Felony

Minnesota Considers Making Swatting Calls a Felony Offense Amid Rise in Fake School Shooting Reports

by

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Lawmakers in Minnesota are considering a proposal that would make swatting calls, a dangerous and wasteful act, a felony offense in the state. Swatting involves making a fake call to emergency services in order to elicit a response, often from a SWAT team, at another person’s house. The proposal, authored by Rep. Lisa Demuth, the GOP Minority Leader, aims to specifically target those who make swatting calls to the homes of elected officials, judges, prosecuting attorneys, correctional facility employees, or peace officers. Under current Minnesota law, it is already a crime … Read more

Yuma Man Facing Multiple Felony Charges After Allegedly Setting Apartment on Fire

by

YUMA, Ariz. – A Yuma man has been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly setting his apartment on fire. Agustin Vera, 44, appeared in court and now faces nine felony charges, including aggravated assault and endangerment. The indictment follows charges filed against him last month. Vera, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been provided representation from the public defender’s office. He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 8th for a case management conference, which will determine if he can be released provisionally during his court proceedings.

19-Year-Old Lawsuit Plaintiff Faces Felony Charges Following Violent Altercation with Normal Police

by

NORMAL, Ill. – A 19-year-old woman who filed a lawsuit against the Normal Police Department for an alleged violent encounter with officers last year is now facing felony charges herself. The woman, Taylor Brown, came forward with her federal lawsuit last March, accusing the department of violating her rights during their investigation of a fire at her apartment in February of the previous year. In a recent development, a McLean County Grand Jury indicted Brown on two counts of aggravated battery to a peace officer. The charges stem from an incident in which Brown is … Read more

Mississippi Ex-Republican Candidate Charged with Felony for Beheading Satanic Temple Statue in Iowa Capitol

by

DES MOINES, Iowa – A man who violently attacked and beheaded a controversial statue at Iowa’s Capitol has been charged with a hate crime, according to the Polk County Attorney’s Office. Former Mississippi state House candidate Michael Cassidy is now facing a felony charge under the state’s hate crime statutes for his destructive act of vandalism. Cassidy, a failed Republican candidate, is accused of destroying a permanent statue erected by the Satanic Temple at Iowa’s Capitol back in December. The Polk County Attorney’s Office stated that evidence proves Cassidy targeted the statue due to the … Read more