National Roundup

California Suit: NASA specialist axed over intelligent design LOS ANGELES (AP) -- NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has landed robotic explorers on the surface of Mars, sent probes to outer planets and operates a worldwide network of antennas that communicates with interplanetary spacecraft. Its latest mission is to defend itself in a workplace lawsuit filed by a former computer specialist who claims he was laid off for promoting his views on intelligent design. Trial in the case began Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court. David Coppedge worked as a "team lead" on the Cassini mission exploring Saturn and its many moons. He lost his "team lead" title in 2009 and was let go last year. JPL denies any discrimination. Intelligent design supporters believe a higher power had a hand in creation because life is too complex to have developed through evolution alone. West Virginia Ex-judge to try decades-long W.Va. sex abuse case MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (AP) -- Former state Supreme Court justice Larry Starcher will handle the trials of a Moundsville man accused of molesting four females over 30 years. The Intelligencer says 53-year-old Richard David Arruda was arrested last year when the women came forward with their stories. State Police charged him with five counts of incest, six counts of first-degree sexual abuse, one count of sexual abuse by a custodian and two counts of first-degree sexual assault. Arruda was indicted in November. The alleged assaults occurred between 1982 and January 2011. Authorities say the females are now in their early 20s to mid-30s. Marshall County Circuit Judge David Hummel recused himself after realizing he had represented one female when he was an attorney. The first of two trials is set for May 29. Colorado Lafayette man facing trial in mom's death BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- A Lafayette man accused of stomping on the head of his mother is going on trial on murder charges. Public defender Seth Temin has said 33-year-old Adam Raszynski was acting in self-defense last year after being shot at point-blank range five times by his 60-year-old mother, Rita Redford. The trial is scheduled to begin Monday in Boulder County District Court. The Boulder Daily Camera reports Raszynski had been living with his mother after being released from a Florida prison, where he served time for aggravated stalking. Police say that in the weeks before her death, Redford told friends that she was afraid of her son and kept a gun in her room. Nebraska Lincoln man gets more than 24 years for meth ring LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- A 45-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced for his role in a Nebraska-based conspiracy to make methamphetamine. The Lincoln Journal Star reports Mark Skoda was sentenced last week to 24 years and four months in a federal prison. He must serve 10 years of supervised release after he leaves prison. Skoda was found convicted of conspiracy to manufacture 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Prosecutors say four co-conspirators accused Skoda of making the meth over a 20-month period at a rural location just east of Lincoln. In court, Skoda said the United States ought to find a better treatment for people addicted to meth. The conviction is Skoda's second connected to making meth. He's already served time in prison. Arizona Deputies arrest man in AZ girlfriend's stabbing BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (AP) -- Police in western Arizona's Bullhead City say a man suspected of repeatedly stabbing his girlfriend in the face has been arrested. Bullhead City police spokeswoman Emily Montague says 24-year-old Julian Cruz Molina Jr., was arrested in Needles, Calif., late Saturday. San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies found him in a motel room there. He was wanted in the stabbing of a 22-year-old woman. She told officers Molina threw a rock through her apartment window to get inside and then repeatedly stabbed her while their 2-year-old daughter and infant son were sleeping. She's now stable condition at a Las Vegas hospital. Molina is being held without bail in San Bernardino County's jail pending extradition to Arizona. The jail's website doesn't show if he has a lawyer or a court appearance scheduled. Kansas New site sought for trial in Kansas teen's killing GREAT BEND, Kan. (AP) -- Lawyers for a 38-year-old central Kansas man accused of killing a 14-year-old girl are trying again to get his trial moved. Adam Longoria is scheduled for trial March 26 in Barton County District Court on charges of capital murder and attempted rape. He would face life in prison if convicted. Longoria is accused of killing Alicia DeBolt, who disappeared in August 2010 after leaving her Great Bend home for a party. Her burned remains were later found at an asphalt plant where Longoria worked. Judge Hannelore Kitts denied a motion in February for a change of venue from Barton County. But the Great Bend Tribune reports the defense renewed the request in a motion last week that cited subsequent news coverage, including reports on the denial of the first motion. Indiana Appeals court upholds ruling against firefighters TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) -- The Indiana Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling against two Terre Haute firefighters who sued the city after being passed over for promotions. The Tribune-Star reports the appeals court affirmed a special judge's 2011 ruling that granted Terre Haute's motion for summary judgment in the Vigo County case. Firefighters Darrick Scott and Paul Watson sued the city in December 2007 after they were not appointed as battalion chiefs. Their complaint alleged that the promotions of 10 other firefighters were illegal and bypassed the department's merit system. The men also alleged that they were the only merit captains who met the department's merit system for promotion to battalion chiefs. Defense attorney William Drummy says the ruling resolves the issue of who can be appointment as battalion chief. Published: Tue, Mar 13, 2012