Monitoring

Judge Grants Permission to Remove Home Monitoring Device for Nurse Accused of Forcing Abortion, Ignoring Victim’s Fears

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Puyallup, Washington — A Pierce County judge has granted permission for David Benjamin Coots, a licensed nurse practitioner accused of forcing an abortion on his former girlfriend, to remove his electronic home monitoring device. This decision comes despite a history of alleged court order violations by the defendant. D.H., the woman bringing the allegations, claims that on January 27, 2024, Coots acted aggressively during what she believed was consensual sex at her residence. At the time, she thought she might be pregnant and had communicated this with Coots, who is married to another woman. According … Read more

Oklahoma Prosecutor Suspended for Secret Monitoring of Jury During Murder Trial

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — A former assistant district attorney in Oklahoma has been handed a six-month suspension after he was found watching a live feed of jury deliberations in a high-profile murder case. The state’s highest court finalized the suspension of Isaac Seth Brantley Shields on March 25, following events that challenged the integrity of the courtroom. The incident, which took place on July 1, 2022, during the trial of Robert Kent Kraft of Chouteau, Oklahoma, involved Shields observing a jury as they deliberated over a case in which Kraft was accused of fatally stabbing … Read more

Family Seeks Justice: Lawsuit Claims Fatal Neglect in Monitoring Violent Offender in North Carolina Tragedy

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Two civil complaints have emerged, shedding light on a series of tragic incidents involving Ryan Ricky Houston that spanned multiple counties in Western North Carolina in August, ultimately resulting in his death and the deaths of two others. The legal action highlights serious allegations of neglect by various officials in Buncombe County, painting a troubling portrait of oversight failures. The plaint brought forth by the family of Malerie Crisp, Houston’s estranged girlfriend, targets Buncombe County, Houston’s estate, County Manager Avril Pinder, and other personnel previously associated with judicial services. The lawsuit particularly … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds Monitoring Rule for Maine Lobstermen, Rejects Privacy Concerns

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A federal judge in Maine has ruled in favor of a state regulation that mandates monitoring devices on the boats of federally permitted lobster fishermen, rejecting a lawsuit from a group of lobstermen who claimed the rule infringed their constitutional rights. The regulation, which has been in effect for over a year, aims to track the location of lobster boats at sea. The lawsuit was initiated by five lobstermen who argued that the requirement for monitors was a violation of their rights to privacy, equal protection, and due process. They contended that the installation of … Read more