Don Carpenter's blog

This piece was prepared by Michelle L. McKee and Alexandria Goddard in support of a request for the public’s assistance in seeking justice for the death of Jacob Limberios. This request for assistance was made by the Limberios family by and through their attorney Dan McGookey:

1. Police beat unarmed man to death in California
   David Sal Silva, a 33-year-old father of four small children between the ages of 2 and 10, was beaten to death by as many as nine police officers in Bakersfield, California.
   
   
   911 Caller  “There’s a man laying on the floor and your police officers beat the shit out of him and killed him. I have it all on video camera.I am sitting here on the corner of Flower and Palm right now and you have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight Sheriffs. The guy was laying on the floor and eight Sheriff’s ran up and started beating him up with sticks.  The man is dead laying right here, right now.”

More details

Anonymous pastebin

Steubenville City Manager Cathy Davidson is out of a job soon it seems. She was asked for her resignation, yet nothing official has come about as of the time of writing this days after the story broke.

Update on the story I had on Isaak Wolfe, a transgrendered student who tried running for prom king and was not allowed via Red Lion High School principal Mark Shue.

In a email I received from the ACLU this morning, I was notified that Red Lion HIgh School and principal Mark Shue will not be allowing Issak to be named prom king, nor will address him by his new name at graduation. The following is a press release from the ACLU:


 

RED LION, Pa. – The Red Lion Area School District (RLASD) has refused to change its policy around transgender candidates for prom court, nor will it agree to allow transgender students to use a name at graduation to match their gender identity, according to a letter from the school district’s solicitor. RLASD’s treatment of its transgender students became an issue last month after a male transgender student, Issak Wolfe, was denied the chance to run for prom king when his principal placed his female birth name in the column for “Prom Queen” despite repeated requests to be listed in accordance with his gender identity.

This isn't my usual reporting, but an OP-ED piece

When Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine announced a grand jury would be convened to explore possible other crimes that may have been committed during the Jane Doe rape case investigation, and that they would be investigating other individuals who may have committed those crimes, no one believed it would take this long.

Bishop Frederick Campbell claims that the March firing of Phys Ed teacher Carla Hale was not based on her sexual preference, but because it violated the church's moral teachings and values. He further went on to claim that the Diocese of Columbus "Doesn;t really go looking for this sort of things with their employees." But hale made her relationship with her lover public when listing her partner as a survivor in her mother's oituary which resulted in a public complaint.

Hale is a methodist, and as her attorney states isn't bound by catholic doctrine. Her teacher's union contract also says that she is not bound by any such religious beliefs or catholic doctrine.

Hale has not only filed a complaint with her union, but the city of Columbus as well on the grounds of discrimination based on  her sexual orientation. Columbus comissioners are reviewing the teachers case and could take weeks or months to decide whether or not the Diocese violated her civil rights.

The case has grown quick support from the Gay and lesbian communites as well as the activist communites across the ocuntry.
The Hacktivist group Anonymous have also thrown their name into the hat of groups concerned with the Catholic Church's violation of hale's right to be an individual.

Anonymous threatens that is Hale is not reinsatated all of the Columbus diocese's dirty secrets will be found out and revealed to the public.
Many donors to the church have refused to donate to the church's fundraiser held over this weekend.

Despite being well known for their priests molesting children and getting away with it due to big payouts from the churches, the catholic church still finds gay rights to be offensive.

Photo: AP Media Pool March 2013

The Steubenville Grand Jury finally began meeting on Tuesday at the Jefferson County 911 Call Center to begin investigating whether other individuals broke additional laws going back to August in the rape of 16 year old Jane Doe by Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond.

Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine has promised to bring closure to this case and to attempt to answer all the unanswered questions lingering from this case. Search Warrants were executed on school facilities last week in which documents, and computer hard drives were seized.

The most frustrating thing about this grand jury process for media and the public is that the proceedings are held in secret, are now expected to last weeks not the initial 10 days we were told, and a press conference will be held immediately following the grand jury's recoomendations to either file additional charges or that no new action be taken.

We'll keep you updated as best we can here at Mobile Broadcast News.

UPDATE: the Grand Jury  has broke until May 23rd so that Ohio BCI can analyze more evidence and interview more witnesses. 

With 5 days before a grand jury hears evidence against 16 individuals for failing to cooperate in the Jane Doe rape case investigation (among other possible charges). Search Warrants were executed at the Steubenville Board of Education Offices, The Steubenville High School, Vestige limited in Medina County and other locations in connection with  Ohio Attorney general Mike Dewine's ongoing investigation in the Jane Doe Rape Case. 

Coach Reno was at the Harding Stadium House when Ohio BCI Agents arrived to also serv search warrants. Steubenville police were also on scene.

What Ohio BCI agents and Steubenville Police officers were searching for remain a mystery as the scope of the warrants remain sealed by a court order.

Sources on the ground in Steubenville tell me that more warrants and locations may be searched within the next few days.

The Grand jury begins hearing evidence on April 30th, and the process should last 10 days.

Calls for comments to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office, and Steubenville high School have not been returned. 

It's a question on many minds in the Weirton, West Virgina and Ohio Valley Areas. The case is 2 years old  with one man being charged, and eventually all charges being dismissed. A grand Jury was convened in January to see if any other individuals would be charged, or if new charges would be filed against the original suspect. The grand jury found no reason to file additional charges, or charge anyone else.

The case has come back into the public's eyes lately with facebook pages titled Justice for Khylii and Khylii's Justice. An online petition has been set up to reopen the case, refile charges and bring justice for  Khylii Keffer who sustained heavy trauma to her stomach on February 27, 2011.

According to Paramedic dispatch reports and records,  on February 17. 2011 Paramedics arrived on scene at Khylii's home at 5:57 Pm for a 3 year old that was lethargic, and turning blue.  They were met on the front steps by Amber Coen (Khylii's mom) who was carrying Khylii outside.

As if the process of growing up and going to high school isn't hard enough. Our youth today face struggles of being accepted in social circles, the occassional school shootings, bullying and harrasment as well as trying to get a decent education.

Imagine the struggle of transgendered student Issak Wolfe. Issak who received massive support from other students and faculty for his transition being fully acknowledged by his new name, decided to run for prom king of Red Lion High School.  (Red Lion Highschool is located in Pennsylvania) Many students pledged their support to vote for Issak this year, and his name was added to the ballot. He pretty much had it won based on speaking with other students.

On the day of voting, Issak went to place a vote for himself as prom king. He was shocked, embarrassed, and humiliated to discover that he was removed from the ballot as prom king.

Issak went to principal's office to find out why he was removed from the ballot and was told he was unable to meet with Principal Shue (head principal of Red Lion High School.)

Eventually Issak learned that the reason he was removed from the ballot for prom king was that head principal Mark Shue wasuncomfortable with the boy running for prom king being transgendered.

Calls to Red Lion high school, Principal Mark Shue, and Superindent Dr.Dailey (This reporter has left 2 voicemails for each) Emails to Mr. Shue have been bounced back as undeliverable using the emails listed from the School's website.

The FBI released photos and videos of 2 persons of interest in the Boston Marathon Bombings.

if you have any info on the suspects pleas contact the FBI  1800 call fbi

High Resolution images of suspects HERE 

Video and Images via: fbi.gov 

9 jurors and 5 alternates were selected for the Steubenville grand jury set to investigate further charges against others in the Steubenville case.  The jury was whittled down from 150 jefferson county residents that reported to the courthouse yesterday morning. The grand jury will be tasked with deciding if other crimes were commited by 16 indivduals.
 

A brief interview and discussion I did earlier after the rally outside of the Jefferson County Courthouse while the grand jury was being selected with 2 members of anonymous ( @anonymoussph3re and K) and 2 citizens from the area who attended the rallies.

Special thanks to Plain Jane's restaurant/bar for letting us come in after closing for food, drinks and providing us a place to do the interviews and hang out for awhile. 

Twitter was abuzz earlier today with confused Jane Doe supporters, members of anon, and media over Attorney General Mike Dewine's announcement today that The Steubenville grand jury will be selected on April 15th, and will then be delayed for 2 weeks as the AG's office continues going over evidence to eventually present to the grand jury.

"We have to do this right," DeWine told media earlier today. "We are still evaluating and going through some evidence and we do not want to start this process until we have done that."

Anonymous still plans to hold a rally on the Jefferson County Courthouse steps at 11 Am on Monday, but several protesters who are traveling from out of town planning to stay for the week are very disappointed and angry over the delay. "when will Jane Doe finally get justice." one activist wrote online.

There is no Ohio statute that states a grand jury process must be a speedy one. Dewine also noted in previous briefings to media that this grand jury will not meet on a daily basis once things get rolling, and will most likely alternate days.

Other frustrated  journalists mused amongst each other over coffee that they had spent their budgets planning to stay in the Ohio Valley area for a week assuming the process would wrap within 7 days or that their respective outlets won't be sending them to Steubenville to just stand around everyday waiting for the final press conference when the grand jury has finished their investigation.

Wintersville police are tight lipped about the investigation of an alleged sexual assault near Indian Creek High School.

Multiple sources close to the victims involved have confirmed that an alleged sexual assault did happen as police are saying, but gave more details:

Last Friday evening, a 16 year old male and his teenage girlfriend were walking along a trail near the high school when 33 year old Andre Wade allegedly jumped them with a knife. He put the knife to the boys throat and he was forced  to watch while his gf was sexually assaulted.

Wade was arrested and charged with rape, felonious assault and possession of cocaine. He was arraigned on Monday.
Wade remains in jail on $250,000 bond.

For further updates follow @nunyaman on twitter

UPDATE 4/18/13: Andre Wade appeared in court yesterday for a probable cause hearing. for more info from local WTOV9 click here

Updated 5/2/13: Andre Wade's case did not go before the Jefferson County Grand Jury as planned due to prosecutor Jane Haanlin stating she is waiting for the results of a rape kit to come back from Ohio BCI.

Sources have confirmed that the Steubenville Grand Jury will be selected and start hearing tesimony from witnesses and weighing evidence on or around April 15th. However, The Grand Jury will not meet on a daily basis and instead will either alternate days or weeks for theprocess to run it's course.  The trial of Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond lasted for 5 days.

Ohio Attorney Mike Dewine has assured the media and public that he will hold a press conference to announce the results of the grand jury process.

Local NBC affiliate and WTOV9 reporter Eric Minor told me on twitter last night that "this will not be your typical grand jury, but an investigative grand jury. "16 witnesses perhaps more will be called before the grand jury."

The attorney general's office is seeking indictments on 16 adults and teens for refusing to cooperate with the initial Steubenville Rape Investigation.

With the grand jury not meeting on a daily basis, iot's best that media, the public, as well as Anonymous (who will be standing outside the courthouse for the entire process) Prepare for a long haul and a lengthy hurry up and wait game.

With hours before a grand jury is selected for a April 15th session to try and indict 16 other adults and teens in the Steubenville rape case, other legal actions are slowly in the works.

The home owners where the underage drinking parties Jane Doe attended and was eventually raped by Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond were notified over the weekend to contact their insurers that they may be sued on liability claims. No lawsuits have been filed yet, but Jane Doe's attorney Bob Fitzsimmons had been hinting at the possibility of lawsuits during the trial.

No parents supervised their kids on the night in question. Assistant volunteer football coach Matt Belardine was aware of 40-50 underage kids partying in his house, and threw all the teens out. Jane Doe wound up at Mark Cole's house where the rape took place.
DNA evidence was collected at the Cole home by a Ohio BCI agent. It remains unclear who will be sued specifically among the homeowners, but it is safe to assume that teens will also be sued by Jane Doe for their conduct as it pertains to the use of social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to humiliate the girl after the incident.

At the time of publishing, Bob Fitsimmons had not returned phone calls for a comment.

Grand Jury Selection begins tomorrow morning in Steubenville.

For more information follow @nunyaman on twitter.

Photo: CBS and AP Media Pool

On Monday morning, Ohio  Attorney General Mike Dewine, will begin selecting a grand jury pool of 16-23 Eligible registered voters from Jefferson County. Dewine will then convene the final Grand Jury on April 15th at the Jefferson County Courthouse to try and indict 16 people who did not cooperate, failed to report a rape, failed to report child abuse, tampering with evidence and possible other charges.

While it remains unclear which 16 people(both adults and Teens) indictments are being sought for, Dewine has made it clear that as grand jury cannot indict juveniles. A grand jury can only find probable cause on juveniles, in which his office will then have to file charges through the Jefferson County Juvenile court systems. Adults may either be arrested, or subpoenaed to appear for a hearing if the grandy jury indicts adults.

 The Grand Jury will be overseen by Patricia Cosgrove, a visiting retired judge from the Summit County Court of Common Pleas in Akron, Ohio.

Anonymous will hold a rally outside of the Jefferson County Courthouse at 10 Am on April 15th during the  grand jury proceedings.

Photo: AP Media Pool

Trent Mays(17) and Ma'lik Richmond(16) were transported from the Jefferson County Juvenile Justice center before 1 PM this afternoon to begin serving their sentences at The Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility.

Following the Steubenville rape  trial, threats to the victim as well as public slandering swirled all over the twitterverse.
1 teen identified as a underage cousin of Ma'lik Richmond who was sentenced to 1 year after being found delinquent in the rape of Jane Doe posted a poem on murdering the victim if she saw her again.

Another teen posted she would celebrate the verdict "by beating the shit out of Jane Doe." both teens were promptly arrested the day after the trial and were held in a juvenile detention facility until today's hearing.

Judge Kerr ruled that the teens would be placed on house arrest and would be blocked from using social media and the internet until further notice as well as, staying away from the victim of the Steubenville trial.

Defense lawyers argued that someof the twitter posts may have originated in West Virginia, and that Ohio has no jurisdiction with charges. Judge Kerr released the teens phones to the defense to have the trasnmissions of the tweets and where they originated from analyzed.