California
Psychic, husband are charged with ‘love curse’ scam
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles psychic and her husband have been charged with bilking a man out of nearly $1 million he provided to break a supposed “love curse.”
The Los Angeles Daily News says April Lee and Michael Johnson were arrested last month in Northern California and are free on bail pending a San Jose court hearing next week.
A woman who answered a phone number listed on their Tarzana business hung up.
Authorities say the couple had promised to remove a curse that Lee claimed was keeping a Los Angeles man from being with his true love.
They allegedly collected nearly $927,000 over two years from the man, who borrowed money from his mother and other family members.
Minnesota
Justices hears case of drunken driver and abuse
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court is hearing a challenge to a driver’s license revocation by a woman who says she drove drunk only to escape from her abusive husband.
Jennifer Axelberg was arrested for drunken driving in Kanabec County two years ago. She and her husband had an argument that turned physical at a cabin near Mora. Axelberg said she ran to her car for protection from her husband who was chasing her. Axelberg argues the harm caused by breaking the law was less than the damage that could have resulted from obeying it.
Her husband pleaded guilty to domestic abuse. The Axelbergs are now sober and have mended their relationship, according to the Star Tribune.
Minnesota Department of Public Safety lawyer, John Galus, was asked by Justice G. Barry Anderson if the state’s commissioner of public safety has any leeway to not revoke somebody’s license.
Galus said the decision to revoke a license can’t be overturned. He suggested that if the court rejected his argument, the case should be remanded all the way back to the district court.
Oregon
Defendant in family killings called fit for trial
OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) — A Lake Oswego man accused of killing his mother and nephew has been found fit for trial and able to assist in his own defense.
Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Jones made the decision Thursday after receiving an Oregon State Hospital evaluation of Adrien Graham Wallace.
He’s accused of shooting his 71-year-old mother and 16-year-old nephew in June of last year.
Defense lawyers say he is a paranoid schizophrenic who is unwilling to participate in his defense. Prosecutors say he could work with his defense team if he chooses.
Wallace is charged with aggravated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.
The Oregonian reports when asked about a plea agreement to avoid a death sentence, Wallace said all he wanted was a puppy and a garden.
Montana
Senate confirms 2 federal judges of Montana court
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The U.S. Senate has confirmed two nominees for federal judgeships in Montana.
The Billings Gazette reports the Senate voted Thursday night to confirm Montana Supreme Court Justice Brian Morris as a U.S. District Court judge for Great Falls while state District Court Judge Susan Watters was confirmed as a federal judge in Billings.
Watters has served as a state district judge in Billings for 15 years and is the first woman in Montana to be appointed as a federal judge. She replaces retired U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull.
Morris, who has been a Supreme Court justice since 2005, will replace U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon, who semi-retired at the end of 2012.
The lifetime appointments pay an annual salary of $174,000.
They are expected to be sworn in next week.
Arizona
State drops plan to shift its death penalty cases
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is pulling the plug on a plan to shift some of its work in death penalty cases to another prosecuting agency.
The Attorney General’s Office says it no longer plans to have the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office take over responsibility for some death penalty cases that are in a type of appeals process heard in trial courts.
The state office earlier this year proposed shifting Maricopa County cases in those proceedings to the county office because of a large number of cases from Maricopa County and other circumstances.
However, the state office now says it plans to keep the work because it alone has expertise in relevant federal law and because keeping the cases will prevent further delays.
South Dakota
Trial delayed for 17-year-old SD murder suspect
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Officials have postponed a January trial in adult court for a 17-year-old Pierre boy accused of murder.
The South Dakota Supreme Court earlier this month ordered a circuit court judge to reconsider whether Braiden McCahren should be tried in adult court. His two-week trial that was to begin Jan. 21 has now been called off, and attorneys have scheduled a bond hearing and two motions hearings in the coming weeks.
McCahren has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the shooting death last Dec. 18 of 16-year-old Dalton Williams in McCahren’s home, when McCahren was 16.
Judge John Brown ordered McCahren to stand trial as an adult rather than as a juvenile, but the Supreme Court sided with defense attorneys on appeal and ordered Brown to reconsider.
Pennsylvania
DA: Cops justified in stunning teen shoplift suspect
TULLYTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler says police were justified in using a stun gun on a handcuffed 14-year-old boy who ran away from a shoplifting arrest.
The boy’s family contends his facial injuries — featured in a photo posted online — are inconsistent with the police account.
But Heckler says Tullytown police did nothing wrong after the boy and an adult relative were arrested at a Wal-Mart on Nov. 12.
Heckler says the boy told police, “You can’t shoot me, I’m 14.” Heckler says that shows, “Plainly, he’s not a great respecter of authority.”
The boy’s defense attorney declined comment, but an advocate for the family says a lawsuit it possible. The FBI has also confirmed it is reviewing the incident.
The boy is due in court Dec. 27 on the shoplifting charge.
