Paradise News

Tag: Americas

  • Judicial Watch Victory: Federal Judge Upholds the Right to Inspect Maryland Voter Rolls

    (Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch today announced that District Court Judge Matthew J. Maddox of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland struck down a Maryland State Board of Elections regulation that restricted and criminalized the use of voter registration lists for voter fraud and other “investigations.” Citing a separate Judicial Watch court victory in Maryland that opened up voter rolls to public scrutiny under federal law, the court recognized that restricting the use of the state’s voter rolls presented an obstacle to upholding federal voter roll maintenance as required by the National Voter Registration Act’s (NVRA).

    This ruling comes in the case Katherine Strauch Sullivan, et al., v. Michael G. Summers, et al., (No. 1:24-cv-00172), in which Judicial Watch filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court court) brief in support of the Maryland voters who challenged the new rule:

    One of the many necessary documents in order to determine whether a jurisdiction is in compliance with the NVRA’s list maintenance provisions are the voter registration list with voter history for prior general federal elections. These records were at issue in 2017, when Judicial Watch sued in this Court alleging that the state law requirement to be a Maryland registered voter was unlawful and preempted by the NVRA’s public disclosure provision…. This Court agreed, finding that both the records requested in the voter registration list were subject to disclosure under the NVRA and the state’s requirement to be a registered voter frustrated the purposes of the federal law and was preempted by it.

    As several federal courts have recognized, the public records provisions of the National Voter Registration Act were intended to enhance the ability of private groups to monitor whether states are removing ineligible voters from their voter rolls. In August 2019, a federal court in Maryland noted that organizations “such as Judicial Watch” have “the resources and expertise that few individuals can marshal. By excluding these organizations from access to voter registration lists,” the purpose of the federal law is undermined. That court ordered Maryland to produce the voter registration list, with fields indicating name, home address, most recent voter activity, and active or inactive status. In April 2020, the same court ordered Maryland to provide Judicial Watch with the dates of birth.

    Judge Maddox notes in his opinion: “On or around June 2023, the SBE [Maryland State Board of Elections] adopted the regulation restricting the use of voter registration lists by Maryland voters who request them.”

    A voter requesting access to the voter registration list, including voting history, must provide a signed and sworn statement that the list is not intended for commercial solicitation or any other purpose “not related to the electoral process.” …

    As they have done in the past, Plaintiffs [Sullivan] anticipate using the registered voter list from the SBE [State Board of Elections] and voting histories for registered voters to conduct statewide investigative canvasses to identify and analyze what they believe are potential errors, irregularities, or anomalies within MDVOTERS [voter database going back to 2006].

    Judge Maddox’s memorandum opinion concludes:

    In sum, the Court concludes as a matter of law that the Use Restriction in COMAR [Code of Maryland Regulations] … presents an obstacle to accomplishing and executing the purposes and objectives of the NVRA [National Voter Registration Act] and is, therefore, preempted.

    “This new federal court ruling affirming transparency requirement for voter registration list is an important victory for Maryland voters and election integrity,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “It was truly outrageous Maryland election officials tried to criminalize voters asking questions about election integrity.”

    Judicial Watch is a national leader in voting integrity and voting rights. As part of its work, Judicial Watch assembled a team of highly experienced voting rights attorneys who stopped discriminatory elections in Hawaii, and cleaned up voter rolls in California, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, among other achievements.

    Earlier this month, Judicial Watch sent a notice letter to Lt. Governor Deidre M. Henderson, notifying her that Utah is currently in violation of federal NVRA public disclosure requirements. The notice letter warns of a lawsuit after 90 days if the issues are not resolved.

    In July 2023, Judicial Watch filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief, supporting the decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, which struck down Maine’s policy restricting the use and distribution of the state’s voter registration list. The lawsuit is now in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. According to a national study conducted by Judicial Watch in 2020, Maine’s statewide registration rate was 101% of eligible voters.

    Also in July 2023, Judicial Watch settled a federal lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections, requiring it to grant access to its centralized statewide list of registered voters. State officials had refused to allow the nonprofit Illinois Conservative Union and three lawfully registered Illinois voters to obtain a copy of the state’s voter registration list, despite their lawful request for those records under federal law.

    In recent years, Judicial Watch’s analysis and use of voter registration lists has led to lawsuits and legal actions that have resulted in the removal of four million names from voter rolls in nearly a dozen states and localities, including Los Angeles County and New York City.

    ###

    Source: Judicial Watch

  • Woman celebrates her son-in-law's death during interrogation

    One comment about clothing left Geoward Eustaquio shot multiple times and Cynthia Cdebaca gloating about his death.

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • Tourist who stabbed his girlfriend in the face and neck with steak knife at Hawaii resort is sentenced

    HAWAI’I COUNTY, Hawaii (TCN) — A 67-year-old California man will spend two decades behind bars for stabbing his 64-year-old girlfriend multiple times at a beach resort nearly three years ago.

    The Hawai’i County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced March 19 that Richard Lopez received a sentence of 20 years in prison, and the court also ordered him to serve a mandatory minimum of six years and eight months.

    The defendant previously pleaded guilty in December 2024 to second-degree attempted murder. Prosecutors said the court “accepted his submission that he was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance at the time of the incident.”

    Lopez and his girlfriend of 17 years were visiting Hawai’i Island when he stabbed her at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort on Sept. 1, 2022. According to an initial release from the prosecuting attorney’s office, the victim sustained stab and slash wounds to her face and neck. Lopez was originally indicted on charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and abuse of a family or household member.

    The defendant remained in custody during criminal proceedings in lieu of $1 million bail.

    • California man sentenced to 20-year prison term for domestic stabbing at Waikoloa Beach Marriot Resort – Hawai’i County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
    • Prosecutors indict California man with attempted murder, assault, and felony abuse in Waikoloa domestic stabbing incident, 9/14/2022 – Hawai’i County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • Mich. woman arrested after boyfriend found dead on top of her in bed

    GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (TCN) — A woman is in custody after she was reportedly found in bed with her boyfriend, who was deceased with apparent blunt force injuries.

    According to a statement, on March 9 at 11:13 a.m., officers from the Green Oak Township Police Department responded to a residence on Shady Brook Court after receiving a call about a possible death investigation. When they arrived, they reportedly found a woman “in her bed with an obviously deceased male on top of her.”

    During the investigation, detectives determined the male victim was “struck several times with blunt force in the head and stabbed several times in the chest and neck.”

    His death was ruled a homicide.

    Police took the female suspect, who remained unnamed, to University of Michigan Hospital for evaluation, then transported her to the Livingston County Jail upon her release.

    Green Oak Township Police said the suspect and victim, who was also not publicly identified, had been in a long-term relationship. They lived at the home with their adult son, who was not harmed.

    • Press Release – Green Oak Township Police Department

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • Safely Sidekick

    Safely Sidekick

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • Suspect convicted of killing man found in trunk with 55 stab wounds and burns on 80% of his body

    PORTLAND, Ore. (TCN) — A 44-year-old man has been convicted of killing another man and placing his body in a car’s trunk before setting it on fire.

    The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office announced March 14 that Thomas Colon pleaded guilty to second-degree arson, second-degree abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. A jury also found him guilty of murder in connection with Andrew Hathaway’s death. Colon is set to be sentenced on March 19 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years.

    According to prosecutors, on Sept. 3, 2018, Hathaway and Colon were at the same house with two other men and all four of them got high on drugs. The two other men left, and Colon and Hathaway allegedly got into a physical altercation while alone in the house.

    The district attorney’s office said the two men returned, and one of the other men claimed Colon was “winning the fight.” Hathaway reportedly yelled for help, and the other two men intervened to break up the altercation. “Things calmed down for a time,” but the fight later resumed, and “Hathaway was bloodied.” Colon reportedly beat and stabbed Hathaway until he died.

    Colon and one of the two occupants of the home placed Hathaway’s body into the trunk of the victim’s vehicle and drove to Marine Drive, where they abandoned it in a vacant parking lot and set it ablaze. Responding fire personnel discovered Hathaway’s remains with 80% of his body “charred by the fire.” An autopsy showed the victim died before the flames due to 55 stab wounds and six slice injuries.

    Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet said, “This is some justice for the Hathaway family. They’ve been living with this for seven years. I’m glad we could finally bring them some closure. This was a lengthy, involved investigation with lots of misdirection from others in the beginning. But we saw it through and found the killer.”

    • Jury Convicted Thomas Colon of Second-Degree Murder – Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • Exclusive — Rep. Darrell Issa on ‘Fixing Our Broken System of Elections … in California’

    From Breitbart:

    LOS ANGELES, California — Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) told Breitbart News exclusively on Sunday that he is suing the State of California to bring its election practices in line with federal law and the Constitution.

    As Breitbart News reported earlier, Issa and Judicial Watch are suing California to force it to end its practice of counting ballots that have been received up to seven days after Election Day, which has been struck down earlier.

    Read more here…

    Source: Judicial Watch

  • New Orleans woman charged with murder after Super Bowl reporter was found dead in hotel

    KENNER, La. (TCN) — Police announced a murder charge against a woman they allege drugged and robbed a reporter from Kansas City who was in town for the Super Bowl in February.

    Adan Manzano was found dead in a Kenner hotel room on Feb. 5 after he was seen walking in with the suspect, Danette Colbert. Manzano’s phone and credit card were missing from the room but were reportedly later found at Colbert’s home. Police called Colbert a “career criminal” who has allegedly committed similar crimes on other victims. She was arrested at the time for property crimes, including robbery and bank fraud.

    At a press conference on Tuesday, March 18, Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich shared that Manzano died from the combined toxic effects of alcohol and Xanax, along with positional asphyxia from lying face-down in a pillow. His manner of death remains undetermined. According to Cvitanovich, Manzano’s blood alcohol level was 0.232, nearly four times the legal limit. He also had “not an insignificant amount” of Xanax in his system.

    Cvitanovich explained that while Manzano’s Xanax level was not as high as some overdose cases, the lethal amount “goes way down” when the anti-anxiety drug is combined with alcohol and other central nervous system depressants. Even though most overdose cases are ruled accidental, Cvitanovich said he and his office said Manzano’s manner of death was undetermined because of the “uncertain circumstances of this case.”

    Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley also spoke at the press conference and announced the arrest of Colbert’s alleged accomplice, Rickey White. He was located in Hollywood, Florida, and has been charged with the same property crimes as Colbert. Police obtained a warrant to arrest Colbert on a charge of second-degree murder, so she was rebooked into the Jefferson Parish Jail on that charge.

    “We don’t want her to see the light of day again,” Conley said.

    Watch the “True Crime News” video below to learn more about Manzano’s case.

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • Darrell Issa, Judicial Watch Sue California to Stop Late Ballots from Being Counted

    From Breitbart:

    Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Judicial Watch are suing California over its controversial practice of allowing mail-in ballots to be counted up to a week after Election Day, saying that it is a biased practice that violates the Constitution.

    For the past decade, California has allowed late ballots to be counted, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day, in the name of protecting voter rights. The result is that many elections in which one candidate appears to be leading on Election Night are reversed over subsequent weeks — usually in favor of Democrats, who have pioneered the use of ballot harvesting in their get-out-the-vote efforts.

    The complaint, filed by Judicial Watch on Issa’s behalf as plaintiff on March 13, names California Secretary of State Shirley Weber as the defendant, and says, in part: “Despite Congress’ unambiguous and longstanding statement regarding a single and uniform national Election Day, California modified and extended Election Day by allowing seven additional days after Election Day for receipt of vote-by-mail ballots (‘VBM ballots’).”

    “I am grateful to have Judicial Watch’s support in this important lawsuit,” Rep. Issa said, in a statement released by the organization. “California voters need all the help they can get to ensure fair elections.”

    Read more here…

    Source: Judicial Watch

  • Florida man arrested after toddler found wandering alone in street with soiled diaper

    PALM COAST, Fla. (TCN) — Deputies recently arrested a 44-year-old man who was allegedly passed out while a toddler was wandering alone outside.

    According to a news release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, on Sunday, March 16, deputies received multiple 911 calls regarding a 2-year-old who was “walking in the middle of the street in pajamas with a heavily soiled diaper.”

    Before the incident, witnesses saw the child in the front yard of a residence. They allegedly brought the toddler inside and saw Ross Judy, who WESH-TV reports is the child’s father, “passed out on his bed intoxicated.”

    The sheriff’s office responded to the child’s location, and the victim led them to Judy, who allegedly reeked of alcohol.

    Deputies searched the property and found dangerous tools and trash inside and outside the residence, as well as animal feces, filth, and an emaciated dog with an “almost rotted off” ear and missing fur.

    In a statement obtained by WESH, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said, “It might as well be a landfill on the inside of the home. That’s how disgusting it looked.”

    According to the sheriff’s office, the home was in “deplorable living conditions,” and there were multiple alcoholic beverage containers. Authorities reportedly observed bugs swimming in toilet water and a sink covered in so many layers of cigarette ash that it was “no longer visible.”

    Deputies discovered pill bottles all over a spare room and on top of shelves in the living room. There were also reportedly exposed razors and hypodermic needles, which could have been accessed by the toddler.

    Deputies arrested Judy on charges of child neglect without great bodily harm and abandon animal to die, sick, diseased, or infirm. He was booked into the Flagler County Jail on $4,000 bond.

    The 2-year-old was transported to a family member’s home.

    Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said, “No child should be living in deplorable conditions with an adult who obviously doesn’t care about their well-being.”

    • Palm Coast Man Arrested after Toddler Found Wandering Alone, Residence in Deplorable Conditions – Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
    • Flagler County dad arrested after toddler found wandering outside ‘unlivable home’ – WESH
    • Flagler County Jail

    Source: True Crime Daily