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Justice System

Police & Fire
Teen Killed With 73-Pound Rock: Man Guilty In Brutal Plymouth Cold Case After Nearly 40 Years Teen Killed With 73-Pound Rock: Man Guilty In Brutal Plymouth Cold Case After Nearly 40 Years
Teen Killed With 73-Pound Rock: Man Guilty In Brutal Plymouth 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…

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by Josh Lanier
News
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…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Mass Man Guilty Of 10 Charges In Child Sex Abuse Case; Wife Convicted In Cover Up: DA Mass Man Guilty Of 10 Charges In Child Sex Abuse Case; Wife Convicted In Cover Up: DA
Mass Man Guilty Of 10 Charges In Child Sex Abuse Case; Wife Convicted In Cover Up: DA A Massachusetts man has been convicted on 10 charges after a jury found he sexually abused a young child in his care for years while he and his wife pressured her to tell no one about the rapes, authorities announced. Kenneth Johnson, 63, of Athol, was found guilty of multiple charges on Wednesday, Feb. 4, in Franklin County Superior Court after a three-day trial and half a day of deliberations, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Johnson was convicted of: Aggravated rape and abuse of a child (two counts) Indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 years old (five …

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by Josh Lanier
News
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…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
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…

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by Zak Failla
News
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…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Reverend Accused Of Child Sex Assaults In Massachusetts Fights Return After Florida Arrest Reverend Accused Of Child Sex Assaults In Massachusetts Fights Return After Florida Arrest
Reverend Accused Of Child Sex Assaults In Massachusetts Fights Return After Florida Arrest A former Massachusetts pastor has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a child 45 years ago, but first, authorities have to bring him back to the state.   Rev. Eric Anderson was arrested in Manatee County, Florida, on Monday, Aug. 25, on a Berkshire County warrant. He is fighting his extradition back to Massachusetts, authorities said.  Anderson was indicted on two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 earlier this year, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office said. The charges stem from alleged crimes that occurred in 1980. He serv…

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by Josh Lanier
Politics
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…

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by Chris Spiker
News
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,…

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by Zak Failla
News
‘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…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
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…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
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 …

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by Jillian Pikora
News
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 …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Jennifer Dulos Case: Estranged Husband's Girlfriend Sentenced To Prison Jennifer Dulos Case: Estranged Husband's Girlfriend Sentenced To Prison
Jennifer Dulos Case: Estranged Husband's Girlfriend Sentenced To Prison Michelle Troconis, the girlfriend of the estranged husband of the murdered Connecticut mother of five, Jennifer Farber Dulos, has been sentenced to years in prison. 'My Mother Was Everything To Me': Jennifer Dulos' Children Speak Out For First Time Stamford/Norwalk State Attorney Paul J. Ferencek announced Friday, May 31, that Troconnis, age 49, formerly of Hartford County in Farmington, was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison, suspended after 14 ½ years served, for conspiring to murder Jennifer Farber Dulos in May 2019 and then covering up the crime. Troconis faced 50 years in pr…

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by Kathy Reakes