Criminal News
Danny Masterson Rape Trial Ends With Hung Jury
The judge in Danny Masterson’s rape trial declared a mistrial on Wednesday after the jurors said they were unable to reach verdict on any of the charges. The former That ’70s Show actor was charged with three counts of sexual assault. In a note to Judge Charlaine Olmedo (via Variety), the jury said that “we are not even close to coming to an unanimous decision on any count, and are convinced this will not change.” Two of the 12 jurors found Masterson guilty on count one; four found him guilty on count two; and five found him guilty on count three. The jury — seven men and five women — deliberated for six days. They were forced to start over on Monday when two of the jurors contracted COVID-19 and were replaced with alternates. A retrial has been tentatively set for March 27th. Masterson, 4...
R Kelly’s Manager Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Harassing Victim
R Kelly’s manager, Donnell Russell, was sentenced to 20 months in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to stalking and harassing one of the disgraced singer’s sexual abuse victims. According to the Department of Justice (per Rolling Stone), Russell, 47, used text messages, phone calls, and emails to intimidate one of Kelly’s victims, identified as Jane Doe, and her mother out of coming forward about her experience with the singer. Russell allegedly threatened to release explicit photos of the victim if she did not withdraw her civil suit against Kelly. “Pull the plug or you will be exposed,” he wrote in a text sent on January 3rd, 2019. Russell also posted the photos to a Facebook page he made with an alias called “Surviving Lies” — a play on the 2019 Surviving R Kelly docu...
Murder Conviction of Serial’s Adnan Syed Should Be Vacated, Say Prosecutors
Baltimore prosecutors have filed a motion to vacate the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, the subject of the trailblazing podcast Serial and a four-part HBO docuseries. It follows a nearly year-long reinvestigation into the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee conducted with the defense, which has uncovered new evidence (via The Wall Street Journal). Though the prosecutors aren’t stating Syed’s innocence, they are requesting a new trial and recommending he be released on his own recognizance while the investigation continues. Thus far, prosecutors have found new information suggesting the involvement of two more suspects. “The State no longer has confidence in the integrity of the conviction,” said Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. She continued, “After reviewing the evidence and the new...
R Kelly Found Guilty on Child Pornography Charges
The jury in the R Kelly federal trial in Illinois reached a verdict on Wednesday (September 14th). Facing 13 counts total, the disgraced singer was found guilty on three counts of child pornography production, including the sexual exploitation of his then-14-year-old goddaughter who used the pseudonym “Jane” in the trial. Kelly was also found guilty on three counts of child sex trafficking through coercion and enticement. Each of the child pornography charges carry a mandatory-minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Kelly was found not guilty on one count of child pornography production and two counts of “enticement of a minor.” He was acquitted on two counts of receiving child pornography, one count of conspiring to receive child pornography, and one count of conspiring to obstruct invest...
A$AP Rocky Charged with Assault in A$AP Relli Shooting
A$AP Rocky has been charged with assault with a firearm in connection to a shooting that occurred last November, Rolling Stone reports. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón charged Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, with assault with a semiautomatic firearm with allegations of personally using a firearm. The rapper, whose arraignment is set for Wednesday, August 17th, could face up to nine years in prison if found guilty of the offense. “Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood,” Gascón said in a statement. “My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm al...
Teenage Head Guitarist Gord Lewis Found Dead in Apparent Homicide
Founding Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis was found dead over the weekend in his Hamilton, Ontario apartment, The Spectator reports. According to police, his death is being investigated as a homicide. In a press briefing, Hamilton Detective Sara Beck said police received information related to a deceased person. Upon visiting Lewis’ residence, police “located a deceased male in his 60s” with “injuries consistent with foul play.” However, Beck added that “a positive identification has not been made of the deceased due to the level of decomposition…an autopsy will be performed and additional steps taken to identify the deceased.” Police charged Jonathan Lewis, Gord’s son, with second-degree murder in the case, and Beck said police were not seeking additional suspects. Advertisement Rel...
Ezra Miller Charged with Felony Burglary
Ezra Miller has been charged with felony burglary in Stamford, Vermont, the latest in a string of arrests for the embattled Flash actor. As Variety was first to report, Miller was arrested on Sunday, August 7th on charges stemming from a burglary complaint filed on May 1st. According to Vermont State Police report, officers found that several bottles of alcohol were stolen from an at-the-time unoccupied residence. “As a result of an investigation that included surveillance videos and statements, probable cause was found to charge Ezra M. Miller with the offense of felony burglary into an unoccupied dwelling,” the police report noted. Law enforcement officials issued Miller a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court for arraignment on September 26th. Advertisement Related Video Miller o...
Kodak Black Arrested for Possession of Oxycodone
Kodak Black was arrested in Florida on Friday, July 15th, after police officers found nearly $75,000 in cash and a small clear bag that contained 31 tablets of oxycodone during a traffic stop. The 25-year-old rapper, who was born Bill Kapri, was initially pulled over due to an expired license plate and dark window tint, according to CNN. Kodak Black was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance without prescription and trafficking in oxycodone. Advertisement Related Video In a statement to TMZ, the rapper’s lawyer said, “Never judge a case based on an arrest. There are facts and circumstances that give rise to a defense, especially in this case. We negotiated a bond of $75,000 and we will move forward with resolving the matter quickly.” In November 2019, Black was sent...
Ricky Martin’s Accuser Identified As His 21-Year-Old Nephew: Report
Ricky Martin’s 21-year-old nephew has reportedly been identified as the individual who was granted a restraining order against the pop singer earlier this month. A Puerto Rican judge approved the restraining against Martin on July 1st, but the identity of the accuser had been unknown until now. According to Spanish newspaper Marca (via People), Martin’s brother, Eric, identified the artist’s nephew, Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, as his accuser. According to the restraining order, which was filed under Puerto Rico’s domestic violence law, Martin and Sanchez had been in a seven-month relationship. Martin allegedly refused to accept their breakup and was found loitering outside of Sanchez’s home on three different occasions. Sanchez also accused Martin of physical and psychological abuse. Advertisem...
Maroon 5 Bassist Mickey Madden Takes “Leave of Absence” from Band
Maroon 5 bassist Mickey Madden was arrested in Los Angeles last month for domestic violence. Now, he’s taking a “leave of absence” from the pop band “for the foreseeable future.” In a statement to People, Madden explained why he was stepping down from his role. “I have some things that I need to deal with and address right now and so I have decided to take a leave of absence from Maroon 5 for the foreseeable future,” he said. “During this time, I do not want to be a distraction to my bandmates. I wish them the absolute best.” Back in June, Madden was taken into police custody and given a felony charge for “intimate partner violence.” The 41-year-old musician was released several hours later after paying his $50,000 bail. His court date is scheduled for September 29th. Editors’ Picks ...
Maroon 5 Bassist Mickey Madden Arrested for Domestic Violence
Maroon 5 bassist Mickey Madden was arrested in Los Angeles this past Saturday (June 27th) for domestic violence. According to Page Six, the specific felony charge against Madden is California penal code 273.5(a), which is applied to “any person who willfully inflicts corporal injury” on a spouse or cohabitant “resulting in a traumatic condition.” The identity of the alleged victim hasn’t been revealed. After being held for several hours, Madden was released on $50,000 bail, per the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The 41-year-old musician will be due back in court on September 29th. Editors’ Picks In a statement, a spokesperson for Maroon 5 said, “We are deeply devastated by this disappointing news. As we learn more, we are looking at this very seriously. For now, we are allowing al...
