Open Thread ... Weekend Edition

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Arkansas preacher sentenced 175 years for child sex crimes

A federal judge in Texarkana, Ark., has sentenced Evangelist Tony Alamo to 175 years in prison for child sex crimes

Alamo, 75, was convicted in July on a 10-count indictment accusing him of taking young girls across state lines for sex.

After the jury's verdict, he told reporters: "I'm just another one of the prophets that went to jail for the Gospel."

| Bob Cronketon

Alleged Ohio serial killer pleads not guilty

The Associated Press

Suspected serial killer Anthony Sowell was arraigned Friday on charges connected to a woman whose rape led to Sowell's arrest and the discovery of 11 bodies in and around his home.

|Bob Cronkleton

Defense believes parading defendents in handcuffs "mindless, even medieval cruelty"

Okay, should those those accused of white collar crimes be treated different than those accused of other felonies?

The way defendants in a case of alleged corruption in the Pennsylvania Legislature has raised the ire of a defense attorney. Attorney Joshua Lock, of Harrisburg claims the defendants were subjected to “mindless, even medieval cruelty “ by the prosecution.

The offending action: Parading defendants in handcuffs past the media.

Senior Deputy Attorney General K. Kenneth Brown II defended the action saying: "A felony is a felony, and if it is a felony, you get cuffed. The law makes no distinction for white collar crimes, and neither do we."

| Bob Cronkleton

You mean it is crime to drive my John Deere drunk?

Ford Earl Broome, 63, of Export, Penn., is in trouble after taking his John Deere lawn tractor out on a beer run.

A trooper spotted him as he was allegedly on his way to a bar to buy beer. The trooper detected a strong odor of alcohol on Broome, who had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

Hat Tip: Keith G. in P.V.

| Bob Cronkleton

Marine reservists gives multiple reasons for clubbing priest

Now, he needs to pick the best one.

Jasen D. Bruce, who is accused of aggravated battery involivng a visiting Greek Orthodox priest, tried to defend his actions on Bubba The Love Sponge morning radio show today.

The list of reasons range from the priest allegedly grabbing his genitals and propositioning him to mistaking the priest an Arab terrorist and fearing for his life. Oh, Bruce also thought he was going to be robbed.

Hat Tip: Man in a Mission

| Bob Cronkleton

Out of cell phone minutes, man decides to call 911 to seek sex

Joshua Basso, 29, of Tampa says he wanted sex, but was out of minutes on cell phone.

So for fun, he decided to dial the only number he could -- 911. Once the 911 operator answered, Basso made several sexual comments about her before asking if he could go to her house and have sex with her.

Let's just say police were not amused.

Hat Tip: Keith G. in P.V

| Bob Cronkleton

Accused drunken driver just can't stop talking

A Pueblo, Colo., police officer got an earful this morning after he pulled over a man on suspicion of driving drunk. The man just wouldn't shut up.

Some of the the things the man told the officer:

• He only had a couple of beers
• He didn't have a driver's license
• He didn't want his rings stolen.
• He had a gun in his sock (which wasn't found)
• He didn't speak English.

Story doesn't say whether the officer got the "buddy speech." You know the one, where your drunk friends slur their words as they say, "You know, you are my buddy . . ."

| Bob Cronkleton

Ohio letting mothers raise children behind bars

With the number of women in prison skyrocketing over the last three decades and most female prisoners being single mothers, Ohio is trying an unusual program of letting mothers who are serving prison time to raise their children.

Experts say it is best for moms and children because the women as less likely to commit crimes when they get out. The children benefit by being with mom during critical periods of development.

Critics say it is waste of taxpayer money and prisons should be a place of punishment.

| Bob Cronkleton

Students banned from saying "Meep" at high school

Danvers (Mass.) High parents got a warning from school officials that their children could be suspended if they say or display the word “Meep.”

Hat Tip: Keith G. in P.V.

| Bob Cronkleton

Parents hope son's heroin overdose

From KMBC:

Dorman and Debbie Hayes of Johnson County hope the death of their son Brett from a heroin overdose can be used to warn others. The drug is making its way into the suburbs. About 18 months ago, officers around Johnson County started finding heroin with more of the overdose victims being high school students.

"There has to be something good out of Brett's death." Debbie Hayes said. "If we can help other parents, if we can help another kid not lose his life, then that's what we're going to do."

| Bob Cronkleton

Police docket from 1870s to go on display

Wanna see what crime was like back in the late 1800s? If so, the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City will hold a public viewing of the police docket book from the late 1870s next month.

The historic document includes notes and signatures of lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. The book was discovered after someone tried to sell it on the Internet.

The book will be on display from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in the museum's Old House Saloon.

Road trip?

| Bob Cronkleton

Police arrest sixth man in child-rape inquiry

UPDATE: A 55-year-old Kansas City man, identified as an associate of Burrell E. Mohler Sr.’s extended family, was arrested on suspicion of rape of a child less than 14 years old. He was being held in the Lafayette County Jail.

From Don Bradley: More alleged victims also have been identified since the case went public, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol

| Bob Cronkleton

Former inmates pleads guilty to being fake lawyer, stealing “clients” money

Jeffrey Tedrick, 46, admitted that while he was a Missouri inmate, he convinced others that he was a disbarred corporate lawyer and ran a bogus legal career behind bars.

The truth was he was never held a law license. He was just a con artist claiming to have worked for Longhorn Steakhouse chain.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Schelp said the closest Tedrick got to Longhorn might have been washing dishes.

Hat Tip: cripjak

| Bob Cronkleton

Open Thread ... Sweet Merciful Friday

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: James is off, so Bob Cronkleton will be minding the blog today. His email is bcronkleton@kcstar.com. Please email him with any story ideas, and please treat him well.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: James is off, so Bob Cronkleton will be minding the blog today. His email is bcronkleton@kcstar.com. Please email him with any story ideas, and please treat him well.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: James is off, so Bob Cronkleton will be minding the blog today. His email is bcronkleton@kcstar.com. Please email him with any story ideas, and please treat him well.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: James is off, so Bob Cronkleton will be minding the blog today. His email is bcronkleton@kcstar.com. Please email him with any story ideas, and please treat him well.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: James is off, so Bob Cronkleton will be minding the blog today. His email is bcronkleton@kcstar.com. Please email him with any story ideas, and please treat him well.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Parents of 'Balloon Boy' expected to plead guilty to hoax

 UPDATE: On the balloon boy saga.

Richard Heene and Mayumi Heene of Colo. are expected to plead guilty after pulling a world-gripping hoax, reporting that their 6-year-old son had floated away on a helium balloon.

They are pleading guilty--him of a felony and her of a misdemeanor--to protect mom's immigration status. She is from Japan, and anything more than a misdemeanor would jeopardize her ability to stay in the United States.

The couple had pulled a hoax, hoping hat national attention would give them a good shot at their own reality television show. Police became suspicious when their son said live during a CNN interview, "You had said that we did this for a show."

|Meredith Rodriguez

The latest function for Facebook: an alibi

A New York man was let go on robbery charges when authorities saw he had posted a status update on Facebook from his dad's home during the time of the robbery.

|Meredith Rodriguez

It's time to let him go, sister

A Salt Lake woman held on to the passenger door when her boyfriend tried to leave. As he peeled out and drove away, "the girlfriend kept hold of the handle." He dragged the woman 25 to 30 feet before he heard his girlfriend hit the side of the truck, according to police. She suffered head injuries and road rash.

|Meredith Rodriguez

Details on john who was robbed by prostitute

Carolyn Williams, 45, of Kansas City was charged for robbing a customer and stealing his car, which contained $50,000 in sports memorabilia, The Star's Christine Vendel reports. 

The victim said he met the prostitute about 8 p.m. on Independence Avenue near Brooklyn Avenue. After he drove her to a parking lot near Independence and Tracy Avenue, they walked into an apartment, where he thought he was going to pay $40 in exchange for sex. Instead, the prostitute and a gun-toting man robbed him.

The victim gave them some cash, but the prostitute said she wanted more.

“I got rent due tomorrow,” she said.

The robbers took $360, the man’s cell phone and car keys and told him to walk away. The victim saw the robbers drive away in his car, which contained the valuable memorabilia.

|Meredith Rodriguez

Children found mother dead this morning

From The Star's Christine Vendel:

Two children discovered their mother dead in their home today in the 1200 block of Askew Avenue, and police say the death is suspicious.

The children, ages 9 and 12, found their 49-year-old mother about 7:10 a.m. A cab driver had arrived at the house to take the kids to school, but the kids were not ready. That’s when they discovered the mother’s body and called 911.

Officers arrived and found signs of foul play. Police did not release the woman’s name or provide any motive or suspect information.

Anyone with information should call the Tips Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

|Meredith Rodriguez

Family members arraigned in court on sex charges

UPDATE: The father and his four sons accused of sex crimes against young family members heard the charges against them in Lafayette County court today, The Star's Donald Bradley reports.

Three of the brothers appeared near tears as they moved shackled in their jail garb. Each was escorted by an individual law officer, who stood behind them during the preliminary arraignment.

The charges appear to pull the covers off a family’s dark secrets, as the men listened to 14 charges ranging from forcible sodomy and rape to use of a child in a sexual performance.

Police are still looking for bodies and the bottles buried with the children's horrific memories.

|Meredith Rodriguez

 

Boyfriend gets revenge after lover's spat

A Florida man decided to dump his girlfriend's car into a river after an argument. Smooth.

The chocolate sale flopped last year

So a brilliant parent-entrepreneur thought it would be a great idea to sell test points.

A parent council at a middle school in North Carolina is selling 20 test points for $20 to raise money this year. The principle justified it by saying it's not enough points to change a grade.

Others are saying that it's teaching the students the wrong lessons. Hm... yes, I should think so.

An warning to Blue Springs store clerks

Don't sell liquor to minors. The police department does occasional undercover investigations.

Last week they sent an 18-year-old to buy liquor, telling him to be honest about his age. Then they cited the two businesses who sold him the liquor and called the clerks into court. The other 13 businesses who were tested passed.

Police said in the press release that the investigation cost a little more than $5 and that they're trying to prevent the many crashes that are a result of underage drinking and driving.

Man drowns at Truman Lake

From The Star's Robert Cronkleton:

A 67-year-old Warsaw, Mo., man drowned at Harry S. Truman Lake, according to the Missouri Water Patrol.

Leslie Hansen’s body was found about 5:20 p.m. Wednesday in 27 foot deep water about 60 feet from shore at the Long Shoal Park swim beach at the lake.

His wife reported him missing about 6 p.m. Tuesday. She had last contacted him about three hours earlier, according to the water patrol.

His vehicle was found parked at a shelter house and a search of the area turned up his shoes and personal items on the edge of the Truman Lake shoreline.