National Roundup

Alabama
October trial date set for case linked to “S-Town” podcast
CENTREVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man featured in the hit podcast “S-Town” is scheduled to go on trial in October on charges related to events in the popular narrative.

A Bibb County judge signed an order Thursday setting an Oct. 16 trial date for 26-year-old Tyler Goodson of Woodstock, court records show.

Goodson has pleaded not guilty to a multi-count indictment alleging he took lumber, old vehicles and a laptop computer from the property of his friend John B. McLemore, the main character in “S-Town.”

The case relates to something that happened during production of the podcast about McLemore’s life in the rural Alabama town, located about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of Birmingham.

Circuit Judge Donald L. McMillan Jr. also set a Sept. 19 hearing on a request by Goodson to move the trial to another county because of the immense popularity of the podcast, which the defense claims makes it impossible to get a fair trial in Bibb County.

The defense suggested the case be moved to Wilcox County, which is even more rural than Bibb County. Wilcox is “likely free from the influence of podcasts generally,” the defense argued in the request.

Podtrac, which analyzes podcast statistics, said Thursday the seven episodes of “S-Town” have had more than 58 million streams and downloads since being released in late March.

“S-Town” tells the story of an alleged murder and another death, and winds up focusing on McLemore’s tortured relationship with the town of Woodstock, his own inner demons, and Goodson.

The serialized show was produced by Serial Productions of the podcast “Serial” and “This American Life.”

Connecticut
Judges commit man who fatally beat his mother
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut man who beat his mother to death has been sent to a psychiatric hospital for 20 years.

The Stamford Advocate  reports that a three-judge panel Wednesday committed 44-year-old Timothy Anderson to a maximum-security facility for the March 2015 beating death of his mother at the family’s Stamford home.

The judges previously found Anderson not guilty of killing 76-year-old Maryann Anderson because of mental illness, ruling he was “actively psychotic,” which impaired his judgment.

Authorities say Anderson flew into a rage when his mother confronted him about his failure to take his medications, and punched her repeatedly in the face. She went into a coma and died at a hospital.

Anderson’s three siblings told the newspaper they hope their brother gets the help he needs in the hospital.

Ohio
Lawsuit: Police shooting of black man unjustified
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A lawsuit alleges Ohio police shot and mortally wounded a black man without justification and then conspired to provide misleading information about the July 7 confrontation.

Columbus police say two officers spotted 30-year-old Kareem Ali Nadir Jones walking between cars and behaving erratically that evening. Police say they fired when his behavior escalated and they perceived a threat from Jones, who had a gun.

The federal civil rights lawsuit filed Thursday by his sister, Marica Phipps, alleges that Jones presented no threat and that Officers Samuel James and Marc Johnson repeatedly fired “without cause or provocation” and violated Jones’ constitutional rights.

Police body camera video appears to show Jones with his hands up backing away from police who have guns drawn. Jones appears to reach for a gun in his waistband before he is shot.

Phipps has said she thinks Jones was trying to toss the gun. He died three days later.

Police say witnesses reported that Jones didn’t follow officers’ commands to get on the ground. They say a stolen 9mm handgun was recovered at the scene.

Jason Pappas, the president of the local police union representing the officers, called the lawsuit’s allegations baseless and said police are trained to draw their firearms when a suspect is armed.

“There’s no question here that what they did was absolutely appropriate and in compliance with their training and the law,” he said.

The lawsuit also alleges that the city is liable for Jones’ death and that Columbus police have practices and policies that allow for or encourage unreasonable force, despite a previous U.S. Justice Department lawsuit against Columbus over its use-of-force practices nearly two decades ago. The Justice Department dropped that matter in 2002 after concluding Columbus had made policy changes to help curb racial profiling and excessive force by police.

The mayor’s office said the city can’t comment on pending litigation.

Phipps’ lawsuit seeks an order to block city policies and practices found to encourage use of unreasonable force. It also seeks an unspecified amount in damages.


Texas
Judge reinstated after citizenship question resolved
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — A South Texas judge who was removed from the bench because she wasn’t a U.S. citizen has been reinstated.

The Corpus Christi city council voted Tuesday to restore Judge Young Min Burkett.

The council placed Burkett on unpaid leave in May when council members learned she was a U.S. permanent resident. Burkett, who grew up in South Korea, had served as a judge for two years before her status came into question.

Officials at the time said she never meant to misrepresent her background and that the qualification process to become a municipal judge never asked whether she was a citizen.

Burkett became a citizen this month.

The 41-year-old Burkett grew up in South Korea before moving to the U.S. at age 25.

Massachusetts
Fugitive in police chief slaying died  after 1997 stroke
DARTMOUTH, Mass. (AP) — Court documents show a man wanted in the 1980 killing of a Pennsylvania police chief lived in a secret room in his ex-wife’s home and told her to bury him in the backyard when he died in 1997 after two strokes.

The remains of Donald Eugene Webb were found buried in the yard of a Dartmouth, Massachusetts, house last week.

Authorities say Webb fatally shot Saxonburg Police Chief Gregory Adams in December 1980 during a traffic stop.

According to an affidavit for a search warrant, Webb’s ex-wife, Lillian, told investigators he suffered a stroke in 1997 and lost the ability to care for himself. Knowing he was dying, he told her to dig the hole. She buried him after a second stroke.

Lillian Webb doesn’t face any charges.