Man accused of threatening Macomb judge is acquitted
CLINTON TOWNSHIP (AP) — A man who spent nearly two months in jail while awaiting trial has been acquitted of a threat-related misdemeanor involving a Macomb County judge.
Jonathan Vanderhagen has been deeply critical of Macomb County courts after the death of his one-year-old son during a custody dispute in 2017. He was charged after posting an online photo of himself holding a shovel with the initials of Judge Rachel Rancilio.
But a jury recently cleared him of malicious use of telecommunications services. Vanderhagen denied making threats against the judge. He told jurors he posed with a shovel because he was digging “up every bit of the truth” to expose injustice in the court system.
Rancilio wasn’t present for the verdict. She told jurors that she believed Vanderhagen was going to kill her.
Pence takes first motorcade on Mackinac Island
MACKINAC ISLAND (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence scored a first when he took a motorcade to a speech on Michigan's picturesque Mackinac Island, drawing some criticism on social media.
Pence took an eight-vehicle motorcade recently to the island’s Grand Hotel for a speech to the Republican Leadership Conference. He flew to Michigan, took a helicopter to the small island airport and transferred to vehicles brought by boat the night before.
The Detroit Free Press says it was the first ever motorcade on the island, which has prohibited vehicles since 1898 except for snowmobiles, emergency and service vehicles.
When President Gerald Ford visited the island in 1975, he traveled by horse-drawn carriage. But supporters of Pence noted security is much tighter now.
Judges may not be buying that ‘Stairway’ needs new trial
A group of US judges don’t seem inclined to order a new trial in a copyright fight over the Led Zeppelin song, “Stairway to Heaven.”
Members of an 11-judge panel at a Monday hearing before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco harshly challenged plaintiffs who argued that a new trial is justified in the lawsuit that alleged 1971’s megahit “Stairway” was stolen from 1968’s “Taurus,” by Spirit.
The estate of the late Randy Wolfe of Spirit lost at a 2016 trial. Another court panel ordered a new trial but Led Zeppelin challenged that ruling.
$6,000 in stolen quarters found in baby stroller
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a woman stole $6,000 worth of quarters and her getaway car was a baby stroller.
Bakersfield police officers noticed the woman struggling to push the stroller but quickly realized there was no baby inside, according to the Bakersfield Californian.
Police discovered the quarters, which Darrin Fritz, 29, is alleged to have stolen from a home, the newspaper reported. Fritz allegedly tried to flee from the officers.
She was arrested on a variety of charges, among them suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and resisting arrest.
A police post on Twitter shows thousands of quarters in evidence bags.
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