National Roundup

Massachusetts
Judge suspended for affair with social worker in courthouse

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts’ highest court has indefinitely suspended a judge who admitted to having an affair with a clinical social worker that included sexual encounters at the courthouse.

The Supreme Judicial Court said Thursday that Judge Thomas Estes is suspended without pay effective June 15.

The court says the Commission on Judicial Conduct can share documents in the case with the Legislature, which can decide whether to remove him from the bench.

Estes’ lawyer says they’re disappointed in the decision and Estes is weighing his options.

Tammy Cagle has accused Estes of pressuring her into performing oral sex on him in his chambers and her home.

Estes says their relationship was consensual and denies harassing her.

The high court said the judge’s positive evaluations “cannot repair the damage to the judicial system” caused by his wrongdoing.

Kentucky
Judge candidate dies 1 day after primary victory

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A 43-year-old Kentucky lawyer running for judge collapsed and died the day after he got the most votes in a primary election.

Danny Alvarez was described as “a true public servant, a humanitarian, and a champion for human rights and the immigrant community” by his campaign consultant Jonathan Hurst.

Hurst said in an email that Alvarez had “spent the day humbled and grateful to this community” after getting the most votes in the four-way race in Louisville.

Hurst told the Courier Journal that the married father of three died at a hospital after collapsing at home. No cause of death was released.

Hurst would have faced second-place finisher Tanisha Ann Hickerson in a November runoff in the Jefferson County District Court judge’s race.

Missouri
More than $8M awarded to victim of cult in trafficking case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — More than $8 million was awarded Wednesday to a woman who alleged that the spiritual leader of a cult forced her to work without pay for a decade.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree of Kansas wrote in the order that Royall Jenkins and his organization, The Value Creators, exploited Kendra Ross’ vulnerability, “knowing that she was unfamiliar with the world outside the cult, had received no standard education, was constantly moved from place to place, and had no money.” Ross alleged in the lawsuit that from the age of 11 until 2012, when she “gathered her courage and strength to escape,” she was forced to work without pay in restaurants and as a maid, cook and childcare provider in Kansas City, Kansas; Atlanta; Dayton, Ohio; Newark, New Jersey; and New York City.

Crabtree said Jenkins and his group, formerly known as the United Nation of Islam, controlled Ross’ romantic relationships, imposed strict discipline and that she became “severely malnourished” because of the treatment she received. Crabtree said Ross was led to “believe that if she did not continue to work for them, she would suffer serious harm.” She has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to her lawsuit.

No attorney is listed for Jenkins, and he doesn’t have a listed phone number. Jenkins was a member of the Nation of Islam until 1978 when he formed the separate United Nation of Islam after he said that “angels and/or scientists” abducted him and escorted him through the galaxy on a spaceship and instructed him on how to govern earth. He established a small community of followers and business in economically depressed areas. The group, which taught that black males were superior to women and men of other races, changed its name to The Value Creators after Ross escaped.

Ross’ attorney, Betsy Hutson, said her client, whose location is being kept confidential, is “thrilled” and described the judgment as a “powerful tool for the anti-trafficking movement.” Hutson said that there were “no chains but an immense amount of psychological damage.” Hutson said the “next big challenge” is to collect on the settlement but adds there is reason to believe that the group has “significant properties.”

“This has been a really long process,” Hutson said. “It is a result of a lot of years of hard work. We see that she has made incredible progress, coming out of this cult and facing her perpetrators.”

South Carolina
Prisons embrace drones to keep eye on inmates

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After spending years fighting to keep drones from flying over prisons, South Carolina corrections officials now plan to use the small unmanned aircraft to keep a remote eye on inmates.

State Corrections Director Bryan Stirling gave reporters a glimpse Thursday at new drones that can be used to monitor a prison and the area outside, where contraband like cellphones and drugs can be launched over walls.

Stirling says the drones will be used at times over some of South Carolina’s 21 prisons, allowing additional eyes that can monitor facilities while not having to be on site.

Prison officials pushed for years to have drones prevented from flying over prisons and lawmakers passed a ban this year. The drones were used to drop contraband over fences.

Florida
3 charged in street racing death of mother

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Three people accused in the street racing death of an Ohio woman are out of jail as Florida authorities continue investigating the crash that also critically injured the woman’s 21-month-old daughter.

Tampa police said in a news release that a 17-year-old in a Nissan was racing 18-year-old Cameron Herrin on a street that runs alongside Tampa Bay Wednesday when Herrin’s Mustang hit 24-year-old Jessica Reisinger. She was pushing daughter Lillia in a stroller.

Police said Herrin’s 20-year-old brother Tristan Herrin was riding in the Mustang.

Cameron Herrin and the juvenile face charges of vehicular homicide, street racing and reckless driving. Tristan Herrin is charged with street racing. Attorneys aren’t listed on jail records.

Reisinger was from Jeromes­ville, Ohio. The Tampa Bay Times reports Reisinger’s daughter was in critical condition Thursday.