Man pretending to be ICE agent allegedly handcuffed California construction workers, demanded ‘court fees’
EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. – Workers at a California construction site were reportedly robbed by a man who identified himself as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent before handcuffing them and demanding “court fees,” according to a sheriff’s office news release.
The man threatened the workers with deportation if they didn’t pay, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said. A similar incident happened a week earlier, according to the sheriff’s office.
The man was not an ICE agent or any officer of the law. Instead, investigators identified him as 56-year-old Patrick Mullany.
Detectives got a search warrant for Mullany’s Cameron Park vehicle and home, where he was arrested. During the search, law enforcement reportedly located two replica firearms, two sets of handcuffs and a large amount of cash.
Tuesday, KXTL stopped by the Cameron Park home associated with the name Patrick Mullany. Nobody answered the door, but some people eventually came to the home. They were very upset and said nobody living there knew anything about the case other than what was posted online by the sheriff’s office.
However, neighbors recognized Mullany’s mugshot. Those who spoke with reporters said didn’t know much more about him and that he usually kept to himself.
John Flores said he was surprised to see the heavy police presence Monday in the quiet neighborhood when Mullany was arrested.
The sheriff’s office did not respond to KXTL’s attempts to reach a public information officer for more details about the locations of the reported robberies and how investigators linked them to Mullany.
Mullany was booked into the El Dorado County Jail on suspicion of robbery, false imprisonment and impersonating a police officer; he may also face federal charges for impersonating an ICE officer.
Sacramento couple begs for return of baby’s ashes that were stolen during burglary
SACRAMENTO – A Sacramento couple, both of whom served in Afghanistan, came home from a vacation to find their apartment had been broken into – and a box containing their daughter’s ashes had been stolen.
“We were excited to come home. We wanted to relax,” Kelly Smith said. “We came home to this, and it was not relaxing.”
Kelly and Elliott Smith said it made them feel unwelcome in their own Pocket-area home.
“We first noticed that our TV was gone and I told him that we’ve been robbed. And we looked around and we noticed other things were gone too,” Kelly said.
Someone had smashed a hole in their back window to get inside sometime Sunday, stealing laptops, textbooks and virtual reality headsets.
“Worth six grand,” Kelly said. “We don’t care about any of that. We just want our daughter back.”
Among the items stolen was a small wooden box with two tiny, pink footprints containing their daughter’s ashes.
“Losing a child was the worst experience ever. I went through a deep depression and I just got through that,” Kelly said.
Their daughter, Enola, was born with a rare genetic condition.
“She was five months early and she was passed, deceased,” Kelly told KTXL. “I didn’t hold her when she came out. I didn’t want to, I was in too much pain. So, that’s all I have.”
Now, the Smiths are making flyers in hopes that someone will find the ashes and return them. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sacramento Police Department or the Smiths via email.
“They might not have even known that that was an urn,” she said.
They’re praying Enola’s ashes will be back in their living room soon, the only piece of their daughter they had left.
Texas Couple Who Admitted to Sexually Assaulting Children on Video Are Each Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison
A husband and wife from Killeen, Texas, were each sentenced to 60 years in federal prison Wednesday on charges related to child exploitation, according to the US Department of Justice.
Christopher Almaguer, 26, and his wife, 27-year-old Sarah Rashelle Almaguer, pleaded guilty in October to one charge of sexual exploitation of children and one count of production of child pornography.
“These are two of the most wicked criminals in Texas history,” John Bash, the United States attorney for the Western District of Texas, said in a statement.
The Justice Department had said the Almaguers admitted to uploading in December 2017 videos of the couple sexually assaulting children. Prosecutors believe there are at least 25 possible victims, ranging in age from 8 months to 14 years old.
US District Judge Alan Albright ordered each defendant to pay $10,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Fund and to be placed on supervised release for the remainder of their lives after completing their prison terms.
Bash called the Almaguers “serial child abusers” who preyed on “children from the neighborhood, children from church, children they babysat.”
Albright also sentenced Christopher Almaguer’s brother, Paul Perez Jr., to 20 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release, according to the federal prosecutor’s statement. The judge ordered the 25-year-old Perez to pay $10,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Fund.
Perez pleaded guilty in September to two counts of receipt of child pornography. Perez admitted to receiving images and videos depicting sexual abuse of children from the couple.
Before sentencing, Sarah Almaguer’s attorney, Bradford J. Glendening, said he would ask the judge to give his client concurrent sentences.
Robert Stem, attorney for Christopher Almaguer, wrote in an email that he had no comment on the case.
The investigation started in February 2018 with a tip from Facebook to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a user who was uploading suspected child pornography.
Family ‘horrified’ after pet dog found hanging from noose
An Arkansas family’s search for their missing pet led to a gruesome discovery when their children found the pooch hanging from a noose near their home, according to a report.
For days, Paula McNeil’s family held out hope as they searched for their beagle mix, Chevy, after he disappeared from their yard last Tuesday, according to news station KSFM.
Then her kids went searching in the woods behind their home two days later and found their beloved pup hanging from a tree.
“It’s frightening to think that there is somebody close by here that could do this to a dog,” McNeil said. “It’s very scary to think what’s in that person’s mind.”
McNeil said her children are “traumatized and horrified” over the dog’s death.
“It’s heinous. It’s pure evil, and whoever did this needs to be brought to justice,” McNeil said.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crime — and the owners are urging anyone with information to come forward.
“Think about it as if it was your dog and if it was your children that are traumatized and horrified, afraid for our other animals as well,” McNeil told the news station.
via: https://nypost.com/2019/04/24/family-horrified-after-pet-dog-found-hanging-from-noose/
Woman accused of cutting boyfriend’s throat, telling him to claim it was suicide
WAUKESHA, Wis. (WDJT ) — A Waukesha woman is charged after allegedly cutting her boyfriend’s throat and telling him to claim it was suicide.
Juanita Blair, 41, is charge with First Degree Reckless Injury, Identity Theft, and Misdemeanor Theft.
According to the criminal complaint, officers were called to an apartment on West Wisconsin Avenue in Pewaukee on April 2.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with a man who was laying in bed, holding a towel to his throat. The man allegedly told police he cut his throat and that he “tried to commit suicide.”
Officers located a great deal of blood throughout the apartment including a large amount of blood by a bathroom sink where a paring knife was located.
The man was rushed into emergency surgery and needed numerous stitches to repair a three-inch gash across his neck.
On April 9, the man came to the Village of Pewaukee Police Department and told officers that what happened to him on April 2 was not an accident or a suicide attempt.
The man told officers that Blair was going to shave his back when she asked for a knife. According to the criminal complaint, Blair then allegedly put the victim in a chokehold from behind and started to cut his neck with the knife.
Blair then allegedly told the victim to write a suicide note.
The victim told officers that he believes Blair suffers from mental illnesses.
The investigation revealed that Blair took the victim’s debit card and spare car key after.
Blair will have a hearing on April 24.
Man accused of killing baby after learning he’s not the dad
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police say a Tennessee man is accused of beating an infant to death after discovering that he wasn’t the child’s father.
Memphis police say 33-year-old Jose Avila-Agurcia is charged with murder in the death of 4-month-old Alexander Lizondro-Chacon.
News outlets cited an affidavit of complaint that says officers responded April 12 to a report of an unresponsive infant. The baby was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead from blunt force trauma to the head.
The affidavit says Avila-Agurcia became a suspect after the child’s mother, Mercy Lizondro-Chacon, told investigators that the man said he struck the baby multiple times in anger after learning he wasn’t the father.
Avila-Agurcia is being held at a county jail.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether he has an attorney.
via: https://pix11.com/2019/04/24/man-accused-of-killing-baby-after-learning-hes-not-the-dad/
Bun B shot an armed intruder trying to steal his car
Houston rapper Bun B shot an armed man suspected of invading his home in southwest Houston on Tuesday.
Houston Police said Bun B’s wife answered the door to a man holding a gun and demanding property as he forced his way into their home.
Bun B’s wife directed the suspect, identified as 20-year-old DeMonte Jackson, to their car in the garage.
Bun B, whose real name is Bernard Freeman, heard the commotion, grabbed a gun and came downstairs.
The rapper confronted Jackson in the garage as they both fired shots at each other.
The suspect ran away and later showed up at a hospital for treatment for a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
Jackson has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of burglary.
Bun B, who police said has not been charged, was not injured. Neither was his wife.
Bun B is best known as half the rap duo UGK, a group credited for hits including, “Pocket Full of Stones,” “Ridin’ Dirty” and “Int’l Playas Anthem.”
via: https://pix11.com/2019/04/24/rapper-bun-b-shot-an-armed-intruder-trying-to-steal-his-car/
Patient kills other patient over loud radio at Arizona psychiatric facility
PHOENIX – Phoenix police say an 83-year-old man is dead after getting into a fight with another patient at the Arizona Community Protection and Treatment Center Tuesday morning.
Authorities were called to the psychiatric facility at the Arizona State Hospital around 7:32 a.m.
Police said Donald Prather got into an argument with a patient in the room next door about his radio being too loud.
Robert Wayne Fleming, 58, struck Prather several times and he fell to the ground unconscious, and struck his head on the floor.
Prather was taken to the hospital where he later died, said Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson.
The Arizona Department of Health Services issued the following statement late Tuesday night:
The Arizona Department of Health Services notified the Phoenix Police Department about an incident involving two individuals at the Arizona Community Protection and Treatment Center (ACPTC) and is cooperating with authorities as they conduct the criminal investigation. The ACPTC provides treatment and housing for individuals who have committed a sexually violent offense, completed their mandatory sentence with the Arizona Department of Corrections, and are deemed unsafe to return to the community based on their status as a sexually violent person with a high likelihood to reoffend. These individuals are court ordered to our facility through a petition process by the county prosecutor.
Fleming was booked into the Maricopa County Jail where he is facing second-degree murder charges.
A mailman was shot dead after he tried to stop a fight between a teen and his mom
Police are looking for a New Mexico teenager who they say shot and killed a postal worker who tried to break up an argument between the teen and his mother.
Xavier Zamora, 17, of Albuquerque, is wanted on a murder charge, accused of killing mail carrier Jose Hernandez on Monday afternoon.
Hernandez was working his route in southwest Albuquerque when he saw Zamora in a dispute with Zamora’s mother outside their house, and decided to help her de-escalate the fight, Albuquerque police say.
Hernandez sprayed Mace on Zamora when the teen became aggressive toward him, police say, citing an interview with the mother.
The teen then went into his house, came back outside with a gun and shot Hernandez in the abdomen before going back inside, according to police.
Someone tried to resuscitate Hernandez, but the 47-year-old mail carrier and Army veteran eventually died of his wound, police say.
Police were called, and SWAT officers surrounded the house. Although no one had seen Zamora leave before officers arrived, officers eventually learned Zamora had fled, police said.
Zamora is 6 feet tall, has brown hair and brown eyes, and weighs 165 pounds, according to a warrant issued for his arrest.
Everyone in the neighborhood knew the mail carrier, a resident says
Virtually everyone in the neighborhood knew Hernandez as their mail carrier, a man who lives in the area told CNN affiliate KOAT.
“Jose was a very special guy — he was not your ordinary mailman,” Michael Shepherd told KOAT. “He’d go out of his way. He would talk to you.”
By Tuesday, people had left flowers and notes outside the house in Hernandez’s memory, KOAT reported.
“To a great mail carrier who sacrificed his life for the greater good,” one note written by a colleague reads. “We will all remember you.”
Hernandez, a carrier from the city’s Five Points post office, worked for the US Postal Service for 12 years, the agency said.
“We are shocked and saddened to learn of such a tragic death of one of our own employees and coworkers,” Postal Service spokesman Rod Spurgeon said. “He served his community with dedication and was a decorated Army veteran.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. The Postal Service is offering employee assistance services to his family and coworkers.”
The shooting has shaken the city, Mayor Tim Keller said.
“We are grieving with the family of the victim, and with the entire postal service family,” Keller said. “While we are working to get answers to the many remaining unanswered questions, we know we must, and will continue to, fight against the gun violence that has taken a terrible toll on our community. Fighting crime will remain our top priority.
“Albuquerque, please take some time in the next few days to personally make sure your local letter carrier knows how much you appreciate them, and give them your love and support.”
Nursing home worker recorded sex act with 78-year-old man she scammed, prosecutors say
NEW BERLIN, Wis. — A Wisconsin woman is accused of scamming an elderly man. Investigators say 25-year-old Shatarra Rodgers stole from the victim and even recorded a video of the two engaged in a sex act.
What began as a caring relationship, quickly took a more sinister turn. Prosecutors say 25-year-old Shatarra Rodgers met her 78-year-old victim at a New Berlin nursing home while she was caring for his wife.
According to a criminal complaint, the two became intimate after the man’s wife died in late 2018.
A few months later, the 78-year-old man noticed money missing from his bank account. When he confronted Rodgers, she apparently told him she “needed it.”
As the victim continued to ask for his money back, the only response was a text message and a video of the two engaging in a sex act. The victim said he never knew he was being recorded and immediately went to police.
Prosecutors say Rodgers was caught on surveillance at the PNC Bank on Port Washington Road in Mequon, cashing a $200 check that was stolen from the victim. Rodgers was also captured on camera at the Waukesha County Courthouse, using the victim’s credit card to pay a bond.
Records show more than $1,000 had been stolen paying for rent, a spa visit and items off Amazon.
Rodgers has been charged with multiple felonies including identity theft and capturing an intimate representation without consent. If convicted of all charges, she faces a maximum of more than 30 years in prison.