Man sues police after wrongful conviction
CONSTANTINE (AP) — A man who was repeatedly hounded by police during an investigation of a girl’s killing in southwestern Michigan has filed a lawsuit, two years after his wrongful conviction for perjury was thrown out.
Ray McCann said his constitutional rights were violated by various police officers in St. Joseph County. He filed a lawsuit last week in federal court.
McCann served 20 months in jail and prison after feeling pressured to plead no contest to perjury. The conviction was thrown out in 2017 at the request of a prosecutor, two years after another man confessed to killing 11-year-old Jodi Parrack.
McCann denied any role in the 2007 death of Parrack, but he was interviewed 20 times by state and local police in St. Joseph County.
The lawsuit alleges that McCann was the victim of a “corrupt scheme” by police.
McCann’s criminal case was reopened after an investigation by law schools at the University of Michigan and Northwestern University.
The state of Michigan agreed to pay $40,000 for McCann’s time in prison under a law that compensates the wrongly convicted.
High court to hear Delaware courts political balance case
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to resolve a dispute over Delaware’s requirement of a political balance among state court judges.
Delaware says the outcome could affect the makeup of regulatory commissions in many states.
The justices will hear an appeal from Delaware Gov. John Carney of a lower court ruling that struck down a provision of Delaware’s constitution. It requires the governor to split judicial nominations between the two major political parties.
The case began when a former Democrat who is now registered as an unaffiliated voter sued because he wanted to apply for a judgeship but didn’t meet the political affiliation requirement.
No other state appears to use Delaware’s system of choosing judges. But the state says 16 states require partisan balance on judicial nominating commissions and many states have similar requirements for regulatory bodies.
Arguments probably will take place in the spring.
Unlucky for some: Man charged with rigging $10K bingo game
MONROE, La. (AP) — The luck has ran out for a Louisiana man allegedly caught rigging bingo games to win more than $10,000.
John Cook, 43, was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Facility on a felony theft charge and two counts for failing to appear multiple times following his June 29 arrest, according to a police warrant obtained by news outlets.
Police say Cook was recorded on video at a bingo parlor manipulating a “Bonanza Bingo” game by handpicking the balls he wanted to play and then hiding the winner until he was ready to end the game.
The warrant says Cook did this four times and won thousands for three people, including his sister.
One of the winners was captured speaking with Cook before the drawing, and two winners were seen giving Cook money after the game, the warrant states.
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