All articles tagged with #crime and courts
Shannon O’Connor, known as the Los Gatos 'party mom,' was found guilty on 48 of 63 charges related to hosting alcohol-fueled teen parties and pressuring underage girls to have sex with boys she intoxicated; prosecutors say the incidents endangered youths aged roughly 13–15, and she could receive at least 30 years in prison with further factors to be considered; sentencing is set for March 26.
Federal agents executed search warrants at Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s home and district headquarters, with a related search at a Miami property, as part of a federal investigation the FBI did not detail; authorities did not comment, and the report notes Carvalho’s prior Miami-Dade scrutiny over donations to a foundation he oversees.
A Sacramento man convicted in 1999 of kidnapping and molesting eight children—luring them with candy and toys—has been granted elderly parole and will be released from the California Institution for Men in Chino, provoking anger from victims and the prosecutor who oversaw the case. Despite a sentence of 20 years plus three consecutive 25‑to‑life terms, the parole board deemed him suitable under California’s elderly parole rules, and the decision was upheld on review. Critics question how the program applies to him, with one survivor calling the parole a disservice to Californians. Prosecutors and advocates have urged screening him as a sexually violent predator, though CDCR did not comment on the release date or rationale.
Crystal Hefner and attorney Gloria Allred allege the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation holds thousands of personal scrapbooks and diaries with nude images and intimate sexual details — potentially including images of underage girls — and they've filed complaints with California and Illinois attorneys general to block any distribution. Allred claims the material could be digitized or leaked, while Crystal says she was fired after raising concerns; the foundation has not commented publicly. This is presented as a civil rights concern about women’s bodies not being treated as collectibles.
A New Mexico grand jury indicted Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, alleging he touched two boy actors on the Fox series The Cleaning Lady. Busfield denies the charges and was released on his own recognizance as the case moves toward trial.
84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s mother, vanished from a Tucson-area home; investigators found blood at the scene and treat it as a possible kidnapping, with FBI help, a reward, and a tip line as they pursue leads.
An off-duty ICE officer who fatally shot Keith Porter Jr. on New Year’s Eve in Northridge is named in a custody filing as having allegedly whipped his sons with a belt and made racist and homophobic remarks; the agent’s lawyer denies the accusations. Federal officials say he acted in self-defense during an active-shooter response, while Porter’s supporters say the shooting may have been racially motivated. Previous DCFS/LAPD reviews found abuse allegations unfounded, and investigations by LAPD and the Justice System Integrity Division are ongoing. Public calls for the agent’s identity to be released and questions about motive remain unresolved.
Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield appeared in a New Mexico court on two felony counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, with prosecutors alleging a decades-long pattern of grooming and new accusations involving two child actors on the set of The Cleaning Lady; he remains jailed without bond ahead of a pretrial detention hearing.
Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield turned himself in to Albuquerque police in New Mexico after being charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse related to alleged abuse of two child actors on the Fox drama The Cleaning Lady; he denies the allegations, calling them lies, and says he will fight to clear his name as U.S. Marshals assist and studios cooperate.
A New Mexico arrest warrant accuses actor Timothy Busfield of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse, alleging he touched two underage brothers while directing on The Cleaning Lady. Albuquerque police, now working with the US Marshals Service to locate Busfield, are coordinating with investigators as Fox and Warner Bros. Television stress safety and cooperation. NBC has pulled an upcoming Law & Order: SVU episode featuring Busfield, which had been scheduled to air, while Busfield’s wife Melissa Gilbert has largely gone quiet on social media amid the allegations.
A U-Haul truck drove into a crowd of protesters outside the Wilshire Federal Building in Westwood during demonstrations against Iran’s government. The driver, Calor Madanescht, 48, was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving and held without bail; police said he was injured in the incident, though authorities later said no one reported being struck. The confrontation prompted a large police response, with FBI on scene and DOJ monitoring the investigation, while officials said the attack did not appear politically motivated. The rally drew up to about 3,000 people and led to temporary offramps closures as protesters dispersed; Mayor Bass urged peaceful demonstrations as the investigation continues.