Ohio
Fall trial set for cop charged in fatal traffic stop
CINCINNATI (AP) - A University of Cincinnati police officer charged with murder for shooting a motorist he had stopped over a missing front license plate is scheduled for trial in November.
A judge on Wednesday set a Nov. 16 trial date for 25-year-old Ray Tensing in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
The university fired Tensing shortly after his indictment on charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter in the July 19 death of 43-year-old Samuel DuBose. Tensing has pleaded not guilty. His attorney has said Tensing feared being dragged under the car as DuBose tried to drive away.
Tensing wasn't in court Wednesday. His attorney has said he plans to ask that the trial be moved to another county but isn't optimistic that will happen.
Florida
Mom of missing boy arrested for child neglect
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - The mother of a missing toddler has been accused of child neglect and giving false information to Jacksonville Sheriff's Office investigators.
Chief Tom Hackney announced the arrest of Lonna Lauramore late Tuesday, saying that she lied to police after 21-month-old Lonzie Barton was reported missing on July 24.
Lauramore's boyfriend, Ruben Ebron Jr., was arraigned Monday on charges of felony child neglect and giving false information to police.
Hackney says Lauramore's lies hampered the early stages of the investigation.
Hackney also says investigators have learned that the couple got into an argument over a bruise on Lonzie's head hours before he disappeared, and she then went to work, leaving Lonzie and his 5-year-old sister with Ebron.
Lauramore was booked into jail Tuesday night. It's not known whether she has a lawyer who could be contacted for comment on her case.
Kansas
Manning found guilty of violating prison rules
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Convicted national security leaker Chelsea Manning was found guilty Tuesday of violating prison rules and will receive three weeks of recreational restrictions at the Kansas military prison where she's serving her 35-year sentence, her attorney said.
The transgender Army private was accused of having a copy of Vanity Fair with Caitlyn Jenner on the cover and an expired tube of toothpaste, among other things. Her attorney, Chase Strangio of the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a news release that Manning was convicted of all charges after a closed four-hour disciplinary board hearing in which she had no counsel.
Manning received 21 days of recreational restrictions limiting access to the gym, library and outdoors. The maximum punishment she could have faced was indefinite solitary confinement.
The U.S. Army has declined to release any information on the results of the hearing, citing the Privacy Act of 1976. The military said in a statement last week that it is committed to "a fair and equitable process," and called such proceedings "a common practice in correctional systems to hold prisoners accountable to facility rules."
The prison infractions include possession of prohibited property in the form of books and magazines while under administrative segregation; medicine misuse over the toothpaste; disorderly conduct for sweeping food onto the floor; and disrespect. All relate to alleged misconduct on July 2 and 9.
"When I spoke to Chelsea earlier today she wanted to convey the message to supporters that she is so thankful for the thousands of people from around the world who let the government know that we are watching and scrutinizing what happens to her behind prison walls," Strangio said.
Strangio credited public support for keeping Manning out of solitary confinement. Petitions signed by 100,000 people were delivered Tuesday to the U.S. Army by digital rights group Fight for the Future and others.
In addition to the recreational restrictions, the convictions that are now on her record could be cited in future hearings concerning parole or clemency, which could delay her transition to a less restrictive custody status, Strangio said.
The intelligence analyst, formerly known as Bradley Manning, was convicted in 2013 of espionage and other offenses for sending more than 700,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks while working in Iraq. She is serving a 35-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth for leaking reams of war logs, diplomatic cables and battlefield video to the anti-secrecy website in 2010.
Kentucky
Man pleads not guilty to murder in infant's death
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) - A central Kentucky man who police say was seen driving down a highway beating an infant in a car seat has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in the death of his 4-month-old son.
The News-Enterprise reports 35-year-old Daniel A. Cox appeared in court Tuesday with a public defender who requested a reduction in his client's $500,000 bail. Judge Ken Howard denied the request, saying the bond "was reasonable and necessary for protection of the community."
A Hardin County grand jury indicted Cox of Radcliff last week on a charge of murder-domestic violence in the death of Jayceon Chrystie.
Court records say witnesses called 911 on Aug. 6 after seeing a man repeatedly hitting a child in a car seat while driving along a highway. After Cox left the unresponsive infant with the baby's mother, she called police. Authorities say the child was black and blue, had no pulse and his eye was swollen shut.
The baby died two days later. Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Bob Fraction said the cause of death was "inflicted traumatic injury to the head."
A pretrial conference is set for Cox on Oct. 13.
Virginia
Ex-cop denied bail collapsesin courtroom
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - A former police officer collapsed in a Virginia courtroom after being denied bail on a murder charge in the 2013 shooting death of an unarmed man.
Adam Torres fainted Wednesday morning after being denied bail and as a judge scheduled a December trial on charges that Torres wrongfully shot and killed 46-year-old John Geer of Springfield in a standoff triggered by a domestic dispute call. Bailiffs cleared the courtroom as Torres lay on the ground receiving medical attention.
Torres was indicted Monday. Geer's family criticized the county, saying officials stonewalled the investigation. The delay prompted congressional scrutiny.
The county paid $3 million this year to settle a lawsuit filed by Geer's family.
Police say Torres and Geer are white. Race hasn't been raised as a factor in the shooting.
Published: Thu, Aug 20, 2015
