Latest news with #ProsecutingAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Snapchat records lead to child pornography charges in St. Charles County: Police
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – A man's Snapchat records led to his arrest and felony charges in connection with a months-long child pornography investigation in St. Charles County. The St. Charles Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Nico E. Baskin, 22, of St. Charles, with two counts of possession of child pornography. Baskin was formally charged on March 5. He remains jailed on a $200,000 cash-only bond. He'll be arraigned on July 8. According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, a St. Charles County officer was assigned in January 2025 to investigate a Cybertip, originally submitted from groupchat platform Discord to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip included eight images classified as child pornography. Missouri Senate approves $100M for St. Louis tornado relief In February 2025, a second Cybertip, believed to be connected to the initial case, was assigned to the St. Charles County Police Department. That tip included 29 images classified as child pornography, all of which were reported as being saved to and uploaded from a user's Snapchat Memories, per court documents. Around that time, officers obtained a search warrant for an iCloud email address believed to be linked to the suspect. While no images or videos were recovered, account information provided the suspect's name, phone numbers, and additional email addresses, along with emails from Discord and Snapchat indicating rule violations and account suspensions, according to court documents. Baskin was identified as a suspect some time later. Investigators found multiple social media accounts under his name, including profile images that matched descriptions of the individual seen in Cybertip photos. Investigators learned Baskin had previously been on the sex offender registry in St. Charles County. Evidence indicated he was living at a hotel with the same address linked to the Spectrum Business IP address in the Cybertips. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Baskin was then arrested on March 4. Police said Baskin claimed he had no phone number, email address, or social media accounts, but confirmed he had been living in a St. Charles hotel, per court documents. Police later interviewed a family member who said Baskin lived at an extended stay hotel in St. Charles for nearly six years. According to court documents, Baskin also had a prior child sexual exploitation charge in Kansas, and is listed on the registered sex offender registry in both St. Charles and St. Louis counties. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Warm, dry start to the week, storms return late Tuesday
ST. LOUIS – The haze in our skies from Canadian wildfire smoke was thick enough to keep temperatures down a bit on Sunday, and it may do so again Monday as that smoke continues to be carried by upper atmospheric winds. Monday is set to be warm, with highs in the mid- to upper 80s. Monday night will be dry and warm. Sheriff's Dept. turns over findings in daycare death to Prosecuting Attorney's Office We'll wake up Tuesday around 70 F. The day will start dry and it looks like some of the wildfire smoke may begin to shift eastward. By Tuesday afternoon, the next front will approach from the west. Watch for scattered showers and storms Tuesday afternoon and night, especially in our Missouri communities. Expect high temperatures to be in the upper 80s. That front will be slowing to a crawl into Wednesday and will stall out to our south for the rest of the week, keeping a chance for storms in the forecast each day. Temperatures will be closer to average, with highs in the lower 80s. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pierce County Sheriff Swank to Prosecutor Robnett: ‘You are my peril'
Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank's conflicts with other elected leaders made its way to court Wednesday after an attorney acting as Swank's lawyer served three county officials a demand for mediation over issues such as his desire to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. That demand, made Friday, led the county's elected prosecutor, Mary Robnett, to seek a judgment in Superior Court prohibiting the attorney, Joan Mell, from providing legal advice to Swank or other officials. According to Robnett, only the Prosecuting Attorney's Office can act as Swank's attorney. 'Joan K. Mell has unlawfully exercised the public office of the prosecuting attorney or deputy prosecuting attorney for the County of Pierce, State of Washington,' a copy of the complaint reads. Robnett argued in part that Mell's legal advice about Swank cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could expose the county to millions of dollars in potential liability. She said it's unlawful for county officials to cooperate with ICE. The state's Keep Washington Working Act, a bipartisan law passed in 2019, limits law enforcement's ability to work with ICE. Adams County was sued by the state Attorney General's Office in March for allegedly helping federal authorities with immigration enforcement. Superior Court Judge Susan Adams on Wednesday morning granted Robnett a temporary restraining order. Adams found that Mell was making legal demands on Swank's behalf and that she wasn't authorized to do so, according to a copy of the order, which expires at the next court hearing June 13. Mell, an attorney with law offices in Fircrest and Montana, was out of state at the time of the hearing. According to an email provided by Mell, she was notified of the hearing Tuesday evening via email. In a Wednesday-morning response, Mell objected to not being heard on the motion, and she said she wanted the opportunity to object to the case being litigated in front of a Pierce County judge, particularly one with ties to the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. In a phone call with The News Tribune, Mell said she believed Robnett had incorrectly advised Swank and that Robnett was duty-bound as counsel to adhere to his requests, for example, challenging the Keep Washington Working Act, which Swank has called 'unconstitutional.' Mell said Robnett had failed to adhere to Swank's requests. 'Nothing she's doing is consistent with lawyering,' Mell said. 'Fundamental to lawyering is taking the direction from your client, figuring out a way to accomplish what your client wants you to accomplish and carrying out his objectives.' Swank did not respond to a phone call Wednesday afternoon. Mell said he was out of the country and unavailable until June 8. The breakdown of Swank's relationship with Robnett appeared to begin with an executive order issued by County Executive Ryan Mello earlier this month declaring that all contracts that accept federal funding would be subject to a thorough review, and that all departments and elected officials would need to designate someone to review the contracts. Swank emailed Robnett on May 13, asking if Mello had the authority to impose an executive order on him and what would happen if he didn't abide by it, according to correspondence between Swank and Robnett filed in the court record. Robnett responded the next morning that Mello had lawful authority because Swank's elected position was created by the Pierce County Charter, which makes his position an executive department subject to executive orders. Swank disagreed and said he would be seeking legal advice elsewhere. Why Swank was upset by the executive order seemed to baffle Robnett, and she cautioned him that he wasn't authorized to seek outside legal advice, saying he would be acting at his own 'peril.' 'The Executive order from yesterday did not really change anything,' Robnett wrote. 'I am a little confused about why this has struck such a nerve with you. I am an independently elected official and I am subject to the same contracting rules.' Swank explained that if Mello could impose this order on him, it meant he would be subject to other orders and that Mello could tell him how to run his office. 'As far as 'my own peril,' you are my peril,' Swank said. He told Robnett that he had asked the artificial-intelligence service ChatGPT the same question about Mello's authority over him, and it had a 'quite different response.' 'I have no faith in your counsel,' Swank wrote in the May 15 email. 'I believe that you are either incompetent or you are trying to sabotage my office.' Swank added that he believed Robnett was trying to cause him undue stress, and that it was planned because Robnett wanted his opponent in the 2024 General Election for sheriff to win over him. 'You didn't want someone to upset the apple cart,' Swank said. 'You wanted a sheriff who would go along with the program and keep everything status quo.' Robnett responded later that day, thanking Swank for spelling out his position and suggesting that they meet with Mello to discuss where each of them fit into county government under the charter. About a week after Swank's email exchange with Robnett, Mell emailed Robnett, Mello and County Council Chair Jani Hitchen a demand for mediation under RCW 36.46.010, a state law that requires elected officials to attempt to work out a dispute before a lawsuit can be brought. Mell signed the demand letter 'lawyer for Sheriff Keith Swank.' It said Swank had reached an impasse with the three officials on six issues: Sheriff's Office independence and personnel, professional recruiting, the Humane Society, independent representation and a County Council resolution affirming compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act. In regard to the independence of the Sheriff's Office and its personnel, the letter claimed Mello could not require Swank to comply with any executive orders that conflict with Swank's authority to carry out the core functions of his office. It said the County Council's power over its personnel was limited to consenting to the number of deputies and other necessary employees. 'Sheriff Swank has the authority to adequately train his deputies,' the letter reads. 'Should he deem it necessary to obtain training outside the state to do so, the Executive may not prevent the Sheriff from achieving this core function.' Of recruiting, the letter said Mello and the County Council had undermined Swank by using funds acquired by putting dollars specified to be used for recruitment by University Place in the general fund. The Sheriff's Office is contracted by University Place to provide them police services. The letter also targeted the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County's relationship with the Sheriff's Office, stating it depleted public safety dollars and was outside the purpose of the office. According to a 2018 report from the county, it contracted with the Humane Society for sheltering and licensing animals.
28-05-2025
Ex-NBA star Shawn Kemp pleads guilty to assault charge in Washington parking lot shooting
TACOMA, Wash. -- Former NBA star Shawn Kemp pleaded guilty to an assault charge on Tuesday for shooting at two men inside a vehicle in a Washington state mall parking lot. Kemp, 55, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma as part of a plea agreement, according to the county Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The Toyota 4Runner the men were inside and another vehicle were damaged in the March 2023 shooting, but the men were not hurt. Kemp was initially charged with one count of first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement, but prosecutors last week added another count of assault as well as a drive-by shooting charge, The Seattle Times reported. Convictions on those charges could have resulted in a lengthy prison term. He will be sentenced in August. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Howe recommended that Kemp be sentenced to nine months in jail, one year of Department of Corrections supervision and support after he is released, and to pay restitution. Kemp, a six-time NBA all-star who played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989 to 1997, declined to comment to the newspaper on Tuesday. 'Shawn is committed to moving forward in a positive direction,' Kemp's attorney, Tim Leary, told the Times. 'He was presented with an offer from the state that allows him to take responsibility, but I think also recognizes the self-defense nature of how this transpired.' According to court documents filed by Kemp's attorneys, Kemp and several employees who worked at his cannabis dispensary were at a Seattle concert venue when Kemp's truck was broken into on March 8, 2023. An employee's purse was stolen along with keys to Kemp's business, a cellphone, paperwork and sports memorabilia, including game-worn Gary Payton and Kemp jerseys that were to be auctioned off for charity, the defense's trial brief says. Using a phone tracking app, Kemp located and briefly tried to talk to the driver of the 4Runner that was circling a casino parking lot, according to the trial brief. The men in the vehicle afterward dumped some of Kemp's belongings but hung on to the phone, the brief says. Kemp later saw his phone was near the Tacoma Mall. He drove there, spotted the same 4Runner and 'expressed his understandable frustration' with the driver, according to the brief. The brief says a man in the back seat 'fired off a round from a handgun at Mr. Kemp. Mr. Kemp returned fire and attempted to disable the Toyota. It did not work.' The 4Runner fled and when the vehicle was found abandoned days later, an empty holster was found inside but there was no gun, documents said. A police call log included in court records indicates that at least one witness who called 911 reported that two men were firing at each other. Howe, in a statement explaining the plea agreement, wrote that because of the two witnesses' past crimes of dishonesty and the 'fact that those people were illegally in possession' of Kemp's belongings, the case should be resolved short of trial. As part of his plea, Kemp cannot have a firearm and will be required to provide a sample for a law enforcement DNA database. Kemp debuted in the NBA during the 1989-90 season as a 20-year-old who had never played college basketball. He also played for Cleveland, Portland and Orlando and was known for his high-flying dunks.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ex-NBA star Shawn Kemp pleads guilty to assault charge in Washington parking lot shooting
TACOMA, Wash. — Former NBA star Shawn Kemp pleaded guilty to an assault charge on Tuesday for shooting at two men inside a vehicle in a Washington state mall parking lot. Kemp, 55, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma as part of a plea agreement, according to the county Prosecuting Attorney's Office. The Toyota 4Runner the men were inside and another vehicle were damaged in the March 2023 shooting, but the men were not hurt. Kemp was initially charged with one count of first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement, but prosecutors last week added another count of assault as well as a drive-by shooting charge, The Seattle Times reported. Convictions on those charges could have resulted in a lengthy prison term. He will be sentenced in August. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Howe recommended that Kemp be sentenced to nine months in jail, one year of Department of Corrections supervision and support after he is released, and to pay restitution. Kemp, a six-time NBA all-star who played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1989 to 1997, declined to comment to the newspaper on Tuesday. 'Shawn is committed to moving forward in a positive direction,' Kemp's attorney, Tim Leary, told the Times. 'He was presented with an offer from the state that allows him to take responsibility, but I think also recognizes the self-defense nature of how this transpired.' According to court documents filed by Kemp's attorneys, Kemp and several employees who worked at his cannabis dispensary were at a Seattle concert venue when Kemp's truck was broken into on March 8, 2023. An employee's purse was stolen along with keys to Kemp's business, a cellphone, paperwork and sports memorabilia, including game-worn Gary Payton and Kemp jerseys that were to be auctioned off for charity, the defense's trial brief says. Using a phone tracking app, Kemp located and briefly tried to talk to the driver of the 4Runner that was circling a casino parking lot, according to the trial brief. The men in the vehicle afterward dumped some of Kemp's belongings but hung on to the phone, the brief says. Kemp later saw his phone was near the Tacoma Mall. He drove there, spotted the same 4Runner and 'expressed his understandable frustration' with the driver, according to the brief. The brief says a man in the back seat 'fired off a round from a handgun at Mr. Kemp. Mr. Kemp returned fire and attempted to disable the Toyota. It did not work.' The 4Runner fled and when the vehicle was found abandoned days later, an empty holster was found inside but there was no gun, documents said. A police call log included in court records indicates that at least one witness who called 911 reported that two men were firing at each other. Howe, in a statement explaining the plea agreement, wrote that because of the two witnesses' past crimes of dishonesty and the 'fact that those people were illegally in possession' of Kemp's belongings, the case should be resolved short of trial. As part of his plea, Kemp cannot have a firearm and will be required to provide a sample for a law enforcement DNA database. Kemp debuted in the NBA during the 1989-90 season as a 20-year-old who had never played college basketball. He also played for Cleveland, Portland and Orlando and was known for his high-flying dunks.
