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Fox News
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Man caught on video attacking pro-life protesters gets slap on wrist by judge
A 28-year-old man who was caught on video attacking two pro-life activists outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Baltimore was sentenced this week to a year of home detention and three years of probation. Baltimore Circuit Judge Yvette M. Bryant rebuffed prosecutors' calls for a 10-year sentence against Patrick Brice, 28, after he was found guilty of two counts of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment in relation to the May 2023 incident, according to The Baltimore Banner. "What about my rights and my well-being?" one of the victims in the attack, Mark Crosby -- who was 73 years old at the time -- reportedly shouted at Bryant on Thursday as she left the bench. Brice said on May 26, 2023, he intended to debate Richard Schaefer – the other victim, who was 84 – about the concept of sin outside the Planned Parenthood facility, but then lost it after Schaefer made what he perceived to be a racial remark, The Baltimore Banner reported. Surveillance video showed Brice shoving Schaefer into a flowerpot and then assaulting Crosby when he rushed to his aid. "I just snapped one day," Brice was quoted by The Baltimore Banner as saying in court Thursday before apologizing to both men. As part of his sentence, Brice must complete anger management classes, undergo drug and alcohol screening and remain in therapy, the website added. It also said Crosby suffered permanent damage to his right eye as a result of the assault. "This was not a minor altercation between two parties with differing views on abortion. It was a vicious, targeted assault on two senior citizens whose only 'offense' was praying for expectant mothers and offering life-affirming alternatives to abortion," Tom Brejcha, the President and Chief Counsel of the conservative law firm Thomas More Society, said in a statement. "One of the victims was knocked unconscious. The other suffered broken facial bones and a lifelong eye impairment. This was an act of cowardice and cruelty, and sheer mayhem. This crime deserves far more serious consequences than a 'get out of jail free' card and a one-year home detention that amounts to nothing more than a slap on the wrist," he added. In May 2023, images posted on the Facebook page of Jay Walton, the president of the Baltimore County Right to Life chapter, purportedly showed Crosby wearing a shirt with the message "Pro Life," with swelling over his eye and blood covering his face following the attack. "One of our volunteers, Mark Crosby, was brutally beaten on May 26, 2023, while he was praying in front of the Planned Parenthood in Baltimore City," Walton wrote on a GoFundMe page at the time. "Mark is currently in the hospital being treated for the serious injuries he sustained." "For years, Mark has prayed in front of the Planned Parenthood in Baltimore City to let the scared, young abortion-minded women know that they are loved, that their baby is loved," Walton added. In a redacted police report, a Baltimore police officer said one of the victims, later identified as Crosby, told investigators he was standing outside the Planned Parenthood clinic "in support of Pro-life ideals when an unidentified [white male] attacked another member of the same beliefs as [him]." The individual "stated that he immediately went to assist and was struck by the suspect and fell to the ground where he was struck in the face," the report said. Police say the other victim, later identified as Schaefer, "advised the suspect had approached volunteer members of the Planned Parenthood and spoke with them before directing his attention to him. That victim said "the suspect spoke with him in an aggressive manner, opposing [his] pro-life ideals and without warning tackled him into a large flowerpot," the report added. It also noted that several witnesses saw the assault unfold, with one telling investigators that the "conversation between the suspect and [victim] was a debate over their ideas about pro-life and pro-choice viewpoints." Crosby's attorney Terrell Roberts read a statement in court on behalf his client, saying that the incident demonstrated a "gross disregard for the law and human decency." "We were in no position to defend ourselves," Crosby wrote, according to The Baltimore Banner. "To treat elderly folks with that kind of brutality is shocking."
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Grand Forks man to serve eight years for attempted murder
Jun. 30—GRAND FORKS — A Grand Forks man was ordered to serve eight years in prison after changing his plea in an attempted murder case Monday, June 30. Alexander Antonio Thompson, 28, pleaded guilty to Class A felony attempted murder and Class C felony aggravated assault. An additional count of aggravated assault was dismissed under Thompson's plea agreement. Thompson got into a physical altercation with his coworker on April 22, 2024, according to an affidavit filed in the case. While on top of his coworker, Thompson put his hands around the man's throat, squeezed and restricted airflow. After they were separated, Thompson grabbed an electrical extension cord, which he wrapped around his coworker's neck while the man was walking away, the affidavit said. Witnesses said the coworker's eyes rolled backward into his head, and he lost consciousness. While strangling the man, Thompson said, "I'm going to kill you," according to the affidavit. Several people had to intervene before Thompson released his coworker. Thompson was sentenced Monday to 20 years at the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with 12 years suspended, leaving eight to serve. He has credit for 435 days spent in custody. While in prison, Thompson must complete an anger management evaluation and follow through with any recommendations. Upon release, he will be on supervised probation for two years.
CNA
30-06-2025
- General
- CNA
This ex-offender rebuilt her life and reunited with her daughters with help from a halfway house
A fellow resident at the halfway house had made a mistake. And once again, Faradilla Abdul Latiff lost her cool. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn't help losing her temper. Faradilla expected to be told off and put down, but to her surprise, the staff at Rise Above Halfway House were kind. After she admitted that she struggled with anger, they offered to work with her on managing her rage and other negative emotions. 'I get mad with others even when it comes to simple disagreements, and I used to think my anger was always going to be part of me,' she said. 'But the staff didn't judge me. They encouraged me and made me feel safe to talk about my issues,' she added. 'They believed in me, and I learnt to trust and forgive myself, too." Rise Above Halfway House, a collaboration between the Singapore Muslim Women's Association (PPIS) and the Singapore Prison Service, is a secular rehabilitative centre for women inmates serving the tail end of their sentence, mostly for drug offences. Faradilla spent the final six months of her fourth prison sentence there. 'I used to think that because I was a repeat offender and drug abuser, I'd never change,' the 41-year-old told CNA Women. 'I believed myself to be the bad person that everyone around me thought I was, and I was stuck in this negative cycle that I'd never escape. 'It didn't matter that there was a voice inside me telling me that I was good and I wanted to be better. I was just going to be like that – until I came to the halfway house.' THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE BELIEVED IN HER Founded in 2021, Rise Above Halfway House can house 40 to 50 women. Each resident is assigned duties and given opportunities to attend programmes that help them readjust to life after prison, including resume writing, financial management, and interview workshops. As someone who struggles with addiction, Faradilla recognised that what helped her the most in her rehabilitation were the soft skills: Anger management, self-acceptance, communicating with others, fostering empathy and trust. 'I never got much support from some people around me,' she said. 'I'd want to change, but the moment I slipped up or relapsed, they'd say things like 'you'll never change' or 'you'll be this way forever'. 'It hurt to hear them, but I wouldn't show my pain. Since people didn't think I was good, I might as well be bad.' I believed myself to be this bad person that everyone around me thought I was, and I was stuck in this negative cycle that I never thought I'd escape. Stuck in a spiral of self-loathing, Faradilla would turn to the familiar – drugs and other crimes – to cope, even though she desperately wanted to be free from them. Her time at the halfway house, however, helped to break the cycle. This was Faradilla's second stint at a halfway house, referred to by the prison service. However, compared with the first time, which she perceived as merely a temporary shelter before reintegrating into society, her time at Rise Above led her to think about rebuilding her life more intentionally. Each resident at the halfway house is given a list of tasks, such as cleaning and cooking. While they seem menial and inconsequential, these duties gave Faradilla trust and responsibility. It boosted her self-esteem and taught her better self-control. 'Toilet duty, kitchen duty, cooking – all these tasks made me feel like I could take care of all the residents in the house. And when I did them, I realised that I could do it. I could be better.' LANDING A JOB THAT GIVES HER PURPOSE When she was coming to the end of her prison sentence, Faradilla had to choose a sector and job to apply for. 'I've done many jobs in the past – admin work, factory roles – they were the kind I could easily finish and be done with,' she said. 'But in the house, after starting to think differently about myself and what I could do, I wondered, what if I could do more?' Faradilla then thought about her parents, both of whom have medical conditions, and how she wanted to learn skills that would help her care for them better. She told CNA Women that before this most recent imprisonment, she had had a bad argument with her mother. 'My mum had a stroke and is mostly bedridden. At that time, I was going through so much trouble and pain, so I lashed out at her. That was the last time I saw her before going back into prison,' Faradilla said. 'I felt horrible, I had so much guilt. When I was released, I knew I wanted to make things better.' The motivation sparked her interest in senior care. With help from the staff and volunteers at Rise Above, she landed the job as a senior community care associate at a nursing home early this year. Many of the elderly residents there have medical conditions like Parkinson's disease, stroke, and advanced dementia. Her job includes cleaning up after them and supporting those who are less mobile. It requires her to know her patients well – their feeding habits, physical and mental capabilities, and even their favourite games and activities. As most of the patients are Chinese, she has even picked up basic Mandarin and Hokkien. 'The old me would have laughed at the me now, doing this role of caring for others,' she said. 'But you know what? I'll laugh back at her, because I feel glad I'm doing this. 'This job helps me help others, and more importantly, it allows me to help my mother after giving her so much grief all these years. The role gives me a new purpose in my life.' For the first time, I had other people who believed in me, and that meant a lot to me – I learnt to trust and forgive myself. Faradilla added that being busy mentally and physically also helps her focus on life away from drugs and other crimes. 'There are days I'd bump into my old circle of friends,' she said. 'And I won't lie, they will tempt me into using again, but I'll remember that, now, I have a job to get to, I've people to be responsible for. I don't want to live that life again, and so I'll say no.' DOING HER BEST TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES FOR HER LOVED ONES While Faradilla believes she's in a much better place now, she acknowledges that each day is challenging. 'That is the reality for an addict – every day is hard,' she said. 'I will remember the feeling (of being high), I will think about using again, but my time in Rise Above taught me how to overcome these thoughts,' she said. One of the ways the halfway house taught Faradilla to manage herself is to fill her time with positive activities and by serving her family. When she was incarcerated, Faradilla felt tremendous guilt at being absent from her two daughters, now aged 21 and 15. She also felt bitter anger and resentment towards some family members whom she thought were not supportive of her. During her time in prison, her older sister cared for their elder daughter, while the younger girl came under her ex-husband's care. Since her release, Faradilla has made it a point to spend more time with her girls to reconnect with them. She sees them several times a week as they don't live with her. She has also learnt to think more positively of her family, and to slowly let go of the bitterness she harbours. 'Now feels different from the previous times I was released,' she said. 'I think differently. I want to think better of the people who helped me care for my girls. These days, I just focus on rebuilding our relationship and making up for all the lost time.' Tearing up, Faradilla said she thought that because of her past mistakes, her relationship with her daughters would always be fractured, but that hasn't been the case. 'My girls see me pray, they see me less angry, they see me talk and mean what I say about my belief in God and getting better,' she said. 'They laugh with me, they open up with me about boys, friends, and family. They even want to stay with me.' All these moments with her daughters mean a lot to her and reassure Faradilla that getting better, no matter how challenging, is worth it. As a former drug addict, she acknowledges that the road away from addiction is always going to be challenging. Rehabilitation, dealing with relapses, reconciliation, all these take up much time and energy. 'I'll be honest, once you're in, it will be so, so hard to get out,' she admitted. 'But I also remember the days I couldn't sleep, the nights I was awake with paranoia, the time I was in prison and none of my loved ones were around, the anxiety I felt about being inside in case any of them passed away. 'These thoughts keep me going, even when it's hard,' she said. 'So no, it's not impossible and never too late to change. I never want anyone – even myself – to think that my past life was the only kind of life for me. 'In the halfway house, one of the quotes that stuck with me and will always keep me going is this: 'After the darkest chapter, there is a new page waiting to be written'.'
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
Southwick mother admits to abusing her child, sentenced to 18 months in jail
WESTFIELD — A Southwick mother accused of physically and mentally abusing one of her two school-aged children pleaded guilty in District Court Thursday to eight abuse charges and sentenced to 18 months in jail, according to court records. Amari E. Lopez, 29, of Point Grove Road, Southwick, was charged last September for five counts of assault and battery on a child with injury and three counts of reckless endangerment of a child after an investigation found one of her children was injured numerous times after being punched and beaten by her, according to court records. A jury trial on the charges was scheduled for June 17, but Lopez pleaded guilty to the five assault and battery charges and sentenced to 18 months in the Western Massachusetts Regional Correctional Center. She also pleaded guilty to the three counts of reckless endangerment and placed on probation for two years after her release, according to court documents. She was ordered not to abuse her children and to complete an anger management program, according to court documents. The documents didn't indicate if she was ordered to stay away from her children. She was given credit for serving 120 days in jail, which was the result of being held without bail after being found dangerous on Sept. 26. She was released in late October. Police began investigating Lopez after administrators and employees of the school the child attended reported the child began showing up with various injuries to her face between September 2023 and May 2024, according to a statement of facts prepared by Southwick Police Detective Sgt. Thomas Krutka. There were also eyewitnesses who reported seeing Lopez verbally abusing the child in public on several occasions, according to Krutka's statement of facts. As Krutka began the investigation, he reviewed reports provided by the state's Department of Children and Families and learned there had been 21 of what are called 51A reports filed on behalf of the children 'regarding neglect and/or physical abuse' by Lopez between February 2018 and May 2024. During the last school year, Krutka wrote there were seven abuse reports filed by teachers, administrators, and the school's resource officer at the child's school documenting the alleged abuse. Krutka's report provides information about each of the reports, which started in September 2023 when a bus driver reported to a school administrator that on three occasions the child was taken back to school after there was no one at the bus stop to pick the child up, which is a district protocol. The driver also reported hearing Lopez swear at the child, which was confirmed by a video recording of her 'swearing, berating, and even threatening' the child, Krutka reported. In January, a school staff member said the child was wearing a shirt that exposed her shoulder area, and a red mark was visible on the child's skin. When the child was asked about the mark, she said she had a bloody nose before school, Krutka wrote. The staff member said the child was checked by the school nurse, and the red mark was not blood, but scratches and abrasions that appeared to be two or three days old, Krutka wrote in the statement of facts. Less than two weeks later — after the child missed two days of school and returned — she was asked what caused the absence. She told a staff member she missed school because of a black eye caused by her younger sibling kicking her, Krutka wrote. The child also told the staff member she was told by her mother to not tell anyone what happened, he wrote. Later in January, the child showed up at school with a bruise under her left eye and upper cheek, and after being asked what caused it, she said she had fallen into a door while running to catch the bus, Krutka wrote. When the school nurse was examining the bruise, the child told the nurse she fell into a doorknob and that her mother didn't push her, he wrote. At that point, school officials requested DCF investigate the child's injuries, Krutka wrote. According to the statement of facts, on Jan. 31, the child again arrived at school with a large bruise on her arm, Krutka wrote. And in March, the child's bus driver reported she cried all the way to school and other students noticed blood on one of her hands. After arriving at school, she told a staff member she had turned into a water bottle her mother was holding and it struck her nose. A school nurse called Lopez about her child's bloody nose. She said it was because of seasonal allergies. Eventually, the child was interviewed by a team of investigators from DCF and the Hampden County district attorney's office. The child told them Lopez would often punch her in the stomach with her fist, put liquid hand soap into her mouth, made her stand outside in the cold, and called 'bad' names when 'she did bad stuff.' Charges were then filed against her. Read the original article on MassLive.
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- News.com.au
Noel Callow suspended for three months following altercation with fellow jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor
Multiple Group 1-winning jockey Noel Callow has been suspended for three months by Queensland stewards over a physical altercation with fellow Group 1-winning jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor. Queensland chief steward Josh Adams said Callow's license had been fully suspended, meaning he could not ride trials or trackwork in that period. However, stewards ordered that if Callow provided evidence he had completed an anger management course and seen a sports psychologist, the suspension would be reduced to two months. The suspension is backdated to when the dramatic incident occurred at the Doomben races last month. The stewards' inquiry resumed this week with Callow slapped with an improper conduct charge. He had previously been unable to give evidence before the inquiry as he had left the course on the day to seek medical attention. Callow has not ridden since the incident, after being out of action under a 12-day concussion protocol. Wilson-Taylor was advised by stewards this week he would not be facing any stewards' charges over the matter.
