Oregon
Probe begun at girl’s death leads to 26 arrests
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — A total of 26 people have been arrested on weapons, drug and other charges after an investigation that began with the accidental killing of a 5-year-old girl by a Grants Pass man using a military-style rifle as a crutch to get up from a couch, authorities said.
The investigation uncovered a ring in southern Oregon that specialized in “straw” purchases of weapons, buys designed to conceal the ultimate recipient, the Grants Pass Daily Courier reported.
The man convicted in the girl’s killing, Jon A. Meyer Jr., 30, was involved in such a purchase, touching off the investigation revealed Wednesday in a statement from the Jackson County sheriff’s office.
Five more people are being sought. The investigation involved federal state and local agencies.
The child, Alysa Bobbitt of Shady Cove, was visiting at a Grants Pass apartment with her mother in June 2013.
Meyer was below in the living room of his apartment when the gun went off, sending a burst of bullets through the ceiling, hitting the girl and seriously wounding a woman.
In a plea bargain with prosecutors, Meyer pleaded guilty in 2013 to manslaughter and other charges and was sentenced to six years in prison.
After Meyer was sentenced, the Daily Courier reported that federal authorities were investigating the background of the rifle, which fired in an automatic mode either because of a malfunction or because it had been illegally tampered with.
The statement from investigators Wednesday said some of the guns purchased by the ring ended up at crime scenes in California. It said two murder plots were uncovered.
During the investigation, authorities seized rifles, handguns and a variety of drugs.
Other charges contained in the state and federal indictments include racketeering, attempted murder, assault and promoting prostitution.
New York
Dermatologist to celebs is charged in drug scheme
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City dermatologist has been arrested and charged with writing fake prescriptions for painkillers using her patients’ names and filling them.
Dr. Cheryl Karcher pleaded not guilty Wednesday to drug possession, selling prescriptions, falsifying business records, fraud and other charges in a 50-count indictment.
Karcher is frequently quoted on television and in magazines on the latest cosmetic procedures and treatments.
Prosecutors say Karcher abused the patient-doctor relationship by using patient information to create fraudulent prescriptions and filling them.
The indictment didn’t say if she used the pills herself.
She allegedly filled at least 15 prescriptions between 2010 and 2012.
She was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court Aug. 19.
Pennsylvania
Man is charged with attacking basketball ref
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A central Pennsylvania man has been charged with attacking a referee at a youth basketball tournament in May.
The (Johnstown) Tribune-Democrat reports 32-year-old Renaldo Cooper, of State College, was coaching a team of seventh-graders at the Blue Thunder tournament in near Johnstown when the incident occurred May 18.
That’s when Richland Township police say Cooper struck an official in the left side of the face while arguing an intentional foul call near the end of a game.
Police say several people had to restrain Cooper, who was made to leave the building. His team forfeited.
Online court records show Cooper was arraigned Wednesday and immediately waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Illinois
Appeals court: Hunters can train dogs on wolves
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin appeals court says hunters can train their dogs to chase wolves.
State law establishing Wisconsin’s wolf hunt allows hunters to use dogs to track wolves. A group of humane societies sued in 2012 alleging the Department of Natural Resources failed to place any restrictions on dog use, setting up the bloody wolf-dog encounters.
A Dane County judge ruled hunters can run dogs on wolves during the season but can’t train them on wolves the rest of the year.
The 4th District Court of Appeals on Thursday found the training prohibition has no legal effect and hunters can train dogs on wolves.
Jodi Habush Sinykin, an attorney for the humane societies, says the decision creates more urgency to change state law to clearly ban dog use on wolves.
Montana
Judge enforces $300K award, concussion suit
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — A District Court judge in Bozeman has enforced a $300,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by a former Three Forks High School football player over a series of concussions suffered in practice in 2009.
Michael Rouchleau and his parents sued the district in 2012, claiming the boy suffered a life-altering traumatic brain injury.
Attorneys on both sides said they had reached a $300,000 settlement in July 2013, but the family claimed Michael had changed his mind, apparently over concerns about whether his ongoing medical bills would be paid.
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports school district attorneys asked District Judge John Brown to enforce the settlement.
After a hearing in May, Brown found the settlement agreement to be binding. He noted that the school’s athlete disability insurance policy would continue paying Rouchleau’s medical bills.
Texas
Trial scheduled in square dancer’s shooting death
TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — A judge has scheduled an October trial for a 65-year-old Texarkana woman charged in the fatal shooting of a fellow square dancer.
Virginia Ann Hyatt is accused of killing 59-year-old Patricia Wheelington last December. According to an affidavit, Wheelington and Hyatt were both members of the Guys and Dolls Squaredancing Club.
At a court hearing this week, Circuit Judge Joe Griffin scheduled Hyatt’s trial for Oct. 20 with a pretrial hearing set for Sept. 22. Prosecuting Attorney Carlton Jones says the state won’t be seeking the death penalty, meaning Hyatt faces up to life in prison without parole if convicted of capital murder.
The Texarkana Gazette reports that Hyatt remains in the Miller County jail in lieu of $1 million bond.
