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Fla. man pleads guilty to rhino horn trafficking
Press Releases |
2014/07/08 21:21
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A South Florida man has pleaded guilty to illegally trafficking in the horns of the black rhinoceros in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
A federal judge is scheduled in September to sentence 76-year-old Gene Harris of Miami following his guilty plea this week. Harris could get up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to court records, Harris sold a variety of wildlife products, including taxidermy mounts. In 2011, he arranged for a customer in California to buy two black rhinoceros horns from a seller in Phoenix, Arizona, for $60,000.
Court documents show Harris was paid a $10,000 finder's fee.
Black rhinoceros horns are prized commodities in many Asian countries, where they are turned into ornamental carvings and other items. |
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MJM Law Office, P.C. - Eugene, Oregon DUII and Criminal Defense Services
Firm News/Oregon |
2014/07/08 21:19
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Driving under the influence is not a good idea, but it's a common occurence in all states. Oregon residents should be warned that the state's drunk driving laws are among the most unforgiving in the country. If you've been charged with a DUI, you'll want to have an experienced DUI lawyer by your side to ensure you make the best possible decisions throughout your case. Detailed reviews and investigations by a criminal defense lawyer can either make or break your case. Why risk losing your license and driving privileges? Following a DUII arrest, you're placed at risk of losing your license through the court and through DMV. Don't delay in getting in touch with an experienced Eugene DUI attorney. At the MJM Law Office, P.C., we will give your case the attention and detail it deserves.
We work closely with clients to understand and resolve their issues. We will listen to your unique situation and explain the available options. MJM Law Office, P.C. was founded to provide clients with quality representation in DUII Cases. Mr. Mizjewski, founder of MHM Law Office, understands the difficult and complex process of working through the legal system. We will help you every step of the way. MJM Law Office focuses on serving clients in Lane County, Oregon and are very familiar with the individual judges, district attorneys, and court staff.
If you find yourself in need of a Eugene DUII Lawyer, look no further and contact us today! |
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Chile court: US had role in 'Missing' killings
Headline News |
2014/07/01 19:00
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A Chilean court said U.S. military intelligence services played a key role that led to the 1973 killings of two Americans in Chile in a case that inspired the Oscar-winning film "Missing."
A court ruling released late Monday said former U.S. Navy Capt. Ray E. Davis gave information to Chilean officials about journalist Charles Horman and student Frank Teruggi that led to their arrest and execution just days after the 1973 coup that brought Gen. Augusto Pinochet to power.
"The military intelligence services of the United States had a fundamental role in the creation of the murders of the two American citizens in 1973, providing Chilean military officers with the information that led to their deaths," the ruling by Judge Jorge Zepeda said.
Zepeda also upheld the decision to charge retired Chilean army Col. Pedro Espinoza with the murders, and Rafael Gonzalez, a former civilian counterintelligence agent, as an accomplice in Horman's murder. The two Chileans and Davis had been indicted in 2011.
Davis commanded the U.S. Military Mission in Chile at the time of the Sept. 11, 1973, American-backed coup that ousted the democratically elected government of leftist President Salvador Allende. Davis was investigating Americans in Chile as part of a series of covert intelligence operations run out of the U.S. Embassy targeting those considered to be subversives or radicals, according to the judge's investigation. |
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Court rejects appeal of gay jury selection case
Firm News |
2014/06/25 16:12
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A federal appeals court on Tuesday refused to reconsider its ruling granting heightened legal protections to gays and lesbians, prompting three dissenting judges to warn of far-reaching implications in same-sex marriage cases in the Western United States.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in January banned the exclusion of potential jurors because of their sexual orientation, saying such action was akin to striking someone from the jury pool because of their race or gender.
An undisclosed majority of the full 29-judge court voted against rehearing the case over the objections of three judges.
The dissenters, led by Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain argued that the ruling "bears significant implications for the same-sex marriage debate and for other laws that may give rise to distinctions based on sexual orientation."
O'Scannlain argues giving gays and lesbians the same protections as minorities and women prematurely decides the same-sex marriage issue without the U.S. Supreme Court's input. O'Scannlain pointed out that officials in Nevada and Oregon have cited the 9th Circuit opinion to drop official opposition to same-sex marriage.
A week after the Jan. 21 ruling, for instance, Carson City District Attorney Neil Rombardo withdrew opposition to a lawsuit challenging Nevada's gay marriage ban, citing the 9th Circuit juror ruling that he called a "game changer."
O'Scannlain was joined by Judges Jay Bybee and Carlos Bea. All three judges were appointed by Republican presidents.
The ruling is binding in the nine Western states covered by the 9th Circuit, including the four states with pending same-sex marriage cases: Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon and Nevada.
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High court will hear appeal over illegal threats
Legal News |
2014/06/17 18:02
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The Supreme Court will consider the free speech rights of people who use violent or threatening language on Facebook and other electronic media where the speaker's intent is not always clear.
The court on Monday agreed to take up the case of an eastern Pennsylvania man sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for posting online rants about killing his estranged wife, shooting up a school and slitting the throat of an FBI agent.
A federal appeals court rejected Anthony Elonis' claim that his comments were protected by the First Amendment. He says he never meant to carry out the threats. He claims he was depressed and made the online posts in the form of rap lyrics as a way of venting his frustration after his wife left him.
At his trial, the jury was instructed that Elonis could be found guilty if an objective person could consider his posts to be threatening. Attorneys for Elonis argue that the jury should have been told to apply a subjective standard and decide whether Elonis meant the messages to be understood as threats.
Elonis' lawyers say a subjective standard is appropriate given the impersonal nature of communication over the Internet, which can lead people to misinterpret messages. They argue that comments intended for a smaller audience can be viewed by others unfamiliar with the context and interpret the statements differently than was intended. |
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Davis Law Group, PLLC - Detroit Area DUI/DWI Attorney
Firm News/Illinois |
2014/06/17 18:01
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DUI convictions are serious and should not be taken lightly. Don't make matters worse by representing yourself. A DUI charge does not have to affect the rest of your life. Take matters into your own hands and contact the professionals at The Davis Law Group, PLLC.We are highly skilled in the art of DUI defence, and out DUI defense attorneys know what to do to lessen your criminal punishments. A DUI conviction in Michigan can slap you with the following punishments:
* Time in jail or prison
* Driver's license suspension
* Loss of driving privileges
* Increased rates on auto insurance
* Alcohol and drug educational classes
* Conviction on your criminal record
* Points on your driver’s license
* Employment consequences
These are only several of the consequences you may face in addition to the expensive fees you may need to pay.
Our attorneys have a successful track record of winning DUI cases and have extensive experience in litigation felony and misdemeanor DUI Cases. We will represent you in the best light possible and support you every step of the way. If you're charged with DUI in the Detroit area, call the DUI Defense Attorneys at the Davis Law Group, PLLC for a free consultation. |
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Coast Guard cadet won't be court-martialed
Legal News |
2014/06/13 19:33
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A U.S. Coast Guard Academy cadet accused of entering a classmate's room and touching her leg will not face a court martial, the academy said Thursday.
Its superintendent agreed with the recommendations of an investigating officer that reasonable grounds did not exist to support the charge of abusive sexual contact against cadet Alexander Stevens. The superintendent, Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz, also agreed with a recommendation to impose nonjudicial punishment on Stevens for unlawfully entering a cadet barracks room while drunk and touching another cadet on the leg, Coast Guard officials said.
The academy did not disclose details of the punishment, citing Stevens' privacy rights. Nonjudicial punishment may include a reprimand, arrest in quarters for up to 30 days, pay forfeiture or expulsion from the academy.
"The academy has remained committed to providing all needed support to the victim, ensuring a full and fair proceeding in compliance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice and holding those who commit misconduct accountable for their actions," said Capt. James McCauley, the commandant of cadets.
In September, Stevens said, he went into the fellow cadet's room by mistake, believing it was his girlfriend's room, an investigator testified.
He was drunk at the time and made a mental mistake, Lt. John Cole, who represented Stevens, said during a pretrial investigation at the academy in April.
The classmate testified that a man entered her room in the middle of the night, touched her on her thigh and moved his hand up her leg before she screamed and kicked him. The cadet said she found it hard to sleep and concentrate after the encounter, and her grades suffered. |
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