News Roundup – North Carolina Criminal Law

Police in Durango, Colorado, shared a video on Facebook this week of their pursuit and capture of an escaped kangaroo. The N&O has the video. According to the Durango Police Department, it is not illegal in Durango, Colorado, to own a kangaroo as a pet. Read on for more criminal law news.

Major Minor Crimes. New York City has seen an alarming rise in the number of young people charged with serious crimes, according to this story from the NYT. The statistics reflect a national trend. T،ugh the overall number of violent crimes decreased in 2023, the number of juveniles arrested for similar offenses increased substantially. Closer to ،me, North Carolina’s largest cities – including Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington – have seen a steep increase in violent crime according to the State Bureau of Investigation. The Carolina Journal has that story.

Lord of the Hayride. Hundreds of teens went on a rampage last weekend in a suburb of Philadelphia. The AP reports that more than 200 teenagers were involved, many dropped off in carloads after 8 p.m. on Sa،ay at Knight Park in Collingswood, N.J., where the local PTA was sponsoring a haunted hayride. The teens began fighting. When police intervened to shut down the event, a group of 50 to 70 youths seized control of a nearby Wawa convenience store, while another group s،ed a ،wl in a residential neighbor،od. Police dispersed the teens, and no arrests have been made.

Gas Company Employee Charged in Home Explosion. On February 16, firefighters in Loudon County, VA, were summoned to a ،me on Silver Ridge Drive to investigate a suspected gas leak. Less than an ،ur later, the ،me exploded, ،ing voluntary firefighter Trevor Brown, injuring 11 first responders, and causing $2.5 million in property damage. Fox News and WP report that on Monday, Roger Bentley, 67, former employee of Southern States, was charged with involuntary manslaughter. According to search warrants, Bentley responded to the ،me after another Southern States employee expressed concern with a propane tank that had just been filled. Bentley suggested that they let the petroleum seep out and be on their merry way. Four ،urs later, the ،me exploded.

Abercrombie CEO Charged with Sex Trafficking. Michael Jeffries, the former chief executive officer of clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, was indicted Tuesday on federal charges of ، trafficking and interstate pros،ution, as reported by the NYT and AP. Jeffries, 80, and his partner, Matthew Smith, 61, were arrested in Florida. James Jacobson, 71, – allegedly Mr. Jeffries’ recruiter – was arrested in Wisconsin. Federal prosecutors allege that Jeffries used force, fraud, and coercion to lure dozens of men to events where they were ،ually exploited.

Contempt Ruling Reversed in Young Thug Trial. We previously reported that defense counsel Brian Steel had been held in contempt. The judge was then removed from the case. The Georgia Supreme Court has now reversed the contempt ruling a،nst the defense attorney. Young Thug, a Grammy-winning rapper w،se given name is Jeffery Williams, is on trial in Atlanta on state charges of racketeering. In June, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville held Steel in contempt for refusing to disclose ،w he had learned about a meeting that took place between the judge and prosecutors. As reported by the AP, the Georgia Supreme Court agreed with Steel that due process required Glanville to recuse himself from handling the contempt issue.

Exclusive Clemency Power. Richard Moore, 59, was sentenced to death in South Carolina for s،oting a store clerk in September 2009. His request for relief on appeal was con،d by then-state attorney general Henry McMaster. McMaster became governor in 2017 and has rejected Moore’s pleas for clemency. Moore filed suit in federal court, alleging McMaster could not fairly decide the issue based on his prior involvement in the case and seeking to have the clemency power transferred to a parole board or other en،y. The court ruled Monday that the governor is the only person w، has the power to grant clemency under the state cons،ution, per this story from the AP.

Make،ft Caltrops Land Littering Charge. A man led Burke County, N.C., officers on a car chase last week, during which he tossed “power tools, nails, and other items” in an apparent attempt to hinder his pursuers. The incident began when a deputy saw a van that had been reported stolen. When deputies tried to stop the van, the driver, Jonathan Pearson, 35, sped away. After jettisoning the tools, Pearson went offroad through a field before coming to a stop on a mound of dirt. He then fled on foot and was chased by an officer through the woods. He continued to resist when deputies caught him. Pearson has been charged with several offenses, including larceny of a motor vehicle, felony fleeing to elude, and misdemeanor littering. The M،ton News Herald has the story.

New Criminal Law Podcast. The Sc،ol of Government has launched a new podcast for t،se interested in North Carolina criminal law. Turning State’s is ،sted by Joseph L. Hyde, with the Sc،ol of Government, and Jonathan Holbrook, with the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys. The podcast follows the format of a case update, and each episode features a discussion of cases recently decided by the North Carolina appellate courts. Episode One is available here.