National Roundup

Connecticut
Man charged with killing wife with steel rod found competent
TORRINGTON, Conn. (AP) — A 70-year-old Connecticut man charged with beating his wife to death with a 24-inch steel rod has been found competent by state clinical examiners to stand trial.

The ruling announced in court on Tuesday comes after Daniel Gervais spent several weeks in a state psychiatric facility. He had previously been found incompetent for trial.

Gervais’ attorney tells The Republican-American he attributes his client’s improvement to intensive counseling and medication, but says there is no guarantee he won’t regress.

Gervais is charged with murder in the killing of 79-year Phyllis Gervais at the couple’s Torrington home in April. Police said Daniel Gervais called 911 in the early morning hours and said his wife had fallen sometime during the night.

A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Jan. 19.

Ohio
2nd lawmaker resigns over inappropriate behavior
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The second Ohio state lawmaker in a month has resigned amid allegations of inappropriate behavior.

State Rep. Wes Goodman, a Cardington Republican, resigned on Wednesday.

Republican House Speaker Clifford Rosenberger says he learned of Goodman’s inappropriate behavior Tuesday and confronted him immediately.

No details have been made public about what Goodman’s inappropriate behavior entails.

Goodman says in a statement he regrets “actions and choices” that prevent him from carrying out his duties “in a way that reflects the best ideals of public service.”

Goodman, a conservative Christian, says he brought personal “struggles” and “trials” into his public life.

Republican state Sen. Clifford Hite resigned Oct. 16 after a sexual harassment complaint was filed against him.

Senate Democrats’ chief of staff, Michael Premo, resigned Monday over allegations of inappropriate conduct.

Ohio
3 pastors indicted on conspiracy to sex traffic children
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A third Ohio pastor has been indicted on sex trafficking charges, and prosecutors say all three men worked together to entice underage girls with money in exchange for sex.

A federal grand jury in Toledo has indicted the Rev. Cordell Jenkins, the Rev. Anthony Haynes and the Rev. Kenneth Butler on conspiracy to sex traffic children. All three men pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

The US Attorney’s Office says Haynes began grooming a 14-year-old girl for prostitution in 2014. Prosecutors say Haynes introduced her to other men and all three of the pastors sexually assaulted her.

Jenkins and Haynes were previously indicted on child sex trafficking charges in July.

Virginia
Probe of officer’s FB post follows racial bias claim
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Authorities in a Virginia city are investigating a potentially racist comment that a detective posted on his Facebook page.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday that the statements could affect cases he’s involved in. Virginia Beach police spokeswoman Linda Kuehn said the internal affairs department is investigating his Facebook posts.

Detective Kevin Fanelli had responded to a Facebook comment on an article about women trashing a restaurant over the service.

Fanelli wrote: “Of course they were black. Does me knowing this before I read the article indicate a problem with them or me? Them.” He later apologized.

The statement became an issue in a teen’s murder case. The teen is black; the detective is white.

The teen’s lawyer said the post showed racial bias. A judge disagreed.

New York
NYPD probes theft of $1M in artwork from publisher’s home
NEW YORK (AP) — The co-founder of a New York-based publishing house says police are investigating the theft of $1 million in artwork during a party at his Manhattan apartment.

Alexis Gregory told the New York Post and Daily News that he had invited more than two dozen people to his Upper East Side home last Friday for a piano recital and art exhibit.

After the guests left, a member of his household staff discovered that several gold figurines dating to the 16th century and other valuable items were missing.

Police are looking for surveillance video in and around the Fifth Avenue building as the investigation continues.

The 81-year-old, Swiss-born Gregory is an art collector and founder of Vendome Press, a publisher of books on interior design, fine arts, French culture and jewelry.

Maine
Who owns state’s seaweed? Top court to decide
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A fight over who owns the seaweed that can be harvested along the coast of Maine is going all the way to the state’s highest court.

Commercial harvesters typically collect more than 10 million pounds of seaweed per year in Maine.

But harvesters and some shorefront property owners are locked in a dispute over whether it’s being taken from private property.

WCSH-TV reports a superior court judge ruled in favor of the property owners, blocking a Nova Scotia company from harvesting in intertidal zones in downeast Maine. The Maine Supreme Court will now decide if that ruling should stand.

An attorney for the Nova Scotia harvester argues that the state owns intertidal waters and the marine resources in them.

Tennessee
Former Pilot exec: Haslam ‘loved’ trucking rip-off scheme
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — A government witness has testified that Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam “loved it” when the sales team ripped off customers at the trucking company controlled by his family.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports the jury in the federal fraud trial of former Pilot Flying J executives and sales representatives heard a recording of former vice president John “Stick” Freeman saying Haslam was aware of the scheme to deprive trucking customers of the diesel discounts they had negotiated.

In Freeman’s words: “He knew — absolutely.”

Haslam hasn’t been charged in the investigation that has resulted in 14 guilty pleas among former Pilot employees. The former president and three others are on trial.