National Roundup

Colorado
6 tons of seized ivory set to be crushed by Feds

DENVER (AP) — Federal wildlife officials are planning to crush more than 6 tons of ivory in Denver as part of a new push by the United States to combat illegal wildlife trafficking worldwide.
The ivory is being stored in a warehouse near Denver. It was seized around the country in an effort to block imports of tusks from elephants that have been slaughtered for their ivory.
The seized items include large balls of ivory delicately carved in layers and whole tusks that have been carved into pagodas and scenes from daily life.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said publicly crushing the expensive smuggled tusks and carvings is part of an effort to put an end to what has become a $10 billion illegal industry.

Connecticut
Man draws 60 years in case of cannibalism

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A Florida man found not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of a homeless man he admitted killing and partially eating has been committed for up to 60 years in a Connecticut psychiatric hospital.
The Connecticut Post reports that a three-judge panel in Bridgeport could have ordered Tyree Lincoln Smith released. But Superior Court Judge John Kavanewsky said Monday that if Smith were discharged, he’d be a danger to himself and others.
State’s Attorney John Smriga said he was concerned Smith would kill and eat others if he were freed.
Smith apologized, saying he’s “really sorry” for the December 2011 killing of Angel Gonzalez. Gonzalez’ body was found on the third floor of an abandoned home in Bridgeport.

Texas
Police say DNA links suspect to at least 4 rapes

DALLAS (AP) — Police are searching for a crime watch volunteer who they say has been connected by DNA to at least four sexual assaults in a South Dallas neighborhood in the past two months.
Authorities took Van Dralan Dixson, 38, into custody briefly last week and obtained a DNA sample from him, but lacked evidence to bring charges at the time, police Maj. Jeff Cotner said.
Three arrest warrants issued Monday and another on Saturday charge Dixson with aggravated sexual assault in four attacks in Fair Park, southeast of downtown Dallas. DNA test results from two other attacks were pending, while DNA evidence from two more in the inner-city neighborhood were not available, Cotner said.
Federal agents were assisting city police in the manhunt, and police have interviewed friends, family, and associates for clues to Dixson’s whereabouts, Cotner said. Dixson’s car was found abandoned in Garland, a northeastern Dallas suburb, and police have sought a warrant to search the vehicle, Cotner said.
As a crime-watch volunteer, Dixson would patrol the streets several times a week, neighbors said.
Dixson has been part of the area’s neighborhood crime-watch group, the Mill City Community Association, since January. The group’s president, Alendra Lyons, didn’t return messages Monday from The Associated Press.
The group said Dixson’s duties were limited to telling neighbors about the association, not patrolling at night. Neighbors told The Dallas Morning News that he was referred to as “neighborhood watch,” and it seemed he was patrolling the area almost every night.
State criminal records show Dixson was arrested and convicted of aggravated robbery in 1993. He was also arrested as recently as last month on a deadly conduct charge, according to Dallas County records.
Authorities say they believe one man is responsible for the nine sexual assaults that have been reported in the Fair Park area since June. In each incident, the attacker approached his victims in the early morning hours, forced them to secluded areas nearby, then robbed and sexually assaulted them.
The assailant in each case was armed with a handgun, wore shorts and a T-shirt, and masked his face using various types of cloth, according to police. The victims said they were approached on foot.
A $15,000 reward has been offered for information leading to arrests and an indictment in the cases.

Washington
Couple convicted in their adopted daughter’s death

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — A Washington state couple were convicted of manslaughter Monday in the malnutrition-and-hypothermia death of a teenage girl they adopted from Ethiopia.
A jury found Larry Williams, of Sedro-Woolley, guilty of first-degree manslaughter, while his wife, Carri Williams, was found guilty of homicide by abuse as well as manslaughter.
The jury also convicted them both of assault of a child for abusing a younger boy they adopted from Ethiopia at the same time as the girl.
The jury couldn’t reach a decision on the homicide by abuse charge for Larry Williams, and the judge declared a mistrial on that count.
Larry and Carri Williams face a maximum life sentence, the Skagit Valley Herald reported.
Hana Williams died in the backyard of the family’s home in May 2011. Prosecutors said she was starved, beaten and forced outside as punishment.
Defense lawyers argued that questionable parenting practices don’t necessarily amount to a crime. Lawyers for both husband and wife said an appeal is likely.
Hana is believed to have been 13, but no documentation of her birth in Ethiopia was available. The trial was postponed several times and her body was exhumed in January. Tests on her teeth and bones gave varying estimates and experts were unable to agree on her age.
Her age was significant because the homicide by abuse charge applies only if the victim was younger than 16.
Hana Williams was adopted in 2008.

Colorado
Man accused of drunken ride on horseback

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — University of Colorado police have arrested a 45-year-old man suspected of going on a drunken horseback ride through the city of Boulder.
Police spokesman Ryan Huff tells The Daily Camera that witnesses saw the man hit his horse and then occasionally wander into traffic near the school Monday afternoon. Patrick Neal Schumacher of Colorado Springs faces several charges, including animal cruelty and riding under the influence of alcohol.
Police say he had a small pug named Bufford in his backpack, as well as beer cans and a black-powder pistol in his saddlebag. Officers say he told them he was traveling from Larkspur, Colo., to his brother’s wedding in Bryce, Utah, and that he had to make the 600-mile journey by horse because he lost his driver’s license.