SARGENT GETS 100 YEARS IN PRISON
by Andy Kravetz, Peoria Journal Star

Saying James Sargent showed a “complete and total lack of remorse” for the death of his son last year, a Peoria County judge on Friday sentenced him to the maximum of 100 years in prison.

Sargent, 24, showed little reaction and stared ahead as Circuit Judge James Shadid read his appeal rights. As he left the courtroom, he didn’t look back at his parents or the parents of his former girlfriend, Tracy Hermann, also facing murder charges for the February 2008 death of Benjamin Sargent.

Shadid said little beyond praising detectives for their work, and he didn’t lay out his reasoning for the sentencing, as he normally does, beyond noting various legalities, saying “facts speak for themselves.”

JASON SHENFELD SENTENCED TO LIFE
by Katie Brace|WPTV Channel 5, Tampa Bay

WEST PALM BEACH, FL — A plea deal in the high-profile murder of a Palm Beach Gardens softball star. Jason Shenfeld (Original PYSIH Story) will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of Amanda Buckley.

Eighteen-year-old Amanda Buckley was killed in July of 2007. Her friend, Jason Shenfeld, was twenty-six at the time. Buckley’s body was found in his closet.

According to court records, duct tape was found in Buckley’s hair. She had extensive bruising. Investigators concluded the trauma was so severe Shenfeld intentionally killed Buckley.

LAWSUIT FILED IN WRONG-WAY CRASH THAT KILLED FIVE IN FAMILY
by Erica Blake, Toledo Blade

Nearly a year after Michael Gagnon was sentenced to 43 years in prison for causing the drunken-driving crash that killed a mother and four children, the victims’ family has sued him, his family, and the owners of the Oregon bar where he became intoxicated.

The suit was filed in Lucas County Common Pleas Court late Thursday by surviving members of the family, including Danny Griffin, Jr., who was driving his family home to Maryland on the night of the crash. It seeks damages in excess of $25,000 against each defendant.

POLICE HAVE TO STUN JADA JUSTICE SUSPECT BEFORE HEARING
by Bill Dolan, The NorthWest Indiana Times

CROWN POINT | Lake County police had to use a stun gun Monday morning on one of the two adults now charged with the murder of 2-year-old Jada Justice.

Tim Tkachik, 24, of Hobart, appeared for his initial hearing Monday morning with his head bandaged and a prominent bruise on his left cheek.

Michael Higgins, a spokesman for county police, said Tkachik became disruptive in a holding cell shortly before the court session. “He got up on a table and was trying to get into an electrical panel. He was asked nicely to get down and when he didn’t they had to use a Tazer,” Higgins said.

UPDATE: JUNE 23rd, 2009

The more I looked into this, the more I think the prosecution over-charged Sofia. While I was researching this I found that there had been several child abuse cases involving the death of a kid at the same time as this one was committed. I dug up this article while searching newspaper archives with Highbeam.com:

‘Trauma On A Small Body Is Incredibly Difficult To Look At’ – Four Child Deaths In County Since April
by Nicholas P. Alajakis, The News Sun – Waukegan (IL)

Stabbings. Beatings. Scaldings.

On their own, they are some of the worst homicides to investigate. As Lake County authorities have learned recently, the tragic nature of those deaths are compounded when dealing with a child.

CHILD PORN FOUND ON MUSEUM SUSPECT’S COMPUTER, FBI SAYS
by Carol Cratty, CNN

WASHINGTON DC — The FBI says it found child pornography on a computer used by the man charged with the fatal shooting of a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum June 10.

In court documents filed Wednesday, an investigator says the pornography was found on a desktop computer during a search of an Annapolis, Maryland, apartment where 88-year old James von Brunn had been living for the past two years. The documents did not provide details about the pornography, but investigators requested permission to make a more extensive search of the computer and others found in von Brunn’s home.

WELLINGTON TEEN GETS 23 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON
by John Caniglia, The Plain Dealer
June 16th, 2009

ELYRIA, Ohio — A Wellington teenager was sentenced today to life in prison with parole eligibility in 23 years for killing his mother and shooting his father after they forbade him from playing a violent video game.

Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge earlier this year convicted Daniel Petric (Original PYSIH Story), 17, of aggravated murder in the slaying of his mother, Susan, 43, and attempted aggravated murder in the attack on his father, Mark, 46.

Mark Petric asked for leniency and said his son is remorseful.

“I can’t count the number of times that he said, ‘Dad, I miss Mom,’ ” Mark Petric said.

EX POLK PRINCIPAL CONVICTED OF CHILD PORN CHARGES
by Elaine Silvestrini
The Tampa Tribune

Bartow, FL – Although a jury convicted a former Polk County school principal on child pornography charges today, appeals courts likely will have the last word on whether his actions were a crime.

Prosecutors say John Stelmack had in his possession photos that had been altered into child pornography. They say someone had superimposed the faces of two girls on photos of nude women to make it appear as if the girls were in lewd poses.

Stelmack (His Court Records), 62, remained quiet and showed no visible reaction as the verdict was read. He faces up to 25 years in prison.