Florida Man Arrested for Recording Cops Wins Settlement

Posted by: Carlos Miller in Bad Cop, No Donut, Citizen Journalism, Court Settlements, PINAC News, PINAC News Top 3, Police Abuse, Recording the Police, The Blue Line December 26, 2014 47 Comments

A Florida man who was arrested last year for video recording Orlando police making an arrest received a $15,000 settlement this month.

His lawyers, however, might end up making three times that much for working his case.

And the cop who arrested him, seizing his phone as “evidence” as well as seizing another bystanders’s phone remains on the job as if nothing had happened.

The only difference is that Orlando police officer Peter Delio is now expected to follow a new departmental policy requiring officers to respect the rights of citizens to record them in public.

In other words, he is now mandated by the department to follow the law.

But Delio has a long history of complaints against him for being rude and abusive, so we shouldn’t expect him to change his ways.

At least Alberto Troche is $15,000 richer after having spent 15 hours in jail and having to wait three weeks for them to return his phone last December.

According to the Orlando Sentinel:

Troche and the city agreed to a $15,000 settlement several weeks ago, according to federal court records.

Now, his lawyers have asked a U.S. magistrate to make the city pay another $44,000 for the hours they worked on the case.

The Orlando Police Department has also changed its policies on how to handle people who video-record them in action, said Troche’s attorney, J Marc Jones.

Officers may not order members of the public to stop video-recording them or arrest or try to stop them, so long as they are in a public place, have not crossed a police line and are not interfering, according to a policy directive signed by Police Chief John Mina two months after Troche filed suit.

Officers also may not demand that a person recording them identify themselves, may not demand to know why they are making the recording and may not intentionally block or obstruct their camera, according to the directive.

“A bystander has the right under the First Amendment to observe and record … (police officers) in public discharge their duties,” the directive says.

The epidemic of mentally ill cops in America

Arbitrator orders Warren to reinstate cop fired for cutting off woman's hair weave during arrest

WARREN, Mich. (WXYZ) - A Warren Police officer who was caught on videotape hacking off a woman's hair is getting her job back.

An arbitrator ordered that Officer Bernadette Najor be reinstated. She had been fired following the incident that occurred in November 2013.

7 Action News first reported on the incident in January.

Many jails remove an inmate's hair extensions because they could be used as a weapon, but Charda Gregory didn't have extensions. Her weave was sewn into the braids on her scalp.

The firing stemmed from the arrest of Gregory, a 22-year-old hair dresser who had been taken into custody, accused of trashing a room at the Suez Motel on 8 Mile. At the time her lawyer, Paule Misukewicz, said, "She had a couple of drinks, then woke up in a strange place.  Didn't know how she got there, completely disoriented."

By the time she was brought in to the jail lock-up on the top floor of the Warren Police Department, Gregory had been pepper sprayed, but she appears calm.

However, it's clear in the video that Gregory can barely stand as she comes face-to-face with Officer Najor.

"She took it upon herself to get the scissors.  And for whatever reason, decided that she was going to butcher my client," said Misukewicz in January.

Video shows that as Officer Najor pats Gregory down, the officer pushes Gregory against the wall twice.

Suddenly Najor starts going for Gregory's hair. The officers struggle with Gregory, dragging her over to a restraining chair to tie down her arms and legs.

Officer Najor starts yanking Gregory's head from side-to-side, chopping out chunks of hair. It takes 3 full minutes before Najor gives one final yank and removes what's left of Gregory's weave.

Najor reportedly told police officials that she had to remove Gregory's weave because of alleged threats of suicide. For our original report, police officials said that was an explanation that made no sense.

At the time of our original report, officials also said this was not Najor's first discipline problem, but they could not go into details, citing restrictions on what he can legally say about a former employee.

7 Action News obtained Officer Najor's personnel records – they show she was suspended without pay for 10 days in 2010 for being "untruthful."

Despite several attempts to reach Najor by phone for our original report, she refused to talk to us when we caught up with her, instead screaming at 7 Action News Investigator Heather Catallo as she tried to get Najor's side of the story:

"If that camera is on me I will call the police! Call 911 right now!"

Because of what happened in the jail, all of the criminal charges against Charda Gregory were dismissed.

Warren Police have issued the following statement regarding the arbitrator's decision:

The City of Warren is in receipt of an arbitrator's decision reinstating a police officer involved in a highly-publicized incident in our jail.

The City strongly disagrees with the arbitrator's decision.  The actions taken by the Warren Police Department were appropriate and required.

Despite that, this is a nation of laws, and even where we believe that an arbitrator's decision is plainly wrong, we will follow it.

This unfortunate set of circumstances should not in any way detract from the brave police officers in our police department who put their lives on the line every day.  The City will continue to strive to make this excellent police department even better.

Charda settled her lawsuit against the city in February . Under the settlement agreement, the city of Warren paid Gregory $75,000 and Gregory agrees to release the city, police department and Najor from any future claims.

Cop arrested, accused of criminal sexual penetration

By Regina Ruiz

MILAN, N.M. —A local police officer is facing serious charges after a night of drinking over Christmas took a disturbing turn, according to investigators.

Milan police Officer James Watters, 25, is accused of getting an underage woman drunk and forcing her to perform oral sex. The officer's mother swears her son is innocent.

"He goes, 'I promise, I promise.' He goes, 'This is my life, this is my job.' I don't know, I don't know what to think. This isn't James," Angela Hedrick said. "A part of me wants to have so much faith in James, but then something happened because why would he be in there?"

According to New Mexico State Police agents, it all happened Christmas Eve.

Watters, Grants Police Sgt. Jessie Nieto and Jessie Terrazaz -- a former court security officer for the Cibola County Sheriff's Department -- picked up a 20-year-old woman.

All four allegedly drove to Grants High School and drank alcohol.

The victim told investigators the men kept asking her to perform oral sex or possibly have a threesome or foursome. She told the men she didn't want to do it.

Agents said that at one point  the word rape was used and that's when Nieto asked to be taken home. They dropped him off, but investigators said the night didn't end there.

According to the statement of probable cause, the victim told police she was brought to the New Mexico State University Grants Campus, she was given more alcohol and told police she was sexually assaulted.

Investigators said Terrazaz made the woman sexually touch him and Watters then forced her to perform oral sex on him.

Both men spent Christmas Day giving their side of the story to state police and both ended up behind bars.

"I honestly feel that my son didn't do it. But, only time will tell. The truth will come out. That's what I am waiting for," Hedrick said.

Watters has been with the Milan Police Department for about five months. His mother tells Action 7 News before that he was a firefighter for about four years and has three small children.

As of Friday night, Watters was still behind bars.

The Cibola County Sheriff's Department said Terrazaz was fired from the department years ago for misconduct. It was related to a domestic violence incident.

Shocker: Former Atlanta cop found guilty of police brutality

By Terry Shropshire, National Correspondent

In a bit of news that will shock citizens based on the recent trend around the nation, a former Atlanta police officer was sentenced to 10 years in prison for using excessive force.

But before you start throwing babies up in the air in celebration, the White officer was convicted of police brutality against a White victim. In fact, the victim says he was “attacked for being White in a Black neighborhood,” the AJC reports.

A jury found former officer Nick Dimauro guilty on four of five charges, including aggravated battery, guilty of aggravated assault and guilty of two counts of violation of oath of office.

As a consequence for his belligerent disregard for the laws he was supposed to uphold, the  judge sentenced Dimauro to 10 years, with five to serve in prison.

Here’s the lowdown: Dimauro reportedly stopped Robert Wormley in a northwest Atlanta neighborhood at 2:30 a.m. four years ago.

Shortly after questioning, Wormley allegedly took off, but Dimauro caught up with him in a backyard in the neighborhood then beat him with his baton, severely injuring him. Wormley spent four days in the hospital with broken teeth, broken ribs, a concussion and other injuries.

Dimauro said Wormley fought him, and he used his training to detain him.

One of Dimauro’s former partner was near tears as he told the judge it’s easy to condemn officers for mistakes the make in split-second decisions, WSBTV reported.

“What he did was his job. The fact that some people can sit around in an office and make it look like he did something else will only hurt what other officers are going to do in the future,” said the officer.

The judge was unmoved by the testimony.

“My sentence is going to be 10 years, to serve 5 years in custody,” said the judge.

Rome Cop Sentenced to Six Months in Jail For Molesting Baby Sitter

Rome police officer will spend six months in jail for sexually assaulting his 17-year-old babysitter.Jason Paul was sentenced to 10 years of probation.  He will also have to register has a level one sex offender for 20 years.  Paul pleaded guilty to third degree rape in September after admitting he had sex with the baby sitter after she said no. Before he was sentenced Paul started to cry when he said he was sorry from the bottom of his heart.

Sutter County Sheriff’s Captain Arrested On Child Abuse Charges

Nick JanesNick Janes

YUBA CITY (CBS13) – One of the top police officers in Sutter County is behind bars tonight on child abuse charges.

Yuba city police arrested Sutter sheriff’s Captain Lewis McElfresh, Jr. on Tuesday afternoon. Police say the victim is a female teenage family member.

We learned of the arrest just hours ago, and tonight, detectives are still doing interviews.

McElfresh went from running the Sutter County Jail to sitting behind bars himself next to some of the very suspects he helped arrest.

“My concern is too many parents wanting to facilitate alcohol parties,” said McElresh during an interview with CBS13 in May.

Now he’s the subject of a child abuse investigation.

“Our investigators did look into the allegation and subsequently made the arrest at the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department,” said Yuba City Police Department spokesperson Ofc. Shawna Pavey.

Police took the report Monday. By Tuesday, McElfresh was facing charges.

Authorities released few details, echoing something McElfresh told us in 2011: “If I give you the specifics, it can compromise what we’re doing.”

A woman who answered the door at his last-known address in Yuba City said she just bought the place a week ago.

Neighbors say he’s married with a daughter, but kept to himself.

“He was pretty much all business, but nice, you know? He always said hello,” said Judy, a former neighbor.

According to his bio, Captain McElfresh is a military veteran who served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

He was hired by the sheriff’s office more than two decades ago, and today is one of its highest-ranking members.

McElfresh’s bio also says he spends his free time with his daughter. Police would not say what relationship he has with the alleged victim, confirming only the teen girl — over the age of 14 — Is a relative.

We’re told by police the victim is OK and did not require hospitalization.

It will be up to the Sutter County sheriff whether to keep McElfresh at the county jail or transfer him elsewhere. He is being held on $5 million bail.

Dalton Police officer arrested for child molestation

A Dalton Police Department officer arrested for child molestation was placed on administrative leave nine days ago after allegations surfaced and is expected to be fired.

Daniel Harrison Tolbert, 32, was arrested today and booked into the Whitfield County jail.

Tolbert was placed on administrative leave “immediately after being informed by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) that he was being investigated on suspicion of child molestation,” according to a press release from the Dalton Police Department.

While Tolbert is currently on administrative leave, the city will begin the process of his termination immediately.

“I am very disappointed to hear about this allegation, and upset about the discredit this will surely bring on our department, and officers,” Dalton Police Chief Jason Parker said in the press release. “We would never condone or support the kind of behavior that would warrant this charge ... the men and women of this department hold ourselves to a very high standard of behavior, and we know the community we serve expects our behavior to be beyond reproach.”

Tolbert has served the Dalton Police Department for three months after completing the police academy in September. He was sworn in on Sept. 16. At the time of his suspension, Tolbert was still in the department’s field training program. Because of his status as a trainee, Tolbert was never unsupervised or alone while on duty as a Dalton officer. Probationary trainees ride with an experienced training officer for three phases of field training for at least four months after completing the police academy.

Tolbert is a native of Fayetteville, where he graduated from Lovejoy High School, according to information on the Dalton Police Department blog. Tolbert continued his education, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fort Valley State University. In 2012, he received a master’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia College and State University.

Before Tolbert joined the Dalton Police Department, he had a law enforcement background. He worked for the U.S. Border Patrol in California and was a jail deputy with the Clayton County Sheriff's Office. Tolbert served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2008.

Prosecutor says he was blocked in Fairfax County police shooting probe

Prosecutor says he was blocked in Fairfax County police shooting probe

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Fairfax County's top prosecutor says he was thwarted in his criminal investigation of a fatal shooting by a county police officer by the county's refusal to release records to him.

Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Morrogh, in a letter to a U.S. senator made public Tuesday, said county attorneys refused to release internal affairs records of the officer who shot 46-year-old John Geer of Springfield in August 2013.

The Geer shooting has attracted the attention of U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and others because no decision has been made on whether to charge the officer nearly 18 months after the shooting.

Morrogh said the refusal of the county attorney — a separate office — to cooperate forced him to refer the case to federal prosecutors.

Geer's family has filed a civil lawsuit.

Fairfax Co. will comply with order, release fatal shooting evidence

By Megan Cloherty | @ClohertyWTOP

WASHINGTON – Fairfax County will not appeal to a judge’s order to turn over evidence related to the fatal police shooting of a Springfield man more than a year ago.

In August 2013, an unnamed Fairfax County police officer, responding to a 911 call, shot John Geer, who was unarmed, in the doorway of his home after a more than 40-minute standoff.

The case had idled until Monday when Judge Randy Bellows ordered police to turn over evidence related to the shooting, including the name of the officer who shot Geer.

In a short statement from the county, Tony Castrilli with the Fairfax County Public Affairs Department, says the county will comply with Bellows’ order and will not appeal the decision.

Geer’s long-time partner Maura Harrington sued the county in September for $12 million in order to get answers for herself and Geer’s two daughters, she said at the time.

 “(The family) can finally see a little light at the end of the tunnel,” says Michael Lieberman, the Geer family’s attorney. “Soon they’ll know why a loved one was lost.”

Based on the order, the police department has 30 days to turn over evidence from the case to the Geer family attorneys.

You have a gun

New charges against South Bend officer to be suspended, demoted for lying

Kelli Stopczynski

 SOUTH BEND - 

An embattled South Bend Police officer is once again under the microscope. This time, Officer Jack Stilp's lawyer says it's for refusing to testify during a recent hearing in front of the Board of Public Safety.

It all started earlier this year when Police Chief Ron Teachman accused Stilp of lying on a police report and claiming a woman Stilp and another officer were sent to arrest on a warrant wasn't home, when she really was.

The board decided Wednesday Stilp violated the duty manual on that call and because of it, decided he’ll serve a 90 day, unpaid suspension and a 6 month demotion.

“These violations of the duty manual are serious in nature and implicate the integrity of the officer,” said Board of Public Safety President Laura Vasquez.

However, the board decided in a 3-2 vote the violations were not serious enough for Stilp to lose his job – something Teachman asked the board to consider.

“We’re talking about due process here,” Stilp’s lawyer, Douglas Grimes, told the board during the public comment period.

According to Grimes, he and Stilp were “prepared to accept” the suspension and temporary demotion, but they also said there’s a clear conflict of interest in the case because the board decided dates of the suspension and demotion would be determined by Teachman.

It’s unfair for Teachman to make that decision, Grimes said, because while Stilp waits for a different hearing, he’s allowed to be on administrative leave with pay.

The new allegation against Stilp stems from his testimony during his initial disciplinary hearing in October when Stilp refused to testify to the board under oath – citing his Fifth Amendment rights, Grimes said.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” the attorney continued. “They admit that he has a right to claim the Fifth Amendment privilege under the Constitution in an administrative hearing and that's what he did. Now they want to come back and charge him for having done so, which they admit that he had a right to do.”

That issue’s been set for hearing in front of the board in February.

WSBT 22 requested documentation from the city Wednesday through the Access to Public Records Act to confirm the new charges and see what discipline is recommended for Stilp this time. That request had not been fulfilled as of 4:30 p.m.

Meantime, the board is considering Stilp’s request to have the board make the suspension decision.

This is not the first time Stilp’s been in trouble. Former Interim Police Chief Chuck Hurley asked the board to fire Stilp in 2012 after Stilp talked to a local TV station and released an internal police document without permission.

Stilp went through a hearing for that and the board suspended him 5 days even though Hurley requested a 10 day suspension.

When asked by WSBT 22 if he feels as though Stilp has a target on his back, Grimes said he cannot address that.

Huntsville police officer charged with bribery, FBI keeping tight-lipped about arrest

BY MATT KROSCHEL

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A decorated Huntsville police officer was arrested and charged with bribery by the FBI on Monday.

Officer Lewis Hall faces a federal bribery charge.  Details of the case were limited late Monday, but  Federal Bureau of Investigations agents in Birmingham confirmed the arrest to WHNT News 19.

Tuesday morning, an FBI spokesperson said no further details would be released.

Huntsville Police Chief Lewis Morris directed all questions to the FBI.

In 2011, Hall was named one of the city’s top officers.

Hall has a preliminary hearing scheduled in federal court on Dec. 22 at 10 a.m.

WHNT News 19 is aggressively tracking down more on this arrest. 

The epidemic of mentally unstable cops

NYPD officer commits suicide at home in Queens

The officer, identified as Sachin Parmar Singh, 33, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Hillside Ave. address near Braddock Ave. in Hollis Hills at about 9:55 a.m., the sources said. ‘He was a real good guy ... a real sweetheart,’ a maintenance worker recalled.

BY CAITLIN NOLAN , THOMAS TRACY

NYPD officer commits suicide at home in Queens

home Thursday, police sources and witnesses said.

The officer, identified by family members as Police Officer Sachin Parmar Singh, 33, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Hillside Ave. address, part of the Bell Park Manor Terrace near Braddock Ave. in Hollis Hills at about 9:55 a.m., the sources said.

A man who identified himself as Singh’s brother-in-law said the cop returned from his night shift in East New York, Brooklyn, got into a fight with his wife, and then shot and killed himself.

Singh joined the NYPD in 2004 and started his career in the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn Heights, police sources said.

Texas Cop Shoots His Neighbor’s Dog, Gets Away With It Under Law Authorizing Vigilantism

by Ian Millhiser

Kenneth Wayne Flynn, a former deputy chief in the Fort Worth, Texas police department will not be tried for hunting down and fatally shooting a German shepherd dog that escaped from a nearby home’s yard. Although the former officer was initially charged with animal cruelty/torture, a grand jury decided not to indict him on Wednesday. Flynn was a senior leader in the police department at the time of the shooting, although he decided to retire after he was initially charged.

The shooting occurred after Flynn received a tearful call from his wife informing him that their pet cat was dead. A neighbor told Flynn’s wife that a German shepherd had been standing over the deceased cat, though it is not clear that anyone witnessed the attack itself. After a neighbor tipped him off on where he could find the dog, Flynn spotted the German shepherd along with a pit bull. He shot at the dog, fatally wounding it.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Flynn initially frustrated a police investigation into the shooting, although he later admitted that he was the shooter. Though three officers responded to the scene of the shooting and eventually found Flynn in his front yard, Flynn reportedly identified himself to the officers as a deputy chief and told them that he was “not involved” with the shooting. He also reportedly told the three officers that they “don’t need to keep looking.”

So, on the surface, this looks like an example of a case where a cop — in this case, a very high-ranking cop — was able to escape criminal charges because of their position on the police force. There is, however, another wrinkle to the case. A Texas law provides that a “dog or coyote that is attacking, is about to attack, or has recently attacked livestock, domestic animals, or fowls may be killed by . . . the attacked animal’s owner or a person acting on behalf of the owner if the owner or person has knowledge of the attack.” Thus Texas law explicitly authorizes individuals to exact vigilante justice against dogs that injure their pets.

Admittedly, the facts of this case are somewhat ambiguous. Though Flynn had reason to believe that the German shepherd was responsible for his cat’s death, the evidence against this dog appears less than airtight. In the absence of this Texas law, the German shepherd might have been taken into custody, and an investigation could have determined whether it, the pit bull, or perhaps some other animal was responsible for the cat’s death. Even if Flynn could not be convicted of killing the dog, moreover, it is possible that he could have faced charges for obstructing the three officers’ investigation if further investigations show that he did, indeed, engage in such obstruction.

Yet, despite whatever ambiguities may exist in this case, Flynn’s own attorney credits the Texas law with rescuing his client. He says that “[w]e’re glad the grand jury took a careful look at the case and correctly applied Texas law that allows an individual to kill a dangerous dog that’s just attacked one of their cats.”

If you were a woman, alone, driving your car at night and cop pulled you over...would you feel safe?

Cullman Co. court referral officer charged with sexual misconduct

No bond for St. Bernard deputy charged in Darren Sharper rape case

Salem police officer pleads guilty to bribery charge, admits trading fake legal favors for sex

Cullman Co. court referral officer charged with sexual misconduct

    CULLMAN COUNTY, AL (WBRC) - Cullman County Sheriff Mike Rainey said deputies have arrested a court referral officer for alleged sex crimes.

He said 61-year-old Winfred Eugene "J.R." Vance has been charged with two counts of first degree sexual misconduct and two counts of first degree sexual abuse.

According to Rainey, Vance has worked as a court referral officer in the drug testing area for 10 years.

Rainey said about a month ago, a female victim came forward and told them Vance had told her to take photographs of herself and asked for sexual favors. In return, he would keep her out of trouble.

Rainey said his office has received complaints against Vance before but this is the first case where the victim cooperated and there was evidence to support the allegations.

Rainey said anyone who may have been a victim of Vance is urged to call deputies at 256-734-0342 or to visit in person at 1910 Beech Ave. SE.

Vance is being held at the Cullman County Detention Center on a $42,000 cash bond.

  

No bond for St. Bernard deputy charged in Darren Sharper rape case

Andy Grimm,

A federal judge Thursday (Dec. 18) ordered former St. Bernard Sheriff's deputy Brandon Licciardi held without bond on charges of distributing drugs to women who former Saints player Darren Sharper is accused of raping.

During a hearing that ran nearly three hours, federal prosecutors called Licciardi a "predator" and heaped allegations of misconduct not included in the federal or state charges he faces in connection with the rape cases. Licciardi has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.

Using information from text messages, a St. Bernard Parish bookmaker and a drug informant, prosecutors claimed Licciardi beat his live-in girlfriend, sold club drugs and was not just involved in drugging and raping women with Sharper, but also did nothing when he found out other NFL players were drugging women at a Las Vegas convention a year ago.

"This man is in many ways, a one-man RICO case," Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Miller said. "There is nothing he will not do... he is a predator. He is a danger to the community."

U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally Shushan ordered Licciardi held in federal custody with no bond, noting that prosecutors had alleged that Licciardi, a third-generation police officer, appeared to have a history of violent behavior toward women and already faced federal charges for attempting to tamper with the investigation.

Shushan seemed especially disturbed by the fact Licciardi had in text messages admitted to beating his longtime girlfriend, and that he had never reported to police that he was present when women were being drugged at the Las Vegas convention, though he did later tell investigators who were probing Sharper's activities.

"He admitted to that. I can't excuse that," Shushan said. "He went to Vegas and was told women were being given those drugs, he is a law enforcement officer ... He probably had an obligation to report those activities.

"That leads me to believe the he is all right with those activities. That's not OK."

Federal prosecutors last week charged Licciardi with distributing the drugs Alprazolam, Diazapam and Zolpidem -- powerful prescription sedatives better known by their respective brand names as Xanax, Valium and Ambien -- to commit rape.

He also is charged with lying to Orleans Parish investigators and trying to convince a witness not to testify before a grand jury.

Licciardi last week was ordered held on $2.9 million bond on charges of aggravated rape and eight other counts in Orleans Parish in connection with a series of rapes he is accused of committing with Sharper and associate Erik Nunez in 2012 and 2013.

In Orleans Parish, Licciardi faces counts of aggravated rape in connection with the assault of a woman in February 2012 in New Orleans and battery with a dangerous weapon in of another victim that November.

Details from the November battery charge emerged in testimony by U.S. Pre-Trial Services officer James Laney. Discussing records he reviewed from Orleans Parish prosecutors, the battery count stemmed from a Nov. 12 incident at a New Orleans bar where Licciardi spiked the drink of a woman. The drugs made the victim violently ill, and she staggered to a bathroom and vomited until she fell unconscious.

When she awoke, Laney said, she was alone and locked inside the bar, which had closed. The state charge of battery with a dangerous weapon was unusual, Laney said.

"I've never seen it charged that way," Laney said. "I guess the battery was the drugs used against the woman, that made her violently ill."

In other text messages, Licciardi expressed concern investigators would find a message in which Sharper talked about one of his victims, FBI Special Agent Robert Blythe said, recalling a report from Orleans Parish investigators.

"She's on the potion," Sharper wrote. "She's ready."

He also faces three counts of human trafficking for sexual purposes, offenses the indictments states took place between July 1 and Aug. 31, 2012, and Aug. 31 and September 23, 2013. The last two dates are the same as rapes Sharper is accused of committing in 2013.

Nunez, who faces no federal charges, was ordered held on $2.5 million bond. Sharper has been jailed in California on rape charges since February, and also faces charges for alleged rapes committed in Arizona.

Licciardi's attorneys, Ralph and Brian Capitelli, protested that prosecutors did not include evidence that showed Licciardi had tried to convince Sharper not to rape one of his victims, and went with his girlfriend to Sharper's apartment to try to stop Sharper from assaulting a woman.

Licciardi's stepmother, Paula Licciardi, who had raised him, was the sole witness for the defense. She said she and her husband would post $500,000 cash and "everything they own" to secure her stepson's bond.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Miller pointed out that Paula Licciardi had not known her stepson was involved in any of the activity that he had admitted to Orleans Parish investigators or other criminal activity.

"You don't know anything about the beating. You don't know anything about the gambling. You don't know anything about the club drugs," Miller said. "Do you really know whose bond you're posting?"

Fighting back tears, Paula Licciardi replied: "Yes, I do. My son Brandon who is not a drug addict, who does not distribute drugs. Who does not sedate women to rape them."

Salem police officer pleads guilty to bribery charge, admits trading fake legal favors for sex

Kevin Moore faces more than two years in prison

ROANOKE, Va. -

A Salem police officer pleaded guilty to a federal bribery count Tuesday and could spend more than two years in prison.

 Kevin Moore admitted he traded sexual favors for fake legal deals or reduced criminal charges. In court Tuesday, prosecutors said Moore took advantage of three cooperating female witnesses. The women were involved in cases Moore was investigating as a member of the Drug Enforcement Administration regional task force. The incidents began in 2009 and continued until September of this year.

As part of Moore's plea agreement, sentencing guidelines recommend a prison term of 24 to 30 months. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 2. In the meantime, Moore is free on bond.

“Kevin Moore took a solemn oath to protect and serve the public, but then abused the authority of his badge by sexually exploiting a federal witness,” Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said in a statement. “When Moore crossed the line from enforcing the law to breaking it, his actions cast an unfortunate shadow over the selfless and courageous work of his fellow officers. Working with our law enforcement partners, the Department of Justice will expose and prosecute all such abuses of authority, in order to restore and maintain the public’s trust.”

Between June and September of 2014, Moore told a female defendant that he was in a position to help with her federal methamphetamine trafficking case. In text messages between Moore and the defendant sent in August 2014, Moore told her that he could recommend a favorable sentence in exchange for sexual favors.

The Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section in Washington DC investigated Moore after the told authorities what happened to her.

It started over text messages in April, when she texted Moore saying, "40 years and two 1 million dollar fines over my head."

Moore responded: "Well don't worry about that I will do all I can to help you out with that."

A few months later, Moore got bolder, texting: "I'm going to take care of you as long as you take care of me."

The woman replied: "I appreciate it and I will do whatever you need me to do so don't worry bout that."

Moore then said: "That's what I'm talking about girl. Lol."

Back and forth the texts went until August, when they discussed a location and Moore texted "I'm licking my chops now lol."

The next day, Aug. 21, 2014, she gave him oral sex in a gas station parking lot.

Moore also admitted to similar conduct with two other female witnesses in federal drug cases dating back to 2009. In both cases, he told witnesses that he convinced federal prosecutors not to charge them with federal offenses. He then solicited sexual favors in exchange for his help. (Click here to read the statement of facts.)

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is evaluating Moore’s cases that he worked on as a task force officer for the DEA. Timothy Heaphy, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, says his office is considering whether or not Moore’s guilty plea requires disclosure to defendants and counsel in cases that Moore was involved in as an investigator. Heaphy was recused from the Moore case.

“This United States Attorney’s Office will make those disclosures and ensure that we fulfill our important obligation to provide potentially exculpatory information to all criminal defendants,” Heaphy said in a statement. “We will handle this matter in accord with the high professional and ethical standards expected of federal prosecutors.”

Moore was suspended without pay by the Salem Police Department after being arrested October 10th. The department says Moore’s employment status will be handled expeditiously “and in a manner that will show that such behavior will not be tolerated,” Salem Police Chief Tim Guthrie said.

“We appreciate the work of the U.S. Justice Department and the F.B.I. in bringing this matter to light. The men and women of our department are a dedicated group of individuals and should not be judged by the actions of one person,” Guthrie said.

Here is the news release from the Department of Justice:

A police officer employed by the City of Salem, Virginia, and assigned to a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force pleaded guilty today for soliciting and receiving sexual favors from a cooperating defendant in exchange for agreeing to recommend a favorable sentence to a federal prosecutor on the defendant’s behalf.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Lee of the FBI’s Richmond Division and Special Agent in Charge Michael Tompkins of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.

“Kevin Moore took a solemn oath to protect and serve the public, but then abused the authority of his badge by sexually exploiting a federal witness,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “When Moore crossed the line from enforcing the law to breaking it, his actions cast an unfortunate shadow over the selfless and courageous work of his fellow officers. Working with our law enforcement partners, the Department of Justice will expose and prosecute all such abuses of authority, in order to restore and maintain the public’s trust.”

“Cases involving corruption of law enforcement officials are among the FBI’s highest priority criminal investigations. The public should expect integrity from those sworn to uphold the law. Mr. Moore’s breach of his sworn duty in this case is particularly pernicious as he exploited his victims in the most personal way. The Richmond Division of the FBI continues to have confidence in the City of Salem Police Department. We value our partnership with the Department and the proud men and women who serve their community with distinction everyday,” said Special Agent in Charge Lee.

“The OIG will aggressively investigate with its law enforcement partners allegations of misconduct among Department employees, contractors, and deputized task force officers to help ensure the Department of Justice performs its critical work with integrity,” said Special Agent in Charge Tompkins.

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We REALLY need to raise IQ standards on police forces that take federal funds

Patrolman Patrick Cahill to six months in prison for abusing his then 9-year-old sister in 2012.

10-year-old handcuffed during police stop in Middletown

Cop gets prison sentence

By Russ Olivo

WOONSOCKET – A Superior Court judge on Monday sentenced suspended city Patrolman Patrick Cahill to six months in prison for abusing his then 9-year-old sister in 2012.

Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini sentenced Cahill to 10 years in all, with six months to serve and the balance suspended, with probation, for choking the girl and dragging her by the hair.

The 25-year-old policeman must surrender all his firearms, undergo mental health counseling and refrain from contacting his sister as part of the judge’s sentence.

The judge allowed Cahill to remain free on bail at least until Jan. 14. At that time Procaccini will decide whether Cahill must report to the Adult Correctional Institutions or be allowed to remain free on bail pending an appeal, according to Amy Kempe, spokeswoman for Attorney General Peter Kilmartin.

Cahill was convicted of second-degree child abuse after a seven-day trial on Oct. 9.

Testimony showed that on Aug. 20, 2012, Cahill threw his sister on a sofa after pulling her indoors – by the hair – from the front drive of his house on Newport Avenue. Then he pressed his knee on her chest and squeezed her throat with his hands until her face turned red and she started coughing.

She complained of difficulty breathing after Cahill let go. The episode happened while two of Cahill’s sisters, including an 11-year-old, were visiting him at the home Cahill shared with his father, Michael Cahill, a retired Woonsocket police captain.

After the girls had been watching TV for some time, Cahill became angry after the younger girl asked him if she could go outside to play. Cahill had instructed the girl to stay in the house, but she went outside anyway, at which point Cahill went after her and grabbed her by her ponytail.

After the trial, it was Procaccini alone who found Cahill guilty because he waived his right to a trial by jury. At the time, Kilmartin called Cahill’s actions “reprehensible and disturbing.”

Cahill has been on unpaid administrative leave from the Woonsocket Police Department since the time of his arrest. His status is not expected to change immediately.

After the conviction, Police Chief Thomas Carey said the department would not revisit the issue of Cahill’s employment status until he had exhausted all of his appellate rights in the judicial system.

 10-year-old handcuffed during police stop in Middletown

By Kaitlyn Naples

MIDDLETOWN, CT (WFSB) -

Working undercover, Middletown detectives executed an arrest warrant last Wednesday night outside of a South Main Street liquor store.

Police arrested 27-year-old Kenneth Ford on drug charges and reckless driving and evading responsibility.

Police said they watched and followed Ford first, from the Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

Ford reportedly left the school twice for two different drug deals before returning to pick up a female and head to the liquor store.

Police confronted Ford outside of the store and heard screaming from inside of his car.

The female in the back seat was a fifth grade student that he picked up from basketball.

Attorney Corey Brinson said, “They (police) grabbed my 10-year-old client, a fifth grader, threw her up against car, and handcuffed her. Patted her on the side of the car, while guns were drawn and she screamed in terror, frightened.”

Ford asked police to call the girl's mother, who told officers her age which is when police then removed the handcuffs immediately.

The child was placed in another unmarked car before returning to the police station to be picked up by her mom.

"I can understand concerns mom would have when daughter handcuffed, but have to do everything in safest possible manner,” said Middletown Police Lt. Heather Desmond.

Police said Ford is a convicted felon known to carry guns. They found four cell phones, seven bags of crack cocaine and almost $3,000 in cash in his possession.

They also said some of the drugs were in plain view and within immediate reach of the girl.

The child's mother said she wants a resolution and some sympathy.

“She's a very sensitive kid. She's been crying for days, missed school, went back today, still upset, and is going to seek therapy,” said her mother Canaa Chaney.

“Many of us have children of our own, never want to see a child in this situation and not be with someone selling drugs and unfortunately daughter in place and police acted appropriately,” Desmond said.

Brinson said he and his clients are likely going to file a federal lawsuit for wrongful false arrest and unlawful imprisonment “because enough is enough, handcuff her and throw her against the car.”

On Friday, Ford was still behind bars and he and the girl's mother have a child together.

She said she has never known him to carry a gun or be in a situation with crack in clear view.