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Justice System

Victims Speak As CT Man Gets 30 Years For Sexually Assaulting Children Victims Speak As CT Man Gets 30 Years For Sexually Assaulting Children
Victims Speak As CT Man Gets 30 Years For Sexually Assaulting Children A Connecticut man found guilty of repeatedly sexually assaulting two children will spend decades in prison, authorities announced.  Brian Flores-Colon, 46, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 25, to 30 years in prison, followed by 30 years of special parole, according to New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. A jury found him guilty in January of three counts of sexual assault in the first degree under two separate statutes and three counts of risk of injury to a minor.  Prosecutors said the case centered on two victims who are now adults. Both told police …
Teen Killed With 73-Pound Rock: Man Found Guilty In Brutal Cold Case After Nearly 40 Years Teen Killed With 73-Pound Rock: Man Found Guilty In Brutal Cold Case After Nearly 40 Years
Teen Killed With 73-Pound Rock: Man Found Guilty In Brutal Cold Case After Nearly 40 Years A man who killed a 15-year-old girl by dropping a 73-pound rock on her head has been found guilty in a decades-old cold case. Michael Hand, now 69, formerly of Kingston, was convicted on Tuesday, March 24, of first-degree murder in the 1986 killing of Tracy Gilpin, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office announced. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Prosecutors said Gilpin died from multiple skull fractures after Hand crushed her head with the rock at  Myles Standish State Forest in 1986. Police found her buried beneath debris with no pants and her underwear…
US Embassy Employee Who Repeatedly Raped Teens In West Africa Gets Life In Prison: DOJ US Embassy Employee Who Repeatedly Raped Teens In West Africa Gets Life In Prison: DOJ
US Embassy Employee Who Repeatedly Raped Teens In West Africa Gets Life In Prison: DOJ A former US Embassy employee who repeatedly raped two teenage girls while representing the country overseas will spend the rest of his life behind bars, a federal judge ruled in Maryland. Takoma Park native Fode Sitafa Mara, 41, was sentenced to life in prison in Greenbelt — followed by a lifetime of supervised release for good measure — for forcibly sexually assaulting two girls in Burkina Faso over the course of two years. The rapes were reported in 2022 and 2023 while he was stationed at the US Embassy in Ouagadougou. Prosecutors said Mara repeatedly raped the girls — who were…
CT Man Gets 52 Years For 'Hunting' Teen Outside Store, Killing Him: State CT Man Gets 52 Years For 'Hunting' Teen Outside Store, Killing Him: State
CT Man Gets 52 Years For 'Hunting' Teen Outside Store, Killing Him: State A New Haven man will spend more than five decades in prison for killing an 18-year-old Hamden resident in a shooting that shocked the community four years ago.  Lamont Quadir Smith-Reed, 22, was sentenced this week to 52 years behind bars for the murder of Semaj Reddick-Streater, the Office of State's Attorney said on Friday, Dec. 5. Smith-Reed was convicted nearly three months prior.  Judge David L. Zagaja said Smith-Reed “intentionally and purposely targeted and hunted Semaj Reddick until his task was accomplished,” according to State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. Official…
Girl Asked Him For Directions, Then He Raped Her: NY Man Now Facing Decades In Prison Girl Asked Him For Directions, Then He Raped Her: NY Man Now Facing Decades In Prison
Girl Asked Him For Directions, Then He Raped Her: NY Man Now Facing Decades In Prison An Upstate New York man is facing years behind bars after confessing that he sexually assaulted an underage girl who asked him for directions. Sayquan Hill, 42, of Troy, pleaded guilty to first-degree rape in Rensselaer County Court on Tuesday, Nov. 25. An investigation found that the assault happened in downtown Troy in February, when Hill forced himself on the girl after she approached him for help with directions, according to prosecutors. Hill is expected to receive 16 ½ years in prison when he’s sentenced in January 2026. He must also complete 20 years of post-release supervision and …
Diplomat’s Daughter Convicted Again In Deadly Stabbing After Retrial, Prosecutors Say Diplomat’s Daughter Convicted Again In Deadly Stabbing After Retrial, Prosecutors Say
Diplomat’s Daughter Convicted Again In Deadly Stabbing After Retrial, Prosecutors Say The daughter of a former US ambassador has been convicted — again — for her role in a fatal alcohol-fueled stabbing in 2020. DC resident Sophia Negroponte, 32, the adopted daughter of John Negroponte, has been convicted for the second time in connection with the stabbing death of 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen in Montgomery County, the state's attorney's office announced on Thursday, Nov. 20.  This was a retrial. In January of 2024, the Maryland Court of Appeals overturned Negroponte’s original second-degree murder conviction. What started as a fun evening among several friend…
Who Is Lindsey Halligan? Trump Taps Mar-a-Lago Lawyer As Virginia’s Top Prosecutor Who Is Lindsey Halligan? Trump Taps Mar-a-Lago Lawyer As Virginia’s Top Prosecutor
Who Is Lindsey Halligan? Trump Taps Mar-a-Lago Lawyer As Virginia’s Top Prosecutor President Donald Trump has nominated a familiar face to become Virginia's top prosecutor after Erik Siebert stepped away on Friday. Trump announced that he is nominating Lindsey Halligan, a senior aide in the White House, to serve as the US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia as he continues to target political adversaries. "It is my honor to appoint Lindsey Halligan, who has been serving as Special Assistant to the President at the White House, as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia," he posted on Truth Social late on Saturday, Sept. 20.  The preside…
Chilling Texts Read As Death Penalty Sought For Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect: 'I'm Sorry' Chilling Texts Read As Death Penalty Sought For Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect: 'I'm Sorry'
Chilling Texts Read As Death Penalty Sought For Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect: 'I'm Sorry' Chilling text messages between the 22-year-old now formally charged for the murder of conservative influencer and the suspect's roommate and romantic partner were revealed as prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty. Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey S. Gray announced Tuesday, Sept. 16 that his office filed seven charges against Tyler James Robinson. They also include obstruction of justice for disposing of evidence and witness tampering for telling his roommate to delete texts.  Gray said he decided to pursue capital punishment “independently, based solely on the availabl…
Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values
Appellate Court Throws Out Trump's $500M+ Fine For Inflating Wealth, Property Values A New York appellate court struck down the half-billion-dollar penalty imposed on President Donald Trump and his company for lying about his wealth and inflating property values. The state supreme court's Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, overturned the roughly $527 million fine known as "disgorgement" on Thursday, Aug. 21. The appellate court justices were split on whether New York Attorney General Letitia James proved The Trump Organization committed fraud, but the majority said the fine was "excessive" and unconstitutional. James can appeal the decision to New…
Man Who Sexually Assaulted CT 9-Year-Old Gets Decades Behind Bars: State Man Who Sexually Assaulted CT 9-Year-Old Gets Decades Behind Bars: State
Man Who Sexually Assaulted CT 9-Year-Old Gets Decades Behind Bars: State A Wallkill, New York, man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, with 21 years to serve, for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old child in Trumbull. Of that prison time, 15 years are mandatory, state prosecutors said.  Nicholas Hall, 32, was found guilty in February by a Superior Court jury in Bridgeport of multiple charges stemming from abuse that took place from December 2018 through April 2020. Prosecutors said Hall used his position of trust within the victim’s family to commit the crimes. “The victim in this matter was extremely courageous in testifying to the heinous acts that wer…
Victor Martinez-Hernandez Sentenced To Life Without Parole For Rape, Murder Of Rachel Morin Victor Martinez-Hernandez Sentenced To Life Without Parole For Rape, Murder Of Rachel Morin
Victor Martinez-Hernandez Sentenced To Life Without Parole For Rape, Murder Of Rachel Morin A man convicted of the 2023 rape and murder of Rachel Hannah Morin on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air will spend the rest of his life in prison, prosecutors announced. Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez was sentenced on Monday, Aug. 11, following his April 2025 jury trial conviction on all counts, which include first-degree murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sexual offense, and kidnapping, according to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office. The jury reached its verdict in less than one hour of deliberation, officials noted. Prosecutors said evidence showed that on Aug. 5, 2023,…
DOJ Probing NY Attorney General’s Office Over Trump, NRA Lawsuits: Report DOJ Probing NY Attorney General’s Office Over Trump, NRA Lawsuits: Report
DOJ Probing NY Attorney General’s Office Over Trump, NRA Lawsuits: Report Federal prosecutors are investigating whether New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office violated the legal rights of President Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association through civil lawsuits, NBC News reports. The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York is leading the probe, which is in its early stages, according to the outlet. A spokesperson for James’ office issued the following statement: “Any weaponization of the justice system should disturb every American. We stand strongly behind our successful litigation against the Trump Organization and the Nation…
Robert Brooks Death: Ex-Corrections Officer Gets 15 Years For Beating Of NY Inmate Robert Brooks Death: Ex-Corrections Officer Gets 15 Years For Beating Of NY Inmate
Robert Brooks Death: Ex-Corrections Officer Gets 15 Years For Beating Of NY Inmate A former New York state corrections officer was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the brutal beating death of inmate Robert Brooks. Christopher Walrath, a former officer at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County, learned his fate Monday, Aug. 4, after pleading guilty in May to first-degree manslaughter. Brooks, 43, had been transferred to Marcy on Dec. 9, 2024. He was attacked by a group of officers shortly after arriving, according to prosecutors. He died the next morning from what an autopsy later determined was homicide, caused by “compression of the neck and multiple…
‘We Got Something’ Breonna Taylor’s Mom Speaks After Ex-Cop Sentenced: Reports ‘We Got Something’ Breonna Taylor’s Mom Speaks After Ex-Cop Sentenced: Reports
‘We Got Something’ Breonna Taylor’s Mom Speaks After Ex-Cop Sentenced: Reports A former Louisville cop who fired blindly into Breonna Taylor’s home during a deadly 2020 raid has been sentenced to 33 months in prison—despite federal prosecutors asking for just one day behind bars, multiple media outlets are reporting citing the judge's ruling on Monday, July 21.  Brett Hankison, 46, was found guilty last November of violating Taylor’s civil rights after unleashing 10 shots through a curtained window and glass door, even though he couldn't see a target, according to previous releases by the US Department of Justice. Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was killed by other of…
CT Man Gets 65 Years For Murdering Christine Holloway; Their Daughter Remains Missing CT Man Gets 65 Years For Murdering Christine Holloway; Their Daughter Remains Missing
CT Man Gets 65 Years For Murdering Christine Holloway; Their Daughter Remains Missing A Connecticut man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the brutal murder of Christine Holloway in Ansonia, but the case is far from over. The couple's daughter, Vanessa Morales, who was 14 months old at the time of the slaying, remains missing nearly five years later. Jose Morales was sentenced Monday, July 14, to 65 years in prison, 60 years for Holloway’s murder and five years for tampering with evidence, Ansonia police said. He was convicted in April following a two-week trial for killing Holloway inside her Myrtle Avenue home on Dec. 1, 2019. Prosecutors said Morales tried to c…
CT Mom Sentenced In Fatal Hit-Run Crash With Son in the Car: State CT Mom Sentenced In Fatal Hit-Run Crash With Son in the Car: State
CT Mom Sentenced In Fatal Hit-Run Crash With Son in the Car: State A Connecticut woman is going to prison for more than four years after fatally crashing into a pedestrian last year, then driving home without stopping or calling for help. Her son was in the vehicle during the crash, authorities said. Elizabeth Cronk, 46, was sentenced Thursday, July 10, to 10 years behind bars. She'll serve 51 months, with the remainder of the sentence suspended, followed by five years of probation, according to state prosecutors. Judge Frank A. Iannotti handed down the sentence following a plea agreement. Cronk hit 47-year-old Gina LaVacca as she walked on Main Street in…
State PD Opens Internal Probe After Dashcam Clears Cromwell Teen Of 132-MPH Speeding Charge State PD Opens Internal Probe After Dashcam Clears Cromwell Teen Of 132-MPH Speeding Charge
State PD Opens Internal Probe After Dashcam Clears Cromwell Teen Of 132-mph Speeding Charge A Connecticut teenager once accused of tearing down I-91 at 132 mph can breathe easy after police realized they'd arrested the wrong man, authorities said. Now, troopers are on the hot seat.  Azmir Djurkovic, 19, of Cromwell, was arrested on June 4 and was facing multiple charges after police said they saw a BMW going more than twice the speed limit, Connecticut State Police had said.  Troopers did not give chase, but rather pulled the owner's information from the car's license plate. When police spoke with Djurkovic, he admitted to driving the BMW and was running late for a …
Charges Dropped Against NJ Mayor, But Congresswoman Now Faces Federal Assault Case Charges Dropped Against NJ Mayor, But Congresswoman Now Faces Federal Assault Case
Charges Dropped Against NJ Mayor, But Congresswoman Now Faces Federal Assault Case The U.S. Attorney for New Jersey has dropped the trespassing charge against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, but is now pursuing federal assault charges against U.S. Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, officials announced Monday, May 19. In a statement, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said her office agreed to dismiss Mayor Baraka’s misdemeanor charge of trespass “for the sake of moving forward.” “The citizens of New Jersey deserve unified leadership so we can get to work to keep our state safe,” Habba said. “The dismissal against the mayor is not the end of this matter.” Habba confirmed her office is n…
CT Man Guilty Of Sexually Abusing Kids Younger Than 10 For Years: Prosecutors CT Man Guilty Of Sexually Abusing Kids Younger Than 10 For Years: Prosecutors
CT Man Guilty Of Sexually Abusing Kids Younger Than 10 For Years: Prosecutors A 48-year-old Danbury man was convicted of sexually assaulting two children between the ages of 6 and 9 years old, authorities said.  Juan Garcia-Perales was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault of a minor, two counts of risk of injury to a child, state prosecutors said.  Garcia-Perales' case has worked its way through the court system since his arrest in 2015.  Investigators said the abuse of the children began in February 2012 and continued for three years. Police allege he knew both of his victims, though officers did not say how to protect their identities. …
Convicted Killer Gets 18 Years For Deadly Hit-And-Run Of CT Trooper: Police Convicted Killer Gets 18 Years For Deadly Hit-And-Run Of CT Trooper: Police
Convicted Killer Gets 18 Years For Deadly Hit-And-Run Of CT Trooper: Police A Hartford man who admitted to hitting and killing a Connecticut State Trooper and then driving away will spend the next 18 years behind bars, authorities said.  Alex Oyola-Sanchez, 45, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the death of Trooper Aaron Pelletier, according to state authorities.  Pelletier was conducting a traffic stop on the shoulder of I-84 in Southington when Oyola-Sanchez crashed into him and kept driving, police said. Trooper Pelletier left behind his wife, Dominique, and their two young sons. Dominique spoke at the sentencing hearing, according to NBC Connecticut…
Intellectually Disabled Woman Impregnated By CT Step-Father: Police Intellectually Disabled Woman Impregnated By CT Step-Father: Police
Intellectually Disabled Woman Impregnated By CT Step-Father: Police A 23-year-old North Haven woman with intellectual disabilities was at the center of a harrowing investigation that took over a year to crack, and it all began with a visit to the hospital. Delienne Moncrieft, 49, of New Haven, is charged with second-degree sexual assault following his arrest on Tuesday, April 15, North Haven police said.  North Haven Police said that after the young woman complained of stomach pains in January 2024, her mother brought her to a nearby hospital. Doctors discovered she was six months pregnant. She had suffered a miscarriage, police said. That’s when poli…
After Four Fatal Shootings And $3M+ Payouts, Trooper Jay Splain Earns Promotion After Four Fatal Shootings And $3M+ Payouts, Trooper Jay Splain Earns Promotion
After Four Fatal Shootings And $3M+ Payouts, Trooper Jay Splain Earns Promotion A Pennsylvania State Police trooper involved in four fatal shootings — with civil settlements exceeding $3 million — has been promoted to corporal, officials confirmed. Trooper Jay Splain will assume his new rank effective Saturday, April 12, while continuing to serve in the department’s Member Assistance Program, a confidential peer support unit for PSP personnel and their families. Latest Fatal Shooting: Lebanon County Arrest Attempt Splain most recently fatally shot Andrew J. Dzwonchyk, 40, of Jonestown, during an arrest attempt at a home on the 60 block of Ridge Drive in Union Township …
Hidden Notes Found In Accused CEO Killer Luigi Mangione's Socks At Court Hearing Hidden Notes Found In Accused CEO Killer Luigi Mangione's Socks At Court Hearing
Hidden Notes Found In Accused CEO Killer Luigi Mangione's Socks At Court Hearing Accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione was found with notes hidden in a package of socks before a recent court appearance. Mangione, age 26, is charged with fatally shooting 50-year-old UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in December ahead of an investor conference.  Two heart-shaped notes were tucked away inside the cardboard packaging of argyle socks delivered to Mangione by his defense team before his court appearance in New York City last month, "Secreted in the cardboard were two personal heart-shaped notes, one addressed to an unknown person named …
Grieving Mother Hopes Cancer Won't Kill Her Before Daughter's Murder Trial Begins Grieving Mother Hopes Cancer Won't Kill Her Before Daughter's Murder Trial Begins
Grieving Mother Hopes Cancer Won't Kill Her Before Daughter's Murder Trial Begins “Mommy, tomorrow is going to be the most painful day of your life, and then it’s going to get better.” That’s what Maryrose Fealey told her mother, Janet Pizzelli, on Jan. 30, 2024, the day before Pizzelli was set to begin chemotherapy for breast cancer. “Well, she was wrong,” Pizzelli said of her daughter’s words. “It didn’t get better.” It got worse. That same night, Maryrose was stabbed to death by David Shroitman, who followed her home from the gym and killed her in her vehicle, prosecutors said. David Shroitman Somerset County Prosecutor's Office More than a year later, Pizz…
CT Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend's 9-Year-Old Daughter: State CT Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend's 9-Year-Old Daughter: State
CT Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend's 9-Year-Old Daughter: State A Connecticut man was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl, prosecutors announced on Wednesday, Feb. 19.  Noel Martinez, 35, was convicted on two counts of first-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact with a victim under 16, and risk of injury to a minor, according to Hartford Judicial District State’s Attorney Sharmese L. Walcott. The case began in February 2022, when the Department of Children and Families alerted Hartford police about a report of sexual abuse. A relative of the victim came forward, alleging that Martinez — who was dating the child’s mother at…