Nearly 240 anti-LGBTQ bills filed in 2022 so far, with most targeting trans people

The annual number of anti-LGBTQ bills filed has skyrocketed over the past several years, from 41 bills in 2018 to 238 bills in less than three months of 2022. State lawmakers have proposed a record 238 bills that would limit the rights of LGBTQ Americans this year — or more than three per day —

Former Tenn. deputy accused of raping 14-year-old strikes deal to avoid prison, sex offender status

Brian O. Beck, 47, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, court records show. A former sheriff’s deputy in Tennessee accused of raping a 14-year-old girl struck a plea deal with prosecutors last week that keeps him out of prison and from having to register as a sex

Florida deputy fired after he is accused of framing innocent man in revenge plot

Former Lee County Deputy Niko Irizarry worked with two others in the scheme, alleged the sheriff, who said drugs were planted in the man’s car. A Florida sheriff’s deputy was fired and arrested after an investigation that alleged he took part in an effort to frame an innocent man, authorities said. Former Lee County Sheriff’s

Northland school book ban advocate now facing child molestation charge

Ryan Utterback, 29, of Gladstone also faces two other charges KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Gladstone man, who recently spoke in support of banning books from North Kansas City School District libraries that depicted sexual acts, is facing a felony charge of second-degree child molestation and a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree domestic assault. Ryan Utterback, 29,

Oklahoma Rep. Terry O’Donnell, wife indicted over law change that let her become tag agent

A state representative was accused Friday in a grand jury indictment of misusing his power to change the law so his wife could become a tag agent. Terry O’Donnell is charged in the indictment with five felonies and three misdemeanors. “He denies any wrongdoing,” his attorney, Mack Martin, said. His wife, Teresa O’Donnell, faces three felonies and

Idaho: Sheriff charged with felony aggravated assault after allegedly threatening youth group with gun

A local sheriff faces serious felony charges for allegedly threatening a youth group with a gun in November. The Idaho Attorney General’s Office charged Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland on Tuesday with felony aggravated battery, felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor exhibition of a gun. Referring to the incident on Nov. 9, Rowland told Blackfoot Police

Kansas City Police Officer Found Guilty In 2019 Fatal Shooting Of Black Man – Kansas City Star

A Kansas City police detective was found guilty of manslaughter in the 2019 killing of a Black man who was fatally shot in his own backyard. Jackson County Circuit Court Judge J. Dale Youngs announced his decision Friday afternoon. Eric DeValkenaere, 43, was charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the Dec.

Teen gets probation for offering to sell Black classmate as ‘slave’ on Craigslist

An Illinois teenager has been sentenced to two years of probation for posting a Craiglist ad in which he offered to sell a Black classmate as a “slave.” The teen, who was a 14-year-old freshman at Naperville Central High School at the time of the incident in 2019, must also complete 100 hours of community service, after

‘It’s Bad News’: MAGA’s Gaetz Sex Crime Probe Takes New Turn – MSNBC

In a twist in the federal sex crime investigation into Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, his associate Joel Greenberg has asked to delay his sentencing on sex crimes charges. MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent is joined by attorney Dave Aronberg to discuss why this is potentially very bad news for Gaetz.

Grand jury indicts 2 officers fired for beating Black teen

A grand jury in California has indicted two police officers on felony assault charges in the alleged beating of an unresisting Black teenager last year A grand jury has indicted two central California police officers on felony assault charges in the alleged beating of a Black teenager so severe that he was left with massive bruising on his face,