Latest news with #Mojica
Filipino Times
5 days ago
- Filipino Times
Josh Mojica seeks leniency from LTO over viral EDSA selfie driving incident
Josh Mojica, the driver who went viral for posting a selfie video while driving a sports car along EDSA, has appealed to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for a lighter penalty. Accompanied by his legal counsel, Atty. Jose Marie Fabella, Mojica appeared before the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division (LTO-IID) on Thursday, July 10. 'He's a first-time offender and had no intention to endanger the public,' Fabella told reporters. 'We accept any penalty under the law, but we're appealing that it not be made harsher.' LTO-IID chief Renante Militante clarified that the 90-day suspension of Mojica's driver's license is not yet a penalty but a preventive measure pending investigation. 'Hindi po 'yan penalty… pending the result of the investigation, sinususpend po muna natin ang lisensya,' Militante explained. 'Kung may naka-alarm at maulit pa, baka mas grabe ang parusa.' Militante added that the sports car involved is now under alarm status, meaning it cannot be used by Mojica or anyone else until the investigation concludes. Mojica is being charged with reckless driving, violation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, and being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle. Militante confirmed that Mojica admitted to all charges during the hearing and has since surrendered his license. Mojica also told ABS-CBN News that the car had only been with him for five days when he filmed and posted the video.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US drops charges against LA protester accused of assaulting officers: ‘A huge relief'
Federal prosecutors in California have moved to dismiss charges against a Los Angeles protester accused of assaulting border patrol agents, a major victory for the demonstrator who said he himself was brutally attacked by law enforcement. US attorney Bill Essayli, a Donald Trump appointee, filed a motion on Wednesday to dismiss a complaint against Jose Manuel Mojica, a 30-year-old Los Angeles resident who was present at one of the first major protests of immigration raids in southern California this month. Mojica, a father of four born in LA, came forward last week to the Guardian, which published footage of his arrest by a group of officers. Mojica, who strongly rejected the charges, was facing eight years in federal prison over the 7 June arrest, which left him injured. 'I feel a huge relief,' Mojica said on Thursday. He had spent two nights in jail and has been forced to wear an ankle monitor for nearly two weeks. 'They knew they were in the wrong and they didn't want to face the court. The truth is always going to come out in the end.' Mojica was one of nine people arrested and charged with federal crimes in a first round of charges that the Trump administration highlighted as evidence of violence by protesters. On Wednesday, US prosecutors also moved to dismiss the charges against a second protester who was arrested at the same time as Mojica and who was seen on footage being shoved by a federal agent. Civil rights advocates and defense attorneys who analyzed the Department of Justice's criminal complaints and footage of the incidents have scrutinized the prosecutions, arguing that in some cases authorities were misrepresenting events, going after people who were themselves injured by officers and criminalizing free speech. The US attorney's office and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday about the dismissal of charges. After hearing reports of Ice indiscriminately targeting workers and neighbors in his predominantly Latino community, Mojica said he went to the demonstration in Paramount, in southern LA county near his home. He had not participated in protests since marching with his father as a child, but after seeing how Ice caused widespread fear and panic in the region, and as a US citizen, he wanted to support the rally. Mojica, who works at warehouses in the region unloading shipping containers, said the situation escalated when increasing numbers of heavily armed agents arrived. Grainy cellphone footage, including video taken by his spouse, captured the moment when he was arrested in a chaotic scuffle. While some demonstrators shouted at officers, one agent was seen forcefully shoving a protester standing near Mojica. The videos did not clearly show what happened next, but Mojica said he was trying to de-escalate the situation and stop the protester who was shoved from retaliating. A crowd of officers then quickly took them both to the ground. 'I thought I was going to die at that moment and never get up from the ground and see my kids again,' Mojica said last week. 'I couldn't breathe.' He said officers held him in a chokehold and pushed him into the pavement, causing a large contusion on his nose and bruises all over his body – some of which were visible four days later. At one point during his arrest and transport, an officer told him he could be facing 20 years in prison, he recalled. Mojica, who had no criminal record, was charged alongside three other co-defendants he said he didn't know. A criminal affidavit included few details about Mojica but alleged he 'elbowed and pushed' border patrol agents and 'physically made an attempt to thwart [the other protester's] arrest'. Prosecutors' two-page filing to dismiss Mojica's case provided no details on the decision, but said the request was 'made in good faith and in the interest of justice'. A judge still has to sign the order. 'Based on the video, I knew my client did nothing wrong,' Meghan Blanco, Mojica's attorney and a former federal prosecutor, said on Thursday. 'There was no scenario that I could see this case moving forward in a manner that would have been helpful to the government. Once they had an opportunity to look at the video themselves, I think they very quickly came to the same conclusion.' Blanco, who previously prosecuted use-of-force cases against federal agents, said Mojica's case was not unique. 'I'm hopeful this is just the first of many [dismissals] for protesters who were charged with violating the law simply based on the fact that they were protesting and exercising their constitutional rights, not because they were being violent or doing anything illegal,' Blanco said. The impacts of the prosecution have been significant, she noted. Essayli, the US attorney, earlier posted Mojica's photo and name on X, formerly Twitter, announcing his arrest and saying the government would 'continue to arrest anyone who interferes with federal law enforcement'. The post led to widespread comments calling for Mojica, a US citizen, to be deported. Mojica said he had been suffering flashbacks from his arrest and was still struggling with pain in his back and ribs from his injuries, in addition to having difficulty sleeping. 'I want people to know they are not alone, there are a lot of people on our side, and they know how the officers treat people,' he said. 'And if people know they are innocent, they should keep fighting and don't be intimidated.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Harrisburg 15-year-old faces attempted homicide charges after stabbing; police
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A Harrisburg 15-year-old is accused of stabbing his foster mother with a knife while she was sleeping. Yanxel Mojica, 15, is currently locked up with his bail denied in Dauphin County Prison on attempted homicide and aggravated assault charges from the stabbing in the 600 block of Cardinal Drive in Swatara Township Sunday night, court documents show. Holding a passport while standing in a long line to get a Real ID? You're doing it wrong The criminal complaint filed Monday by Swatara Township Police shows that when the woman woke up, she reported seeing Mojica standing at the foot of her bed with a large kitchen knife and attacking her. Police said she reported being stabbed in the neck, leg, and hand. She was also able to give police a description of what Mojica was wearing. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Officers saw that the victim's hand was bleeding, there was a deep cut between her thumb and index finger, and a stab wound on her neck near her spine. She was then rushed to Penn State Hershey Medical Center for emergency care. The complaint shows that a large silver knife was found on the bed where the woman was attacked. Dauphin County Chick-fil-A may open later this year Mojica was not at the home and was later found walking in the area by a Susquehanna Township Police officer. Mojica showed his hands and said, 'Arrest me,' after he was asked who he was, according to police. Police said they found blood stains on his shirt and pants, along with scratch marks on his body that looked to be from the victim trying to defend herself. Mojica's preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 7. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Portnoy Speaks Publicly on His New Girlfriend
Dave Portnoy, the Barstool Sports founder, had a very public relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Silvana Mojica. The Barstool Sports founder, who bought back his company from Penn National Gaming for $1, dated Mojica, a Florida State graduate, for a couple of years. Portnoy, 48, dated the Florida native from early 2021 until late 2023. The couple ultimately broke up because Portnoy said that he couldn't give her what she truly wanted, which seemed to be a marriage and possibly kids. 'We were dating for three years and I guess you get to a point where you think maybe there's a difference in what somebody wants and what the other person wants and without going into too much detail, I just didn't think I could give Silvana kind of what she deserves,' Portnoy explained on his "BFFs" podcast in 2023. 'She's so beautiful, she's funny, she's smart, she's all these things." Portnoy has kept his dating life pretty private since his split from Mojica. However, he has been spotted at some public events, including NBA games, with a young woman named Camryn D'Aloia. On a Monday episode of Barstool Sports' "Drop A Pin" podcast, Portnoy confirmed that they were dating. Portnoy spoke about his incident in the Nantucket Harbor, in which his boat lost power. "I thought about jumping off (the boat) at one point," Portnoy said. "But your mom was on there, too?" a co-host of the podcast asked. "No. Originally, it was myself and Cam, the girl that I'm dating. I was like, 'you have to get off and tell somebody, I have no communication.' So she, before we got too far, dove off and went home and called the harbor master." Back in 2024, Portnoy and his apparent girlfriend were spotted at Game 4 of the Celtics vs. Heat NBA Playoff series. 'Very unfortunate set of circumstances, I'll say that,' the Barstool founder said of that moment. 'Because…well, I'm sensitive to the fact I'm six months, five-and-a-half months, out of a relationship, so being seen on a date or with a girl, was not what I was trying to do.' He added that he had actually turned down courtside seats at the game, because he didn't want the attention. 'I turned down courtside [seats],' he explained, saying: 'I don't want to be pictured, I don't want to be on TV, I don't want any of it.' He eventually accepted two tickets from a Barstool employee, but no one knew exactly where the seats would be. 'We walk in, sit down, and I know instantly I have a problem. No idea where these tickets were. They are right behind the broadcaster. It was the two worst tickets—and there's the reaction, like, 'What the f--k.'' He continued. 'We sat down and it's like, 'We are f--ked.' That's the initial [reaction]. You can see us on the screen. I think I told her, 'Just don't panic, just don't panic.' You guys can appreciate that there is a level of notoriety that stinks when you're well-known. We just wanted to go to the Celtics game.' At the time, it wasn't an official relationship, though it sounds like that has changed. 'I'm friends with this girl, we've hung out,' Portnoy explained in 2024. 'It's not boyfriend-girlfriend, obviously.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Suspect in Walmart shooting arrested after pursuit: authorities
NORTH PORT, Fla. (WFLA) — Police have arrested a man who they believe was involved in a shooting at a Walmart parking lot in Port Charlotte earlier this month, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. On April 13, Charlotte County deputies responded to reports of several shots being fired at a Walmart on Murdock Circle. Trump on Russia-Ukraine talks: 'Nobody's playing me' After an initial investigation, deputies took two people into custody for their alleged roles in the shooting, and issued a warrant for the man who they say was responsible for firing the shots. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office reported that around 1 a.m. Thursday, deputies responded to the area of Camilla Lane after receiving a tip involving the wanted suspect. At the scene, deputies said they found Anthony Mojica, 20, driving a white Nisszan Altima. One of the deputies said that he caught up to the vehicle and turned on his emergency lights, which prompted Mojica to swerve into the opposite lane and turn off his headlights before speeding off. The deputy continued his pursuit with assistance from the North Port Police Department. During the pursuit, the Nissan driven by Mojica reached speeds of over 120 miles per hour while driving on the wrong side of the road heading north on Interstate 75. According to deputies, around mile marker 180, the front tire of the Nissan began to deteriorate, which allowed NPPD to successfully deploy stop sticks and slow the vehicle down to 65 miles per hour. Law enforcement then enacted a PIT maneuver that stopped the vehicle near mile marker 182 'I warned him that he could not hide from us. If you commit a crime in Charlotte County we will find you. We have recently trained members and equipped our vehicles with the ability to PIT. We are tired of criminals fleeing, so this is a warning to all, if you commit a crime and run in Charlotte County, given the opportunity, we will put you in the ditch!' Sheriff Bill Prummell said. 'I want our community to continue to feel safe and they can rest easy knowing that this violent criminal is no longer on the street.' Employee plants GPS tracker to catch pair of thieves on spree of copper spool thefts: deputies Charlotte County deputies and NNPD officers ordered the occupants of the Nissan to exit the vehicle in which Mojica, accompanied by a juvenile female passenger, complied. After searching the vehicle, deputies located a handgun and a black bag with suspected narcotics and additional ammunition inside. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office arrested Mojica and he was taken and booked into the Sarasota County Jail where he is being held on charges relating to the pursuit. He will also face charges in the Charlotte County shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
