Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Ex-kids’ show host pleads not guilty to rape charges
ALEXANDRIA, La.
A former children’s show host has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from allegations that he sexually abused children during a Louisiana camping trip in 1979.
KALB-TV reports that 76-year-old Frank John Selas III entered the plea Monday during his arraignment in a Rapides Parish courtroom. Selas’ attorney, Mike Small, says his client is innocent.
In the late 1970s, Selas hosted the “Mr. Wonder” show on KNOE-TV in northern Louisiana. He allegedly fled to Brazil in 1979 and vanished for decades after parents accused him of abusing their children on a camping trip in central Louisiana.
Selas was arrested in San Diego in January and indicted in February on two counts of aggravated rape and other charges relating to one purported victim.
Heavy drinking before lake-jump in student’s death
COLUMBUS
Records obtained by The Associated Press indicate numerous students were drinking heavily before a traditional cold-weather lake jump last year when an Ohio State University student died.
The 32-page university police report provided to the AP through a records request includes accounts of students drinking for several hours before the Nov. 25 jump.
A coroner has said 22-year-old Austin Singletary died from accidental trauma to the head and neck caused by diving into shallow water during the jump, which drew thousands of other students.
The coroner said Singletary had a blood-alcohol content of 0.18, more than twice the legal limit in Ohio.
Ohio State is trying to end the annual tradition.
High court sides with Ohio in collection dispute
WASHINGTON
A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Monday that a pair of Ohio law firms did not use illegal tactics when they sent out debt-collection letters on stationery bearing the name of the state’s attorney general.
The justices said the use of official letterhead to collect money owed to state agencies did not violate the federal fair-debt collection law. Two women who received collection notices from the private firms sued, saying it was misleading to send notices on stationery that had the name of Attorney General Mike DeWine and his office seal.
Ohio officials argued that the firms had permission to use the letterhead and were acting as officers of the state.
A federal appeals court had ruled 2-1 that the letterhead was a “deception” that could inappropriately influence consumers’ decisions. But the Supreme Court reversed.
Obama says US must listen to police
WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama called on the nation Monday to support and listen to its law enforcement officers as he bestowed the Medal of Valor on 13 officers who risked their lives to save others.
In a ceremony in the East Room, Obama draped the purple-and-gold ribbons around the necks of officers who intervened in shooting rampages, hostage situations and an armed robbery. He pledged to keep working toward a bipartisan overhaul to make the criminal justice system fairer, smarter and more effective so that officers are well-equipped to enforce the country’s laws.
“We can show our respect by listening to you, learning from you, giving you the resources that you need to do your jobs,” Obama said. “Our country needs that right now.”
Associated Press