Latest news with #MCAO
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
3 sentenced for deadly 2023 Tempe drive-by shooting
The Brief Three men were sentenced for a deadly drive-by shooting in Tempe back in March 2023. A boy, 5, was killed and a teen boy and girl were injured in the shooting near 48th Street and Broadway Road. TEMPE, Ariz. - Three men were sentenced for their roles in a deadly Tempe drive-by shooting that killed a little boy and injured a teen and young girl. What we know In March 2023, Alfred Gary, Freddy Patterson and Charles Adams pulled up alongside a black Chevrolet Impala at a red light near 48th Street and Broadway Road in Tempe. Seven people were inside the Impala, mostly kids and teens, and they shot more than 20 rounds into it. A five-year-old boy was killed, and a 17-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl were injured. "The defendants then picked up dinner before returning to the crime scene to take a video, which they used to brag about the shooting with fellow gang members," the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said. Documented gang members, Patterson and Adams, had an issue with a rival gang member inside the Impala. "All three defendants pleaded guilty to a range of felony offenses, including second-degree murder, drive-by shooting, conspiracy to commit a drive-by shooting, and aggravated assault. Gary was sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Patterson and Adams were each sentenced to 30 years in prison," MCAO said. Patterson and Adams had another five years tacked onto their sentences because of a drive-by shooting that happened two days earlier. They shot into a car with a mother and her kids inside – no one was hurt.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man sentenced to 174 years in prison for prostituting a runaway teen
The Brief Leroy Ellis Jr., 32, was sentenced to 174 years in prison for forcing a runaway teen into prostitution, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said on May 29. The teen was commended by county attorney Rachel Mitchell for testifying in the suspect's trial by jury. MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. - A 32-year-old man was sentenced to nearly two centuries in prison for forcing a runaway teen to work as a prostitute, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said. What we know Leroy Ellis Jr. was sentenced to 174 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of child sex trafficking and committing a dangerous crime against children. "In 2022, the victim – who was 15 at the time - traveled from California to Arizona after meeting Ellis on Facebook. After she arrived in Phoenix, Ellis groomed her to start working for him as a prostitute right after her 16th birthday," the county attorney's office said on May 29. "The victim testified that over the next several months she gave everything she earned from sex to the defendant. On at least two occasions, she had sex so Ellis would have money to pay for his son's birthday party and buy presents." MCAO says texts between the victim and Ellis show that he would approve her "dates" and the prices. The office also says she was "branded" with tattoos of Ellis' name and nickname in large letters. Those tattoos were seen in photos he'd post online for "sex advertisements." "This woman showed incredible bravery by testifying about how she was manipulated and victimized by the defendant," said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. "Thank you to the Phoenix Police detectives who rescued her from a life of prostitution, and to the prosecution team in my office for finding justice for this woman who has been so horribly abused." What you can do Click here to learn more about resources in Arizona for trafficking victims.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Laura Owens faked pregnancy with ‘Bachelor' star, officials say. She's indicted
National Laura Owens faked pregnancy with 'Bachelor' star, officials say. She's indicted Clayton Echard was noticeably excited to learn that Laura Owens was indicted on seven felony charges related to his paternity case. Screengrab from @claytonechard's Instagram. Laura Owens has been indicted on felony charges after a yearlong investigation into her paternity case. The 34-year-old daughter of longtime San Francisco radio host Ronn Owens previously accused former 'The Bachelor' star Clayton Echard of impregnating her with twins. Owens, who was seeking child support, filed a paternity suit against Echard in 2023, per the San Francisco Chronicle. Echard denied the allegations and clarified that their previous encounters didn't involve intercourse — and that he couldn't be the father of her children. Owens eventually dropped the lawsuit after allegedly suffering a miscarriage. The case was then sent to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (MCAO), which has been investigating inconsistencies in Owens' testimony. On May 6, the MCAO announced the indictment of Owens. The attorney's office found that Owens had 'altered an ultrasound image, fabricated a pregnancy video, and lied multiple times under oath' between May 2023 and June 2024, according to a news release. Owens was indicted on seven felony charges, including one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of forgery and one count of tampering with physical evidence. She was also charged with four counts of perjury. The indictment comes nearly one year after Judge Julie Mata of Maricopa County Superior Court called Owens' claims 'fraudulent and baseless,' per the San Francisco Chronicle. In June 2024, Owens called Judge Mata out on the 'absurdity' of her ruling in an article published on Medium. Owens argued that her evidence couldn't be 'meaningless' after providing 'multiple at-home tests, a urine pregnancy test done at an urgent care facility, and even a blood test for pregnancy done at a lab.' Owens also accused Judge Mata of favoring Echard due to his celebrity status. On May 6, Echard took to his Instagram account to celebrate 'justice has finally been served.' The 32-year-old reality star first appeared as a contestant on Season 18 of 'The Bachelorette' before being named the star of Season 26 of 'The Bachelor,' which aired in 2022. In his video, Echard detailed the charges against Owens before saying, 'This nightmare is over.' 'I am so ready to not have to think about this anymore,' Echard exclaimed, ultimately thanking the investigators and his legal team for 'serving up justice.' 'This is just such a weight lifted off,' he continues. 'We are so, so thankful. And thank you all for your support. I have not been this happy as a weight of two years lifted off my shoulders.' After the June 2024 ruling that found Owens' testimony to be baseless, Echard praised himself for staying strong throughout the legal proceedings. 'There were plenty of times where I felt like I just wanted to give up and not fight because it just was taking up so much of my energy to do so,' he told People at the time. 'But I just learned that sticking to it and really fighting for yourself. I mean, no one will fight for you like you will,' he added. RB Ryan Brennan Miami Herald Email this person Ryan Brennan is a writer for Mamas Uncut, the online place for moms. He writes about the latest in baby names, parenting and entertainment.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Grand jury indicts man on multiple felony sexual assault charges involving minors
A grand jury indicted a man on multiple felony counts after DNA testing linked him to cases dating back nearly 25 years, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced April 9. Prosecutors said 45-year-old Dat Vu was indicted on the following: Two counts of sexual assault. Two counts of sexual conduct with a minor. One count of kidnapping. One count of attempt to commit sexual conduct with a minor. One count of sexual abuse. MCAO said Vu committed the crimes between 2000 and 2005 involving four victims between the ages of 13 and 17. The agency said Vu threatened victims with a gun during two of the incidents. His next scheduled court hearing is on May 6 in Maricopa County Superior Court. MCAO said investigators connected Vu to the assaults through DNA testing conducted with sexual assault kits funded by Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, or SAKI, grants. The agency said it was awarded $6.3 million for SAKI grants between 2016 and 2021, along with an additional $2.5 million in December 2024 to go toward DNA testing in cold cases involving sexual assaults. "SAKI grants help us take a crucial step toward closure by providing the resources necessary to process sexual assault kits,' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a written statement. 'It's not only about solving these cases but restoring hope and giving victims the long-overdue justice they deserve.' Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at or 480-341-9433. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DNA testing leads to indictment of Arizona man on multiple felony charges
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Prosecutors decide against death penalty for parents accused of murdering 7-year-old
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has refused to explain why it is no longer seeking the death penalty against a former Phoenix police detective and his Australian wife accused of murdering the former's 7-year-old daughter more than six years after the agency initially sought capital punishment against the couple. Germayne Cunningham was a 12-year veteran of the department and resigned amid a Goodyear police investigation in 2017. Lisa Cunningham, Germayne's wife, was the girl's stepmother. The couple have been held in a Maricopa County jail since 2018 after prosecutors filed a notice that they would seek the death penalty against them if they were convicted of first-degree murder. On Feb. 10, prosecutors filed a motion withdrawing their intent to seek the death penalty against the couple. The filing did not offer a reason behind the decision. When asked why prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty against the parents after over six years of intending to and months before trial, MCAO declined to comment citing its policy to not discuss the details of open cases. Court documents outline disturbing allegations about the couple's treatment of the girl, Sanaa Cunningham, over a period of several months in 2016 and 2017. Prosecutors alleged Sanaa was subjected to 'forcible work' in the backyard during the summer that included raking rocks and picking up feces with her bare hands, was tied with a RIPP restraint, a device that restricts movement, and at various times confined to the garage, laundry room or patio 'with trash.' Neighbors would report that they saw Sanaa wearing only a diaper. Documents say Sanaa's decline in mental and behavioral health began in April 2016 after the couple removed her from school and began homeschooling her instead. Prosecutors said Sanaa's parents claimed she would injure herself, have uncontrollable tantrums, gorge, purge and defecate in the house but said these details couldn't be verified because they isolated Sanaa from others. Court documents say the Cunninghams took Sanaa to a psychiatrist who diagnosed her with schizophrenia based on their statements about her before taking her to another psychiatrist who prescribed her the anti-psychotic drug Risperdal. Documents say Sanaa's parents started her on the drug but abruptly stopped against the doctor's instructions. Child abuse case: Tucson father charged with child abuse after toddler suffers gunshot wound Prosecutors said Sanaa's parents noticed she was in a catatonic state, drooling and unable to eat or drink normally on Feb. 7, 2017, but opted to hold off on taking her to a hospital until the injuries on her arms and legs healed. On the morning of Feb. 12, 2017, the Cunninghams took her to an urgent care facility after Lisa noticed Sanaa was cold to the touch. Sanaa was then flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital where she would later be pronounced dead. An autopsy said Sanaa arrived at Arizona General Hospital with an internal temperature of 89.6 degrees and died at Phoenix Children's due to 'complications of sepsis in the setting of acute bronchitis with bronchiolitis and early bronchopneumonia, right foot abscess, multiple skin ulcerations, and unspecified schizophrenia spectrum disorder.' The autopsy noted that three child protective services cases were reported to the Arizona Department of Child Safety, and two were dismissed while one remained open before her death. Prosecutors said a doctor explained that Sanaa's immune system was likely compromised due in part to her living conditions. Defense attorneys have argued that physical evidence does not back up claims from former neighbors that Sanaa was forced to work in the backyard or sleep outside. Documents show the attorneys argued that using a RIPP restraint on Sanaa was a 'tough love teaching moment' and that there was no evidence to suggest Germayne restrained her with one repeatedly. It added that Sanaa slept on a cot in the laundry room after she began urinating and defecating in a room she shared with one of her sisters as the laundry room floor was made of tile. Documents say the parents swaddled Sanaa in one of Germayne's long sleeve shirts to prevent her from harming herself and they installed cameras inside to monitor her. Attorneys noted that a Goodyear police officer at one point showed up to the house unannounced and saw Sanaa while she was in the laundry room and determined it wasn't child abuse. Attorneys also said that the hospital the Cunninghams initially brought Sanaa to wasn't equipped to deal with a child in such serious condition despite advertising itself as an emergency room and began assessing her despite knowing she would likely need to be taken to a more advanced facility due to state law. 'Timely administration of antibiotics is crucial to fighting sepsis, yet no one gave Sanaa antibiotics at the first hospital for about an hour and a half,' documents say. 'Roughly two hours lapsed before she was medevacked to (Phoenix Children's Hospital), where she died of sepsis hours later.' After prosecutors withdrew their notice to seek the death penalty against the Cunninghams, attorneys representing the two filed motions to modify the conditions of their release while questioning why prosecutors withdrew the death penalty notice — and why they sought capital punishment in the first place. 'Understanding the State's position throughout these proceedings is nothing short of speculation,' one motion for modifying Lisa Cunningham's release condition stated. 'Unfortunately, the State's Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty accomplished one goal; namely, it stole six and one-half years of life from each Defendant.' A judge ultimately ruled that the Cunninghams each be held on a $500,000 secured-appearance bond. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told The Arizona Republic that both remained in jail as of Tuesday afternoon. The current trial date is scheduled for July 7 in Maricopa County Superior Court. Reach reporter Perry Vandell at or 602-444-2474. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Prosecutors won't say why they're not seeking death penalty for couple
