Crime and Court USA

Send us a text

The Supreme Court ruled that presidents are immune from prosecution for acts that they did in their official capacity as president. That, of course, means that Donald Trump may be immune from crimes he allegedly committed while attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. 

The case is now being kicked back to the trial judge, who will determine if Trump's actions were committed in an official capacity. 

Resources: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/01/trump-immunity-supreme-court-ruling/ 

Support the show

Send us a text

Elizabeth Wolf, 42, is charged with attempted capital murder after allegedly trying to drown a 3-year-old Palestinian-American girl at an apartment complex pool in suburban Dallas, Texas.

Police now want prosecutors to charge Wolf, who is out on bond, with a hate crime.

Resources:

https://apnews.com/article/drowning-palestinian-child-texas-hate-crime-5bc70460f3c2344bb6154951e4e1cc77 

Support the show

Send us a text

Chaos descended on the small town of Fordyce, Arkansas, when a gunman fatally shot four people and wounded nine others, including two officers, at the Mad Butcher grocery store on Friday. 

Police have still not released a possible motive for the shooter, who doesn't appear to have a criminal history: 

Resources: 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arkansas-grocery-store-shooting-deaths-injuries/ 

https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/06/21/three-dead-11-injured-in-mass-shooting-at-south-arkansas-grocery/ 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/22/us/arkansas-shooting-grocery-store.html 

Support the show

Send us a text

Lego thefts are up dramatically as the value of mini figurines -- or "minifigs -- has gone up in recent years. 

Police are now arresting thieves who allegedly had hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Legos in their possession. 

Resources: 

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-20/black-market-lego 

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-04-10/southern-california-thieves-steal-300000-worth-of-lego 

Support the show

Send us a text

The South Fork and Salt fires in southern New Mexico have forced the beautiful mountain town of Ruidoso to evacuate. So far two people are confirmed dead. 

Sadly, with both fires at a combined 23,000 acres and zero percent containment, it seems like things are going to get worse before they get better. 

How to help: https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/heres-how-to-help-people-impacted-by-south-fork-fire-and-salt-fire/ 

(Thumbnail photo credit: Pamela L Bonner via Ruidoso News)

Support the show

Send us a Text Message.

Rebecca Grossman, a Los Angeles socialite and philanthropist, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for speeding through a crosswalk and killing two young boys in September 2020. 

Is Grossman an unremorseful monster, or is she merely someone who was in denial? 

Sources: 

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-06/rebecca-grossman-deserves-life-in-prison-for-murders-prosecutors-say 

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-11/nancy-iskander-disgusted-with-rebecca-grossmans-murder-sentence 

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-10/rebecca-grossman-gets-15-years-to-life-in-prison 

Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.

Two Australian brothers and their American friend were murdered while on a surfing trip in Baja California, Mexico. The reason: thieves wanted to steal the tires on their pickup truck. 

Also: 

• A Texas man kills two women, critically shoots a 5-year-old girl and abducts a 10-month-old baby in New Mexico. The baby was found safe a few days later, and it appears that the suspect doesn't have any connections to the victims. 
• Porn star Stormy Daniels takes the stand in Donald Trump's hush money trial. 

Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.

Violence is erupting at college campuses across America  as police are breaking up encampments set up by pro-Palestinian protesters. 

Students and officers have suffered injuries, and classes continue to get canceled as safety becomes an issue. 

Also: 

• A judge warns Donald Trump of jail time if he doesn't stop violating the gag order in his hush money trial. 
• Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider has sued the producers of "Quiet on Set," claiming the docuseries was a hit job on him. 

Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.

Opening statements and witness testimony in the first criminal trial against former President Donald Trump finally got underway in New York. 

Prosecutors say Trump and his allies conspired to cover up negative stories about him during the 2016 presidential campaign, including affairs he may have had with two women.  

The transaction at the heart of the charges is a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels that was allegedly covered up in business records. 

Support the Show.

Send us a Text Message.

Father Martin was traveling across America and Canada and visiting Catholic churches along the way. Except Father Martin was no priest at all, but instead was a New Yorker named Malin Rostas who was buying trust and stealing from the parishes he visited. 

Malin was finally arrested in California on April 11. 

Also: 

• 'Rust' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is sentenced to 18 months in prison for her role in the death of Halyna Hutchins. 
• Jury selection has started in Donald Trump's first criminal trial, and the trial may have already started by the time you hear this episode. 

Malin Rostas article: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-04-12/alleged-fake-priest-stole-from-catholic-churches 

Support the Show.