Criminal Justice Visual Observations From This Morning

Lousy picture, but this guy was a cross between Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash. What got my attention even more was that he was carrying a gun and had a badge that said, I think, "County Attorney."  I saw some local deputies talking to him and it sounded like he had "heard a tip" that someone he was looking for would be on the 10:30 a.m. docket. I'm guessing he's an investigator with a prosecutor's office that is not here in Wise County.

And while waiting on the docket myself, I was reading "The Texas Prosecutor" which had a feature article by a prosecutor in Georgetown who pursued someone in Justice of the Peace Court for the Class C offense of Refusing To Pay Toll. I'm not sure anyone every had a Class C article published before.

Colonial Pics From This Weekend

 Tattoos and Elvis Costello Glasses In Blue (Left)

 Her Dad Will Be Calling Her

Kind Of Expected Fergie To Be In There, Too

Way too many other photos here.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

• My flower bed reconstruction update: Have you every tried to level a row of limestone bricks? Threading a needle is far easier and takes less precision.
• The Family Cat update: Still mean and stupid. And she still looks at me like she's thinking, "Who are you?"
• While watching the Second Grader in the House's softball game over the weekend, I witnessed a legitimate and well executed Triple Play. (She wasn't involved.) Runners on second and  third. Pop up to third baseman. Caught. (One.) Runner at third took off too soon so third baseman quickly steps on bag. (That's two.) Then the runner on second (we're talking Second Grade again) got confused and ran towards third where she was tagged out. (That's three.) 
• I don't think a single player on the field understood what had just happened. 
• The cutest part was the runner going into third was tagged standing up and right in the chest (by a big girl) which caused her to go flying backwards and land on her back (she's ok). The cute part is that the girl who tagged her broke into tears because she thought she had hurt her. 
• One final softball note: Somehow I've become the unofficial/official box score keeper, and I suddenly became the center of attention on Sunday when everyone surrounded me when a "Was that really the third out?" controversy erupted. Somehow I had the final say. I'm not used to that. 
• I saw the footage Friday of a Mesquite Baptist preacher getting booked in to jail at West Virginia after allegations of sexual assault of a woman he met in a bar. Last night the news reported he had hung himself while in jail. 
• Another guy who killed himself over the weekend was the composer of the what-a-beating song, "You Light Up My Life." (And, based upon the article, that guy's life was a mess.)
I don't think "Hey, Now" does justice to Bar Refaeli on a boat.
• Tornado Insanity: 89 and counting were killed in Missouri yesterday from one (coming on the heels of the one that killed over 350 in Alabama and other Southern states earlier this month.) Photos.
• The annual Arizona State "Undie Run." (Thanks, Steve.)
• I'm still waiting for my predicted Mavericks playoff collapse, but I'm getting worried. 
• I think I got my haircut Friday by a gal who really needed to be somewhere else.
• The Onion ran a story about Planned Parenthood building an "Eight Billion Dollar Abortionplex." Those not understanding that the The Onion is a parity*  site (and those who probably believe those Nigerian emails are true), were not pleased.  [Edit: Let the dogpile continue. But, of course, since the site levels the playing field for all news media, it technically could be a parity site.]
• I was going to go with the cover of the Star-Telegram today because I think they greatly over estimate how much we care about The Colonial golf tournament.
• But I went with one from Missouri: 

Pete Delkus Gave Bridgeport A Shout Out

Funny

Do That A Couple Of More Times

. . .  and it becomes the equivalent of a car alarm. No one will pay attention.

Apocalypse Now

I've avoided it all week, but I'll let the Rapture take us into the weekend. (#raptureregrets)

And cue up REM's It's The End Of The World As We Know It and Blondie's Rapture.

If you look closely, that's old Dallas circa 1975

Wow

SUMMERVILLE, SC - Dash cam video released Thursday from a stolen Summerville, South Carolina police cruiser shows a suspect fighting a police officer then crashing the stolen car into a landscaping truck at a high rate of speed.

According to police, the incident started last Friday when 38-year-old Arthur Lee Thompson attempted to steal a computer from a Summerville Wal-mart. When confronted, Thompson allegedly punched the store's loss prevention officer in the mouth. 

If You Thought This Was Real, You Need To Get Off The Internet

Story about it.

Things I Didn't Know (Because I Stay Away From Federal Court)

Federal prisoners have email. (This is 100% legit. It was sent to my office due to an inmate I'm helping on State charges in Wise County.)

About That School Funding Problem

The most under-reported aspect of the resignation of the Dallas ISD superintendent yesterday (which I otherwise don't care about) is that he'll receive around $180,000 a year in retirement benefits from Texas in addition to his new salary in Georgia. (Buried in lat paragraph here.)

That Just Sounded Worse Than It Was

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

• The Family Cat went missing for most of the day yesterday. Unfortunately, she was just hanging out in a closet. 
• Newt Gingrich was giving a speech yesterday when his phone went off. The ringtone was Abba's "Dancing Queen." Funny.
• Correction in the Update today: "In an item about new Chico High principal Gerald “Rosie” Rosebure that appeared in Thursday’s Update, it was erroneously reported that the contract of previous principal Russell Black was not renewed by the school board. It should have said Black’s contract was not extended."  If the contract was up, isn't not "extending" it the same thing as not "renewing" it? But I'm sure there's some difference because you never see a correction in the Update.
• I was going to dog the Manhattan prosecutors for quickly indicting the IMF Chief yesterday on sexual assault charges but then I read if they didn't do it within a week, he would have to be released (without the need to post bond.) That's one strange law. Texas law gives prosecutors 90 days. 
• "And Another" out of Tyler.
• You may not have seen it, but with my "edits" to the "And Another" post yesterday (below), there were actually news of four new cases in the Metroplex.
• I'm not smart enough to know why the conservatives were all up in arms over President Obama's reference to Israel's borders yesterday.
• Not sure why a guy appealed his criminal case out of Wise County and then voluntarily dismissed it. (The only thing I could find on him was that he was indicted last year for Assault by Chocking. Edit: Choking/Shocking take your pick.)
• The dunk against the Mavericks last night. (You supporters can now officially get nervous.) Edit: Fantastic photo of it. 
• I noticed that the Bridgeport Run Down The Guy With A Car On 101 defendant is still in jail and has applied for (and probably received by now) a court appointed attorney. 
• I was instructed not to touch a peanut butter and jelly sandwich this morning. Not a problem.
• Someone on the radio made a reference to being "slimed like that guy in Ghostbusters" but then his co-host pointed out his "hip pop culture" reference was almost 30 years old.
• Texas Monthly has been doggedly covering the injustice out in East Texas of a group from Mineola being charged with sexual assault of a child. Yesterday, the prosecution offered "time served" to almost all of them to a non-sexually related offense that will set them free. Amazingly, the judge "fought back tears" as he accepted the plea. Most who followed the case cried because it was "an absolute, honest-to-God frame-up."
• Fox 4 has the strangest and inaccurate headline about that story today: ""Clerical Errors Free 6 in Child Sex Ring." 

The Suicide Defense

"Johnson said the woman placed the rope around her own neck and tied it to the vehicle's bumper."


Story.


Hey, I found an old photo of this guy:

22 Years Old + College Football Player = Shocking Deaths

Just a few days ago, a University of Alabama lineman, age 22, was found dead. Now news today that 22 year old starting OU linebacker Austin Box was found dead as well.

And Another (aka "Hey, Now")

In Irving. Biology teacher. Story.

(But, to even things out, there is a male teacher in Garland who made the news this morning for the same allegation as well.)

Edit: And we've got a Trifecta!!! Saginaw teacher on leave for "Improper Communication" although that's the only info available.

Edit: It's out of control: Officials investigating an allegation out of North Richland Hills.

Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Resigns

Why?:  "[I]t has been increasingly difficult to remain effectively focused on the instructional agenda for our students."

What caught my attention: "Johnson is the fourth highest paid superintendent in Texas, with a base salary of $328,950, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. Her contract also allows her to receive an annual car allowance of $7,200 and an annual performance bonus to buy retirement credits."


If not for the resignation taking effect in September instead of immediately, I'd think something was going on.

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• The Parker County "torture suspect" was in front of a judge yesterday who once again played to the cameras. He angrily ordered the defendant to hire his own attorney within 20 days (after previously giving him 30 days). Hey, the guy is in custody. What are you going to do if he doesn't?
• Christmas idea: The Unabomber auction by the Federal Marshal's office. (As I wonder how many people under 30 know who the Unabomber is.)  Edit: I'll be. The Unabomber made news today on a scare not many people remember. (Hint: It involved Tylenol.)
• "Two travelers from Texas were 'kidnapped' Thursday morning at the Arkansas Welcome Center on Interstate 40. Tonya and Ronnie Hale of Decatur, Texas, were chosen as part of the annual 'Snag a Tourist'” event that local tourism officials conduct each year." This annual event, so newsworthy that it was covered by the local Arkansas paper and a photographer, got them a gift basket.
• The Texas legislature has focused on revising photo lineup procedures. I rarely see a photo-lineup in any criminal case. Maybe one in every 200.
• The First United Methodist Church in Decatur is getting a female pastor. I think Bridgeport already has two (Methodist and Presbyterian.) 
• If I am wrong on that last bullet point, I'll hear about it within seconds.
• Viral video of the day yesterday was "The Greatest Marriage Proposal Ever." For the first couple of minutes, it was fantastic. Then it spiraled downhill into the vortex of bad comedy.
• A stat I don't believe that made the news yesterday: 85% of college grads are moving back home with their parents. For a week or so to get organized? Yeah, I can believe that. But because they have no where else to go? That can't be right. 
• Bridgeport goes to Kennedale tonight for the baseball playoffs. I wonder if any of those guys involved in this week's Teacher Sex Scandal are on the team. (Since they broke no law, they'd still be in school. Right?)
• Never a good sign when you hear your name called out while in the garage only to look up and see the spouse sprinting down the sidewalk. (Family Dog almost got attacked while the Seventh Grader in The House was walking her.)
• A woman ran over her boyfriend as he walked away. Last week's story from Bridgeport? Nope. In Irving on Monday.
• A 14 year old in Crafton has died. I wonder what of.
• Photo of the day: Jilted Chinese Bridge Bride Tries To End It All. Edit: Have no idea why I wrote "bridge" originally since a bridge isn't involved. Remind me to mention that to my therapist.
• A place I'd never be found at: A Jimmy Buffett concert. (He's in Frisco this weekend.)
• Rank the level of disturbing: (1) Eighteen year old mom tries to smother infant son at a Fort Worth hospital, (2) the hosptital "suspected" something so they put the child in a video monitored room where the act was caught on tape, (3) the tape was shown to the jury, (4) the Star-Telegram puts the video on its web site (but at least blurs out hte baby.)
• Think Jerry Jones is a big spender? Last year, in a non-salary capped year, the total payroll of the Cowboys ranked 29th out of 32 teams.