National Roundup

New Mexico Judge weighs release of NM gun-selling defendant LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) -- A federal judge is considering whether to release a member of a Deming family charged with selling weapons and ammunition to Mexican cartels from-pretrial detention. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports attorneys for Ryin Reese argued before U.S. District Court Judge Robert C, Brack that Reese be released with strict conditions including living with his girlfriend's mother who serves on the New Mexico Parole Board. Brack said he would take the motion under advisement and would likely rule sometime this week. Reese along with a brother and his parents are jailed at various detention centers in southern New Mexico. The family is accused of selling 34 weapons and thousands of dollars in ammunition to undercover agents and a Mexican cartel member turned informant between 2010 and July 2011. Wisconsin Voter ID lawsuits may go to Supreme Court MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Two lawsuits challenging Wisconsin's law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls may be headed directly to the state Supreme Court. Two separate appeals courts on Wednesday sent appeals of lower court decisions blocking the law directly to the Supreme Court. Four of the Supreme Court's seven justices must agree to take the cases before they would be heard. One lawsuit was brought by the NAACP's Milwaukee branch and Voces de la Frontera, an immigrants' rights group. The other was brought by the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. Earlier this month, two different Dane County circuit court judges issued injunctions blocking the law before Tuesday's presidential primary. The state Department of Justice appealed both decisions to the appeals court, which sent the cases to the Supreme Court. Nebraska City may get big legal bills on immigration law FREMONT, Neb. (AP) -- The city of Fremont could soon face large legal bills related to the court fight over its illegal immigration ordinance. The American Civil Liberties Union has asked a federal judge to award it $709,245 in legal fees because it prevailed on part of its challenge to the law. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund may also seek compensation for its legal fees. In her ruling last month, U.S. District Court Judge Laurie Smith Camp upheld the ordinance's requirement that employers verify workers' immigration statuses, but rejected one part of the rule related to permits for potential renters. The city and the civil rights groups that challenged the law are all appealing parts of the ruling. Vermont Chiropractor pleads not guilty in Vt. to fraud BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- A Connecticut chiropractor accused of raising $28 million from investors for a film project and then using most of the money to pay off other investors has pleaded not guilty to an 18-count indictment in Vermont. The indictment says 54-year-old Louis Soteriou of Middlebury, Conn., induced Vermont storyteller Mac Parker to raise the money for the still-unreleased film. Soteriou pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court to wire and mail fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. The Burlington Free Press reports the indictment alleges about $3.8 million was diverted to Soteriou to help finance his plan to attain a "level of spiritual consciousness." Soteriou was allowed to use a federal public defender after telling the judge he has no money. Louisiana Man acquitted of shooting death of 3-year-old NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A man accused of second-degree murder for leaving an unattended gun that killed a 3-year-old-boy has been acquitted. The defense contended that Brashaun Blue was shot in the face in November 2010 after finding the gun in a couch. Tyrone Brown was his caretaker that night and told police that he did not awaken when the shot was fired. He said he found the mortally wounded boy the next morning when we went to answer the doorbell. The Times-Picayune reports that Criminal District Judge Frank Zibilich ruled Tuesday that nothing Brown did amounted to a crime and acquitted him. Brown had opted to have the judge, rather than a jury, hear his case. Connecticut Man charged in fatal dumbbell attack BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- A 42-year-old Bridgeport man has been charged with beating his girlfriend to death with a 10-pound dumbbell. The Connecticut Post reports that Wilson "Junne" Cash was arraigned on a murder charge Tuesday in Bridgeport Superior Court in connection with the Sept. 27 death of 46-year-old Christine Jeffreys, who was found dead in her city apartment. Cash was returned Monday to Connecticut from Port Chester, N.Y., where he was arrested. An arrest warrant affidavit suggests Cash fatally beat Jeffreys because she wouldn't let him commit robberies to get money to buy crack cocaine. Police say witnesses implicated Cash in the killing. Cash was ordered held on $1 million bail and his case was continued to April 10. It's not clear if he has a lawyer. Pennsylvania Police: Man's road rage was mistaken identity BUTLER, Pa. (AP) -- A western Pennsylvania man repeatedly rammed a car he mistakenly thought was driven by his estranged wife -- and continued doing so even after the targeted vehicle drove to a state police station after which state troopers subdued the man with pepper spray and a stun gun. Online court records don't list an attorney for 53-year-old Ricky Allison, of Slippery Rock, who was arrested Tuesday afternoon. Troopers from the Butler barracks about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh say Allison began pursuing the other vehicle when he saw it at the intersection of state Routes 8 and 308. The driver of the other car tried to elude Allison's pickup by driving to the police barracks. That's where police say Allison hit the car again before driving away and crashing into a ditch, leading to his arrest. Published: Thu, Mar 29, 2012