Latest news with #CountyAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
County attorney shuts down massage parlor near El Paso airport
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The County Attorney's Office announced that it has obtained a temporary restraining order to temporarily shut down a massage parlor near the El Paso International Airport. The temporary restraining order to shut down Oriental Massage Spa, 6301 Airport Road, came after an extensive investigation that showed ongoing violations of state law, the County Attorney's office said. The investigation, led by the El Paso Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, uncovered evidence of erotic services being offered at the spa, including sexual contact, along with the employment of unlicensed massage therapists, the County Attorney's Office said. In addition to these findings, the business was cited for numerous regulatory violations, including failure to maintain required employee and client records and failure to obtain proper client consultation documents, the County Attorney's Office said. The complaint outlines at least 27 violations of the Texas Occupations Code and 33 violations of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, the County Attorney's Office said. The lawsuit names Oriental Massage Spa LLC, Billy Wayne Fondren, Haifeng Xiao, and Yanling Wang as defendants. Yanling Wang and Haifeng Xiao are listed as the business owners, while Billy Wayne Fondren is the recorded property owner, the County Attorney's Office said. As a result of the Court's order, the business will remain closed at least until June 12. A hearing to determine whether a temporary injunction will be granted is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 12 in the 168th District Court. County Attorney Christina Sanchez said: 'Our Nuisance Abatement Team is dedicated to addressing community problems through civil litigation. When businesses habitually violate state law and operate as hubs for illegal activity, they become a detriment to the safety and well-being of our neighborhoods. 'This case demonstrates how we can use civil remedies, like nuisance abatement lawsuits, to shut down operations that contribute to larger issues and improve the quality of life for the citizens of El Paso County,' Sanchez said. This effort was carried out in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division Human Trafficking Unit, the El Paso Police Department Vice Unit, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Show Low journalist accused of faking social media posts about missing teen, officials say
The editor of an online news outlet in northern Arizona was charged with fraud and obstructing an investigation after authorities said she made fake social media posts about a missing teenager. Jarrett Brooks, 17, went missing from his home in Joseph City in July 2023, according to the Navajo County Sheriff's Office. The Navajo County Attorney's Office said Molly Ottman, 50, of Show Low, made several Reddit posts posing as Brooks' father, Brian. The posts made months after the teenager's disappearance implied the man had molested his son. Ottman later contacted investigators to report the posts, the County Attorney's Office said. Police began investigating the allegations, executing search warrants at the man's residence and the offices of a private investigator he employed. They ultimately concluded that Ottman had made the posts herself. She works as an editor at the Mountain Daily Star, an online publication that covers Navajo and Apache counties. "A 16-year-old boy was missing, and all of law enforcement's energy and resources should have been able to remain focused strictly on the search for that young man," Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon said in a statement. "Diverting attention, resources and time to fabricated evidence creates unwarranted distractions during time-sensitive investigations." Ottman was due in court June 2. She did not respond to The Arizona Republic's request for comment on May 29, but previously told State 48 News the allegations against her were "absolutely untrue." She told the outlet she would plead not guilty in the case. Jarrett has been missing for nearly two years. He was first reported as a runaway July 4, 2023, according to the County Attorney's Office. The teen reportedly had an argument with his parents over being grounded before leaving, the office said. The County Attorney's Office said various law enforcement agencies have conducted "extensive searches" for Jarrett. The Sheriff's Office said in 2024 it had investigated hundreds of tips and leads regarding Jarrett's disappearance, but none offered credible information. Jarrett was last seen dressed in a black t-shirt with "AMERICA" across the front, blue jeans, cowboy boots and a baseball hat. He was described by law enforcement as a white male with brown eyes and blond hair. He is about 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 140 pounds. If you have any information regarding Jarrett's whereabouts, call the Navajo County Sheriff's Office at 928-524-4050. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona news editor accused of implying dad molested missing son
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arizona woman gets years in prison for using stolen identity to get health care
A Maricopa County woman was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison and ordered to pay restitution after she accumulated nearly $300,000 in medical bills using a stolen identity, prosecutors said. Between September 2022 and March 2024, Shannon Lee Smith, 48, used another woman's name to fraudulently obtain medical care from various hospitals and ambulance providers, according to a statement from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The woman discovered her identity had been stolen when she received a bill from her insurance company for services she never received, the County Attorney's Office statement said. Smith received care at the Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, according to her indictment. She was ordered to repay Honor Health, Maricopa Ambulance, Radiology Partners, Mayo Clinic and Aetna, the insurance company, according to her plea agreement. "The impact of identity theft goes far beyond the financial implications," said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. "It takes away a victim's peace of mind and leaves them to deal with the fallout of having false information tied to their name. I am proud of the work our prosecution team has done to hold the defendant accountable and allow the victim to start reclaiming her life." Victimized: Arizonans' stolen personal information used in large-scale fraud scheme This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona woman gets prison for using stolen identity for health care
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Scottsdale 'Bachelor' accuser indicted on fraud charges after claiming pregnancy
Laura Owens, the woman a judge said falsely accused former "The Bachelor" contestant Clayton Echard of impregnating her, has been indicted on fraud charges, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Owens, of Scottsdale, filed a petition for a court order of paternity seeking child support from Echard in Maricopa County Superior Court in August 2023. Owens initially claimed that she became pregnant with twins after having sex with Echard. Echard claimed Owens' paternity lawsuit was filed as a form of harassment and denied paternity. In court filings, he said they had oral sex, but "that was all." Echard accused Owens of lying and fabricating medical documents. His attorneys also submitted examples of Owens threatening to take the story to the press. In a scathing ruling issued in June 2024, a judge sided with Echard, finding Owens had altered documents, changed the results of a pregnancy test, given false testimony and potentially perjured herself in what the judge said appeared to be "a case of serial fabrications." Judge Julie Mata wrote that Owens had acted unreasonably, saying she had initiated litigation "without basis or merit." "Without an authentic ultrasound, sonogram, physical examination, and in conjunction with a belief she passed tissue in July 2023, the Court finds the underlying Petition premature at best," Mata wrote. "At worst, however, fraudulent and made to incite communication, a relationship, or both, with (Echard)." In her decision to award attorneys' fees to Echard, Mata said Owens' petition was not filed in good faith nor was it grounded in fact or based on law. Mata found Owens provided false testimony about her pregnancies in three cases and presented false claims. Clayton Echard posted an Instagram story on May 6, 2025, expressing his relief with the charging decision. In addition, Mata referred Owens for felony prosecution for violating Arizona's laws regarding perjury and evidence tampering. An Arizona appeals court upheld the trial court ruling in April. A spokesperson for the County Attorney's Office on May 6 said the office had been investigating Owens after the referral from Mata. "MCAO investigators found that between May 2023 and June 2024, Owens altered an ultrasound image, fabricated a pregnancy video, and lied multiple times under oath," the spokesperson said in a news release. Court documents showed a grand jury indicted Owens on seven felony counts: One count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, a Class 2 felony. One count of forgery, a Class 4 felony. Four counts of perjury, a Class 4 felony. One count of tampering with physical evidence, a Class 6 felony. Owens did not immediately respond to attempts to reach her for comment on May 6. Echard posted a story on Instagram following the decision thanking God and linking back to the County Attorney's Office news release. Upheld: Former 'Bachelor' star Clayton Echard wins again in Arizona paternity case Have a news tip? Reach the reporter at jjenkins@ or 812-243-5582. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JimmyJenkins. (This story has been updated to add more information and a photo.) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Officials: 'Bachelor' accuser faked pregnancy video, lied under oath
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Scottsdale 'Bachelor' accuser indicted on fraud charges after claiming pregnancy
Laura Owens, the woman a judge said falsely accused former "The Bachelor" contestant Clayton Echard of impregnating her, has been indicted on fraud charges, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Owens, of Scottsdale, filed a petition for a court order of paternity seeking child support from Echard in Maricopa County Superior Court in August 2023. Owens initially claimed that she became pregnant with twins after having sex with Echard. Echard claimed Owens' paternity lawsuit was filed as a form of harassment and denied paternity. In court filings, he said they had oral sex, but "that was all." Echard accused Owens of lying and fabricating medical documents. His attorneys also submitted examples of Owens threatening to take the story to the press. In a scathing ruling issued in June 2024, a judge sided with Echard, finding Owens had altered documents, changed the results of a pregnancy test, given false testimony and potentially perjured herself in what the judge said appeared to be "a case of serial fabrications." Judge Julie Mata wrote that Owens had acted unreasonably, saying she had initiated litigation "without basis or merit." "Without an authentic ultrasound, sonogram, physical examination, and in conjunction with a belief she passed tissue in July 2023, the Court finds the underlying Petition premature at best," Mata wrote. "At worst, however, fraudulent and made to incite communication, a relationship, or both, with (Echard)." In her decision to award attorneys' fees to Echard, Mata said Owens' petition was not filed in good faith nor was it grounded in fact or based on law. Mata found Owens provided false testimony about her pregnancies in three cases and presented false claims. In addition, Mata referred Owens for felony prosecution for violating Arizona's laws regarding perjury and evidence tampering. An Arizona appeals court upheld the trial court ruling in April. A spokesperson for the County Attorney's Office on May 6 said the office had been investigating Owens after the referral from Mata. "MCAO investigators found that between May 2023 and June 2024, Owens altered an ultrasound image, fabricated a pregnancy video, and lied multiple times under oath," the spokesperson said in a news release. Court documents showed a grand jury indicted Owens on seven felony counts: One count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, a Class 2 felony. One count of forgery, a Class 4 felony. Four counts of perjury, a Class 4 felony. One count of tampering with physical evidence, a Class 6 felony. Owens did not immediately respond to attempts to reach her for comment on May 6. Upheld: Former 'Bachelor' star Clayton Echard wins again in Arizona paternity case Have a news tip? Reach the reporter at jjenkins@ or 812-243-5582. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JimmyJenkins. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Officials: 'Bachelor' accuser faked pregnancy video, lied under oath
