Shelter worker sexually abusing girl was rehired, lawsuit says, & 5 more cases
Thousands of legal cases reach U.S. courts every year. From accusations of mistreatment in prisons to fraud to sexual abuse and beyond, here are some of the latest from across the country.
Teacher preyed on 20 girls, 'fantasized' about sex acts with MA student, feds say
In Boston, federal prosecutors say John Magee Gavin, a former teacher, engaged in sexual conversations with underage girls over Discord. He contacted at least 20 minors from various states and had child sexual abuse material on his phone, according to prosecutors. Gavin faces charges including coercion and enticement of a minor and has pleaded not guilty, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. | Published July 21 | Read More
ICE 'abducted' 22-year-old student seeking medical help in Virginia, group says
Cristian Romo-Bermejo, a student in Virginia, was taken into ICE custody after seeking medical help during a mental health crisis, according to an immigrant advocacy group, CASA. The organization says Romo-Bermejo, who has lived in the U.S. for 20 years after being brought from Mexico as a toddler, was arrested and is now facing the risk of deportation. His wife and supporters are advocating for his release. | Published July 22 | Read More
Dad restrained by cops died after saying he couldn't breathe in AL, lawyers say
In Irondale, Alabama, Phillip Reeder died after being restrained by police during a mental health crisis, according to his family's lawyers. The attorneys say an officer kept a knee on Reeder's neck despite his pleas that he couldn't breathe. Reeder's death has been ruled a homicide by the coroner, according to the attorneys. | Published July 22 | Read More
'You're dead.' Man faces prison over threats to Palestinian group in DC, feds say
Kevin Brent Buchanan from Utah pleaded guilty to making threats against a Palestinian rights organization in Washington, D.C., federal prosecutors say. Buchanan left violent voicemails threatening the group's staff and now faces up to five years in prison, according to prosecutors. He admitted to targeting the group because of their advocacy for Palestinians, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. | Published July 23 | Read More
Shelter worker sexually abusing 13-year-old was fired, re-hired, GA lawsuit says
In Georgia, a lawsuit says a youth shelter employee, Caleb Xavier Randolph, sexually abused a 13-year-old girl, with the shelter's leadership allegedly covering up the abuse. The lawsuit says Randolph was fired, then rehired and continued the abuse. The girl's mother is suing multiple parties, including the shelter and local officials, under Georgia's RICO Act, according to the lawsuit. | Published July 24 | Read More
William James Purdy, a former Mormon missionary from West Valley, Utah, is accused of sexually abusing 14 boys in Tonga. Federal prosecutors say Purdy fled Tonga as a fugitive in March 2023 and was later arrested in Pittsburgh, where he was attending law school. He faces charges of sexual exploitation of children and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact, according to the Justice Department. | Published July 25 | Read More
McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuits and legal cases from around the country. Check back for more legal stories.
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USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Deportations are taking a toll on California's economy - and have only just begun
ICE raids and mass deportations could cost California $275 billion in lost wages and other funds, a report finds. Lupe Lopez can't help but notice that business and foot traffic are painfully slow these days in the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood of East San Jose, California. "A lot more people are either staying closer to home or not coming out at all," said Lopez, 69, whose family owns nine Arteagas Food Center supermarkets, one of which is in East San Jose. Young people are buying in bulk, she said, because their parents are afraid of being outside, where they might be picked up by immigration agents. "We're seeing a change in shopping habits," said Lopez, co-founder of Avanzando, a nonprofit helping Latinos make advances through education. Even as the Trump administration prepares to ramp up its immigration enforcement nationwide, the focus so far in California has already hurt local economies, research and anecdotal reports suggest. One recent study estimated that the hit to California, the world's fourth-largest economy, could be as much as $275 billion. "It's a pretty massive amount that even took us by surprise," said Bay Area Council Economic Institute Research Director Abby Raisz, author of the nonprofit's June report. "We anticipated it would be big, but we didn't realize how expansive and significant a role undocumented workers play in sustaining California's economy. It's bigger than we thought." Immigration raids led to drop in California's workforce Since the report's release, the Trump administration has expanded immigration raids to include many more people without criminal records. The Department of Homeland Security said nearly 2,800 undocumented immigrants have been arrested in Greater Los Angeles. Local media reported that many were between June 6 and 22. The raids had a dramatic and immediate impact on the workforce. Almost 465,000 California workers fled from the labor ranks during the week of June 8, as immigration authorities raided worksites across the Los Angeles area, according to a July University of California, Merced study. As a result, people working in private-sector jobs in California dropped by 3.1%, a decline not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic, the study noted, though it's unclear whether they left permanently or just for a short time. California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis said immigrants are the backbone of the state's economic workforce. "They are the workers who feed us, the caretakers who support us, the entrepreneurs who drive innovation, and the neighbors who strengthen our communities," Kounalakis said in a statement. "The ripple effects of mass deportation in California would be felt nationwide and beyond." "Carry your papers": The Trump administration is telling immigrants 'Carry your papers.' Here's what to know. Report: Undocumented workers' imprint cannot be underestimated Of California's 10.6 million immigrants, 2.3 million are undocumented, according to Pew Research Center. They account for 8% of all workers statewide. Undocumented immigrants are more likely to be in the workforce than Californians born in the United States, Bay Area Council's Raisz said, with 72% of undocumented immigrants participating in the workforce compared to about 67% of native-born. Immigrants are widespread, but concentrated in certain fields and geographic areas. More than 60% of California's agricultural workers are immigrants and almost 26% are undocumented; about 41% of the state's construction workers are immigrants and 14% are undocumented, Raisz' report found. Those workers are concentrated in coastal urban areas in the Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles, as well as in agricultural hubs in the Central Valley. "These regions are critical drivers of California's economy and understanding the potential impact of deportation on local, state, and national economies has never been more critical," the report said. And even these high figures are probably an undercount, said Darlene Tenes, the executive director of Farmworker Caravan, a San Jose-based nonprofit assisting area farmworkers with some basic needs. "It's very, very difficult to document the undocumented. They are very much a shadow community," Tenes told USA TODAY. "I think it's hard to put a number on it. You have to understand, almost every industry in California uses undocumented workers." Crossroads: Farmers are facing a fork on Trump's immigration highway. So what's next? Undocumented workers' impact on agriculture, construction Raisz said her report shows how entrenched undocumented immigrants are in California and how much they contribute to their communities. "About two-thirds of them have lived here for more than a decade, and about a third own their own homes, so they pay both income and property taxes," Raisz said. Without undocumented labor, GDP generated by California's agriculture would decline by 14%, Raisz said, and the state's construction industry would see a 16% decrease. Both sectors were already experiencing labor shortages, he said, which will only be compounded by immigration crackdowns. Tenes said Americans and some parts of the world won't have access to fresh fruits and vegetables without undocumented workers, as California's coastal counties and Central Valley are consistently among the largest agricultural producers in the nation. 'Cost burdened': America's housing is pulling further out of reach, report finds "Without (undocumented workers), we don't eat, period," Tenes said. "Everything that you eat from a grocery store, strawberries, grapes, lettuce, bread, cereal, all came from the ground at some point. Guess who picks them?" About half of the nation's 4.3 million construction workers are Hispanic and as many as 1 million of them are undocumented, according to George Carillo, CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council. Thousands of those workers are in California and will be needed as the nation faces a housing shortage of around 4.5 million homes and Los Angeles recovers from this year's deadly wildfires, Carillo said. "Who do you think is going to help rebuild those homes that were lost?" Carillo said.
Newsweek
26 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Pastor in US Over 20 Years Held by ICE After Failing To Obtain Green Card
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Maryland pastor who has lived in the United States for more than two decades was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying his visa, prompting protests from his community and calls for his release. Daniel Fuentes Espinal, 54, was taken into custody on July 21 while driving to work in Easton, Maryland. ICE said he entered the country legally in 2001 on a six-month visa but never left. "It is a federal crime to overstay the authorized period of time granted under a visitor's visa," the agency said in a statement to Newsweek. Why It Matters President Donald Trump has ordered the government to carry out what Republicans call the largest deportation operation in United States history. In addition to people living in the country without legal status, immigrants with valid documentation, including green cards and visas, have been detained. Newsweek has documented multiple cases involving green-card holders and applicants who were swept up in ICE raids. Daniel Fuentes Espinal, 54, fled Honduras with his wife and daughter in 2001 to escape poverty and violence. He was arrested on July 21, 2025, while on his way to his construction job, according to... Daniel Fuentes Espinal, 54, fled Honduras with his wife and daughter in 2001 to escape poverty and violence. He was arrested on July 21, 2025, while on his way to his construction job, according to his family. More Getty Images What To Know Fuentes Espinal, a Honduran citizen and father of three, has spent 15 years serving as a volunteer pastor at Iglesia del Nazareno Jesus Te Ama, or Church of the Nazarene Jesus Loves You, in Easton. Known for offering food, shelter and clothing to those in need, friends describe him as a man who "never expects anything in return." "Pastor Fuentes Espinal is a beloved pillar of the Easton community, known for giving shelter to those who need a place to sleep and for providing food and clothing to people at their most vulnerable," family friend Len Foxwell wrote in a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $45,000 to help the family and cover legal fees. Fuentes Espinal was first taken to a detention facility in Salisbury, Maryland, then transferred to Baltimore before being moved to the Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, Louisiana. The pastor's family said he has been trying for years to obtain a green card, spending thousands of dollars and navigating what they called a "bureaucratic nightmare." "They have felt for years as if the deck is stacked against them, despite having spent a considerable amount of money and time and effort" seeking permanent residency, Foxwell told CBS News. Supporters have mobilized quickly. Members of the Easton community gathered Friday carrying signs and American flags demanding his release. "It's devastated our community. It's shocked our community," Foxwell told CBS Baltimore. Maryland lawmakers have joined calls for his release. In a letter condemning his detention, Representatives Sarah Elfreth and Glenn Ivey described Fuentes Espinal as "a beloved pillar" of Easton and said that "his arrest and detention by ICE does nothing to further your stated goals of making America safer." Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said his team is also working with Fuentes Espinal's family. What People Are Saying A spokesperson for Republican Representative Andy Harris of Maryland, in a statement to CBS News: "Congressman Harris believes due process within the immigration enforcement system is important and that facts should be clear before making any further public comment." Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland told CBS News: "The Trump administration is snatching up anyone they can find as they pursue their mass deportation agenda." Family friend Len Foxwell told CNN: "This is a family man, a man of faith, a small businessman who was literally just going to work to put in a full day's work to feed his family." What Happens Next Fuentes Espinal is awaiting a bond hearing. His family says they will continue to fight for his release.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Pastor Detained By ICE Agents While Traveling To Help Pregnant Niece
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Immigration agents detained a pastor in Florida while he was driving to his pregnant niece, who was experiencing serious health complications, his family told Newsweek. Francisco Javier Grisales-Jaramillo, who holds dual Colombian and Spanish citizenship and has preached at the United Pentecostal Church in Getafe, Spain, was stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Hallandale Beach about 12 p.m. on July 12, the family said. The family said he has no criminal record and is in the country legally under a tourist visa while awaiting the outcome of an asylum application; however the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek he overstayed his visa by three months. "The arrest was sudden and impersonal. No violence, but no compassion. He wasn't allowed to call or inform his family. He was handcuffed and taken without a clear explanation," a member of the family who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisals, told Newsweek. Federal officers from multiple agencies remain in the hallways to monitor and assist in the removal of immigrants who are coming for immigration hearings at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan. Federal officers from multiple agencies remain in the hallways to monitor and assist in the removal of immigrants who are coming for immigration hearings at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan. Andrea Renault/STAR MAX/IPx DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek: "Francisco Javier Grisales-Jaramillo was pulled over for making an illegal U-Turn and found to be in the country illegally and was subsequently arrested. He entered the U.S. on January 5, 2025, on B-2 tourist visa that required him to depart the U.S. by April 4, 2025," Grisales-Jaramillo was granted a one-year driver's license with Real ID, the family said. "We are terrified, trying to protect our family and stay strong for our children. Our children are heartbroken. It's been incredibly difficult," the family member said. Grisales is currently being held at the Broward Transitional Center after initially being detained at Dania Beach, according to the ICE detainee locator. The family member says he is suffering emotionally and physically while in custody. "He reports poor conditions—expired food, limited and expensive phone access, poor medical care, and cold temperatures. He is experiencing emotional distress and is treated as if he were a criminal, despite having no criminal record," they said. "Any claim that there is a lack of food or subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are false," McLaughlin said. "All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and their family members. It is a longstanding practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody. "This includes medical, dental, and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. This is the best healthcare than many aliens have received in their entire lives. Meals are certified by dieticians. Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority. Grisales-Jaramillo's relative told Newsweek that the arrest has ripped the family apart. "We are emotionally drained and devastated," the family member said. "Francisco's family in Spain and Colombia is shocked and fearful. Everyone is worried and feeling helpless," they added. Grisales-Jaramillo fled to the U.S. after facing threats from gangs in both Spain and Colombia, the relative said. While living in Spain, his apartment building fell into disrepair after the owner went bankrupt, they added. Criminal groups began occupying the structure, and Grisales, along with other residents, tried to protect the building, the relative said. In return, they were threatened with violence, the relative said. His wife was pregnant at the time, and criminals threatened to burn their apartment down, according to the relative. The police could do little, the relative said, so the family eventually returned to Colombia. But even there, they were tracked, the relative said. The family received photos showing them getting out of their car, with threatening messages saying they were being watched, the relative said. They fled to the U.S. and applied for asylum legally, according to the relative. Grisales-Jaramillo's immigration hearing is scheduled for August 4, 2025.
