National Roundup

Pennsylvania Man arrested in courthouse for missing jury duty SOMERSET, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania man who skipped out on jury duty 11 times in the last two years has been arrested inside a courthouse while seeking relief from a child support ruling. Somerset County Judge D. Gregory Geary told 32-year-old Owen Fazenbaker III on Monday that he found it "ironic" that Fazenbaker could find his way to court for that but not for jury duty. Fazenbaker promised to serve on future juries if the judge would not impose a $500 fine and 10 days in jail for each time he has missed jury duty. The (Somerset) Daily American reports that the judge said the Stoystown man could avoid a seven-day jail term if he pays a $500 fine. North Carolina Fire by home of suspect in de­ath of contestant LEICESTER, N.C. (AP) - A fire has destroyed a structure on the property of a North Carolina man charged with killing a contestant from the TV show "Food Network Star," her husband and their unborn child. Authorities told local media outlets Monday that they've ruled as suspicious a fire at an unoccupied mobile home about 50 yards from the home of Robert Jason Owens. Last week, authorities said they found human remains inside a wood stove at Owens' home near Asheville. He's been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Cristie Schoen Codd and her husband, Joseph "J.T." Codd. Cristie Codd was a contestant and finalist on "Food Network Star" during its eighth season. North Carolina Authorities seek remedy for naked neighbor in door CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Authorities in North Carolina are looking at ways to take action against a Charlotte man who stands at his front door naked. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say that, while the man may be annoying his neighbors, he hasn't been charged because what he's done isn't illegal. State law says someone can't expose himself in a place where the public has access. But police say they want to change that, clarifying that it's unlawful for a person to expose himself if he can be seen from a public place. At a meeting Monday night, homeowners said the man stands naked at his door several times a week and has been doing so for years. The man told WBTV-TV he's only been inside his home naked and that his privacy has been violated. Wyoming Plaintiffs seek attorneys' fees in gay marriage suit CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - Plaintiffs who were successful in legalizing same-sex marriage in Wyoming are now seeking to recover nearly $95,000 in attorney's fees and costs. The Denver attorney who argued the case tells the Casper Star-Tribune that court rules allow plaintiffs to recover reasonable attorney's fees when their constitutional rights have been violated. In October 2014, U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl struck down Wyoming's 100-year-old ban on gay marriage. The plaintiffs' attorneys notified the court of their fees last month. The state filed its response last week, arguing the fees are unreasonable because five to seven attorneys reviewed each pleading and some billed for travel to Wyoming but did not participate in the hearing. The state wants Laramie County to pay half the costs because the county clerk was a co-defendant. Oklahoma Panel: Use of nitrogen gas for executions OK OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Legislation that authorizes the use of nitrogen gas to execute Oklahoma death row inmates has been approved by a state Senate committee. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 8-0 Tuesday for the House-passed measure and sent it to the full Senate for a vote. Under the bill, lethal injection would remain the primary method of execution, but nitrogen gas would be an alternative if lethal injection is declared unconstitutional or if the drugs are unavailable. Currently, electrocution is the second option, followed by firing squad. The bill would make electrocution the third method, followed by firing squad. Supporters began studying alternative methods after an execution went awry last year and led the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the constitutionality of Oklahoma's three-drug protocol. Maine Cops find man through social media messages FAIRFIELD, Maine (AP) - A Maine man who'd been wanted by police for several weeks made a couple of critical mistakes that led to his capture - he sent out social media messages pinpointing his location. The Somerset County Sheriff's Office had been looking for Christopher Wallace, of Fairfield, in connection with a burglary in January. Police tell the Morning Sentinel that on Sunday night they received tips from people who said Wallace had posted on Snapchat that he had returned to his Fairfield home. So, police went to the house. While they were searching with permission of the resident, they were tipped off that Wallace had posted a new Snapchat message saying police were in the house looking for him and he was hiding in a cabinet. He was found in the cabinet. Washington High court limits securities suits over deceptive comments WASHINGTON (AP) - A unanimous Supreme Court says investors can't sue companies for making misleading statements of opinion prior to a public stock offering just because those statements ultimately turn out to be wrong. But the ruling Tuesday said some opinions in registration documents might omit important facts that could mislead investors, giving them a right to sue for securities fraud. The narrow ruling offered a limited victory to nursing home pharmacy Omnicare Inc., which was sued by investors who bought stock when it went public. A federal appeals court ruled that Omnicare offered "objectively false" opinions by saying it "believed" contracts with other companies were legal. The high court said that wasn't the right standard. The justices said lower courts must decide if Omnicare omitted facts that were material to investors. Published: Wed, Mar 25, 2015