of the safest cities in the UK.

We will continue to work hard with our partners to ensure the city remains a safe place with a good reputation, which encourages people to continue to enjoy what the city has to offer.

Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Merseyside Police on 101 or the confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111.

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Independent business owners thank police and the ECHO for ending burglary "epidemic" - Liverpool Echo

CNN recently reported that a federal judge in Iowa reluctantly imposed the federal mandatory minimum drug sentence of five years in prison on a grandmother who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute five or more grams of methamphetamine. The judge noted that had she been tried in state court, she would have gotten probation since she was never in trouble with the law before.

Mandatory sentencing takes administering the law out of judges' hands, leaving them unable to consider all mitigating circumstances. The judge should have authority over administering the law, not federal agencies in D.C. and certainly not Attorney General Jeff Sessions, since neither hear these cases. Mandatory sentencing on those convicted of victimless crimes also impose an economic burden on society, who not only has to pay room and board of the convicted in prison, but also the families of those convicted are deprived of the economic and family role that those convicted of victimless crimes played at home.

This imposes a burden on the rest of society, for the people left behind need to be provided for to the extent they can't provide for themselves. Put federal drug sentencing back in the hands of the judges where it belongs.

Michael Radowitz

Newburgh

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Letter: Judges should get say in drug sentencing - Times Herald-Record

I am running for Whitefish Municipal Court judge for one reason: to make the court and our community the best it can be.

My initial goal is to reduce your taxes. I will make the judge position part-time, with a corresponding reduction in salary, to save your tax bill. I want to increase efficiency.

I will use video arraignments to free county deputies for patrol rather than transporting prisoners. This will also make scarce jail space available for more serious offenders.

I will improve case resolution by implementing simple business practices, such as telephone conferences, so citizens will not miss work to resolve a parking ticket and visitors will not have to make multiple return visits for a traffic violation.

I will punish domestic violence. On average, a woman is beaten 25 times before she makes a police report. Women are killed by abusers at twice the rate of our troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Fifty to 75 percent of those deaths are when she leaves her abuser. I will issue restraining orders when a victim makes the courageous decision to seek help, and will strongly punish domestic abusers.

I will protect our community from drunk drivers and those without insurance or licenses. These are not victimless crimes. I will impose maximum penalties, including treatment and interlock devices, to protect each of your families and our community.

I will do more with less of your tax dollars. You are being taxed for a new city hall, a new high school and the Haskill Basin conservation easement. Soon you will be asked to pay for a new middle school and a new county jail. As I said, I will reduce the courts budget, beginning with the judges salary.

I will bring experience to the job. I am the only candidate who has served as Brad Johnsons sub-judge. As Johnson's sub-judge, I handled all cases when he was absent, had a conflict of interest or did not want to handle the case.

I have long been a public servant. I have lived and practiced law in Whitefish for 26 years. I have been Planning Board chairman, Flathead Countys Employer of Choice and the Whitefish Chambers Citizen of the Year.

For more information on my background, experience and goals, go to my website at http://www.tornowforwhitefish.com or call me at 862-7450.

With all these things in mind, I respectfully ask for your vote in November so that together, we can make the court and our community the best it can be.

Tom Tornow is a candidate for Whitefish municipal judge.

The rest is here:

Making Whitefish best it can be - The Missoulian

ALBANY A Schenectady man was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison Tuesday for receiving and possessing child pornography.

Jeffrey Butler, 33, was also sentenced to 15 years of post-release supervision.

While pleading guilty on Feb. 6, Butler admitted he used the Internet and a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download more than 300 child pornography files.

"Many, many people continue to believe that viewing child pornography is a victimless crime," U.S. District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino said before sentencing Butler. "But it is important, I think, for the record to establish that what you were viewing, Mr. Butler, was horrendous crimes being committed against children who are real children

"They're not fake, they're not three-dimensional caricatures, and it's not victimless," the judge said. "Every time you view child pornography, you are prolonging and perpetuating the agony that these real children sustained when they were being tortured and raped as depicted in many of the images and films that you viewed."

Investigators found videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of children on electronic devices inside Butler's home, according U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian of the Northern District of New York, and James C. Spero, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O'Hanlon as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

The rest is here:

Schenectady man sentenced to 7 years in prison for child porn - Albany Times Union

So to be blunt and get straight to the point, addiction is a disease. That being said, recidivism concerning drug addicts should be viewed and treated differently compared to other criminals who re-offend.

If a crime has been committed and the only victims are the person battling addiction and the state, then realistically no actual crime has been committed. My taxes should not have to fund police salaries and the incarceration of non-violent inmates. I should be able to decide that my hard-earned tax dollars go towards rehabilitating addicts, in order to prevent recidivism among those suffering from addiction. Fewer tax dollars should be directed towards police and redirected to fire and rescue, and educational and training programs.

Violent crimes like assault, rape and murder are one thing, but drug possession, sales, petty theft and unpaid fines are a whole different category. I do not believe my (or anyones) tax dollars should be wasted to incarcerate the individuals suffering from addiction and those that have committed minor crimes. The main goal should be the prevention of recidivism in general, but especially regarding drug offenders who have committed victimless crimes. If we do not address the problems that surround addiction as well as addiction itself I say good luck finding a place to house the influx of inmates in a state with an overpopulation of inmates, and good luck trying to use tax dollars to cope with the problem instead of finding a legitimate solution.

Alexander Ingram

Winthrop

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Spend tax dollars on addiction wisely - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

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The CW is the place to be on the small screen when it comes to superhero action, and The Flash in particular has been a big hit for the network. The third season of the Scarlet Speedster's adventures in Central City has come to an end, and the fourth season is poised to go in a new direction on the supervillain front. Now, as we look back on all that has happened so far, we've come to the realization that, as much fun as The Flash can be when at its best, there are some things that fans really shouldn't overthink if they want to enjoy the show. We've put together a list of 15 things that are probably best taken as they are and not delved into... because that's when they stop making sense. Check it out!

STAR Labs was in rough shape back in Season 1 after the fiasco of the particle accelerator, but given that the guy running it was a genius and a supervillain, we can give the show a pass for not going into detail on how Cisco and Caitlin were being paid and how all the fancy tech was funded. Then, ownership of STAR Labs passed to Barry Allen, who... has somehow kept it up and running, despite living on his salary as a CSI for the Central City Police Department.

The Flash has featured all kinds of masked characters, with everything ranging from domino masks to full cowls to entire sets of armor. In a logical world, the show would be filled with heroes and villains shoving sweaty hair out of their eyes every time they confront each other. On The Flash, we have characters who remain perfectly coiffed no matter what kind of mask they were wearing.

Although the Scarlet Speedster claims to be a crime-fighter, he commits plenty of petty crimes himself. The Flash plays it for laughs whenever Barry zips off and returns two seconds later with a pizza or eats somebody's lunch because he's feeling peckish, but those aren't victimless crimes! When Barry leaves and comes back with food in less time than it would take to ring the food up, he's stealing from either a restaurant or the people who actually paid for their food. Good guys don't steal lunches, Barry!

One of the first rules established about speedsters back in the beginning of the series was that they need friction-proof suits if they want to run at superspeed without burning anything and everything they're wearing. Unfortunately, Barry has been breaking that rule from almost the very beginning. Sometimes, his civilian clothes (or the clothes of the ladies in his arms) will catch on fire when he runs in them; other times, nothing at all.

A running joke about Barry Allen since way back when he first guest-starred on Arrow was that he was always late to work. After getting his superspeed, Barry was able to race to and from crime scenes quickly (and often without a friction-proof suit) without getting himself in trouble with his bosses. In fact, nobody at the crime scenes ever seems to notice Barry popping up with a gust of wind. Given how he used to be spotted back when he was known as the Streak, it's obviously possible for passersby to spot him.

With few exceptions, episodes of The Flash have opened on "My name is Barry Allen, and I'm the fastest man alive." It's a fun line that generally sets up whatever zany shenanigans are going to happen in a week. It's also not true. Back in Season 1, Barry was slower than Reverse Flash. Back in Season 2, Barry was slower than Zoom. Throughout Season 3, Barry was slower than Savitar. Even Kid Flash was catching up! Sorry, Barry, but you are not the fastest man alive.

The Flash always played itself as much lighter and less gloomy than its sister series Arrow, but there's something seriously dark about Team Flash's decision to keep metahuman criminals captive without trial in the STAR Labs Pipeline. Barry and his pals were illegally holding an awful lot of people against their will in cells that were quite small and visibly lacking in plumbing or sources of sustenance. Even Oliver at his most murderous wouldn't indefinitely detain bad guys in his lair! Some of the folks stuck in the Pipeline weren't even all that bad. Did Peek-a-Boo really deserve the Pipeline?

The civilians of Central City have honored the Flash over and over again through the years. He has a coffee named for him and action figures made of him and a city-wide day dedicated to him. Considering that some of the biggest catastrophes to strike Central City have been because of the Flash, it's a bit hard to take seriously. Did Barry really deserve Flash Day after he very nearly got Central City destroyed? If anything, that should have been Firestorm Day in honor of the dearly (re)departed Ronnie. The folks of Central City don't need to hate him, but do they have to love him that much?

Of course, Central City would have probably been destroyed by metahumans several times over by this point if not for the efforts of the Flash. That said, what about all the crimes committed by non-metas? As a food thief himself, we might not want to expect him to go after everybody with sticky fingers. Still, what about those violent crimes? People are murdered and assaulted in Central City, even if not quite as much as in Star City. Team Flash could really make a difference on non-meta crime.

Obviously, Barry does not consider Iris to be his sister, and Iris has stopped thinking of Barry as her brother, so we don't have to ignore any Lannister vibes going on between them. Still, Joe does consider both of them to be his kids, so why doesn't it really squick him out that his kids are totally hooking up? If Barry is his kid as much as Wally is his kid, then Barry/Iris probably should have made him at least a little bit uncomfortable.

For a group that started out calling Oliver Queen a crazy person for killing, Team Flash really came around to killing villains pretty quickly. Admittedly, there have been some villains in The CW's superhero universe that absolutely could not be permitted to live, but not all of the ones that Team Flash has taken out really needed to be smote from the Earth. Was Griffin Grey so bad that he had to be forcibly aged to death? He was 19 years old and confused! Come on, Team Flash.

The turning point of Season 3 came with the big reveal that the man beneath that Savitar armor was none other than a time remnant of Barry. As soon as Team Flash recovered from their shock that Savitar was in fact an evil version of their lovable pal Barry, the first thing to do would have been to totally cut Barry out of all plans to take Savitar down. Savitar knew everything that Barry knew; if the rest of the team had simply worked out a strategy without Barry, H.R. might not have had to die.

While the big romance of The Flash Season 3 was undoubtedly Barry and Iris, Jesse and Wally had a cute little thing of their own going on. In fact, they liked each other enough that Jesse moved from Earth-2 to Earth-1 to be with Wally, which is super sweet... except for the fact that she gave up being the hero of her Earth so she could come canoodle with Wally. Jesse had to give up being THE Flash on Earth-2 to come play third-string to Barry and Wally.

Barry and Iris moved out of Joe's house and into a gorgeous apartment of their own in Season 3. Our boy Barry actually found and put the money down on the place before even showing it to Iris, which was... bold. The question is how the junior CSI and the reporter are able to afford the place, even pooling all their available resources. Then again, if Barry doesn't pay for all his food, maybe he has quite the savings built up.

Given all the messes that have been made on The Flash due to time travel (case in point: Flashpoint), Barry is actually almost always right when he says no to messing with timelines. That said, his refusal to go back and save Cisco's brother because of what had happened when he saved his mom doesn't entirely track. Barry raced back 16 years and changed a huge event that shaped many lives; Dante had only been dead -- and killed by a drunk driver, not a vengeful speedster -- a matter of weeks when Cisco wanted Barry to go back and save him. The fallout for saving Dante would have undoubtedly been far less than when Barry saved his mom.

The Flash will return to The CW for Season 4 this fall. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV news, and don't forget to check out our summer TV premiere schedule to discover all your viewing options now and in the coming weeks. Be sure to drop by our rundowns for cable/streaming and broadcast TV renewals and cancellations as well. If streaming is more your style, our Netflix premiere schedule will help you out.

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15 Things You Really Shouldn't Overthink About The Flash - Cinema Blend

In Cobb County, residents have many opportunities to speak before the Board of Commissioners, the Cobb and Marietta Boards of Education and at the six City Council meetings of Acworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Marietta, Powder Springs and Smyrna - not to mention the planning commissions and other boards of these governmental entities and many town hall meetings.

However, regulations vary on how much time Cobb residents are allowed to voice their opinions and whether they will receive a response. Public hearings on zoning matters are separate from the public comment portion. Speakers must sign up in advance and state their names and addresses.

In Austell, residents may speak near the beginning of the monthly meeting. In Marietta and before the Cobb Board of Commissioners, residents may speak during the twice-monthly meetings near the beginning and at the end. In Kennesaw and Smyrna, residents also may speak during the twice-monthly meetings but at the end. In Acworth and Powder Springs and before the Cobb and Marietta Boards of Education, residents may speak near the beginning of the twice-monthly meetings.

Except for the Cobb Board of Education, allotted times for each speaker are set - usually five minutes each. With the Cobb BOE, speakers do not know how much time they will be allowed - one time this year only one minute as determined by Board Chair David Chastain until school board member David Morgan made a motion to give each speaker one additional minute. Many comments concerned the unidentified North Cobb High student who made racial threats, Cobb school officials said one to two minutes was sufficient since a maximum of 15 speakers are allowed for 30 minutes. However, the Cobb BOE can allow 30 more minutes at the end of the meeting.

The lack of uniformity has frustrated some concerned citizens who want their voices heard. Some officials say they just want meetings to run smoother and quicker. What do you think Cobb County should do about public comment periods during government meetings?

Send comments to communitynews@ajc.com. Submissions may be edited for length and may be published in print and/or online.

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeff Mann pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of indecency and obstruction after he allegedly exposed himself in a public park and ran from Atlanta police. He appeared in Atlanta Municipal Court for a brief hearing to enter his plea. His trial is scheduled for July 7.

In the meantime, residents of DeKalb County are torn about what should be done about Mann. Some assert as a law enforcement official, he should be held to higher standard and resign his post or be fired. Others maintain what Mann did was a victimless crime and although he showed bad judgement, he should be forgiven and the county should move on.

Last week, we asked readers their opinion. Here are some responses:

His conduct certainly falls into conduct unbecoming as the DeKalb sheriff. There doesnt appear to be any doubt that he ran after an officer identified himself as police. If it was a deputy booked for the same thing what would he have done? It wouldnt be a one week suspension with pay I dare say. He is entitled to due process on the misdemeanor charges, but that isnt the question. How can his deputies continue to have any respect for him? It is another disgrace to DeKalb County. I predict he will be removed from office if he doesnt resign which he should do. Dennis Caniglia

Sheriff Jeff Mann should resign. He is a leader and as such he should held to the highest of standards. Would Sheriff Mann tolerate this type of behavior from one of his deputies? If the people of Dekalb County accept substandard and deviant behavior from the sheriff, can they expect better from others in and out of government? The sheriff should resign immediately. Freddie M. Edenfield

This was a victimless crime. I am of the opinion that we should all move past it. His embarrassment has been enough to pay for what he did. Warren Bice

I think he should resign because one he did not use good judgment. You go to a public park and expose yourself, knowing you are public figure elected to serve and protect the citizens of Dekalb County. It shows that he has other problems that he needs to address before he can lead a major department. Richard Taylor

The sheriffs indiscretion was a victimless crime. He is a good man. The county should move past this incident. Let it go! Catherine Carter

There should be no question on what should be done to Jeff Mann. An elected official caught by law enforcement breaking the law in such a lewd manner. Who knows how many times he has done this? Thankfully he got caught! Victimless? No, the law enforcement officer who caught him was the victim! FIRE HIM!!!! Cherie Gibson

I think Sheriff Mann has already paid a high enough price for the incident in Piedmont Park. This was, in my opinion, a victimless crime for which he has already suffered very public humiliation. I dont know what led him to expose himself to the officer but I find it very sad that a man of his education and career success should feel a need to do so. He has already suspended himself from work and to his credit has not tried to deny his mistake or blame others. I hope that he will seek help to understand why he placed himself in such a self-destructive situation. However, I dont believe that his actions disqualify him from performing his duties as Dekalb Sheriff in the meantime. Let us show some compassion for this man. Judith Mozley

He is a negative example to his employees and the community. This incident shows that Sheriff Mann is a pervert. Imagine what is going on inside the job site. I suggest that he resign and be prosecuted. Donaldo Whyte

He is a grown man who knew bloody well what he was doing and why he was there. He is a disgrace to the county and ought to be fired. I would feel the same way about a female official who was caught soliciting for prostitution. Susan Harte

We were upset when we saw the article about DeKalb Sheriff Jeff Mann was arrested because he ran away from the Atlanta police officer. Yes, Sheriff Mann ran away and that was wrong, but the officer made an issue that could have been handled in a better way. Sheriff Jeff Mann has been a dedicated officer in his years that he has served in the law enforcement in DeKalb County. He has been involved in public service to so many organizations. He should be allowed to continue his service as DeKalb County sheriff. Josiah V. Benator

It is my opinion that Sheriff Mann should be fired for breaking the law by exposing himself in public and then fleeing a law enforcement officer. Furthermore, I believe that he should get the maximum penalty for those offenses. While Sheriff Manns sexual preferences/delights are his business, he chose to break the law that he was voted to uphold by the people of DeKalb Countynot only one law, but two laws. Rose Casey

The better question: When does a lapse in judgement, during which nobody was maimed, murdered, or harmed in any way, warrant an investigation or a resignation? Answer: It doesnt! How many of you clamoring for the sheriff to resign can HONESTLY say that you have never done something that, in retrospect, you wished you hadnt? Answer: Crickets.

Time to stop being so judgmental and MOVE ON and focus our energy on the REAL criminals and their crimes and the havoc they cause locally as well as nationally. I applaud Sheriff Mann for the self-imposed suspension that exceeds the Code of Conducts recommended discipline for a first time offense. Clara Black DeLay

Read the rest here:

At Issue: Should Cobb County consider uniform public comment rules? - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Lou Raguse, KARE 8:07 PM. EDT June 02, 2017

A courtroom sketch from the jury selection of the Jeronimo Yanez trial. (Photo: Nancy Muellner)

ST. PAUL,Minn. - Only two more jurors are needed before attorneys start whittling down the numbers to select a final jury in the manslaughter trial of Officer JeronimoYanez.

KARE 11's Lou Raguse says Friday's juror selection included seven white men, and all of them are gun owners. The first was a man in his 40s who recently moved to Minnesota from Dallas. During questioning he expressed empathy for the number of times Philando Castile had been pulled over for minor traffic offenses before the fatal night he was shot by Yanez.

"I've been pulled over for similar things. I think there's honestly a problem there with how minor things grow and become warrants. And when you live where you can hardly afford fines, it seems like it's rigged against you," the man said.

The second juror approved is an Air Force veteran in his 30s, who told attorneys and Judge William Leary he knows little about the case. The third juror, a light rail train operator, also said he did not know much about the shooting of Castile.

Following a short break a fourth juror was also forwarded to the approved pool.

One man, a member of the NRA, was challenged by the prosecution but eventually approved by the judge.

Another man who was approved works for the MN sex offender program and says he has ties to St. Paul but travels to Moose Lake and St. Peter. He also said he works with law enforcement.

Prosecutors and the Yanez defense team need an approved pool of 22 jurors before they begin using their strikes, to get down to the 12 jurors and three alternates needed to hear the case. So far, two people of color have been approved, though one -- an Ethiopian-American woman -- was challenged, so the defense could come back and strike.

The defense team has made it clear Yanez plans to testify in his own defense.

THURSDAY

Jury selection passed the halfway point by the time court dismissed Thursday in Ramsey County in the trial of the officer accused of killing PhilandoCastile.

So far 14 jurors have been approved, meaning nine more need to be approved before the pool can be narrowed down to the 12 jurors and three alternates who will decide the Officer Jeronimo Yanez's fate.

One juror approved raised a challenge by the defense, because the man, who is white, said he attended a vigil for Philando Castile in the days following the shooting and cried. The man, a scientist at a local college, admitted he has a bias against Officer Yanez based on what he's heard so far about the case. But he said he could set aside those feelings and make a decision based on the evidence.

Judge William Leary rejected the challenge and allowed the man to pass onto the next round, saying, "The totality of the questioning shows he is suitable to serve. Attending a vigil in and of itself is not a point for disqualification."

Another potential juror raised a challenge from the defense, because the woman didn't understand much about the U.S. Criminal Justice System. Under questioning by attorney Earl Gray, the 18-year-old woman who immigrated from Ethiopia admitted not knowing the meaning of "negligence," "credibility," or even what the U.S. Criminal Justice System is.

Judge Leary again rejected the challenge, stating that not many 18-year-olds would be able to answer those questions.

Jury selection, in effect a process of elimination, begins with questioning of the initial pool of 50 jurors. If a potential juror appears to be too biased, or has extenuating circumstances in their life, the judge dismisses them from the pool. When a total of 23 jurors are approved to move to the next phase of the selection process, the defense will strike (eliminate) five of them, and the prosecution will strike three, leaving the 15 who will hear the case.

Earlier Thursday morning, three additional jurors were approved, bringing the total of those approved to nine. The first was a woman in her 60s who knows little of the case, and what she does know is based on the initial coverage of the shooting of Philando Castile. In a rare moment of levity when asked why she enjoys watching Judge Judy (she confessed to that fact on her questionnaire) the woman responded "I like how she doesn't fool around. She makes a decision and that's it."

The second juror moved to the next round of selection was a 24-year-old Caucasian woman who told attorneys "I honestly don't know anything about the case at all. Questioning for the woman lasted 30 to 40 minutes, significantly shorter than all previous jurors.

Prosecutors and the Yanez defense team also approved a third juror, a white male in his 40s who recently moved to Minnesota from Colorado. He said the first he heard of the shooting of Castile was when the judge spoke of it. The only topic of concern for attorneys was that the man seems to have feelings about the criminal justice system where what he called "victimless crimes" are prosecuted far too often. He also said he believes marijuana should be legalized, a view that could concern the Yanezteam as they plan to make an issue of the fact Castile had allegedly used marijuana before the fatal interaction with the officer.

Two jurors, both who admitted knowing a lot about the case, were excused.

A white woman in her early 20s began crying while she was being questioned by Judge Leary. She said, I've been struggling really hard with the possibility of taking on that role. I don't think I could be an impartial juror."

And a white man in his 50s or 60s said he under normal circumstances he would be able to be an impartial juror, but current family financial issues would cause too much of a distraction during the trial.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31

Jury questioning is proceeding at a very slow pace in the trial ofJeronimoYanez, the St. Anthony Police officer who fatally shot motoristPhilandoCastile.

After court dismissed Wednesday, 40 of the 50 potential jurors remain to be questioned. Five jurors have been dismissed for various reasons. And five will remain in the final pool from which the jury will be selected.

The first juror to be dismissed was a woman who is a relative ofYanez. She was excused Tuesday. On Wednesday morning a pregnant woman with five children was allowed to go home, and a middle-aged woman who runs her own business and cares for her sick husband was excused as well.

The first juror to be dismissed was a woman who is a relative ofYanez. She was excused Tuesday. On Wednesday morning a pregnant woman with five children was allowed to go home, and a middle-aged woman who runs her own business and cares for her sick husband was excused as well.

RELATED: Yaneztrial: How we got here

Five people have been passed for cause, meaning they still have a chance to make the final jury unless the prosecution or the defense uses a strike to eliminate them later this week.

Perhaps the most surprising development in the jury selection process is how little potential jurors say they know about this high-profile case involving the death of an African American motorist. One potential juror, a black man in his20s, remembered hearing about the shooting when it happened but said he can't recall many details. He incorrectly assumed Diamond Reynolds is a minor.Yanezattorney Tom Kelly extensively questioned the man about his feelings on officer-involved shootings, particularly shootings of unarmed black men.

RELATED:What potential jurors are being asked

"I think, 'How does this happen? He was unarmed,'" the man said about another case he had heard about. "But it's not something you could put against every cop."

The man admitted he sometimes feels people with money or power "get off" by hiring high-priced attorneys but he said he wouldn't hold againstYanezthe fact he's hired three lawyers in this case.

The second juror kept in the pool was a middle-aged white woman who said she hasn't heard a thing about the shooting ofPhilandoCastile. "Not a word," she said. "I don't watch the news." The potential juror did admit she knew of protests that took place on the freeway following the shooting of Castile, but did not know what those protests were for. "There were protesters who walked out onto the freeway and stopped traffic."

During questioning the woman told attorneys she has served on a jury in a previous criminal trial in Ramsey County, and that they found the defendant guilty on one charge and not guilty on four others.

After a short break prosecutors asked the judge to dismiss the potential juror from White Bear Lake, saying they found posts on her Facebook page expressing support for law enforcement. Prosecutors did not object to the tone of the posts, but the fact that the woman under oath she had not shared posts of that nature on her social media accounts. "The only thing I share on Facebook is recipes," she was quoted as saying.

When confronted with printouts of the posts the woman said she didn't remember sharing them but agreed that she must have. Still, the judge denied the motion to excuse her for cause, meaning she could still end up on the jury.

The third potential juror to be questioned, an African American woman in her40s, knew a lot more about the Castile shooting than the two people who came before her. "I think the police officer was careless when he opened fire. That wasn't right," she wrote in her juror questionnaire. "The shooting wasn't fair plus there was a a woman and child who could have been injured." Despite her opinions, the woman told Judge William Leary III she believed she could be fair and impartial if seated on the jury.

The fourth juror, a white man in his50s, also said he hadn't heard about theYanezcase until he read a newspaper article about it Tuesday night. The judge earlier on Tuesday had asked jurors to avoid news coverage of the case. The juror had gone through a firearm training course and was enthusiastic about the chance to serve on the jury. The judge allowed him to remain in the pool.

Juror #6 is a white man in his60swho is allowed to remain in the pool. He is a gun owner, has heard very little about the case, and respects law enforcement.

Juror #7 was a white man in his40sor50swho was dismissed after he told the just there is no way he can giveJeronimoYaneza fair trial. "To unload a gun into a car with a child inside, there's just no reason, in my mind," the man said.

Prosecutors and theYanezdefense team will select 12 jurors and 3 alternates to hear the manslaughter case.

Jury selection will resume Thursday at 9 a.m.

2017 KARE-TV

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Yanez Trial: Approved jury pool nearly filled - WKYC-TV

Wisconsin Capitol.(Photo: Michael Sears / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

A pair of bills proposed by state lawmakers would target the demand for sex traffickingby cracking down on those who repeatedly patronize prostitutes.

One of the bills, a bipartisan effort to toughencriminal penalties for frequent offenders, would make the third conviction a felony. Its lead sponsors are state Reps. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) and Amanda Stuck (D-Appleton) and Sen. Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac).

"Gone are the days where prostitution is viewed as a victimless crime," Kleefisch said. "When it comes to human trafficking, we need to attack on all fronts."

He said part of the drive for pimps to push prostitutionis the demand, so reducing that demand will help combat trafficking. Adding that many trafficking victims are "forced, coerced or violently pushed into prostitution," Kleefisch said those who hire prostitutes especially repeatedly are "enablers at the very least."

The legislation was requested by law enforcement officials in the Fox Cities, and has the support of the state Department of Justice, Kleefischsaid.

A secondbillproposed by state Rep. Andre Jacque (D-DePere)would require people convicted of soliciting or patronizing prostitutes or keeping a place of prostitution to pay $5,000. The money would be used to providetreatment and services for victims of sex trafficking, and for investigations and law enforcement related to Internet crimes against children.

"The federal government acknowledges the link between prostitution and trafficking in women and children as a form of modern-day slavery," Jacque wrote to fellow lawmakers seekingco-sponsors for his bill.

The sponsors of both bills noted that Milwaukee is known as a hotbed of sex trafficking.

"Milwaukee has become a huge hub for human trafficking, and these victims are then sent across the rest of the state and other parts of the country," Kleefisch and Stuck wrote.

RELATED: Asha Project brings hope to domestic abuse, sex trafficking victims

ARCHIVE: Finding a second chance: One woman's sex trafficking ordeal

It's notoriously difficult to collect data about sex trafficking, but experts estimate there have been hundreds of victims in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee's reputation as a hub for sex trafficking stems, in part, fromhigh-profile prosecutions and other law enforcement actions

Court cases here have revealed generations of pimps and a group of traffickers some of whom prostituted dozens of women who regularly participated in "pimp roundtables," during which they discussed their practices

RELATED: 'Pimpin' Paul' faces new sex-trafficking charges

RELATED: Milwaukee man sentenced to 25 years in sex trafficking case

RELATED: Milwaukee pimp groomed as a teen gets 10 years

In 2013, a nationwide FBI sting on human trafficking recovered 10 children in Milwaukee the second-highest number in the country

A study that sameyear by the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission found that 77 children had been sexually exploited in Milwaukee in a two-year period a number experts said was likely a gross underestimate, as it only tracked the number who had made contact with police

But there is no reliable ranking of cities in terms of child sex trafficking or the number of children recovered from sex trafficking, according to the Polaris Project, which runs the National Human Resource Center Trafficking Hotline.

Attorney General Brad Schimel has said the effort to combat human trafficking is one of the toughestchallenges facing Wisconsin.

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Wisconsin sex trafficking bills target repeat patrons of prostitutes - Stevens Point Journal