National Roundup

Maine Lawyer for man convicted in woman's slaying seeks new trial AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - An attorney for an Augusta man convicted of killing his girlfriend is seeking a new trial. A jury in March found 41-year-old Justin Pillsbury guilty in the 2013 stabbing death of 24-year-old old Jillian Jones in an Augusta apartment. Prosecutors say Pillsbury stabbed Jones a dozen times in a jealous rage during an alcohol-fueled fight over her communication with another man. The Kennebec Journal reports Pillsbury's attorney, Stephen Smith, filed a motion on Thursday seeking a new trial. Smith alleges that the prosecutor's description of Pillsbury as a "green-eyed monster" had racial connotations that prejudiced the jury. He says the prosecutor's words appealed to the jurors' "subliminal prejudices and fears." Prosecutors say the state denies there were any racial overtones in the comment. Virginia Deputy convicted of stealing more than $229,000 ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A former Loudoun County Sheriff's Deputy accused of stealing more than $229,000 from the office's asset forfeiture program has been convicted of four counts of theft. The Washington Post reports that 45-year-old Frank Pearson of Winchester was convicted Thursday, despite saying that he had suffered memory loss. He faces a maximum 10-year penalty on each count at his June 17 sentencing. Pearson was indicted in July after nearly two years of investigation. The thefts occurred between 2010 and October 2013. Pearson said he had amnesia that prevented him from remembering that time period, but he didn't raise amnesia as a defense at the trial. Pearson's attorney Daniel Lopez says his client tried to plead guilty, but the judge would not accept it because Pearson had earlier said he had had amnesia. Iowa Judge: Inmates facing added time can have a lawyer IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - A judge has ruled that Iowa inmates have the right to legal counsel when challenging Department of Corrections' decisions that can add time to their sentences. If upheld on appeal, the ruling could help inmates during classification and disciplinary hearings run by department officials. It's not clear who would pay for their attorneys. The department on Thursday appealed the decision by Judge Scott Rosenburg. The Iowa Supreme Court will decide whether to keep the case or send it to the Court of Appeals. The high court ruled last year that misdemeanor defendants have the right to counsel under the Iowa Constitution. Given that decision, Rosenburg says it makes sense that inmates "facing the possibility of an increase in the amount of time he or she will be incarcerated" also qualify. Tennessee Mother charged after making her kids walk to school JASPER, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee mother faces child neglect charges after deputies say she made her daughters walk to school. The Chattanooga Times Free-Press reports that 32-year-old Lisa Marie Palmer was charged after authorities found her driving ahead of her daughters as she made them walk to school. Marion County sheriff's Deputy Chris Ladd, who spotted the two girls, says it appeared Palmer was driving ahead of her children and allowing them to catch up to her car until the kids reached the school. Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" Burnett says Palmer told deputies that her daughters were being punished for missing the bus. Palmer is scheduled for an initial court appearance on April 18. Court officials say she doesn't have an attorney yet. Marion County is located just west of Chattanooga. New York Judge reduces damages in sex harassment case NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge has reduced damages awarded to a young Swedish woman who had sued her former Wall Street boss for sexual harassment from $18 million to $5.6 million. Twenty-five-year-old Hanna Bouveng had accused Benjamin Wey of coercing her into sexual encounters and firing her after he discovered she had a boyfriend. She said the founder of the investment firm New York Global Group launched a smear campaign against her. Wey denied having sex with Bouveng, saying her nightclub ways made her too hungover and tired to succeed on Wall Street. The judge announced the ruling Thursday. If Bouveng doesn't agree to the terms a new trial will be conducted to determine damages. In September, Wey was charged with illegally manipulating stock prices. Wey pleaded not guilty to those charges. Messages left with the attorneys for both parties were not immediately returned. Oklahoma Judge orders man to trial in police pursuit death McALESTER, Okla. (AP) - A McAlester man has been ordered to stand trial on a first-degree murder charge after a woman was killed while police pursued his pickup truck last fall. The McAlester News-Capital reported Friday that Michael Crawley, 37, is charged in the November death of Amber Brewer, 34. Police say the McAlester woman tried to leap from Crawley's truck as police chased it after receiving a burglary call. "Her feet came out first and then it seemed like the door closed," McAlester police officer Chris Skinner testified at Thursday's hearing. "I saw her feet first and then her upper body." "The back wheels of the truck aggressively bumped over her," Skinners said. Detectives said the chase started after officers from McAlester and Krebs received a complaint from a storage unit. The complex's owner was staking out the storage units after previous burglaries. "We had some break-ins the night before and we were waiting to see if anyone would try to break in again," Randy Nichols testified. He said he called police after hearing bolt-cutters break a lock. Officers said that after they arrived, Crawley rammed a patrol vehicle and then led police on a 15-minute chase that reached speeds approaching 100 mph. Prosecutors said Crawley caused Brewer's death. After Thursday's court hearing, Crawley told reporters he wasn't responsible. "The cops hit her," Crawley said. Published: Mon, Apr 04, 2016