National Roundup

West Virginia Hotel Morgan says Hotel Morgantown stole its name MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- The historic Hotel Morgan says it's now being confused with a less prestigious hotel that's ripped off its name. The Hotel Morgan filed a trademark infringement and false advertising lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Clarksburg against the owners of the similar-sounding Hotel Morgantown. Since 1925, the Hotel Morgan has hosted weddings, proms and even election-night parties downtown. It underwent renovations in 1999, and claims to have a distinctive, famous brand that people recognize. But last year, Sahaj Morgantown LLC opened the Hotel Morgantown nearby. Owner Himanshu Bhatia says there are no grounds to sue him: The property now known as Clarion Hotel Morgan can't be confused with his Hotel Morgantown and Conference Center. Bhatia says he's not trying to steal anyone's name, but "Morgantown" isn't a proprietary term. Arizona Surprise justice could be remo ved from office PHOENIX (AP) -- The lawyer for a suburban Phoenix justice of the peace is asking a judicial conduct panel to consider his nasty divorce and child custody issues when it considers removing him from office for misconduct. The panel is investigating Phillip Woolbright of the Arrowhead Justice Court in Surprise for avoiding being served with an order of protection obtained by his estranged wife. He also continued to hear protective order cases after being accused by his wife of domestic violence. The lawyer for the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct is recommending that Woolbright be removed from office and banned from serving as a judicial officer in future. The Arizona Republic says the panel heard the case last week. Woolbright says he was not abusing his position or threatening anyone. Louisiana Inmate senten ced for threatening president LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) -- U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Minaldi has sentenced a federal prison inmate to five years for writing a threatening letter to President Barack Obama. Federal court documents say Carlton Neil Norah was incarcerated at the Oakdale Correctional Complex when he wrote the letter. The American Press reports Norah's defense attorney asked the court Thursday to consider the "bizarre" nature of the letter. She said Norah is mentally ill, and wrote the letter knowing he would not be able to act on any of the threats since he was incarcerated. Norah apologized to the court for his actions, and for "wasting time". Minaldi asked what it would take to stop Norah, who has made similar threats before, from doing it again. He said he thinks he is done, but he doesn't "know what tomorrow holds". Assistant U.S. Attorney John Walker said it was the most disturbing letter he's ever read. "While he's in prison his letter can't get to the president, but when gets out his mail won't be monitored," Walker said. He said Norah is a threat to the community and needs to be in a place where he can be supervised at all times. Minaldi agreed that the letter was "deeply disturbing", and Norah needs to be locked up for his own good. "This may seem like a punishment, but I'm trying to help you," Minaldi said. Norah said he didn't understand why he was a danger to the community. "The worst things I've done is steal my aunt's car and threaten the president," Norah said. Minaldi sentenced Norah to serve 5 years, with a three-year term of supervised release. A condition of that release is that Norah is to have no contact with and past, present or future president, his or her family members or staff members. Colorado DNA clears prisoner of 1994 murder, rape GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) -- A man who served nearly 16 years in prison for the 1994 rape and murder of a Palisade woman is expected to be released after he was exonerated by new testing of DNA evidence. According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, 51-year-old Robert Dewey is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a hearing. Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger declined to comment on Thursday. Dewey was sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without parole after he was convicted of killing Jacie Taylor. Taylor was found dead in the bathtub of her apartment on June 4, 1994. New York Man pleads guilty in fake Guggenheim case NEW YORK (AP) -- A con man who peddled fictional deals while passing himself off as a Guggenheim descendant has pleaded guilty. Vladimir Zuravel pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court Thursday to criminal contempt for violating a judge's 2010 order not to use the Guggenheim name. According to the New York Post, the former cab driver from Russia was sentenced to time served -- one day -- and a $10 fine. Prosecutors accused Zuravel and two other alleged grifters of trying to cheat investors by hyping fictional deals they claimed were backed by the Guggenheim family. The supposed deals involved diamonds, crude oil and vodka. Court papers said Zuravel identified himself as Vladimir Z. Guggenheim in telephone conferences with potential investors. Connecticut Cops: convicted doctor impersonator at it again BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) -- A Connecticut man who served prison time for impersonating a doctor and performing sexual experiments on women has been arrested a second time during his probation for allegedly posing as a physician. The Connecticut Post reports that 67-year-old Barry Lichtenthal pleaded not guilty to violating probation Thursday in Bridgeport Superior Court. He and his lawyer declined to comment. Lichtenthal was sentenced to five years in prison in 2004 for posing as a doctor at his ex-wife's psychiatric practice in Bridgeport and performing bizarre sexual experiments on women. He was sent back to jail for 30 days last year for claiming to be a doctor during a phone call to a Mansfield gynecologist's office. In December, authorities say he impersonated a doctor at a bone and joint center in Putnam. Published: Mon, Apr 30, 2012