Trials & Sentencing set to begin in January, 2022

[Niner]

I hope the New Year brings you all good fortune, good health and happy memories!!


For the week of Monday, January 3, 2022 thru Friday, January 7, 2022:

Monday, Jan. 3rd:
*Trial set to begin (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial set to begin on 1/3/22. (will last about 7 weeks).
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 12/16/21 reference post #156 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
12/20/21 Update: Next trial set to begin on 1/3/22.

*Trial set to begin (@ 8:30am MT) – NM – Victoria Martens (10) (Aug. 23, 2016, Albuquerque) – for *Fabian Elias Gonzales (33/now 37) (“mom’s” BF) arrested & charged (9/9/16), indicted (9/10/16) & arraigned (9/16/16) with 1 count of intentional abuse of a child resulting in death, 8 counts of tampering with evidence, 1 count of intentional child abuse & 1 count of conspiracy to commit intentional child abuse & 1 count of conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence. Plead not guilty. $1M cash only bond.
Trial set to begin on 1/3/22.
Court information from 6/30/18 thru 12/19/21 reference post #815 here:
NM - Victoria Martens, 10, brutally murdered, Albuquerque, 23 Aug 2016 *Arrests*
12/20/21: State's brief in support of admission of phone call between Jessica Kelley & Crystal Kelley. Next motions hearing on 12/28/21. 12/27/21: Defense exhibit list. Defense's response to Brief re Kelley phone call. State's response to defendant's Motion to Dismiss for ineffective assistance of counsel.
12/28/21 Update: Order: Denying defendant's 2nd Foulenfont motion & reserving ruling on UJI 14-622. Order: Denying defendant's motion to exclude State's witnesses. Order: Granting State's motion for crime scene visit. Order: Denying defendant's 2nd speedy trial motion. Next trial set to begin on 1/3/22.
*Jessica Rosalie Kelley (33/now 36) (cousin of FG) – plead no contest (1/7/19) to reckless abuse of a child resulting in death, 3 counts of tampering with evidence, 1 count of aggravated battery & 1 count of conspiracy. Could receive 50 years, with good behavior out in 20 years. Will be sentenced following Gonzales’ trial. Sentencing hearing on 2/9/22.
*Michelle Martens (37/now 40) (“mom”) – plead guilty (6/29/18) to 1 count of intentional abuse of child resulting in death, with all other charges dropped. Will testify against other 2 & will be sentenced after other cases are over. Faces up to 12-15 years in prison. Sentencing hearing on 2/11/22.

*Trial continues (Day 46)-VERDICT WATCH! (Day 8) (@ 8:30am PT) - CA – for *Elizabeth A. Holmes (34/now 37) (CEO of Theranos) charged (March, 2018) & indicted (6/14/18) & arraigned (6/15/18) with 9 counts of wire fraud & 2 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and charged & indicted (4/11/20) with fraud relating to a patient's blood test. Another count of wire fraud was added in 2020, bringing the total number of felony charges to 12. Plead not guilty. $500K unsecured bond. Out on bond. Faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison & up to $2.75 million in fines, plus restitution, & $250K for each individual count of wire fraud & conspiracy.
Defrauding investors out of $700 million in funding for their blood-testing startup Theranos.
Trial began on 8/31/21 with jury selection & completed on 9/1/21. 12 jurors of 7 men & 5 women (6 Caucasians, 4 Hispanics & 2 Asians) with five alternates (3 men & 2 women). Juror #7 excused & replaced with alternate #1. Now jurors are 8 men & 4 women. Alternates 2 men & 2 women. 10/6/21: Juror #4 excused & replace with alternate #2. Now jurors are 8 men & 4 women. Alternates 2 men & 1 woman. 10/22/21: The judge excused Juror #5, moving up the third alternate to replace the juror. Both are women. No word on why the juror was excused. Now jurors are 8 men & 4 women. Alternates 2 men.
Trial began on 9/8/21 & ended with closing arguments on 12/17/21. Jury began deliberations on 12/17: ½ hour. 12/20: 6 ½ hours with 1 hour lunch. 12/21: ~7 ½ hours. 12/23: ~7 ½ hours. 12/27: ~7 ½ hours. 12/28: ~7 ½ hours. 12/29: ~7 ½ hours. Total: ~44 ½ hours.
The Court trial days will be Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, possibly other half days. The Court may modify the trial time & set either 8:30am-2pm or 9am-2pm & possibly 30-minute breaks in between. Judge Edward J. Davila presiding.
Trial dates: 1/3/22-Jury continues deliberations; from 12/24/21 thru 1/7/22 court is closed.
Indictment & court info from 4/11/20 thru 8/26/21 & on 9/30/21 & on 11/2/21 & jury selection (Day 1-3) 8/31 to 9/2/21 & trial & jury deliberations 9/8 thru 12/28/21 (Day 44/Verdict watch: Day 1-6) & 9/8 to 12/16/21 & motions hearing on 11/8, 11/19 & 12/7/21 & charging conference on 12/3 & 12/10/21 reference post #173 here:
VERDICT WATCH - CA - Elizabeth Holmes (Theranos) Wire Fraud Thread #2
12/29/21 Thursday, Trial Day 45/Day 7 of Verdict Watch: Jury continues deliberations. The jurors started deliberations at 8:30am.
From 11:08-11:31am: Sealed proceeding was held. Present: Jeffrey Schenk, Robert Leach, defense attorneys Kevin Downy, Lance Wade & Elizabeth Holmes was not present. The Court ordered transcript sealed & the transcript cannot be accessed without Court order. No questions today. The jury said in a court filing that they would be taking a break until Monday despite the expectation that deliberations would continue on Thursday morning. The jury was initially scheduled to have off Friday, New Year's Eve. The jury did not leave an explanation as to why they paused discussions. They also did not provide information on the decision progress. Total deliberations today: 7 ½ hours. Back on Monday, 1/3/22.
*Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani (53/now 56) (CFO & President of Theranos) – Status hearing on 1/12/22, pretrial conference hearing (Motion in Limine) on 1/14/22 & status conference hearing on 1/25/22. Trial was set to begin on 1/11/22 with jury selection & trial on 1/18/22 have been cancelled.


Tuesday, Jan. 4th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 9am CT) – IN - Thomas Grill, Jr. (18) & Molley R. Lanham (19) (Feb. 25, 2019, St. John; found in Hebron, in burned out car) - *Roxann Kerner (48) “mom” of Connor was charged & arraigned (11/24/20) & change of plea (12/3/21) with obstruction of justice (def. knowingly or intentionally in official proceeding) <guilty, perjury (def. made a false, material statement under oath or affirmation) <dismissed & false informing resulting in substantial hindrance to a LE procedure <dismissed. Bond $1500, posted cash bond (11/30/20) & out of jail. Plead guilty on 12/3/21.
Attempted to cover up murder of 2 Lake County teens carried out by her son.
Trial was set to begin on 1/25/22 was cancelled as Kerner plead guilty (12/3/21).
Court info from 11/24/20 thru 10/13/21 reference post #235 here:
MISTRIAL - IN - Thomas Grill Jr., 18, & Molley Lanham, 19, murdered, Lake County, 25 Feb 2019 *arrests*
11/19/21 Update: Change of plea hearing on 12/3/21 & pretrial hearing on 12/17 & Motions in Limine hearing on 1/14 was rescheduled on 1/7/22 @ 1pm.
12/3/21 Update: Kerner plead guilty to obstruction of justice after emailing false tips to the Porter County Sheriff’s Office in her son’s 2019 double murder case. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss perjury & a false informing charge. If a judge accepts, her sentence calls for 18 months on probation. Additionally, she allegedly lied on the stand during her son’s trial about renting a trailer which she said was for clearing downed trees on her property but was for hauling a car. Under the agreement, that charge would be dismissed. Pretrial conference hearing scheduled on 12/17/21 & motions hearing on 1/7/22 & trial scheduled for 1/25/22 were cancelled. Reason: Agreed Resolution. Sentencing hearing on 1/4/22.
*John Salvadore Silva II (17/now 18) - Trial on 6/24/21 ended in mistrial. Pretrial conference hearing on 3/21/22. Trial set to begin on 4/11/22.
*Connor Ralland Kerner (17/now 20) – Found guilty. 12/8/20: Sentenced to 179 years in prison. Filed an appeal on 5/13/21. Earliest Possible Release Date 05/31/2153.


Friday, Jan. 7th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 10am ET) - GA – Ahmaud Marquez Arbery (25) (Feb. 23, 2020, shot while jogging in Satilla Shores neighborhood, Brunswick) - *Gregory Johns McMichael (64/now 65) arrested (5/7/20) & charged (5/8/20) with felony murder & aggravated assault. Indicted (6/24/20), charged & arraigned (7/17/20) with 1 count of malice murder, 4 counts of felony murder, 2 counts of aggravated assault, 1 count of false imprisonment & 1 count of criminal attempt to commit a felony. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Bond denied (11/13/20).
*Travis James McMichael (34/now 35) arrested (5/7/20) & charged (5/8/20) with felony murder & aggravated assault. Indicted (6/24/20), charged & arraigned (7/17/20) with 1 count of malice murder, 4 counts of felony murder, 2 counts of aggravated assault (count 7: aggravated assault with trucks-added 11/19/21), 1 count of false imprisonment & 1 count of criminal attempt to commit a felony. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Bond denied (11/13/20).
*William “Roddie” Roderick Bryan, Jr. (50/now 51) arrested & charged (5/21/20) with felony murder & criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. Indicted (6/24/20), charged & arraigned (7/17/20) with 1 count of malice murder, 4 counts of felony murder, 2 counts of aggravated assault (count 7: aggravated assault with trucks-added 11/19/21), 1 count of false imprisonment & 1 count of criminal attempt to commit a felony. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial began on 10/18/21 with jury selection & ended on 11/3/21. Trial began on 11/5/21 & ended 11/24/21. Jurors: 5 men & 11 women with 4 alternates. 15 white/1 black jurors. 11/4/21: Juror #579 was excused, sick. Alternates now 3. 11/23/21: Jury deliberated for ~6½ hours (started ~11:53am ET to 6:19pm ET). 11/24/21: Jury deliberated for ~4 hours 20 mins. (started at ~8:36am ET to ~9:40am ET (~1 hour) & continued ~9:55am to 12pm (2 hours)/added lunch/~12pm to 1:20pm ET-Verdict). Total deliberations: ~10 hours & 50 minutes.
Court info from 5/8/20 thru 10/17/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-12) 10/18/21-11/3/21 & Trial (Day 1-12) 11/5/21 to 11/22/21(State rested their case on 11/16/21 & defenses rested on 11/18/21) reference post #551 here:
GUILTY - GA - Ahmaud Arbery, 25, jogger, fatally shot by former LEO and son, Brunswick, Feb 2020 *Arrests* #5
11/24/21 Wednesday, Trial Day 14: Defense makes request to judge to refrain from asking jurors if they’re close to a decision. Judge says he won’t & he only did so last night to see if they needed to keep them longer. Jury comes back into courtroom.
Judge tells jury they can return to jury room to continue deliberations. Judge thanks jurors for their service. Jury continues deliberation. Started at about ~8:36am ET to ~9:40am ET to watch videos & 911 call.
Jury has asked to see a video and is coming back into the courtroom to watch. The jury is requesting to rewatch videos & listen to 2/23/20 911 call. The judge just received a note from the jury asking to view original & enhanced version of the shooting video three times. The jury's note: "We request to see the following videos 3 times each: Original video short version, enhanced high-contrast version, & the 911 call on 2/23/20 by Greg McMichael. Lawyers & judge discussing this. The judge agreed to instruct the jury on lesser charges for Bryan: simple assault, reckless conduct & reckless driving. Judge will ask jurors for clarification on videos.
for more info see post #793 here:
GUILTY - GA - Ahmaud Arbery, 25, jogger, fatally shot by former LEO and son, Brunswick, Feb 2020 *Arrests* #5
Jurors watched the videos & listened to the 911 call. Back to deliberations ~9:55am ET. Lunch at 12pm/don’t know if they deliberated while eating. Back at 1pm & verdict reached at 1:20pm ET.
Travis: Count 1: Malice Murder - Guilty; Count 2: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 3: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 4: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 5: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 6: Aggravated Assault - Guilty; Count 7: Aggravated Assault - Guilty; Count 8: False Imprisonment - Guilty; Count 9: Criminal Attempt to commit false imprisonment - Guilty.
Greg: Count 1: Malice Murder - Not guilty; Count 2: Felony murder - Guilty; Count 3: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 4: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 5: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 6: Aggravated Assault - Guilty; Count 7: Aggravated Assault - Guilty; Count 8: False Imprisonment - Guilty; Count 9: Criminal Attempt to commit false imprisonment - Guilty.
Bryan: Count 1: Malice Murder - Not guilty; Count 2: Felony murder - Not guilty; Count 3: Felony murder - Guilty; Count 4: Felony murder - Guilty; Count 5: Felony murder - Guilty; Count 6: Aggravated assault - Not guilty; Count 7: Aggravated assault - Guilty; Count 8: False imprisonment - Guilty; County 9: Criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment - Guilty.
Automatic LIFE sentence for all three defendants however the Judge determines with or without parole. But parole, even if granted, comes after a minimum of 30 years. Multiple murder convictions are merged for the purposes of sentencing. Each count of aggravated assault carries a prison term of at least one year but not more than 20 years. False imprisonment is punishable by a sentence of one to 10 years in prison. Absent reversal upon appeal. Explanation of what the charges actually are – see this link:
EXPLAINER: What are the charges in Ahmaud Arbery's killing? | AP News
Sentencing hearing on 1/7/22 @ 10am.
*Federal charges: *Travis James McMichael (34/now 35) & *Gregory Johns McMichael & *William “Roddie” Roderick Bryan, Jr. - Next pretrial hearing 1/21/22, final pretrial hearing on 1/31/22 & trial set to begin on 2/7/22 with jury selection.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, January 3rd:
*Trial set to begin-CONTINUED! (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial was set to begin on 1/3/22 was continued to 1/6/22. (will last about 7 weeks)
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 12/16/21 reference post #156 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
12/20/21 Update: Next trial set to begin on 1/3/22.
1/3/22 Update: Trial postponed until 1/6/22.

 

[Niner]

Update!


Wednesday, January 5th:
*Plea Hearing (@ 1pm CT) – TX – 4 malnourished children found in 3x2 dog cage; 2 smeared w/excrement in barn; 5 yr. old boy, 4 yr. old girl, 3 yr. old boy & 1 yr. old boy, Feb. 12, 2019, near Rhome) – for *Andrew Joseph Fabila (24/now 26) arrested & charged (2/12/19), indicted (5/14/20) & arraigned (7/10/20 waived) with 4 counts of injury to a child by knowingly causing serious mental deficiency/impairment/injury. $60K Surety bond ($15K for each count). Out on bond (2/19/19).
The judge also announced that new bond conditions on Fabila prohibit him from having any contact with the children at this time.
Court info from 2/13/19 thru 8/16/21 reference post #82 here:
TX - Police find 4 malnourished children, locked in a dog crate, Wise County, Feb 2019 *arrests*
10/26/21 Update: Next plea hearing on 1/5/22.
1/5/22 Update: Fabila: Plead guilty to all counts. Sentenced to 20 years for each count to run concurrently. Judge of conviction by Court-waiver of jury trial. Written plea admonishments. Trial Court's certification of defendant's right of appeal. Case disposed.
*Paige Isabow Harkings – Trial set to begin on 1/11/22.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Friday, January 7th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 10am ET) - GA – Ahmaud Marquez Arbery (25) (Feb. 23, 2020, shot while jogging in Satilla Shores neighborhood, Brunswick) - *Gregory Johns McMichael (64/now 66) arrested (5/7/20) & charged (5/8/20) with felony murder & aggravated assault. Indicted (6/24/20), charged & arraigned (7/17/20) with 1 count of malice murder, 4 counts of felony murder, 2 counts of aggravated assault, 1 count of false imprisonment & 1 count of criminal attempt to commit a felony. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Bond denied (11/13/20).
*Travis James McMichael (34/now 35) arrested (5/7/20) & charged (5/8/20) with felony murder & aggravated assault. Indicted (6/24/20), charged & arraigned (7/17/20) with 1 count of malice murder, 4 counts of felony murder, 2 counts of aggravated assault (count 7: aggravated assault with trucks-added 11/19/21), 1 count of false imprisonment & 1 count of criminal attempt to commit a felony. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Bond denied (11/13/20).
*William “Roddie” Roderick Bryan, Jr. (50/now 51) arrested & charged (5/21/20) with felony murder & criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. Indicted (6/24/20), charged & arraigned (7/17/20) with 1 count of malice murder, 4 counts of felony murder, 2 counts of aggravated assault (count 7: aggravated assault with trucks-added 11/19/21), 1 count of false imprisonment & 1 count of criminal attempt to commit a felony. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial began on 10/18/21 with jury selection & ended on 11/3/21. Trial began on 11/5/21 & ended 11/24/21. Jurors: 5 men & 11 women with 4 alternates. 15 white/1 black jurors. Total deliberations: ~10 hours & 50 minutes.
Court info from 5/8/20 thru 10/17/21 & Jury selection (Day 1-12) 10/18/21-11/3/21 & Trial (Day 1-14) 11/5/21 to 11/24/21(State rested their case on 11/16/21 & defenses rested on 11/18/21) reference post #235 here:
GUILTY - GA - Ahmaud Arbery, 25, jogger, fatally shot by former LEO and son, Brunswick, Feb 2020 *Arrests* #6
Verdicts: Travis: Count 1: Malice Murder - Guilty; Count 2: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 3: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 4: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 5: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 6: Aggravated Assault - Guilty; Count 7: Aggravated Assault - Guilty; Count 8: False Imprisonment - Guilty; Count 9: Criminal Attempt to commit false imprisonment - Guilty.
Greg: Count 1: Malice Murder - Not guilty; Count 2: Felony murder - Guilty; Count 3: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 4: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 5: Felony Murder - Guilty; Count 6: Aggravated Assault - Guilty; Count 7: Aggravated Assault - Guilty; Count 8: False Imprisonment - Guilty; Count 9: Criminal Attempt to commit false imprisonment - Guilty.
Bryan: Count 1: Malice Murder - Not guilty; Count 2: Felony murder - Not guilty; Count 3: Felony murder - Guilty; Count 4: Felony murder - Guilty; Count 5: Felony murder - Guilty; Count 6: Aggravated assault - Not guilty; Count 7: Aggravated assault - Guilty; Count 8: False imprisonment - Guilty; County 9: Criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment - Guilty.
Sentencing hearing on 1/7/22 @ 10am.
1/7/22 Update: Victim impact statements by Marcus Arbery, father & his mother Wander Cooper-Jones.
All of the attorneys are present & a few minutes ago, a bailiff alerted them that the judge wanted to see them all in chambers. Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley takes the bench & started with a motion from Roddie’s lawyer Kevin Gough that it would be "unconstitutionally cruel" to give Bryan the mandatory life sentence & he feels confident the judge will give him the "individualized sentence he deserves. State requested life without of parole for the Greg McMichael & the same for Travis. Linda Dunikoski gave her arguments. Regarding Bryan, State is asking for life with the possibility of parole & then 15 years probation. Travis' attorney Jason Sheffield did his arguments for at least redemption on his sentence & asking for life with possibility of parole. Defense attorney Hogue for Greg is bringing up case law which she says addresses the "piling on" of felonies against McMichael. Some of these counts should be vacated in sentencing, she says. Defense attorney Kevin Gough for Bryan up. He agrees with State with the sentence of life with the possibility of parole. Arguing that Bryan was not convicted of the murder itself per jury’s not guilty on Counts 1, 2 & 6. And Bryan has admitted remorse & did not know "what" was going on with the "chase". And fully cooperated with LE. State back up to dispute defense attorneys’ arguments. Gough's argument that Counts 8 & 9 should be combined (false imprisonment).
The Judge sat silently for one minute, which he said represented “a fraction of the time” that Arbery spent fleeing the men as they chased him through Satilla Shores on that Sunday afternoon. Judge's sentencing:
Travis: Count 1: LWOP; 2-5 Vacated; Count 6: Merged with count 1; Count 7: 20 Years consecutive; Count 8: Merged with count 1; Count 9: 5 Years concurrent. (Life plus 20).
Greg: Count 2: LWOP; 2-5 Vacated; Count 6: Merged with count 2; Count 7: 20 years consecutive; Count 8: 5 years concurrent; Count 9: 5 Years Concurrent (Life Plus 20).
Bryan: Life with Parole on Count 3; Count 7: 10 years; Count 8: 5 Years concurrent; other counts were vacated. (Life with Parole after 30 years).
*Federal charges: *Travis James McMichael (34/now 35) & *Gregory Johns McMichael & *William “Roddie” Roderick Bryan, Jr. Next pretrial hearing 1/21/22, final pretrial hearing on 1/31/22 & trial set to begin on 2/7/22 with jury selection.

 

[Niner]

For the week of Monday, January 10th thru Friday, January 14th:

Monday, January 10th:
*Trial set to begin-CONTINUED! (@ 8:30am CT) - MO – Jane M. Moeckel (61), Zoe J. Kasten (8), Jonathan D. Kasten (10) & Kate Kasten (39) (mom of kids) (Dec. 28, 2018, St. Charles; shot) - *Richard Darren Emery (46/now 47) (BF of mom) charged (12/29/18) & indicted (4/12/19) with 4 counts of 1st degree murder, 7 counts of felony armed criminal action, 3 counts of 1st degree assault (attempt-serious physical injury/special victim) & 1 count of 1st degree attempted robbery. No bond. DA will seek DP.
Trial was set to begin 2/8/21 continued to 6/14/21 continued to 1/10/22 & rescheduled due to death of public defender to 9/6/22 with jury selection. (expected to last 3 weeks).
Court information from 12/31/18 thru 10/9/20 reference post #134 here:
MO - 4 family members gunned down in St. Charles home, 29 Dec 2018
10/15/20: Motions hearing held. Order: Cause called on State's motion to compel disclosure. State appeared by & thru Philip Groenweghe & Larry Chrum. Defendant appears in person & thru defense counsel Charles Hoskins & Srikant Chicgurupati. In addition, defense shall disclose all mitigation witnesses on or before 11/20/20. So order by Judge Michael Fagras. Also Ordered: Upon return to jail, defendant shall receive his meds & lunch tray that were due while he was in court. Proposed order to permit expert witness (Dr. Michael Gelbort) access to the defendant who is confined-granted. 10/29/20: Additional Discovery letter electronically filed.
11/19/20: Additional discovery cover letter. 11/20/20: Defendants first supplemental motion to endorse witnesses. 12/4/20: State files Motion to endorse additional witness. 1/14/21 Update: Trial has been continued due to COVID from 2/8/21 to 6/14/21.
5/26/21: Motion to endorse defendant’s 5th motion to endorse records custodians filed by Charles Hoskins on behalf of Emery. Motion to endorse defendant’s 4th motion to endorse experts filed by Hoskins & motion to endorse defendant’s 3rd motion to endorse witnesses filed by Hoskins.
5/27/21 Update: Motion of withdrawal of counsel filed by Stephen Paul Reynolds on behalf of Emery. Motion to endorse defendant’s 6th motion to endorse witnesses filed by Reynolds.
1/4/22 Update: The murder trial set to begin next week (1/10/22) in St. Charles County was postponed Tuesday until September because of the recent sudden death of one of the defendant's public defenders. A judge granted Richard Emery's request to delay the trial because of the Dec. 15, 2021 death of Emery's public defender, Charles D. Hoskins. Jury selection in Emery's death penalty trial was scheduled to begin before Circuit Judge Michael Fagras. The trial was continued to Sept. 6. In November, the court sealed Emery's case & docket ahead of the January trial date, making them publicly inaccessible in Case.Net, the state's online courts database. It was not immediately clear if the judge would unseal the case until closer to the new trial date. His lawyers are planning to present a diminished capacity defense that could include testimony that Emery suffers from borderline personality disorder.

*Trial set to begin for both-CONTINUED! (Sanders case) (@ 1pm CT) - IN (under Javon Blackwell) – *Maurtreyviaum “Troy” Sanders (19) (Nov. 6, 2018, Marion) – *Lemere Joseph Jones (29/now 31) charged (1/29/19) with murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery & armed robbery in connection with a death. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial was set to begin on 1/10/22-Sanders has been continued due to COVID.
*Demetrius Jemere Jackson (25/now 27) charged (1/29/19) with murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery & armed robbery in connection with a death. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial was set to begin on 1/10/22-Sanders has been continued due to COVID.
Case info from 9/28/20 to 6/10/21 reference post #295 here:
IN - Javon Blackwell, 42, Javon Jr., 12, & Jayzon, 11, fatally shot, Marion, 30 Dec 2018 *Arrests*
7/12/21 Update: Court's own motion-Order of continuance of trial. Rescheduled to begin on 1/10/22 @ 1pm. Pretrial conference on 12/9/21 @ 8:30am. 12/9/21 Update: Next trial to begin on 1/10/22.
1/7/22 Update: Motion for trial continuance-granted due to COVID.

*Trial set to begin (@ 9am PT) – CA – William Tillett (11) (May 24, 1990, Inglewood, kidnapped & murdered) - *Edward Donell Thomas (22 @ time of crime/50/now 52) arrested (2/14/19), charged (2/20/19) & arraigned (10/7/19) with 1 count of murder during commission of a kidnapping & lying in wait & 1 count of a felon in possession of a firearm. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
DNA link.
Trial set to begin 1/10/22.
Court info from 2/20/19 thru 9/14/21 reference post #65 here:
CA - William Tillett, 11, kidnapped and murdered, Inglewood, 24 May 1990 *Arrest in 2019*
12/1/21 Update: Next trial readiness hearing on 1/4/22. 1/4/22 Update: Next trial set to begin on 1/10/22.

*Trial set to begin (@ am ET) – NJ – Daniel Griner, Jr. (23 mos.) (reported missing @ 6:30pm Feb. 8, 2019, Bridgeton; found 2/9/19 @ 3am buried in yard, burned & dismembered in her purse) - *Nakira Monae Griner (24/now 27) arrested & charged (2/9/19) & indicted (6/19/19) & arraigned (10/7/19) with 1st degree murder, 2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child, 2nd degree desecration of human remains, 4th degree tampering with evidence & 2nd degree false public alarm. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Griner said beat toddler for not eating & not listening to her. Died from blunt force trauma & multiply bone fractures.
Trial set to begin 1/10/22.
Court hearings from 2/14/19 thru 8/16/21 reference post #194 here:
NJ - Daniel Griner Jr., 23 mos, dismembered, Bridgeton, Cumberland County, 8 Feb 2019 *Arrest*
10/8/21 Update: Griner appeared in court Friday for a pretrial conference during which the allegations were summarized & the prosecution described its plea offer in which Griner would serve 30 years in prison in return for a guilty plea on the murder charge. She declined that plea offer in favor of trial. Superior Court Judge George H. Gangloff Jr. set a trial date of 1/10/22.

Tuesday, January 11th:
*Trial set to begin (@ 11am CT) – TX – 4 malnourished children found in 3x2 dog cage; 2 smeared w/excrement in barn; 5 yr. old boy, 4 yr. old girl, 3 yr. old boy & 1 yr. old boy, Feb. 12, 2019, near Rhome) – for *Paige Isabow Harkings (24/now 26) arrested & charged (2/12/19), indicted (5/14/20) & arraigned (6/20/20 waived) with 4 counts of injury to a child by knowingly causing serious mental/deficiency/impairment/injury & 1 count of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. $75K bond. $30K Surety, out on bond (3/12/19). Fabila is father of 1 child; Harkings is mother of all 4. Children transferred to Cook Children’s in Fort Worth & released to CPS.
Trial set to begin on 1/11/22.
Court info from 2/13/19 thru 11/3/21 reference post #80 here:
TX - Police find 4 malnourished children, locked in a dog crate, Wise County, Feb 2019 *arrests*
1/3/22 Update: Waiver of arraignment hearing. Trial set to begin on 1/11/22.
*Andrew Joseph Fabila – Plea hearing on 1/5/22 & plead guilty to all counts. Sentenced to 20 years in prison.

 

[Niner]

Updates!

Monday, January 10th:
*Trial was set to begin-CANCELLED! (@ 9am PT) – CA – William Tillett (11) (May 24, 1990, Inglewood, kidnapped & murdered) - *Edward Donell Thomas (22 @ time of crime/50/now 52) arrested (2/14/19), charged (2/20/19) & arraigned (10/7/19) with 1 count of murder during commission of a kidnapping & lying in wait & 1 count of a felon in possession of a firearm. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
DNA link.
Trial was set to begin on 1/10/22 - no longer on court site.
Court info from 2/20/19 thru 1/4/22 reference post #67 here:
CA - William Tillett, 11, kidnapped and murdered, Inglewood, 24 May 1990 *Arrest in 2019*
1/10/22 Monday Trial Day 1:Trial was cancelled. Nothing in court site.

Tuesday, January 11th:
*Trial was set to begin-RESET! (@ 11am CT) – TX – 4 malnourished children found in 3x2 dog cage; 2 smeared w/excrement in barn; 5 yr. old boy, 4 yr. old girl, 3 yr. old boy & 1 yr. old boy, Feb. 12, 2019, near Rhome) – for *Paige Isabow Harkings (24/now 26) arrested & charged (2/12/19), indicted (5/14/20) & arraigned (6/20/20 waived) with 4 counts of injury to a child by knowingly causing serious mental/deficiency/impairment/injury & 1 count of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury. $75K bond. $30K Surety, out on bond (3/12/19).
Fabila is father of 1 child; Harkings is mother of all 4. Children transferred to Cook Children’s in Fort Worth & released to CPS.
Trial was set to begin on 1/11/22 continued to 3/8/22.
Court info from 2/13/19 thru 11/3/21 reference post #80 here:
TX - Police find 4 malnourished children, locked in a dog crate, Wise County, Feb 2019 *arrests*
1/3/22 Update: Waiver of arraignment hearing. Trial set to begin on 1/11/22.
1/11/22 Update: Trial has been reset to 3/8/22.
*Andrew Joseph Fabila – Plea hearing on 1/5/22 & plead guilty to all counts. Sentenced to 20 years in prison.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, January 10th:
*Trial set to begin for both-CONTINUED! (Sanders case) (@ 1pm CT) - IN (under Javon Blackwell) – *Maurtreyviaum “Troy” Sanders (19) (Nov. 6, 2018, Marion) – *Lemere Joseph Jones (29/now 31) charged (1/29/19) with murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery & armed robbery in connection with a death. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial was set to begin on 1/10/22-Sanders has been continued due to COVID & reset on 6/13/22.
*Demetrius Jemere Jackson (25/now 27) charged (1/29/19) with murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery & armed robbery in connection with a death. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
Trial was set to begin on 1/10/22-Sanders has been continued due to COVID & reset on 6/13/22.
Case info from 9/28/20 to 6/10/21 reference post #295 here:
IN - Javon Blackwell, 42, Javon Jr., 12, & Jayzon, 11, fatally shot, Marion, 30 Dec 2018 *Arrests*
7/12/21 Update: Court's own motion-Order of continuance of trial. Rescheduled to begin on 1/10/22 @ 1pm. Pretrial conference on 12/9/21 @ 8:30am. 12/9/21 Update: Next trial to begin on 1/10/22. 1/7/22 Update: Motion for trial continuance-granted due to COVID. Next pretrial conference hearing on 5/12/22 & trial now set to begin on 6/13/22.

 

[Niner]

For the week of Monday, January 17th (Martin Luther King holiday) thru Friday, January 21st:

Monday, January 17th:
*Trial set to begin – MAYBE! (@ 9am CT) – IN – Mercedes Christine Lynn Lain (11 mos.) (last seen Aug. 14, 2021, reported missing Aug. 15, 2021, Silver Alert on Aug. 16, 2021, found deceased on Aug. 18, 2021 in Starke County, Miller led LE to scene) – for *Justin Lee Miller (37) - charged (8/30/21) & arraigned (9/3/21) with murder. Plead not guilty. $500K Cash bond. Starke County
Trial was set to begin on 12/6/21 changed to 1/17/22. Miller plead guilty (12/20/21). Back up trial on 2/14/22.
Case info from 8/14/21 to 12/20/21 reference post #488 here:
Found Deceased - IN - Mercedes Lain, 11 mos, extreme danger Plymouth, 12 Aug 2021 *3 Arrests, includes parents*
12/20/21 Update: Miller says he was really high on synthetic weed & takes thorazine for mental problems & hit the baby when she started crying because of a fight with girlfriend. Miller said he “backhanded” the child in the face to try & keep her quiet & that her head hit the wall. Mercedes was next given a bottle which calmed her down, but only until the argument later reignited. That’s when Miller said he smacked the child again & that she went back down. Miller said he awoke later that day and discovered the child was not moving. Plead guilty to plea agreement. The plea agreement leaves sentencing to the discretion of the court. Miller’s guilty plea was taken under advisement by Starke County Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall. The plea deal provides no leniency. Miller would receive the same possible punishment by pleading guilty as he would if convicted at trial (45 to 65 years). The judge still has to accept or reject the plea. This will be done at the sentencing hearing which is scheduled for 1/18/22. ON 1/18 if trial cancelled.
12/30/21: Motion to pay for deposition at public expense filed by Justin Miller. 1/7/21: Filed by State: Victim impact statement-Lain. Discovery Notice of Compliance. Document filed re overall locations. Autopsy report filed. Autopsy photos, Scene 1A, 1B & 2. Mishawaka photos filed. 1/10/22: Pre-sentence investigation report filed. PSI filed together with certificate of service. 1/11/22: Lab results-Latex glove & DNA reports clothing filed by State. Trial on 1/17/22 with back up date of 2/14/22.
*Charged (8/19/21) & arraigned (8/24/21) with felony neglect of a dependent resulting in death. $100K bond. Plead not guilty.
9/7/21: Marshall County: Order Granting Motion to Dismiss.
*Tiffany Jo Coburn (32/now 33) “mom” & Kenneth Robert Lain (41/now 42) “father” – for both: status conference hearing on 1/20/22. Marshall County


Tuesday, January 18th:
*Plea Decision & Sentencing Hearing (if trial is cancelled) (@ 10am CT) – IN – Mercedes Christine Lynn Lain (11 mos.) (last seen Aug. 14, 2021, reported missing Aug. 15, 2021, Silver Alert on Aug. 16, 2021, found deceased on Aug. 18, 2021 in Starke County, Miller led LE to scene) – for *Justin Lee Miller (37) - charged (8/30/21) & arraigned (9/3/21) with murder. Plead not guilty. $500K Cash bond. Starke County
Trial was set to begin on 12/6/21 changed to 1/17/22 & could be vacated, Miller plead guilty (12/20/21).
Case info from 8/14/21 to 12/20/21 reference post #488 here:
Found Deceased - IN - Mercedes Lain, 11 mos, extreme danger Plymouth, 12 Aug 2021 *3 Arrests, includes parents*
12/20/21 Update: Miller says he was really high on synthetic weed & takes thorazine for mental problems & hit the baby when she started crying because of a fight with girlfriend. Miller said he “backhanded” the child in the face to try & keep her quiet & that her head hit the wall. Mercedes was next given a bottle which calmed her down, but only until the argument later reignited. That’s when Miller said he smacked the child again & that she went back down. Miller said he awoke later that day and discovered the child was not moving. Plead guilty to plea agreement. The plea agreement leaves sentencing to the discretion of the court. Miller’s guilty plea was taken under advisement by Starke County Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall. The plea deal provides no leniency. Miller would receive the same possible punishment by pleading guilty as he would if convicted at trial (45 to 65 years). The judge still has to accept or reject the plea. This will be done at the sentencing hearing which is scheduled for 1/18/22.
12/30/21: Motion to pay for deposition at public expense filed by Justin Miller. 1/7/21: Filed by State: Victim impact statement-Lain. Discovery Notice of Compliance. Document filed re overall locations. Autopsy report filed. Autopsy photos, Scene 1A, 1B & 2. Mishawaka photos filed. 1/10/22: Pre-sentence investigation report filed. PSI filed together with certificate of service. 1/11/22: Lab results-Latex glove & DNA reports clothing filed by State. Trial on 1/17/22 with back up date of 2/14/22.
*Charged (8/19/21) & arraigned (8/24/21) with felony neglect of a dependent resulting in death. $100K bond. Plead not guilty.
9/7/21: Marshall County: Order Granting Motion to Dismiss.
*Tiffany Jo Coburn (32/now 33) “mom” & Kenneth Robert Lain (41/now 42) “father” – for both: status conference hearing on 1/20/22. Marshall County

*Trial set to begin-CONTINUED! (@ 9am CT) – TX – Mason Williams (21 mos.) (July 4, 2018, Kyle; parents blame demons on death) - *Dazrine Ruth Chagoya-Williams (20/now 24) arrested & charged (7/23/18) with1st degree capital murder & 1st degree injury to a child (8 mo. old daughter). Plead not guilty. $250K Surety bond or cash. Bond reduction-denied (8/26/21).
Prior CPS reports; 8 mo. old taken by CPS. 8-month-old daughter was injured too; the infant was taken to a local hospital & found to have multiple rib fractures, a skull fracture & a lacerated kidney.
Trial was set to begin on 12/6/21 continued to 1/18/22 continued to 4/25/22.
Court hearings from 10/15/18 thru 8/25/21 reference post #98 here:
TX - Mason Williams, 21 months, murdered, parents blame death on demons, Kyle, 4 Jul 2018
8/26/21 Update: Motion for bond reduction on 9/30/21. Bond reduction-denied. Trial rescheduled on 12/6/21. 10/4/21: Discovery receipt emailed from DA. 10/14/21: Motion for Ex-Parte communication with the Court. Ex-Parte order. 10/14/21: Motion for ex-parte communication with the Court. 10/27/21; Motion for production of transcripts. 11/2/21: Motion to disclose experts. Application for subpoenas. State's notice of intent to use as evidence business records accompanied by affidavit. Notice of intent to introduce extraneous offense evidence. Notice of defendant's statements. 11/3/21 State's subpoenas issued. 11/3/21: Discovery receipt email from DA.
11/30/21: Motion for trial continuance-granted. Trial set to begin now on 1/18/22.
11/30/21: Application for subpoenas. 12/2/21: 28 subpoenas issued. 12/3/21 Order for production of transcripts by Judge William R. Henry. 12/6/21 Jury trial cancelled & reset to 1/11/22 which was reset on 1/11/22 to 4/25/22 @ 9am.
1/12/22: Discovery receipt email from DA. Next trial to begin on 4/25/22.
*Stevie Dwayne Williams – Trial began on 10/12/21 & ended on 10/21/21 was found guilty of 1st degree capital murder & sentenced to LWOP.

*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22. (will last about 4 to 7 weeks). Jurors: 10 women & 6 men (includes 4 alternates).
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 & Trial Days 1/10 to 1/11 (Day 1-2) reference post #199 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
1/12/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 3: Opening statements by Alaska Assistant Attorney Jenna Gruenstien & defense attorney Jim Howaniec. Investigators say Sergie was shot in the back of the head, stabbed in the cheek and eye, hit with a blunt instrument, gagged & shocked with a stun gun. State witnesses: Shirley Akelkok, friend of Sophie's. No other info available. Trial continues on 1/13/22.
1/13/22 Thursday, Trial Day 4: No info available. No court on Friday, 1/14/22. Trial continues on Tuesday, 1/18/22.


Wednesday, January 19th:
*Plea Hearing (@ 1pm CT) – MO – Josie Ann Abney (10) (October 3, 2020, Salem; starved to death: Josie weighed 38 lbs. after she collapsed & died) - for *Susan A. Abney (44/now 45) (adoptive parent) arrested (10/4/20), charged (10/6/20) & arraigned (2/22/21) with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death & charged (12/14/20) & arraigned (2/22/21) with 2nd degree felony murder. Plead not guilty. $500K cash or Surety bond. Bond denied on 11/19/20.
The Abneys adopted Josie at the age of 3 in 2013 before going on to foster 12 or 13 children over the years. Josie died the next day from severe cachexia & protein calorie malnutrition according to the autopsy. Josie weighed only 34-pounds.
Trial set to begin on 3/7/22. Will be held in Crawford County. (thru 3/11)
Court info from 10/6/20 thru 5/10/21 reference post #91 here:
MO - Josie Ann Abney, 10, starved to death, Salem, 3 Oct 2020 *arrests*
6/23/21: Response filed re 2nd supplemental response to request for Discovery filed by defense. Last date court will take a guilty plea with a recommendation on 12/14/21. 9/1/21: JBB/Medical from Crawford County on 7/13/21 (from medical-attn: from MobileUSA) in amount of $85 to be reimbursed to CCSD. 10/27/21: State's Motion to endorse witness & 2nd amended info filed by Andrew Curley. 11/29/21: Cause called in chambers. The court is in receipt of a request for media coverage of this case. If the parties have any objection to media coverage, they shall notify the court by email with those objections prior to the next scheduled hearing. 12/14/21: Objections filed: Judge's response to objections to media in courtroom by Judge Michael Randazzo.
12/14/21 Update: Plea hearing rescheduled on 1/19/22 @ 1pm.
*Randall Lee Abney (51/now 52) (adoptive parent) – Plea hearing on 4/22/22. Trial set to begin on 7/11/22 to 7/15/22.

*Plea Negotiations Hearing (@ 9:30am CT) - TX – Marion Rebecca Jester-Montoya (10 mos.) (Jan. 7, 2020, Lubbock, while he went to work she was stuffed in backpack & left in trunk for more than 5 hours) - *Trevor Marquis Rowe (27/now 29) (mom’s BF) arrested & charged (1/7/20), indicted (5/4/20) & arraigned (5/12/20) with 1st degree capital murder (under 10 yrs. old). $2M bond.
4/21/20 Update: Requests to be released from jail due to coronavirus. Rowe also argued in his petition that he has yet to be indicted for the murder. In Texas, the district attorney’s office has 90 days to get a grand jury to hand down an indictment for a felony, a deadline that has passed in Rowe’s case. The statute states that if the deadline passes, the person must be released on a personal bond. On April 10, a Texas judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the executive order from taking effect. A hearing on the permanent status of the order is set for Friday, April 24.
4/24/20 Update: Grand jury indicts (5/4/20) Rowe with capital murder of a child under 10 years of age. Next hearing on 7/2/20. 7/2/20 Update: Next hearing on 9/10/20. 7/1/20 Update: Plea negotiations conference hearing. Pretrial hearing on 8/19/20. Plea negotiations conference on 9/9/20, on 12/16/20 & 3/10/21. Motions hearing on 4/8/21 & 4/26/21. Plea negotiations hearing on 6/2/21 & 8/4/21.
9/20/21: Protective Order. Plea negotiations hearing was rescheduled on 1/19/22 @ 9:30am.


Thursday, January 20th:
*Jury Voir Dire Hearing for all 3 (@ am CT) –MN - *Federal Grand Jury indicted & charged (5/7/21) & arraigned (9/14/21) Tou Thao (34/now 36) & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) for violated Floyd’s civil rights. Charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure, alleging they willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury to & the death of Mr. Floyd & failure to provide Floyd with medical care. Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38) is charged with failure to provide Floyd with medical care. All released on $25K unsecured bonds. All plead not guilty on 9/14/21.
Trial set to begin on 1/20/22 with jury selection. 12 jurors & 6 alternates.
Info on indictment of 5/7/21 & court info from 5/15/21 thru 12/20/21 reference post #83 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21
1/10/22 Update: Status hearing on 1/11/22. Will discussion issues & what will be permitted at trial. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson is expected to lay out how the trial will proceed & weigh what evidence will be limited or allowed. Both sides have filed several motions. Among them, Kueng’s attorney, Tom Plunkett, wants paramedics to be barred from testifying about whether Floyd was dead when they arrived, saying it’s irrelevant. Prosecutors disagree, saying the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers’ actions resulted in Floyd’s death. Thao’s attorney, Bob Paule, wants the court to bar prosecutors from asking witnesses about how they felt while watching Floyd’s arrest or videos of it, saying such testimony is likely to mislead the jury. Prosecutors say witness observations are relevant as the jury determines the officers’ state of mind. Paule is also asking the judge to bar witnesses from wearing clothing that could bias the jury. Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, also asked that the government be barred from calling a 10-year-old girl as a witness, saying her testimony would be used to invoke sympathy. Prosecutors disagreed, saying even the young girl, who was 9 at the time, could see Floyd had a serious medical need. Prosecutors are asking that the defense be barred from introducing evidence about the culture of the Minneapolis Police Dept. & past use-of-force complaints. Paule & Gray also want extra peremptory challenges during jury selection, citing pretrial publicity. Ordinarily, the government has 6 peremptory challenges & defendants in a multi-defendant case have 10. It was not known if Magnuson would issue any rulings during Tuesday’s hearing. Trial begins on 1/20/22 with jury selection.
1/11/22 Update: U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson used Tuesday’s pretrial hearing to rule on several motions, including granting defense requests that a girl who was 9 when she witnessed Floyd’s death be blocked from testifying & that an off-duty firefighter who also witnessed the death be barred from testifying in uniform. Magnuson also initially granted a motion to limit medical testimony, commenting that “we have way too many witnesses in this case.” Prosecutor LeeAnn Bell urged the judge to reconsider, saying she would provide the court with a synopsis of what each medical expert would testify about. Magnuson said he was concerned that attorneys, defendants or jurors could fall ill with COVID-19, as the highly contagious omicron variant has become widespread. The judge also expressed concern that the case “is getting out of proportion.” Magnuson denied a request from Kueng’s attorney, Tom Plunkett, to bar paramedics from testifying about whether Floyd was dead when they arrived. Magnuson also said the court, not attorneys, would handle juror questioning. Both prosecuting & defense attorneys will pass questions to the judge to ask, but will not interact with jury candidates themselves. He plans to bring in 36 jurors at a time for questioning & will repeat that process until a total of 40 jurors have been passed for cause. Then attorneys will be able to use their strikes. Magnuson said he will seat 18 jurors, including 6 alternates. Trial starts on 1/20/22 with jury selection.
1/12/22 Update: Federal prosecutors say a judge's decision to prohibit some witnesses from testifying in the upcoming civil rights case against three former Minneapolis officers will hinder their argument & "deprive the government of its right to a fair trial." Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson said attorneys on both sides of the federal trial must hasten their cases to reduce the chances of a COVID-19 outbreak that could burn through jurors & upend the proceedings. Magnuson singled out the prosecution's list of 48 witnesses as too long & said he won't allow what he deemed unnecessary testimony from a 10-year-old and more than one medical expert. In a response filed late Wednesday (1/12/22), prosecutors say they plan to pare down their witness list & heed the concerns about the virus interfering with the trial. "That said, the pursuit of justice should not become a subordinate interest to brevity here," prosecutors wrote. "This case involves constitutional violations by sworn law enforcement officers that resulted in the death of a man & neither COVID nor concerns about security should limit the government or the defense from presenting its case." In his order, Magnuson dismissed the testimony of Judeah Reynolds as "unnecessary & likely only offered to elicit sympathy." Reynolds was 9 years old when she saw the four Minneapolis officers detaining Floyd on May 25, 2020. In their response to the judge, prosecutors said Reynolds is not a mere prop & that her testimony is needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Floyd had an objectively serious medical need, "meaning one that is so obvious that even people with no formal medical training would recognize that care is required." Prosecutors also objected to Magnuson's ruling that calling multiple medical experts to testify would be "inefficient" & "improper." Prosecutors plan to call two medical experts, including Andrew Baker, who they say is limited to his specialized expertise as Hennepin County Medical Examiner. For this reason, prosecutors say, they want to call a second expert who can speak to medical issues such as how the officers' compression on Floyd's airway & torso could hinder his ability to breathe, how resuscitation could have saved him & specific effects of the combination of fentanyl & methamphetamine.
MN – George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody) – Tou Thao (34/now 36), Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38), & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) were fired (5/26/20), arrested (6/3/20) & charged (6/4/20) with aiding & abetting 2nd degree murder-unintentional-while committing a felony & aiding & abetting 2nd degree manslaughter-culpable negligence creating unreasonable risk. Bond set at $1M for all or bond conditions @ $750K. Lane released (6/10/20) on $750K bond with conditions. Kueng released (6/19/20) on $750K bond with conditions. Thao released (7/4/20) on $750K bond with conditions.
Trial was set to begin on 8/23/21 continued to 3/7/22 with jury selection. Federal case will be tried first. Defense & State have asked to delay trial date. No update 1/15/22.
Bond conditions & court info from 6/3/20 to 8/17/21 reference post #979 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20

*Trial set to begin for both (@ 9am PT) – CA – Diego Villa Torralba (newborn-12 hours old) (July 19, 2019, Oxnard; strangled after birth) - *Andrea Torralba Comacho (20/now 22) ”mom” arrested (7/19/19), charged (7/23/19) & arraigned (9/30/19) & re-arraigned (10/7/21) with murder & assault on a child by means of force resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Was $1M bond, changed (9/30/19) to $5M.
*Diego Villa Torralba aka David Luna Villa (21/now 23) “father” arrested (7/19/19), charged (7/23/19) & arraigned (9/30/19) & re-arraigned (10/7/21) with murder & assault on a child by means of force resulting in death. Plead not guilty. $5M bond.
Trial set to begin on 1/20/22.
Court info from 7/19/19 thru 10/7/21 reference post #109 here:
CA - Diego Villa-Torralba, newborn, strangled in hospital after birth, Oxnard, 19 July 2019 *Arrests
11/16/21 Update: Next trial to begin on 1/20/22.


Friday, January 21st:
*Trial set to begin (for both cases) (@ CT) – TX – Infant (4 mos.) (July 12, 2018, San Antonio) – *Terrence Wayne Harper (30/now 33) arrested & charged (7/16/18), indicted (12/18/18) & arraigned (12/21/18) with causing serious injuries to a child (son). Plead not guilty. $150K bond, released.
Infant (5 mos.) (Mar. 12, 2012, San Antonio) – Rearrested & charged (12/19/18), indicted (12/17/18) & arraigned (12/21/18) with capital murder of a child under 10. Plead not guilty. $500K bond.
Trial was set to begin on 7/24/20-vacated & reset to 1/21/22.
Court info from 1/23/19 thru 4/6a/20 reference post #45 here:
TX - Man accused of 2018 infant beating now charged w/ murder in 2012 baby death, Bexar Co, Dec 2018
6/8/20 Update: Defendant’s ex-parte motion to appoint 2nd chair. Hearing for both cases on 7/24/20. 7/24/20 Update: Next Set trial date hearing on 7/17/21. 7/17/21 Update: Next trial set to begin on 1/21/22.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Friday, January 14th:
*Sentencing Hearing-POSTPONED! (@ 9am MT) – MT – James Alexander Hurley (12) (found Feb. 3, 2020 deceased in living room, West Yellowstone) - for *James Danny Sasser, Jr. (47/now 49) (paternal grandfather) arrested (2/12/20), charged (2/13/20) & arraigned (3/6/20) with 1 count of felony deliberate homicide, 1 count of criminal child endangerment & 1 count of tampering with witnesses & informants. $500K bond.
Trial was set to begin on 3/29/21 was rescheduled to 9/20/21 has been vacated as Sasser plead guilty on 8/6/21.
Court info from 2/13/20 thru 7/31/21 reference post #23 here:
MT - James Hurley, 12, tortured to death, W. Yellowstone, Feb 2020 grandparents & uncle arrested #2
8/6/21 Update: James Sasser Jr. plead guilty to 3 felony charges & admitted to felony deliberate homicide in the murder of James & also plead guilty to tampering with a witness & criminal child endangerment. During the plea change hearing, which lasted less than half an hour, Sasser Jr. admitted under oath that Hurley’s death was “the result of an aggravated assault by James III,” as phrased by his lawyer Colin M. Stephens. Prior to Sasser pleading guilty, Gallatin County District Court Judge John Brown asked him if he understood the gravity of the admitting guilt." Prosecutors Bjorn E. Boyer & Marty Lambert recommended in the plea agreement that Sasser be sentenced to 100 years in the Montana state prison for the deliberate homicide charge with none suspended, 10 years in the Montana prison for the criminal child endangerment charge with none suspended & 10 years in the Montana state prison with none suspended for tampering with witnesses. State agrees that the sentences run concurrently. Sasser Jr.’s sentencing for his involvement in Hurley’s death is scheduled for 9am on Tuesday, 11/9/21. Judge John Brown scheduled a full day for the sentencing.
11/9/21 Update: Sentencing hearing was rescheduled on 1/14/22.
1/14/22 Update: 1/14/22 Update: Sasser Jr. listened via video call as the mother of James Alex gave a victim’s statement during what was meant to be Sasser Jr.’s sentencing hearing at the Law & Justice Center on 1/14/22. Sasser Jr.’s sentencing was postponed because he tested positive for COVID-19 the day before & could not be physically present for the hearing. Because Davis was already en route to Bozeman, Judge Brown began the sentencing hearing Friday morning & sent the court into recess after Davis testified. The court is scheduled to reconvene for the remainder of the sentencing hearing on 2/15/22 at 9am.
*Patricia “Trish” Lynn Batts – last was pretrial hearing on 6/11/21. Jury selection on 5/31/22 & trial to begin on 6/1/22. No update as of 1/14/22.
*James Danny Sasser III (14/now 15) - 10/29/20: Judge Brown handed down a sentence that requires the teen to be detained at a juvenile detention facility until he turns 18. After his release, he will be on probation until he turns 25. The 15-year-old will not be registered as a violent offender.
*Gage Anthony Roush (18/now 19) - 11/18/20: Per peal deal Roush was given a 5 year deferred sentence for assaulting James.
*Madison Sasser (18/now 19) - 1/29/21: Per plea agreement Madison was sentenced to youth probation with the Montana Dept. of Corrections until she turns 21. After that she’ll be on adult probation until she turns 25. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the felony negligent homicide charge against her.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, January 17th:
*Trial set to begin-CANCELLED! (@ 9am CT) – IN – Mercedes Christine Lynn Lain (11 mos.) (last seen Aug. 14, 2021, reported missing Aug. 15, 2021, Silver Alert on Aug. 16, 2021, found deceased on Aug. 18, 2021 in Starke County, Miller led LE to scene) – for *Justin Lee Miller (37) - charged (8/30/21) & arraigned (9/3/21) with murder. Plead not guilty. $500K Cash bond. Starke County
Trial was set to begin on 12/6/21 changed to 1/17/22. Miller plead guilty (12/20/21). Back up trial on 2/14/22.
Case info from 8/14/21 to 12/20/21 reference post #488 here:
Found Deceased - IN - Mercedes Lain, 11 mos, extreme danger Plymouth, 12 Aug 2021 *3 Arrests, includes parents*
12/20/21 Update: Miller says he was really high on synthetic weed & takes thorazine for mental problems & hit the baby when she started crying because of a fight with girlfriend. Miller said he “backhanded” the child in the face to try & keep her quiet & that her head hit the wall. Mercedes was next given a bottle which calmed her down, but only until the argument later reignited. That’s when Miller said he smacked the child again & that she went back down. Miller said he awoke later that day and discovered the child was not moving. Plead guilty to plea agreement. The plea agreement leaves sentencing to the discretion of the court. Miller’s guilty plea was taken under advisement by Starke County Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall. The plea deal provides no leniency. Miller would receive the same possible punishment by pleading guilty as he would if convicted at trial (45 to 65 years). The judge still has to accept or reject the plea. This will be done at the sentencing hearing which is scheduled for 1/18/22.
12/30/21: Motion to pay for deposition at public expense filed by Justin Miller. 1/7/21: Filed by State: Victim impact statement-Lain. Discovery Notice of Compliance. Document filed re overall locations. Autopsy report filed. Autopsy photos, Scene 1A, 1B & 2. Mishawaka photos filed. 1/10/22: Pre-sentence investigation report filed. PSI filed together with certificate of service. 1/11/22: Lab results-Latex glove & DNA reports clothing filed by State. Trial on 1/17/22 with back up date of 2/14/22.
1/14/22 Update: Jury trial scheduled on 1/17/22 has been cancelled. Judge has accepted Miller's guilty plea. Sentencing hearing on 1/18/22 @ 10am.
*Charged (8/19/21) & arraigned (8/24/21) with felony neglect of a dependent resulting in death. $100K bond. Plead not guilty. Marshall County
9/7/21: Marshall County: Order Granting Motion to Dismiss.
*Tiffany Jo Coburn (32/now 33) “mom” & Kenneth Robert Lain (41/now 42) “father” – for both: Plea agreement hearing on 1/20/22. Marshall County

 

[Niner]

Update!

Tuesday, January 18th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 10am CT) – IN – Mercedes Christine Lynn Lain (11 mos.) (last seen Aug. 14, 2021, reported missing Aug. 15, 2021, Silver Alert on Aug. 16, 2021, found deceased on Aug. 18, 2021 in Starke County, Miller led LE to scene) – for *Justin Lee Miller (37) - charged (8/30/21) & arraigned (9/3/21) with murder. Plead not guilty. $500K Cash bond. Starke County
Trial was set to begin on 12/6/21 changed to 1/17/22 & vacated, Miller plead guilty (12/20/21).
Case info from 8/14/21 to 1/11/22 reference post #529 here:
Found Deceased - IN - Mercedes Lain, 11 mos, extreme danger Plymouth, 12 Aug 2021 *3 Arrests, includes parents*
1/14/22 Update: Jury trial scheduled on 1/17/22 has been cancelled. Judge has accepted Miller's guilty plea. Sentencing hearing on 1/18/22 @ 10am.
1/18/22 Update: The court heard evidence from the prosecution, including testimony from the officer who found Mercedes' body and recovered it. Detective Ben McIntyre of the Plymouth PD, an FBI Agent from the South Bend field office who was with Miller when he showed him where he buried Mercedes. Miller's wife too the stand & testified on his behalf. Mercedes' grandmother Angela Owen gave her victim impact statement. Prosecution presented her arguments & asked for a sentence of 65 years. When explaining sentencing, Judge Hall called Miller’s crime, “horrendous, unspeakable, hard to comprehend.” Judge Hall did accept the plea agreement. When determining his sentence, the judge considered aggravating factors of the significant number of bruises on her body, Miller’s criminal history, the age of the victim & the fact he had custody or control of the victim. The judge accepted mitigating factors of the fact Miller pleaded guilty & resolved the case quickly & waived his right to appeal, cooperated & led police to Mercedes’ body. However, he said the mitigating factors, "weigh precious little." Miller was then sentenced to the maximum of 65 years in prison with none suspended.
*Charged (8/19/21) & arraigned (8/24/21) with felony neglect of a dependent resulting in death. $100K bond. Plead not guilty. Marshall County
9/7/21: Marshall County: Order Granting Motion to Dismiss.
*Tiffany Jo Coburn (32/now 33) “mom” & Kenneth Robert Lain (41/now 42) “father” – for Coburn: status conference hearing on 1/20/22 & Lain: Plea agreement hearing on 1/20/22. Marshall County

 

[Niner]

Update! Unexpected hearing.

Tuesday, January 18th:
*Plea Hearing (@ 9:30am ET) - PA – Nichole Pumphrey (31), her daughter, Ameriah Emery (10) & Lawrence Cannon (31) possibly BF (Oct. 16, 2018, New Castle) – for *Anthony Lavon “Mook” Cooper, Jr. (19/now 22) arrested (10/29/18), charged (10/19/18) & arraigned (11/13/18) with 3 counts of criminal homicide, 3 counts of criminal conspiracy, 1 count of attempted murder & 1 count of carrying firearms without a license. Plead not guilty. Bail denied.
Trial was set to begin on 11/18/21 continued to 1/18/22 & continued to 3/7/22 was cancelled as Cooper plead guilty on 1/18/22 & sentencing to 15 to 30 years in prison.
Court info from 12/7/20 thru 10/4/21 reference post #303 here:
PA - Three bodies found in New Castle Home, 16 Oct 2018 *Arrests*
11/1/21 Monday, Judicial Call Day 1: Could be jury selection. Trial is set begin on 11/15/21. 11/5/21 Update: Trial has been rescheduled. Next Judicial Call of Trial hearing on 1/3/22 @ 1:30pm & trial set to begin on 1/18/22 @ 9am. The Judicial call of trial was rescheduled to 3/7/22. Next omnibus pretrial motions hearing on 2/9/22.
1/18/22 Update: Anthony Cooper, was to have stood trial this week, but as potential jury members arrived for court early Tuesday, Cooper agreed to an offer from the Lawrence County DA’s office. He plead guilty to 2 counts of third-degree murder. A third murder charge was dismissed as a result of the plea bargain. President Judge Dominick Motto, after hearing impact statements from Williams & two of Pumphrey’s family members, sentenced Cooper to 15 to 30 years in a state correctional institution. Part of the plea agreement is that Cooper must cooperate with the commonwealth, according to DA Joshua Lamancusa, who prosecuted the case. Procopio remains in the Lawrence County jail without bond, awaiting trial, which Lamancusa anticipates will be in the fall. Meanwhile, an evidentiary hearing is scheduled in court for 9:30am on 2/9/22. “The commonwealth is not willing to offer immunity or to broker a (plea) deal with Steven Procopio, because of his alleged involvement with the killing of a 10-year-old child,” Lamancusa said.
*Steven Procopio (19/now 20) – Next omnibus pretrial motions hearing reset to 2/9/22. Trial is now set to begin on 3/7/22.
*Jody Lynn Hammer - 4/1/19: All charges are dismissed.

 

[Niner]

Update - unexpected plea!!

Wednesday, January 19th:
*Pretrial & Status Hearing (@ 1:30pm CT) – OK – Khal-el Ezrin Alyxander Clark (2) (July 16, 2018, Okmulgee) – *Brenda Nicole Clark (26/now 29) step-mom arrested & charged (7/16/18) & arraigned (8/23/18) with felony child abuse with injury & felony child neglect. Plead not guilty. $100K bond was reduced (9/20/18) to $30K.
Admitted abusing child.
Trial set to begin on 9/17/21 with jury selection. Trial was to begin on 9/20/21 cancelled, no further dates.
Court info from 8/23/18 thru 9/23/21 reference post #82 here:
OK - Khal-el Ezrin Alyxander Clark, 2, murdered, Okmulgee County, 16 Jul 2018 *stepmom arrested*
11/5/21 Update: Waiver of jury trial. Next pretrial & status hearing on 1/19/22.
1/19/22 Update: Defendant plead guilty to all counts. Judge sentenced her to 30 years in prison for each count to run concurrently & probation of 2 years.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Thursday, January 20th:
*Trial set to begin for both-CONTINUED! (@ 9am PT) – CA – Diego Villa Torralba (newborn-12 hours old) (July 19, 2019, Oxnard; strangled after birth) - *Andrea Torralba Comacho (20/now 22) ”mom” arrested (7/19/19), charged (7/23/19) & arraigned (9/30/19) & re-arraigned (10/7/21) with murder & assault on a child by means of force resulting in death. Plead not guilty. Was $1M bond, changed (9/30/19) to $5M.
*Diego Villa Torralba aka David Luna Villa (21/now 23) “father” arrested (7/19/19), charged (7/23/19) & arraigned (9/30/19) & re-arraigned (10/7/21) with murder & assault on a child by means of force resulting in death. Plead not guilty. $5M bond.
Trial was set to begin on 1/20/22 continued to 3/10/22.
Court info from 7/19/19 thru 10/7/21 reference post #113 here:
CA - Diego Villa-Torralba, newborn, strangled in hospital after birth, Oxnard, 19 July 2019 *Arrests
1/20/22 Thursday: trial was vacated, will now begin on 3/10/22.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Friday, January 21st:
*Trial set to begin-CONTINUED! (for both cases) (@ CT) – TX – Infant (4 mos.) (July 12, 2018, San Antonio) – *Terrence Wayne Harper (30/now 33) arrested & charged (7/16/18), indicted (12/18/18) & arraigned (12/21/18) with causing serious injuries to a child (son). Plead not guilty. $150K bond, released.
Infant (5 mos.) (Mar. 12, 2012, San Antonio) – Rearrested & charged (12/19/18), indicted (12/17/18) & arraigned (12/21/18) with capital murder of a child under 10. Plead not guilty. $500K bond.
Trial was set to begin on 1/21/22 was continued to 2/4/22.
Court info from 1/23/19 thru 7/17/21 reference post #70 here:
TX - Man accused of 2018 infant beating now charged w/ murder in 2012 baby death, Bexar Co, Dec 2018
1/21/22 Update: Trial has been continued to 2/4/22.

 

[Niner]

For the week of Monday, January 24th thru Friday, January 28th:

Monday, January 24th:
*Trial set to begin (@ am CT) – TX – King Jay Davila (8 mos.) (reported missing Jan. 4, 2019, San Antonio; found Jan. 10, 2019 in a field wrapped in a blanket inside of a black backpack) – for *Beatrice Sampayo Davila (65/now 67) arrested & charged (1/10/19) & arraigned (4/5/19) with 3rd degree tampering with evidence. Plead not guilty. $250K bond reduced (2/8/19) to $50K. Released (2/10/19) with ankle monitor. Removal of ankle monitor on 7/6/21.
Trial was set to begin on 11/15/21 continued to 1/24/22.
Info & court hearings from 1/10/19 thru 10/17/21 reference post #105 here:
GUILTY - TX - King Jay Davila, 8 months, taken from the car, murdered, San Antonio, 4 Jan 2019 *Arrests* #2
10/17/21 Update: Article says trial is supposed to begin 11/15/21. 10/26/21 Update: Awaiting psych evaluation. Order psych evaluation-granted. Motion/Order for complete evaluation forwarded to Mag. Court.
11/15/21 Update: awaiting trial hearing. Trial was continued with no further dates. Waiting psych evaluation. 11/16/21 Update: Bond notice email for setting. Attorney notice email for setting. Next trial set to begin on 1/24/22.
*Angie Torres (45/now 47) – Plead guilty (10/15/21) & sentenced to 8 years in prison.
*Christopher Sampayo Davila (34/now 37) “father” – Found guilty (6/29/21) & sentenced to 40 years in prison.

*Trial begins (Day 1) (@ am CT) –MN - *Federal Grand Jury indicted & charged (5/7/21) & arraigned (9/14/21) Tou Thao (34/now 36) & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) for violated Floyd’s civil rights. Charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure, alleging they willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury to & the death of Mr. Floyd & failure to provide Floyd with medical care. Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38) is charged with failure to provide Floyd with medical care. All released on $25K unsecured bonds. All plead not guilty on 9/14/21.
Trial began on 1/20/22 with jury selection. Jurors were selected. 12 jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 3 men & 3 women. Trial will begin on 1/24/22 with opening statements.
Info on indictment of 5/7/21 & court info from 5/15/21 thru 1/12/22 & Jury Selection (1/20/22) reference post #104 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21
1/21/22 Update: A closed hearing was canceled Friday after prosecutors & the media objected, the second time in just days that access to the proceedings became an issue. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson scheduled the conference on the admissibility of some evidence that attorneys for Thao, Kueng & Lane sought to block. After prosecutors & news media objected, Magnuson canceled the hearing & met with attorneys in chambers instead. No details of the meeting were immediately released. The original hearing was set to deal with defense motions to exclude certain evidence, including still images from videos the day of Floyd’s death; side-by-side exhibits that will play two videos at once; and dispatch & 911 calls, according to a filing late Thursday from prosecutors objecting to Friday's closure. Trial starts on Monday, 1/24/22 with opening statements.
MN (State case) – George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody) – Tou Thao (34/now 36), Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38), & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) - Trial set to begin on 6/13/22.
Bond conditions & court info from 6/3/20 to 8/17/21 reference post #979 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20

*Trial continues (Day 8) (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22. (will last about 4 to 7 weeks). Jurors: 10 women & 6 men (includes 4 alternates).
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 & Trial Days 1/10 to 1/18/22 (Day 1-4) reference post #214 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
1/19/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 5: No info available. Docket for 1/19/22: Letter to Judge Temple re: Media access to trial proceedings & documents. Trial continues on 1/20/22.
1/18/22: Unopposed expedited Motion to Intervene filed by press (Motion #29). Entry of appearance: D. John McKay on behalf of Press (non-part participant). Motion for expedited consideration of Press Motion to Intervene (Motion #30). Orde:r granting Motion #29.
1/20/22 Thursday, Trial Day 6: No info available. Trial continues on 1/21/22.
1/21/22 Friday, Trial Day 7: No info available. Trial continues on Monday, 1/24/22.


Wednesday, January 26th:
*Plea Hearing (@ 9am) - CA – Quee Choo Lim (QC) Chadwick (46) (Oct. 10, 2012, Newport Beach; found Oct. 19, 2012) – *Peter Gregory Chadwick (48/now 57) arrested & charged (10/11/12) & arraigned (10/15/12) & re-arraigned (12/10/21) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $1M bond. Is/was free on bond. After capture (8/4/19) held without bond.
Court info from 12*/21/12 thru 12/10/21 reference post #124 here:
Found Deceased - CA - Quee Chadwick, 46, Newport Beach, 9 Oct 2012 *husband arrested in 2019*
1/14/22 Update: Chadwick was expected to plead guilty in the strangulation of his wife, Quee Choo. The motive, authorities said, was a dispute over a possible divorce & related financial issues. We are prepared to enter a plea,” Chadwick’s attorney, Robert M. Sanger said before Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Menninger. Attorneys then “discussed their ongoing negotiations with” Menninger, according to the documents. Probation Dept. officials were ordered to prepare a “pre-plea report” & not to “discuss the facts of the case with the defendant.” Chadwick, who had been expected to enter the plea on Friday, is in quarantine in jail, so the hearing was rescheduled for Thursday, 1/20/22.
1/20/22 Update: Plea hearing rescheduled on 1/26/22.


Thursday January 27th:
*Change of Plea Hearing (Federal) (@ 9am MT) - CO - *Francisco “Ponch” Ramirez (38) arrested & charged (12/16/20) & indicted (2/3/21) with 2 counts of possession of a firearm & ammunition by a prohibited person, 2 count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin & 2 counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. (Federal charges). Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Associated with Adre Barzos case.
Trial was set to begin on 1/24/22 was vacated Ramirez will plead guilty on 1/27/22.
Re affidavit & court info from 6/24/21 reference post #344 here:
CO - Adre ‘Psycho’ Baroz, 26, Wanted After Remains Of 3 Victims Found, Conejos Co, Nov 2020 *Arrest*
7/16/21: #49 Notice of attorney appearance Candyce C. Cline appearing for USA. Attorney Candyce C. Cline added to party USA. 8/24/21: #50 Minute Order by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 8/24/21 as to Francisco Ramirez. Due to another trial proceeding on 10/25/21, the trial preparation conference set for 10/22/21 at 1:30pm is re-set for 10/15/21 at 11:00am before Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer & the jury trial set for 10/25/21 is re-set for 10/18/21 at 8:00am before Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer for four days. 8/26/21: #51 Notice of conventional filing by USA as to Francisco Ramirez. #52 Conventionally Submitted Material: 2 Flash Drive re 48 Order on Motion to Continue by Plaintiff USA. 9/10/21: #53 Third Motion to Continue. Unopposed Motion To Exclude 90 Days From The Speedy Trial Act Computation by Francisco Ramirez. 9/14/21: #54 Notice of attorney appearance Jeffrey K. Graves appearing for USA. Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves added to party USA.
9/15/21: #55 Order by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 9/15/21, re: #53 defendants Unopposed Motion to Exclude 90 Days from the Speedy Trial Act Computation is GRANTED. Ordered that the Motion Hearing set for 10/8/21 at 8:30am is VACATED & will be RESET on 12/23/21 at 8:30am. Ordered that the Trial Preparation Conference currently scheduled for 10/15/21 at 11am as well as the trial, currently scheduled to begin on 10/18/21 at 8am, are VACATED. The Trial Preparation Conference will be rescheduled for 1/21/22 at 3:30pm & the trial is RESET for 1/24/22 at 8am for four days.
12/8/21: #56 Notice of disposition by Ramirez. #57 Order: by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer re Ramirez #56 Notice of disposition. Counsel shall jointly contact Chambers via conference call or email no later than 12/13/21 to schedule the change of plea hearing. 12/9/21: Order: by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 12/09/2021 as to Francisco Ramirez re 56 Notice of Disposition. A Change of Plea Hearing is set for 1/6/22 at 9:00am before Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer. The motion hearing set for 12/23/21, the trial preparation conference set for 1/21/22 & the jury trial set for 1/24/22 are VACATED. Counsel for the parties shall email a courtesy copy of all change of plea documents separately no later than 48 hours before the change of plea hearing. 12/17/21: #59 Order: by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 12/17/21 as to Ramirez. The Change of Plea hearing set for 1/6/22 at 9:00am is rescheduled for 1/27/22 at 9:00am before Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer.
1/5/22: #60 Order: by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer on 1/5/22 as to Ramirez. The Change of Plea hearing set for 1/27/22 at 9:00am before Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer will be conducted via video teleconference with defendant from jail facility: Clear Creek.

 

[Niner]

For the week of Monday, January 31st - see the rest of the week in February trials thread...

Monday, January 31st:
*Trial set to begin (@ 9:30am ET) – FL – Kameela Russell (41) (May 15, 2019, last see in driveway of Aunt’s house, found 5/25/19 in Snake Creek canal) - *Ernest Joseph Roberts (39/now 42) arrested (6/14/19), charged (6/13/19), indicted (7/17/19) & arraigned (7/18/19) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond. (5/18/20: bond denied due to COVID). DP Case.
Trial set to begin on 1/31/22.
Court info from 10/13/20 thru 5/10/21 reference post #157 here:
Found Deceased - FL - Kameela Russell, 41, Miami Gardens, 15 May 2019 *Arrest*
10/12/21 Update: Motion for continuance of trial-granted by court. Next trial hearing scheduled on 1/31/22 @ 9:30am. 1/3/22: 54 subpoenas issued. 1/4/22: Notice of taking 3 depositions. 1/21/22: Notice of taking deposition amended.
1/26/22: Motion to/for: authorization to transcribe depositions. Trial set to begin on 1/31/22.

*Trial set to begin for both (@ 9am CT) – OK – Bonnie Beth Lilly (3 yrs) (Jan. 3, 2018, Lawton; had 17 lb. tumor/cancer) - *Bonnie Beth Mills-Lilly (42/now 46) & *Henry Clarence Lilly III (49/now 53) arrested (1/4/18), charged (1/7/18) & arraigned (12/2/19) with 1st degree manslaughter & not providing medical care to child. Both plead not guilty. $60K bond each. Bonded out on 1/10/19.
Trial set to begin on 1/31/22.
Court hearings from 1/10/19 thru 9/7/21 reference post #111 here:
OK - Bonnie Beth Lilly, 3, dies from cancerous 17-pound tumor, Comanche County, 3 Jan 2019 *Arrest*
9/10/21 Update: Trial has been cancelled for 9/27/21. Next Sounding docket hearing on 1/7/22 @ 9am, pretrial conference hearing on 1/18/22 @ 9:30am & trial set to begin on 1/31/22 @ 9am. 1/7/22 Update: Next pretrial conference hearing on 1/18/22.
1/18/22 Update: Next trial set to begin on 1/31/22.

*Trial set to begin (@ 8:30am PT) – CA – William Tillett (11) (May 24, 1990, Inglewood, kidnapped & murdered) - *Edward Donell Thomas (22 @ time of crime/50/now 52) arrested (2/14/19), charged (2/20/19) & arraigned (10/7/19) with 1 count of murder during commission of a kidnapping & lying in wait & 1 count of a felon in possession of a firearm. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
DNA link.
Trial set to begin on 1/31/22.
Court info from 2/20/19 thru 1/4/22 reference post #67 here:
CA - William Tillett, 11, kidnapped and murdered, Inglewood, 24 May 1990 *Arrest in 2019*
1/10/22 Update::Trial was cancelled. Next readiness hearing on 1/27/22 & trial set to begin on 1/31/22.
1/27/22 Update: Next trial set to begin on 1/31/22.

*Trial continues (Day 6) (@ 9:30am CT) –MN - *Federal Grand Jury indicted & charged (5/7/21) & arraigned (9/14/21) Tou Thao (34/now 36) & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) for violated Floyd’s civil rights. Charged with violating Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure, alleging they willfully failed to intervene to stop Chauvin’s unreasonable force, resulting in bodily injury to & the death of Mr. Floyd & failure to provide Floyd with medical care. Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38) is charged with failure to provide Floyd with medical care. All released on $25K unsecured bonds. All plead not guilty on 9/14/21.
Trial began on 1/20/22 with jury selection. Jurors were selected. 12 jurors: 5 men & 7 women & alternates: 3 men & 3 women. Trial began on 1/24/22 with opening statements.
Info on indictment of 5/7/21 & court info from 5/15/21 thru 1/21/22 & Jury Selection (1/20/22) & trial (Days 1-4) 1/24/22 to 1/27/22 reference post #155 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
1/28/22 Friday, Trial Day 5: Government witnesses: Inspector Katie Blackwell is back on the stand.
for more info see posts #158 & & 159 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Inspector Katie Blackwell continued.
For more info see post #161 here:
MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #21 *officers trial*
Court is done for the day, and will start up at 9:30 a.m. Monday, 1/31/22.
MN (State case) – George Perry Floyd, Jr. (46) (May 25, 2020, Minneapolis, arrested for forgery & killed in police custody) – Tou Thao (34/now 36), Thomas Kiernan Lane (37/now 38), & J. Alexander Kueng (26/now 28) - Trial set to begin on 6/13/22.
Bond conditions & court info from 6/3/20 to 8/17/21 reference post #979 here:
GUILTY - MN - George Floyd, 46, killed in police custody, Minneapolis, 25 May 2020 #20

*Trial continues (Day 13) (@ 8:30am AKST) – AK – Sophie Sergie (20) (April 26, 1993, Fairbanks) - *Steven Harris Downs (18 @ time of crime/44/now 46) arrested (in Auburn, Maine), charged (2/15/19), indicted (3/14/19) & arraigned (8/6/19 & 8/14/19) with 1st degree intentional murder & 1st degree sexual assault. Plead not guilty. Held without bond, changed to $1M (8/6/19). Bond changed (8/16/19) to $550K.
DNA GEDMatch/Parabon Nanolabs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)). The Downs case may be the first real test of the limits of DNA forensics in criminal prosecutions — that this case may even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trial began on 1/10/22. (will last about 4 to 7 weeks). Jurors: 10 women & 6 men (includes 4 alternates).
Court information from 2/19/19 thru 1/5/22 & Trial Days 1/10 to 1/24/22 (Day 1-8) reference post #233 here:
AK - Sophie Sergie, 20, UAF student, murdered, Fairbanks, 26 April 1993 *Arrest in 2019*
1/25/22 Tuesday: Trial Day 9: State witnesses: Jim McCann, the lead investigator of the case. Katherine deSchweinitz Lee, Down's college girlfriend. No other info available. Trial continues on 1/26/22.
1/26/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 10: State witnesses: No info available. Trial continues on 1/27/22.
1/27/21 Thursday, Trial Day 11: State witnesses: Hayne Hamilton, retired forensic serologist. She had created & examined slides from the crime scene & the autopsy of Sergie that contained bodily fluids that were preserved as evidence. Another witness who had been a crime lab worker 1993 testified Thursday that pubic hairs were recovered from the crime scene that came from a Caucasian person, but were never tested for DNA. The worker said a microscopic analysis of those hairs likely couldn't be matched to pubic hairs from the same person taken today. No other info available. Trial continues on 1/28/22.
1/28/22 Friday, Trial Day 12: State witnesses: Bleu Roesbury, friend of Downs during college via teleconference. No other info available. 1/28/22: Letter to Judge Temp re media access to trial proceedings & documents. Motion of additional Press intervenor. Trial continues on Monday, 1/31/22.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, January 10th:
*Trial set to begin -CONTINUED! (@ am ET) – NJ – Daniel Griner, Jr. (23 mos.) (reported missing @ 6:30pm Feb. 8, 2019, Bridgeton; found 2/9/19 @ 3am buried in yard, burned & dismembered in her purse) - *Nakira Monae Griner (24/now 27) arrested & charged (2/9/19) & indicted (6/19/19) & arraigned (10/7/19) with 1st degree murder, 2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child, 2nd degree desecration of human remains, 4th degree tampering with evidence & 2nd degree false public alarm. Plead not guilty. No bond.
Said beat toddler for not eating & not listening to her. Died from blunt force trauma & multiply bone fractures.
Trial was set to begin on 1/10/22 rescheduled on 3/14/22.
Court hearings from 2/14/19 thru 10/8/21 reference post #201 here:
NJ - Daniel Griner Jr., 23 mos, dismembered, Bridgeton, Cumberland County, 8 Feb 2019 *Arrest*
1/10/22 Update: Trial was continued to 3/14/22.

 

[Niner]

Update!

Monday, January 31st:
*Trial set to begin -Continued! (@ 8:30am PT) – CA – William Tillett (11) (May 24, 1990, Inglewood, kidnapped & murdered) - *Edward Donell Thomas (22 @ time of crime/50/now 52) arrested (2/14/19), charged (2/20/19) & arraigned (10/7/19) with 1 count of murder during commission of a kidnapping & lying in wait & 1 count of a felon in possession of a firearm. Plead not guilty. Held without bond.
DNA link.
Trial was set to begin on 1/31/22 rescheduled on 2/28/22.
Court info from 2/20/19 thru 1/4/22 reference post #72 here:
CA - William Tillett, 11, kidnapped and murdered, Inglewood, 24 May 1990 *Arrest in 2019*
1/31/22 Update: Trial has been continued. Next readiness hearing on 2/22/22 & trial will now begin on 2/28/22.