Teen killer of child molester to be resentenced 22 years later

July 2017 Florida:

U.S. Supreme Court rulings that juveniles can't be sentenced to life without parole has given a Florida man in prison for a 1995 murder of a suspected child molester a chance at freedom, WFTV in Orlando reports.

Mark Berrios was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for shooting Olen Hepler, 47, a suspected pedophile, when he was 14. He stole Hepler's truck and $800.

Margaret Loring told Action News Jax that her son met Hepler when he ran away from a juvenile program in Daytona Beach, becoming the victim of abuse. "My son grabbed the molester's gun and shot him," she said.

Loring said Hepler was a pedophile who preyed on troubled boys. She said her son felt there was no way out.

Manslaughter plea offer rejected in 2015 slaying of molester

June 2017 Louisiana:

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) ” A prosecutor has rejected a manslaughter plea deal for a man accused of fatally stabbing and strangling a man in 2015.

The Advocate reports Assistant District Attorney Darwin Miller wouldn’t accept a plea for 23-year-old Jace Crehan on Tuesday. The denial comes a day after the mother of his child, 19-year-old Brittany Monk, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and agreed to testify against Crehan. Crehan is scheduled to stand trial for second-degree murder in the death of 47-year-old Robert Noce Jr. on July 24.

Noce was found dead less than two weeks after he pleaded no contest to carnal knowledge of Monk. Monk was pregnant with Crehan’s child when Noce was killed.

Crehan’s lawyer Franz Borghardt says his client doesn’t deserve to spend his life in prison. ..Source..

Man killed by Stockton officer had ties to Sauk Valley

3-31-17 California:

STOCKTON — The Pearl City man shot and killed by a Stockton Police officer Wednesday was a longtime drug dealer with convictions in Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside counties, and a registered sex offender in Florida and Illinois.

Troy J. Boyle, 41, was shot shortly after noon at the intersection of West Front Avenue and Blackhawk Drive in Jo Daviess County, ISP said in a news release.

State police would not confirm media reports that Boyle fired at the officer.

He was pronounced dead at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, the Stephenson County coroner said in a news release. An autopsy was done Thursday; toxicology results will take a a few weeks.

The Stockton officer's body camera was out of service; video from various squad cars is being reviewed, and witnesses are being questioned, the ISP release said.

Man Who Went to Register as Sex Offender Dies After Shootout With Deputies at Temple City Sheriff's Station: LASD

3-20-17 California:

California -- A man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after engaging in a gunbattle with deputies in the parking lot of the Temple City sheriff's station, where he had gone to register as a sex offender Monday morning, authorities said.

The man, identified only as a 47-year-old white male, entered the station located in the 8800 block of East Las Tunas Drive about 7:25 a.m. to register as a sex offender, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lt. Joe Mendoza said.

The deputy at the counter inside the station realized that the man had a $40,000 warrant for his arrest in connection with a felony sex crime that occurred in the city of Los Angeles, Mendoza said. When the deputy went further inside the station and returned with other deputies in order to arrest him, the man ran toward his vehicle, the lieutenant said.

St. Lucie County detectives vet more than 150 fair workers, arrest two and find one sex offender

2-23-17 Florida:

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. -- The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office announced it has vetted more than 150 carnival workers at the St. Lucie County fair, set to begin Friday.

Detectives made sure anyone with an outstanding warrant or sex offender status was removed from the fairgrounds before floods of visitors arrive.

“We get a list of all the employees out at the fairgrounds when the fair comes to town. Our detectives vet all of those people,” said St. Lucie County Chief Deputy Garry Wilson.

More than 100,000 people are expected to attend the 10-day fair.

General Manager Jeanne Keaton says there are also hundreds of children who attend with various organizations volunteering, and working alongside livestock.

M.E. Identifies Man Shot By Lynnwood Officer in Everett

12-17-16 Washington:

Just received the latest update from Shari Ireton on the shooting in Everett Saturday night. Investigators say there may not have been an actual physical struggle between the Lynnwood PD officer and the suspect on Grand street. Here is the release…

The investigation into an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Everett last Saturday night continues. Evidence gathered in the investigation showed that the 44 year-old suspect made multiple threats to the female victim via text and phone messages earlier that day.

The messages left by the suspect also indicated that he would kill police. Evidence gathered in the investigation does not show that the suspect was at the exact location where the victim was (the 17500 block of 54th Pl, Lynnwood) at the time those threats were made. Based on messages he sent to the victim, the suspect implied he was in the area, watching Lynnwood officers interact with the victim at her residence.

Arlington man shot, killed by Shelby County Sheriff's deputies

12-18-16 Tennessee:

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is conducting an inquiry after two Shelby County Sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man who allegedly threatened them with a knife in the Arlington area late Saturday night, officials said Sunday.

According to the TBI, the incident began a little after 10 p.m. when the deputies responded to a call about a man “exhibiting some sort of violent behavior” at 9591 Osborn Road, TBI spokesman Susan Niland said in a press conference Sunday afternoon. Jimmy Lee Lawson, a convicted sex offender who had at least two prior domestic violence incidents this year, allegedly walked out on the driveway armed with a knife.

The deputies opened fire, killing Lawson, who would've turned 49 on Thursday. Two other adults were at the home, in addition to Lawson's wife, Janet, Niland said. Lawson and his wife have two adult daughters, Maegan and Mallori, although it's uncertain if they were the ones at the home Saturday night.

Neither the TBI nor the Shelby County Sheriff's Office will release the names of the deputies involved in the shooting.

Alton Sterling Arrest Record, Criminal History & Rap Sheet

WikiPedia: Shooting of Alton Sterling

7-6-2016 Louisiana:

Alton Sterling was a 37-year-old black man who was shot to death in a confrontation outside a convenience store with police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana early on the morning of July 5.

His death has sparked outrage, protests, and an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department.

The officers’ handling of the confrontation has come under intense scrutiny from the public, and could lead to criminal charges. The debate over the officers’ conduct is likely to include discussion of Sterling’s criminal record and whether it is at all relevant when assessing the officers’ conduct.

The legal questions in the case will focus on what happened in the confrontation between Sterling and the officers right before he was shot. Sterling’s case file does provide a fuller biography of the man, however.

A review of court records by Heavy shows that Sterling was well known to Baton Rouge police, although the two officers involved in the shooting — Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II — are not mentioned in documents pertaining to Sterling. You can read all of Sterling’s Baton Rouge criminal case details here:

Man who killed rapist who was attacking his wife walks free after intervention by dead victim's family

9-8-2016 New York:

Family of would-be rapist writes letter to court asking for charges to be dropped against his killer

A man who killed a criminal who was attempting to rape his wife has been freed without charge, after a surprise intervention by the victim’s family.

Mamadou Diallo, a 61-year-old taxi driver, rushed to save his wife Nenegale after Earl Nash broke into their apartment in the Bronx district of New York City, before allegedly beating the intruder to death with a tire iron.

Security footage shown to the court in the Bronx captured Nash attempting to rape Mrs Diallo before her husband entered and chased the attacker into the building’s lift, where he administered the fatal beating.

However, a letter sent to the court by Nash’s relatives asked for the charges against Mr Diallo to be dropped, stating that the family did not want to see him go to prison for defending his wife.

Man mistaken for child molester yells during fatal beating, ‘I have kids. It’s not me’

9-22-2016 Georgia:

While being beaten to death, mistaken for a man his alleged attackers believed had molested a young girl, Sylvester Harden Jr. screamed, “I didn’t do this. I have kids. It’s not me,” a Bibb County prosecutor said at a Thursday hearing.

Ceyunta Cater, one of three people charged with murder in Harden’s 2015 death, stood in a Bibb jail courtroom Thursday, asking a judge to lower his bond. In jail since Feb. 19, 2015, his bond had been set at $275,000.

His attorney, John Carter, said the case has been postponed from the trial calendar because he and the prosecutor assigned to the case have been “diligently working, trying to resolve” it.

Authorities have said an 11-year-old girl called family members Feb. 19, 2015, saying 30-year-old Levi Moss had showed her a pornographic video on his cellphone and molested her.

The girl’s grandmother and other family reached out to relatives in Macon, trying to find someone to go get the child.

Husband who killed wife’s would-be rapist: I didn’t want to do it

6-1-16 New York:

The Bronx cabby who killed a man for trying to rape his wife got a hero’s welcome at his building on Wednesday — and he said he simply had no other choice.

“I’m not a murderer,” Mamadou Diallo said outside his Claremont Village apartment as his neighbors cheered him on.

“I didn’t mean to kill anyone,” he agonized. “I feel bad. I called the police. They did not come fast enough.”

Diallo is facing assault and weapons charges — but no longer a manslaughter rap — for the fatal beating of Earl Nash, 43, on Monday night. But he is already innocent in the court of public opinion.

“That’s him! That’s Diallo!” residents exclaimed, as the 61-year-old cabby made his way to his car. “That guy’s a hero!”

But Diallo disagreed.

“I’m not a hero,” he said. “If anyone touches my family, I’m fighting for my family and myself, that’s it.”

Search Warrants: South St. Paul Teacher, Husband Investigated for Sexual Contact with Boys

Murder-Suicide: Both were accused of sexual offenses. see article

8-31-2016 Minnesota:

New details are emerging about the investigation into a South St. Paul teacher and his husband who were found dead in Washington State.

Graphic court documents detail that at least three teenagers reported they had been sexually assaulted by 40-year-old Aric Babbitt and 36-year-old Matthew Deyo.

Babbitt and Deyo were found dead on Lopez Island north of Seattle last Thursday. Both died from gunshot wounds, and their deaths were ruled murder-suicide; San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs said a suicide note was found that said the couple had visited the island years ago and loved it.

According to search warrants, a 16-year-old boy and his parents reported a sexual assault to police on Aug. 14.

The teenager said Babbitt had been his teacher and mentor and was in charge of him while volunteering at Lincoln Center Elementary.

GBI: Remains belonged to man wanted on sex crime charges

1-4-16 Georgia:

COVINGTON, Ga. — Georgia Bureau of Investigation testing has confirmed that skeletal remains found last week in Covington belong to a man who had been wanted on child pornography charges since 2011.

Covington police said in a statement Sunday that skeletal remains found Dec. 28 in Covington were positively identified as David Lee Sheffield (47) through dental records.

Federal authorities had charged Sheffield in 2011 with the production, distribution and possession of child pornography and accused Sheffield of filming a video of himself assaulting a minor boy in the 1990s.

Police say Sheffield's remains were found less than an eighth of a mile away from where Sheffield's car was found abandoned at a Covington motel in 2011. Authorities did not say how Sheffield died, but said a firearm was found nearby. ..Source.. by wsbtv.com

Man admits fatally beating pastor to fend off sex assault

9-28-15 Pennsylvania:

A homeless man admitted to fatally beating his pastor with a hammer to fend off an attempted rape by the pastor.

Jose Colon, 20, pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter in the heat of passion in the death of Luis Herrera (47) this spring in Allentown.

Colon was initially charged with homicide in the case and has been held without bail.

Colon is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Under the plea deal, he faces a minimum of up to 72 months in state prison, and a maximum of up to 20 years.

Attorneys said Colon and Herrera's families knew each other, and they met when Colon moved to the area with his family when he was 10. Herrera was a pastor, whose mission was to help "troubled youth," First Assistant District Attorney Steve Luksa said.

Herrera began "grooming" Colon when he was a child and eventually it lead to sexual contact between the two, defense attorney Kim Makoul said.

Marion County remains are those of Paul Winklebleck, suspect in Portland abductions

2-11-15 Oregon:

The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office has determined that the remains found in Marion County in December are those of Paul Winklebleck.

Winklebleck had been sought in connection with the March 2010 kidnapping of two women from Portland's Old Town.

The Oregon Medical Examiner's Office has not determined the cause or manner of death.

The identification was based on evidence found at the scene and facts gathered by detectives. A DNA sample sent to the University of Texas awaits analysis, said Nici Vance, a forensic anthropologist at the medical examiner's office.

Lower bond for Tucson man who says he killed son's suspected molester

5-11-2010 Arizona:

A Tucson dad who says he shot and killed a man in self defense who he suspected was molesting his 3-year-old son had his bail reduced from $1 million to $500,000 Tuesday morning.

Daniel Renteria, 28, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder March 1, one day after he shot Richard Rue Jr., 40, and James "Red" Marschinke, 49, to death in the 5300 block of East 25th Street.

His bond was set at $1 million, but on Tuesday Assistant Pima County Public Defender Paul Skitzki asked Judge Charles Sabalos to either release Renteria to a county monitoring agency until his trial or to reduce his bond.

Woman who claimed self defense in fatal stabbing near Bullitt County rest stop now charged with murder

6-25-15 Kentucky:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A California woman told investigators she fatally stabbed a man in self defense near a Bullitt County rest stop last week, but police now say it was murder.

Shepherdsville police held a press conference Thursday morning to discuss the case.

Nicole Skyberg, 26 is accused of stabbing 45-year-old Aaron Jerrell on Saturday. Officers found Jerrell's body on an exit ramp near a rest stop along Interstate 65.

Police have confirmed that Jerrell, who is from Alabama, was a registered sex offender.

Police say Skyberg, who has been a person of interest from the start, was a passenger in the car with Jerrell.

21 to 25 years in prison for man who killed half brother

12-1-15 Michigan:

ALLEGAN, Mich. (WZZM) -- An Allegan County man who pled guilty to murdering his half brother will spend the next 21 to 25 years in prison.

Malcolm Dotson admitted to shooting and burying his older brother, Damon Sheldon, 37, in April at their property in Trowbridge Township. Dotson and Sheldon lived in different homes on that property. Dotson told investigators that he was forced to live in filthy conditions, and that's when they say he lashed out.

He walked over to Sheldon's home and shot him in the head with a rifle. He then buried his brother's body in a shallow grave on the property after the murder.

Sheldon was on the sex-offender registry for attempted criminal sexual conduct in 1995. Sources close to the investigation say Dotson was the victim in that case. ..Source.. by WZZM13.com

Teen charged in convicted sex offender's murder attempts to get bond reduced

11-13-15 Louisiana:

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - A teenage murder suspect is expected to be in court Friday for a motions hearing. The attorney for Brittany Monk, 17, of Denham Springs, is trying to get her bond reduced. She is currently housed in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a $400,000 bond.

Monk is one of two suspects charged with second-degree murder in the death of Robert Noce Jr., 47, of Zachary.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Noce was stabbed and strangled. He was found in a plastic 55-gallon drum in his home on July 4. Monk’s boyfriend, Jace Crehan, 21, also of Denham Springs, faces the same charge. They have both pleaded not guilty.

Court records show Noce accepted a plea deal for sex crimes against a juvenile less than two weeks before his death. He pleaded “no contest” (neither admitted to nor denied) to a charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

Officer-involved-shooting resulted in death of man accused of sexual assualt against half-sister

11-18-15 California:

The Sunnyvale Police Department reported an officer-involved-shooting that resulted in the death of a male suspect at the Palm Villa Apartments on the 1200 block of Ayala Drive in Sunnyvale.

On Thursday, November 12 at approximately 12:15 in the afternoon, officers attempted to make contact with a suspect at his residence in the apartment building.

According to SVPD Captain Jeffrey Hunter, “The officers had responded on a report of a sexual assault that occurred at the residence.” It was reported that the suspect and victim were half-brother and half-sister.

In the initial call, a female adult family member had reported that an physical assault on person had just occurred at the residence. Officers arrived on scene and were confronted by the suspect armed with a knife, and who then charged toward them. Three officers fired their weapons at close range striking the suspect.