National Roundup

Washington
Man charged in mailing of finger, fake bomb to IRS
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — An Olympia, Washington man who authorities say mailed one of his fingers to the IRS is now facing federal charges.

The Seattlepi.com reported Monday that 68-year-old Normand Lariviere was charged with mailing a threat to injure after IRS workers in Ogden, Utah discovered a package containing a fake bomb July 6.
Charging papers say he also sent his finger, a bullet and a marijuana joint to tax collectors in 2016.

Court documents say Lariviere has been upset with the IRS since he was laid off in the 1990s from his job as a civilian defense contractor.

He began filing grievances with federal agencies related to the Department of Defense, saying he shouldn’t have to pay taxes because the government hadn’t satisfied his claims.

Charging papers say Lariviere told investigators he made and sent the fake bomb. He remains jailed.

Texas
Grandfather gets 60 years for child’s drug death
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A Texas man accused of allowing his 2-year-old grandson to swallow a lethal dose of methamphetamine then burning his body to hide the evidence has been sentenced to 60 years in prison.

A Bexar County jury last month found Joel Soto, of San Antonio, guilty of murder, arson and other charges in the death of Jeremy Soto. The grandfather was sentenced Monday.

Investigators say Soto let Jeremy take the drug in November 2013 and then set his truck on fire with the toddler’s body inside.

A medical examiner testified during the trial that an autopsy found methamphetamine in the child’s body and that the boy was dead when his body was set on fire.


New Jersey
Judge: Suit against Kushner project faces uphill battle
FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) — A judge has told four New Jersey residents suing to stop a development plan from Jared Kushner’s family’s real estate company that they face an “uphill battle” to prove their case.

The Asbury Park Press reports that Superior Judge Lisa Thorton said Monday during the first day of the trial that it’s hard to see that there was a violation to the state’s open public meetings law.

Kushner Cos. hopes to build hundreds of rental apartments atop a mall parking lot in what it calls an effort to save its shopping development in Eatontown and provide affordable housing.

Four have sued to overturn the zoning approvals that the company needs.

They argue that the public was not able to properly participate in the meeting where the zoning was approved.

Florida
Woman gets 30 years for suffocating boy
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Florida woman has pleaded guilty to suffocating a 5-year-old boy with a trash bag almost two decades ago and received a 30-year sentence.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports 35-year-old Karla Sevilla pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Monday for the October 1997 slaying of Michael “Mikki” Malcolm Jr. His body was found behind a West Palm Beach apartment trash bin with the bag over his head.

Sevilla was 15 when she reported finding Mikki’s body. She denied having anything to do with his death, but testing a decade later found her DNA under the boy’s fingernails. She was arrested in 2008, but her trial was delayed as she was found mentally incompetent.

Mikki’s mother, Michie Robinson, said she accepted the plea bargain because a jury trial would have been risky.


Illinois
Court upholds order blocking state soda tax
CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that’s preventing Cook County’s sweetened beverage tax from taking effect.

The 1st District Appellate Court’s decision Monday comes ahead of a planned hearing Wednesday on a preliminary injunction in the case.

Cook County is counting on raising $67.5 million with the tax through Nov. 30. Circuit Judge Daniel Kubasiak recently imposed a temporary restraining order that’s preventing the penny-per-ounce tax from being levied.

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association and several grocers say the tax is vague and unconstitutional.

Cook County officials have warned that a 10 percent budget cut is possible if the tax isn’t allowed to take effect by August. County President Toni Preckwinkle says the county respects the appellate court’s decision and is prepared to defend the tax.

Ohio
Lawyer disciplined for using justice’s name on signs
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O’Neill’s former law partner has been placed under disciplinary watch for two years for improperly using the justice’s name on his office signs and business cards.

Thomas C. Brown, of Geneva, skirted a lifetime license suspension recommended by the local bar association. The high court ruled 4-3 Thursday to impose a two-year stayed suspension on Brown’s law license. That allows him to continue to practice as long as he meets the court’s requirements.

O’Neill sat out the case. He had initially agreed to Brown’s plan to open O’Neill & Brown Law Office in 2015. He said he didn’t realize it was improper.

Under Ohio professional conduct rules, a firm can’t use the name of a lawyer holding public office who doesn’t currently practice there.

Washington
Man pleads guilty to shooting and killing neighbor
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A Washington man who says he was aiming his gun at a vehicle thief when he accidentally shot and killed his neighbor has pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.

The News Tribune reports 41-year-old Tobin Hugh Panton pleaded guilty Monday to fatally shooting Linda Green last year.

Court documents show Panton saw someone driving off in his Jeep, so he fired shots at the fleeing vehicle.

Panton told investigators he fired at the vehicle until his gun was out of bullets. One of those bullets went into Green’s house and hit her in the head.

Panton is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 8.