National Roundup

Pennsylvania
Woman who cursed at jury selection fined
ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania woman has been fined $500 for cursing because she was frustrated with being picked to serve on a jury.
The Erie Times-News reports Erie County Judge Ernest DiSantis levied the fine Wednesday on Kathleen Port.
DiSantis told the Erie woman she was “totally out of line” and explained jury service is a duty of citizenship.
Port, whose phone number is unlisted, apologized several times but was fined nonetheless.
She told the judge she was upset because jury service would make her miss work and cost her income.
DiSantis says Port could have claimed a hardship on her jury service questionnaire, but did not.
Port was also thrown off the jury, which was picked to hear an illegal weapons case.

New York
Two rare, stolen books returned to Library of Sweden
NEW YORK (AP) — Two rare, stolen books have been returned to Swedish authorities during a repatriation ceremony in New York City.
According to court papers, they were among 56 antique books discovered stolen from the National Library of Sweden in 2004. Authorities say the library’s senior librarian stole and sold them to collectors around the world.
The two books were traced to a rare books store in Baltimore.
Steven Feldman, a New York lawyer hired by the library, told the Wall Street Journal the librarian used an alias to sell or consign the books to a German auction house. The librarian committed suicide shortly after confessing to the crime.
The repatriation ceremony was held Wednesday at the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
To date, four books have been recovered.

Ohio
Man says casino caused robbery of $35K in winnings
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A man who was robbed of more than $35,000 in gambling winnings is suing the Columbus casino where he won the money, arguing a cashier should have issued him a check instead of cash.
Police say 29-year-old David Hayes was robbed at gunpoint of the 358 $100 bills when two men woke him at home hours after he left the Hollywood Casino Columbus with his winnings.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that Hayes filed a lawsuit against the casino’s operator. He contends he asked for a check when he cashed out on Oct. 21 but was given cash instead.
The lawsuit also claims the casino “breached its duty to maintain the confidentiality of customer financial transactions.”
The casino says Hayes lost the money because of his own negligence.

Kansas
Failed theme park developer to be released
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The man who was sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding investors in a failed Western-themed amusement park near Wichita will be released next week, the Department of Corrections says.
Thomas Etheredge, 59, has served just over three years of his sentence after he was found guilty of seven counts of securities fraud in connection with the Wild West World theme park in Park City. It was only open from May 2007 to July 2007.
Etheredge has been at the Wichita Work Release Center since March 2011 after serving his first year at state prisons in El Dorado and Winfield, The Wichita Eagle reported. He’ll be released Monday.
A Sedgwick County jury found in February 2010 that Etheredge misled investors in the park as construction costs climbed well over budget. Etheredge blamed the park’s poor attendance on the wet summer weather in 2007. The federal bankruptcy court tried unsuccessfully to sell the park to investors but its assets were auctioned off in November 2010.
Jack Whitson, Park City’s longtime administrator, said it is time to move on and forgive Etheredge.
“Looking back, I really believe his intent was pure,” Whitson said. “He wanted very desperately to build a Western theme park, and it didn’t work out the way he planned. People get desperate when things happen, and they do desperate things.”

Oklahoma
Woman gets 5 years in fake dentist scheme
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A mother and daughter from Texas have pleaded guilty to performing dentistry without a license after hours at an Oklahoma City clinic.
Prosecutors allege that Elizabeth Hinojosa of Jourdanton, Texas, worked as a dental assistant during the day. Her daughter, Monica Salazar Orozco, worked as the clinic’s receptionist.
Authorities allege that Hinojosa posed as a dentist after hours and performed root canals, extracted teeth and placed braces on patients. Prosecutors claim that Orozco helped schedule the after-hours appointments.
On Wednesday, Hinojosa pleaded guilty to practicing dentistry without a license, second-degree forgery, medical battery and embezzlement. The Oklahoman reports she was sentenced to five years in prison.
“I conducted dental procedures on several individuals without having a license to practice dentistry,” Hinojosa wrote in court paperwork. “I performed extractions and injections which only a dentist should perform. I am not a dentist.”
Hinojosa declined to comment after the court hearing.
Orozco received a five-year deferred sentence after pleading guilty to practicing dentistry without a license. In court paperwork, Orozco admitted assisting her mother with “tooth extractions, root canal procedures and the placement and adjustment of braces.”
Hinojosa received prison time because “she was much more culpable,” Oklahoma County First Assistant District Attorney Scott Rowland said.
“She is the one who held herself out as a dentist and was performing the actual dental and orthodontic procedures,” Rowland said.
As part of the plea agreement, both women agreed to never work in a dental office or perform dental procedures.
Prosecutors alleged that the women worked for a dentist who didn’t speak Spanish, so they acted as translators. Prosecutors said Orozco would schedule appointments after hours, and the clinic’s office calls would be forwarded to their personal phones.
Authorities say 22 adults and children were treated by Hinojosa, known as “Dr. Liz” to the patients. According to court records, the alleged incidents took place between Sept. 1, 2010, and May 26, 2011.