Jury Finds Federal Corrections Officer Guilty on Civil Rights Charges

A federal jury has found Edwin Sharma, a former Bureau of Prisons officer, guilty of conspiring to violate the civil rights of Richard Delano, an inmate, and of violating his civil rights by arranging for another inmate to assault him. Sharma is now facing the possibility of life imprisonment on each of these charges and a $250,000 fine.

On March 1, 2005 Sharma and a co-conspirator moved Richard Delano into another inmate’s cell at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex. At trial, the evidence demonstrated that Sharma knew the inmate was likely to assault Delano and actually encouraged the inmate to assault Delano. On March 4th, the inmate assaulted Delano. This assault eventually led to the death of Delano because of the injuries he sustained during the assault.

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-29-2009/0005068658&EDATE=

Traffic Citation in the Mail

Over a dozen jurisdictions in Florida are placing cameras at intersections to catch people who are running through red lights or not making a complete stop before attempting a right hand turn during a red light. Violators who are caught by the camera receive their traffic citation in the mail, along with a picture of their vehicle taken during the violation. Fines for a person’s first two violations are $125 each. All violations after that are $250 each. Lakeland and Temple Terrace are among the cities with cameras in place.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jul/29/tickets-red-light-cameras-bring-delayed-lesson-law/news-metro/

FBI to Oversee Sarasota Police Investigation

The City of Sarasota Police Department asked the FBI to oversee its investigation into an incident involving one of its police officers and alleged excessive use of force. On June 26, Officer Christopher Childers arrested Juan G. Perez on charges of disorderly intoxication and obstructing an officer without violence. Upon arriving at the jail, Perez squeezed his way out of the squad car’s rear open window and landed face first on the pavement. A few minutes later, Perez attempted to stand up and Officer Childers kicked him two times and then stood with his foot on Perez’s torso for about five minutes. All of this occurred while Perez was still handcuffed.
The City of Sarasota asked for the FBI’s involvement after the Sarasota Herald-Tribune discovered that the detective investigating charges against Officer Childers also negotiated a civil settlement with Perez.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090715/ARTICLE/907151037/0/NEWSSITEMAP
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090717/BREAKING/907179933/-1/NEWSSITEMAP

Upstanding Citizens Unknowingly Commit Federal Crimes

On July 21, 2009, Representatives Louie Gohmert and Bobby Scott held a hearing in front of Congress to discuss the issue of Federal Laws that land thousands of average American citizens in federal prison every year. Federal Law now encompasses thousands of criminal offenses which are substantially less severe then those which include the obvious inherently wrongful conduct. Offenses such as forgetting to put a federally mandated safety sticker on a UPS package or violating any fish or wildlife law or regulation of any nation can land a person in federal prison even if he or she did not intend to commit the offense. Although it will take time, it is promising that Congress is taking a step to help stop this over criminalization.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/07/21/heritage-house-law/

Michael Maddux, PA adds Hurricane Insurance Claim Representation

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