National Roundup

New Jersey Consultant sentenced in corruption sting NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- A northern New Jersey political consultant arrested in the state's largest political corruption sting has been sentenced to a six-month prison term after pleading guilty to bribery-related charges. Joseph Cardwell was sentenced Friday in Newark federal court. The 70-year-old must also serve six months of home confinement. He admitted in March to accepting $10,000 from a federal informant and passing money on to an unnamed Jersey City official who would help the informant with a building project. Cardwell was arrested in July 2009 in a massive roundup following a federal investigation into political corruption and money laundering. The majority of the 46 defendants have pleaded guilty. Four have been convicted at trial, and two were acquitted by juries. Two more have had charges dropped. Arizona 'Prolific' child molester gets 560 years PHOENIX (AP) -- A man dubbed by "America's Most Wanted" as one of the most prolific child molesters in Arizona history has been sentenced to 560 years in prison. Arthur Leon Vitasek was sentenced by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Reinstein on Friday. The 47-year-old was found guilty in November of 26 counts that included sexual conduct with a minor, child molestation and public sexual indecency. The charges stem from the molestation of eight boys from 7 to 15 years old in Mesa, Phoenix and Paradise Valley over a 15-year period. Police suspect there are more victims. Vitasek was arrested in Texas in September 2006 after being on the lam for more than a year and a half. "America's Most Wanted" featured Vitasek on the program numerous times before his arrest. Washington Deputy seeks $1M after shooting death of son VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) -- A former sheriff's deputy who was fired after he was found to have violated policies related to the accidental shooting death of his 3-year-old son has filed a claim against Clark County. Former Detective Ed Owens' son Ryan shot himself Sept. 14, 2010, while playing with his father's gun at their Battle Ground home. Owens faults a malfunctioning gun safe for allowing his son access to the weapon, The Columbian reported on its website Thursday. He said he didn't know the safe was defective. "It should have never fallen into my son's hands, ever," Owens told KATU-TV in Portland. Owens was fired in November, He is seeking $1 million and reinstatement to his job. The sheriff's office responded to Owens' initial allegations by saying he should have known the safe was malfunctioning and had it fixed. An internal affairs report indicated Owens blamed his 11-year-old stepdaughter and coerced her into saying she was responsible because she had fallen asleep while watching the boy. Investigators found that Owens violated six department policies, most of them relating to his behavior with the stepdaughter. Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor Bronson Potter told The Columbian he had not yet seen the claim and could not comment. He could not be reached Friday by The Associated Press. The claim states the sheriff's office began investigating Owens and his wife in retaliation for his pleas to test gun safes used by deputies, and to "intimidate and discredit him." The claim includes a reference to a YouTube video showing how easy it is to break into a safe of its type. "It's Russian roulette," Owens told KATU. "Sooner or later another gun is going to go off and another child is at risk of dying." Owens has testified before the Legislature in favor of a bill that would establish minimum safety standards for gun safes and gun safety devices. By state law, the county has 60 days to respond to a tort claim. If the grievance is not settled within that time, a plaintiff can file a lawsuit with the court. Lawyer Greg Ferguson, who represents Owens, said his client has also filed claims with the Washington Department of Labor & Industries, alleging unsafe equipment and retaliation, and is waiting on the outcome of those cases before filing suit. South Carolina Settlement reac hed in suit over religious rally CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- The Chesterfield County School District has approved an agreement ending a federal court lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. District spokesman Ken Buck says the district board Thursday night agreed to settle the lawsuit claiming public schools unconstitutionally promoted religion with a middle school assembly featuring a Christian rapper and youth evangelist. Buck said the board wanted to make it clear that it intends to abide by the constitutional principle of separation of church and state while also allowing permissible exercise of religion by staff, students and all citizens. Pennsylvania Inmate gets $6K to settle jail nurse sex suit PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A female inmate has received $6,000 to settle her lawsuit claiming that she was sexually assaulted by a former nurse at the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh. That man, 60-year-old John Johnson Jr., of Green Tree, in October pleaded guilty to three counts of institutional sexual assault and no contest to three additional counts. He'll be sentenced March 19. Under the law, inmates are not considered able to give legal consent to sexual activity with their captors. Prosecutors say the inmates were offered candy, soda and extra medications if they allowed Johnson to fondle them, and threatened with discipline if they didn't. Louisiana Victim sues cri me scene clean up worker over theft HOUMA, La. (AP) -- A Houma woman who was shot by her husband in 2011 is suing a man convicted of stealing items from her home while cleaning up the crime scene. The shooting victim was 31-year-old Nicole Blanchard, whose husband killed himself after shooting her in early 2011. Blanchard has filed a lawsuit against Benjamin Hornbeck, who was working as part of a Texas crime-scene cleanup company. A report from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office said Hornbeck, of Cedar Hill, Texas, stole guitars, jewelry and other items. The Courier reports Hornbeck pleaded guilty in April to one count of theft over $500 and was given a three-year suspended sentence. The lawsuit says Blanchard is seeking money for breaching a contract, mental anguish and suffering, and the loss of articles with sentimental value. Published: Mon, Jan 16, 2012