Feds: Con Sent Obama Threat to Wrong Address

(Newser) – President Obama might currently have one of the better-known addresses in America, but that piece of trivia was apparently lost on the Pennsylvania inmate charged with trying to send him a threat. Joseph Savage gets his latest day in court today, and prosecutors allege that, while cooling his heels in Fayette County lockup in late 2012, the 34-year-old convicted child molester sent Obama a letter threatening "to kill and to kidnap and to inflict bodily harm" on a member of the president's family and to "torture and murder the president upon being released from prison." Problem? He mailed it to 1400 Pennsylvania Ave., and Barry lives a couple of doors up the street. Delivery challenges aside, the letter arrived and was promptly turned over to authorities, the AP reports.

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The Cool Mom: You’re Doing It Wrong

Sunday, July 8th, 2012 • Filed under Assaults, Drugs, Drunks

Let’s just take a moment to admire all of our mothers and their uniquely wonderful qualities. Who else in your life is a chef who works as a full-time chauffeur and is a doctor or referee when needed, with some psychiatry going on the side? Extra points if she’s one of the few who didn’t run out and buy a copy of 50 Shades of Grey.

And even more points if she’s not this woman from Houston who threw a party for her middle schooler and three friends. Sounds innocent enough, right? Well, just add some beer, weed, and a butcher knife. According to Houston Press, a woman came to pick up her kid and found the host drunk off her butt. When confronted, she began punching and hitting the poor sober mother. Then, as if a point hadn’t been made, she retrieved an enormous knife from the kitchen and began making threats. Luckily, the other woman picked up her daughter and left safely. Another teen, unfortunately, had to be hospitalized for too much alcohol. Too bad people can’t be hospitalized for too much idiocy.

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Girl Power: You’re Doing It Wrong

Sunday, April 29th, 2012 • Filed under Arson, Assaults

Sadly, marriage isn’t forever anymore. Divorce isn’t forever either (Though I’m not suggesting Kim Kardashian was really that guy’s soulmate. Or anyone’s.). So what’s the solution?

BURN IT ALL. According to Houston Press, a young woman starting by giving her husband a sensual massage, and ended by setting him afire. And not metaphorically. Turns out the oil she had been rubbing him with was actually gasoline, which came in handy when she put one of the romance-inducing candles to his skin. He was rushed to the hospital as their home burned down. Evidence suggests that the attempted murder was premeditated, and our little Chicago wannabe was arrested on charges of arson and aggravated assault.

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Being at the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time With the Wrong "Friends": Accomplice Liability Crimes

All too often, individuals find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong "friends;" as a result, they find themselves charged as a criminal accomplice. The argument that you had no idea of what was going on may not stand - even if it's true - and you may be pulled into a criminal case under the theory of accomplice liability.

What the prosecution has to prove in a case like this is that the accomplice took part in the crime, wanted it to take place, and indicated this intention by his actions or participation. Many times, though, the aider or abettor can be found guilty of a different crime than the primary individual accused of the actual crime. The aider or abettor is charged with a more serious offence or a lesser one, depending on the circumstances and evidence available.

Many times the accused abettor to a crime will argue that even though he was present when a crime took place, he took no part in it, nor did he even know it was going to happen. This can still lead to serious consequences, since proving these assertions requires more than an honest face.

What can be even more shocking is that many individuals are charged as being part of crimes they didn't even witness. In this case, the mere fact of knowing that a crime was going to take place and providing the opportunity for it to happen can be enough to land an individual in serious trouble.

For example, let's say you had a friend who wanted to rob a liquor store and asked if he could borrow your car so he would be able to flee the scene quickly. You complied and gave him your car. You aided him in committing the crime, so you are now an abettor and subject to being charged as party to the offence. It doesn't matter whether or not the crime was discussed in detail beforehand. You knew the crime was going to be committed and you assisted in an indirect way.

Then again, there are examples when being present when an offence occurs will not get you in trouble, provided you had no knowledge that the crime was about to take place. For example, let's say an individual offered to drive you home from a party. You accepted. However, you did not know the vehicle with which he was taking you home was stolen. On your journey home, the driver was pulled over and charged with the offence. If there are no facts proving that you knew the car was stolen, you will not be convicted. It is not enough to find you guilty just because you happened to be in a stolen vehicle.

The moral of this story: watch the company you keep - don't get involved if something seems suspicious, because your indirect actions could still land you behind bars.

Michael Waddington is an expert court martial attorney defending military personnel worldwide. He defends all levels of court martial cases. He is a partner in the Augusta, Georgia, law firm of Gonzalez & Waddington. His worldwide practice focuses on military criminal court martial cases. http://www.ucmjdefense.com