Latest news with #NathanJohnson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Grimsby man accused of using fear in trafficking women throughout Ontario
A 45-year-old Grimsby man is facing human trafficking and other charges after police say two women were forced to constantly work out of fear for their lives. And authorities believe there are more alleged victims. Halton Regional Police said their human trafficking unit began an investigation with Peel Regional Police and Ontario Provincial Police in April. Investigators identified two women who were allegedly being trafficked by the suspect throughout the province since 2024. 'During the course of the investigation it was found that the victims were forced to constantly work, and in fear for their personal safety as the accused used coercion, manipulation, physical violence, and psychological harm to maintain control and influence over the victims, while he benefitted financially from the exploitation,' cops said in a statement. On Tuesday, police located and arrested the accused in Hamilton, and search warrants were then executed in Hamilton and Grimsby. Investigators said they seized $37,385 in Canadian currency, body armour, 11.2 grams of fentanyl, 5.9 grams of cocaine, as well as other unidentified items related to human trafficking. Nathan Johnson has been charged with two counts each of human trafficking, receive material benefit human trafficking, receive material benefit sexual services, advertise sexual services, assault, and possession of a controlled substance, four counts of procuring, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. Police said the accused is known to use the aliases 'Dingo' and 'Dante.' Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Scott Heyerman of the human trafficking unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 4973. Cops hunt suspects after 1 killed and 5 wounded in North York shooting Cops release photos in quest to find trio accused of North York kidnapping CRIME SCENE: Female suspect sought after person assaulted downtown
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Grimsby man accused of using fear in trafficking women throughout Ontario
Nathan Johnson, 45, of Grimsby, is facing human trafficking and other charges. Photo by Handout / Halton Regional Police A 45-year-old Grimsby man is facing human trafficking and other charges after police say two women were forced to constantly work out of fear for their lives. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account And authorities believe there are more alleged victims. Halton Regional Police said their human trafficking unit began an investigation with Peel Regional Police and Ontario Provincial Police in April. Investigators identified two women who were allegedly being trafficked by the suspect throughout the province since 2024. 'During the course of the investigation it was found that the victims were forced to constantly work, and in fear for their personal safety as the accused used coercion, manipulation, physical violence, and psychological harm to maintain control and influence over the victims, while he benefitted financially from the exploitation,' cops said in a statement. On Tuesday, police located and arrested the accused in Hamilton, and search warrants were then executed in Hamilton and Grimsby. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Investigators said they seized $37,385 in Canadian currency, body armour, 11.2 grams of fentanyl, 5.9 grams of cocaine, as well as other unidentified items related to human trafficking. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Nathan Johnson has been charged with two counts each of human trafficking, receive material benefit human trafficking, receive material benefit sexual services, advertise sexual services, assault, and possession of a controlled substance, four counts of procuring, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. Police said the accused is known to use the aliases 'Dingo' and 'Dante.' Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Scott Heyerman of the human trafficking unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 4973. Read More Columnists NHL Columnists Columnists Toronto & GTA
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas bill increasing punishments for abortion pill distribution sparks Senate debate
The Brief A bill banning the distribution of abortion pills recently passed through the Texas Senate. Implications in the bill's text about power balances have some Texas lawmakers worried. Monday saw a debate in the Senate over the bill's subtext. AUSTIN - A bill that recently passed through the Texas Senate, which could be considered a statewide ban on abortion pills, sparked a constitutionality debate on the Senate floor Monday. The topic of SB 2880 is not the only thing raising concerns: it's also some of the legal protections written within the proposed legislation. The bill has some lawmakers calling into question the balance of power between branches of government. Last week, the Texas Senate approved SB 2880. The bill says anyone who distributes abortion-inducing drugs — including through the mail — can be sued for up to $100,000. It expands the wrongful-death statute and gives people up to six years to file a lawsuit after an abortion takes place. There are also protections written in the bill that say the law cannot be challenged as unconstitutional in state court. This provision led to a debate on the senate floor. What they're saying Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas) questioned bill author Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) on the implications of the proposal. "Declaring that the judicial branch of government does not have the power to review the law we passed for constitutionality. Am I reading this bill correctly?" "Senator, it's like the Congress under the U.S. Constitution, just like the Congress of the U.S. Constitution can determine the jurisdiction of the courts, so can the legislators set the jurisdiction of the courts," Hughes replied. The debate continued and called the balance of power between the branches into question. "Can it do this? Can it tell the courts, 'you can't review a law for constitutionality,'" asked Johnson. "Or is this a flagrant, brazen transgression on the separation of powers on which this country was founded?" "No sir, we make the rules, we make the jurisdiction," said Hughes. The other side Constitutional law attorney David Coale says the framework of the bill is similar to that of SB 8, also known as the "Heartbeat Law," which the U.S. Supreme Court found no issue with. "So I understand the concern that the legislature is trying to deal itself out of judicial review, make itself kind of a bigger branch of government than the others, but the way they've written this at a high level, at least, is consistent with the way the Supreme Court said it's okay to work in the SB 8 framework," said Coale. Coale also interprets the bill as allowing someone to file a lawsuit regarding the bill - but only after it becomes law. "The way I read it, what the bill says is courts can't review constitutionality on the front end before the law goes into effect, but the courts are free if somebody brings a lawsuit under this new bill, to then adjudicate whether it's constitutional in a defense in that case," Coale said. To read the full SB 2880 text, click here. The Source Information in this article came from FOX4 coverage of Texas Senate proceedings.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Questions swirl on if Texas bill to fine people who package the abortion pill $100k is actually legal
Under a bill just passed by the Texas Senate, a private citizen can sue someone or an organization that mails, prescribes, or manufactures abortion-inducing drugs for $100,000 — but some critics question the legislation's legality. Abortions are banned in the state and the new bill could add more intimidation around the already stigmatized procedure. In an expansion of the controversial pre-Roe 2021 'heartbeat' law that allowed private citizens to sue anyone who 'aids and abets' or provides abortions after a heartbeat is detected, the latest legislation — SB2880 — permits private citizens to sue groups and individuals who have mailed, prescribed, paid for or distributed abortion pills — regardless of location. The bill also allows for these parties to be sued for the wrongful death or personal injury of an unborn child or pregnant person due to the use of the medications and targets internet providers that allow Texans to access information on abortion pills. The state Senate passed the bill on Tuesday, but not without criticism. Some argued that it's legally dubious. Speaking on the floor Tuesday, Democratic Sen. Nathan Johnson called the legislation a 'flagrant, brazen transgression of the principles of separation of powers on which this country and state was founded.' Last month, Veronikah Warms, a staff attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project, labeled it an 'incursion on Texans' constitutional rights' when speaking to the Senate Committee on State Affairs. 'Under this bill, as written, a person could potentially go to prison for life for paying for a woman's sandwich while knowing that she was traveling to get a legal out-of-state abortion,' Warms said to the committee. 'What is the point of having state laws defining legal content in their borders if a legislature can just decide to prosecute people for legal activity in other states? Where does that end?' Rachel Rebouché, dean of Temple University's Beasley School of Law, argued that SB2880 hinges on private action, much like the 2021 heartbeat law. 'This is Texas legislators trying the same strategy to try to circumvent a federal constitutional challenge,' Rebouché told the 19th News. The bill would allow anyone to sue a wide swath of the population, including loved ones of those obtaining medication abortions and support organizations, like Texas Equal Access Fund, a nonprofit that offers financial and emotional support to Texans in need of reproductive care. If passed, 'we would be worried about being subjected to harassing lawsuits that could get in the way of our work of helping people access abortion care,' Kamyon Conner, executive director of Texas Equal Access Fund, told The Independent in an email. Republican Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes, who authored the bill, argued it's meant to protect women. 'These are the pills that are being mailed into Texas directly to women, often without instructions, certainly without doctors as before, and without follow-up care after,' Hughes said Tuesday. 'This is illegal in Texas but is taking place, and we've thus far not been able to protect women.' But Conner had a different take. While this bill targets individuals and organizations who help women to obtain medication abortions, it's likely to impact the women themselves too. This is especially true for low-income Texans, people of color, immigrants, young people, and rural communities 'who already face the greatest barriers to health care,' Conner said. The legislation is also likely to affect patients treating miscarriages, as both miscarriages and medication abortions often use mifepristone and misoprostol. SB2880 could also curb some providers from wanting to help Texans, Conner added: 'If this threatens out-of-state providers and they don't feel safe, this could mean they won't take Texas patients and it could prevent us from being able to help fund medication abortion care in other states.'
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Questions swirl on if Texas bill to fine people who package the abortion pill $100k is actually legal
Under a bill just passed by the Texas Senate, a private citizen can sue someone or an organization that mails, prescribes, or manufactures abortion -inducing drugs for $100,000 — but some critics question the legislation's legality. Abortions are banned in the state and the new bill could add more intimidation around the already stigmatized procedure. In an expansion of the controversial pre- Roe 2021 'heartbeat' law that allowed private citizens to sue anyone who 'aids and abets' or provides abortions after a heartbeat is detected, the latest legislation — SB2880 — permits private citizens to sue groups and individuals who have mailed, prescribed, paid for or distributed abortion pills — regardless of location. The bill also allows for these parties to be sued for the wrongful death or personal injury of an unborn child or pregnant person due to the use of the medications and targets internet providers that allow Texans to access information on abortion pills. The state Senate passed the bill on Tuesday, but not without criticism. Some argued that it's legally dubious. Speaking on the floor Tuesday, Democratic Sen. Nathan Johnson called the legislation a 'flagrant, brazen transgression of the principles of separation of powers on which this country and state was founded.' Last month, Veronikah Warms, a staff attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project, labeled it an 'incursion on Texans' constitutional rights' when speaking to the Senate Committee on State Affairs. 'Under this bill, as written, a person could potentially go to prison for life for paying for a woman's sandwich while knowing that she was traveling to get a legal out-of-state abortion,' Warms said to the committee. 'What is the point of having state laws defining legal content in their borders if a legislature can just decide to prosecute people for legal activity in other states? Where does that end?' Rachel Rebouché, dean of Temple University's Beasley School of Law, argued that SB2880 hinges on private action, much like the 2021 heartbeat law. 'This is Texas legislators trying the same strategy to try to circumvent a federal constitutional challenge,' Rebouché told the 19th News. The bill would allow anyone to sue a wide swath of the population, including loved ones of those obtaining medication abortions and support organizations, like Texas Equal Access Fund, a nonprofit that offers financial and emotional support to Texans in need of reproductive care. If passed, 'we would be worried about being subjected to harassing lawsuits that could get in the way of our work of helping people access abortion care,' Kamyon Conner, executive director of Texas Equal Access Fund, told The Independent in an email. Republican Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes, who authored the bill, argued it's meant to protect women. 'These are the pills that are being mailed into Texas directly to women, often without instructions, certainly without doctors as before, and without follow-up care after,' Hughes said Tuesday. 'This is illegal in Texas but is taking place, and we've thus far not been able to protect women.' But Conner had a different take. While this bill targets individuals and organizations who help women to obtain medication abortions, it's likely to impact the women themselves too. This is especially true for low-income Texans, people of color, immigrants, young people, and rural communities 'who already face the greatest barriers to health care,' Conner said. The legislation is also likely to affect patients treating miscarriages, as both miscarriages and medication abortions often use mifepristone and misoprostol. SB2880 could also curb some providers from wanting to help Texans, Conner added: 'If this threatens out-of-state providers and they don't feel safe, this could mean they won't take Texas patients and it could prevent us from being able to help fund medication abortion care in other states.'
