National Roundup

Connecticut
Ex-priest among 5 charged during  meth drug probe
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A former Roman Catholic priest is among five people who have been indicted by a federal grand jury in an alleged drug operation involving shipments of methamphetamine to Connecticut from California.
Federal prosecutors said Kevin Wallin, 61, former pastor at St. Augustine’s parish in Bridgeport, received the shipments and sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer six times since last September. Prosecutors say investigators also gathered evidence from court-authorized wiretaps.
The grand jury in Bridgeport indicted the five people Tuesday on charges of conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine and 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Wallin, of Waterbury, was also charged with six counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The conspiracy charges carry 10 years to life in prison upon conviction.
All five are detained. It’s not clear if they have lawyers.
Also charged are Kenneth Devries, 52, of Waterbury, Michael Nelson, 40, of Manchester, Chad McCluskey, 43, of San Clemente, Calif., and Kristen Laschober, 47, of Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Wallin resigned as St. Augustine’s pastor in June 2011 after serving nine years in the post, citing health and personal issues, the Diocese of Bridgeport said in a statement. Diocese officials granted him a sabbatical the following month.
During the sabbatical, diocese officials became concerned about Wallin’s well-being and reached out to him, but he has never spoken directly to church officials, the diocese said in the statement, which did not elaborate.
Wallin’s faculties for public ministry were suspended in May 2012 and he has not been reassigned, the diocese said.
“News of Msgr. Kevin Wallin’s arrest comes with a sense of shock and concern on the part of the diocese and the many people of Fairfield County who have known him as a gifted, accomplished and compassionate priest,” the diocese said. “The diocese stands ready to help as it has throughout the past two years. We ask for prayers for Msgr. Wallin during the difficult days ahead for him.”

Indiana
Daughter fights to overrule her father’s living will
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) — An Indiana woman can’t force doctors to put her gravely ill father back on life support because he expressly stated in his will that he doesn’t want his life prolonged by artificial means, a judge ruled.
Susan Rissman told The Indianapolis Star that despite Judge Steve Nation’s ruling Wednesday during an emergency hearing in Hamilton Superior Court, she intends to continue fighting to have her 88-year-old father hooked back up to a ventilator and feeding tubes.
“We’re not going to quit,” Rissman said. “I don’t know what else I can do, but I can’t give up on my dad.”
Nation refused Rissman’s request to appoint a guardian or order a review of St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital’s care of her father, Paul G. Smith. Smith was removed from a ventilator Jan. 7 and had a feeding tube removed the next day. Nation ruled that Smith’s care should be guided by his 2004 living will, in which he said he doesn’t want his life prolonged by artificial means.
Rissman said her father is still capable of making that decision for himself and has asked for food and water. Her attorney, Tim Stoesz, said the living will shouldn’t have been invoked because Smith hasn’t been declared incapacitated.
Dr. Anthony Martin, testifying by phone, said he had Rissman removed from the hospital Sunday and barred from returning after learning she allowed Smith to be videotaped asking for food and water. He said the decision was made for Smith’s safety.
Rissman had been Smith’s primary caregiver for the last several years, but another daughter, Judith Sly, was designated his health care representative based on directives Smith signed in 2004. Stoesz claimed Smith told a court-appointed advocate in December that he wanted Rissman, not Sly, to oversee his medical care.
Nation said that testimony was not enough to prove Smith had revoked his living will.
“I am gratified that he used his own legal knowledge to avail himself of the law and provide his advance written directives to guide his family at a time when he was competent to express his wishes,” Sly’s attorney, Anne Hensley Poindexter, said in a statement. “Regrettably, he presently suffers from a number of terminal illnesses or conditions, and his overall prognosis is poor.”
Martin and Dr. Colleen Brown said they had been treating him as an end-of-life patient since Jan. 7. Martin said he had expected Smith to die within 24 hours following an assessment Jan. 9. The doctors stressed they are following the wishes Smith outlined in his living will.

Florida
Judge dismisses terror charges against cleric
MIAMI (AP) — A U.S judge has dismissed terrorism support and conspiracy charges against a Muslim cleric accused along with his father of funneling cash to the Pakistani Taliban.
U.S. District Judge Robert Scola ruled Thursday there was insufficient evidence against 26-year-old Izhar Khan. He is an imam at a mosque in suburban Margate north of Fort Lauderdale.
The judge is letting the case against Khan’s father, 77-year-old Hafiz Khan, go forward and the trial is continuing in Miami federal court.
Scola ruled that Izhar Khan’s involvement in two transactions totaling $1,100 did not show he was supporting Taliban fighters. Charges against another of Hafiz Khan’s sons were dropped earlier by prosecutors.
Hafiz Khan is on trial for four terrorism support-related charges that each carry maximum 15-year prison sentences.

Montana
Parts of medical marijuana law blocked again
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A state judge has again temporarily blocked parts of a 2011 medical marijuana law, saying registered cardholders would be irreparably harmed if providers go out of business because a state law limits them to three patients and doesn’t allow them to make a profit.
Lee Newspapers of Montana reports District Judge James Reynolds of Helena issued his ruling late Wednesday. The Montana Cannabis Industry Association sought the preliminary injunction while it challenges the law in court.
Reynolds made a similar ruling in June 2011. The Montana Supreme Court sent the case back to Reynolds for re-evaluation using a different legal standard. The result was the same.
Reynolds held a hearing in December at which several patients testified they did not have the knowledge or stamina to grow their own marijuana.?