National Roundup

Oregon
$585K to be paid in sex harassment lawsuit against ‘TikTok doc’
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Health and Science University said Tuesday it will pay $585,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a social worker who accused a former anesthesiology resident of sexually assaulting her and the school of failing to act.

The university said in a statement that the woman will be invited to participate in former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s independent investigation of OHSU’s handling of sexual misconduct and discrimination complaints, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

She alleged in the lawsuit that Dr. Jason Campbell harassed her from January through March of 2020 — sending her a pornographic photo of himself and sexually charged text messages and then creeping up behind her and forcibly pressing himself against her.

Campbell had generated millions of social media views with his viral dance videos during the pandemic and was dubbed the TikTok Doc. The Associated Press is not identifying the woman because it does not generally identify alleged victims of sexual abuse.

“OHSU offers sincere apologies to the plaintiff and others who have been harmed,” the university’s statement said. “OHSU recognizes the need to address systemic structures that allow inappropriate and damaging behavior to exist, and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment that is free of harassment and discrimination.”

A university investigation concluded Campbell violated the institution’s harassment policy and code of conduct with unwanted touching and inappropriate messages. Campbell was referred for dismissal but resigned in on Oct. 23 instead of being fired, according to the university.

John Kaempf, a former lawyer for Campbell, wrote to the plaintiff’s lawyers that Campbell denied liability and was deeply in debt.

The social worker had filed her lawsuit against Campbell and the university in February in U.S. District Court in Portland, seeking $45 million in damages.

Campbell left the university and was due to start a residency at the University of Florida Health but that school has announced it was placing Campbell on paid leave pending its own investigation.

Illinois
Gary gun shop sued for selling guns used in Chicago crimes
CHICAGO (AP) — The city of Chicago on Monday filed a lawsuit against an Indiana gun store, contending it has sold hundreds of guns to straw buyers that in turn have ended up in the hands of felons or at crime scenes in the city.

The lawsuit filed in Cook County Chancery Court seeks an order requiring Westforth Sports Inc. of Gary to cease practices contributing to gun trafficking, as well as unspecified damages.

The lawsuit alleges Westforth Sports repeatedly broke federal gun laws in connection with dozens of sales, resulting in federal criminal charges against several alleged straw purchasers.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said research by the city and federal law enforcement partners has shown Westforth Sports is selling thousands of crime guns every year.

“The time for us to stop to ask them to do better and make sure they’re not selling to straw purchases, do what they’re required to do as a federally licensed gun dealer, is over,” Lightfoot said during an unrelated event. “We’ve tried that. It hasn’t worked. So now we’re in litigation with them.”

Westforth Sports had no immediate comment.

The lawsuit notes more than 40 federal criminal prosecutions for illegal gun purchases involving Westforth have been brought in the Northern District of Indiana since 2014. It contends one of the most egregious is the case of Darryl Ivery Jr., 24, who was charged with federal gun offenses last year.

Several of the guns eventually turned up on Chicago’s streets, according to the lawsuit. In one instance, a gun Ivery bought was found at the scene of a shooting in Chicago just 22 days later. Others were found at crime scenes less than a week after Ivery purchased them. Many of them are still believed to be “in circulation” on the streets.

One of the most egregious examples of Westforth’s activities, according to the suit, is the case of Darryl Ivery Jr., 24, who was charged with federal gun offenses last year.

Citing court records, the lawsuit contends Westforth sold Ivery 19 handguns over 14 separate transactions between February and August 2020. During several visits, he purchased multiple firearms at a time.
During questioning by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents in August, Ivery said he’d bought all but one of the guns “for individuals he had met and resided in Chicago,” according to the charges filed against Ivery last year.

 Ivery is currently free on bail awaiting trial, records show.

The lawsuit also cites a Taurus semi-automatic pistol purchased from Westforth Sports on Dec. 16, 2019 by Marqwan Blasingame. The weapon was recovered by Gary police the next day and determined it may have been used in a homicide the same day.

Blasingame admitted to the ATF he was straw purchasing weapons for others at Westforth Sports and other gun shops in Indiana, according to prosecutors. He has pleaded not guilty to federal gun violations and is awaiting trial, according to court records.

Washington
Man pleads guilty to getting teens to send photos
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A Ridgefield man has pleaded guilty to a scheme that involved enticing young teens to send him sexually explicit photos and videos over messaging apps “Kik” and “Snapchat,” according to federal prosecutors.

Joshua Henry Punt, 39, entered his plea to multiple federal felonies on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, the U.S. attorney for Washington said in a press release.

Punt was arrested in May 2019 and charged in Clark County Superior Court. He was charged federally in November 2019. Officials say they’ve identified victims across the country.

According to court records, Punt identified himself on social media accounts as an attractive teenager by using profile pictures of young YouTube personalities, prosecutors said. After initial communications with his victims, he would demand provocative or explicit photos or videos, prosecutors said.

Punt would copy the photos and videos and then threaten to send them to local communities, including schools, coaches and others, unless the victims met his demands, prosecutors said. It was not immediately known if Punt has a lawyer.

He pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, enticement of a minor, distribution of child pornography and advertisement of child pornography on Tuesday. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on July 26. He faces a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to life in prison.