CRIME REPORT

Judge Denies Mom's Bid To Exempt Girl From School Vaccine Requirement

Judge Denies Mom's Bid To Exempt Girl From School Vaccine Requirement -

“ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ”

A federal judge has ruled against a West Virginia mom who wanted her daughter to be excused from school vaccination requirements due to fears about autism.

Jennifer Workman sued in April so that her 6-year-old daughter could attend public school without being vaccinated. She cited fears about autism and religious beliefs.

Specifically, Workman says she does not want to vaccinate the girl because her older daughter, now age 13, has pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified, severe sleep disorders and other behavioral problems, which began around the time of vaccination.

Additionally, Workman said her Christian beliefs mean she must protect her daughter from harm and immunizing the girl would be counter to that. West Virginia does not allow for immunization exemptions on religious grounds.

Workman did obtain a medical exemption from a psychiatrist who said that the older daughter’s diagnoses suggested a heightened risk for the younger girl if she were to be vaccinated. However, the local school district did not find this valid and would not allow Workman’s daughter to attend school without being vaccinated.

PAY TO PLAY NOT ONLY IN GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO IN SCHOOL

For $20, kids can buy a better grade - Education - NewsObserver.com.

Selling candy didn't raise much money last year, so a Goldsboro middle school is selling grades.

A $20 donation to Rosewood Middle School will get a student 20 test points - 10 extra points on two tests of the student's choosing. That could raise a B to an A, or a failing grade to a D.

Susie Shepherd, the principal, said a parent advisory council came up with the idea, and she endorsed it. She said the council was looking for a new way to raise money.

Officials file request to have N.C. sheriff removed

Officials file request to have N.C. sheriff removed - Local/State - NewsObserver.com.

CHARLOTTE -- A county attorney has filed the paperwork with a judge to have a North Carolina sheriff removed from office.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Lincoln County Attorney Jeff Taylor has asked a judge to conduct a hearing on the request involving Sheriff Tim Daugherty as soon as possible.

Lincoln County commissioners voted unanimously last month to authorize Taylor to begin legal proceedings to remove Daugherty.

The sheriff has been indicted on two counts of felony obstruction of justice. He is accused of covering up a fixed drunken-driving investigation.

Daugherty has pleaded not guilty and said through his attorney that he would not resign.

If he is suspended, Daugherty would be replaced by new Chief Deputy Larry Stanley.

SNIPER EXCECUTED - SEE YA!

Virginia Rovnyak of Charlottesville, Va. stands in protest outside Greenville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Va., just before the scheduled time of DC sniper John Muhammad's execution on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Dean Hoffmeyer)

The Associated Press: D.C. sniper Muhammad executed for 2002 attacks.

D.C. sniper Muhammad executed for 2002 attacks

By DENA POTTER (AP) – 5 hours ago

JARRATT, Va. — John Allen Muhammad, the mastermind behind the sniper attacks that left 10 dead, was executed Tuesday as relatives of the victims watched, reliving the killing spree that terrorized the Washington, D.C., area for three weeks in October 2002.

The 48-year-old Muhammad looked calm and stoic, but was twitching and blinking, tapping his left foot as the injections began, defiant to the end, refusing to utter any final words. Victims' families sat behind glass while watching, separated from the rest of the 27 witnesses, who were quiet, looking straight forward, intent on what was happening.

"He died very peacefully, much more than most of his victims," said Prince William County prosecutor Paul Ebert, who witnessed Muhammad die by injection at 9:11 p.m. at Greensville Correctional Center, south of Richmond.

Muhammad was executed for killing Dean Harold Meyers, who was shot in the head at a Manassas gas station during the spree across Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Nelson Rivera, whose wife, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera, was gunned down as she vacuumed her van at a Maryland gas station, said that when he watched Muhammad's chest moving for the last time, he was glad.

"I feel better. I think I can breathe better," he said. "I'm glad he's gone because he's not going to hurt anyone else."

Muhammad never testified or explained why he directed the shootings, and his secrets died with him.

Meyers' brother, Bob Meyers, said watching the execution was sobering and "surreal."

"I would have liked him at some point in the process to take responsibility, to show remorse," Meyers said. "We didn't get any of that tonight."

JUST KILL THEM ALL

Channon Christian, Christopher Newsom murders News for Knoxville, TN from Knoxville News Sentinel.

Channon Christian	Christopher Newsom
Age: 21 University of Tennessee student Parents: Gary and Deena Christian Carjacked and kidnapped on Jan. 7, 2007 She and boyfriend Newsom were later raped and murdered.	Age: 23 Halls High School graduate Parents: Hugh and Mary Newsom Carjacked and kidnapped on Jan. 7, 2007 He and girlfriend Christian were later raped and murdered.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2007, Chris Newsom and his girlfriend Channon Christian were carjacked and held captive in a house on Chipman Street in Knoxville. Both were raped, tortured and killed. Newsom's body was discovered in the vicinity that afternoon burning alongside railroad tracks. Christian's body was found stuffed in a trashcan inside the house a couple of days later. Five people were arrested in connection with the crime. In October 2009, alleged ringleader Lemaricus Davidson was sentenced to death by lethal injection for his role in the rape and murders. His brother, Letalvis Cobbins, was sentenced to life without parole in August for rape and murder. Eric Boyd is serving an 18-year sentence in federal prison for helping in the carjacking. George Thomas and Vanessa Coleman are awaiting first-degree murder trials.

UNDERAGE TAPE MAKING ROUNDS

The Associated Press: Ex-Miss California admits to making sex tape.

Carrie Prejean Sex Tape: Yours for a Bargain-Bin Price?

AP Photo/Denis Poroy

Carrie Prejean - "sex" tape is of her and her alone

Ms. Christian Values' X-rated sex tape—which reportedly prompted her abrupt settlement with Miss California Organization officials—but while the contents may be controversial, the peddlers behind the salacious video have had trouble finding any takers.

The tape actually began making the rounds several months ago and was offered as an exclusive to various websites for the bargain-basement price of $10,000.

But even blogger Nik Richie of the porn-purveying TheDirty.com didn't want anything to do with the video of Prejean pleasuring herself.

"It was very graphic," Richie tells E! News, "and our lawyers wouldn't let us put it on the site."

No other site picked up the raunchfest, apparently made for an ex-boyfriend and which Richie describes as far more explicit than the topless photos of Prejean that surfaced earlier.

How is this not child pornography, she was under 18 when this tape was made. Anyone in possession of it should be arrested. Right?

Missing Man: Christopher Rivers Huffman--NC--11/09/2009

Missing Man: Christopher Rivers Huffman--NC--11/09/2009.


Christopher Rivers Huffman   

APEX (WTVD) -- The N.C. Center for Missing Persons has issued a Silver Alert for a missing 17-year-old Christopher Rivers Huffman.

Police say Huffman may be suffering from some type of cognitive impairment.

Huffman is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He has short brown hair and bluish-green eyes.

The teen was seen on Old Jenks Road wearing a black and gray stripped sweater, jeans, and black and white tennis shoes with one line green, one yellow shoe lace.

Huffman drives a black 2004 Jeep Liberty with a North Carolina license plant SZK-7089.
Anyone with information about Huffman should call the Apex Police Department at 919-362-8661.

SAY WHAT?

High Court Weighs Life Terms For Minors : NPR.

Enlarge Glenn Paul/Equal Justice Initiative

Joe Sullivan at Columbia Correctional Institution in Lake City, Fla., in 2007 when he was 31 years old.

Is it unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment to send a juvenile away to prison for life, without the possibility of parole for a crime that does not involve a death? That's the question the Supreme Court ponders Monday.

In 2005, the high court struck down the death penalty for juveniles by a 5 to-4 vote. Central to that decision was the idea that the death penalty was different from other punishments and that children are different. Now, through the lens of two cases, the justices will examine the question of life without parole in non-homicide cases.

Joe Sullivan was 13 years old when he was convicted of raping a 72-year-old woman. Two older defendants who had broken into the woman's house with Joe fingered their younger accomplice for the rape, and they got lesser sentences. Joe had a long record of misdemeanors, from stealing a bike to burglary. This, however, was his first felony, and the judge, declaring that the boy before him was "beyond help," sentenced him to life in prison without parole.

Niece of Cleveland mayor lived with murder suspect Sowell

Niece of Cleveland mayor lived with murder suspect Sowell - CNN.com.

Niece of Cleveland mayor lived with murder suspect Sowell

November 9, 2009 5:52 p.m. EST

Lori Frazier says Anthony Sowell "took good care" of her during the two years they lived together.

Cleveland, Ohio (CNN) -- The niece of the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, once lived with murder suspect Anthony Sowell, a registered sex offender charged with murder after the remains of 11 victims were found at his home, a spokeswoman for the mayor said Monday.

Lori Frazier, niece of Mayor Frank Jackson, had a relationship with Sowell that ended two years ago, said Andrea Taylor, a spokeswoman for Jackson's office. Taylor said it is unclear whether the relationship was romantic.

"I just want to know why, why he would do this," Frazier told CNN affiliate WOIO on Friday. "He took care of me, good care of me. I never would have thought there were some bodies in the house."

Magistrate says prayer violates First Amendment - Wire - North Carolina - NewsObserver.com

Image via Wikipedia

Magistrate says prayer violates First Amendment - Wire - North Carolina - NewsObserver.com.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- A federal magistrate has recommended that the use of prayer to open a board of commissioners meeting in North Carolina violates the First Amendment.

Magistrate Trevor Sharp issued the recommendation Monday regarding the use of sectarian invocations to open the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meetings.

Sharp's ruling explained that the prayers frequently referred to Jesus or Jesus Christ, and that such prayers "display a preference for Christianity over other religions by the government."

A lawsuit was filed several years ago on behalf of two county residents who objected to the use of prayer at the meetings. The commission had argued that the policy of inviting outside clergy to deliver invocations meant it was staying neutral with regard to prayers.

The recommendation now goes to a federal judge.