Latest news with #indictment
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Barry Morphew indicted by grand jury for allegedly killing wife who disappeared on Mother's Day
Barry Morphew was indicted by a grand jury charging him with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Suzanne Morphew. The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney's Office said in a statement to Fox News Digital that Morphew was arrested in Arizona following the indictment and will face extradition to Colorado. Morphew, 49, vanished during a bike ride on Mother's Day in 2020. This is a developing story.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Charges pile up for ex-teacher accused of sexually abusing student
An indictment has been unsealed in the case of former Downers Grove, Illinois, high school teacher Christina Formella, who faces dozens of new charges for allegedly sexually abusing a student. Abby Escobar, a true-crime digital creator known as Abby Blabby, joins 'Banfield' to discuss what transpired in court this week. #Crime #SexualAbuse #Teacher
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Former Downers Grove teacher indicted on dozens of new sexual abuse charges: prosecutors
The Brief Christina Formella, a former Downers Grove South teacher, was indicted on 52 additional counts of sexual abuse and assault involving a student, prosecutors said. The alleged abuse began in January 2023 and continued through August/September 2024, including grooming and about 50 incidents at school and her home. Formella was released pretrial with conditions barring contact with the victim and minors; she is due back in court on Aug. 4. DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. - A former Downers Grove South High School teacher previously charged with having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student now faces 52 additional counts of sexual abuse and assault, prosecutors said. What we know Christina Formella, 30, appeared at a status hearing Tuesday morning, where the state filed a second petition to deny her pretrial release. The request was denied, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. On May 20, a DuPage County grand jury returned a true bill against Formella, charging her with: 20 counts of criminal sexual assault (Class 1 felony) 20 counts of agg. criminal sexual abuse (Class 1 felony) Six counts of indecent solicitation of a child (Class 3 felony) Six counts of grooming (Class 4 felony) Formella first appeared in court on March 17 on one count each of aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, prosecutors said. After that hearing, the court denied the state's motion to detain her pretrial. She was released with conditions barring her from entering the high school or contacting the victim or anyone under 18, prosecutors said. The backstory On March 15, the victim, then 15 years old, and his parents reported the inappropriate sexual contact to the Downers Grove Police Department. Formella was the student's soccer coach and tutor at the time. Further investigation by Downers Grove police and the DuPage County Children's Advocacy Center led to the original charges. On April 17, the victim and his parents returned to the advocacy center and disclosed additional sexual abuse, prosecutors said. The abuse allegedly began in January 2023 and continued through August or September 2024. The alleged sexual abuse began in January 2023 through August/September 2024. During that time, Formella allegedly sent the victim multiple "grooming" text messages and engaged in sexual acts with him about 50 times — both at the school and at her home, with at least 45 incidents occurring at the school, the state's attorney said. What they're saying "The new allegations against Ms. Formella, including the allegations of grooming and that the abuse lasted nearly two years, are beyond disturbing," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. "I thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward during what I image is an extremely difficult time for him. I also thank the DuPage County Children's Center, particularly Investigator George Fencl, as well as Assistant State's Attorneys Jaclyn McAndrew and Michael Fisher for their work not only in this case but for their continued efforts protecting our children." What's next Formella is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 4.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
State rep used Biden-themed username to distribute child porn, feds say
A South Carolina state representative and co-founder of the Freedom Caucus was indicted on federal charges after allegedly using a Biden-themed account on a messaging app to share child sexual abuse material. A federal grand jury in Greenville, South Carolina, recently returned a 10-count indictment against Rep. Robert John "RJ" May III, a Republican from Lexington, for distributing child sexual abuse material, according U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina. In April 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber-tip from the social messaging app Kik, flagging several videos with the username "joebidennnn69" containing child sexual abuse, according to court documents. Investigators reportedly connected the account to May's West Columbia home IP address and mobile device, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina. Authorities found at least 10 videos depicting child sexual abuse that were shared from the account, officials said. May was allegedly arrested at his home on Wednesday, according to a report from The State. The 38-year-old faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison with a minimum of five years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of at least five years of supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment. May, a father of two young children, is assigned to the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. The S.C. Freedom Caucus, where May previously served as vice chair, called for his resignation from the House. Read the statement below (App users click here) "The South Carolina Freedom Caucus stands firmly for the rule of law and the protection of children," according to the statement. "Although formal charges have not been made public yet, all indications are that these indictments will be for child sex abuse materials. These crimes are heinous and we expect that they will be fully investigated. We pray justice is served." The group said May has not been involved in the operations of the caucus since August 2024, when he was expelled from the group. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, authorities noted. Dayne Phillips, who is reportedly representing May, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Acting NJ U.S. Attorney Alina Habba says Rep. LaMonica McIver indicted
A grand jury has indicted U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver on charges related to an incident at Delaney Hall in Newark last month, said a social media post by acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba. McIver was at Delaney Hall with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez to "inspect the treatment of ICE detainees at Delaney Hall." All three are Democrats. The congresswoman said in a statement that the 'facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation." 'This indictment is no more justified than the original charges, and is an effort by Trump's administration to dodge accountability for the chaos ICE caused and scare me out of doing the work I was elected to do,' McIver said. 'But it won't work — I will not be intimidated. The facts are on our side, I will be entering a plea of not guilty, I'm grateful for the support of my community, and I look forward to my day in court.' Habba said the federal grand jury 'returned a three-count indictment' against McIver for 'forcibly impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement officers.' 'It is my constitutional obligation as the chief federal law enforcement officer for New Jersey to ensure that our federal partners are protected when executing their duties,' she said. 'While people are free to express their views for or against particular policies, they must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve.' The three counts have a maximum penalty of eight years for count one, an additional maximum penalty of eight years for count two and a maximum penalty of one year for count three. McIver's lawyer, Paul Fishman, who served as U.S. attorney in New Jersey during the Obama administration, said June 10 that the "legal process will expose this prosecution for what it truly is — political retaliation against a dedicated public servant who refuses to shy away from her oversight responsibilities." Earlier: NJ Rep. LaMonica McIver makes court appearance for assault charges in Newark ICE incident McIver said in a statement on May 19 that she and her colleagues were "fulfilling our lawful oversight responsibilities, as members of Congress have done many times before, and our visit should have been peaceful and short." "Instead, ICE agents created an unnecessary and unsafe confrontation when they chose to arrest Mayor Baraka," she said. "The charges against me are purely political — they mischaracterize and distort my actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight." Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested at Delaney Hall on charges of trespassing, but the charges have since been dropped. He is suing Habba alleging 'false arrest and malicious prosecution.' Fishman said in May that the "decision to charge Congresswoman McIver is spectacularly inappropriate." "She went to Delaney Hall to do her job. As a member of Congress, she has the right and responsibility to see how ICE is treating detainees," Fishman said. "Rather than facilitating that inspection, ICE agents chose to escalate what should have been a peaceful situation into chaos. This prosecution is an attempt to shift the blame for ICE's behavior to Congresswoman McIver. In the courtroom, facts — not headlines — will matter." Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@ This article originally appeared on NJ U.S. Attorney Alina Habba: Rep. LaMonica McIver indicted
