Latest news with #criminal charges
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghislaine Maxwell makes pitch to Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court should hear Ghislaine Maxwell's appeal of her 2021 sex trafficking conviction because the government has an "obligation to honor" a non-prosecution agreement with Jeffrey Epstein that inoculated Maxwell from any criminal charges, her lawyers argued in a brief to the Supreme Court Monday. "Plea and non-prosecution agreements resolve nearly every federal case. They routinely include promises that extend to others—co-conspirators, family members, potential witnesses. If those promises mean different things in different parts of the country, then trust in our system collapses," the brief said. Federal prosecutors have argued that the non-prosecution agreement applied only in Florida and did not bind New York, where charges against him, and subsequently Maxwell, were brought. MORE: Ghislaine Maxwell received limited immunity during meetings with deputy attorney general: Sources Maxwell's attorneys argued the terms of the NPA Epstein signed were unqualified. "It is not geographically limited to the Southern District of Florida, it is not conditioned on the co-conspirators being known by the government at the time, it does not depend on what any particular government attorney may have had in his or her head about who might be a co-conspirator, and it contains no other caveat or exception. This should be the end of the discussion," the defense brief said. The Justice Department has urged the Supreme Court to reject Maxwell's petition even as Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche agreed to meet with Maxwell last week. Prosecutors have argued Maxwell cannot enforce the NPA because she was not a party to it. The defense disagreed. MORE: Video Meeting wraps between deputy AG and Ghislaine Maxwell "Petitioner's alleged status as Epstein's co-conspirator was the entire basis of her prosecution," the defense brief said. "No one is above the law—not even the Southern District of New York. Our government made a deal, and it must honor it. The United States cannot promise immunity with one hand in Florida and prosecute with the other in New York. President Trump built his legacy in part on the power of a deal—and surely he would agree that when the United States gives its word, it must stand by it. We are appealing not only to the Supreme Court but to the President himself to recognize how profoundly unjust it is to scapegoat Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein's crimes, especially when the government promised she would not be prosecuted," Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Markus said in a statement.
Fast Company
7 days ago
- Fast Company
‘Door kick challenge' goes viral—but cops say the TikTok trend could lead to serious injury
Ding dong ditching has resurfaced as the 'door kick challenge.' But this time it could lead to criminal charges and potentially deadly consequences. In Florida this week, five minors were caught on camera participating in the challenge. Instead of simply knocking and running, footage shows one individual approaching a front door, kicking it repeatedly, then firing an airsoft gun before fleeing the scene, according to Fox News. Earlier this month in DeBary, near Orlando, two teenagers faced felony burglary charges after taking part in the trend. Doorbell footage captured them sneaking up to a house, forcefully kicking the door until the wood splintered, then running away. When questioned by police, one teen reportedly said they were 'just being dumb,' per the Daily Mail. Similar incidents have been reported in Pennsylvania, Texas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Georgia. Police departments across these states are warning both teens and their parents about the risks involved in the challenge. Not only is it illegal, but it also raises the risk of violent confrontations between residents and those taking part. Last month, the Fleetwood Police Department in Pennsylvania issued a warning that 'While 'ding dong ditch' has been a hallmark for decades of kids who were looking to have a little mischievous fun, today's youth have taken things to a more serious level by kicking at doors and ultimately causing damage.' The Fort Worth Police Department in Texas released a similar statement in May. 'It is imperative that individuals partaking in this trend understand that even if no burglary or theft occur, this behavior is illegal and considered vandalism and can lead to criminal charges. More critically, it can be mistaken as an attempted break-in, potentially prompting dangerous or defensive responses from homeowners,' the department wrote. Hot off the heels of the recent #ChromebookChallenge, police are urging parents 'to speak with their children about the risks and consequences of participating in trends like this,' emphasizing that 'what may seem like a prank can result in very real trouble and/or danger.'
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Former teacher facing child sex charges set to appear in bond hearing
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A former teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a teenage boy is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning. 33-year-old Nicole Ballew Callaham was a teacher at Homeland Park Primary School in Anderson County from 2017 until she resigned in May 2025. Authorities reported that the relationship between Callaham and the victim began in 2021 and continued for at least two years. The victim came forward about the incident after he turned 18. According to the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, Callaham was charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The Greenville City Police Department has also brought eight criminal charges against the suspect, as the student attended school in Greenville. Callaham was issued a $40,000 bond for her charges in Anderson County. She is now expected to appear in Greenville for a separate bond hearing at 10 a.m. The Clemson City Police Department is also investigating the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Judge denies motion to detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia, sets hearing on release
A federal magistrate judge in Tennessee has denied the government's motion to detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man illegally deported to El Salvador in March, while the criminal charges against him are pending in federal court in Nashville. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25 in Nashville. Abrego Garcia, 29, of Maryland, is accused of conspiracy to transport aliens and unlawful transportation of undocumented aliens. The court "will give Abrego the due process that he is guaranteed," U.S. Magistrate Barbara D. Holmes wrote in her June 22 decision. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Nashville, which is prosecuting the case, asked that Abrego Garcia be held in custody, arguing in an all day hearing June 13 that he is a danger to the community and a risk to leave the country. The defense, led by Federal Public Defender Dumaka Shabazz, argued the government's evidence — mostly the testimony of witnesses who are facing criminal charges or possible deportation — was not strong enough to meet the standard necessary for pre-trial detention. Despite the order from Holmes, Abrego will not likely be set free. Abrego Garcia has a hold placed on him with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If he could not be held pre-trial, he would have been transferred to ICE custody. More: How a routine traffic stop in TN exploded into human smuggling charges for Kilmar Abrego Garcia Now, his attorneys may work to try to secure his release through an immigration bond, according to Jack Chin, a professor of immigration law and criminal procedure at the University of California Davis School of Law. The charges against Abrego Garcia were revealed when a federal indictment against him was unsealed June 6, the same day the U.S. flew him back from El Salvador. Abrego Garcia appeared in the Nashville courthouse that day, where he was read the charges against him. Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kilmar Abrego Garcia case: Judge denies motion to detain
