National Roundup

Pennsylvania
Tax trial set for owner of ice rink 
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The owner of a practice rink formerly used by the Pittsburgh Penguins is facing a federal trial on charges he dodged paying more than $1 million in payroll taxes by moving the money through a shell company.

The defense attorney for 61-year-old Steven Lynch, a Pittsburgh accountant, has said the charges are totally unfounded.

Lynch was indicted two years ago in connection with the IceoPlex at Southpointe and other businesses connected with the development about 15 miles south of Pittsburgh. Federal prosecutors contend Lynch ordered underlings not to pay the government federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes deducted from worker paychecks from 2008 to 2011.

At the trial, which started Monday, prosecutors will try to prove Lynch ran the money through a shell company with no assets to keep the IRS from collecting the debt.

California
Teacher charged with smuggling heroin to inmate on death row
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Authorities say a Los Angeles teacher has been charged with smuggling heroin and cellphones to a San Quentin inmate on death row.

The East Bay Times reports Monday that 47-year-old Teri Orina Nichols brought 18 cellphones, 18 cellphone chargers, two unidentified blue pills and about 3 ounces of heroin into the prison under her clothing during a visit with 50-year-old Bruce Millsap.

Millsap was condemned in 2000 for a series of murders and robberies in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Nichols is free on bail and returns to court Sept. 13 for an arraignment. Deputy District Attorney Kevin O’Hara says she could face up to four years in prison under the charges.

Prison Lt. Samuel Robinson says authorities are still evaluating how she was successful in circumventing security measures.

Nichols could not be reached for comment.

New Mexico
U.S. Supreme Court might hear NM textbook case
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A defendant in a New Mexico lawsuit about the state’s practice of buying textbooks for private schools has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.

The New Mexican reports that the Supreme Court will decide at a Sept. 26 conference whether it will accept the case.

New Mexico’s Public Education Department allocates federal funds for private schools, both secular and religious. The state Supreme Court decided last year that the practice violates the state constitution.

The case started with a 2012 lawsuit by Cathy “Cate” Moses of Santa Fe and Paul Weinbaum of Las Cruces, parents of public school students who claimed the practice takes money away from public schools.

Eric Baxter, a lawyer representing the private schools, says the money should be available to people of all religious beliefs.

Arkansas
Justice of the peace charged with assault
BERRYVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A Carroll County justice of the peace is charged with misdemeanor assault after shoving a man in Berryville during an argument about a proposed tax for an ambulance service in the eastern part of the county.

Justice of the Peace John Reeve, 86, was charged after shoving Jim Lowery, 66, at an automobile service station, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Saturday.

“He just exploded,” said Lowery, a Democrat who is running for the seat held by Reeve, a Republican who is not seeking re-election. “He completely lost it for probably 30 seconds. He came at me. I put my forearm up, and he grabbed my forearm, twisted it and shoved me backwards.”

Reeve said Lowery started the Aug. 17 argument.

“He said we’re asking for money that we don’t need,” Reeve said. “I volunteer at the hospital. He said that’s a conflict of interest and I can’t advocate for ambulance service when I do volunteer work at the hospital.”

Reeve, who is due in court Oct. 5 to enter a plea, said Lowery taunted him, repeatedly saying “Hit me.”

“I pushed him on the shoulder and arm, and he immediately yelled ‘I’ve been assaulted,’” Reeve said, a claim that Lowery denied.

Lowery said he doesn’t plan to press charges, and formal charges haven’t been filed.

“I’m not mad at John,” he said. “Personally, I’d just as soon they let it go.”

Berryville Police Chief Robert Bartos said the altercation is still under investigation.

The proposed 2.5 mill property tax would generate an estimated $550,000 to $600,000 annually to help pay for emergency ambulance services.

The question will be on the Nov. 8 general election ballot for voters east of Kings River.

Arkansas
Life sentence for convicted teen killer reduced
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A 38-year-old North Little Rock man who has served 23 years of a life without parole sentence for capital murder when he was 15 has had his sentenced reduced to 30 years.

Court records show Randy Damon Wilkins sentence was reduced Friday in accordance with a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibits automatic life sentences for minors.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the reduction makes Wilkins eligible to apply for parole.

Wilkins was convicted of killing a 19-year-old woman while trying to rob the woman’s mother of marijuana in 1994. Two co-defendants pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the case and one testified the Wilkins shot the woman.

Wilkins denied shooting the woman and testified that he did not go with the other two to the victim’s home.

California
Man sues after Confederate painting blocked from Fresno fair
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A Fresno artist has filed a lawsuit against state officials accusing  them of violating his free speech by keeping his painting out of The Big Fresno Fair.

The Fresno Bee reports that Timothy Desmond has filed a lawsuit challenging Gov. Jerry Brown’s September 2014 ban on the Confederate flag being displayed on state property.

The 2014 law says the Battle Flag of the Confederacy or any similar image cannot be sold or displayed on state property unless the image appears in a medium that serves an educational or historical purpose.

Desmond created a painting that depicts Confederate soldiers fighting in the 1864 siege of Atlanta. The Big Fresno Fair banned the painting because the Con­federate flag is in the painting.

Desmond argues the law should not apply to privately created art displayed at state-run fairs.