Latest news with #felonies
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Buncombe County district attorney race grows: Assistant DA Katie Kurdys announces campaign
ASHEVILLE - Senior Assistant District Attorney Katie Kurdys announced her bid Aug. 12 to become Buncombe County's next district attorney, a role now held by Todd Williams, a fellow Democrat who has said he would prefer not to run for reelection after his term ends in 2026. Kurdys has served as a prosecutor in the county for more than eight years and has worked with four district attorneys across four jurisdictions, she said in a news release. She has prosecuted cases across the docket, from "hundreds of high-level felonies," murder, rape and human trafficking cases to domestic violence, drug trafficking and white-collar crimes. Kurdys emphasized her commitment to "trauma-informed justice," noting that victims of crimes are often the most vulnerable people in the community and violence is "frequently both a cause and consequence of generational trauma." Her release included quotes from two victims whose cases Kurdys helped adjudicate after they had gone unsolved or had stalled. "This is about delivering justice with skill and compassion," Kurdys said in the release. "Our community deserves a District Attorney who understands the complexities of trauma, has the courtroom and criminal law experience to handle our most difficult cases, and the vision to make our criminal justice system work better for everyone." Kurdys specifically pledged to "eliminate the case backlog that harms both survivors and defendants," to continue conviction review processes, advocate for appropriate bond conditions, expand diversion and second chances for non-violent offenders and make sure all assistant district attorneys have trauma-based and procedural training. Having worked as a county prosecutor, Kurdys said she "sees firsthand which systems are overdue to evolve and improve" in Buncombe County and will 'take a hands-on approach' to reform. More: Buncombe County District Attorney announces his "preference" not to run for reelection Kurdys previously worked for Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, LLP (now Womble Bond Dickinson) as a civil defense attorney contractor. She is a perennial fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina and past special events chair of the Executive Committee for the Buncombe County Bar. She received a Unit Citation Award from the Asheville Police Department for her work on the Missing Person and Welfare Check Initiative after Tropical Storm Helene, which hit WNC last September. Who else is in the DA race? Her announcement comes just two weeks after Buncombe County Commissioner Martin Moore launched his bid for the position in a July 29 news release. Moore, 37, was elected to a four-year term on the County Commission in 2022 and is now the board's vice-chair. He represents District 2. He is a former public defender and now attorney and mediator in private practice. In 2024, Moore ran for a seat on the state's Court of Appeals, losing to Republican Christopher Freeman in the November general election. More: Commissioner Martin Moore launches campaign for Buncombe County district attorney Williams, 55, was first elected district attorney in 2014 and is serving his third term. He said he would not run for reelection should a qualified candidate step forward, the Citizen Times previously reported. As he expressed when Moore announced his candidacy, Williams told the Citizen Times on Aug. 13 that he believes Kurdys to be qualified for the post but said he will not make a final decision on running for a fourth term until closer to the end of the official candidate filing period, which is in December. More: 40 murder defendants waiting to be prosecuted; 'stretched' Buncombe DA asks AG for help Some of Kurdys' recent cases: More: Asheville man found guilty in 'unusual' rape trial, sentenced to prison More: Asheville teenager sentenced as adult for shooting 2 minors at 2023 Juneteenth festival More: Asheville Blade reporters found guilty of trespassing: Superior Court verdict More: Minor who shot AR-15 into homes, seriously injuring Asheville restaurant worker sentenced Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@ and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Prosecutor Katie Kurdys announces campaign for Buncombe County DA Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Former Washington Co. Sheriff's deputy charged with allegedly creating CSAM of children
This article contains information about alleged child sexual abuse material. Report CSAM to law enforcement by contacting the ICAC Tip Line at (801) 281-1211 or your local law enforcement agency. SPRINGVILLE, Utah () — A Springville man who previously worked for the Washington County Sheriff's Office has been charged with 15 felonies after detectives discovered he was allegedly creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of two children. The 43-year-old man, whom ABC4 is not identifying to protect the victims, has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a first-degree felony, and five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony. On April 14, 2024, the Utah County Sheriff's Office (UCSO) received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a user who had uploaded CSAM to an online account. Bountiful man charged for possessing more than 2,000 files of CSAM, documents say A detective with the UCSO investigated the tip and determined that CSAM had been uploaded by the account. An email and phone number were associated, and search warrants served on the email address located 'numerous' CSAM files. Through this investigation, the UCSO detective identified the 43-year-old man and began conducting surveillance on his residence. On July 15, 2025, a search warrant was executed on the man's home, during which he was taken into custody without incident, documents say. Two children were at the home, both under the age of 14, and an adult female, not identified by police, arrived to take custody of the two young children after the man was detained. During an interview with the 43-year-old, he allegedly confirmed that the phone number was his, and he had been using it for more than 15 years. He also stated that he does not share his phone with anyone else. Documents say that he was a former Washington County Sheriff's deputy, but had not been employed there for some time. A LinkedIn profile that appears to belong to the man shows that he left the sheriff's office around 2008. The 43-year-old man also allegedly admitted to owning the email account, but declined to answer any questions regarding CSAM files located on it. Eagle Mountain man arrested for paying 13-year-old for sexual photos, documents say Detectives began searching the man's cell phone as part of the search warrant and located 'a large quantity of CSAM,' including multiple images and videos of the two children at the home. CSAM files not involving the two children were also located. The photos of the children were as recent as one week before July 15. A UCSO detective made contact with the adult female who had custody of the two children, and she stated that she was unaware of the 43-year-old possessing CSAM, but had previously discovered that he had hidden cameras inside his residence. The two children completed interviews at the Utah County Children's Justice Center, and neither disclosed any abuse. Documents say that they were likely unaware that the man had taken inappropriate photos and videos of them. The 43-year-old man was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail, where he is currently being held without bail. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Latest headlines: Republicans eye efforts to quiet Epstein uproar but can't quash it Utah spends the 3rd lowest amount of income on childcare in nation: Wallethub Utah's air tanker bases have already used 1.2 million gallons of retardant fighting wildfires One dead after Orem house fire Friday morning Officials warn of potential flash floods in burn scars and Zion National Park Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nearly 30,000 defendants were granted PR bonds since 2022, many with extensive criminal records
The Brief Personal recognizance or PR bonds are meant to be for first-time offenders. However, some defendants have received five or even six PR bonds. Since 2022, magistrates have given PR bonds to more than 28,000 defendants charged with felonies. A bill the governor is expected to sign into law will stop magistrates from granting PR bonds. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - Personal recognizance bonds are meant for first-time offenders and low-level misdemeanors. But we've found career criminals, and even a registered sex offender, being granted numerous PR bonds. 62-year-old Nathaniel Cornell Barnes' lengthy criminal history dates to 1989. But that didn't stop a magistrate from granting him five personal recognizance bonds. "You've already been given five PR bonds. Guess what? He didn't show up for court. Now, he's a wanted fugitive. This is absurd," said Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers. In just the month of March, Mario Garza, President of Professional Bondsmen of Harris County Association, says magistrates granted more than 1,500 defendants PR bonds. "Some of them with extensive records that you would think by now, they wouldn't qualify, but they are," Garza said. Dig deeper Since 2022, magistrates have given PR bonds to more than 28,000 defendants charged with felonies. "What's even more disturbing was a list I got showing some of them have six PR bonds," said Kahan. Like 61-year-old Troy Carter. He's been in and out of prison since 1985. Yet he's now free from jail on his sixth felony PR bond. His lengthy criminal history for being a registered sex offender didn't stop 57-year-old Lewis Abney from getting six PR bonds. "He was given two more PR bonds. So he's right back out and this was the actual district court judge that gave him the PR bond, not the magistrate, which is even more disturbing," Kahan said. The judge who granted Abney PR bonds is 232nd Judge Josh Hill. What's next A bill the governor is expected to sign into law will stop magistrates from granting PR bonds. That can only be done by elected judges. The Source FOX 26 Reporter Randy Wallace spoke with Andy Kahan from Houston Crime Stoppers and Mario Garza, President of Professional Bondsmen of Harris County Association.
