New York

Published on: January 28, 2012

Man Held as Material Witness in Terrorism Trial Sues Former Attorney General

by Stephen Bilkis

A man held for 14 days in 2003 for alleged ties to a terror suspect has filed a lawsuit against a former Attorney General. The man claims that he was stopped at Dulles International airport in Virginia and taken to various places throughout Virginia, Oklahoma and Idaho for questioning. During these sessions, the man was grilled on various subjects including his religious beliefs, ties to terrorism groups inside and outside the United States and his relationship with the terror suspect police officials had in custody, reports a New York Criminal Lawyer. The man was eventually released and never had to appear as a material witness. The other man’s trial resulted in an acquittal in 2004.

The man, a U.S. citizen, converted to Islam while attending the University of Idaho. It was there that he struck up a friendship with the other man accused of terrorism. On that day in 2003, the man was on his way to Saudi Arabia to learn more about his religion, study the language and learn more about the culture when he was detained at the airport. The man currently lives in Saudi Arabia and is being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

This case will probably end up being heard in front of the Supreme Court. While most agree the court will side with the Attorney General, some believe the decision to do so will be a tough one. The man’s case rests on the fact that he was wrongfully detained as there was no evidence he was a part of any criminal activity or that he knew of any terror plots against the U.S., explains a New York Criminal Lawyer. The man also claims that law enforcement coerced him into answering questions because they told him he was to be a material witness during the other man’s trial.

Published on: January 28, 2012

Elementary School Principal Arrested

by Stephen Bilkis

An elementary school principal has been arrested for obstructing officers. The incident occurred Monday evening as police responded to a burglary call and was in the process of arresting the boyfriend of the principal’s daughter. At some point during the time that police were on the scene, the principal became loud and belligerent which led to the accumulation of a crowd outside. It was at that point that police say they had no other choice than to arrest the principal as her commotions were arousing the gathering crowd of onlookers. The principal’s daughter has stated that her mom was only questioning the officers and had done nothing wrong.

The day following the incident, the principal was noticeably absent from school, as the local school board had placed her on suspension with pay pending an investigation, which they say is standard procedure. The local parents and students were left wondering what happened and why should the incident have led to her being suspended from her job when she was apparently doing a good job with the children. Some other parents, however, are asking some different questions, such as how can a school principal lecture their children on anger management when she cannot control her own temper.

A New York Criminal Lawyer has also learned that the principal has had some controversy in the past that was a function of her job. The resulting investigation of the on-campus spanking was inconclusive.

Published on: January 28, 2012

Man Convicted of Killing 5-year Old Boy

by Stephen Bilkis

A man was convicted in Chicago of killing a young boy when he crashed his car into a tree. The boy was five-years old, reports a New York Criminal Lawyer. The incident occurred after the boy’s mother was arrested for driving with a suspended license. The police officer at the scene took the mother into custody, but allowed the man, who was under the influence, to drive the boy home. The man was sentenced to three to 14 years in prison.

The initial incident took place in the Chicago neighborhood. The boy was eventually killed not too far from where his mother was arrested.

Throughout the trial, the mother of the boy insisted that at the time of her arrest, she told the police officer at least three times that the man was drunk and that she was the designated driver. She claims that the officer ordered the man to drive the boy home and even threatened to arrest the man if he did not comply. The man’s blood-alcohol limit was twice the legal limit at the time of the accident. While driving, the man lost control of the car and slammed into a tree. The car then hit a fence and uprooted another tree, says a Manhattan Criminal Lawyer. The man claims he had no choice but to follow the police officers orders or face being arrested just like the mother.

Published on: January 28, 2012

Mother is arrested driving drunk in a school zone

by Stephen Bilkis

A mother was driving drunk in a school zone this last week in front of an elementary school. She was obviously under the influence after being seen crashing into a stop sign and then continuing to get in line at school in order to pick up her daughter from the elementary school according to a school crossing guard.

The Florida Highway Patrol responded to this accident as it was initially called in as a hit and run, explained a New York Criminal Lawyer. The school crossing guard actually recognized the woman and immediately called the school to notify them.

Of course all this happened at about 3:00 as students where being dismissed for the day from school. The Florida Highway Patrol found this lady waiting in line ready to pick up her daughter from the school as they responded to this call. At that time the police took her into custody and tested her blood alcohol level. She was well above the legal limit as she took the breath test. This mother tested at 2 ½ times the legal limit.

Published on: January 27, 2012

Teenager Charged in Hamster’s Death

by Stephen Bilkis

A 19-year old female has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which a felony that if convicted carries a maximum sentence of up to two years.

Before we continue, we must add that while some of the events contained in this article may seem bizarre, they are a factual representation of a true event that occurred within a large metropolitan city, and was first reported in one of its major newspapers. The names are being withheld due to privacy concerns of the parties.

It all began with the purchase of a hamster for the 19-year olds’ 9-year old brother. Her older brother, who is 25 and at the time was angered over something, had intentionally kicked the ball that the original hamster was in, which in turn threw the hamster from the ball. As a result of this action, the hamster died, the New York Criminal Lawyer was told.

Published on: January 27, 2012

Missing 10-year olds body found

by Stephen Bilkis

This was a really rough case for the local community and for all those involved in the search for a missing girl. The ten-year-old had lost her hearing and one leg as she fought bone cancer, said a New York Criminal Lawyer. Unfortunately, the girl was reported missing in October. It wasn’t until November that her body parts were found. Additionally, the police felt that the girl had been missing even before she was officially called in as a missing person.

The child’s stepmother was charged with murdering, abusing and desecrating her body. The police were unable to find the girl’s head despite a massive search over two different locations. There were indications of tool marks on the bones that were found, a fact that indicates the girl was dismembered after she was dead.

Based on evidence collected over the course of the investigation, the police were able to determine that the stepmother had consistently relied on verbal, physical and psychological abuse when interacting with her step-daughter, reported the New York Criminal Lawyer. Because the woman was in a position of trust, she was able to take advantage of that to kill the girl and then hide her body to delay detection and prosecution.

Published on: January 26, 2012

Baseball Player Threatened to Kill People Before DWI Arrest

by Stephen Bilkis

Just when you think you have heard the entire story, new information has been revealed that prior to a well known baseball player’s DWI arrest in February; he apparently had some choice words to say to some folks at a local restaurant.

The apparently intoxicated gentleman had stopped into a local restaurant at about 10:30pm when the manager told him that the restaurant was closing. He proceeded on into the restaurant when was informed by the manager again that the restaurant was closing. Was reported to have made repeated comments to the manager that he did not know who he was. A New York Criminal Lawyer was also told that he leaned into the manager’s face and said, “I know all of you, and I will kill all of you and blow this place up,” as he patted the side of his shoulder bag.

It was at this point that the manager instructed a bartender to call 911, and the off-duty wildlife officer who had been inside the restaurant speaking with his friend, the manager, stepped out to his vehicle to collect his badge and firearm. It was at this point that the baseball player exited the restaurant and sped away in his vehicle while continuing to shout obscenities at everyone within hearing distance. It was not long afterwards that the police arrived.

Published on: January 26, 2012

FBI Makes Arrest in MLK Bomb Case

by Stephen Bilkis

An FBI SWAT team executed a search warrant on Wednesday, and made one arrest connected with the case, reports the New York Criminal Lawyer. The arrest is a result of the so-called isolated event that occurred on Martin Luther King Day that involved a backpack that was reportedly filled with enough explosives to cause lethal damage to bystanders.

Arrested is a 36-year old, ex-soldier that allegedly has ties to a white-supremacist group. This is reportedly the same group that was founded by the author of “The Turner Diaries,” that was the focus of setting the guidelines for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. It is thus far unclear as to whether he is the only person of interest in this case.

The suspect has already been arraigned in U.S Federal Court, which he has waived his hearing for bail. The suspect could face life in prison if convicted of several felony offenses including of the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. A separate charge of possession of an unregistered explosive device could net the suspect another maximum sentence of 10-years in prison if convicted. His next scheduled court appearance is set for March 23.

Published on: January 25, 2012

Bank Robbers Arrested

by Stephen Bilkis

Two alleged bank robbers have been arrested, claimed a New York Criminal Lawyer. While police and FBI spokespeople have had few public comments yet, the two robbers are believed to be behind other recent bank robberies in a different district this month.

The arrests are part of a joint law enforcement investigation that included officers and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF), and officers from various state and local police departments. Both bank robberies had similar methods of operation (MO), that included what appeared to be a pipe bomb left at each location, that later proved to be fake.

The suspects are being called the ‘copycat robbers’ as they were copying a robber from another series of bank robberies that had occurred in the area that also used fake bombs while pulling off heists, a Queens Criminal Lawyer was told. The particular bandit the crime duo was mimicking was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison just last month for his crimes.

Published on: January 25, 2012

Brinks Truck Robbery Suspect Arrested

by Stephen Bilkis

Biloxi, MS, police have arrested an armed robbery suspect that is suspected of holding up a Brinks security guard on Wednesday, a New York Criminal Lawyer has learned. The suspect had confronted a Brinks’ guard who had just completed making a pickup at a local store, and at gunpoint demanded the guard to lie on the floor. The suspect took the Brinks bag and ran away.

Witnesses at the scene described the suspect’s vehicle to police and the suspect was soon spotted by a patrol officer who attempted to stop the vehicle. Following a brief pursuit along a local highway and city streets, the chase soon led into a local neighborhood, police discovered the suspect’s disabled vehicle abandoned with a flat tire. Officers and K-9’s took to the pursuit by foot through the neighborhood yards and the local wooded area. The suspect was taken into custody shortly thereafter without further incident.

As reported by the Stated Island Criminal Lawyer, this incident could have ended badly. When the suspect entered the local neighborhood, there were families and children who were watching as the events unfolded and many were reportedly frightened as they observed the suspect running through yards, and jumping over shrubbery and through fences. The officers on the scene did an excellent job in not only capturing an armed robbery suspect, but also in community relations as when the officers entered the neighborhood, they informed many of its residents to lock their doors and to stay away from the windows for safety’s sake. The residents have stated that they are very appreciative of not only the officers capturing the suspect, but to their rapid response to the scene.