Latest news with #ToddThompson
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
Trial for Leavenworth man accused of killing his sons on hold for incompetency
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Leavenworth County Attorney says that the Leavenworth District Court has found a man accused of capital murder to be incompetent to stand trial. Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in a news release that the court found that 45-year-old Donald Jackson Jr. is not able to stand in defense. The case is now on hold for further evaluation. Motion filed to upgrade charges in deaths of 3 Chiefs fans found in Northland backyard Jackson, who's charged with capital murder, is accused of , ages 12 and 14, and , prompting an AMBER Alert in 2020. The two boys were found dead on October 24, 2020. 'This case will be on hold pending further evaluation of the defendant,' said County Attorney Thompson. 'Our thoughts are with the victims and their families at this time.' Overland Park Police, KHP to crack down on aggressive driving The release went on to cite K.S.A. 22-3301(1), which defines incompentency in a defendant as: '. . . a person is 'incompetent to stand trial' when he is charged with a crime and, because of mental illness or defect, is unable: (a) to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings against him; or (b) to make or assist in making his defense.' However, it should also be noted that if it is determined that Jackson is competent at a later date, he could be returned to the county and proceedings may resume. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Minnesota Court of Appeals to decide if state can prosecute cannabis crimes on tribal lands
Todd Thompson, a White Earth tribal member, sold cannabis from his tobacco store in Mahnomen on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer. The Minnesota Court of Appeals will review whether the state may prosecute tribal members for cannabis crimes on most Native reservations in the state, wading into new legal territory after the state legalized recreational cannabis in 2023. The case involves a White Earth citizen, Todd Thompson, who faces a felony charge for selling marijuana from his tobacco store in Mahnomen on the White Earth reservation. Mahnomen County sheriff's deputies and White Earth tribal police raided his store on Aug. 2, 2023, a day after recreational cannabis became legal in Minnesota, and seized about 7.5 lbs of cannabis, 433 grams of marijuana wax and $2,748 in cash along with Thompson's cell phone and surveillance system. More than eight months after the raid, Mahnomen County charged Thompson with felony possession, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Thompson asked Mahnomen County District Judge Seamus Duffy to dismiss the charge, arguing that the state doesn't have the legal jurisdiction to prosecute him. Under what's called Public Law 280, Minnesota has the power to prosecute tribal members on certain reservations including White Earth's for criminal acts, but not civil or regulatory violations of state law. Thompson and his attorney, Claire Glenn, argued that after cannabis was legalized in Minnesota, possessing and selling the drug became a regulatory matter, not a criminal one. Thompson also argued that prosecuting him for possession of cannabis violated his rights under the United States' 1855 Treaty with the Ojibwe, which guarantees the Ojibwe usufructuary rights to hunt, fish and gather on ceded lands. The district court judge ruled that the state did have jurisdiction, allowing the case to proceed. He held that the matter was criminal and that treaties guarantee rights to tribes, not individuals. Typically, criminal cases can only be appealed after a conviction, which raised the prospect that Thompson could be forced to go to prison before being able to appeal the judge's ruling. Thompson's attorney, Claire Glenn, asked the Court of Appeals to make an exception and review the jurisdiction matter because his case presents new legal questions that will have implications for Native tribes and tribal members across the state. The appeals court judges agreed. 'A decision on the jurisdiction of the state to enforce Minnesota's cannabis-possession laws and on the extent of the rights reserved under applicable treaties will have an immediate statewide impact on all Tribes in Minnesota subject to Public Law 280 and on their members,' Chief Judge Jennifer Frisch wrote in the opinion on behalf of herself, and Judges Randall Slieter and Rachel Bond. Glenn praised the decision, noting how rare it is for the Court of Appeals to intervene in the middle of criminal cases. 'We're very encouraged by that, but obviously we have a ways to go,' she said. Both sides must now submit written briefs before oral arguments will be scheduled.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
⚠️Scams to watch out for in 2025⚠️
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With the amount of scams out there, it can be hard to keep track of which ones to watch out for. That's why FOX4 compiled a list of local and national scams that you should be aware of. These are the scams to watch out for in 2025: Most recently, Leavenworth County officials are warning residents of a phone scam. Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said scam callers posing as members of the sheriff's office are falsely claiming that residents have a warrant for missing jury duty. 'These scams can look very convincing,' Thompson said. 'The caller uses a number that appears to be from Tonganoxie and pretends to be from the sheriff's office, claiming there's a warrant for your arrest over missed jury duty.' He said you should always verify independently before responding to such calls. To verify, you can call the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office at 913-724-1313. You can read more about this scam here. The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) warned Kansans of this scam back in September 2024. After nearly a year of warning travelers about the nationwide fraudulent texting scam, the KTA is once again urging Kansans to be extremely cautious if they receive a text message about unpaid tolls. 'We do not send unsolicited text messages about tolls,' said Donnell Brown, KTA's Senior Customer Service Manager. 'A person only receives a text if they have a DriveKS account and have signed up for text notifications in their account preferences. Then, the person is required to login to their DriveKS account to view their statement and/or pay a bill.' The texts urge quick action to avoid a penalty and includes a link or URL to a fake website that mimics the DriveKS toll payment site, or another toll payment site located elsewhere in the U.S. The KTA said these fraudulent texts (and instant messages) are being sent to random phone numbers with no regard to actual use of a toll road or ownership of a vehicle. Kansans who receive an unsolicited text message suggesting it is from KTA, the Kansas Department of Transportation (who does not collect tolls for any roadway) or another toll agency, should NOT click the link. Please report the text to the Federal Trade Commission and/or the Internet Crime Complaint Center at If payment information has been provided on a fraudulent web site, individuals are urged to contact their bank or credit card company immediately. More information is available on the KTA's website. Previous coverage Beware of text messages about unpaid tolls, FBI and state authorities warn Kansas Turnpike Authority warns of new text scam asking to pay for tolls The Missouri Department of Revenue in April warned Missourians of ongoing nationwide text scams. These texts are often threatening, claiming to be from the Missouri Department of Revenue or Department of Motor Vehicles, and often include a warning regarding unpaid traffic violations, outstanding toll charges or fines owed. The department said in April that it had received a large increase in calls reporting these phishing texts. You can read more about this scam here. Leavenworth, Kansas, officials in April warned residents of a viral social media scam. Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said scammers are falsely claiming that a female police officer is missing in Leavenworth. The fraudulent post claims 'officials' are looking for help finding a 27-year-old officer. The post further states the officer's vehicle was located 'last night' with her daughter inside and that the officer may be in grave danger. Officials said Facebook users across the country may have noticed the post circulating on various Facebook neighborhood groups. The Leavenworth County Attorney's Office is asking the community to remain vigilant and to rely on official sources for information regarding missing persons or public safety alerts. Read more about this scam here. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office said in April that a caller posing as Deputy Lewis has been leaving messages on voicemails, urging citizens to return a call regarding legal matters. If you get a call from the phone number 660-242-5181, be advised that this number is not associated with the sheriff's office. If you're not sure whether it's genuinely law enforcement reaching out, you can call the sheriff's office dispatch line at 660-747-5511 to verify if a deputy is trying to contact you. Read more about this scam here. The Cass County Health Department in March warned residents about a scam targeting Medicare recipients. Scammers posing as health department employees are attempting to steal personal information by claiming that they need Medicare details for verification or updated records, county officials said. These scammers are using phone calls to trick victims into providing sensitive information, which can then be used for fraudulent purposes – including identity theft and unauthorized Medicare claims. The Cass County Health Department said it will never call to request Medicare numbers without a scheduled appointment with a patient. For more information, you can contact 816-380-8425. To learn more about this scam, click here. Leavenworth County officials in February warned residents about a scam targeting family members of inmates. County Attorney Todd Thompson told FOX4 that the scammers have been calling family members of people who have recently appeared in court, or who have been listed as inmates on the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office's online booking log. The scammer will tell the victim that the court has a smaller bond payment available to release their loved one. In this case, the caller explained a $4,500 fee would be used for an ankle bracelet, when the original bond was set at $50,000. Thompson said the caller in this case was using a 'ghost' phone number and that they were asking for the victim's banking information. This was the first time Thompson or anyone in Leavenworth County had heard of the scheme. To learn more about this scam and how to protect yourself, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Leavenworth officials warn of viral social media scam involving fake missing officer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Leavenworth, Kansas, officials are warning residents of a viral social media scam. Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said scammers are falsely claiming that a female police officer is missing in Leavenworth. Fairway woman concerned roofing company scammed her The fraudulent post claims 'officials' are looking for help finding a 27-year-old officer. The post further states the officer's vehicle was located 'last night' with her daughter inside and that the officer may be in grave danger. The image below is an edited version of the recent post in Leavenworth. The 'officer's' face has been blurred. Officials said Facebook users across the country may have noticed the post circulating on various Facebook neighborhood groups. Locally, in just 11 hours, the post was shared more than 380 times on one Leavenworth buy-and-sell page. The Salina Police Department confirmed with KSN that the post is fake. 'These posts are crafted to stir emotions and prompt quick sharing, often catching people off guard,' Thompson said. 'After enough people engage with the post, scammers sometimes change the content, adding links to questionable websites, surveys or even ads to collect personal information or spread false narratives. It's a tactic aimed at turning genuine concern into a tool for deception.' The Leavenworth County Attorney's Office is asking the community to remain vigilant and to rely on official sources for information regarding missing persons or public safety alerts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
23-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Tribal land ruling undercuts marijuana law's claims of undoing racial disparities
A Minnesota judge's order earlier this month upheld the state's authority to prosecute cannabis-related crimes on tribal lands, raising questions about Indigenous sovereignty and the efficacy of 'social equity' provisions in state-level cannabis laws. Todd Thompson – a member of the White Earth Band of the Chippewa Tribe, began selling cannabis from his licensed tobacco shop on the White Earth reservation on 1 August 2023 – the same day Minnesota passed a law permitting adult-use recreational cannabis. Thompson says the first day went well, but on the second day, the store and his home were both raided by Mahnomen county sheriff's deputies and White Earth tribal police, who seized all of Thompson's cannabis as well as $2,748 in cash. 'When they raided my home, they took my sacred items, my sage bowl, tipped it upside down on my bed, white bed sheets. And they took my feather and put it on the floor,' said Thompson. Thompson believes Article 13 of the constitution of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe gives him the right to sell cannabis. It states: 'All members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe shall be accorded by the governing body equal rights, equal protection, and equal opportunities to participate in the economic resources and activities of the Tribe, and no member shall be denied any of the constitutional rights or guarantees enjoyed by other citizens of the United States.' At first, he says he was 'very optimistic' about the legality of his operation, especially because other White Earth Band members were planning to open a recreational dispensary. He's been frustrated by news coverage that omits this. 'They make it sound like I'm just a renegade Indian breaking the law. That's not the facts. Under our constitution, I should have the same rights as [the dispensary owners],' he said. It appears nearly impossible for someone who isn't already wealthy to open a dispensary that meets state regulatory requirements. Cannabis's federal status as an illegal narcotic means most banks will not provide loans for a cannabis business. Notably, the poverty rate on the White Earth reservation is double the national average, according to the most recent census. In contrast, former and current members of the executive team at White Earth's first licensed dispensary have experience with private equity and making multimillion-dollar corporate deals, and have spent the bulk of their careers outside the reservation. Minnesota's recreational cannabis law includes social equity provisions intended to give preference to vulnerable people, as well as those with past cannabis convictions, to receive dispensary licenses. Thompson has not benefited from those provisions, and might ironically become one of the many Indigenous people convicted of a cannabis-related crime. Cat Packer, director of drug markets and legal regulation at Drug Policy Action, says cases like Thompson's show the importance of giving marginalized communities 'pathways towards legal economic opportunities in the regulated cannabis industry', adding: 'Without a license, in a regulated framework, criminalization continues, and it's likely that those communities that were historically discriminated against will continue to be.' In December, Thompson filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that the state of Minnesota does not have the authority to prosecute cannabis offenses on reservation land, because after the state legalized adult recreational use, related infractions became civil matters. Public Law 280 gives tribal authorities jurisdiction over civil infractions, while state and federal authorities have jurisdiction over criminal cases. In his order denying the motion to dismiss, district judge Seamus P Duffy cited past cases where marijuana possession had been considered 'clearly criminal' in the state of Minnesota, in order to argue that Thompson's case is also criminal. But those past cases happened when recreational cannabis was still illegal in the state. The case is further complicated by White Earth tribal police participation in Thompson's arrest, raising questions over whether tribal leadership should be able to cede authority to the state. At the time that Thompson's shop was raided, the White Earth Nation reservation business committee had not yet ratified its own recreational cannabis code. The White Earth reservation business committee did not respond to the Guardian's request for comment. Robert Pero, founder and CEO of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, said the order 'highlights the ongoing complexities of jurisdiction, self-regulation and sovereignty in the Indigenous cannabis industry'. For his part, Thompson believes White Earth's reservation business committee has unjustly shut off economic opportunities in the cannabis sector for band members. 'Concerns about White Earth's leadership reflect a broader issue – tribal governments must ensure transparency and prioritize the wellbeing of their people,' Pero said, adding that tribal governments are often pulled in many directions when attempting to retain sovereignty and comply with state and federal law. Claire Glenn, the attorney who represented Thompson in the case, connects the defeat to the 'war on drugs' in Minnesota, which has 'particularly targeted Black and Indigenous people'. She added that legislation decriminalizing cannabis in Minnesota was meant not only to 'undo that system, but to redress some of those harms'. Thompson says he's not surprised at the result: 'Racism is alive and well in Indian Country. It's very hard for Native people up here to find justice in any of these courts.'
