Man likely to go free nearly a decade later
PORT HURON (AP) — A Port Huron man who has spent nearly a decade behind bars is on the verge of freedom as a prosecutor moves to drop a rape case against him.
James Grissom has maintained his innocence since he was arrested in 2003 for an alleged sexual assault in a Meijer lot in St. Clair County. He was convicted despite a lack of physical evidence against him.
The Michigan Supreme Court recently granted Grissom a second trial. But a judge thi week is expected to review a request by the St. Clair County prosecutor to drop the case. Mike Wendling concedes there’s not a “reasonable likelihood of conviction.”
New information emerged after Grissom’s conviction in 2003. California police said the woman had lied about assaults that were similar to the Michigan incident.
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Court denies challenge to appointment
DETROIT (AP) — The state appeals court has denied another challenge to Roy Roberts’ right to keep his job as Detroit Public Schools emergency financial manager.
The courts says in an order last Friday that Roberts was appointed under Public Act 72 after Public Act 4 — Michigan’s most recent emergency manager law — was suspended earlier this year.
Activist Robert Davis had argued that the general election defeat of PA 4 meant the older law no longer exists. But the court says the defeat means a section repealing PA 72 also “did not survive.”
The Michigan Supreme Court in April rejected an appeal of a lower court’s decision upholding Roberts’ appointment. Davis had argued that Roberts failed to take the oath of office when he initially started the job in May 2011.
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Men plead guilty to cheating terminally ill
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Two men accused of stealing the identities of terminally ill people and using them to reap $30 million from insurance companies and brokerage houses have pleaded guilty with their trial already under way.
Lawyer Joseph Caramadre and his employee, Raymour Radhakrishnan, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Providence to wire fraud and conspiracy.
Prosecutors say they took out variable annuities and so-called “death-put” bonds that would pay out when a person died.
Authorities say they lied to terminally ill people to get personal information that was used to purchase bonds and annuities in their names without consent.
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SF nudists sue to block proposed ban
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A group of San Francisco residents is suing the city to block a proposed ban on public nudity.
A lawsuit filed recently in federal court in San Francisco claims an ordinance that city officials are considering would violate the civil rights of people who want to bare their bodies for personal or political reasons.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the measure next week. It would prohibit nakedness on city streets, sidewalks and plazas at all times except during permitted fairs and parades, such as the city’s annual gay pride event.
Lawyer Christina DiEdoardo filed the case as a dozen or so of her clients stood outside the courthouse in varying states of undress.
DiEdoardo says the ban is too broad and would inhibit the free speech of nudists who can’t afford a permit.
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