Parkville woman gets 3 years for embezzling $440K

From the U.S. Attorney's release:

John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Parkville, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for mail fraud and identity theft related to embezzling more than $440,000 from her employer, as well as filing a false tax return.

Jenifer Lyne Merriman, 43, of Parkville, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr., this morning to three years and one month in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Merriman to pay $440,430 in restitution.

36 months in juvie for I-35 racing crash that killed Olathe coach

From Mark Wiebe:

A 17-year-old boy was sentenced today to 36 months in a juvenile correctional facility for the role he played in the death of Olathe North High School’s football coach.

Raul R. Cabrera received the sentence in Wyandotte County Juvenile Court nearly a month after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter for having caused a wreck that killed David Bassore, who was in his first year as a coach and physical education teacher at Olathe North.

Prosecutors alleged that Cabrera was racing another vehicle on April 3, 2006, while northbound on Interstate 35 when his Dodge Neon clipped Bassore’s pickup near 18th Street Expressway. Although authorities identified the driver Cabrera was racing, no charges were filed against that driver.

Life sentence for "mean mugging" murder

From Joe Lambe:

A Jackson County judge sentenced a Kansas City man today to life in prison for a murder committed after he and the victim exchanged glares.

A jury convicted Adrian L. Washington, 27, in October of second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Washington contended a passenger in his car actually fired the shots that killed Brandon Strickland, 24, two years ago in Kansas City. Jurors found that even if the passenger fired the gun, Washington was guilty as an accessory.

Here's a copy of the probable cause and complaint.

Evel Knievel Appreciation Thread

He's dead. And I think the best way to honor his memory is through a "Chuck Norris Facts"-style display of hyperbole. Por ejemplo:

• Evel Knievel is German for "unkillable sex machine."
• The U.S. interstate system was created by Evel Knievel burning rubber as he prepared to jump the Atlantic Ocean.

Also: This is not a crime-related story. It is, however, Friday afternoon. How about you help yourself to a beer and calm down?

Photo via The AP. File photo of Evel Knievel, moments before he became the first Earthling to travel in outer space and meet an alien species, the Glacknid.

Update on the Great Texas Cat Assassination Case

Jim Stevenson, a Texas birdwatcher, was recently on trial on charges that he allegedly killed a cat with a high-powered rifle because Stevenson wanted to protect endangered birds. A mistrial was declared.

Now? Stevenson has left the state because he says someone fired a shot at him. Police are skeptical because the guy won't let them test his hands for gunpowder, to see if he actually fired the shot. They also say his story has inconsistencies, though they don't say what.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, You're A Mean Drunk R2D2!

FL woman stabbed nephew, age 12, in the eyes

The kid, who's autistic and mute, is probably going to be permanently blind, police say. No motive. Auntie also jabbed herself in one eye with the same military-style knife.

How seriously do they take cheese in Wisconsin?

Very seriously.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, You're A Mean Drunk R2D2!

Can snake-handlers be good foster parents?

Unusual case in Kentucky, where the state won't let a couple be foster parents anymore because they won't promise to stop attending church services that include snake-handling. (Their attorney says they've never taken their kids to those services -- but won't say if they've ever handled snakes themselves.) The couple say their First Amendment rights are being infringed upon.

Hostages taken at Clinton office in NH

Not much information, but an armed man is holding two people at a Hillary Clinton office in Rochester, N.H.

A break in the Sean Taylor murder?

Police are questioning three people in the Sean Taylor homicide, the Miami Herald reports. Those detained are 17, 19 and 26 years old, all from the Fort Myers area. Snip:

Investigators believe the young men learned of Taylor's house through someone who unwittingly set up the burglary by bragging about the football star's wealth.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, onetime!

KY man accused of stealing 8-year-old's wheelchair, selling for scrap

The kiddo has cerebral palsy. The chair was outside her house while Mom put a coat on her. The chair -- originally valued at $4K -- has been recovered, and it's too mangled to use, but donors have bought her a new one.

Naked woman magically appears in Arizona apartment

The resident found her sleeping in a bedroom. The woman has no idea how she ended up there. She wasn't drunk or high, but she is facing a charge of trespassing.

GA mother accused of stabbing son, daughter in c-store bathroom

Both children -- ages 3 and 1 -- were pronounced dead at the hospital. No word on motive, though it's not having a reason makes something like this any better.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Amanda

Open Thread ... Friday

It's a lovely Friday here on the Open Thread -- let's enjoy it before the winter storm comes to town. This is our space for off-topic comments and discussion. And if you've seen an interesting story elsewhere, feel free to post a link below.

Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. I read the OT, but if you need to contact me directly, my email is jhart@kcstar.com.

Thanks again, and have a good weekend!

Thief steals 180 Guinness kegs from brewery

What I love about this Reuters story is how they put Guinness in the headline, but wait until paragraph three before telling you about the 180 kegs of stolen Budweiser.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Mike!

UK man, age 61, punches trick-or-treater, age 8, in the face

He'd put up a sign saying "NO TRICK-OR-TREAT" so he was pretty upset when he got a visitor, he told the police. The 61-year-old is getting probation and community service, and he has to pay 150 pounds in restitution to the kid -- sort of a delayed treat, if you will.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, You're A Mean Drunk R2D2!

Don't touch that dial ... or else

In Seattle, police have accused a woman in her 50s or 60s of stabbing her 66-year-old neighbor at an assisted-living facility. Why? Because the neighbor tried to turn the channel to a religious program. From the police spokeswoman:

"I don't know what they were originally watching," Witt said. "But it must have been something really good."

Hat Tip: Many thanks, JUNGLE JIM!

New York DMV doesn't want to "GETOSAMA"

In New York, a former police officer ordered -- and received -- license plates reading "GETOSAMA," presumably because he'd like to see the @#$#3$^ imprisoned or turned into a greasy stain, or maybe both.

Well, the DMV issued him the plates, but now they want them back. DMV says they could be considered "obscene, lewd, lascivious, derogatory to a particular ethnic group or patently offensive." The cop is suing to keep the plates, saying it's his First Amendment right.

"Ninja"-related crime wave continues

Maybe they were DRESSED as ninjas, but the three suspects from a Florida robbery used guns, not swords. Nor did they leap from rooftop to rooftop, fade silently into the shadows or do any of the amazing stuff for which ninjas are justly renowned.

Antiterror centers are fighting crime, but not much terrorism

After 9-11, the government set up several "information-sharing centers" in different states so local, state and federal authorities could work together and prevent future terrorist attacks. But an AP report says they're mostly being used to fight drugs, gangs and other crimes. (Kansas is one of the few centers that focuses strictly on terrorism.)

Last call for "Last Call"?

Kansas has decided it won't renew the liquor license for Last Call, a bar in Lawrence, but it could be a while before the bar has to close. The management can appeal, and that process takes a few years.

Remember Dominic Bradley? He was shot and killed earlier this month at I-435 near Holmes. Police say he and his friends had gotten into a fight with another group at Last Call before the shooting.

MD newspaper sponsors "contest" for drunk drivers

St. Mary's Today, a newspaper in Maryland, is offering to buy a free coffin to the first drunk driver who gets himself or herself killed this holiday season. From their promo:

Tired of all the nagging of loved ones, stupid commercials from MADD, cops, judges and addiction counselors? Throw a final bender this Christmas and get a cheaper funeral by being the ST. MARY'S TODAY Christmas Party DWI Dead Driver Winner!

Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church

The McDonald County prosecutor previously dropped sex-abuse charges against a pastor and two others connected to the Missouri church. After getting heavily criticized for that decision, the prosecutor says she'll refile charges early next year, the News-Leader reports.

Violent crime jumps 17 percent in Columbia

And there's still another month left to go in 2007. Police there are planning extra patrols to keep a lid on things.

MO legislator wants to rename St. Joe road for deputy

In St. Joseph, they're trying to rename part of Belt Highway to be Deputy Charles M. Cook Memorial Highway, in honor of an officer who died during a pursuit earlier this year. State Sen. Charlie Shields is leading the effort.