Crime and Punishment

When Questions From the Jury Are a Bad Sign

The idea of questions from the jury may be new to some, but in several states the law allows jurors to pose their own questions to witnesses. The questions are in writing and are screened by the judge and subject…



Witness in Tree Corroborates Story

Sometimes the full explanation is not as good as the summary, and that may be the case here, but this one does leave you wondering: NICEVILLE [Fla.] – A 24-year-old man told Niceville Police he was pulled from his bicycle…


Client: Attorney Gave Me Bad Advice, Tried to Kill Me

This lead-in by Courthouse News Service caught my eye: WOODSTOCK, Ill. (CN) – The attorney a man hired to represent him in a child custody dispute had an affair with the mother of the client's child, then tried to hire hit men…


Mullets Sentenced for Beard Crimes

Amish gang leader Samuel Mullet, Sr., three of his sons and 12 others were sentenced to prison terms today for a series of attacks against other Ohio Amish that Mullet believed were enemies of his group, which prosecutors described as…


“Aggressive Pizza-Stealing Dog” Makes Bail

Ruthlessly devoured helpless pie A dog that was arrested in Oregon yesterday after being accused of "breaking into" a family's vehicle and aggressively "devouring" their pepperoni pizza has been released, according to an updated report today. Officials in Marion County…




Scooby Doo, Where Are You? More Importantly, Where Are Your Pants?

From the police blotter, Fremont, California, January 8, 2013: IH # 13002139 Suspicious Circumstance  At approximately 4:25 a.m., witnesses called to report a suspicious male running through the parking lot of Lucky's on the 38400 block of Mowry Ave. They…


Gang of Smurfs Facing Assault Charges

Police in Melbourne say they believe the four Smurf impostors, three of whom are seen below in a 7-Eleven security-cam photo, assaulted a man about 1 a.m. on December 16 after first asking him for a cigarette. A quick search…