Free Republic

It's looking likely that San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón will file misdemeanor domestic violence charges against newly sworn-in Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi. Prosecutors are "convinced this is very real," said a source with firsthand knowledge of the investigation. The case stems from a New Year's Eve incident in which Mirkarimi allegedly grabbed his wife - former Venezuelan telenovela star Eliana Lopez - with enough force to leave a bruise. Lopez has said publicly that she has no complaint against her husband and that the incident had been taken "out of context." Mirkarimi's attorney, Robert Waggener, said Tuesday that the sheriff...

BERKELEY COUNTY, W. VA - On the same day felony charges against a student who allegedly carried a gun onto campus were dropped, new misdemeanor charges were filed. On Tuesday, Joshua Beck, who holds a permit to carry a concealed weapon, faced two felony charges and a maximum sentence of 20 years for allegedly carrying his handgun on the campus of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. On Wednesday, prosecutors dropped those charges, but then filed two misdemeanor charges. "These new charges are just simply a stretch, and now the Prosecutor's office has resorted to dredging the bottom of the...

Seth Foster, 23, said he found his family garage in disarray last summer and sent his dog in the building to investigate. Grizz, a blue heeler, returned with the culprit, a young raccoon. As two teenage boys watched, one of them filming its actions with a cell phone, Grizz killed the coon, Foster said. Now, Foster is facing a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty resulting in death, which is punishable by a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. A jury trial is scheduled for Feb. 25 in Jackson County District Court.

Federal prosecutors have filed reduced charges against conservative activist James O'Keefe and three others accused of trying to tamper with the phones in Sen. Mary Landrieu's New Orleans office. A filing Friday in U.S. District Court charges them with entering a federal building under false pretenses, a misdemeanor. They had been arrested Jan. 25 on felony charges. The new charges are contained in a bill of information, which often signals a plea deal. O'Keefe gained notoriety by masquerading as a pimp in a stunt that embarrassed the ACORN organization. In the Landrieu incident, O'Keefe has said he was investigating complaints...

The day after the Seventh Circuit agrees to rehear en banc a panel’s earlier decision in U.S. v. Skoien on this subject, the Fourth Circuit has decided to follow Skoien, in U.S. v. Chester (4th Cir. Feb. 23, 2010) (surprisingly unpublished): We agree in part with the Seventh Circuit’s approach to this unchartered realm of Second Amendment jurisprudence. Of course, Supreme Court dicta controls when it is on point and it is the only available authority. Further, this circuit has applied the Heller dicta to uphold statutes that prohibit gun possession by felons and the mentally ill in unpublished opinions....

The parents who pulled the balloon boy hoax in hopes of landing a reality TV show were sentenced to jail Wednesday — 90 days for him, 20 days for her — and barred from profiting from their newfound celebrity status for the next four years. Choking back tears, Richard Heene apologized in court for the frenzy he caused when he claimed his 6-year-old son Falcon had floated away in a giant helium balloon shaped like a flying saucer. "I'm very, very sorry. And I want to apologize to all the rescue workers out there, and the people that got involved...

MARGARETVILLE _ Seven second-graders at Margaretville Central School were arrested last week for allegedly plotting an attack on one of their classmates. The boys aged 7 to 9 were charged by state police as juveniles with fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor. A parent of the student allegedly targeted by the children learned about the plot Wednesday and informed school officials Thursday that the child felt threatened, Margaretville Superintendent John Riedl said Monday. State police in Margaretville were contacted at about 1 p.m. and seven arrests were made by 1:30 p.m., according to troopers. In a letter sent home to parents the...

WASHINGTON -- It now looks like Sen. Larry Craig is going to leave office after all. His top spokesman said Thursday that Craig has just about dropped any idea of trying to complete his term, and that he is focused on helping Idaho send a new senator to Washington within a few weeks. (snip) Craig's situation came up in Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California both called for his reignation. "What I think is good about it is that he's taking responsibility in the sense of resigning from office, and...

A push to require all convicted criminals in New York to submit their DNA to a central database is gaining crucial support in Albany, where officials say it could create the most comprehensive DNA collection system in the nation. If the proposal becomes law, it would make New York the only state to require collecting DNA from everyone convicted of felonies and misdemeanors, including youthful offenders convicted in criminal court, officials said. Currently, 43 states require that people convicted of all felonies submit DNA, but none require samples from those convicted of all misdemeanors, and New York has required those...

H.R. 1415, a Chuckie Schumer supported bill, will require states to add non-domestic violence misdemeanors to their NICS database. It *doesn't* make it illegal to get a gun if you have such a misdemeanor, but the fact that the data is there makes it plain that Schumer plans to someday amend the NICS law so that it would do so. This must be stopped at ALL costs. Contact your Congresscritters immediately.

New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) has long been rumored as desperately seeking the democratic nomination for president in 2008. And while many political observers fully expect the power hungry former First Lady to hit the campaign trail within only a few months of being re-elected as a US Senator in 2006, US News & World report claims to have a confirmation of sorts. From USNews.Com's Washington Whispers: Hillary's in… You don't have to take it from us about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 's desire to run for president. Her brothers, Hugh and Tony Rodham, say it's true. Friends...

Josh Brolin was cited for misdemeanor domestic battery over the weekend after his wife, Diane Lane, called police during an argument at the couple's Los Angeles home. Brolin, the son of actor James Brolin and stepson of Barbra Streisand, was arrested around 3 a.m. Sunday and released on $20,000 bail, said a spokesman for the city attorney's office yesterday.

Has anyone ever purchased a gun in California after having a 17b motion? A 17b motion in California is when a felony that's a wobbler (a crime that can be either chargd as a felony or misdemeanor) is reduced to a misdemeanor and dismissed. I understand that there is a list of misdemeanor's at the state level that prohibit firearm ownership. Also some that say you can't own one for ten years. In addition there are some misdemeanors on a Federal list that prohibit ownership for life (such as spousal abuse). Has anyone ever successfully or known anyone who has...

Rep. Phyllis Kahn faces a misdemeanor theft charge for snatching campaign literature last week. New Hope city attorney Steve Sondrall said he decided on Friday to go forward with the charge after considering the matter for a week. The Minneapolis DFLer has apologized to Republican House member Lynne Osterman for taking her campaign brochures from some New Hope doorsteps. Kahn replaced them with pieces from Osterman's DFL opponent, Sandra Peterson.

<p>March 6, 2004 -- ALBANY - Maverick New Paltz Mayor Jason West yesterday abruptly called off his plan to perform up to two dozen more gay marriage ceremonies today. West's cave-in came the day after Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams told The Post he might seek jail time for the mayor if West continues to ignore the law.</p>

Montco official opposes gay marriage The D.A. says he will arrest anyone who attempts a same-sex wedding in his county. By Jeff Shields Inquirer Staff Writer Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L. Castor Jr. took on gay marriage yesterday in his campaign to become Pennsylvania attorney general by threatening to arrest anyone associated with a same-sex wedding in his county. Same-sex marriage is not permitted in Pennsylvania, and no gay couples have sought a marriage license at the county courthouse in Norristown. Nevertheless, Castor released a letter yesterday to Register of Wills Frances Pierce, who issues marriage licenses. "Should you,...

Teacher accused of theft, assault BY CELINA ALVARADO Times staff writer A teacher, accused of misdemeanor theft charges now faces felony charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer, Laredo Police officials said. The suspect, identified as Margarita Chapa, is a 50-year-old teacher at MacDonell Elementary School and resides on the 600 block of Cactus. Laredo Police Public Information officer Juan Rivera said Chapa was accused of stealing a co-worker's purse at her place of employment. The alleged victim was unidentified by officials Thursday. According to reports, the incident occurred less than a week prior to the suspect's arrest. Armed with...