Washington
Man accused of having sex with hypnotized girl
KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) - An amateur hypnotist in the state of Washington is accused of having sex with a woman while she was hypnotized.
Kevin Christian Geyer pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Benton County Superior Court to a charge of indecent liberties.
Court documents say the 25-year-old hypnotized the woman June 4 at his home in Kennewick. He reportedly had used hypnotism several times in the past to help her with her problems.
The Tri-City Herald reported (http://bit.ly/1ne7PRw ) the woman told police she had vague images of Geyer sexually assaulting her and later found evidence on her clothing.
She says when she confronted him he responded by apologizing.
New York
Prolific 1990s graffiti artist arrested in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) - New York City police say they have arrested a high-profile graffiti artist.
Police say Adam Cole, known as "Cost," was the city's most prolific graffiti artist during the 1990s.
They say he was charged this week after he was spotted carrying an extendable pole with a wet brush. Police say a "Cost" poster with fresh adhesive still dripping from it was affixed to scaffolding in the Meatpacking district.
Additional tools were found inside his car. Police got a search warrant and say they recovered adhesive, brushes and stickers and posters with "Cost" printed on them.
Cole was charged with criminal mischief, making graffiti and possession of a graffiti instrument in nine separate incidents this year.
Police say he was arraigned and released on bail. Information on his attorney wasn't immediately known.
California
Family of slain TSA agent sues airport, county
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The widow and children of a Transportation Security Administration agent who was killed by a gunman at Los Angeles International Airport last fall are suing the city and county for $25 million.
The liability suit, filed Tuesday in Superior Court, alleges that security lapses and delayed medical care contributed to Gerardo Hernandez's death. It doesn't specify damages, but a claim the family previously filed with the city estimated damages at more than $25 million.
Hernandez, 39, was shot a dozen times by a gunman who entered a terminal on Nov. 1 and opened fire at a security checkpoint. Two other TSA workers and a passenger were wounded.
Paul Ciancia, a New Jersey native who was living in Sun Valley, has pleaded not guilty to 11 federal charges, including murder of a federal officer.
Authorities have said the gunman who entered Terminal 3 had a semi-automatic rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a grudge against the TSA.
The city attorney's office doesn't comment on pending litigation, spokesman Frank Mateljan said. A message left with the county counsel's office wasn't immediately returned.
The lawsuit contends that several factors contributed to Hernandez's death, including negligence in staff hiring, training and supervision; negligence in procedures, communication and coordination at the airport; and a more than half-hour delay before he received medical care.
Among other things, the suit alleges that officers from various agencies that handled airport security had left their posts without reporting in or arranging for backup.
A report by The Associated Press found that two armed airport police officers had taken breaks and were not inside the terminal when the shooting started. One had left for the bathroom in the next terminal over, and the other was headed to lunch.
The officers didn't inform dispatchers as required by department policy. The terminal was left without any armed officer for nearly 3.5 minutes as the gunman advanced.
An 83-page report commissioned by the city and released in March concluded the emergency response was hindered by communication and coordination problems. It noted that airport police had upgraded to a $5.4 million high-tech radio system but often couldn't communicate with the 20 or more agencies on scene.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Hernandez's widow, Ana Machuca, and their two children, Luis and Stephanie Hernandez. It names Los Angeles World Airports, which operates the airport; Los Angeles and its police and fire departments; and Los Angeles County.
New Jersey
Vilified abortion doctor's last license pulled
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey's Board of Medical Examiners has stripped a vilified abortion doctor of his final medical license.
The board voted unanimously to revoke Steven Brigham's license at its meeting Wednesday.
The revocation means that he will lose his eight abortion clinics in New Jersey.
Brigham was cited for starting late-term abortions in New Jersey and finishing them in Maryland in violation of the laws of both states.
He has also lost or given up his licenses to practice medicine in California, Florida, Pennsylvania and New York.
The Philadelphia Inquirer (http://bit.ly/1rZlM4t ) reports Brigham told the board he was "a good doctor" who did not deserve to have his license taken away.
He can appeal the decision in court.
Pennsylvania
Judge charged with hit-and-run, obstructing law
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A western Pennsylvania judge has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and obstructing justice after she allegedly sideswiped an oncoming vehicle last month.
Forty-one-year-old Blairsville District Judge Jennifer Rega was placed on paid leave last month after state court officials learned she was under investigation for the Sept. 13 crash.
According to a state police compliant, Rega's SUV crossed the center line just after midnight that morning and knocked the mirror off an oncoming car. The people in the car followed Rega and told police she seemed intoxicated and smelled of alcohol when they tried to speak with her, but that she drove away before police arrived.
Rega's attorney didn't immediately return a call for comment Thursday.
Rega, who is also an attorney, is in her third term as judge.
