A former British soldier was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for at least 16 years at Maidstone crown court Friday, February 18. 33 year old Nicholas Fabian of Vigo, Kent, England was convicted for planting a hand grenade underneath his wife Victoria's car. The hand grenade was stolen from training exercises and was rigged to go off when the victim reversed out of her driveway on March 5, 2010.
The victim suffered burns and shrapnel injuries, and was six months pregnant with her attacker's son, named Freddie. During the attack, Fabian, driving in another car with his four year old son Harry ripped off his shirt to use as a tourniquet. Police suspected Fabian from the beginning, but charges were not filed until they found the green and yellow paint that was found on the grenade and the fishing line used to booby trap the car. Fabian's official charges were attempted murder and causing an explosion with intent to endanger life.
Andrew Patience, QC castigated Fabian before formally pronouncing sentence. "What you did in causing that explosion, with the consequences which flowed from it on March 5 last year, was wicked beyond belief. You conceived a plan to rid yourself of your wife which demonstrated low cunning in its planning and preparation, and utter heartlessness and chilling ruthlessness in its execution...You are an evil man who was prepared to destroy at least one human life in order to achieve your own selfish ends. Not only are you evil but you present a danger to the general public."
Patience said that "your wife was not to know, even when you were sat together on March 4, that the plans for your life together meant nothing to you and you were practising upon her the cruelest of deceptions."
The motive behind the attack was for Fabian to rid himself of his wife and make a life with his mistress Jackie Phillips. The 33 year old Phillips told authorities Fabian promised to leave his wife for her, but Fabian himself said that he felt "lust, infatuation and obsession," but not love for Phillips. Phillips was not the only person who Fabian has had dalliances with.
Since his conviction [Thursday, February 17], it has since been revealed that as well as cheating on his wife, attempted killer Fabian had previously worked as a £50-a-time male prostitute and even starred in a gay porn movie while still a soldier in Aldershot.
Known as ‘Squaddie Nick’, he catered to the sexual needs of older men with an Army uniform fetish. One man, who had a relationship with Fabian after meeting him on a train, said: 'He came on to me strongly and we had sex in the train toilet. 'I dropped him off at his married Army quarters afterwards in my car but that night he was knocking on my door again. He was having affairs with a string of women and wanted gay sex too,' he told The Sun.
At the time [in 2004]he was living with a former partner, Louise Sands, the mother of two of his children. When asked after the trial whether she was aware of her ex’s secret double life, Miss Sands, 30, said: ‘What? Nick? Gay? My head is fried.’
He had spent ten years in The Princess of Wales Royal Regiment and during his time with them he was investigated for ‘misconduct issues’ which saw him demoted from lance corporal to private. He was also alleged to have stolen from his fellow soldiers.
After leaving the Army in 2004 he had found it difficult to adjust to civilian life and claimed he was happy when he was called up to serve as he missed ‘the thrill of being a soldier’, the court heard.
On the day of the attack in March last year Mrs Fabian had planned to take Charlie and Harry, her four-year-old son with Fabian, to get a haircut.
Afterwards all four were due to have a family meal at a Harvester restaurant.
Alastair Dickson from the Kent Crown Prosecution Service, said the affair with Phillips was not the only motive behing the attack on his wife. "Clearly not everyone who has affairs goes on to attempt to kill his wife in such a way...It has something to do with the fact that he was a fantasist and an attention-seeker but I don’t think anyone will ever know the true motive in addition to the Jackie Phillips motive behind this offence."
Dickson praised the victim for facing her attacker in open court instead of from behind a screen. "Victoria Fabian, throughout this terrible ordeal, has shown an enormous degree of bravery and strength. That's reflected in the way she gave her evidence to the court. She was brave enough to make the decision that she didn't want to give evidence from behind a screen, which was available to her. What she wanted to do was face Nicholas Fabian in court and for him to see exactly what he had done to her, and that shows remarkable bravery."
Showing posts with label attempted murder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attempted murder. Show all posts
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Teenage rapist sentenced to 75 to life for attack on woman
Madden-Vaughn, who turned 18 the day before Halloween last year, faces charges of fondling a 12 year old girl on a playground January 19, 2009 and hitting a 68 year old woman with a brick. Chief Deputy DA Joseph Morales and Deputy District Attorney P.J. Loew prosecuted the case.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Duke lacrosse accuser charged with attempted murder of "boyfriend", convicted on misdemeanor counts
(Original post 2-19-10)
The Duke Lacrosse accuser has been charged with serious offenses of her own, including arson and the attempted murder of her "boyfriend." 31 year old Crystal Mangum attacked her "boyfriend" and set his clothes on fire while her three children were inside, according to an arrest warrant handed out Wednesday night.
According to the arrest warrant, Mangum scratched, punched, and threatened her "boyfriend," Milton Walker after he decided to break up with her. Mangum's 9 year old daughter called 911.
After picking up the remains of his clothes, the victim said, "I don't know what she was thinking, sometimes she does things without thinking...I believe Crystal is a good person, so there's no problem. We were friends before so I hope everything works out for the best,"
In March 2006, Mangum accused three Duke lacrosse players of raping her at a party where she was hired to strip. The case gained national attention. In April 2007, all charges were dropped by Attorney General Roy Cooper. The case also led to Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong being disbarred. Mangum later released a book entitled "The Last Dance for Grace: The Crystal Mangum Story."
Mangum is currently being held on $1 million bond. Her official charges are 5 counts of arson, 3 counts of misdemeanor child abuse, attempted first degree murder, assault and battery, identification theft, communicating a threat, injury to personal property, and resisting [a] public officer.
(Update 1-7-11 - mistrial on arson charges) Last month on December 16, Mangum was found guilty of injury to personal property, child abuse, and resisting an officer. Superior Court Judge Abe Jones sentenced her to 88 days in jail - time she had already served. Jurors deadlocked 9 to 3 in favor of a non guilty verdict on the 1st degree arson charge. Three of those jurors believed Mangum was guilty of being reckless in setting fire to the "boyfriend"'s clothing.
Supporter Victoria Peterson reiterated a claim by the Friends of Crystal Mangum that authorities were punishing Mangum for accusing Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006. Mangum was retaliating against her boyfriend, Milton Walker, for allegedly punching her in the face; Walker was never charged. "It's a victory," Peterson said of the judge and jury's decisions.
Over the past 10 months, Peterson and others have complained about Mangum's treatment, which included an attempted murder charge, $1 million bond, the 88 days in jail and a no-contact order with her children."There did seem to be a lot of severe charges for what the evidence showed," said jury forewoman Shauna Mitchell.
Meanwhile, Durham County prosecutor Mark McCullough will decide later this month whether to retry Mangum on the 1st degree arson count.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Woman who killed estranged husband recieves life without parole
A Baltimore County teacher was sentenced to life without parole for the murder of her husband Tuesday, August 10. Mary C. Koontz was sentenced to the maximum sentence for the 1st degree murder of her husband, Ronald G. Koontz, who was 66 when murdered. Ronald was a recently retired Baltimore County public school administrator.
The murder was committed on June 19, 2009, at the Koontz home in Glen Arm, Maryland. Mary shot her husband to death with a handgun, then went after her then 16 year old daughter Kelsey. After a 9 day trial and three days of deliberations, she was fouind criminally responsible for the murder of her husband and the attempted murder of now 17 year old daughter Kelsey. The guilty verdict took place July 8.
The defense said Koontz shouldn't be held responsible because she was delusional and had been isolated from her family since 2007 when, after a mental evaluation, she wasn't welcome in the home. Throughout the trial, several doctors testified that Koontz had been diagnosed with several different mental disorders.
A doctor for the defense said she didn't believe that Koontz was faking being mentally ill the day she killed her husband; however another doctor said Koontz was diagnosed with a disorder where she put her needs in front of others, and another said he didn't believe she was psychotic during the incident based on her actions prior to the killing.
When Koontz took the stand in her own defense, she said she didn't mean what she said in the messages.
Koontz said she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and borderline personality disorder, and she'd been treated for depression since 1991. She said she was in a fog the day her husband was killed, and she told jurors she didn't remember pulling the trigger. Koontz claimed she was also trying to commit suicide. She told jurors her husband was abusive and that he referred to her as damaged and criticized her for a lot of things.
The prosecution said that Mary was deliberate when she planned the attack on her husband and daughter, because she concealed the rental car she used to try and get away and bought the gun ont of state.
During sentencing, Kelsey gave a victim impact statement which ended with "I know if I ever see her face again, my life will be at risk and it will be the last face I ever see." Mary said to Kelsey and her son from a previous marriage that “Words are totally inadequate. You deserve nothing but goodness in your life.”
After Mary received her life without parole sentence, Kelsey said, "I just wanted her to hear how much she hurt me ... Maybe she had bad things happen in her childhood, but it's an individual's responsibility to get help, talk to people, make sure you don't lead the rest of your life down a path of no return...I think that my mom should be a lesson to everyone that no matter what you're going through right now, you can get past it and you can move on. You can be a better person for whatever you're going through in your life."
The murder was committed on June 19, 2009, at the Koontz home in Glen Arm, Maryland. Mary shot her husband to death with a handgun, then went after her then 16 year old daughter Kelsey. After a 9 day trial and three days of deliberations, she was fouind criminally responsible for the murder of her husband and the attempted murder of now 17 year old daughter Kelsey. The guilty verdict took place July 8.
The defense said Koontz shouldn't be held responsible because she was delusional and had been isolated from her family since 2007 when, after a mental evaluation, she wasn't welcome in the home. Throughout the trial, several doctors testified that Koontz had been diagnosed with several different mental disorders.
A doctor for the defense said she didn't believe that Koontz was faking being mentally ill the day she killed her husband; however another doctor said Koontz was diagnosed with a disorder where she put her needs in front of others, and another said he didn't believe she was psychotic during the incident based on her actions prior to the killing.
When Koontz took the stand in her own defense, she said she didn't mean what she said in the messages.
Koontz said she was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and borderline personality disorder, and she'd been treated for depression since 1991. She said she was in a fog the day her husband was killed, and she told jurors she didn't remember pulling the trigger. Koontz claimed she was also trying to commit suicide. She told jurors her husband was abusive and that he referred to her as damaged and criticized her for a lot of things.
The prosecution said that Mary was deliberate when she planned the attack on her husband and daughter, because she concealed the rental car she used to try and get away and bought the gun ont of state.
During sentencing, Kelsey gave a victim impact statement which ended with "I know if I ever see her face again, my life will be at risk and it will be the last face I ever see." Mary said to Kelsey and her son from a previous marriage that “Words are totally inadequate. You deserve nothing but goodness in your life.”
After Mary received her life without parole sentence, Kelsey said, "I just wanted her to hear how much she hurt me ... Maybe she had bad things happen in her childhood, but it's an individual's responsibility to get help, talk to people, make sure you don't lead the rest of your life down a path of no return...I think that my mom should be a lesson to everyone that no matter what you're going through right now, you can get past it and you can move on. You can be a better person for whatever you're going through in your life."
Friday, June 25, 2010
Ex-"boyfriend" sentenced to 15 years for attemped murder of woman outside mall
A man who stabbed his ex-"girlfriend" 5 times outside the Main Place Mall in downtown Buffalo, NY last year was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Erie County Judge Thomas P. Franczyk Tuesday, June 22. Jeffery Pearson, 51, stabbed "girlfriend" 48 year old Jean Cox on February 25, 2009 after an argument, presumably over her new boyfriend. According to Homicide Prosecutor Thomas M. Finnerty, only the actions of two bystanders prevented the attack from becoming a murder case.
He was found guilty by the judge after a two-day trial in April. Besides attempted murder, he was convicted of aggravated criminal contempt for violating a court order of protection that the victim had obtained against him before the attack and aggravated harassment for threatening telephone calls he kept making to her.
Pearson claimed that he "snapped," with Cox accidentally falling on his knife 5 times. The judge saw through that lie - people don't accidently fall on knives carried by others even once.
His lawyer, Louis P. Violanti, argued that the attack represented only “two minutes of [Pearson’s] life.” He also told the judge that his client, a reformed drug addict, is “an emotional man who suffers from depression and anxiety.”
Though Pearson apologized to Cox, who was in court for the sentencing, Pearson still tried to minimize responsibility, stating that the knife was intended for a suicide in front of the victim, not her attempted murder.
He was found guilty by the judge after a two-day trial in April. Besides attempted murder, he was convicted of aggravated criminal contempt for violating a court order of protection that the victim had obtained against him before the attack and aggravated harassment for threatening telephone calls he kept making to her.
Pearson claimed that he "snapped," with Cox accidentally falling on his knife 5 times. The judge saw through that lie - people don't accidently fall on knives carried by others even once.
His lawyer, Louis P. Violanti, argued that the attack represented only “two minutes of [Pearson’s] life.” He also told the judge that his client, a reformed drug addict, is “an emotional man who suffers from depression and anxiety.”
Though Pearson apologized to Cox, who was in court for the sentencing, Pearson still tried to minimize responsibility, stating that the knife was intended for a suicide in front of the victim, not her attempted murder.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Rapist gets 50 years for vicious attack in Illinois park
A Madison County, IL judge gave a convicted rapist a harsher sentence than even prosecutors asked for yesterday, April 26, after the victim testified about her injuries caused by the attack. Associate Judge Kyle Napp sentenced 31 year old Keith Recklein, of Granite City, IL, to 50 years in prison. The sentence breakdown is as follows - 2 25 year terms to be served consecutively for two Class X felonies of aggravated criminal sexual assault and 5 years to be served concurrently to the sexual assault charges for aggravated battery.
In the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Recklein telephoned the woman, a stranger, after midnight on May 1, 2008, and lured her to Horseshoe Lake State Park near Granite City with a claim that a friend of hers was there and needed help. The call was made on her friend's cell phone. Park workers found the woman, then 20, of Lebanon, unconscious with critical head injuries, the next morning.
The woman said she remembered meeting a man at the park but said she lost consciousness when he put her in a head lock, and did not remember the beating or sexual assault. She awoke later in a hospital, suffering from a facial fracture, fractured ribs and a brain injury. She said she feared for a time that she was pregnant with her attacker's child.
Police had no suspect in the case for several months, but then reinterviewed people who had been at a bar in Caseyville with the victim's friend when he passed out and was taken home. The man later noticed that his cell phone was missing. Recklein was one of the people at the bar, and an expert witness said DNA found on the victim's panties was likely from Recklein.
Judge Napp presided over Reichert's bench trial last October, finding him guilty. The testimony which influenced her the most was a park worker's testimony that he thought the woman was a pile of garbage dumped in the park before moving closer. Judge Napp said that Reichert treated his victim like a piece of garbage and that he was a danger to society.
Reichert's attorney Charles Stegmeyer said his client had a wife and children which needed him. For trying to kill someone else's grown daughter for his sexual pleasure, Reichert lost the right to be a father to his children.
In the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Recklein telephoned the woman, a stranger, after midnight on May 1, 2008, and lured her to Horseshoe Lake State Park near Granite City with a claim that a friend of hers was there and needed help. The call was made on her friend's cell phone. Park workers found the woman, then 20, of Lebanon, unconscious with critical head injuries, the next morning.
The woman said she remembered meeting a man at the park but said she lost consciousness when he put her in a head lock, and did not remember the beating or sexual assault. She awoke later in a hospital, suffering from a facial fracture, fractured ribs and a brain injury. She said she feared for a time that she was pregnant with her attacker's child.
Police had no suspect in the case for several months, but then reinterviewed people who had been at a bar in Caseyville with the victim's friend when he passed out and was taken home. The man later noticed that his cell phone was missing. Recklein was one of the people at the bar, and an expert witness said DNA found on the victim's panties was likely from Recklein.
Judge Napp presided over Reichert's bench trial last October, finding him guilty. The testimony which influenced her the most was a park worker's testimony that he thought the woman was a pile of garbage dumped in the park before moving closer. Judge Napp said that Reichert treated his victim like a piece of garbage and that he was a danger to society.
Reichert's attorney Charles Stegmeyer said his client had a wife and children which needed him. For trying to kill someone else's grown daughter for his sexual pleasure, Reichert lost the right to be a father to his children.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Australian ex-policeman gets 15 years for driving wife off pier in car
KATE HAGAN [The Australian Age]
February 26, 2010
A WOMAN who narrowly escaped death when her husband chained her inside his car and drove off a pier fears he will come after her when he is released from prison.
Former policeman Cameron Neil Cook, 44, was sentenced to 15 years' jail, with a minimum of 12 years, yesterday for a brutal four-hour attack on his wife that began at the couple's home at Cheltenham.
After private investigators confirmed his wife was having an affair, Cook pinned his wife to a bed and bound her hands, feet and mouth with tape before punching her in the face and calling her a whore.
He threatened her with a knife before chaining her to the rear seat of his car and driving to Mordialloc pier.As he drove at high speed into the water, he said: ''I'm sorry but I'm taking you with me. I am not going to let someone like you raise my son.'' However, the car landed in shallow water and the woman was able to free herself .
Sentencing Cook in the Supreme Court yesterday, Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said he had shown no remorse over the 2007 attack and had said to a prison officer about his wife, ''She's a f---ing bitch, and when I get out of here I will do the job properly.''
Cook had also told his parents in various recorded conversations that his wife would ''get hers'' when he was released from custody.
Outside court yesterday, Cook's wife, who cannot be named, said she was scared about what would happen when Cook was released and she considered the possibility of him hurting her to be ''very real''. ''I'm just really relieved that it's over,'' she said. ''It's been a 2½-year legal battle.''
The woman said it had been difficult for her son, whom Cook had given a sleeping tablet before setting out to kill his mother. ''It's been tough for him, what a nine-year-old makes and understands out of this I really don't know,'' she said.
Justice Hollingworth called the attack on September 7, 2007, ''cowardly, violent and unprovoked'', and said Cook had left his wife with permanent physical and psychological injuries. Cook pleaded guilty to three charges, including attempted murder.
Justice Hollingworth said stories of people attacking partners out of jealousy or an inability to accept the end of relationships were ''all too common'', and general deterrence was relevant in sentencing. She said Cook did not seem to have accepted responsibility for his actions and was still hostile towards his wife.
Justice Hollingworth said such feelings might diminish with time ''or it may be that your feelings will intensify, as you sit in prison continuing to ruminate and obsess about your predicament and blame your wife for what happened.
''Your conduct was a completely inappropriate response to the breakdown of your marriage. It cannot be said that there is no real risk that you will try to harm your wife when you are eventually released from prison. The need for specific deterrence remains a very real sentencing consideration in this case.''
Justice Hollingworth was not swayed by defence arguments that Cook's time in jail would be more onerous because of restricted access to his son. ''You brutally attacked and tried to kill your son's mother after drugging the young boy and leaving him alone in the house; it is hardly surprising that one of the consequences of your actions has been some restriction on access to your son.''
February 26, 2010
A WOMAN who narrowly escaped death when her husband chained her inside his car and drove off a pier fears he will come after her when he is released from prison.
Former policeman Cameron Neil Cook, 44, was sentenced to 15 years' jail, with a minimum of 12 years, yesterday for a brutal four-hour attack on his wife that began at the couple's home at Cheltenham.
After private investigators confirmed his wife was having an affair, Cook pinned his wife to a bed and bound her hands, feet and mouth with tape before punching her in the face and calling her a whore.
He threatened her with a knife before chaining her to the rear seat of his car and driving to Mordialloc pier.As he drove at high speed into the water, he said: ''I'm sorry but I'm taking you with me. I am not going to let someone like you raise my son.'' However, the car landed in shallow water and the woman was able to free herself .
Sentencing Cook in the Supreme Court yesterday, Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said he had shown no remorse over the 2007 attack and had said to a prison officer about his wife, ''She's a f---ing bitch, and when I get out of here I will do the job properly.''
Cook had also told his parents in various recorded conversations that his wife would ''get hers'' when he was released from custody.
Outside court yesterday, Cook's wife, who cannot be named, said she was scared about what would happen when Cook was released and she considered the possibility of him hurting her to be ''very real''. ''I'm just really relieved that it's over,'' she said. ''It's been a 2½-year legal battle.''
The woman said it had been difficult for her son, whom Cook had given a sleeping tablet before setting out to kill his mother. ''It's been tough for him, what a nine-year-old makes and understands out of this I really don't know,'' she said.
Justice Hollingworth called the attack on September 7, 2007, ''cowardly, violent and unprovoked'', and said Cook had left his wife with permanent physical and psychological injuries. Cook pleaded guilty to three charges, including attempted murder.
Justice Hollingworth said stories of people attacking partners out of jealousy or an inability to accept the end of relationships were ''all too common'', and general deterrence was relevant in sentencing. She said Cook did not seem to have accepted responsibility for his actions and was still hostile towards his wife.
Justice Hollingworth said such feelings might diminish with time ''or it may be that your feelings will intensify, as you sit in prison continuing to ruminate and obsess about your predicament and blame your wife for what happened.
''Your conduct was a completely inappropriate response to the breakdown of your marriage. It cannot be said that there is no real risk that you will try to harm your wife when you are eventually released from prison. The need for specific deterrence remains a very real sentencing consideration in this case.''
Justice Hollingworth was not swayed by defence arguments that Cook's time in jail would be more onerous because of restricted access to his son. ''You brutally attacked and tried to kill your son's mother after drugging the young boy and leaving him alone in the house; it is hardly surprising that one of the consequences of your actions has been some restriction on access to your son.''
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Wife sentenced to decade for poison, hitman attempt on husband
A Galion, OH woman was sentenced to 10 years in the Ohio prison system Monday, February 2, 2010 for the attempted murder of her husband last year. Kathleen Wirick formally pled guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder in front of Court of Common Pleas Judge Russ Wiseman. According to prosecutor Cliff Murphy, the victim supported the outcome.
During the plea/sentencing hearing, Wirick was visibly shaking and crying as she admitted that between May 1 and June 18 of 2009, she did commit the crimes of which she is accused.
The attempted aggravated murder charge refers to an attempt Wirick made to poison her husband, Brad, using Ajax sprinkled in his coffee — an attempt Wirick claimed to have thought better of, dumping the coffee before serving it to her husband.
Wirick’s conspiracy conviction stems from her calling a friend and asking if the friend knew a “hitman.”
Murphy informed the press that Chris Hydinger from the sheriff’s office worked with the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, to place an agent posing as a hitman on the case.
Wirick and her estranged husband have two children, one of whom is a minor.
Both counts will be served concurrently. Besides prison, served at 100% in Ohio, Kathleen will be fined $250 plus court costs and must serve at least a year of post release control.
During the plea/sentencing hearing, Wirick was visibly shaking and crying as she admitted that between May 1 and June 18 of 2009, she did commit the crimes of which she is accused.
The attempted aggravated murder charge refers to an attempt Wirick made to poison her husband, Brad, using Ajax sprinkled in his coffee — an attempt Wirick claimed to have thought better of, dumping the coffee before serving it to her husband.
Wirick’s conspiracy conviction stems from her calling a friend and asking if the friend knew a “hitman.”
Murphy informed the press that Chris Hydinger from the sheriff’s office worked with the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, to place an agent posing as a hitman on the case.
Wirick and her estranged husband have two children, one of whom is a minor.
Both counts will be served concurrently. Besides prison, served at 100% in Ohio, Kathleen will be fined $250 plus court costs and must serve at least a year of post release control.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Manchester, IA man gets 35 years for shooting now ex "girlfriend"
BY COURTNEY BLANCHARD TH STAFF WRITER
MANCHESTER, Iowa -- Robert Krogmann on Monday [December 21] received the maximum penalty for shooting and critically wounding his ex-girlfriend, after the judge said he showed a "continued refusal to take responsibility for his actions."
The 51-year-old was handed a 35-year sentence, after the maximum sentences for attempted murder and willful injury were ordered to be served consecutively. Krogmann was convicted last month in the March 13 shooting of Jean Smith, 49, at her Manchester home.
With minimum-sentencing laws, he likely will stay in jail until he's 75.
Dubuque County District Court Judge Lawrence Fautsch said he based his decision on the recommendation of the prosecution and the pre-sentence investigation. According to a pre-sentence report, Krogmann said he believed Smith was "trying to crucify me." "She's been getting along quite well, considered what they did to me," Krogmann said in the report.
Delaware County Attorney John Bernau argued that in recorded conversations and letters sent after the trial, Krogmann showed contempt for "everyone and everything." Bernau said Krogmann insulted his own children ("My -- expletive deleted -- kids better all be at my sentencing ... because it would just look stupid if they weren't there"), the jury ("The jury doesn't know a -- expletive-deleted -- thing about bipolar disorder"), a jailer ("worthless piece of -- expletive deleted"), and even the mashed potatoes served in the jail ("slop").
Bernau also accused Krogmann of "orchestrating" the large showing of family support in the courtroom.Krogmann's sister, Patty Wessels, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said that wasn't the case. "He's my brother, and I wanted to be here," she said.
During trial, Krogmann claimed that a yearslong battle with bipolar disorder and depression skewed his judgment during the shooting, and he didn't intend to kill Smith. "I was sick," he said Monday. "I only intended on ending my own life."
Krogmann shot Smith three times, in the stomach, arm and spine. Smith testified that she pleaded for Krogmann to call 911, but he didn't allow it. He finally let her call her mother, who dialed authorities from out-of-state, Smith said.
But during the sentencing, Krogmann said he called 911 and gave her "everything she wanted" after he shot her. "I stayed with her until I was chased away," he said.
Jean Smith said her life will never be the same. Metal plates and screws hold her arm and spine together, and though she may be able to walk again, it would only be with the aid of braces on her legs. "You have already given me a life sentence," she told Krogmann.
MANCHESTER, Iowa -- Robert Krogmann on Monday [December 21] received the maximum penalty for shooting and critically wounding his ex-girlfriend, after the judge said he showed a "continued refusal to take responsibility for his actions."
The 51-year-old was handed a 35-year sentence, after the maximum sentences for attempted murder and willful injury were ordered to be served consecutively. Krogmann was convicted last month in the March 13 shooting of Jean Smith, 49, at her Manchester home.
With minimum-sentencing laws, he likely will stay in jail until he's 75.
Dubuque County District Court Judge Lawrence Fautsch said he based his decision on the recommendation of the prosecution and the pre-sentence investigation. According to a pre-sentence report, Krogmann said he believed Smith was "trying to crucify me." "She's been getting along quite well, considered what they did to me," Krogmann said in the report.
Delaware County Attorney John Bernau argued that in recorded conversations and letters sent after the trial, Krogmann showed contempt for "everyone and everything." Bernau said Krogmann insulted his own children ("My -- expletive deleted -- kids better all be at my sentencing ... because it would just look stupid if they weren't there"), the jury ("The jury doesn't know a -- expletive-deleted -- thing about bipolar disorder"), a jailer ("worthless piece of -- expletive deleted"), and even the mashed potatoes served in the jail ("slop").
Bernau also accused Krogmann of "orchestrating" the large showing of family support in the courtroom.Krogmann's sister, Patty Wessels, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said that wasn't the case. "He's my brother, and I wanted to be here," she said.
During trial, Krogmann claimed that a yearslong battle with bipolar disorder and depression skewed his judgment during the shooting, and he didn't intend to kill Smith. "I was sick," he said Monday. "I only intended on ending my own life."
Krogmann shot Smith three times, in the stomach, arm and spine. Smith testified that she pleaded for Krogmann to call 911, but he didn't allow it. He finally let her call her mother, who dialed authorities from out-of-state, Smith said.
But during the sentencing, Krogmann said he called 911 and gave her "everything she wanted" after he shot her. "I stayed with her until I was chased away," he said.
Jean Smith said her life will never be the same. Metal plates and screws hold her arm and spine together, and though she may be able to walk again, it would only be with the aid of braces on her legs. "You have already given me a life sentence," she told Krogmann.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Man held in beating, rape, murder attempt on 91 year old woman
Leslie James Setzer, 34, of East Stroudsburg, PA, was charged with the rape, beating, and attempted murder of a 91 year old woman on Saturday, November 28. Patrolman Kevin Buck of Palmerton, PA was called to the victim's house just before 2 PM, and said that after a man asked to use her phone, he struck her in the head, raped her, and attempted to smother her with a plastic bag.
When the man fled, the victim called police. Buck said the victim provided a description of her attacker and it matched the description of a man who had just walked into the emergency room at Palmerton Hospital ''stating that he needed help.''
Police arrested Setzer at the hospital. The victim has been at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest since the attack. Buck said she has been upgraded to stable condition.
Buck said that the attack was a random act perpetrated by a stranger. Besides the rape, attempte murder, and beating charges, Setzer also faces aggravated assault, indecent assault, and aggravated indecent assault.
He is currently being held on $1 million bail at the Carbon County Prison.
When the man fled, the victim called police. Buck said the victim provided a description of her attacker and it matched the description of a man who had just walked into the emergency room at Palmerton Hospital ''stating that he needed help.''
Police arrested Setzer at the hospital. The victim has been at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest since the attack. Buck said she has been upgraded to stable condition.
Buck said that the attack was a random act perpetrated by a stranger. Besides the rape, attempte murder, and beating charges, Setzer also faces aggravated assault, indecent assault, and aggravated indecent assault.
He is currently being held on $1 million bail at the Carbon County Prison.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
"Boyfriend" sentenced to 35 years for attempted murder of woman
A South Carolina man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for attacking his ex-girlfriend and her mother and forcing the ex-girlfriend to ride on his motorcycle, then pushing her off. Curtis Nealey of Darlington, SC, was convicted on two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill, criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, and kidnapping and possession of a weapon during the commission of violent crime. Nealey's conviction in a Darlington County courtroom came after a two day trial.
Fourth Circuit Court Judge Michael Baxley sentenced Nealey to 20 years on the assault and battery charges, 10 years for criminal DV, and 30 years for kidnapping. These sentences will be served concurrently, but consecutively with a 5 year sentence for possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
The acts which led up to the sentencing took place on October 14, 2008. Nealey was spending time with his ex-girlfriend at her home when things began to become heated. When the victim's mother intervened, Nealey hit the mother over the head with a ceramic object, and forced the girlfriend at knifepoint to ride on his motorcycle.
Prosecutors were unable to determine exactly how fast the motorcycle was traveling, but were told by the victim that the vehicle was traveling at a high speed when she was thrown off. The ordeal continued when Nealey turned the motorcycle around to find the victim, who had survived the fall and attracted the attention of the driver of a passing 18-wheeler.
She grabbed on to the outside of the 18-wheeler and screamed “He’s trying to kill me,” as Nealey tried to pull her off. The driver of the 18-wheeler testified in court that Nealey left the scene after he told him he’d called the police. The woman suffered two broken arms that required plates and screws, head injuries, road burns as well as facial injuries as a result of the attack, McKenzie said.
Nealey was located and arrested by Darlington County authorities several days after [the] incident.
Because kidnapping and assault and battery with intent to kill are considered violent crimes by South Carolina, Nealey must serve 85% of his sentence.
Fourth Circuit Court Judge Michael Baxley sentenced Nealey to 20 years on the assault and battery charges, 10 years for criminal DV, and 30 years for kidnapping. These sentences will be served concurrently, but consecutively with a 5 year sentence for possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
The acts which led up to the sentencing took place on October 14, 2008. Nealey was spending time with his ex-girlfriend at her home when things began to become heated. When the victim's mother intervened, Nealey hit the mother over the head with a ceramic object, and forced the girlfriend at knifepoint to ride on his motorcycle.
Prosecutors were unable to determine exactly how fast the motorcycle was traveling, but were told by the victim that the vehicle was traveling at a high speed when she was thrown off. The ordeal continued when Nealey turned the motorcycle around to find the victim, who had survived the fall and attracted the attention of the driver of a passing 18-wheeler.
She grabbed on to the outside of the 18-wheeler and screamed “He’s trying to kill me,” as Nealey tried to pull her off. The driver of the 18-wheeler testified in court that Nealey left the scene after he told him he’d called the police. The woman suffered two broken arms that required plates and screws, head injuries, road burns as well as facial injuries as a result of the attack, McKenzie said.
Nealey was located and arrested by Darlington County authorities several days after [the] incident.
Because kidnapping and assault and battery with intent to kill are considered violent crimes by South Carolina, Nealey must serve 85% of his sentence.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Man sentenced to life in prison for hammer attack of "girlfriend"
A man who was convicted of raping and then beating his now ex-girlfriend with a hammer was sentenced to life in prison yesterday. Fifty-three year old Walter Cordell was convicted of six counts, including attempted murder, rape, and making criminal threats.
Cordell broke up with his girlfriend on May 30, 2008, but he wanted (and got) one last sexual encounter from her. Afterwards, Cordell said he had a "surprise" for her - which turned out to be a beating with a two pound hammer. Cordell then proceeded to rape the victim for hours, leaving her battered, bleeding, and nude on the floor. The perp also took cell phone pictures of the victim in that condition.
The woman fled to her family's restaraunt, where she got medical attention. Deputy District Attorney Lindsey Krause stated that injuried included a broken neck, a broken arm, and deep cuts to the back of her head. Cordell was arrested the next day after a 12 hour standoff.
Defense attorney Megan Marcotte had argued during the trial that Cordell holed up in the house because he was afraid of being sent back to prison. Cordell, a parolee, had served time for a conviction eight years earlier stemming from a similar incident.
The victim of the earlier crime attended yesterday's sentencing hearing. She trembled as she told the judge how she had suffered and even contemplated suicide since Dec. 20, 2000, when Cordell hit her repeatedly in the head with a wooden dowel.
“It has now been almost nine years since I was attacked by a man I considered my best friend,” she said. She described the “odd” expression Cordell had on his face that day when he gave her a Christmas present, a $30 watch in a Cartier box.
“What he took from me had no price,” she said.
San Diego Superior Court Judge John Einhorn gave Cordell life because of his position of trust over the victim, the victim's small frame, and the “high degree of cruelty and viciousness” of the attack. The now 46 year old victim said that “I am not the same person that I was,” she said, adding that she still has nightmares about the attack. “I don't trust men like I used to.”
Cordell broke up with his girlfriend on May 30, 2008, but he wanted (and got) one last sexual encounter from her. Afterwards, Cordell said he had a "surprise" for her - which turned out to be a beating with a two pound hammer. Cordell then proceeded to rape the victim for hours, leaving her battered, bleeding, and nude on the floor. The perp also took cell phone pictures of the victim in that condition.
The woman fled to her family's restaraunt, where she got medical attention. Deputy District Attorney Lindsey Krause stated that injuried included a broken neck, a broken arm, and deep cuts to the back of her head. Cordell was arrested the next day after a 12 hour standoff.
Defense attorney Megan Marcotte had argued during the trial that Cordell holed up in the house because he was afraid of being sent back to prison. Cordell, a parolee, had served time for a conviction eight years earlier stemming from a similar incident.
The victim of the earlier crime attended yesterday's sentencing hearing. She trembled as she told the judge how she had suffered and even contemplated suicide since Dec. 20, 2000, when Cordell hit her repeatedly in the head with a wooden dowel.
“It has now been almost nine years since I was attacked by a man I considered my best friend,” she said. She described the “odd” expression Cordell had on his face that day when he gave her a Christmas present, a $30 watch in a Cartier box.
“What he took from me had no price,” she said.
San Diego Superior Court Judge John Einhorn gave Cordell life because of his position of trust over the victim, the victim's small frame, and the “high degree of cruelty and viciousness” of the attack. The now 46 year old victim said that “I am not the same person that I was,” she said, adding that she still has nightmares about the attack. “I don't trust men like I used to.”
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Man sentenced to life for crucifix beating of "girlfriend"
A man who beat his then girlfriend with a crucifix on her birthday just before Christmas last year was sentenced to life yesterday, October 6. Guatamalan immigrant Carlos Ovalle, 33, beat his "girlfriend" and mother of their two daughters Ana Valdez on December 23 of last year, using a crucifix which weighed at least five pounds and sat two feet high. It took a Takoma Park, MD police officer's shot to stop the attack. According to doctors, it took doctors almost an hour to pick out ceramic shards of the crucifix from Valdez's wound. Ovalle was convicted after a jury trial in July.
Ovalle and Valdez met in their native Guatemala. After moving to the United States, he started hitting her, Valdez and prosecutors said. At times, she avoided telling police because Ovalle threatened her, Valdez wrote. She did report him to police at other times, and he was locked up at least twice, according to court records.
On Dec. 21, Valdez's 23rd birthday, Ovalle slipped into her Takoma Park apartment. She arrived home with her girls, smelled cigarette smoke, thought it unusual and began looking around. Ovalle jumped out of a closet, a knife in his right hand.
"Happy birthday. I have your present," Ovalle said, according to Valdez's testimony. "Tonight you're going to die."
After Ovalle choked then pulled the crucifix from a wall and started to beat her, Valdez stalled by asking her attacker (and father of her daughters, now 4 and 5) to put a Barbie DVD in a DVD player to distract the children from watching the assault.
Takoma Park police Officer Angela Donovan answered the call of a woman crying. Ovalle tried to order his victim to say everything was alright, but Officer Donovan, sensing something wasn't right, forced her way inside to see Ovalle holding a knife to Valdez' throat. After Ovalle refused to drop the knife, Donovan shot him twice. One of the bullets hit Valdez after passing through Ovalle.
The victim impact letter Valdez submitted to Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Durke G. Thompson stated in part:
"He believed that by committing this act against me he was going to end me. Hopefully, what he did and has done was to put me on the right track to reinforce my strength to keep going with my life."
Against the advice of his attorney, Ovalle stated that Valdez lured him to the United States using a false pretence about pregnancy. "I do accept that I did make a mistake, but she provoked me. And I was drunk when I assaulted her."
Judge Thompson set the perpetrator straight. "There is no doubt in this court's mind that you intended to kill Ms. Valdez...It's not Ms. Valdez's doing that brought you to this court. It is your own."
Ovalle and Valdez met in their native Guatemala. After moving to the United States, he started hitting her, Valdez and prosecutors said. At times, she avoided telling police because Ovalle threatened her, Valdez wrote. She did report him to police at other times, and he was locked up at least twice, according to court records.
On Dec. 21, Valdez's 23rd birthday, Ovalle slipped into her Takoma Park apartment. She arrived home with her girls, smelled cigarette smoke, thought it unusual and began looking around. Ovalle jumped out of a closet, a knife in his right hand.
"Happy birthday. I have your present," Ovalle said, according to Valdez's testimony. "Tonight you're going to die."
After Ovalle choked then pulled the crucifix from a wall and started to beat her, Valdez stalled by asking her attacker (and father of her daughters, now 4 and 5) to put a Barbie DVD in a DVD player to distract the children from watching the assault.
Takoma Park police Officer Angela Donovan answered the call of a woman crying. Ovalle tried to order his victim to say everything was alright, but Officer Donovan, sensing something wasn't right, forced her way inside to see Ovalle holding a knife to Valdez' throat. After Ovalle refused to drop the knife, Donovan shot him twice. One of the bullets hit Valdez after passing through Ovalle.
The victim impact letter Valdez submitted to Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Durke G. Thompson stated in part:
"He believed that by committing this act against me he was going to end me. Hopefully, what he did and has done was to put me on the right track to reinforce my strength to keep going with my life."
Against the advice of his attorney, Ovalle stated that Valdez lured him to the United States using a false pretence about pregnancy. "I do accept that I did make a mistake, but she provoked me. And I was drunk when I assaulted her."
Judge Thompson set the perpetrator straight. "There is no doubt in this court's mind that you intended to kill Ms. Valdez...It's not Ms. Valdez's doing that brought you to this court. It is your own."
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Husband sentenced to 20 years in bleach attack
A Highland, IN man was sentenced to 20 years in an Indiana prison Monday for attacking his wife with bleach. The incident, which occurred on March 11, 2008, resulted in chemical burns to the face, neck, and upper body to the victim. 38 year old Ronald J. Kownacki was originally charged with attempted murder, but plead guilty to aggravated battery and neglect of a dependant.
The attack occurred with Kownacki using bleach to wake her up. He then tried to make his victim drink the bleach, and when she didn't, punched her in the face. The perpetrator called 911, saying that his wife was unconscious.
The woman, described by deputy prosecutor Judith Massa as a "walking miracle who is lucky to be alive," suffered chemical burns over her face, neck and upper body and bruising and swelling on her face. The woman fought off Kownacki's attempts to make her drink the bleach and bit his finger.
The woman was diagnosed with acute respiratory syndrome and her family was told there was little hope. She was diagnosed with a stroke and numerous blood clots as a result of the attack.
Her need to be there for her daughter is what helped bring her through that ordeal, according to her victim impact statement, read in court. "All I wanted was my daughter. I remember her screaming while I crawled towards her calling out."
The attack occurred with Kownacki using bleach to wake her up. He then tried to make his victim drink the bleach, and when she didn't, punched her in the face. The perpetrator called 911, saying that his wife was unconscious.
The woman, described by deputy prosecutor Judith Massa as a "walking miracle who is lucky to be alive," suffered chemical burns over her face, neck and upper body and bruising and swelling on her face. The woman fought off Kownacki's attempts to make her drink the bleach and bit his finger.
The woman was diagnosed with acute respiratory syndrome and her family was told there was little hope. She was diagnosed with a stroke and numerous blood clots as a result of the attack.
Her need to be there for her daughter is what helped bring her through that ordeal, according to her victim impact statement, read in court. "All I wanted was my daughter. I remember her screaming while I crawled towards her calling out."
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Peeper sentenced to 48 - 96 years for brutally raping graduate student
A convicted peeper was sentenced to 48 to 96 years in a Pennsylvania prison for an attack on a Penn State graduate student. The repeat criminal defendant, 32 year old Michael Kuhn, attacked a then 36 year old woman after breaking into her State College, PA apartment on July 4, 2007. Judge Thomas King Kistler stated that the attack could have resulted in loss of life if there wans’t prompt medical attention. “She was bound, helpless and the rape was of a particularly brutal nature. But for the fortuitous circumstances that (she) was able to get immediate care, she may have perished.”
She testified that she awoke that morning to the smell of blood pouring from her head onto her pillow. She was tied up, raped three times and then beaten with a metal object before she was able to run for help.
At trial, a sexual assault nurse who worked in the field 20 years said this woman’s case was by far the worst she’d ever seen. Prosecutor Nathan Boob passionately asked that the maximum sentence allowed in this case — 60 to 120 years — be imposed on Kuhn.
He counted several factors, including a story the victim told at trial, about how she was so traumatized she couldn’t even walk to a gas station. He also highlighted that Kuhn attacked a complete stranger in her own bed, showed her “no mercy” and then showed “no remorse.”
“The defendant’s actions were brutal, atrocious, barbaric and reflect a mind that acts without fear of social consequence,” Boob said.
Boob also brought up the defendant’s 17 year criminal history and lack of change, stating that Pennsylvania’s non prison criminal sanctions have failed for Kuhn.
“Nothing has worked with this defendant,” Boob said. “We have tried fines and costs, ARD, probation, he has been given the chance of in-home detention, he’s been on parole. None of these attempts by the criminal justice system were able to prevent this horrific event. In fact, the defendant was on parole when he committed this crime.”
The woman’s victim impact statement, delivered via webcam to the courtroom, said, “This person needs to be put away for a very long time, if not forever. I need to put this to rest, too. I need to know that he’s behind bars when I’m 60 years old. I would have a fear of him knowing how to find me when he gets out. ... This is something I will have to tell my children about ... This is something I am working through.”
The crime that Kuhn was on parole from was peeping and videotaping a woman as she undressed. After parole was revoked, Kuhn was sentenced to 29 months. Police linked Kuhn to the rape through his involvement with the voyeurism counts.
Boob stated that “Even after committing this heinous act, Mr. Kuhn was not satisfied with his desire. He went further and started to victimize more people. It is clear in my mind that Mr. Kuhn presents a substantial danger to any woman he comes across in his life. The only fortunate thing in this case is that Mr. Kuhn has been caught ... and we have the opportunity to stop this from ever happening again.”
The father of the peeping victim stated to Boob, “I prepared my daughter for everything I could I tried to teach her right from wrong. I tried to make sure she was safe. But the one thing you can never prepare a child for are the likes of Michael Kuhn.”
The sentence breaks down as follows:
Attempted murder of the first-degree: 10 to 20 years.
Rape: 9 to 18 years.
Rape: 9 to 18 years.
Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse: 9 to 18 years.
Burglary: 4 to 8 years.
Aggravated assault: 5 to 10 years.
Terroristic threats: 1 to 2 years.
False imprisonment: 1 to 2 years.
An additional 24 counts for which the jury convicted Michael Kuhn were merged for sentencing purposes.
Besides the prison sentence, Kuhn will have to pay $6500 in restution for victim expenses, and if released, will have to register under Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
She testified that she awoke that morning to the smell of blood pouring from her head onto her pillow. She was tied up, raped three times and then beaten with a metal object before she was able to run for help.
At trial, a sexual assault nurse who worked in the field 20 years said this woman’s case was by far the worst she’d ever seen. Prosecutor Nathan Boob passionately asked that the maximum sentence allowed in this case — 60 to 120 years — be imposed on Kuhn.
He counted several factors, including a story the victim told at trial, about how she was so traumatized she couldn’t even walk to a gas station. He also highlighted that Kuhn attacked a complete stranger in her own bed, showed her “no mercy” and then showed “no remorse.”
“The defendant’s actions were brutal, atrocious, barbaric and reflect a mind that acts without fear of social consequence,” Boob said.
Boob also brought up the defendant’s 17 year criminal history and lack of change, stating that Pennsylvania’s non prison criminal sanctions have failed for Kuhn.
“Nothing has worked with this defendant,” Boob said. “We have tried fines and costs, ARD, probation, he has been given the chance of in-home detention, he’s been on parole. None of these attempts by the criminal justice system were able to prevent this horrific event. In fact, the defendant was on parole when he committed this crime.”
The woman’s victim impact statement, delivered via webcam to the courtroom, said, “This person needs to be put away for a very long time, if not forever. I need to put this to rest, too. I need to know that he’s behind bars when I’m 60 years old. I would have a fear of him knowing how to find me when he gets out. ... This is something I will have to tell my children about ... This is something I am working through.”
The crime that Kuhn was on parole from was peeping and videotaping a woman as she undressed. After parole was revoked, Kuhn was sentenced to 29 months. Police linked Kuhn to the rape through his involvement with the voyeurism counts.
Boob stated that “Even after committing this heinous act, Mr. Kuhn was not satisfied with his desire. He went further and started to victimize more people. It is clear in my mind that Mr. Kuhn presents a substantial danger to any woman he comes across in his life. The only fortunate thing in this case is that Mr. Kuhn has been caught ... and we have the opportunity to stop this from ever happening again.”
The father of the peeping victim stated to Boob, “I prepared my daughter for everything I could I tried to teach her right from wrong. I tried to make sure she was safe. But the one thing you can never prepare a child for are the likes of Michael Kuhn.”
The sentence breaks down as follows:
Attempted murder of the first-degree: 10 to 20 years.
Rape: 9 to 18 years.
Rape: 9 to 18 years.
Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse: 9 to 18 years.
Burglary: 4 to 8 years.
Aggravated assault: 5 to 10 years.
Terroristic threats: 1 to 2 years.
False imprisonment: 1 to 2 years.
An additional 24 counts for which the jury convicted Michael Kuhn were merged for sentencing purposes.
Besides the prison sentence, Kuhn will have to pay $6500 in restution for victim expenses, and if released, will have to register under Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Philly police impersonator sentenced to 25 to 50 years for multiple rapes, kidnappings
A South Philadelphia man who raped and kidnapped prostitutes was sentenced to a 25 to 50 year sentence for the attacks between September 2007 and January 2008. 42 year old Salvatore Longo was able to lure his victims by posing as a police officer, then attacking. Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Rayford A. Means heard Longo's plea agreement which stipulated that he would serve 25 to 50 years if he plead guilty to all six assaults.
[Assistant District Attorney Carolyn]Naylor said Longo admitted raping and kidnapping five of the six victims. One escaped from his car. He was also charged with attempted murder for putting a plastic bag over one victim's head. Naylor said the woman escaped suffocating by chewing a hole in the bag.
Authorities said the six women worked as prostitutes and were stopped by Longo as he cruised South Philadelphia and Kensington in his red 2001 Pontiac Grand Am.
The women got into Longo's car believing he wanted sex. Instead, authorities said, Longo identified himself as police, showed a bogus badge, and handcuffed them in the back of the car.
Longo then drove the victims to a secluded location where he sexually assaulted them, sometimes at gunpoint, police said.
Police arrested Longo about a week after the abduction of a 20-year-old woman about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008, as she walked near Kensington Avenue and Westmoreland Street.The woman was handcuffed and sexually assaulted in the back of the car on Front Street under I-95 in South Philadelphia. She escaped and alerted residents.
While Longo was sentenced Monday, his Megan's Law sex offender assessment was not, meaning that his restriction after prison and sex offendr reporting requirements are still up in the air.
[Assistant District Attorney Carolyn]Naylor said Longo admitted raping and kidnapping five of the six victims. One escaped from his car. He was also charged with attempted murder for putting a plastic bag over one victim's head. Naylor said the woman escaped suffocating by chewing a hole in the bag.
Authorities said the six women worked as prostitutes and were stopped by Longo as he cruised South Philadelphia and Kensington in his red 2001 Pontiac Grand Am.
The women got into Longo's car believing he wanted sex. Instead, authorities said, Longo identified himself as police, showed a bogus badge, and handcuffed them in the back of the car.
Longo then drove the victims to a secluded location where he sexually assaulted them, sometimes at gunpoint, police said.
Police arrested Longo about a week after the abduction of a 20-year-old woman about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008, as she walked near Kensington Avenue and Westmoreland Street.The woman was handcuffed and sexually assaulted in the back of the car on Front Street under I-95 in South Philadelphia. She escaped and alerted residents.
While Longo was sentenced Monday, his Megan's Law sex offender assessment was not, meaning that his restriction after prison and sex offendr reporting requirements are still up in the air.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Woman appealing murder conviction in husband's shooting pleads guilty to "boyfriend's" murder for hire attempt
A Buffalo, NY woman already serving (and appealing) a 25 to life sentence for the 2nd degree murder of her husband plead guilty to the attempted murder for hire plot against her "lover," the man she cheated on her husband with. Robin Wagner Kalinowski plead guilty Wednesday, September 9, to the plot against the man after State Supreme Court Justice Penny M. Wolfgang promised her she would only serve 6 to 12 years.
The mother of two pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy in the second degree and admitted she had sought the murder of her estranged lover, John F. Carey of Tonawanda.
She acknowledged she tried to make a deal in April 2008 with an undercover state trooper posing as an underworld hitman.
After the judge agreed to make the conspiracy sentence run concurrently with the 25-year-to-life term imposed Feb. 25 on her murder conviction, prosecutors Aaron F. Glazer and Lauren A. Rott agreed with the plea to the highest charge still facing her.
John Jordan, Robin's lawyer, said that the plea was in the perpetrator's best interest because if she had took the case to trial and lost, she would probably serve 12 1/2 to 25 years consecutively with the 2nd degree murder sentence for Kevin Kalinowski, shot by his perpetrator wife in their Buffalo home. Robin is appealing that conviction.
The mother of two pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy in the second degree and admitted she had sought the murder of her estranged lover, John F. Carey of Tonawanda.
She acknowledged she tried to make a deal in April 2008 with an undercover state trooper posing as an underworld hitman.
After the judge agreed to make the conspiracy sentence run concurrently with the 25-year-to-life term imposed Feb. 25 on her murder conviction, prosecutors Aaron F. Glazer and Lauren A. Rott agreed with the plea to the highest charge still facing her.
John Jordan, Robin's lawyer, said that the plea was in the perpetrator's best interest because if she had took the case to trial and lost, she would probably serve 12 1/2 to 25 years consecutively with the 2nd degree murder sentence for Kevin Kalinowski, shot by his perpetrator wife in their Buffalo home. Robin is appealing that conviction.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Man sentenced to 50 years for shooting wife, daughter
Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge Mike Jones sentenced Willie Dwight Adams to 50 years for the attempted murder of his wife and daughter. The sentences, 30 years for attempted murder for the attack on his wife, Sherry Adams, and 20 years for the 1st degree domestic violence attack on Lucinda Adams, will be served consecutively. A jury deliberated 50 minuted before finding Adams guilty on all charges Thursday, September 3.
The incidents occurred May 24, 2008, at the perpetrator's home. The then 50 year old Adams used a 9 mm handgun and a 12 gauge shotgun. Sherry was shot in the ankle with the shotgun and in her arms and legs with the handgun. Lucinda was shot twice in the leg with the shotgun when she tried to protect her mother.
At Thursday's sentencing hearing, Will Powell, chief assistant Lauderdale district attorney, asked Jones to impose a lengthy prison term.
"This man shot his daughter and tried to kill his wife. What the state would like to see happen is for him to receive the maximum sentence on the attempted murder charge and add 20 years to it for shooting his daughter," Powell said.
Adams could have been sentenced to life in prison for either conviction.
Defense attorney Marshall Gardner told Jones that Adams suffers from a variety of health problems and would likely die in prison if he were sentenced to anything more than the minimum sentence of 20 years. "Any significant sentence is likely to be the same as life without parole."
Margie Adams, Willie Adams' mother, asked for leniency, stating her son was upset be the pending divorce between himself and Sherry, while also suffering from bi-polar disorder. She also mentioned she trained her sons to go hunting, so "if he'd been aiming to kill her, she would be a dead woman. All of my sons are good at hitting what they shoot at."
Powell stated that the victims, pleased with the sentence, were "willing to allow him to plead guilty in exchange for a 40-year sentence," Powell said. "But he chose to go to trial, was convicted and received a 50-year sentence. They are satisfied with the outcome."
The incidents occurred May 24, 2008, at the perpetrator's home. The then 50 year old Adams used a 9 mm handgun and a 12 gauge shotgun. Sherry was shot in the ankle with the shotgun and in her arms and legs with the handgun. Lucinda was shot twice in the leg with the shotgun when she tried to protect her mother.
At Thursday's sentencing hearing, Will Powell, chief assistant Lauderdale district attorney, asked Jones to impose a lengthy prison term.
"This man shot his daughter and tried to kill his wife. What the state would like to see happen is for him to receive the maximum sentence on the attempted murder charge and add 20 years to it for shooting his daughter," Powell said.
Adams could have been sentenced to life in prison for either conviction.
Defense attorney Marshall Gardner told Jones that Adams suffers from a variety of health problems and would likely die in prison if he were sentenced to anything more than the minimum sentence of 20 years. "Any significant sentence is likely to be the same as life without parole."
Margie Adams, Willie Adams' mother, asked for leniency, stating her son was upset be the pending divorce between himself and Sherry, while also suffering from bi-polar disorder. She also mentioned she trained her sons to go hunting, so "if he'd been aiming to kill her, she would be a dead woman. All of my sons are good at hitting what they shoot at."
Powell stated that the victims, pleased with the sentence, were "willing to allow him to plead guilty in exchange for a 40-year sentence," Powell said. "But he chose to go to trial, was convicted and received a 50-year sentence. They are satisfied with the outcome."
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Lake City man who wanted to put hit out on wife sentenced to 10 years in federal prison
A Lake City, FL man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for hiring a hitman to kill his wife. The call to the friend took place last winter between February 11 and March 6, when Ivan Joseph "Joe" Eccles, 35 promised a friend $60,000 if the murder happened by a certain deadline, presumably March 6. However, after the 1st call, an FBI agent was on the other end of the phone. After March 6, Eccles said he'd kill his wife himself. Eccles was arrested March 8, and plead guilty on April 2.
The charges are federal because Eccles' hitman would have traveled from the Midwest to Florida, meaning interstate commerce would be involved. There is no parole in the federal prison system. Lake City is 40 miles west of Jacksonville.
The charges are federal because Eccles' hitman would have traveled from the Midwest to Florida, meaning interstate commerce would be involved. There is no parole in the federal prison system. Lake City is 40 miles west of Jacksonville.
Suburban Chicago man sentenced to 6 years in prison
By Josh Stockinger [Chicago Daily Herald]
A North Aurora man was sentenced Wednesday [August 26, 2009] to six years in prison for trying to kill his wife by suffocating her with a plastic bag.
Dariusz Hrehorowicz, 38, was convicted June 24 of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful restraint in the Jan. 23, 2008, attack, which the woman survived. He had faced up to 30 years in prison.
Kane County Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon cited Hrehorowicz's lack of a prior criminal history and two daughters, who "need him in their life someday," in handing down the minimum sentence for attempted murder, a Class X felony [Class X felonies carry up to a 30 year sentence in Illinois].
"The court finds it's a tragedy when the whole family has to pay the price for this," Sheldon said.
Prosecutor David Belshan had sought a nine-year sentence for Hrehorowicz, arguing he harbors "great hatred" for the victim and still blames her for the ordeal.
"This defendant has completely lost control," Belshan said. "He blames her for taking his daughters away from him. He tried once to make her pay for that, and it almost cost her her life."
The case centered on accusations Hrehorowicz tried to kill his wife after she began legal proceedings to end their 14-year marriage last year.
The pending divorce filled Hrehorowicz with a "seething, jealous anger that kept escalating" until the day he lured her into a closet at their home on the 600 block of Graham Road and pulled a plastic bag tightly over her head, prosecutors said. The incident was reported after the woman fought off Hrehorowicz and ran to a neighbor's house.
At Wednesday's sentencing hearing, Hrehorowicz expressed remorse in a brief statement to the judge, but he did not go as far as to admit he tried to kill his wife. "I feel remorse," he said. "I feel my wife could have been a little frightened because I argued with her and I'm very sorry about that. I'm very sorry about everything."
Hrehorowicz was credited for 580 days of time served awaiting trial. He must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence, meaning he could be released in about three and a half years.
In addition, Hrehorowicz, who does not speak fluent English, was ordered to pay the cost of having a Polish translator present for his trial, which previously ended in two mistrials - once because a jury was deadlocked, and once because the victim fainted in the courtroom while jurors were present.
A North Aurora man was sentenced Wednesday [August 26, 2009] to six years in prison for trying to kill his wife by suffocating her with a plastic bag.
Dariusz Hrehorowicz, 38, was convicted June 24 of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated unlawful restraint in the Jan. 23, 2008, attack, which the woman survived. He had faced up to 30 years in prison.
Kane County Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon cited Hrehorowicz's lack of a prior criminal history and two daughters, who "need him in their life someday," in handing down the minimum sentence for attempted murder, a Class X felony [Class X felonies carry up to a 30 year sentence in Illinois].
"The court finds it's a tragedy when the whole family has to pay the price for this," Sheldon said.
Prosecutor David Belshan had sought a nine-year sentence for Hrehorowicz, arguing he harbors "great hatred" for the victim and still blames her for the ordeal.
"This defendant has completely lost control," Belshan said. "He blames her for taking his daughters away from him. He tried once to make her pay for that, and it almost cost her her life."
The case centered on accusations Hrehorowicz tried to kill his wife after she began legal proceedings to end their 14-year marriage last year.
The pending divorce filled Hrehorowicz with a "seething, jealous anger that kept escalating" until the day he lured her into a closet at their home on the 600 block of Graham Road and pulled a plastic bag tightly over her head, prosecutors said. The incident was reported after the woman fought off Hrehorowicz and ran to a neighbor's house.
At Wednesday's sentencing hearing, Hrehorowicz expressed remorse in a brief statement to the judge, but he did not go as far as to admit he tried to kill his wife. "I feel remorse," he said. "I feel my wife could have been a little frightened because I argued with her and I'm very sorry about that. I'm very sorry about everything."
Hrehorowicz was credited for 580 days of time served awaiting trial. He must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence, meaning he could be released in about three and a half years.
In addition, Hrehorowicz, who does not speak fluent English, was ordered to pay the cost of having a Polish translator present for his trial, which previously ended in two mistrials - once because a jury was deadlocked, and once because the victim fainted in the courtroom while jurors were present.
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