Latest news with #MirandaRights
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
W.Va. Supreme Court of Appeals upholds murder case's verdict
princeton – Justices with the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia have upheld the 2022 second-degree murder conviction of a Mercer County woman who was charged in her boyfriend's shooting death. Monica Suzette Hartwell of Lashmeet was sentenced in September 2022 to a determinate term of 40 years in prison. A jury had convicted Hartwell on Aug. 11 that same year of second-degree murder for the July 26, 2020 shooting death of her boyfriend, Michael Walker, outside their Presbyterian Avenue home in Lashmeet. Hartwell was initially charged with first-degree murder and was later found competent to stand trial. After Walker's death, Hartwell had told troopers with the West Virginia State Police Princeton detachment that she believed Walker was possessed. Witnesses testified during her trial that Hartwell and Walker had been drinking that day, adding that Walker had spoken about Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. Troopers found Walker on the home's front porch. Hartwell was in the home and told the troopers that the shotgun was in the living room. Walker had been shot in the head. Hartwell's attorney Ryan Flanigan, who is now a circuit court judge in Mercer County, made motions during her sentencing for a new trial and for a judgement of acquittal. The presiding judge, Circuit Court Judge Derek Swope, who is now retired, denied both motions. Flanigan told the court that Hartwell had been a productive member of society before she became ill, and that she had been struggling with mental illness her entire life. A member of Hartwell's family told the court she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and other mental conditions. Attorney David Kelley argued the appeal before the state Supreme Court of Appeals, said Prosecuting Attorney Brian K. Cochran, who prosecuted the case in 2022. The West Virginia Attorney General argued the appeal on behalf of the Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. According to court documents filed May 22, the sole issue before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virgnia was the admissibility of a statement Hartwell made after she was taken into custody and handcuffed outside the home. Trooper S.K. Weikle and Hartwell were walking to the trooper's cruiser when he asked 'where's the gun?' to which Hartwell replied 'it's on the couch.' The question was asked before Hartwell had been read her Miranda Rights. Weikle later testified that officers had not yet secured the weapon, according to the supreme court's document. Officers only knew that the victim had been shot on the porch and that Hartwell immediately went into the home and was not seen by any witnesses during the 15 to 20 minutes it took for law enforcement to respond to the 911 call. Officers did not know if the weapon was still in the house and whether anyone else had access to it or whether it had been thrown out a window or back door 'where it might be found by a passerby or an inquisitive child.' 'For the reasons set forth herein, the judgement of the Circuit Court of Mercer County is AFFIRMED,' the justices concluded in the court document. During the 2022 hearing, Swope sentenced Hartwell to 40 years in prison with 789 days credit for the time she had spent in jail and on home confinement after her arrest. Swope then told her family that she would be eligible for parole in 10 years, and could discharge her sentence with good behavior within 20 years. 'I certainly believe she needs to get help in the penal system, the maximum amount they can give her,' Swope said then. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mom Disappeared Days Before Daughter's Graduation. Then Police Found Her Car — And a Letter Asking for Forgiveness
Alison Gregory was reported missing last week Her husband Brandon Gregory has been charged with murder in connection with her death The couple were locked in a difficult divorce at the time of the killing, police sayAn Arizona man who was found driving his missing wife's car with her body inside allegedly told police he killed her. Alison Gregory, 41, was reported missing from Surprise, Ariz., on May 14 after she failed to pick up a family member at the airport, the Surprise Police Department said in a statement. Police learned she was locked in a 'difficult' divorce with her husband, 56-year-old Brandon Gregory, they said in the statement. During their search of the Gregorys' residence, investigators came across evidence suggesting there may have been a physical struggle, prompting them to look for both Alison and Brandon's vehicles. Alison's car was located more than 100 miles away in Mohave County, per the statement. Police found Brandon in the car — allegedly with Alison's body inside. After Brandon was arrested and read his Miranda Rights, he allegedly told police he murdered Alison in their home, police said in the statement. According to court documents cited by AZ Family and 12 News, Brandon told police the two got into an argument when Alison allegedly assaulted him. The argument stemmed from Alison asking Brandon to leave as their house was in the process of being sold, court documents stated, per AZ Family. Brandon allegedly told police she then kicked him in the groin while holding a baseball bat. The incident escalated when Brandon took the bat and chased Alison around as she screamed, he allegedly told police. He then beat her to death, per his alleged confession recorded in court documents, AZ Family and 12 News reported. Brandon tried to administer CPR, per the court documents, but when she stopped breathing, he allegedly wrapped her in a carpet, cleaned the blood and put her in the car where police eventually found her body. Police say they also found a note in the car where he addressed his daughters, 'requesting their forgiveness for his actions," AZ Family reported. Since Alison's death, tributes are pouring in online from her friends and family members. She is being remembered for her devotion to her kids and her love for nature, according to her obituary. "Like her favorite flower, the sunflower, Alison radiated positivity and joy," read part of the tribute. "She was known for always turning toward the light and inspiring others to do the same." In a GoFundMe set up to assist her daughters, who are 14 and 20 in age, a family friend says her youngest daughter was set to graduate to high school this has been charged with second degree murder, manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence and concealing a dead body. Court records did not indicate plea information; PEOPLE has reached out to his lawyer for comments. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
South L.A. residents who allegedly tried to chase and block immigration officers face federal charges
A South Los Angeles couple are facing criminal charges for allegedly using their car to try to impede and pursue federal immigration agents who were serving search warrants earlier this year. Gustavo Torres, 28, and Kiara Jaime-Flores, 34, are charged with conspiracy to impede or injure officers, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday. The couple could not be reached for comment. It was not immediately clear if they had legal representation. The charges stem from an incident on Feb. 28 when agents with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were serving search warrants in South Los Angeles. A small crowd gathered outside a home in the Florence neighborhood, according to a federal affidavit that accompanied the charging documents. At 9:32 a.m. three federal law enforcement vehicles left the scene with "evidence," court documents said. There was no indication if anyone in the home was taken by the federal agents. An agent recorded Jaime-Flores outside the home standing next to a Honda Fit as they departed. That same car blocked the agents' vehicles at 61st Street and Broadway. The agents were able to drive around the Honda, according to the affidavit. While driving away, Torres drove in front of one of the government vehicles and used his brakes aggressively, according to the affidavit. Agents said that Torres then pulled into a gas station and followed the agents for approximately two miles. Federal agents identified the license plate of the Honda Fit through surveillance footage from a local business. On May 5, a federal agent interviewed Jaime-Flores during a traffic stop. She acknowledged that she was driving the Honda Fit with an expired driver's license. She asked if she was being questioned in relation to an incident related to immigration, according to the affidavit. Read more: Border Patrol sued for tactics used in Kern County immigration raid She told the agent that she and her boyfriend, later identified as Torres, went to the residence in the Florence neighborhood after seeing the activity on social media. According to the affidavit, she said the couple were opposed to the immigration agent's activities. According to the agent, Jaime-Flores consented to a search of her mobile phone. The agent found deleted social media pictures of the home where immigration agents served the Feb. 28 search warrant. One dated photo had writing on it that said, "We Try to Stop But I Can't Do It Alone! We Need to Stick Together To Stop Them For as Long As We Can! Please Let's Fight Together In A Good Way! Somos Mas Gente Que Officiales migra! [We outnumber the immigration officials]' Jaime-Flores was detained and placed into the backseat of an Inglewood Police Department cruiser. She was read her Miranda Rights and agreed to speak with the agent, according to the affidavit. Jaime-Flores then phoned Torres in the presence of an immigration agent. She told him to meet the agent, because "we did nothing wrong," according to the affidavit. Torres met with the agent at a Santa Fe Springs business and was told he was not under arrest. Torres said that he had a suspended driver's license and it was suspended on the same day the agents were conducting their operation. Read more: 2 U.S. border inspectors in San Diego charged with taking bribes to wave in people without documents During the interview, Torres allegedly admitted to being involved in blocking the immigration vehicles, driving aggressively around their vehicles and following them. He told the agent, "We thought that it'd be a good idea, ya know maybe if, maybe if it was immigration they were taking someone's family member unjustified… So, well me and my girlfriend the first instinct was, well, to block the cars." The agent showed him additional photos from surveillance footage and asked him about driving behind the federal agents after pulling out of the gas station. "I know, it was so stupid, and I would never do that in my life, I don't know what I was thinking. I don't know. I would never do it again,' he told the agent during the interview. The couple are scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday afternoon. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
15-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
South L.A. residents who allegedly tried to chase and block immigration officers face federal charges
A South Los Angeles couple are facing criminal charges for allegedly using their car to try to impede and pursue federal immigration agents who were serving search warrants earlier this year. Gustavo Torres, 28, and Kiara Jaime-Flores, 34, are charged with conspiracy to impede or injure officers, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday. The couple could not be reached for comment. It was not immediately clear if they had legal representation. The charges stem from an incident on Feb. 28 when agents with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection were serving search warrants in South Los Angeles. A small crowd gathered outside a home in the Florence neighborhood, according to a federal affidavit that accompanied the charging documents. At 9:32 a.m. three federal law enforcement vehicles left the scene with 'evidence,' court documents said. There was no indication if anyone in the home was taken by the federal agents. An agent recorded Jaime-Flores outside the home standing next to a Honda Fit as they departed. That same car blocked the agents' vehicles at 61st Street and Broadway. The agents were able to drive around the Honda, according to the affidavit. While driving away, Torres drove in front of one of the government vehicles and used his brakes aggressively, according to the affidavit. Agents said that Torres then pulled into a gas station and followed the agents for approximately two miles. Federal agents identified the license plate of the Honda Fit through surveillance footage from a local business. On May 5, a federal agent interviewed Jaime-Flores during a traffic stop. She acknowledged that she was driving the Honda Fit with an expired driver's license. She asked if she was being questioned in relation to an incident related to immigration, according to the affidavit. She told the agent that she and her boyfriend, later identified as Torres, went to the residence in the Florence neighborhood after seeing the activity on social media. According to the affidavit, she said the couple were opposed to the immigration agent's activities. According to the agent, Jaime-Flores consented to a search of her mobile phone. The agent found deleted social media pictures of the home where immigration agents served the Feb. 28 search warrant. One dated photo had writing on it that said, 'We Try to Stop But I Can't Do It Alone! We Need to Stick Together To Stop Them For as Long As We Can! Please Let's Fight Together In A Good Way! Somos Mas Gente Que Officiales migra! [We outnumber the immigration officials]' Jaime-Flores was detained and placed into the backseat of an Inglewood Police Department cruiser. She was read her Miranda Rights and agreed to speak with the agent, according to the affidavit. Jaime-Flores then phoned Torres in the presence of an immigration agent. She told him to meet the agent, because 'we did nothing wrong,' according to the affidavit. Torres met with the agent at a Santa Fe Springs business and was told he was not under arrest. Torres said that he had a suspended driver's license and it was suspended on the same day the agents were conducting their operation. During the interview, Torres allegedly admitted to being involved in blocking the immigration vehicles, driving aggressively around their vehicles and following them. He told the agent, 'We thought that it'd be a good idea, ya know maybe if, maybe if it was immigration they were taking someone's family member unjustified… So, well me and my girlfriend the first instinct was, well, to block the cars.' The agent showed him additional photos from surveillance footage and asked him about driving behind the federal agents after pulling out of the gas station. 'I know, it was so stupid, and I would never do that in my life, I don't know what I was thinking. I don't know. I would never do it again,' he told the agent during the interview. The couple are scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday afternoon.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- USA Today
Held in dog crate, chained in a room: Couple charged after teen escapes house
Held in dog crate, chained in a room: Couple charged after teen escapes house Show Caption Hide Caption What happens when someone is arrested and charged? Video explainer When someone is arrested and charged with a crime, police departments observe a protocol that includes the reading of Miranda Rights. A Gloucester Township, New Jersey, couple is accused of abusing a child, now 18, for eight years by confining her to a dog crate, bathroom, and bare room. The victim alleges she was beaten, sexually abused, and prevented from attending school past the sixth grade. The suspects, Brenda Spencer and Brandon Mosley, were arrested and are awaiting detention hearings. A New Jersey couple is accused of confining and abusing a child under nightmarish conditions in their home for eight years. The alleged victim, now 18, fled from the Gloucester Township home of Brenda Spencer, 38, and Brandon Mosley, 41, on May 8, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. She described a horrific life inside the suspects' house, saying she was forced to live in a dog crate, a padlocked bathroom and a bare room with an alarm to prevent her from leaving. "She also reported being beaten by a belt as well as being sexually abused by Mosley," the prosecutor's office said in a statement Wednesday. According to the victim, the abuse began in 2018 around the time she was removed from school in the sixth grade at Spencer's discretion. "She stated that shortly after this, she was forced to live in a dog crate for approximately one year and was let out periodically," the prosecutor's office. She was later chained in a padlocked bathroom, being let out when family visited the home, according to the statement. The victim also told investigators she used a bucket instead of a toilet when confined to a bare room. The young woman escaped the home and was assisted by a neighbor on May 8. "She later disclosed the abuse, which was reported to law enforcement," the statement said. A search of the residence found "squalid conditions alongside numerous dogs, chinchillas, and other animals," according to the prosecutor's office. "Detectives learned that a 13-year-old who also lived in the home was removed from school years earlier at Spencer's discretion as well," the account said. "Both girls were allegedly homeschooled." The prosecutor's statement does not identify a relationship, if any, between the victim and Spencer or Mosley. It also does not give an address for the couple's residence. Spencer, who is unemployed, and Mosley, a SEPTA train conductor, were arrested at their home on May 11. Both are at Camden County Jail, pending detention hearings. Charges against Spencer and Mosley include kidnapping, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal restraint, and weapons offenses. Mosley also is accused of aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault. The charges are only allegations. Mosley and Spencer have not been convicted in the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact prosecutors and Gloucester Township Police . Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. Email: Jwalsh@
