Man Kills Kitten in Front of Kids

Danield John Collins, 39, an ex-navy veteran and an alcoholic can now add convicted felon to his resume. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail. Collins, who lives in Muncie, Ind., pleaded guilty to a felony count of animal cruelty and two felony counts of neglect of a dependent. In exchange, prosecutors dropped three other felony charges. What makes this case so horrible is that Collins was convicted of killing his 8-month-old tuxedo kitten, named Boots, in front of his two young kids.

It all began when the grandparents, who have custody of the two children (a 7-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy), dropped them off at their father’s house for a visit. The kids arrived to find that their father was drunk. According to the kids, their father was a different person when he is drunk. At some point during the visit the father passed out. When he awoke he ordered his 11-year-old son to stab the 8-month-old kitten. He gave him a knife and told him he wanted them to learn how to kill.

When Collins left to go to the bathroom, his son hid the kitten under a sofa bed and put ketchup on the knife in hopes of fooling his father into thinking the kitten was dead. When Collins realized that the kitten wasn’t dead, he searched for it and found it under the sofa bed. He then grabbed his 7-year-old daughter by the hand so “hard it ached” and still holding her hand, forced her to stab the kitten in the side.

Still not satisfied he took the knife from her and stabbed the kitten again. He then proceeded to strangle the kitten in front of the two of them. When the kitten was dead he told his son to pick it up and throw it in the garbage.

When the children returned home, they told family members what had happened. The police were called and Collins was arrested and held on $40,000 bail. The police were able to retrieve the dead kitten from the garbage as evidence. Authorities said Boots had suffered a broken leg, broken teeth, a bruised ear, a ripped lip and two stab wounds but died as a result of being strangled.

Muncie police Detective Jami Brown said the case was particularly troubling because Collins involved his children in killing the cat, an 8-month-old tuxedo type-cat named Boots. “I’ve been doing investigations for 10 years and this is really bothering me,” the detective said.

During his sentencing Collins said he could not remember exactly what happened that day but did not try to contradict the children’s story. “I am extremely sorry for what I did,” Danield J. Collins said. “Everything is my responsibility.”

Under the plea agreement, which sends him to jail for 18 months, Collins also must receive counseling and attend parenting classes and substance abuse treatment. The judge also prohibited Collins from owning a pet. “This is not civilized conduct,” Judge Robert Barnet Jr. said as he sentenced Collins.

Deputy Prosecutor Judi Calhoun said she was outraged by the crime but agreed to the plea deal so that the children would not have to testify against their father. Defense attorney Steve Bruce said Collins, a Navy veteran, has no previous felony convictions.

Police Officer Charged with Assault

Yonkers police officer Wayne Simoes faces a possible 10-year prison term and a $250,000 fine. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he violated the civil rights of 44-year-old Irma Marquez, in an appearance in federal court. He is accused of body-slamming the unarmed woman onto a tile floor, breaking her jaw and leaving her unconscious. The 38-year-old Simoes was freed on $300,000 bail. See TV coverage of Irma Marquez and Wayne Simoes here.

The incident was captured on video and reviewed by U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia who said the actions of Simoes amounted to an assault. He said it violated Marquez right against unreasonable force from a police officer.

The violent attack resulted in the hospitalization of Marquez with a fractured jaw, concussion, two black eyes and facial lacerations, as well as bruises and swelling over her neck, torso and numerous other parts of her body, according to the complaint.

Ms. Marquez alleges she was accosted by police when she leaned over to get a better view of the medical assistance being provided to her niece who was earlier rendered unconscious when struck by a bottle thrown by an unknown assailant while patronizing the La Fonda Restaurant at 57 Palisade Avenue, Yonkers, New York on March 3, 2007. Police Officer Wayne Simoes is said to have “slammed Ms. Marquez to the floor then handcuffed and charged the unconscious and seriously injured woman with Obstruction of Governmental Administration and Disorderly Conduct. On May 9, 2008 a jury acquitted Ms. Marquez of all charges.

“If anyone other than a police officer was caught on tape doing what Police Officer Simoes did to Irma Marques they would have rightfully been arrested and prosecuted,” said Gary T. Certain, Esq., of Certain & Zilberg, PLLC, attorneys for Ms. Marquez.

Lawyers for Irma Marquez have filed an $11.3 million lawsuit on her behalf.

Joseph Duncan Must Die says Jury

Joseph Edward Duncan III, 45, was sentenced to death by a jury in Boise, Idaho for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of a 9-year-old boy, Dylan Groene.

“We’re happy with the verdict, but it’s a shame — this should have been limited to one death,” said Steven Groene, the father of the children. “He should have had the courage and the guts to kill himself before killing anyone else.”

In his closing arguments the prosecutor reminded the jury of the many crimes committed by Duncan and summed up by saying:

“This defendant is dangerous. He is a predator who takes pride in his work,” prosecutor Traci Whelan said. “He earned this day. His actions … call out for the death penalty.”

The heinousness of the evidence in Dylan’s murder made it particularly difficult for the jurors to remain impartial as they deliberate, said Art Patterson, a jury consultant and senior vice president of the trial consulting firm DecisionQuest.

“Generally, for human beings, it’s pretty hard to maintain impartiality when confronted with such horror,” Patterson said.

“How could any juror not want to see this person removed from our list of living human beings? How could you live with yourself as a juror if there’s any chance this human being could escape from jail and do something like this again?” Patterson said.

After 3 hours of deliberation, the jury agreed with the prosecutor and returned a unanimous verdict of death.

“The jury speaks the mind of the community,” U.S. Attorney Tom Moss said. “By the verdict today, they have given voice to the victims.”

Joseph Duncan had a long history as a violent sexual predator. He had spent time in prison for the gunpoint rape of a young boy in the 1980′s. He gained national notoriety, and spot on the FBI’s most wanted list, for his involvement in the kidnappings and murders that eventually lead to his death sentence. He was also featured on the TV program America’s Most Wanted.

Duncan kidnapped Dylan Groene and his sister Shasta from their home, after brutally murdering their mother Brenda Groene, her boyfriend Mark McKenzie and their older brother Slade Groene. He had tied them up and mercilessly bludgeoned all three of them to death with a hammer. He took the two children and for the next 6 weeks repeatedly raped and sexually molested both of them in various campgrounds before shooting Dylan in the head and burning his body in front of his sister. Duncan was so perverted that he made a videotape.

At his trial jurors viewed horrifying video Duncan made of him sexually abusing, torturing and hanging Dylan until the boy lost consciousness.

Duncan was arrested and Shasta rescued weeks after the kidnappings when a waitress at a Denny’s in Coeur d’Alene called police after recognizing the two as they ate. He pleaded guilty in December to 10 federal charges involving the kidnappings and the murder of Dylan. He pleaded guilty to the other three murders in state court, where he also could be sentenced to death.

With multiple murder convictions and a death sentence hanging over his head, the law is not yet finished with Joseph Edward Duncan III. Prosecutors in Riverside County, California say they know of Duncan’s murderous past. Duncan is charged in the 1997 murder of 10-year-old Anthony Martinez, and they are still waiting to put Duncan on trial.

Duncan is suspected of abducting Martinez at knife-point from his front yard. Fifteen days later, Martinez was found dead. At the time of Martinez’s murder, Duncan was wanted for violating his parole in Washington, as he failed a drug test and fled the state. Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco said he’s glad juries in Idaho are holding Duncan accountable, but now it’s time for him to face justice in California. Despite the potential cost of a death penalty case, Pacheco says the Martinez family deserves to see Duncan tried.

“It’s not something where you go, well, you can wait a couple years. We can’t wait,” Pacheco says. “We need him today. I understand Idaho needs to finish their stuff, but we need him as soon as possible. I can’t wait.”

For complete coverage of the Joseph Duncan case see KXLY.COM and also True Crime Report.Com.

Doctor Accepts Oral Sex from Patient

Australian doctor Martyn Mendelsohn, 49, from Sydney was accused of having non-consensual sexual intercourse with a woman during a consultation at his surgery in May 2005. The 49-year-old woman had claimed Dr Mendelsohn took advantage of her at his Hunters Hill practice. On the very day of the trial, the charge against the ear, nose and throat surgeon was dismissed. The Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that this, and another charge dating back to 1999, would not be prosecuted:

“The DPP says that on the available evidence there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction,” the spokesman said.

That was not the end of Dr. Martyn Mendelsohn’s troubles. He is now facing a disciplinary hearing in front of the NSW Medical Board. The Healthcare Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into the matter. The board said Dr Mendelsohn would be free to practice but had certain conditions placed on him, including that he obtain the approval of the board before changing the nature or place of his practice, and that he have a third party, in this case a registered nurse, present while treating or interviewing patients.

The doctor has admitted to having oral sex with the 49-year-old woman in question. He however claims that she was the aggressor and was only showing him her gratitude for performing surgery on her nose after being hit by her boyfriend.

According to the woman, after the incident took place she asked her boyfriend to take her to the police where she accused the doctor of sexually assaulting her. She told police that Dr. Mendelsohn was kissing her, touching her breasts and ejaculating in her mouth.

Dr. Mendelsohn’s story is a lot different. He admitted that he allowed his patient to perform oral sex on him. He told the commission that she had arrived late at his surgery after the staff had gone home for the day and was demonstrably grateful that he had agreed to see her. He said she started to get flirtatious with him commenting on his looks and hugging him saying, “You look after me, I’ll look after you”.

“He says she then leaned down and unzipped his trousers and performed oral sex on him. He says she swallowed his semen and did not spit.” Mr Phillip Strickland, the commission’s barrister, said.

The doctor explained to the tribunal that he felt “devastated” after the incident. He performed surgery on her nose, but refused to continue the treatment after what happened. The NSW Medical Board has the power to remove the doctor from the medical registry if it feels that his behavior warrants it. The case continues….

Otis Hensley Jailed for Joke

Otis Bullman Hensley Jr, 52, a two-time gubernatorial candidate (2003 and 2007) in Kentucky is now a free man after spending three days in jail. He had been arrested in Harlan, Ky. on a charge of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor under the age of 16, a Class B felony that can carry a sentence of 10 years to 20 years. According to Hensley it was all a misunderstanding stemming from a joke.

Hensley’s problems began when he went to the local grocery store to buy ground beef. There he encountered two young girls aged 11 and 13 who were with their aunt. He offered the aunt a fattening hog for the two girls:

“The one girl turned around and looked at me and smiled,” Hensley said. “I said ‘Ma’am, do you want to trade them girls for a good fattening hog?’ and then I went on into the meat department. That was all that was said.” Hensley said. “I meant it as a joke. I’ve said it a million times. Most people get a kick out of it.”

However the girls’ aunt did not think it was funny. She became very upset and went to inform the girls’ father about what was said and he also was also not pleased. Realizing that they were genuinely angry Hensley said he followed the family out of the store and then to the courthouse trying to apologize.

The father of the two sisters contacted the county attorney about the incident, claiming the comment was intended to entice the children into illegal sexual activity. The Harlan County Sheriff’s Office arrested Hensley that same evening. He was sent to the Harlan County Detention Center on a $15,000 cash bond.

“Jay Leno makes jokes every night and makes millions,” Hensley said in his thick Appalachian accent. “I make one joke and go to jail.”

Appalachian scholar Loyal Jones said the jest Hensley made has been around for generations and actually is intended as a compliment.

“I’ve heard many variations of that,” said Jones, retired director of Berea College’s Appalachian Center. “You might hear ‘That’s a good looking boy; I’d trade you a pocket knife for him’ … Political correctness has ruined country humor.”

In Kentucky, citizens can obtain arrest warrants simply by filing a complaint with local prosecutors. Defense attorney Karen Davenport said no investigation is necessary for police to make an arrest when the charge involves an alleged sexual offense. In the Hensley case, Davenport said, the arrest was unwarranted because he had done nothing criminal.

In court, the girls’ father accepted an apology from Hensley and shook hands with him. Prosecutor J.D. Smith asked the judge to dismiss the charge, saying both sides want to put the matter behind them.

While running for governor of Kentucky, Hensely became well known for the large bull he had hauled around the state as a prop, with the message that he’ll “Get the Bull Out of Frankfort.” He was a long shot candidate for the post and garnered only 3.3% of the vote in 2003 and even less in 2007.

Principal “Outs” Gay Student and Gets Sued

A Senior at Ponce de Leon High School in Florida went to her principal with a problem. She was a lesbian and was being harassed by other students. She naturally expected the principal, David Davis, to take care of the situation so that she could return to classes free from the ridicule and intimidation of other students.

Instead of being sympathetic towards the student’s predicament, principal Davis went on the attack. He told her that homosexuality was wrong. He said she should not tell people she was gay and he informed her parents of their conversation. He even ordered the student not to talk with other “middle school” girls.

After learning about how this student was treated by the principal, some of her friends began a protest on her behalf. They wore gay pride T-shirts and dressed in rainbow colors. The principal was livid and proceeded with his own campaign of intimidation. He questioned the students about their own sexuality and their association with other gay students. Some of them were suspended from from school.

“Davis embarked on what can only be characterized as a ‘witch hunt’ to identify students who were homosexual and their supporters, further adding fuel to the fire,” U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak recounted in his ruling. “He went so far as to lift the shirts of female students to insure the letters ‘GP’ or the words ‘Gay Pride’ were not written on their bodies.”

One of the protesting students, Heather Gillman, an 11th-grader, who was suspended from school complained to her mother, Ardena Gillman, who got in touch with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Ardena, who wanted to support her daughter, understood that tolerance needed to be taught in school. Ardena also knew that her actions might cause problems in the small “Bible Belt” town.

Ponce de Leon is part of Holmes County, Florida, very close to the Georgia line. It has about 20,000 residents. There is some agriculture, but most people are employed either by prisons or schools; some commute to the Gulf Coast to work in tourism. Ponce de Leon, with fewer than 500 residents, has a cafe, a post office and an antique store.

“What happens when these kids get out in the real world after they leave Ponce de Leon and they have a black, homosexual supervisor at their job?” she said.

The ACLU took the case on behalf of Heather Gillman. They contacted the lawyers representing the school trying to clarify the school’s position on wearing rainbow clothing, the initials “G.P.” (for gay pride), and whether students could wear T-shirts that say “I support my gay friends.” See a copy of the letter here.

The school lawyers replied saying that they would not tolerate any gay-themed expressions in the school and referred to any such symbols as support for an illegal organization or secret society. The school said that it would not allow any expressions of support for gay rights at all because such speech would “likely be disruptive.” See the letter here.

After receiving this response from the school, the ACLU began court proceeding against the school and its principal, David Davis. They claimed that the school violated the students civil rights. See the complaint here.

The case went before Judge Richard Smoak of the United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, Panama City Division. Principal David Davis admitted under oath that he had banned students from wearing any clothing or symbols supporting equal rights for gay people.

Davis also testified that he believed rainbows were “sexually suggestive” and would make students unable to study because they’d be picturing gay sex acts in their mind.

After a two day trial the judge ruled against the school district which was ordered to pay $325,000 in ACLU attorney fees. See his comments here.

Principal David Davis was demoted by Steve Griffin, Holmes County’s school superintendent, and school employees must now go through sensitivity training. However much of the community find it hard to understand what Davis did wrong.

“We are a small, rural district in the Bible Belt with strong Christian beliefs and feel like homosexuality is wrong,” said Steve Griffin who keeps a Bible on his desk and framed Scriptures on his office walls. “I don’t think we are that different from a lot of districts, at least in the Panhandle, that have beliefs that maybe are different from societal changes.”

Many in the community support Davis and feel outsiders are forcing their beliefs on them. Griffin, who kicked Davis out of the principal’s office but allowed him to continue teaching at the school, said high schoolers here aren’t exposed to the same things as kids in Atlanta or Chicago.

“David Davis is a fine man and good principal, and we are a gentle, peaceful, Christian, family-oriented community,” said Bill Griffin, 73 and a lifelong Ponce de Leon resident who is no relation to the district superintendent. “We aren’t out to tar and feather anyone.”

The lawsuit could reflect a division between the high school students who have grown up in an era of gay tolerance and the community’s elders, said Gary Scott, a school board member. The judge’s scathing rebuke left Scott questioning how his community’s beliefs could be so different from the judge’s opinion

Maybe Scott like many in the community did not fully understand what the judge was saying when he ruled against the school and ex-principal David Davis:

“I emphasize that Davis’s personal and religious views about homosexuality are not issues in this case. Indeed, Davis’s opinions and views are consistent with the beliefs of many in Holmes County, in Florida, and in the country,” Smoak wrote in an opinion released last month. “Where Davis went wrong was when he endeavored to silence the opinions of his dissenters.”

Comatose Illegal Alien to be Deported

This is the story of 30-year-old Francisco Pantaleon, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. He had a brain hemorrhage and is in a coma at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago. The hospital wants to send him back to Mexico. They say they have the permission of his immediate family but his sister and a cousin have retained a lawyer to fight his deportation.

There is something about this story that just seems wrong to me. Have we, as a nation, forgotten what it is to be compassionate? Yes, we are talking about an illegal immigrant who has no insurance and will very likely need intensive, long term medical care. But we are also talking about a human being who has spent 11 years in this country working menial jobs to support his family and who, by no fault of his own, became sick. It seems to me on a purely humanitarian level he deserves to be treated with the same level of medical assistance offered to any citizen or legal resident. He is after all a human being.

This story appeared in the Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Tribune. This topic is also covered by the New York Times.

According to his sister, Socorro, Francisco Pantaleon, 30, arrived illegally in the United States 11 years ago. He has two children and worked at a carwash but has no insurance. In mid-July Mr. Pantaleon suffered a severe brain hemorrhage. He is currently in a coma at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago. His case has brought to light a little known policy of hospitals to send medically needy undocumented immigrants back to their countries of origin.

The hospital claims the immediate family has consented to have Francisco returned to Mexico. In a statement the hospital said that since there is “little hope for recovery” they have arranged, at their own expense, to send him to a hospital in Acapulco. Pantaleon’s wife was not available to confirm or deny this.

Pantaleon’s sister and cousin are protesting that arrangement and have retained lawyers in hopes of preventing it. “This is an injustice,” said his sister, who worries that Pantaleon won’t survive the trip or find adequate care in Mexico.

Legally hospitals are required to treat and stabilize anyone who is in need of emergency medical assistance, regardless of their immigration or insurance status. But here is where it gets murky: After stabilizing a patient hospitals are required to arrange to transfer patients to settings where they can receive adequate care said Doreena Wong, staff attorney for the National Health Law Program. The problem is nursing homes in Chicago usually will not serve undocumented immigrants who don’t have health insurance or any means to pay for care.

“We can’t arrange long-term care here, so we try to do the best we can in the country of origin,” said Dr. William Chamberlin, chief medical officer at UIC Medical Center.

According to Sonal Ambegaokar, health policy attorney at the National Immigrant Law Center, this may put the hospital in the position of acting as an immigration agent by effectively getting into the deportation business. She suggests that their actions may deprive the patient of due process.

“It’s important to make sure that hospitals aren’t permitted to dump patients on an international level when they can’t do it on a local level,” said James Geraghty, a Chicago lawyer working with Pantaleon’s sister and cousin.

The hospital is of course concerned with the cost of providing patient care with limited financial resources.

“Hospitals don’t have the financial resources to meet all of the acute care needs [of patients without insurance], let alone take on all the chronic care needs that present with patients like this,” Chamberlin said.

Howard Peters, senior vice president of government relations at the Illinois Hospital Association, said “the family ought to be grateful” that UIC found a facility in Mexico willing to take Pantaleon and volunteered to pay for the trip.

The New York Times has a similar story about Luis Alberto Jiménez, another illegal immigrant who suffered brain damage after being involved in a car accident with a drunken driver. The hospital wanted to send him home to his native Guatemala. Lawyers filed a suit on his behalf which the hospital won, but while the case was being appealed the hospital went ahead and deported him. The lawyers won the case on appeal but Jiménez was already in Guatemala where, after a brief stay in a local hospital, he was sent home to fend for himself. See the Luis Alberto Jimenez story here.

I understand that hospitals have financial concerns and that the cost of medical care in this country is outrageous. However, a hospital, by its very definition, is a place where people go when they need medical assistance. We as a society, have the responsibility to take care of our sick. Even the vilest of criminals in the penal system are afforded medical attention. There is something wrong with the system when the bottom line is more important than a human life. There should be no discrimination nor proof of residency nor proof of insurance status when it comes to providing health care. But for the accident of birth you or your loved one could be Francisco or Luis.

1 Dead, 2 Jailed After Fight at Party

Francis Marion Reeves III, 62, has been charged with murder in the shooting death of Deshaun Rashad Clark, 17, a senior at Chapin High School in Lexington County, S.C. and Breon Jacoby Mayers, 17, a friend of Clark’s, has been charged with attempting to kill Reeves in a drive-by revenge shooting.

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It all began at a party hosted by Reeves’ children at the family’s lake house at 224 Lexington Lane. Someone claimed that a cellphone had been stolen and Deshaun Clark, an invited guest, was blamed for the theft. A fight ensued and Clark, after being struck a number of times, left the party vowing to return with some of his friends.

In the meantime Reeves’ son left the party to get his father. He told Reeves that his 19-year-old daughter had been knocked out and left with a black eye during the fight. Reeves then took a loaded pistol and an unloaded shotgun and rushed over to the house.

While Reeves was at the party house, Clark returned with some friends. Reeves shot Clark once in the stomach. Everybody scattered and friends took Clark to the Chapin Fire Station from where Lexington County Emergency Medical Services personnel transported Clark by ambulance to Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital for treatment for his gunshot wound. Clark died early the next morning from his injury.

“He literally bled to death,” prosecutor Rick Hubbard said.

Reeves’ attorney, Dick Harpootlian, said his client acted in self-defense, fearing that he and his children were in danger.

“This is a tragedy. Anytime somebody dies, anytime somebody’s killed, that’s a tragedy, but one has a right to act in self defense,” Harpootlian said.

After the shooting Reeves returned home and was sitting on his front porch when a car drove by his house, shooting at the parked cars and the house itself. Reeves returned the fire, using his shotgun to injure two teenagers in the ’85 Toyota Camry. A third teen, 17-year-old Breon Jacoby Mayers of Little Mountain, who did the actual shooting, was not hit.

Detectives arrested Reeves at his home on Dreher Island Rd. at about 3:45pm the next day, Saturday, on an arrest warrant on a charge of murder in connection with the shooting of 17-year-old Deshaun Rashad Clark, of Meadowlark Road, in Little Mountain. See TV news coverage here.

When Reeves was asked how he felt about Deshaun Clark’s death, he responded: “I could care less”

Francis Reeves was released on a $125,000 bond.

Sheriff James Metts says Newberry Co. authorities arrested 17-year-old Breon Jacoby Mayers of Little Mountain at about 10pm on Sunday. Mayers was served with arrest warrants on charges of assault with intent to kill, discharging a firearm into a dwelling or vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm by a person who is under the age of 21. See TV news coverage here.

Arrest warrants allege that at about 11:30pm on Friday Mayers “did with malice, aforethought and with intent to kill” fire several shots from a handgun at several cars that were parked in front of the home on Dreher Island Road.

Breon Mayers remains in jail on a $100,000 bond.

Scott Nugent Charged in Taser Death

Ex-Police officer Scott Nugent, 21, caused the death of Baron “Scooter” Pikes, 21, according to a grand jury, by tasering him a total of 9 times in 39 minutes. In fact the Winn Parish grand jury indicted Scott Nugent on two charges: Manslaughter and Malfeasance in office. Nugent has been fired from his job with the Winnfield police but is contesting that decision.

Nugent, who is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 21, faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the manslaughter charge. The malfeasance charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. Nugent has surrendered to sheriff’s deputies and was booked on the two charges. He was released from jail after posting $45,000 bond, said his lawyer Phillip Terrell. In an interview, Winn Parish coroner Randolph Williams discusses the circumstances of Baron Spikes’ death.

This case has serious racial undertones since Nugent is white and Pikes was black. Pikes was also a cousin of Mychal Bell, the lead defendant in the Jena Six case. Furthermore of the 14 times a taser has been used by the Winnfield police, 12 of those times it was used against blacks. Nugent was involved in 10 of those 12 cases. For the circumstances surrounding the death of Baron “Scooter” Pikes check this post.

Latrina Thomas, the mother of Pikes’ 4-year-old son has also filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit names the city of Winnfield, its mayor, the city council, the police chief, Scott Nugent and several police officers along with Taser International Inc. The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages, plus fees and expenses.

“It’s about justice,” said Carol Powell Lexing, a lawyer for Pikes’ family. “You can’t bring (Pikes) back, but this can hold those responsible accountable for their actions.”

Guards Guilty in Teen Jail Rape Case

It was a snowy day on Feb. 13, 2003. School at Pendleton County High School was canceled that day. An 18-year-old teen borrowed his Dad’s car to visit a friend. On his way home he was arrested for speeding and fleeing from the cops. Little did he know at the time, but before he would see his family again he would be assaulted, raped and forced to perform sexual acts on prison inmates.

Two prison guards, Jack Powell and Clinton Sydnor, pleaded guilty in the case. Two other guards, Wesley Lanham and Shawn Freeman, stood trial….and were found guilty. They both face the possibility of being sentenced to life in prison when they face the judge again on Dec. 8.

The jury of nine women and three men deliberated for about five hours Thursday, Aug. 14th before announcing their verdict. Wesley Lanham, 30, of Dry Ridge, and Shawn Freeman, 35, of Irvine, were found guilty of conspiring to violate the teen’s civil rights by allowing other inmates to sexually assault him in the 2003 attack. They were also found guilty of obstruction of justice because the jury also found there was aggravated sexual abuse.

“I just want to go home,” Freeman cried as about 12 family members and friends of the defendants wept in the courtroom following the verdict.

“We will appeal. You can quote me on that,” Lanham’s attorney, Dan Dickerson, said.

The convictions are a result of a five-year investigation by the U.S. Justice Department, which concluded that the jail was violating inmates’ civil rights. The case was prosecuted by Forrest Christian and Kristy Parker of Washington, D.C. The presiding judge was U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves.

The teen’s ordeal began when the guards at the jail where he was being booked on the traffic violation decided to teach him a lesson. He was of slim build weighing only about 120 lbs. They made fun of the blond highlights in his hair, they made fun of his satin boxers, they told him he would make a good “girlfriend” for some of the inmates. Instead of putting him a holding cell, as was customary in such situations, he was put in a cell with 14 convicts.

The victim, now 23, graphically described being stripped, hit with jail-issued flip-flops, raped in a shower and then paraded around half-naked. He said the attacks ended only when he bit an assailant. He told the jurors that he thought the risk of being killed was better than continuing to be sexually molested.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh, God, here it goes,’ ” the teen said. “I’m going to die tonight.”

Upon learning about the rape assistant jailer Greg Wells, told the youth that he could take care of the molesters for a pack of cigarettes. “That wouldn’t be enough,” the teen recalled saying to him. All the teen said he asked for was medical treatment from the jail’s nurse. His request wasn’t granted.

“I told the nurse everything that happened, and I wanted to be checked for any kind of diseases, you know, any cuts or bruises or anything, and she didn’t, she didn’t do anything.”

The jail’s former nurse, Sandra Cook, testified that her attempt to get the teen medical treatment for the assault was stopped by former Assistant Jailer Greg Wells. She said she called the FBI to report the jail staff’s actions when Wells said he would take care of the teen but instead just released him. Greg Wells, was never charged with a crime. It wasn’t until the teen was released that he was able to get to a hospital.

In September 2005, the victim settled a lawsuit he filed against Grant County for $1.4 million.