National Roundup

North Carolina
Mother afraid when told to cover breastfeeding
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina woman says she was “terrified” when a judge told her to cover her breastfeeding or leave his courtroom.

Twenty-five-year-old Steph­anie Rhodus of Forest City said she was trying to breastfeed her 8-month-old son, Archer, Monday during a child custody case involving another child when the judge gave the order.

A recording obtained by local media shows District Court Judge Peter Knight told the woman it was ridiculous that she didn’t realize she needed to be covered.
North Carolina law allows breastfeeding anywhere a woman can be.

Knight said later in an email to The Washington Post that he routinely accommodates women who are nursing as they wait for a case. But he said once the case begins, they should follow the rules of procedure, decorum and dress.

Iowa
Principal won’t punish ninth-graders who hired male stripper
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines principal has decided not to punish the ninth-grade girls who arranged for a male stripper to perform at their high school’s synchronized swimming club banquet.

Officials say the girls employed the stripper as a joke and that the stripper didn’t totally disrobe at Friday evening’s event at the Des Moines Social Club. A club employee interrupted the performance and asked the stripper to leave.

Roosevelt High School Principal Kevin Biggs said Wednesday that the girls didn’t do anything illegal and didn’t violate the district’s conduct code.

The club has been operating outside of direct school supervision, with members raising all the money for its support. But Biggs says the district plans to place the club and its finances under the control of Roosevelt High’s activities department.

Georgia
7 suspects charged after 130 guns stolen in crime spree
ATLANTA (AP) — Authorities say seven suspects have been indicted on federal charges in connection with gun thefts from firearms dealers in several Georgia cities, including Athens, Dalton, LaGrange and Macon. One of the thefts occurred in Heflin, Alabama.

U.S. Attorney John Horn on Wednesday announced the indictment, saying thefts from firearm dealers have become a serious problem in north Georgia.

He said in a statement that about 130 guns were stolen in the crime spree, which included seven thefts and three attempted thefts from October to December.

Authorities say the thieves always struck at night, either by driving a stolen car through the storefront or breaking into the business with bolt cutters and a window punch.

Prosecutors say they have evidence that some of the suspects also sold some of the stolen weapons.

Virginia
Motion seeks to strike Rolling Stone suit ­deposition attacks
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — A University of Virginia administrator who’s suing Rolling Stone magazine is asking the court to throw out “personal attacks” in the deposition of a woman whose gang-rape allegations were at the center of the magazine’s retracted article.

The Daily Progress reports that an attorney for the woman identified only as “Jackie” filed documents Tuesday opposing motions from Nicole Eramo, the administrator who sued the magazine and author saying she was cast as a villain in the article. Eramo’s motion to strike Jackie’s statements is not publicly available.

Jackie was deposed last week as part of Eramo’s $7.85 million lawsuit.

Jackie’s attorneys also filed a second motion asking the court to deny a motion asking her to turn over more documents.

Florida
Man claims stand-your-ground in road rage death
PORT ORANGE, Fla. (AP) — A central Florida man is seeking to have a murder charge against him dropped based on the state’s stand-your-ground law.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports 63-year-old Robert Gelles faces second-degree murder in the Sept. 13 shooting of 44-year-old Joseph Bailey after a collision at a Port Orange intersection. Gelles pulled a handgun and shot Bailey.

Circuit Judge Terence Perkins on Wednesday set a hearing for July 29.

Gelles’ motion states that he feared for his life when Bailey walked toward his van and felt deadly force was necessary to protect himself.

Florida’s stand-your-ground law allows a person to use deadly force when the person has a reasonable fear of great bodily harm or death, or to prevent a forcible felony.

Ohio
Ex-NFL player’s sentencing delayed; lawyers cite concussions
CLEVELAND (AP) — Reggie Rucker’s sentencing in a charity theft case has been delayed as the former Cleveland Browns wide receiver participates in a study of long-term symptoms of traumatic brain injuries and awaits another test in June.

His attorneys say Rucker suffered multiple concussions while playing football and that the effects of such injuries — and the upcoming test — might help explain his crimes.

The 68-year-old Rucker has pleaded guilty to stealing from two children's charities to pay his gambling debts and personal expenses. A plea agreement calls for him to serve about two years in prison.

Cleveland.com reports federal Judge Dan Polster agreed to postpone sentencing from May 23 to July 14, despite prosecutors’ objections.

Illinois
Judge gives man 6 months in prison for cat’s death
URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A Champaign County judge has sentenced a central Illinois man to six months in jail and probation for torturing his girlfriend's cat, which later died.

The (Champaign) News-Gazette reports 24-year-old Nathan Sitter of Savoy said in court Wednesday that he is ashamed of his actions and is “very remorseful.” Sitter says he “was not well.”

Sitter pleaded guilty in March to one count of animal torture. He admitted that in December he repeatedly dunked the cat, named Mocha, under cold water and struck it with a closed fist.

Prosecutors say Sitter’s girlfriend took the cat to a veterinarian, who documented numerous injuries before the animal died several hours later.

Prosecutors asked for a four-year prison term, saying Sitter left the cat to suffer.