LEGAL NEWSLINE

A federal grand jury in Fresno, California, has returned a superseding indictment charging former Sanger Police Department officer DeShawn Torrence with deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law for sexually assaulting four women during his duties. Torrence was previously indicted in July 2022 on charges of engaging in various forms of nonconsensual sexual conduct while serving as a police officer. The new indictment adds a charge involving an additional victim, whom Torrence allegedly assaulted after locking her in his patrol vehicle and driving her to an...

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a Lancaster County jury has convicted a former Jehovah’s Witnesses elder of sexual abuse of three children more than 20 years ago. Norman Aviles-Garriga was found guilty Wednesday afternoon of all 12 charges being tried, including aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children, following a three-day trial in Lancaster County.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against cryptocurrency trading company NovaTechFx (NovaTech), its founders Cynthia and Eddy Petion, and cryptocurrency mining company AWS Mining Pty Ltd. (AWS Mining). The lawsuit accuses these entities of operating illegal pyramid schemes that defrauded hundreds of thousands of investors, including over 11,000 New Yorkers, out of more than one billion dollars in cryptocurrency.

The Conviction Review Unit (CRU) of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office has recommended vacating the 2001 first-degree murder conviction of Brian Pippitt in Aitkin County. This recommendation follows an extensive independent investigation conducted by the CRU, which resulted in a comprehensive 181-page report containing 987 footnotes and citing approximately 250 source documents. The investigation took over 1,100 hours to complete.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, along with 20 other state attorneys general, has called on the American Bar Association (ABA) to cease requiring law schools to consider race in admissions and hiring as part of their accreditation process. The ABA is responsible for accrediting American law schools.

A dedication ceremony to rename Courtroom C2 in the Pennington County Courthouse to the Jeff W. Davis Memorial Courtroom will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 4 p.m. MDT. Former Judge Jeff W. Davis served on the bench for the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Rapid City for 43 years, making him one of the longest-serving judges in state history.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland discussed the Justice Department’s efforts to combat violent crime, emphasizing the use of advanced crime gun intelligence technology during his remarks at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)’s third annual Chiefs of Police Executive Forum on Crime Guns. The forum brought together police chiefs from across the country.

The Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced charges today against Jose Manuel Ortiz Lopez, 38, of Lawrence. The charges include trafficking fentanyl (200 grams or more), trafficking cocaine (200 grams or more), possession of a firearm without a Firearm Identification (FID) Card, possession of ammunition without an FID Card, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Lopez is scheduled to be arraigned on June 25 in Essex Superior Court.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into several car manufacturers following reports that they have been collecting extensive data from drivers' vehicles and selling it to third parties, including insurance providers.

Personal injury firm Morgan & Morgan is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former client Brian Brown, who alleges the firm committed legal malpractice by failing to secure the full insurance amount following his involvement in a trucking accident. This information comes from a March 28 court filing by Tate Law Group.

On June 6, 2024, the North Dakota Supreme Court issued several opinions across various cases. Below are summaries of the key highlights from these decisions:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody joined state and local health officials at an event in Seminole County to recognize Florida’s first Revive Awareness Day. The day aims to highlight the dangers of opioid misuse and the life-saving potential of naloxone. During the event, Attorney General Moody announced increased participation in Helping Heroes, a program she initiated to provide free naloxone to first responders statewide.

The 5th Judicial District Problem-Solving Court will hold a graduation and celebration on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. The event will take place at the York County Courthouse located at 510 N. Lincoln Avenue, York, Nebraska.

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul attended a training session on the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services’ address confidentiality program, Safe at Home, in Appleton, Wis. The program offers a legal substitute address for victims or those threatened with domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, and trafficking to maintain their physical safety.

The Attorney General’s Office announced that William Smith, 57, of Sheldon, Vermont, was sentenced today in Vermont Superior Court, Franklin Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to one felony count of luring a child. The Court, with Judge Alison Arms presiding, sentenced Mr. Smith by plea agreement to one year in prison and a 15-year term of probation with conditions that he complete sex offender programming, have no contact with minors, and restrict his access to the internet. If Mr. Smith violates the terms of his probation, he faces up to five years in jail. Mr. Smith...

Attorney General Josh Stein today joined elder care advocates to share a resource card designed to assist seniors and families in North Carolina with navigating care options for the aging population. June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and the Department of Justice is focused on protecting North Carolinians, including senior citizens, from scams, fraud, and abuse.

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a consumer alert warning New Yorkers about the rise of online romance scams. These schemes, often referred to as "pig butchering," involve fraudsters using dating apps, social media, and unsolicited text messages to befriend victims and then convince them to make fraudulent investments.

Chief Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler today announced the creation of the Attorney Retention & Recruitment Committee to address Wisconsin’s attorney shortage, particularly acute in rural counties. The committee includes deans from Wisconsin's two law schools, representatives from the State Bar of Wisconsin, and attorneys and judges statewide. Chief judges from the state’s nine judicial administrative districts will help lead the effort.

The Justice Department’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) has updated safeguards for bankruptcy funds by introducing a revised and modernized depository agreement for banks and financial institutions that accept bankruptcy estate deposits.