Court Roundup

Colorado Murder conviction upheld in throat-slashing death DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Court of Appeals has upheld the murder conviction of a woman convicted in the death of a friend's romantic rival. The court said Thursday juror instructions were adequate and there were no grounds to overturn the conviction. Stephanie Deverick was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the throat-slashing death of 45-year-old Diana Young. Deverick says she had no idea her friend was planning to kill Young when Deverick drove the friend to Young's house. Thirty-year-old Crystal Mawson was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and child abuse in Young's killing. Oregon Court: Medford police can seize $1M lottery prize MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Court of Appeals has ruled that the Medford Police Department can collect a $1 million cash prize originally awarded to a woman who purchased a scratch ticket through illegal means in 2005. The Mail Tribune reports that 45-year-old Christina Elizabeth Goodenow argues that it was excessive punishment to strip her of the $1 million in winnings. In 2005, Goodenow stole the identity of her boyfriend's deceased mother and used her Visa card to make $12,000 in purchases, including a winning ticket. She pleaded no contest to these crimes and was sentenced to probation. As part of her sentencing, the lottery money was forfeited to the Medford Police Department. Police agencies in Oregon can collect money gained through criminal activity. Goodenow, in an attempt to keep her winnings, filed an appeal in 2007. Utah Family sues after man dies in 2010 police shooting SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The family of a man fatally shot by Bountiful and Woods Cross officers in 2010 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. The suit claims police used excessive force in the July 9, 2010 shooting of William C. Oakden IV outside the Trade Winds Mobile Home Park in Bountiful. Police say they found the 30-year-old Oakden drunk, holding a knife and threatening to kill himself. Officers say he pulled out a pellet gun and fired at them before they fired back with guns. Oakden later died at a hospital. Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings said in January 2011 that the two officers involved in the shooting were justified. But the lawsuit questions the officers' accounts of the incident. Rawlings called the suit laughable and said the county would vigorously defend itself. Pennsylvania 2 ex-female guards sue alleging Pa. jail sexism BEDFORD, Pa. (AP) -- Two women who are former western Pennsylvania county jail guards claim the former warden said "prison was not a place for women" and blatantly discriminated against female guards. Donald Orr isn't named as a defendant in the federal lawsuit suit targeting Bedford County, but his alleged actions are the reason for it. The Associated Press could not immediately locate a telephone number for Orr who was hired as warden of the jail about 85 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in 2010 and resigned in June without explanation after being suspended with pay for several weeks during an internal county investigation. The Altoona Mirror reports the female guards contend Orr gave males preferential treatment and prompted them to resign due to unbearable working conditions. A county official says the lawsuit was not unexpected. New York NYC settles 2007 hospital death lawsuit NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a mentally disturbed man who died in a hospital holding cell after a struggle with guards. A video captured officers subduing Patrick Miller in 2007 after he punched one of them. Family lawyers contended he was beaten by officers outside the video's range. Family lawyer Jonathan Abady told The New York Times the settlement showed "something horribly wrong happened." Jonathan Chasan, a lawyer for Legal Aid, said video cameras were installed in Bellevue Hospital Center's two prison wards after Miller's death. City lawyer Curt Beck said the settlement was in the best interest of all parties. The city admitted no fault in the settlement. No charges were brought in the death. Maryland Man seeks retrial in wife's 1992 murder FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- A Walkersville man serving a life sentence for his wife's murder is seeking a new trial in what would be his fourth go-round in the courts. The Frederick News-Post reports Thursday that 56-year-old William Fagan claims he lacked a full understanding of the law when he pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Deborah Fagan. Fagan had previously been tried twice for the 1992 shooting. His first trial ended with a hung jury in 1993. His 1995 conviction for murder conspiracy was overturned on appeal. Fagan avoided a third trial in 1997 by pleading guilty to murder conspiracy. He got life with all but 10 years suspended and was released in 2000. A drunken driving conviction in 2003 violated his probation and sent him back to prison for life. New Orleans Ex-pastor sentenced to 10 years for stealing $1M NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A former New Orleans pastor has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing nearly $1 million in disaster loan payments meant to rebuild a church after Hurricane Katrina. Toris Young pleaded guilty in January to theft of government funds and mail fraud. The sentence handed down Thursday by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier was roughly twice that recommended in federal sentencing guidelines. Young also must pay $963,900 in restitution to the Small Business Administration. Prosecutors said money meant for the Bible Way Baptist Church was used for Young's personal expenses, including jewelry, vehicles and clothes. Young submitted fraudulent invoices and receipts to the SBA after the 2005 storm. The church property was vacant with overgrown weeds when the SBA checked to see how he spent the money. Mississippi x-judge wants off supervised release ABDEREEN, Miss. (AP) -- Bobby DeLaughter, a former circuit judge caught up in Mississippi's judicial bribery scandal, has asked a federal judge to end his post-prison supervised release. In a motion filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday in Aberdeen, DeLaughter says he's "successfully completed" more than half of his supervised release term and has complied with all its terms. DeLaughter pleaded guilty in 2009 to obstruction of justice in a corruption investigation involving multimillionaire and former lawyer Richard "Dickie" Scruggs. DeLaughter admitted lying to an FBI agent during the investigation. DeLaughter was sentenced to 18 months in prison and two years' supervised release. He began serving his sentence Jan. 4, 2010. His supervised release began April 22, 2011. A judge has not ruled on the motion. Published: Fri, Jul 13, 2012