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| Blog and Media Roundup - Tuesday, July 14, 2009; News Roundup | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 14 2009, 04:13 AM (401 Views) | |
| abb | Jul 14 2009, 04:13 AM Post #1 |
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http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/durham/4-1181919.cfm Ex-commissioner Cheek signs on with K&L Gates By Ray Gronberg : The Herald-Sun gronberg@heraldsun.com Jul 14, 2009 Bookmark and Share DURHAM -- A former County Commissioner now works for an RTP law firm that's suing the county government on behalf of the would-be developer of a 165-acre tract off N.C. 751. Former Commissioner Lewis Cheek as of Monday was on the roster of attorneys employed by K&L Gates, the firm that's representing Southern Durham Development Inc. in its fight with the county. The K&L Gates Web site said Cheek would represent clients "on land use and zoning matters." Cheek couldn't be reached for comment, but Bill Brian, the K&L Gates partner who heads that part of the firm's practice, said the former commissioner started work at the beginning of this month and is working half-time. "That's the way he wanted it," Brian said. Brian added that Cheek won't be working on Southern Durham Development's lawsuit against the county. "We will adhere to the rules," he said, alluding to the N.C. State Bar ethics regulations. Cheek's hiring by K&L Gates raised concern among critics of the N.C. 751 project because he was privy to the closed-door conversations commissioners and the county's legal staff had last year as controversy about the project ramped up. Those conversations by statute and State Bar rules are matters of attorney-client privilege. According to the State Bar's confidentiality rules, a lawyer in Cheek's position can neither use for nor reveal to a new client the privileged information he gleaned from his elected post. Another set of bar rules, governing "special conflicts of interest for former and current government officers and employees," says that without the county's permission, Cheek also can't represent clients in any matter in which he "participated personally and substantially" while in office. In cases where Cheek is disqualified, K&L Gates has to make sure he's "timely screened" from any participation and give the county "written notice ... to enable it to ascertain compliance with" the rule on special conflicts. Unless it does those things, no lawyer from the firm can "knowingly undertake or continue representation in such a matter," the State Bar says. County Attorney Chuck Kitchen declined comment Monday because a different lawyer, Fred Baggett of the Raleigh firm Smith Moore Leatherwood, likely will be representing the county in the N.C. 751 case. Baggett also declined comment, beyond saying he and others from his firm are meeting with county commissioners early next week. One of Cheek's former colleagues, Commissioner Becky Heron, made it clear Monday that she's keeping an eye on the situation. "I just hope that he respects the conversations that took place in closed session and remembers that his obligation then was to the county and the citizens of this county," Heron said. "I would hope that any conversations that took place in closed session stay in closed session and are not used to further the cause of the people he's working for." Cheek was a county commissioner from 2004 until December of last year. He served before that on the City Council. He left the commissioners shortly after the board voted to ask state regulators to approve a developer-funded survey of nearby Jordan Lake that places the lake's boundary far enough from the project site to allow dense development there. The lawsuit challenges a subsequent decision by the board to hold public hearings on the property's zoning. Brian said Cheek's recruitment by K&L Gates didn't start until after he left the board. The two sides only struck a deal about a month before Cheek started work. K&L Gates' RTP office was until July 1, 2008, part of a different law firm called Kennedy Covington. Brian said he didn't recall and couldn't comment on whether Cheek and that earlier firm had discussed him signing on. Cheek, an admitted alcoholic, left a small, Durham-based law firm in 2007 following a relapse that also caused him to miss more than a dozen commissioners meetings that year. He opted against running for another term in the spring of 2008 in part because he was, in his own words, "job hunting." |
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| abb | Jul 14 2009, 04:14 AM Post #2 |
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http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/durham/4-1181934.cfm Experts outline cellular forensics BY KEITH UPCHURCH : The Herald-Sun kupchurch@heraldsun.com Jul 14, 2009 Bookmark and Share DURHAM -- A forensics expert will thoroughly examine a cell phone at the center of a student sex case that involves a former teacher's assistant and her relationship with a 10-year-old boy. Lt. Stan Harris of the Durham County Sheriff's Office said the expert is expected to do the examination on Thursday. "It's called a cell phone dump," Harris said. "The expert will come in and really break it down. We just want to do a good history on the phone and retrieve all the information we can." Gina Watring, a 40-year-old former teacher's assistant at Creekside Elementary School, is accused of having sex with the boy at least twice. The latest arrest warrants say she gave a phone to the boy after a court ordered her to stay away from him while she was out on bond. Watring was arrested in April and indicted in May on charges of child rape, first-degree kidnapping, felony child abduction and taking indecent liberties with a child. She posted bond April 29. She allegedly left the phone and handwritten notes to him near his home, in violation of the most recent court order. The cell phone turned up July 3 in the boy's bookbag when his mother was packing his lunch for summer camp, Harris said. Watring was rearrested after the mother turned the cell phone over to sheriff's investigators, and was charged with obstruction of justice for contacting the boy in violation of a court order. On July 6, Durham Superior Court Judge Leon Stanback Jr. set her bond at $2 million. She is slated for another bond hearing on Wednesday, Harris said. At that hearing, Assistant District Attorney Jan Paul said the child pulled a knife and threw a hammer at his mother as he tried to retrieve the cell phone. He then kicked out a window in his second-story bedroom, jumped through it and tried to run away, Paul said. Harris said investigators have retrieved one photo from the phone that showed Watring "in a pose' and fully clothed, as well as several text messages and handwritten messages. "The messages were written as if it was one spouse to the other or one lover to the other," he said. "[The words] 'I love you' definitely came up. And the text message was 'I miss you.' " "Our concern is still for the young male victim," Harris said. |
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| abb | Jul 14 2009, 04:16 AM Post #3 |
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http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/durham/4-1181933.cfm Howell opposes Clement By Ray Gronberg : The Herald-Sun gronberg@heraldsun.com Jul 14, 2009 Bookmark and Share DURHAM -- The race for the City Council's Ward 2 seat picked up its fourth entrant Monday when N.C. Central University student and former cosmetologist Sandra Howell filed for a place on the ballot. Howell, who's challenging incumbent Councilman Howard Clement, said Ward 2's development is lagging behind that of the rest of the city. The public-administration student said city leaders have to boost the ward's housing stock, institute additional programs for youth and focus more of the city's resources there. "We need change over here," said Howell, who lives on Clinton Road near the Durham Freeway. "Ward 2 has been looking the same and standing still for years now." Howell's Monday filing added her name to a primary ballot that already included Clement and challengers Matt Drew and Sylvester Williams. Ward 2 so far is the only contested council race, but Ward 1 incumbent Cora Cole-McFadden is due to pick up a challenger on Wednesday when UNC Greensboro graduate Donald Hughes files. Hughes has scheduled a campaign rally that morning and posted an invitation to it on Facebook. Ward 3 incumbent Mike Woodard remains unopposed by either a formal filer or early announcer. The council incumbents and Mayor Bill Bell all filed for re-election last week. Bell faces a challenge from Trinity Avenue resident Steven Williams. Ward 2 covers the southeastern parts of the city, Ward 1 central and northern Durham and Ward 3 the western parts of the city. Candidates in this election have to live in the wards they want to represent, but they will campaign for and receive votes citywide. The Ward 2 primary is scheduled for Oct. 6, with early voting beginning Sept. 17. Any primaries in other races will follow the same schedule. The primary is supposed to winnow the field to two candidates for the city's general election, which will occur Nov. 3 with early voting beginning on Oct. 15. |
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| abb | Jul 14 2009, 04:19 AM Post #4 |
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http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/durham/4-1181942.cfm CRIME LOG BY KEITH UPCHURCH AND MARK DONOVAN : The Herald-Sun kupchurch@heraldsun.com Jul 14, 2009 Bookmark and Share Probe continues in Sunday death DURHAM -- Police on Monday continued investigating the slaying of William Burroughs, 64, who was found dead at his home Sunday at 617 Red Cedar Circle in the Treyburn area of northern Durham. They declined to release the cause of death on Monday. The investigation is ongoing. Officers found the body shortly after 11 a.m. when they were called about a heart attack. No charges had been filed as of Monday. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Investigator Shawn Pate at (919) 560-4440, ext. 29322, or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrest in felony cases, and callers do not have to identify themselves. Employee shot in motel robbery DURHAM -- Police are investigating a robbery and shooting that happened Monday evening at the Comfort Inn, 3508 Mount Moriah Road. In the incident, two men entered the motel around 5:40 p.m. and robbed the business at gunpoint. A male employee was shot in the hip during the robbery. He was taken to Duke University Hospital for treatment. No information was available about his condition. The robbers fled in a white Nissan Maxima occupied by a third man. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. |
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| abb | Jul 14 2009, 04:30 AM Post #5 |
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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1606531.html Published: Jul 14, 2009 02:00 AM Modified: Jul 13, 2009 11:25 PM Durham motel worker is shot in robbery FROM STAFF REPORTS DURHAM - Durham police were investigating a robbery and shooting Monday evening at the Comfort Inn, 3508 Mount Moriah Road. Two men entered the motel around 5:40 p.m. and robbed the business at gunpoint. An employee was shot in the hip and taken to Duke Hospital for treatment. The men ran out of the business and got in a white Nissan Maxima occupied by a third man. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves. |
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| abb | Jul 14 2009, 04:38 AM Post #6 |
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http://4law-answers.blogspot.com/2009/07/was-justice-really-served-in-case-of.html Monday, July 13, 2009 Was Justice really served in the case of Nifong v. Duke Lacross player? I realize that this is all but concluded that Nifong mis-applied (in fact abused power). But my question is ... was justice really served? Specifically, these boys were not the first victims of over-ambitious DA. In fact, many poor and powerless victim of the inefficient justice system have paid and continue to pay heavily. What I saw in this case is that parents with a lot of money can afford to get (buy) the justice that is duely theirs and their children's. A question that keeps coming up in my mind where the heck is justice system that clear these boys, punished the DA and planning to totally distroyed the life of the DA when other less previledged citizens of this country need it? Is this system terribly broken? Is there hope? Adding insult to injury, Paris Hilton nearly walked from Jail. Answers: First of all, we are dealing with multiple separate issues here, so let's list them. 1- The LaCrosse player's exoneration. This should be done, because the boys do NOT belong in prison for something they didn't do. Period. 2- Over zealous DA (nifong). Nifong needs to be held accountable for his actions. He attempted to destroy these kid's lives by trying to hide evidence that proved the kids were innocent. He should be punished for that because it was unethical. 3- The under previledged citizens should be given more better representation. But that has nothing to do with this case. 4- The parents money has nothing to do with whether or not the boys should be jailed for a crime they didn't commit. 5- Paris Hilton has nothing to do with this case. She should be penalized as much as anyone else if she was drunk and driving. 6- Forgiveness is entirely up to the 3 boys and family. But that has nothing to do with weather or not Nifong should be held accountable for his intentional acts in this case. I'm not sure about justice, but there certainly was a great "revenge" factor. To Nifong Nifonged Nifonging New words added to the English vocabulary. Need I write out the definition? One could hope that the attorneys who defended the accused players and collected big bucks for doing so, would donate a little of their time to helping out some less fortunate individuals who may have received the same treatment from the D.A. in question. |
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| abb | Jul 14 2009, 04:42 AM Post #7 |
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http://find-law-hleps-here.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-isnt-that-stripper-being-charged.html Monday, July 13, 2009 Why isn't that stripper being charged with a crime? she tried to get three boys convicted of rape that never laid a hand on her. she should be in jail or at least convicted of something. if i make false accusations about somebody i get in trouble, right? Answers: You get in trouble only if you're a man. Why isn't she charged? Because we live in a country that worships Paris Hilton but doesn't know who Stephen Hawking is (except from the Simpsons). Because having a baby when you're 14 is cool, but graduating from high school isn't. Because scamming the government is cool, but hard work isn't. Because everything that's wrong is the fault of rich, white men who - apparently - hold secret meetings to coordinate their efforts to keep everyone else down. That's why. When you have a county that's 40% black and three white boys got off.... While your at it how about a civil suit against Sharpton and Jackson for defamation of character and slander. These guys can say whatever and are never held accountable because they're a minority. Because she has the blessings of Al Sharpton and Jackson I think it's a pretty tough thing to prove. I don't think she actually admitted she lied, did she? because unfortunately (sp) at this point in time there is no law agiants a fake cry of rape..i hope maybe some good can come of this situation and there there will be a law because the more fake cries we hear about the less we are to believe a woman who has acually been assaulted She filed a false police report. She should be charged. i'd think so it was attempted false imprisonment The boys were let off because there was not enough evidence to charge them with a crime. That is not to say that a crime has not been committed. She said she was raped (I seriously doubt that) but it could have happened just not with those boys. I know it doesn't make sense but that is the way this goes down. Because that dumb @$$ DA felt sorry for her. She should at least be sued for destroying those 3 young men's lives forever (even though the young men won't get anything). You sure as shooting would get in trouble ans so should she but the State AG is not going to do anything about it because he thinks she has mental problems. I say if she mental, she won't know she is in jail. Put her there, she set back genuine rape victims and race relations in that city by decades and she should be made to pay not get off scott free. She just thought these " white boys" would have been an easy mark to make money from. She probably was hoping they would have paid her to go away. Well that plan failed I say, they should sue her. We know Crystal Mangum has no money BUT they should get the opportunity to enter a judgement against her where she has to pay them each $1.00/wk for the length of time these guys had been facing -30 years. The payment is symbolic to remind the witch what her lies cost. If she misses a payment, jail for 30 days and she would still have to pay them the missed payments even while in jail. I don't know how a person get charged with perjury my ex wife got busted lying her ugly face off in court and the judge did nothing. |
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| abb | Jul 14 2009, 04:46 AM Post #8 |
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http://www.evilesq.com/fear-and-loathing-in-lake-county-california/ Fear and Loathing in Lake County California |
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| Bill Anderson | Jul 14 2009, 07:08 AM Post #9 |
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Gee, I thought cell phones were irrelevant in gaining evidence. That is what Nifong and the police in Durham told us. I'm sooooo confused! What's a person to believe? 
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| Quasimodo | Jul 14 2009, 08:13 AM Post #10 |
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. Is this a new policy with Durham law enforcement?? 
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| ~J~ is in Wonderland | Jul 14 2009, 11:51 AM Post #11 |
~J~ is in Wonderland
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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/crime_safety/story/1606166.html Madoff arrives at NC prison Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff arrived Tuesday at a federal prison in North Carolina to begin serving a 150-year sentence for what is believed to be the largest Ponzi scheme in history. Federal Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Linda Thomas said Madoff arrived at the Butner, N.C., facility after leaving federal jail in New York City on Monday. Madoff has a projected release date of November 14, 2139, assuming he gets early release credit for good behavior while in prison. He is listed in Bureau of Prisons records as prisoner number 61727-054. The 71-year-old Madoff pleaded guilty in March to charges that his investment advisory business was a multibillion-dollar scheme that wiped out thousands of investors and ruined charities. Ponzi schemes are nothing new, but Madoff's was stunning for its size and duration. In a Ponzi scheme, early investors are paid by diverting money from new investors. When the flow of new money dries up, the scheme collapses and the fraud is exposed. Authorities said Madoff had carried out the fraud for at least two decades before confessing to his sons in December that his investment business was a fraud and that he had lost as much as $50 billion. The Butner Federal Correctional Complex, located about 45 miles northwest of Raleigh, includes two medium-security facilities, a low-security facility and a hospital, according to the Bureau of Prisons Web site. Within the federal prison system, it is perhaps best known for its hospital facility to treat elderly or ill prisoners. Among the well-known criminals being held at Butner are: - John Rigas, founder of Adelphia Communications, and his son, Tim, the company's chief financial officer. They were convicted on multiple charges of securities fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. - Jonathan Pollard, the American convicted of spying for Israel more than two decades ago. - Omar Abdel-Rahman, also known as the blind sheik, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1995 for his role in a plot to kill Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and blow up New York City landmarks, including the United Nations. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1995 and moved to Butner in 2007. |
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| Kerri P. | Jul 14 2009, 07:39 PM Post #12 |
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http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/5574010/ 'Racial Justice Act' gets initial OK in N.C. House Posted: Today at 6:23 p.m. Updated: 42 minutes ago RALEIGH, N.C. — The House gave tentative approval Tuesday to creating a legal procedure its supporters argue would ensure people are removed from North Carolina's death row if race was a factor in putting them there. The legislation, narrowly endorsed by a 61-55 vote, would allow defendants to use data or other evidence from a prosecutorial district, county or adjoining area to attempt to prove that race was a significant factor in receiving a death sentence. If a judge agrees with the defendant, even after prosecutors put on evidence, the condemned murderer would receive life in prison without parole. The bill also could be applied as a pretrial hearing after a prosecutor decided to seek the death penalty in a capital murder case. Kentucky is the only other state with a similar procedure as contained in the measure, according to bill supporters. "This is not a free pass to commit murder," said Rep. Larry Womble, D-Forsyth, one of the bill's chief sponsors of the Racial Justice Act. "It does not allow lawyers to simply present a table with some kind of stats on it to get their clients off the hook." snip... Edited by Kerri P., Jul 14 2009, 07:40 PM.
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| Kerri P. | Jul 14 2009, 07:41 PM Post #13 |
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http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/5573897/ Triangle drug lord sentenced to life in prison Posted: Today at 6:10 p.m. Wilmington, N.C. — A judge ordered life in prison Tuesday for a man who led the an organized crime family in the Triangle. Donald Santon Shealey, also known as "Face" or "Face Diddy" was convicted in March. Prosecutors said he was the leader of a drug organization known as the Face Mob Family which was responsible for large-scale distribution of heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine. Drug Enforcement Agent Rodney G. Benson said, "The government has successfully dismantled a violent and notorious drug trafficking organization." Nine co-defendants will be sentenced at a later date. |
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| Kerri P. | Jul 14 2009, 07:44 PM Post #14 |
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http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/5574535/ Ex Pa. sen. gets less than 5 yrs. for corruption Posted: 45 minutes ago PHILADELPHIA — A former Pennsylvania lawmaker who prosecutors said became "drunk with power" in his many years in the state Senate was sentenced Tuesday to less than five years in prison, a steep departure down from what the judge was asked to impose for the corruption conviction. Former Sen. Vincent Fumo misappropriated millions from the state and two nonprofits. A jury found he used their coffers to clean his mansion, charter yachts, and spy on an ex-girlfriend and political foes. "Maybe I should not have asked my staff to do the favors I did," an ashen-faced Fumo said before he was sentenced. "Judge, I never intended to steal. The last thing on my mind was taking money from anybody. I've never done that." U.S. District Judge Ronald Buckwalter imposed a sharply reduced sentence from the 15 years prosecutors asked for and the more than 20 years recommended in a probation report. Buckwalter sentenced Fumo to four years and seven months, citing what the judge said was Fumo's extraordinary public service. Even so, Buckwalter found that Fumo grew accustomed to the perks of office, flagrantly misused taxpayer money and then worked to destroy evidence. He scolded voters for returning him to Harrisburg each term. "I'm afraid voters may have succumbed to the repugnant adage, 'Our senator may be a crook, but he's our crook,'" Buckwalter said. snip... |
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| Kerri P. | Jul 14 2009, 07:46 PM Post #15 |
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http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/5574455/ ND missile crew discharged after falling asleep Posted: 58 minutes ago BISMARCK, N.D. — The Air Force discharged three North Dakota ballistic missile crew members who fell asleep while holding classified launch code devices, the military announced Tuesday. Officials said the codes were outdated and remained secure at all times. The crew members were discharged last Thursday under orders from Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, said spokeswoman Laurie Arellano. They had been barred from working around nuclear weapons and classified material since the July 12, 2008 incident, she said. The crew members were coming off a shift at a missile alert facility about 70 miles from Minot Air Force Base when they fell asleep in a secure crew rest area, Arellano said. The crew had with them code components - classified devices that allow them to communicate with missiles. Launch codes are part of the components, which were described as large, metal boxes. One of the three crew members notified senior officers that they had fallen asleep, Arellano said. The lapse prompted an investigation by the 91st Missile Wing, codes experts at the 20th Air Force, U.S. Strategic Command and the National Security Agency. The probe found the launch codes were outdated and had remained secure. "A command investigation was immediately initiated and concluded there was no actual compromise of classified information," Arellano said. snip... |
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