West Virginia: Judge in 1987 mall rape cases recuses self
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A Cabell County judge is recusing himself from hearing the case against a man accused of abducting two women from a mall parking lot and sexually assaulting them in 1987.
Senior Status Judge Dan O’Hanlon cited time conflicts in a letter sent Jan. 7 to state Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret Workman. O’Hanlon retired from the bench Oct. 31 and now holds two state technology jobs.
The Supreme Court will appoint another judge to hear the case against Donald Good.
The Kanawha County man is charged with kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual abuse and aggravated robbery. He is serving a life with mercy sentence after pleading guilty in 1996 to killing a St. Albans man in 1992.
Louisiana: Ex-lawyer admits using $77,000 of clients’ funds
LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — A former Lafayette lawyer has admitted in court to misusing about $77,000 in trust funds from the accounts of four of his former clients.
Fifty-one-year-old Kent Mercier pleaded guilty Monday to four counts of unauthorized use of a movable over $1,000. Each count carries a possible maximum five years in prison and $5,000 fine.
Mercier said in court that he used the funds under the belief he could replace them once other cases were settled.
Mercier voluntarily surrendered his law license in November 2008. The state Supreme Court accepted his permanent resignation after Mercier self-reported mishandling client funds. He was permanently disbarred.
New Hampshire: 2 to plead guilty to kidnapping, burglary
BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — Two Maine residents are expected to plead guilty to state charges in New Hampshire stemming from the burglary of the home of a Hampton police officer and other crimes.
Thirty-two-year-old Adam Pento of Sanford, Maine, and 37-year-old Rebecca Paulhus of Kennebunk, Maine are due to appear in Rockingham County Superior Court Thursday.
The two are also facing federal charges.
Police say the two broke into a police officer’s house in North Hampton on Feb. 5, and stole items including two handguns.
The two then stopped a car and pulled a gun on the owner, ordering the owner to drive them away. The owner was later released unharmed.
