National Roundup

Tennessee Widow's lawsuit claims VA negligent in suicide NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The widow of an Iraq war veteran from Tennessee claims in a lawsuit that the Veterans Affairs Department was negligent in failing to diagnose and treat his post-traumatic stress disorder before he committed suicide in 2008. The suit filed Tuesday in federal court in Greeneville says staff at the VA hospital in Mountain Home didn't adequately treat Scott Walter Eiswert before his suicide at the age of 31. Eiswert, who served with the Tennessee National Guard, deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005. The lawsuit says that although he'd been diagnosed with PTSD by a private counselor, Eiswert's disability claims that his PTSD stemmed from his military service were denied by the VA. A VA representative in Mountain Home did not immediately return a message left Wednesday morning seeking comment. Pennsylvania Feds: Philly cop used prisoner debit, credit cards PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Federal authorities say a Philadelphia police officer tasked with protecting the belongings of jailed suspects instead used their debit and credit cards to treat himself to gasoline and other items. Prosecutors charged 30-year-old Charles Jacoby on Tuesday. Jacoby allegedly swiped the cards of prisoners and gassed up his car and purchased other items for himself. Investigators say Jacoby would take the cards of prisoners he thought were disruptive, use the cards and then destroy them. A phone message left for Jacoby's attorney was not immediately returned. The department says Jacoby has been suspended with intent to dismiss. New York 12 indicted in NYC immigration fraud case NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal authorities say an indictment charges 12 people with operating a massive immigration fraud mill through a New York City law practice. They say the defendants and their co-conspirators applied for legal status for tens of thousands of illegal immigrants based on bogus claims that U.S. employers had sponsored them. They say the scheme took in millions of dollars in illicit proceeds. It's part of an ongoing investigation. So far, 27 people have been charged. The accused ringleader, Earl Seth David, was arrested Tuesday in Canada. He was suspended from practicing law in March 2004 and fled to Canada in 2006 after learning his firm was under investigation. Authorities say profits from the scheme continued to be funneled to him in Canada. Prosecutors say David's law practice was based in Manhattan and operated several shell companies. Information on his attorney was not immediately available. Tennessee Autopsy shows Memphis principal had jugular cut MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- An autopsy shows that Memphis school principal Suzette York suffered a fractured skull and cuts to her spinal cord and jugular vein when she was attacked in a classroom on the third day of school. York died of what an autopsy report says were "sharp force injuries" to her head, neck and right arm that she received in the Aug. 10 attack at Memphis Junior Academy. The report, obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday, shows she was stabbed at least 10 times. A student, 16-year-old Eduardo Marmolejo, is charged with first-degree murder in York's death. Prosecutors say he planned the attack for months. The teen's Juvenile Court attorneys argued he is not mentally competent to stand trial. But prosecutors and a judge disagreed and transferred him to adult court. Mississippi Conviction upheld in sexual battery case JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- The state Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction and life sentence handed down in a sexual battery case in Union County. WTVA-TV reports the court ruled against Johnny Young, Jr., who was found guilty of three counts of sexual battery by a Union County Circuit Court jury. He was sentenced to serve three life sentences. Court documents say the victim was under 14 years of age. Young had asked the appellate court to overturn his conviction, including claims the judge was wrong is his decision on the admission or exclusion of certain evidence during the trial. Young also claimed the evidence did not support the verdict or sentence handed down. Ohio Lawyers: No prison guards in youth lockups COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Lawyers for youth in Ohio juvenile detention facilities want the state to stop allowing guards from adult prisons to quell disturbances in the youth lockups. Motions filed in federal court allege guards have entered Department of Youth Facilities even after a judge warned against the practice last week. The lawyers also allege in Tuesday's filings that in some cases pepper spray was used against both unruly and cooperative juvenile offenders. An increasing number of state juvenile inmates are violent because less serious offenders are now housed at the county level. A court-ordered monitor continues to oversee Ohio's attempts to reduce violence in the youth prisons following a 2004 lawsuit that alleged a culture of violence. Wyoming Lawyers for Wyo death row inmate file new claims CASPER, Wyo. (AP) -- Attorneys for Wyoming's lone death row inmate have filed more court claims that he didn't get a fair trial when he was sentenced to death in the 1988 killing of a Montana teen. Dale Wayne Eaton's lawyers say he should get a new sentencing hearing because of an error by his trial attorney and because a prosecutor didn't disclose a working relationship he had with a key prosecution witness. Lawyers for the state dispute both claims. Eaton was convicted in 2004 of raping and murdering 18-year-old Lisa Marie Kimmell of Billings, Mont. The Casper Star-Tribune reported Wednesday that the new claims were filed in late September and were added to a petition filed in August. A federal judge will begin considering the petition in December. Published: Thu, Oct 13, 2011