National Roundup

Mississippi Prosecutor in civil rights era cold case dies JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Dunn Lampton, a former U.S. attorney in Mississippi who prosecuted a high-profile cold case from the civil rights era, has died. Former acting U.S. Attorney Donald Burkhalter, one of the attorneys who served after Lampton's 2009 retirement, says Lampton died Wednesday evening at age 60. Among Dunn's best-known cases was the prosecution of James Ford Seale, a reputed Ku Klux Klansman who died in prison earlier this month. Seale was convicted in 2007 of two counts of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping in the 1964 deaths of two 19-year-old black men, Henry Hezekiah Dee and Charles Eddie Moore. The cause of death was not immediately released, but Lampton had been in poor health. Virginia Accused pirate negotiator faces additional charges NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- A man accused of negotiating ransoms on behalf of Somali pirates in the hijacking of a U.S. yacht has been indicted for his alleged role in another hostage-taking. Federal prosecutors said Thursday the latest indictment against Mohammad Saali Shibin involves the hijacking of the Marida Marguerite. The German-owned vessel with 22 aboard was heading from India to Belgium when it was attacked by pirates in May 2010. Prosecutors say Shibin received $30,000 to $50,000 as his share of the ransom payment for the Marida Marguerite. Shibin was previously accused of piracy, kidnapping and weapons charges for his alleged role in the February hijacking of the Quest off the coast of Africa. Four Americans were killed during that hijacking. Texas Judge throws out suit in Mexican boy's death EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- A judge in West Texas has dismissed a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a 15-year-old Mexican boy killed by a Border Patrol agent. Senior U.S. District Judge David Briones on Aug. 11 threw out the lawsuit against the U.S. government over the June 7, 2010, shooting of Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. The El Paso Times reports Thursday that Briones dismissed the case because the boy was not shot on U.S. soil. Family attorney Bob Hilliard has told The Associated Press that he'll appeal. A lawyer for Agent Jesus Mesa Jr. didn't immediately return a message for comment. U.S. investigators have said the agent was trying to arrest illegal immigrants when he was targeted by rock throwers. Maine Man charged with stealing from grandmother HALLOWELL, Maine (AP) -- Police in Maine say a man has been charged with stealing $11,900 from his mentally ill grandmother. Twenty-four-year-old Nicholas Baron, of Augusta, was charged with theft by unauthorized taking Tuesday. Hallowell police Officer Chris Hutchings says Baron -- whose grandmother is in an assisted living facility -- took her to banks and got her to take out thousands of dollars five times between July 19 and Aug. 8. WMTW-TV reports that an uncle who has power of attorney for the grandmother discovered the withdrawals. Baron was being held on $15,000 bail at the Kennebec County jail in Augusta. Georgia Man found guilty in Atlanta of killing boxer ATLANTA (AP) -- A Fulton County jury has found DeMario Ware guilty of felony murder and other charges in the shooting of former world champion boxer Vernon Forrest. The jury acquitted Ware on a malice murder charge. The 22-year-old Ware did not fire the gun that killed the 38-year-old welterweight, but was charged with malice murder, felony murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault. He could be sentenced to life in prison. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/mYIeRB) that in a police interview played for the jury, Ware admitted pointing a loaded gun at Forrest on the night of July 25, 2009, and taking the boxer's gold championship ring and Rolex watch. Police say Forrest chased Ware but failed to catch him and wound up being shot to death by Charman Sinkfield, one of Ware's codefendants. New York Man, 61, suing over skimpy lifeguard trunks LONG BEACH, N.Y. (AP) -- A 61-year-old New York man says he lost his job as a lifeguard when he refused to wear skimpy swim trunks for the annual swim test. Roy Lester tells the New York Daily News he was forced out of the job after 40 years in 2007 when he wanted to take the swim test in biking shorts instead of the tiny swim trunks. He filed a lawsuit against the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 2009. The lawsuit had been dismissed but was reinstated by an appeals court last week. Lester is a triathlete, but says no one his age should be wearing tiny trunks. He says the bathing suit requirement was aimed at getting rid of older lifeguards. State officials declined to comment. California State High Court upholds Ninja Prowler sentence RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- The California Supreme Court has upheld the 1998 death sentence for the "Ninja Prowler" whose sex assaults terrorized Riverside County nearly two decades ago. Prosecutors say 40-year-old David Lynn Scott III was sentenced to death for the 1992 rape and murder of 38-year-old Riverside librarian Brenda Gail Kenny and other sex attacks during a five-month period ending in January 1993. The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports Thursday that the state high court upheld Scott's death penalty in a 7-0 decision on Aug. 11. Scott was dubbed the "Ninja Prowler" because survivors described a masked intruder dressed in dark clothing who carried a pistol and two swords. Prosecutors say Scott broke into homes at night, telling residents they should get better home security. Published: Fri, Aug 19, 2011