National Roundup

California
Man accused in deaths of family of 4 on trial

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) - For years, the disappearance of the McStay family from their San Diego County home puzzled investigators, with no signs of forced entry and the couple's credit cards untouched.

After their remains were found years later in a remote desert location more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) away, authorities charged a Southern California man with the killings, alleging he bludgeoned his business partner, partner's wife and two young sons with a sledgehammer before burying them.

Now, 61-year-old Charles "Chase" Merritt is facing trial in the murder of Joseph McStay, McStay's wife Summer, and their 3- and 4-year-old boys. Opening statements were expected Monday in San Bernardino County, where the family's remains were found.

Merritt, who was a business associate of McStay, has pleaded not guilty. Merritt could face the death penalty if convicted

Authorities have said Merritt's cellphone was traced to the remote gravesites and to a call days later seeking to close out his then-missing business partner's online bookkeeping account.

They also have said Merritt's DNA was discovered on the steering wheel and gearshift of McStay's SUV, which was impounded near the Mexican border a few days after the family vanished.

Defense attorney James McGee said that DNA could have been transferred to the vehicle by McStay after he met with Merritt shortly before the family vanished. McGee also said none of Merritt's DNA was found at the gravesites but DNA belonging to other unidentified individuals had turned up there.

"From the evidence the government is going to present, our argument is going to be: You had the wrong guy," McGee said.

Britt Imes, supervising deputy district attorney for San Bernardino County, said he could not comment on ongoing cases.

The McStay family disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, which is about 50 miles (80 km) north of San Diego, in 2010. Their remains were found in San Bernardino County in 2013 along with a 3-pound (1.4-kilogram) sledgehammer and a child's pants and diaper. Authorities have said all four victims were believed to have been killed by blunt force trauma to the head.

Investigators have said they spoke with Merritt shortly after the family went missing and noticed he referred to them in the past tense. They also have said a customer service representative told them he received a call about McStay's QuickBooks account, which he used to pay vendors connected to his water features business, after he vanished.

The call, according to authorities, was placed from Merritt's cellphone.

Vermont
Police cop sues Vermont Police Academy over head injuries

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A Burlington police officer is suing the Vermont Police Academy for head injuries she suffered during an exercise in which she was repeatedly hit in the head by a trainer.

In a lawsuit filed last week, Officer Erin Bartle alleges she suffered the injuries during training at the academy two years ago. While Bartle was wearing protective gear, including a helmet, she was hit in the head on different occasions by a trainer playing the role of an intoxicated hitchhiker.

The lawsuit says Bartle suffered a traumatic brain injury.

A September review by a Baltimore police officer commissioned by Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo said an instructor striking a trainee in the head is "problematic."

Police Academy Executive Director Richard Gauthier did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Montana
Report: Most Montanans don't have access to drug courts

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A new report touts the effectiveness of drug treatment courts but says most Montanans with a drug conviction don't have access to them.

The report, commissioned by the Montana Healthcare Foundation, calls for an expansion of the state's treatment court programs. It also calls for an extension of the state's Medicaid Expansion to continue funding the programs, and other investments by the state.

The Billings Gazette reports there are 36 treatment courts in Montana, including state courts and tribal courts.

But while roughly 1,600 Montanans are eligible for a treatment court each year, current capacity in the 28 non-tribal courts is limited to 564 participants. Participation numbers for the eight tribal courts weren't provided.

The state provides $1.3 million a year to fund treatment courts.

Kentucky
5 former jail deputies plead not guilty in inmate's death

CATLETTSBURG, Ky. (AP) - Five former Kentucky jail deputies have pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an inmate's death.

The Independent reports Zachary Messer of Ashland, Brad Roberts of Westwood, Colton Griffith of Flatwoods, Jeremy Mattox of Grayson and Alicia Beller of Putnam, West Virginia, appeared in court Friday for arraignment.

Court records show Messer, Griffith and Roberts are charged with manslaughter while Beller and Mattox are charged with complicity to commit manslaughter. The charges stem from the Nov. 29 death of 40-year-old Michael L. Moore, an inmate at the Boyd County Detention Center.

Kentucky State Police said they found Moore deceased in the jail's restraint chair. Police said Moore was intoxicated and that five jail deputies intentionally abused him or knowingly permitted his abuse and that the mistreatment caused Moore's death.

Wisconsin
Girl ­convicted in ­Slender Man ­stabbing files appeal

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) - One of two Wisconsin girls who pleaded guilty to stabbing a classmate 19 times and leaving her for dead to please a fictional horror character called Slender Man is appealing her case.

The Journal Sentinel reports that an attorney for Morgan Geyser recently filed a court brief arguing that Geyser shouldn't have been prosecuted as an adult because the girl believed Slender Man would kill her family if she didn't stab her sixth-grade classmate.

Geyser and co-defendant Anissa Weier were committed to mental health institutions for stabbing Payton Leutner at a Waukesha park in 2014. Leutner managed to crawl out of the wooded park and survived. The girls were 12 years old at the time.

Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide and ordered to spend 40 years in the institution.

Published: Tue, Jan 08, 2019