‘Stowaway' sentenced over hiding in Delta flight bathroom & 5 more legal cases
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
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.
Veteran faked military awards for government job, feds say. He gets prison in FL
In Jacksonville, Florida, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran was sentenced to three months in prison over making false statements to a federal agency, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. Prosecutors say he fabricated military accolades, including a prestigious combat medal, to secure a government intelligence job and claim disability benefits. The man, who pleaded guilty, also received three years of supervised release and a $2,500 fine, according to prosecutors. | Published May 16 | Read More
Man planned Halloween 'sex party' to abuse child, feds say. He's convicted in FL
In West Palm Beach, Florida, Michael Gordon Douglas, a 48-year-old from Escondido, California, was convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material and attempting to entice a minor for sexual activity, according to federal prosecutors. Douglas, a repeat sex offender, was caught planning a Halloween 'sex party' involving a child, which led to a standoff with a SWAT team, prosecutors say. He faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. | Published May 19 | Read More
Deputy, dad of 4, died after explosion at CA shooting range. Now, family sues
In California, the family of Alfredo 'Freddy' Flores, who was a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, filed a wrongful death lawsuit after he died from burns sustained in an explosion at a mobile shooting range. The lawsuit accuses Los Angeles County, the sheriff's department and the range's manufacturer of negligence, citing unsafe conditions that led to the fire. The family seeks accountability and aims to prevent future tragedies. | Published May 20 | Read More
'Stowaway' hid in bathroom of Delta flight, feds say. Now, Texas man sentenced
In Utah, a Texas man was sentenced to six months of time served for attempting to fly to Austin from Salt Lake City without a boarding pass by hiding in a Delta Air Lines plane bathroom, federal prosecutors say. The man, who pleaded guilty, was caught after the flight crew noticed him, according to court documents. He was fined $5,000 and also sentenced to three years of supervised release, prosecutors say. | Published May 21 | Read More
Girls confined to 'box' if they fought sex abuse at FL youth center, suit says
In Santa Rosa County, Florida, a lawsuit filed by five women says they were subjected to sexual abuse and harsh punishment at the now-closed Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility. The lawsuit accuses staff of confining girls who resisted abuse to a small, cement room known as the 'box.' The suit seeks justice for the survivors and aims to expose systemic failures in the juvenile justice system. | Published May 22 | Read More
'Fisherman frustrated with dolphins shot and poisoned them in Florida, feds say'
In Florida, Zackery Brandon Barfield, a Panama City commercial fisherman, was sentenced to 30 days in prison over shooting and poisoning bottlenose dolphins, according to federal prosecutors. Barfield, frustrated with dolphins eating snapper caught by his clients, used a toxic pesticide to poison the dolphins and shot them during fishing trips, including in front of children, prosecutors say. He was fined $51,000 and sentenced to one year of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida. | Published May 23 | 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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33 minutes ago
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Marines prepare to integrate with military task force in L.A., although mission now uncertain
Hundreds of members of the U.S. Marine Corps could soon be joining the military task force assembled in Los Angeles in response to immigration enforcement protests, although it's unclear if they'll be returned to their previous command before ever hitting the streets. On Thursday, the U.S. Northern Command confirmed that Marines mobilized to L.A. conducted 'mission orientation and familiarization' in the area and could be integrating with the thousands of National Guardsmen already given orders in the city. The Marines would be joining Task Force 51, the U.S. military's name for the hundreds of troops deployed to the greater Los Angeles area to protect federal buildings and federal agents. But just as the Marines came one step closer to joining the National Guard in their federal protection mission, President Donald Trump was dealt a legal blow that puts into question how much longer a military presence will remain on L.A.'s streets. Trump ordered the National Guard into the city without coordinating with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass or California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the latter of whom filed a legal challenge of the president's authority to do so. The use of the military to quell civil unrest without a request from local leaders is considered highly unusual and, in Newsom's view, potentially illegal. Newsom's lawsuit met a legal hurdle after a federal judge denied the state's request for an urgent pause on the deployment of troops. A formal hearing for a temporary restraining order was instead held Thursday, with Newsom's claim ultimately proving successful. A federal judge ruled the Trump did not follow the 'congressionally mandated procedure for his actions,' ruling that seizing control of the California National Guard from Newsom's control as the state's governor was illegal and violated the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Trump was then ordered to return control of the California National Guard to Newsom. The president has not yet responded to the court's decision. 'The court just confirmed what we all know — the military belongs on the battlefield, not on our city streets,' Newsom said on social media. 'End the illegal militarization of Los Angeles now,[President Trump]. History is watching.' The Trump Administration has argued that the mobilization of troops was necessitated by local authorities not doing enough to protect federal agents conducting immigration raids at various locations across the area. Last Friday, the first of targeted enforcement operations took place in downtown L.A. and in the nearby Westlake District. After several people were loaded into unmarked vehicles at a downtown clothing store, a crowd developed with many seen shouting at federal agents, and even throwing items at their vehicles. Those overnight protests grew destructive in the days that followed, with looting and vandalism reported, as well as multiple driverless Waymo taxis being torched. Trump and his allies have characterized those protests as widespread across Los Angeles, leaving chaos in their wake. In reality, the protests, and ensuing looting and vandalism, have happened primarily in a small portion of downtown L.A. less than one square-mile. While Trump has called protesters 'troublemakers' and 'agitators,' Bass and Newsom have lobbed those same barbs back at the president, accusing him of fanning the flames of unrest for political gain and to advance his immigration goals. While protests have been moderately tame over the past two days due to an overnight curfew in downtown, National Guard Brigadier General Scott Sherman told ABC News he expected activity to 'ramp up' in the coming days. Sherman was put in command of the federal protection task force in Los Angeles, and it remains to be seen what, if any, role he will have with enforcement in the coming days. On Saturday, as the White House watches its long-sought after military parade finally taking place to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army, as well as Trump's birthday, counterprotests are planned at hundreds of locations across the globe. Local leaders have urged calm in these demonstrations in hopes of reducing any chance of violence breaking out between the public and law enforcement officers and their military counterparts. According to the U.S. Northern Command, military personnel have been granted the authority to detain individuals during protests if they are committing crimes or interfering with immigration operations, but arrests are ultimately the jurisdiction of local law enforcement. 'Department of Defense military personnel on this mission are performing ground activities to protecting federal functions, personnel, and property. If necessary, this support may include crowd control and establishment of security perimeters to ensure federal personnel are protected from harm or threat of bodily injury while those they protect perform their federal duties,' military officials said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
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British national pleads guilty to defrauding homeowners
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A British national accused of scamming homeowners in three states pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges Thursday in Providence as part of a plea agreement. Elijah Gavin, 29, faces a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison and a fine of up to $1.2 million. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Gavin was one of what the FBI calls Conmen Travelers, which are groups of Irish or U.K. nationals who swindle homeowners in a contracting scheme. Feds warn homeowners of 'traveling conman' scheme Court documents say Gavin claimed he was a contractor and used different aliases like 'Simon Kelly' and 'Timothy O'Reilly' to defraud homeowners in three states, including Rhode Island, where he targeted a 78-year-old widow. According to those documents, the woman paid Gavin more than $850,000 in separate checks for work he performed on the foundation and roof of her home in 2023. She later called police after her bank flagged a wire transfer Gavin had requested, saying his account 'dealt with Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies' and was not a construction company. Investigators used surveillance video of Gavin depositing money at a Providence ATM and a mugshot published by a U.K. news outlet to identify him. Upon seeing the booking photo, the victim reportedly pointed to the laptop and said, 'That's Tim!' Police took Gavin into custody in February. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland has had him listed as 'unlawfully at large' since 2022, when he went on the lam after being convicted of a number of offenses, including burglary, bodily harm and drug possession. Interview: Irish journalist on 'Traveling Conman Fraud' The plea agreement notes that Gavin may have the option to transfer his sentence abroad through the international prisoner transfer program. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September. Target 12 reached out to his attorney for a comment, but hasn't heard back. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
5 hours ago
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Jury finds Haverhill School Committee member not guilty of groping teen
A juror told the station that surveillance video from the convenience store did not corroborate the teen's version of events. Neither Ferguson nor her lawyer responded to requests for comment from the Globe on Thursday. Advertisement The mother recognized Ferguson from her son's description and alerted police. Officers went to Ferguson's home and arrested her. According to a police report, Ferguson approached the teen, who was wearing a Halloween mask, outside the store around 7:45 p.m. The report said Ferguson groped the boy's buttocks when she entered the store and grabbed at his chest when she left. 'Oh, you have nipples,' Ferguson said, according to the report. The report also said Ferguson called the teen a 'creep' after he told her to go away. Ferguson did not deny interacting with the teen. She told police she had been at the store playing Keno and that she had poked the boy in the chest and told him he was 'scary.' Advertisement Ferguson denied any further physical interaction, the report said. While awaiting trial, Ferguson was released on personal recognizance with a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. She was ordered to stay away from minors and had to wear a GPS monitor. Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett and Superintendent Margaret Marotta did not respond to requests for comment from the Globe Thursday. Ferguson was elected to the School Committee in November 2023. Ferguson told 97.9 WHAV that she intends to finish out her term with the School Committee, which ends Dec. 31, and does not intend to run for re-election. Tonya Alanez can be reached at
