Decades

Historic Verdict: Blair County Man Sentenced to Over Two Decades for Human Trafficking and Rape of a Minor

by

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — In a landmark case for Blair County, a Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison following his conviction in the area’s first human trafficking jury trial. The decision was finalized in a local court on Friday, marking a significant moment in the county’s legal history. Donald Hetrick, 40, of Alexandria, received a sentence that could extend up to 47 years after being found guilty of multiple charges, including raping an unconscious 14-year-old girl. The incident, which occurred in 2021 at an Altoona motel room, led to … Read more

Innocence Prevails: Philadelphia Men Exonerated After Decades in Prison for Murder Case

by

Chester, Pennsylvania – In a major development, three Philadelphia-area men who had spent decades in prison for a 1997 murder had their convictions overturned last Thursday. Recent evidence proved that their DNA was absent from the crime scene where an elderly woman was brutally killed. The three men, Sam Grasty, Derrick Chappell, and Morton Johnson, had consistently maintained their innocence in the murder of Henrietta Nickens, a 70-year-old woman who was beaten to death and sexually assaulted in her Delaware County apartment. The exoneration came after years of legal efforts by the nonprofit Centurion, which … Read more

Gary Man Faces Decades Behind Bars for Fatal Shooting at 5th Avenue Gas Station

by

GARY, Ind. – A Gary man was found guilty on Wednesday for a fatal shooting at a gas station on 5th Avenue. Aaron Sawyer, 26, now faces a sentence of 45 to 65 years for the murder. Additionally, he is looking at another seven years for a firearms enhancement, according to his attorney, John Cantrell. The exact date for his sentencing has yet to be determined. Sawyer, identified as the gunman, was charged in connection with the shooting death of Dorell Townsend, 22, who was also from Gary, on May 31, 2020. Terry Horton, Sawyer’s … Read more

Former Members of Kingston Polygamist Sect File Federal Racketeering Lawsuit Alleging Decades of Trafficking and Abuse

by

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Ten former members of the Kingston polygamous sect have filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against the group, accusing them of engaging in human trafficking for many years under the guise of a religious community. The lawsuit, filed in Utah, names nearly 50 defendants, including prominent members of the Kingston family, the Davis County Cooperative Society, and Vanguard Academy, a public charter school affiliated with the sect. The complaint also lists 450 unidentified businesses that the sect allegedly operates. One of the defendants, Standard Restaurant Supply, a company based in South … Read more