Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail is currently holding 23 year old Timothy James Hoffman, who is being charged with forcible object sexual penetration for the May 17 sexual assault of his fiancée after a Madonna themed party at a local dance club.
The victim stumbled upon a videotape among her “fiancé’s" belongings. She watched herself being sexually assaulted while being passed out. That tape also showed Hoffman taking cell phone photos of his victim. She recognized the outfit from the night of the Madonna themed party, and police recognized the victim as completely helpless.
The victim told police that she had two drinks and began to feel ill. She asked Hoffman to drive her back to his residence on Goodman Street. Upon arriving, the only thing she could remember was vomiting in his yard and in his bathroom, according to the court documents.
“[The victim] does not remember anything but being very sick,” Detective Nicholas Rudman of the Charlottesville Police Department wrote in a search warrant affidavit.
“I viewed the video and observed [the victim] saying ‘no’ and she appeared completely helpless,” he wrote.
Hoffman and the victim had recently obtained a marriage license, [Charlottesville police spokesman Ric] Barrick said.
Charlottesville police searched Hoffman’s apartment Wednesday and confiscated a long list of items, including 17 videotapes, 15 compact discs, three pornography magazines, cut up Polaroid photographs, a Sony camcorder, computer disks, two cell phones and an Apple computer, according to the court documents.
Hoffman has petty criminal convictions, including DUI, trespassing, stealing from vending machines, and petty larceny. He had been ordered to enroll in the Bridge Ministry, a Central VA nonprofit prison ministry, but failed to complete the program, according to the program’s founder.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Cabbie sentenced to year in jail for inappropriate behavior
Abrahamad Gamadid, 25, a cabdriver who lives in Chicago's Northwest Side, was sentenced to a year in the Cook County Jail for making inappropriate comments and having inappropriate contact with his victim, a downtown customer who hailed his cab on February 9, but ran away. She reported the incident to the Chicago Police who identified and arrested the suspect with the help of the Chicago Department of Consumer Services.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Minneapolis man pleads guilty to stabbing wife to death
(Original Post 6-3-08)
A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to 2nd degree intentional murder just before he was about to stand trial in the death of his wife. After chasing his wife, Kyra Simonian, around their apartment screaming, "Do you love me?!" killing her by stabbing her 15 times in the head and neck then smashing her head in with a hammer, Matthew Gretz then flew to New York City on a business trip. Police found Simonian's blood on the suitcase her husband took to New York after he returned from his trip.
County Attorney Mike Freeman said this morning "the DNA was very clear" that Gretz killed Simonian, 32. However, Freeman said even though Gretz entered "a straight up plea" on what he was being charged for, "we don't know why he committed this crime."
Simonian was a graduate student at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She lived about a block away from the college with her husband, who worked in marketing at Target Corp. They had talked about moving back to Chicago, where they met.
Gretz, who pleaded guilty to 2nd degree intentional murder, will be sentenced June 25. He faces over 25 years in prison.
(Update 6-26-08) Gretz was sentenced to 25 1/2 years in prison with parole in 17 for the murder of his wife. “I stabbed and intentionally killed my wife,” he said in court. He was given credit for almost 9 months served in jail, and is eligible for release after 2/3 of his sentence.
A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to 2nd degree intentional murder just before he was about to stand trial in the death of his wife. After chasing his wife, Kyra Simonian, around their apartment screaming, "Do you love me?!" killing her by stabbing her 15 times in the head and neck then smashing her head in with a hammer, Matthew Gretz then flew to New York City on a business trip. Police found Simonian's blood on the suitcase her husband took to New York after he returned from his trip.
County Attorney Mike Freeman said this morning "the DNA was very clear" that Gretz killed Simonian, 32. However, Freeman said even though Gretz entered "a straight up plea" on what he was being charged for, "we don't know why he committed this crime."
Simonian was a graduate student at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She lived about a block away from the college with her husband, who worked in marketing at Target Corp. They had talked about moving back to Chicago, where they met.
Gretz, who pleaded guilty to 2nd degree intentional murder, will be sentenced June 25. He faces over 25 years in prison.
(Update 6-26-08) Gretz was sentenced to 25 1/2 years in prison with parole in 17 for the murder of his wife. “I stabbed and intentionally killed my wife,” he said in court. He was given credit for almost 9 months served in jail, and is eligible for release after 2/3 of his sentence.
British woman who killed partner acquitted of murder
From The BBC, June 3, 2008
Christine McGreavey, 44, was charged with the murder of Barry Parkin, 48, during a row at their home in Manorbier Crescent in Walton, Liverpool. Ms McGreavy, who has a four-year-old daughter with Mr Parkin, said the death happened accidentally during a row after she found out he was gay. She was also found not guilty of manslaughter at Liverpool Crown Court.
The couple were arguing at their home in January.
Ms McGreavey told the court that the blow, from which Mr Parkin died five hours later, had occurred accidentally. He came out of the kitchen during the row with a knife pointing towards his chest. She went forward to disarm him and accidentally bumped into him and the knife went into his chest. It was alleged she told police that she hoped he died.
She later apologised and said she had just "flipped" as she had just found out he was gay.
Christine McGreavey, 44, was charged with the murder of Barry Parkin, 48, during a row at their home in Manorbier Crescent in Walton, Liverpool. Ms McGreavy, who has a four-year-old daughter with Mr Parkin, said the death happened accidentally during a row after she found out he was gay. She was also found not guilty of manslaughter at Liverpool Crown Court.
The couple were arguing at their home in January.
Ms McGreavey told the court that the blow, from which Mr Parkin died five hours later, had occurred accidentally. He came out of the kitchen during the row with a knife pointing towards his chest. She went forward to disarm him and accidentally bumped into him and the knife went into his chest. It was alleged she told police that she hoped he died.
She later apologised and said she had just "flipped" as she had just found out he was gay.
Midshipman cleared of rape charges and possible courtmartial
(Original Post 5-21-08)
A midshipman enrolled at the US Naval Academy has been cleared of rape charges by the investigators of his case, but still faces disiplinary procedures, including expulsion from the academy. Mark A. Calvanico, 21, of Secaucus, NJ, faces conduct unbecoming a gentleman charges for the incident which occured at a woman's dorm last fall.
The report, akin to a civilian grand jury recommendation, is "under review," said Judy Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Naval Academy. She said she did not know when Fowler might reach a decision.
Calvanico, who is still enrolled at and attending the Naval Academy, had been accused of raping a female classmate in her room in Bancroft Hall early on Oct. 14. At a hearing last month, the woman testified that Calvanico, whom she had considered dating, had been drinking the night before and came to her room three times in the early-morning hours. On his third visit, she said, he pinned down her arms and raped her.
The investigating officer's report said there was "a lack of physical evidence to support" the woman's allegations of rape, and her roommate's testimony contradicted parts of her story. Forensic examinations of Calvanico's underwear showed evidence of the woman's DNA. No sperm, semen or DNA were found in vaginal swabs or on the woman's shorts, sheets or blankets. Further examination found no vaginal bruising or swelling.
The woman's roommate testified that she saw the pair kissing earlier and heard a discussion of their relationship but no signs of a serious struggle.
"If this case were to proceed to trial, the Government would be faced with putting on a case with almost a complete lack of physical evidence to support the most serious offenses charged," the investigator's report states.
The report recommends that Calvanico face administrative punishment for engaging in consensual sexual relations with the woman in the dorm when her roommate was there, being drunk and disorderly, and sending the woman a digital photograph of his penis at her request. The report, which makes no recommendation on actual punishment, also faults Calvanico for being absent from his place of duty and unlawfully entering the woman's dorm room.
"Despite there being sufficient evidence to go forward with a court-martial for the less serious offenses . . . the seriousness of the offenses does not rise to the level for adjudication at that forum," Clady's report says.
A midshipman enrolled at the US Naval Academy has been cleared of rape charges by the investigators of his case, but still faces disiplinary procedures, including expulsion from the academy. Mark A. Calvanico, 21, of Secaucus, NJ, faces conduct unbecoming a gentleman charges for the incident which occured at a woman's dorm last fall.
The report, akin to a civilian grand jury recommendation, is "under review," said Judy Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Naval Academy. She said she did not know when Fowler might reach a decision.
Calvanico, who is still enrolled at and attending the Naval Academy, had been accused of raping a female classmate in her room in Bancroft Hall early on Oct. 14. At a hearing last month, the woman testified that Calvanico, whom she had considered dating, had been drinking the night before and came to her room three times in the early-morning hours. On his third visit, she said, he pinned down her arms and raped her.
The investigating officer's report said there was "a lack of physical evidence to support" the woman's allegations of rape, and her roommate's testimony contradicted parts of her story. Forensic examinations of Calvanico's underwear showed evidence of the woman's DNA. No sperm, semen or DNA were found in vaginal swabs or on the woman's shorts, sheets or blankets. Further examination found no vaginal bruising or swelling.
The woman's roommate testified that she saw the pair kissing earlier and heard a discussion of their relationship but no signs of a serious struggle.
"If this case were to proceed to trial, the Government would be faced with putting on a case with almost a complete lack of physical evidence to support the most serious offenses charged," the investigator's report states.
The report recommends that Calvanico face administrative punishment for engaging in consensual sexual relations with the woman in the dorm when her roommate was there, being drunk and disorderly, and sending the woman a digital photograph of his penis at her request. The report, which makes no recommendation on actual punishment, also faults Calvanico for being absent from his place of duty and unlawfully entering the woman's dorm room.
"Despite there being sufficient evidence to go forward with a court-martial for the less serious offenses . . . the seriousness of the offenses does not rise to the level for adjudication at that forum," Clady's report says.
Parents and lawyers for Calvanico hope that the Naval Academy goes along with the recommendations of the report and that he avoids serious consequences.
"I'm hoping, I'm praying that he's fair and takes the report into consideration," said Rosa Calvanico, 47, Mark Calvanico's mother. "It's the truth. Mark really didn't do anything."
Michael Waddington, Mark Calvanico's lawyer, said he was not surprised by the report, which was in line with the hearing last month.
"The ball's in their court right now," Waddington said. "All the family's asking for is for him to get a fair shake."
(Update 6-3-08) After an Article 32 hearing, Calvanico will not face criminal charges, but can still face administrative punishments including a maximum of explusion from the Naval Academy. Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler's recommendation echoes an earlier report. Michael Waddington, Calvanico's attorney states his client in participating in summer training.
A Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent testified at Calvanico's Article 32 hearing that DNA from both midshipmen was found on a pair of boxer shorts Calvanico had been wearing that night. However, none of Calvanico's DNA or semen was found in a rape exam of the accuser. Clady concluded that both of those samples support testimony from Calvanico and the alleged victim's roommate "that there was consensual kissing and sexual activity short of sexual intercourse." He said there was "almost complete lack of physical evidence" for the rape charge.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Ex-trooper sentenced to a year in prison, no contact for sexual misconduct
Richard Keener, 40, of Bellefonte, PA was sentenced to a year in jail and a $1000 fine for charges of simple assault, unlawful restraint, indecent assault and disorderly conduct by Clinton County Judge Judge J. Michael Williamson Wednesday, May 28. He was a state trooper before the misconduct charges and his guilty plea, which averted a trial that would have started May 29.
Keener was stationed at the state police barracks in Lamar when he was charged last year with felony rape and sexual assault for the encounter with the woman while off-duty in May 2006.He met the woman and a female friend at a bar in Lock Haven before accompanying them to the woman’s apartment early the next morning, authorities said.
Keener had consumed a “significant amount of alcohol,” according to a statement last year from Attorney General Tom Corbett’s office.The case was referred by Clinton County District Attorney Ted McKnight’s office to the attorney general because McKnight had worked with Keener on prior prosecutions.
Keener said the incident resulted in bankruptcy and loss of career, and apologized to both his victim and his family.
“I lost my job and my career. I’m in bankruptcy. ... This is more than a reasonable sentence. I’m sorry for anything that caused you harm.”
Keener was stationed at the state police barracks in Lamar when he was charged last year with felony rape and sexual assault for the encounter with the woman while off-duty in May 2006.He met the woman and a female friend at a bar in Lock Haven before accompanying them to the woman’s apartment early the next morning, authorities said.
Keener had consumed a “significant amount of alcohol,” according to a statement last year from Attorney General Tom Corbett’s office.The case was referred by Clinton County District Attorney Ted McKnight’s office to the attorney general because McKnight had worked with Keener on prior prosecutions.
Keener said the incident resulted in bankruptcy and loss of career, and apologized to both his victim and his family.
“I lost my job and my career. I’m in bankruptcy. ... This is more than a reasonable sentence. I’m sorry for anything that caused you harm.”
After 7 1/2 month investigation, University of Iowa football players charged with sex assault
After 7.5 months, the University of Iowa obtained arrest warrants for two former University of Iowa football players accused of raping a fellow student at a dorm October 14. According to the complaint, Abe Satterfield of Erie, PA gave Cedric Evenson, 18, of Detroit access to the dorm room of the victim, and that Evenson had sexual contact with the sleeping victim.
According to the criminal complaint, "The victim was not even aware (the) defendant was having sexual intercourse with her." DNA evidence linked Evenson to the assault.
Both will be charged with second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony punishable by a 25-year prison term. Satterfield also will be charged with third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony, a possible 10-year prison term.
Evenson, arrested on a warrant charging him with 2nd degree sexual abuse, was held on $10,000 bond Friday. A no-contact order was issued on behalf of the alleged victim. Satterfield had not turned himself into Iowa authorities as of Friday, May 30. He is expected to turn himself in on June 2 for his preliminary hearing.
Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said both players have local attorneys and plan to surrender in Iowa City. Once they are jailed, Lyness will file formal charges.
"I think they're both going to try to do that, if they can afford to," Lyness said. "If not, then they're probably going to be picked up where they are, and we'll extradite them back. But I don't think they'll fight extradition."
The woman reported the incident to Public Safety on November 7, and police obtained evidence from Hillcrest Hall on November 14. Police turned over the evidence to Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness in December.
The investigation spanned nearly two semesters and became a burden to all parties. Public scrutiny intensified toward the University of Iowa and its athletics department, local law enforcement, the football team, the accused players and the alleged victim. Lyness said the woman was harassed, and a university news release stated, "The Johnson County Attorney's Office said Tuesday that the safety and well-being of the reported victim was paramount in the decision about when to file the charges." The woman has left Iowa City, and Lyness declined to say if she will return to the University of Iowa.
Lyness defended herself after the complaints that the investigation took too long. Satterfield and Everson were removed from the team within days of the alleged incident. In December, the school announced they were transferring to other schools. Satterfield is enrolled at Indiana (Pa.) University, and Everson signed with Alcorn State (Miss.) University but does not appear on the roster.
The legal process has weighed heavily on their families as well."Like any other family would think," said Pearline Hobson, Satterfield's grandmother, when asked for her thoughts. "God is going to prevail."
Her daughter, Kim Hobson, Satterfield's mother, echoed the same sentiments.
"The joy of the Lord is my strength. Jesus is his lawyer and Jesus is his judge and God will prevail."
The athletics department and university may have received the most scrutiny since the allegations. Since April 2007, 17 different football players have been arrested, including five for felonies. The state Board of Regents asked Lyness for a report on the case, Gov. Chet Culver called for a thorough probe, and the university was sued by a local newspaper after withholding several documents after an open records request.
"Once it became a criminal investigation, we had cooperation from the University of Iowa," Lyness said. When asked if the university had problems handling the incident before it became a criminal investigation, Lyness said, "I can't really comment on that."
Lyness said she expects further discussion on how UI officials handled the woman's complaint. Additionally, she said, the entire university, beyond campus police, could benefit from implementing practices used by the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team. Such practices include getting advocates for victims and not interviewing victims repeatedly following an assault, she said.
Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta defended his department and showed concern for the victim.
"The one thing that I continue to be confident about is that for our staff, our first concern was for the woman involved. And then we went directly through the university process and university procedure. I'm confident that everybody involved from my staff and throughout the university did their very best throughout that process.I understand that a lot of people want to know kind of what happened and what was the timeline and what was the process, but right now the rights of the alleged victim, of the accused and the people involved have to override the desire of the media and for the public for immediate access."
(Update 6-3-08) Satterfield turned himself in this morning. The charges of 2nd and 3rd degree sexual abuse were formally read. Surprisingly, the 2nd degree charge stems from the alleged facilitation of Evenson's alleged assault. The 3rd degree charges comes from Satterfield's own sexual encounter with the victim.
Authorities accuse Satterfield and an unidentified man of entering room N207 at Hillcrest Hall on Oct. 14, 2007 between midnight and 6 a.m. After the other man left the room, “the defendant (Satterfield) forced the victim to have sexual intercourse with him, even after the victim told him she did not want to do so. The defendant admitted to having sex with the victim,” according to the complaint on his third-degree charge.
He is being held on $10,000 bond and is under a no-contact order for the victim.
According to the criminal complaint, "The victim was not even aware (the) defendant was having sexual intercourse with her." DNA evidence linked Evenson to the assault.
Both will be charged with second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony punishable by a 25-year prison term. Satterfield also will be charged with third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony, a possible 10-year prison term.
Evenson, arrested on a warrant charging him with 2nd degree sexual abuse, was held on $10,000 bond Friday. A no-contact order was issued on behalf of the alleged victim. Satterfield had not turned himself into Iowa authorities as of Friday, May 30. He is expected to turn himself in on June 2 for his preliminary hearing.
Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said both players have local attorneys and plan to surrender in Iowa City. Once they are jailed, Lyness will file formal charges.
"I think they're both going to try to do that, if they can afford to," Lyness said. "If not, then they're probably going to be picked up where they are, and we'll extradite them back. But I don't think they'll fight extradition."
The woman reported the incident to Public Safety on November 7, and police obtained evidence from Hillcrest Hall on November 14. Police turned over the evidence to Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness in December.
The investigation spanned nearly two semesters and became a burden to all parties. Public scrutiny intensified toward the University of Iowa and its athletics department, local law enforcement, the football team, the accused players and the alleged victim. Lyness said the woman was harassed, and a university news release stated, "The Johnson County Attorney's Office said Tuesday that the safety and well-being of the reported victim was paramount in the decision about when to file the charges." The woman has left Iowa City, and Lyness declined to say if she will return to the University of Iowa.
Lyness defended herself after the complaints that the investigation took too long. Satterfield and Everson were removed from the team within days of the alleged incident. In December, the school announced they were transferring to other schools. Satterfield is enrolled at Indiana (Pa.) University, and Everson signed with Alcorn State (Miss.) University but does not appear on the roster.
The legal process has weighed heavily on their families as well."Like any other family would think," said Pearline Hobson, Satterfield's grandmother, when asked for her thoughts. "God is going to prevail."
Her daughter, Kim Hobson, Satterfield's mother, echoed the same sentiments.
"The joy of the Lord is my strength. Jesus is his lawyer and Jesus is his judge and God will prevail."
The athletics department and university may have received the most scrutiny since the allegations. Since April 2007, 17 different football players have been arrested, including five for felonies. The state Board of Regents asked Lyness for a report on the case, Gov. Chet Culver called for a thorough probe, and the university was sued by a local newspaper after withholding several documents after an open records request.
"Once it became a criminal investigation, we had cooperation from the University of Iowa," Lyness said. When asked if the university had problems handling the incident before it became a criminal investigation, Lyness said, "I can't really comment on that."
Lyness said she expects further discussion on how UI officials handled the woman's complaint. Additionally, she said, the entire university, beyond campus police, could benefit from implementing practices used by the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team. Such practices include getting advocates for victims and not interviewing victims repeatedly following an assault, she said.
Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta defended his department and showed concern for the victim.
"The one thing that I continue to be confident about is that for our staff, our first concern was for the woman involved. And then we went directly through the university process and university procedure. I'm confident that everybody involved from my staff and throughout the university did their very best throughout that process.I understand that a lot of people want to know kind of what happened and what was the timeline and what was the process, but right now the rights of the alleged victim, of the accused and the people involved have to override the desire of the media and for the public for immediate access."
(Update 6-3-08) Satterfield turned himself in this morning. The charges of 2nd and 3rd degree sexual abuse were formally read. Surprisingly, the 2nd degree charge stems from the alleged facilitation of Evenson's alleged assault. The 3rd degree charges comes from Satterfield's own sexual encounter with the victim.
Authorities accuse Satterfield and an unidentified man of entering room N207 at Hillcrest Hall on Oct. 14, 2007 between midnight and 6 a.m. After the other man left the room, “the defendant (Satterfield) forced the victim to have sexual intercourse with him, even after the victim told him she did not want to do so. The defendant admitted to having sex with the victim,” according to the complaint on his third-degree charge.
He is being held on $10,000 bond and is under a no-contact order for the victim.
Canadian abuser gets light sentence for abusing "girlfriend"
Court sentence outrages women's groups - Man gets less than two years for multiple domestic assaults
JENNY MCCARTHY The Labradorian
A man who beat his girlfriend, left her with a broken jaw, cuts on her skull and face and half naked in a snow bank, receives less than two years in jail.
Last fall Neil Andrew broke his pregnant girlfriend's thumbs.He was arrested and released from custody. Only eight days later he was arrested again, this time it was for kicking his girlfriend in the head. He promised to keep his distance from the young woman and was once again released.A few months later Mr. Andrew left his girlfriend half naked in a snow bank with a broken jaw, and cuts on her skull and face.
Again Mr. Andrew was arrested but this time he was kept in prison. He was charged with aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm, common assault and breach of probation.He pled guilty to all the charges.Under the Criminal Code of Canada the maximum sentence Mr. Andrew could serve is five years, but it's important to understand that maximum penalties are rarely imposed and are reserved for the most serious crimes and the worst offenders.
In a provincial court held in Sheshatshiu last week, Mr. Andrew received a sentence of 23-months in prison. Stephanie Flowers, project co-coordinator for the Women's Center in HV-GB said she attended many court hearings for domestic violence and she's disappointed with the sentence but she isn't surprised."It's getting worse. People have started to accept this behavior as if it were normal," she said.Ms. Flowers said with federal time (2 years +) Mr. Andrew would have had access to an immense number of good programs that could have helped him.
Sentences of less than two years are served in provincial or territorial jails. Sentences of two years or more are carried out in federal prisons under the jurisdiction of Correctional Service Canada.
Judge John Joy, the judge in Mr. Andrews case, called the sentence a harsh one and said he took into consideration Mr. Andrew's family history of alcoholism and his lack of a prior record in determining sentencing.
Petrina Beals, executive director of the Women's Center said it's frustrating because things don't seem to be getting better for women who are faced with abusive situations."Women should be able to trust the justice system to protect them. Right now that's not happening," she said.
The Coalition Against Violence responded immediately to the sentencing, saying the sentence sends a clear message that the victim's rights come second to the rights of the offender. They want full sentences for violent offenders, treatmen
t and counselling for abusers and a society where everyone can live with security and dignity.In 2005, the Mokami Status of Women's Council began a Purple Heart Campaign in response to what they perceived to be a light sentence given to a man in Labrador who had assaulted his girlfriend. The campaign calls on the Department of Justice and the Provincial Court to take steps in protecting women who are victims of domestic violence. The council wants to work with the justice system so each group understands the other.
A big part of the campaign is educating women about the court system. The campaign asks for such things as reduction in wait times for bail hearings, a translator for anyone who's first language is not English, and training for judges and crown prosecutors on family violence issues.Its hope, and that of many others, is to discourage domestic violence and make it something that's looked down upon, not simply accepted. Any woman who finds herself in an abusive relationship does have options. In HV-GB there is a women's shelter called Libra House. They can be contacted at 896-3014, or the women's center at 896-3484.
JENNY MCCARTHY The Labradorian
A man who beat his girlfriend, left her with a broken jaw, cuts on her skull and face and half naked in a snow bank, receives less than two years in jail.
Last fall Neil Andrew broke his pregnant girlfriend's thumbs.He was arrested and released from custody. Only eight days later he was arrested again, this time it was for kicking his girlfriend in the head. He promised to keep his distance from the young woman and was once again released.A few months later Mr. Andrew left his girlfriend half naked in a snow bank with a broken jaw, and cuts on her skull and face.
Again Mr. Andrew was arrested but this time he was kept in prison. He was charged with aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm, common assault and breach of probation.He pled guilty to all the charges.Under the Criminal Code of Canada the maximum sentence Mr. Andrew could serve is five years, but it's important to understand that maximum penalties are rarely imposed and are reserved for the most serious crimes and the worst offenders.
In a provincial court held in Sheshatshiu last week, Mr. Andrew received a sentence of 23-months in prison. Stephanie Flowers, project co-coordinator for the Women's Center in HV-GB said she attended many court hearings for domestic violence and she's disappointed with the sentence but she isn't surprised."It's getting worse. People have started to accept this behavior as if it were normal," she said.Ms. Flowers said with federal time (2 years +) Mr. Andrew would have had access to an immense number of good programs that could have helped him.
Sentences of less than two years are served in provincial or territorial jails. Sentences of two years or more are carried out in federal prisons under the jurisdiction of Correctional Service Canada.
Judge John Joy, the judge in Mr. Andrews case, called the sentence a harsh one and said he took into consideration Mr. Andrew's family history of alcoholism and his lack of a prior record in determining sentencing.
Petrina Beals, executive director of the Women's Center said it's frustrating because things don't seem to be getting better for women who are faced with abusive situations."Women should be able to trust the justice system to protect them. Right now that's not happening," she said.
The Coalition Against Violence responded immediately to the sentencing, saying the sentence sends a clear message that the victim's rights come second to the rights of the offender. They want full sentences for violent offenders, treatmen
t and counselling for abusers and a society where everyone can live with security and dignity.In 2005, the Mokami Status of Women's Council began a Purple Heart Campaign in response to what they perceived to be a light sentence given to a man in Labrador who had assaulted his girlfriend. The campaign calls on the Department of Justice and the Provincial Court to take steps in protecting women who are victims of domestic violence. The council wants to work with the justice system so each group understands the other.
A big part of the campaign is educating women about the court system. The campaign asks for such things as reduction in wait times for bail hearings, a translator for anyone who's first language is not English, and training for judges and crown prosecutors on family violence issues.Its hope, and that of many others, is to discourage domestic violence and make it something that's looked down upon, not simply accepted. Any woman who finds herself in an abusive relationship does have options. In HV-GB there is a women's shelter called Libra House. They can be contacted at 896-3014, or the women's center at 896-3484.
Voyeur gets 90 days in jail, deportation for incident in Yakima mall
Jose Luis Mendoza Castaneda, 26, was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail for looking up the skirt of a Yakima Valley Macy's employee, but the sentence is moot because he has already served his time, and he's being deported to Mexico. The incident occured February 29, when a Macy's security guard watch Castaneda walk behing a 19 year old employee's skirt and placed his cell phone camera up her skirt. He pled guilty, and also faces sex offender registration, a requirement which is moot due to the pending deportation.
NJ man charged in wife's death after almost 2 1/2 years
Alan Stoedtler, a 62 year old New Jersey man, was arrested Thursday for the December 14, 2005 murder of his 43 year old wife Donna in the borough of Manasquan. The murder was the 1st murder 30 years, and according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, he had always been a suspect.
Police searched for evidence and witnesses, using resources including divers who searched in an area close to where Alan Stoedtler worked. According to authorities, Alan came home and found his wife shot to death and their home ransacked.
Donna Stoedter worked as a vice president and senior credit adviser at Wachovia Bank in Red Bank. In the days following the murder, Borough Councilman Joseph W. Lucas, chairman of the public safety committee, said the borough Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office were working together to solve the crime.
A public records check last year showed Stoedter living in Lake Hopatcong. A man answering a telephone number under that name Tuesday confirmed he was Stoedter, but when asked to comment on the case he hung up.
Speaking on behalf of Donna Stoedter’s family, her brother-in-law, John Lorenzo of Easton, Pa., said, “We miss Donna, and we’re hoping 2008 brings a resolution. That’s all there is to say at this point.” He later added, “You never give up hope, never give up hope.”
Neighbors, including Tom Dross, described the Stoedters as quiet people who kept to themselves.
“They kept to themselves. They were very polite, nice people, but everyone’s still kind of shocked about what happened.”
Stoedtler was being held on $3 million bail on murder and other weapons charges.
Police searched for evidence and witnesses, using resources including divers who searched in an area close to where Alan Stoedtler worked. According to authorities, Alan came home and found his wife shot to death and their home ransacked.
Donna Stoedter worked as a vice president and senior credit adviser at Wachovia Bank in Red Bank. In the days following the murder, Borough Councilman Joseph W. Lucas, chairman of the public safety committee, said the borough Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office were working together to solve the crime.
A public records check last year showed Stoedter living in Lake Hopatcong. A man answering a telephone number under that name Tuesday confirmed he was Stoedter, but when asked to comment on the case he hung up.
Speaking on behalf of Donna Stoedter’s family, her brother-in-law, John Lorenzo of Easton, Pa., said, “We miss Donna, and we’re hoping 2008 brings a resolution. That’s all there is to say at this point.” He later added, “You never give up hope, never give up hope.”
Neighbors, including Tom Dross, described the Stoedters as quiet people who kept to themselves.
“They kept to themselves. They were very polite, nice people, but everyone’s still kind of shocked about what happened.”
Stoedtler was being held on $3 million bail on murder and other weapons charges.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
25 year old Shreveport man charged with video voyeurism
Douglas Chandler, 25, of Shreveport, LA, has been charged with 2 counts of video voyeurism as of May 30. Police expect more charges after a female told police that their sexual encounter had been filmed.
Even though Chandler was charged with two counts of video voyeurism, there are four victims which are known, and there are more tapes of the sexual encounters which have been believed to have been created than the tape seized.
Call Shreveport detectives at (318) 673-6955 or Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373 with any information.
Even though Chandler was charged with two counts of video voyeurism, there are four victims which are known, and there are more tapes of the sexual encounters which have been believed to have been created than the tape seized.
Call Shreveport detectives at (318) 673-6955 or Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373 with any information.
Luzerne County rape suspect had previous no-contact order
Two days before the alleged rape of a woman from Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, PA, she filed a protection from abuse (PFA) order alleging that Joseph Craig Eckrote, 48 had physically assaulted her and her 17 year old son inside their home on May 3. He was charged with terroristic threats and harassment, and ordered evicted from the woman's home. Eckrote was also placed on $10,000 unsecured bail.
The woman alleged in the PFA that Eckrote assaulted her son because her son wouldn’t help him with a disabled vehicle. She contacted state police, who told Eckrote to leave the residence to “cool off” for several hours.
Shortly after police left, Eckrote returned to the woman’s residence and threatened her, according to the PFA documents and arrest records.
The woman claimed Eckrote told her, “Not to go to work tonight because (she’ll) be floating in the river.” He also remarked that her son would “be floating in the river,” the PFA documents say. Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Toole granted the woman the temporary PFA.
Court documents regarding the outcome of the PFA hearing had not been filed in the county prothonotary’s office as of Thursday.
On May 17, the woman told police Eckrote surprised her when she arrived home from work. He forced her into a car, and threatened to kill himself unless she withdrew the PFA, according to arrest records. Eckrote drove to a secluded area near the Susquehanna River and told the woman he wasn’t going to jail for violating the PFA. He raped the woman, police said in arrest records, before telling her to walk away.
Police searched for Eckrote before he surrendered at Magisterial District Judge Donald Whittaker's office Wednesday, May 28.
Eckrote is being charged with rape, robbery of a vehicle, simple assault and two counts of kidnapping. He's being held on $125,000 bail and his preliminary hearings on the rape charges are scheduled for June 5, and the other charges are scheduled for June 23.
The woman alleged in the PFA that Eckrote assaulted her son because her son wouldn’t help him with a disabled vehicle. She contacted state police, who told Eckrote to leave the residence to “cool off” for several hours.
Shortly after police left, Eckrote returned to the woman’s residence and threatened her, according to the PFA documents and arrest records.
The woman claimed Eckrote told her, “Not to go to work tonight because (she’ll) be floating in the river.” He also remarked that her son would “be floating in the river,” the PFA documents say. Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Toole granted the woman the temporary PFA.
Court documents regarding the outcome of the PFA hearing had not been filed in the county prothonotary’s office as of Thursday.
On May 17, the woman told police Eckrote surprised her when she arrived home from work. He forced her into a car, and threatened to kill himself unless she withdrew the PFA, according to arrest records. Eckrote drove to a secluded area near the Susquehanna River and told the woman he wasn’t going to jail for violating the PFA. He raped the woman, police said in arrest records, before telling her to walk away.
Police searched for Eckrote before he surrendered at Magisterial District Judge Donald Whittaker's office Wednesday, May 28.
Eckrote is being charged with rape, robbery of a vehicle, simple assault and two counts of kidnapping. He's being held on $125,000 bail and his preliminary hearings on the rape charges are scheduled for June 5, and the other charges are scheduled for June 23.
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