Stories posted are written by National news Journalists, not by this blog
Our Blog Tips

Woman Allegedly Stabs Boyfriend After Learning He's Sex Offender

9-28-2007 Pennsylvania:

Frazzini Found Stabbed On Butler Street

BUTLER, Pa. -- A girlfriend is accused of stabbing her boyfriend. Police say she did it, when she found that he was a sex offender.

Police said Lerhonda Starnes, 42, tried to kill 39-year-old Tony Frazzini when she stabbed him nine times in the neck and chest Thursday night in Butler.

Frazzini was found bleeding at 10:42 p.m. on the sidewalk of New Castle Street. Police said he was able to identify his attacker as Starnes and said she stabbed him after she found out he was a registered sex offender.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police's Megan's Law Web site, Frazzini was convicted of sexual abuse in New York in 1993. State police list him as a Megan's Law offender who is required to register with police for life.

A witness led police to a house on Eighth Avenue, where Starnes was found sitting on the front porch. Investigators said blood was found inside the home. ..more.. by

Kelso man says he's victim of vigilante shooting

9-25-2007 Washington:

KELSO, Wash. (AP) - A Kelso man accused of making obscene phone calls to children says he was attacked by someone he thinks found his home because of TV coverage.

Barry North says he was hit on the head and shot in the calf Saturday night when he went to get his mail. He says he passed out from the pain and spent the night in his driveway.

A Cowlitz County sheriff's deputy, Charlie Rosenzweig, says North was shot at close range with a small-caliber gun, but he didn't report it until Sunday afternoon. North says he was afraid he would be shot again, but the pain forced him to call 911.

The 43-year-old appeared in court last week in Kitsap County on a charge of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

North says he is innocent and that the calls were made by someone who stole his cell phone. ..more.. by AP

Doomed vigilantes: Three of four people in case die

11-12-2003 Washington:

REPUBLIC, Wash. - Three of four people who tried to take the law into their own hands in a Ferry County child-molestation case have died, fueling rumors of a deadly vendetta against the vigilantes.

"People's imaginations are running wild," Sheriff Pete Warner said.

Authorities see no evidence of foul play in the death last week of Marshall L. Butler II, Warner said Tuesday.

Butler is the third of four people who tried to assault a child molester in September 2002 who have subsequently died.

Only Butler's sister, 27-year-old Monique Ermine remains alive. Ermine could not be reached immediately for comment on Tuesday as her phone was not listed.

While the deaths are mysterious, Warner said most likely they are related to the chronic health problems and methamphetamine use of the deceased.

"I think it's going to be a medical issue," Warner said. Still, the first two deaths were considered odd enough that the Washington State Patrol was asked to investigate. Butler's death will be added to that investigation.

"It's just an awful twist of circumstances," said James von Sauer, the Ferry County prosecutor and coroner. "The only thing I can think is voodoo."

Vigilante-style attack results in jail time

9-26-2007 Wisconsin:

A case involving a vigilante-style attack in the Town of Chetek last April has concluded, resulting in jail time for two of the three individuals involved.

Mary Ann Jerome, 31, of Holcombe, Tamara Fae Schimmel, 26, of Cadott, and Daniel D. Schmidt, 30, of Holcombe, were charged with a total of eight criminal counts in Barron County Circuit Court April 25. Jerome was initially charged with felony false imprisonment and misdemeanor battery; Schimmel was initially charged with felony second-degree reckless injury, misdemeanor criminal damage to property, misdemeanor battery and felony false imprisonment; Schmidt was originally charged with felony false imprisonment and misdemeanor battery.

After recent sentencing hearings, both Jerome and Schmidt pleaded guilty to battery [as party to a crime] on Friday, Sept. 14, and were sentenced to 45 days in jail ,with one year of probation. Schimmel pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property and injury by negligent use of a weapon or explosive on Sept. 14. Schimmel's sentencing hearing is set for Thursday, Nov. 15. The convictions result from an incident that took place in the early-morning hours of Sunday, April 22.

Man accused of beating up sex offender

9-8-2007 Wisconsin

APPLETON — A Wrightstown man is in the Outagamie County Jail after an alleged attack on a registered sex offender Aug. 30 on Appleton's north side.

David T. Starkey, 20, faces a preliminary hearing Tuesday. He was charged this week substantial battery, bail jumping and disorderly conduct. He was placed under a $1,500 cash bond by Outagamie County Court Commissioner Brian Figy.

The victim, a 33-year-old Appleton man, was treated at St. Elizabeth Hospital for extensive facial injuries, including two missing teeth.

According to the criminal complaint, Starkey told police he became aware of the offender's status because his girlfriend was contemplating renting a room from the man.

Starkey allegedly told police he had made contact with the man about his status as a sex offender and called him a "baby raper."

Convicted Sex Offender Causes Concern In Coopertown

9-4-2007 Tennessee:

Some members of the Coopertown community in Robertson County are making it their personal crusade to warn people about a convicted sex offender in their neighborhood.

The convicted sex offender, Charles Cornelius Sloan, is living across the street from the Coopertown Middle School and next to a daycare and there is nothing authorities can do about it.

Sloan, who was convicted of convicted of aggravated sexual battery in January 1997, was living in his home at 3839 Highway 47 West before Tennessee law required convicted sex offenders to live at least 1,000 feet away from schools and daycares.

Neighbor Judy Ellis is making awareness her mission.

She said, “I don't think he deserves any protection. I don't think he needs to hide in that pretty little house of his and not have his own sign in the front yard."

Ellis said if she had it her way, it would be very clear where convicted sex offenders live within the area.

“There should be a sign in their yard until he drops dead,” she told News 2.