
Texas grand jury declines to indict federal agent over fatal immigration shooting
A Texas grand jury declined to indict a federal immigration agent in the fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen, last year.
All articles tagged with #grand jury

A Texas grand jury declined to indict a federal immigration agent in the fatal shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen, last year.

Attorneys for Sean M. Higgins, charged in the 2024 deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, filed a motion to dismiss the charges, arguing the grand jury was given improper BAC evidence. Higgins’ BAC was cited as 0.087%, but defense contends the reading from plasma shows 0.075% (below the legal limit), and asks the court to throw out the charges on that basis. The indictment includes two counts of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, two counts of second-degree reckless vehicular homicide, tampering with evidence, and leaving the scene. A previous motion to dismiss was denied, and Higgins’ next court date is April 14. The Gaudreaus were killed while bicycling in New Jersey in Aug. 2024, an incident that has drawn attention in part due to Johnny Gaudreau’s NHL fame and subsequent Olympic tributes to the brothers.

A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. unanimously rejected Jeanine Pirro's bid to indict six Democratic lawmakers over a social-video urging service members to disobey unlawful orders, effectively halting the case in that district; the development fuels debate over DOJ independence and political interference, with the possibility of pursuing charges in another district still open.

The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers launched an online, state-by-state tracker that maps controversial or failed DOJ prosecutions in the first year of Trump's second term, highlighting grand jury rejections and other cases to help defense lawyers monitor nationwide trends and access key filings.

Sen. Mark Kelly’s attorney urged the DOJ not to seek a second indictment against six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video telling service members they can refuse illegal orders, arguing there’s no factual or legal basis for retrying and citing First Amendment protections plus a federal judge’s ruling against penalizing Kelly; the first DOJ attempt in February produced no indictment due to lack of probable cause.

A New Mexico grand jury indicted actor Timothy Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a child, related to alleged on-set abuse of two boys during the filming of The Cleaning Lady between 2022 and 2024. Busfield, who was previously arrested on related charges, is presumed innocent and the case will proceed in court, with prosecutors handled by the special victims unit. His lawyers say the indictment is unsound and part of a revenge plot by the boys’ parents; Busfield was released on his own recognizance after a prior detention hearing, and an independent Warner Bros. probe found no corroboration of the abuse allegations.

Prosecutors in New Mexico have indicted Timothy Busfield on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor connected to a child actor on The Cleaning Lady; Busfield denies the charges and says he will fight them in court. The indictment follows a grand jury review of the case and cites medical and psychological records, while the defense points to audio in which the boys say no inappropriate contact occurred. Busfield turned himself in January 13 and was released with restrictions; no trial date has been set.

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles after a grand jury was empaneled; FBI and Homeland Security Investigations were involved and charges have not yet been disclosed. Lemon’s lawyer Abbe Lowell said the arrest contrasts with his journalism and affirmed he will vigorously fight the charges, noting the First Amendment protects journalists. He was in LA covering the Grammy Awards weekend at the time.

Franklin County grand jury indicted ex-husband Michael McKee on four counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated burglary in the December deaths of Spencer and Monique Tepe in Weinland Park; firearm specifications apply. McKee previously faced two counts of premeditated aggravated murder and faces a potential life sentence with parole eligibility after 32 years if convicted. He was arrested January 10 in Illinois and will be extradited to Ohio for arraignment.

Singer D4vd is likely to be indicted by a grand jury for the murder of Celeste Rivas, with authorities believing his involvement. The grand jury, which will vote on the indictment, has been hearing witnesses, and the process may take some time, possibly hearing witnesses in February.

A grand jury declined to indict Jacob Lee Bard, the father involved in a campus shooting at Kentucky State University that resulted in one death and injuries, citing self-defense amid ongoing threats and violence against his family. The university emphasizes continued focus on student safety despite the legal decision.

Newly released documents reveal how Ghislaine Maxwell used psychological tactics to groom teen victims for Jeffrey Epstein, with detailed accounts of her normalization of abusive behavior and grooming strategies, as part of ongoing legal proceedings and public scrutiny.

A federal judge in Virginia ordered prosecutors to produce grand jury materials and seized evidence in the case against former FBI Director James Comey, citing concerns over the Justice Department's approach of 'indict first, investigate later,' and highlighting procedural irregularities in the investigation.

A federal judge ordered prosecutors to produce investigation materials to James Comey's defense, citing concerns over the Justice Department's approach of 'indict first, investigate later' in his case for allegedly lying to Congress. The case involves sensitive evidence and questions about procedural irregularities, with Comey's lawyers seeking transparency and review of seized materials. The case is politically charged, linked to former President Trump's social media influence and ongoing investigations.

A federal judge in Alexandria ordered prosecutors to produce materials from the investigation into James Comey, citing concerns that the Justice Department had prioritized indictment over investigation, and highlighting irregularities in the case process. The judge also granted Comey's defense access to seized evidence, emphasizing procedural fairness in the ongoing case.