Florida: Justices order hearing in sex offender case
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Supreme Court has ordered a judge to hold a hearing within 60 days on a sex offender’s claim he’s been detained for eight years without a commitment trial.
The justices issued the order Friday in a 4-3 decision. Two dissenting justices agreed with the hearing order but disagreed on details.
Ronald Morel has been held in the state’s civil commitment center for sex offenders near Arcadia since completing a prison sentence for sexual battery and rape. The crimes were committed in Broward County.
Florida’s “Jimmy Ryce” law permits the state to detain and treat sex offenders after they’ve served their sentences. They can be released only if a judge finds they no longer are a danger to society.
Texas: Appeals court rules against coach in lawsuit
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — An appeals court has thrown out former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach’s breach of contract claim against the school over his 2010 firing.
But the ruling, released early Friday, allows Leach to try to prove that the university’s reasons for firing him were false.
The school in Lubbock fired Leach on Dec. 30, 2010, two days after suspending him amid allegations he mistreated a player with a concussion. Leach has denied mistreating the player.
The 7th Court of Appeals upheld Tech’s sovereign immunity claim.
The ruling allows Leach to try to show Tech’s reasons for firing him were wrong, but without monetary relief.
Leach’s attorney plans to appeal the breach of contract claim to the Texas Supreme Court.
New Hampshire: Court upholds denying nursing homes $9 million
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Supreme Court has sided with the state in a dispute over $9 million in surplus funds that nursing homes claimed belonged to them.
In 2007, lawmakers directed the state to pay any surplus from its share of Medicaid nursing home reimbursement to the nursing homes. But citing a different law, Gov. John Lynch claimed the money for the state in 2008 to help balance the budget.
The nursing homes argued that Lynch’s executive order amounted to an infringement on the Legislature’s authority to appropriate money. But in a ruling Friday, the state Supreme Court said Lynch did not violate the state Constitution by denying the nursing homes the money.
Texas: Jailed Texan accused of locking daughter in closet
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A Brownsville woman accused of keeping her 12-year-old daughter locked in a closet, except for school or using the bathroom, is accused of failing to appear in court.
Leticia Ines was in the Cameron County Jail on Friday on charges of injury to a child, unlawful restraint and revoked bond.
Her underdeveloped and malnourished daughter was placed in foster care a year ago after a relative reported the alleged abuse.
Judge Leonel Alejandro on Thursday ordered the 41-year-old mother arrested when she failed to appear at a court hearing.
The Brownsville Herald reports defense attorney Alfredo Padilla on Wednesday told the judge that he had tried to contact Ines by telephone, but her line was disconnected.
Minnesota: Man convicted in kidnap, murder
JACKSON, Minn. (AP) — A jury in southern Minnesota has convicted a man for his involvement in the kidnapping and murder of a teenager 14 years ago.
Jurors found Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez guilty of aiding and abetting second-degree murder, with and without intent, and felony kidnapping.
Prosecutors alleged members of the Los Crazy Boys gang kidnapped Gregory “Sly” Erickson in Spencer, Iowa, and killed him in southwestern Minnesota in 1997 over a $1,400 marijuana debt. Castillo-Alvarez fled to Mexico and was eventually extradited and convicted in 2008.?
