Latest news with #felonycharge
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Miami developer George Pino hit with new manslaughter charge in deadly Biscayne Bay boat crash
Miami-Dade prosecutors have filed a new manslaughter charge against real estate broker George Pino, whose boat crashed during a 2022 Labor Day outing, killing a teenage girl and seriously injuring another. The additional felony count, filed Thursday, comes on top of an existing vessel homicide charge, according to court records. Both charges stem from the death of 17-year-old Luciana "Lucy" Fernandez, a high school senior at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy who died after the boat capsized near Biscayne Bay on Sept. 4, 2022. Her classmate, Katerina "Katy" Puig, now 20, suffered traumatic injuries and remains in a wheelchair, struggling with basic motor skills. The new charge states that Pino, 54, "intentionally committed an act or acts, and/or acted with culpable negligence" that led to Fernandez's death. Each charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. Prosecutors deemed the manslaughter charge appropriate after receiving new witness information. Sources familiar with the case told The Miami Herald that testimony from several teenage girls who were on the boat, including accounts of alcohol consumption hours before the crash, played a key role in the decision. On the day of the crash, Pino's daughter, who had just turned 18, invited 11 friends on a birthday boating trip with her parents. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) later found empty alcohol containers aboard the vessel, which flipped and threw all 14 passengers into the water. Three girls were pulled out unconscious, including Fernandez, Puig, and a third girl who later recovered. In a statement provided to the Herald Friday morning, Pino's attorney called the new charge "duplicative" and said it adds confusion rather than clarity. "We will move to dismiss this unwarranted, redundant accusation," said defense lawyer Howard Srebnick, who has argued the crash was a tragic accident, not a crime. Toxicology reports from the night of the crash showed Puig had a blood alcohol level nearly double the legal limit for driving. Her family has sued George and Cecilia Pino, accusing them of supplying alcohol to minors, an allegation the couple denies. The case has drawn scrutiny over the FWC's handling of the investigation. Despite serious injuries, officers did not administer a sobriety test to Pino, who admitted to drinking two beers. Training materials used by the State Attorney's Office direct FWC investigators to pursue blood draws in such circumstances and provide a 24/7 hotline to request warrants, a step the agency failed to take.
New York Times
02-08-2025
- New York Times
Contractor Arrested in Connection With Death of Alabama 3-Year-Old in Hot Car
A contractor for Alabama's Human Resources Department was arrested and charged on Friday in connection with the death of a 3-year-old boy who was left in a hot car while in the state's custody, prosecutors said. The contractor, Kela Stanford, 54, of Birmingham, was charged with being a person for hire responsible for a child under the age of 7 and leaving a child or incapacitated person unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office said in a news release on Friday. Ms. Stanford was booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham and released on bond on Friday, according to jail records. It was not immediately clear if she had a lawyer. Efforts to reach her on Friday night were unsuccessful. If convicted of the felony charge, she could face a sentence of two to 20 years in prison. The prosecutor's office did not release any other information about the case, saying it was a pending matter. The charge against Ms. Stanford came 10 days after a child in foster care whom she was supervising, Ke'Torrius Starkes Jr., was left in a vehicle from about 12:30 p.m. to about 5:30 p.m., on July 22 in Bessemer, a southwestern suburb of Birmingham, according to G. Courtney French, a lawyer representing the boy's family. He said that Ke'Torrius, whose nickname was KJ, was supposed to be transported from a supervised visit with his father to a day care program by Ms. Stanford, a contractor with Covenant Services, a third-party service contracted through the state's Human Resources Department. That agency oversees child protection, foster care and other social services. Instead, the Birmingham Police Department said, the boy was 'accidentally left inside of a vehicle.' Mr. French said during a news conference on Friday that Ms. Stanford picked up Ke'Torrius from the supervised visit around 11:30 a.m., then went to a restaurant and a tobacco shop before arriving back at her home about 12:30 p.m., where she left the boy in the car. Around 5:30 p.m. that day, the day care center called her, asking where the child was, Mr. French said. Ke'Torrius was strapped in the car, which had tinted windows, he said. Ms. Stanford then went out and brought the boy inside her home, where she threw cold water on his face, he said. The Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced the boy dead at the scene, the police said. Ms. Stanford told investigators that she didn't know the child was still in her car when she finished running errands, Mr. French said. She transported the boy once a week for a visit with his family, he said. 'This was something that should have never happened,' he said. 'Hopefully this is something that should never happen again.' The boy's parents are devastated by their child's 'brutal death,' Mr. French said. Brittney DeBruce, the boy's aunt, said during the news conference that he was a 'child full of life' and that his foster family had reached out to his parents and her since his death. The boy's family has not heard from the Human Resources Department since he died, Mr. French said. The Human Resources Department, Covenant Services and the Birmingham Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday evening. The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office said in its news release on Friday that Ke'Torrius's death was a 'tragedy that was completely avoidable and unnecessary,' but declined to comment further, citing the pending case against Ms. Stanford. Temperatures were in the mid-to-high 90s during the afternoon of July 22 in the Birmingham area, but with humidity factored in, it felt as high as 103 degrees at 1 p.m. and 100 degrees by 5 p.m., Jessica Laws, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said in an interview last week. The heat index inside of the car surpassed 140 degrees while the boy was 'trapped' there, Mr. French said. The boy's death prompted an investigation and calls from state lawmakers to improve oversight of the Human Services Department. State Representative Patrick Sellers, a Democrat, said during the news conference on Friday that he was 'deeply heartbroken and outraged' and called for an investigation into the department. Mr. Sellers is among a number of state lawmakers who have sought more information about what happened, according to statements published in local media. The fact that the boy's death was preventable 'should haunt us,' he said. 'This tragedy has revealed glaring cracks in the system — cracks that cost a child his life,' he said. Nineteen children have died in a hot car this year in the United States, according to Kids and Car Safety, a nonprofit organization that advocates for children's and pets' safety in vehicles.
CBS News
28-07-2025
- CBS News
Sterling Heights man charged with bank robbery, faces up to life in prison
A bank robbery in Sterling Heights, Michigan, has resulted in a local man taken into custody and charged, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said. Armand David Saroli, 52, of Sterling Heights, is facing the felony charge of bank robbery, which is punishable by up to life in prison. The robbery happened about 1:28 p.m. Wednesday at a bank in Sterling Heights. The suspect gave a note to a teller, allegedly demanding money, which was provided. The culprit then left the bank. Saroli was later captured by police. An arraignment took place at Sterling Heights District Court 41-A. Bond was set at $750,000. If he is released from jail, Saroli will be ordered to wear a tether, prosecutors said. A probable cause conference is scheduled for Aug. 7, with a preliminary exam scheduled for Aug. 14.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Yahoo
Driver Accused of the Hit-and-Run Death of Hamptons' 'Realtor Sara Burack Says She Thought She Hit a Traffic Cone
The woman suspected of killing Million Dollar Beach House realtor Sara Burack pleaded not guilty to leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving a fatality in court on June 21 Amanda Kempton's lawyer said she thought she had hit a traffic cone, and that alcohol is not considered a factor in the case Burack died in the hospital from her injuries after the incident on June 19The woman accused of killing Sara Burack in a hit-and-run incident in Hampton Bays, N.Y., has spoken out for the first time. Amanda Kempton, who was arrested on Friday, June 20, appeared in court for the first time on Saturday, June 21, when she pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving a fatality, according to the New York Post. Kempton's lawyer told the court that the woman thought she had hit a traffic cone in the incident, and that alcohol is not considered a factor in the case, the outlet reported. According to the New York Post, the marine biologist was emotional as prosecutor MacDonald Drane requested that the judge give her a higher bail, since she had allegedly initially fled the scene of the crime and was scheduled to return to Virginia for a wedding on June 21. The prosecutor also claimed that Kempton, 32, allegedly spent time at a tavern prior to the hit-and-run incident, per the outlet. Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident is a class D felony in the state of New York. Kempton could face up to seven years in prison. Kempton was released from prison on $100,000 bail, according to the New York Post, which cited officials during her arraignment. Her family, who live on Long Island, put up collateral in lieu of the money, the outlet said. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office (SCDA) and the Southampton Town Police Department (STPD) did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the case on June 21. Burack, who appeared in the Netflix series Million Dollar Beach House, was fatally injured in the alleged hit-and-run that occurred on Thursday, June 19, at approximately 2:45 a.m. local time. She was 40. The real estate agent, who was a resident of Southampton, was found unconscious on Montauk Highway near Villa Paul Restaurant, according to authorities. After being found, she was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she died from her injuries. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The successful luxury real estate broker was a former agent with Nest Seekers International, located in The Hamptons and New York City, per Greater Long Island. Burack previously told in 2020 that her 'family has a commercial construction material sales business that I spent many years of my life working for," and that she had 'been spending half the year in the Hamptons for the past 11 years.' She added, 'It was only natural to turn my love for real estate into a blossoming career." Million Dollar Beach House was released on Netflix in 2020. Read the original article on People
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Harvey, Illinois Ald. Colby Chapman returns to City Hall after latest arrest
Just days after an alderman in the south Chicago suburb of Harvey was arrested and charged with a felony, she was back at a Harvey City Council meeting. Ald. Colby Chapman (2nd) chalks the charges up to political retaliation by the mayor. Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark says no such thing is happening. The allegations stem from an April city council meeting where Chapman was removed from the meeting and charged with misdemeanors that were later dropped — but now she is faced with a felony from that same encounter. On Monday night, Chapman was back at Harvey City Hall. "Our city needs men who lead with integrity, love and courage," Chapman said at a City Council meeting. Late last week, Chapman turned herself in to Harvey police on a felony charge. In April, Mayor Clark said Chapman was disruptive at least three times, and asked the Harvey City Council to censure and remove her. Chapman was charged with misdemeanors for this encounter with officers. The charges were dropped last week by the Cook County State's Attorney's office. But a day later, the State's Attorney's office approved a new felony charge against Chapman of aggravated battery to a police officer for the same April incident. "This is my fourth time arrested, third time jailed," Chapman said. Chapman has been arrested before for incidents at City Hall. The charges have all later been dismissed. Chapman is a frequent critic of the mayor, and said she believes the mayor has unfairly targeted her. Mayor Clark denies any allegations of political retribution. "When the State's Attorney's office has an opportunity to make full review of the entirety of what happened on Monday, April the 28th, I think that they'll make a good decision, favorable," Chapman said. Back inside Harvey City Hall, some residents came to the defense of Chapman. "I'm sick and tired of you arresting Colby Chapman," said Harvey resident Mazurk Irvin. Meanwhile, some fellow aldermen accused chapman of grandstanding. "This is not a way to run a city," Irvin said. Mayor Clark said the video of the April City Council incident speaks for itself, and shows Ald. Chapman striking a police officer. The mayor added that the charges should send a clear message that no one is above the law. "For the next six months to the end of 2025, I'm hopeful that there will be no more arrests; that nobody will be silenced because they talked," said Chapman. The day Ald. Chapman turned herself in last week, she announced her candidacy for mayor. Chapman has also filed a civil lawsuit against the mayor.
