Alabama: According to the Tuscaloosa Thread,a Tuscaloosa Police Officer was fired and arrested after child pornography was found on his electronic devices. The Tuscaloosa Police Department (“TPD”) announced that the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force began to investigate TPD officer Corey Nicholas Burcham, 35, in September 2024. Investigators seized a phone belonging to Burcham and found multiple images that showed child sex abuse material. Court documents allege that Burcham deliberately solicited and kept child pornography including material showing very young children. In one disturbing exchange flagged by investigators, Burcham allegedly asked, “think an 11-year-old chubby girl can handle daddy?” Warrants were obtained to charge Burcham with ten counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, and he was arrested by other TPD officers at his home on March 17, 2025. Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley reacted by saying, “We have zero tolerance for actions that undermine the public trust and harm children. The individual involved no longer serves in any capacity with the department.” Burcham worked on patrol from January 2019 until the Wednesday before his arrest. It is not known currently if Burcham has bonded out of the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Arizona: The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona reported that Aaron Thomas Mitchell, 30, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) officer, was sentenced to 27 years in prison on March 14, 2025, for abducting a 15-year-old female middle school student in Douglas, driving her to his apartment in Sierra Vista and repeatedly sexually assaulting her in 2022. According to court documents, Mitchell found the child waiting for school to start, introduced himself as a law enforcement officer, and ordered the child into his car. Mitchell then restrained the child’s hands and feet with handcuffs and drove her nearly an hour away to his apartment. After the assault, he dropped the girl off in an alley near the school. Investigators found that Mitchell conducted numerous searches on his phone regarding rape, how to stop someone from screaming, and how long it takes to smother someone. Mitchell lived in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area from the 1990s to 2021 before moving to Sierra Vista for work. The Phoenix FBI office was aided by the Sierra Vista Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, and the Office of Professional Responsibility at CBP.

California: Former Antioch PD officer Morteza Amiri, 33, was convicted of deprivation of rights and falsifying records on March 14, 2025, after deploying his K-9 on a bicyclist in 2019. KRON out of San Francisco reported that Amiri used excessive force, deploying the dog even when unnecessary, and kept a “bite count,” sharing “gory pics” with fellow officers. On that July 24 in 2019, former officer Amiri punched and tackled the victim, then ordered his K-9 to attack, causing injuries. He later falsified a police report, omitting the presence of a ride-along officer who assisted in the K-9 deployment. The disgraced officer was also convicted of wire fraud in August 2024 for paying someone to earn his online degree. He sought pay raises, texting, “Don’t tell a soul.” Part of a six-officer scam, he defrauded the APD department. Amiri faces up to 10 years for the deprivation of rights conviction and 20 years for falsification of records. The civil rights charges against Amiri were brought as part of a broader investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburgh police departments. Ten current and former officers and employees of the two police departments have been charged for crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud.

Florida: Former Miami-Dade Schools officer Yessenia Sanchez received a 30-year prison sentence on March 14, 2025, followed by 20 years’ probation, for shooting her ex-boyfriend, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Deputy Damian Colón, in the head. According to WPLG, Sanchez pleaded guilty to attempted murder and aggravated stalking. Surveillance video showed Sanchez tracking Colón to his home in 2022, shooting him in the head, and fleeing. Colón, now wheelchair-bound, survived the attack. Sanchez crashed her vehicle while fleeing and was later arrested. Prosecutors highlighted the severity of domestic violence, emphasizing Sanchez’s “sheer explosion of aggression.” The victim and his family expressed their lasting pain and called for a harsher sentence. Sanchez is barred from contacting Colón.

Iowa: According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, former Warren County Attorney Bryan Tingle received a fourth sanction for violating professional conduct rules. The Iowa Supreme Court’s Attorney Disciplinary Board issued a public reprimand for lack of diligence, failure to expedite litigation, and conduct prejudicial to justice. Tingle’s misconduct stems from two separate disciplinary cases. In one of those cases, the Board alleges Tingle failed to appear in court for a client and was removed by the court as his client’s attorney. In the second case, Tingle was alleged to have filed multiple last-minute motions to continue two cases and was removed from one criminal case when he failed to appear for a court hearing. Tingle’s recent questionable behavior follows a 2011 meth possession conviction, resulting in a prior reprimand. At that time the Board censured Tingle declaring, “[you are] knowingly and willfully violating the very laws you were charged with enforcing as county attorney.” He also received two private rebukes for similar court appearance failures in 2020 and 2022.

Kentucky: CLN reported on the killing of District Judge Kevin Mullins by his former bailiff Shawn “Mickey” Stines last year. [See: CLN, November 2024, p.50.]  The Associated Press reported in a March 12, 2025, update that attorneys for the former Kentucky sheriff and bailiff plan to argue he was in an altered mental state when he allegedly shot Mullins inside a Whitesburg courthouse last year. Prosecutors have requested a state mental evaluation after the defense announced it would present evidence of “insanity” and “extreme emotional disturbance” during the shooting. Defense attorney Kerri Bartley stated Stines was under “extreme pressure” that affected his mental state but did not challenge his competency to stand trial. At the time of the shooting, Stines had been named in a lawsuit involving a deputy he had hired who was accused of raping a woman on home arrest. Stines remains jailed in Leslie County without bond, facing a murder charge for killing a public official.

Massachusetts: MA State Trooper Terence Kent pleaded not guilty to bribery and indecent assault charges on March 13, 2025, after allegedly soliciting a sexual favor during an August traffic stop. The local NBC affiliate WBTS reported that the state’s POST Commission suspended Kent the following day, meaning he cannot serve as a police officer in Massachusetts unless he is recertified or wins an appeal. Kent, arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court, was released on personal recognizance and ordered to avoid contact with the victim. Kent is accused of blocking a man’s car on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton, citing expired registration. When the driver ‘expressed concerns’ over the situation, Kent suggested the man meet him at a state facility in Lexington—about 25 minutes away from Brighton—and offered to cancel the towing in exchange for a sexual act. Kent, a 2017 academy graduate, was suspended in November 2024 and had a prior suspension for abandoning his post. The case has been continued to April 2, 2025, and is indicative of a nationwide problem with police misconduct and abuse of authority during traffic stops.

Michigan: According to WXYZ, the local ABC affiliate out of Detroit, former Highland Park officer Dammeon Player, later hired by the Warren Police Department (“WPD”), faces criminal charges for violent tasing, echoing prior misconduct concealed by Highland Park. In 2020, Player tased a homeless man who had his back to him after a verbal altercation, causing the man to black out when his head slammed into a concrete wall as he fell. Sgt. James McMahon, now WPD Chief, warned that the videoed incident endangered the city legally and violated policy. Despite internal recommendations for suspension, Player faced no discipline, and the case was not referred for prosecution. Following this, Player transferred to the fire department for a stint as a firefighter. Then-Chief Kevin Coney, who later vouched for Player’s ‘clean’ record to the WPD, claims not to remember the incident or a memo detailing Player’s misconduct. In 2023, Player unjustifiably tased a truck driver in a town outside his jurisdiction, leading to a $400,000 settlement paid by the city of Warren and assault charges for Player. He and his partner are scheduled to appear in court on July 11, 2025, where Player faces two felony charges carrying a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.

 New Jersey: Bergen County Police Lt. Kevin Matthew faces 50 criminal counts for allegedly stealing cocaine and fentanyl from the evidence locker and undermining ongoing prosecutions. Matthew, a member of the Special Victims Unit, not narcotics, used a database to access evidence from unrelated cases, stealing drugs from 2019 to 2023. NBC New York reported that the accused officer allegedly replaced the stolen drugs with altered substances, tampering with evidence and jeopardizing trials. Prosecutors said Matthew stole evidence from at least nine criminal cases. Matthew, 48, is additionally accused of attempting to sell the drugs for personal gain. Investigators found over $600,000 in unexplained cash deposits in his accounts, which led to tax fraud charges. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin called the alleged misconduct a ‘tremendous disservice to the public.’ Matthew faces drug possession, distribution, official misconduct, and record tampering charges in addition to tax fraud.

Ohio: In February 2025, the Ohio Controlling Board authorized substantial payouts for two Lorain County men who had been wrongfully imprisoned for decades, according to The Chronicle-Telegram. The Board followed the state’s guidelines of compensating a wrongfully convicted individual $68,808 for each year served. Joel Covender, exonerated after 11 years, received over $1.9 million plus legal fees. Covender, now 56 years old, was convicted in 1996 for sexual molestation of his stepchildren, but his 2007 parole was granted after the adult stepchildren recanted their victim testimonies. The alleged victims, a male and a female, said family members coerced them into lying or they lied to please the other adults. The scheme was originally hatched against Covender because he is a Jehovah’s Witness. Attorney W. Scott Ramsey filed the compensation suit in 2017 and has represented Covender since 2007.  Attorney’s fees in this case totaled over $247,000.

Ohio: The Ohio Controlling Board also compensated Michael Buehner in February 2025 for the 20 years he spent in prison for a murder he did not commit. He will receive a total of $2.3 million from the state, with $1.85 million going to Buehner and $450,000 going to his attorneys. Convicted in 2002 for killing Jerry Saunders, Buehner’s 2023 acquittal followed revelations of suppressed evidence and recanted testimony. Witness discrepancies and a confidential informant’s tip led to Buehner’s arrest in 2001. Facing the death penalty, co-defendant Randy Price implicated Buehner. Closed discovery prevented defense access to crucial witness accounts. Price later recanted, admitting coercion. Buehner’s 2014 discovery of withheld evidence prompted a new trial (granted in 2021). He’s now pursuing a civil rights lawsuit against Cuyahoga County and the Cleveland Police Department, alleging that misconduct deprived him of two decades of freedom and justice for the Saunders family. 

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s administration faces mounting legal challenges after a judge imposed $120,000 in fines on March 11, 2025, over his office’s misconduct. According to nonprofit media outlet Broad & Liberty, Republican Judge Anne Marie Coyle found that Krasner’s wrongful conviction unit engaged in bad faith attacks on former prosecutors, allegedly concealing exculpatory evidence and violating due process. Coyle’s ruling points to broader concerns over Krasner’s legal tactics, including politically motivated prosecutions of police officers and the exoneration of convicted criminals through questionable legal maneuvers. His office has been accused of referring exonerated felons to conflicted lawyers who sue the city, leading to $84.5 million in settlements. Krasner, a Democrat, also faces scrutiny for potential financial misconduct, including allegedly improper PAC donations and self-enriching rental agreements. Pennsylvania’s new Attorney General, Dave Sunday (R), has challenged Krasner’s handling of wrongful convictions, and his legal immunity has been weakened in civil rights cases. State and federal investigations into Krasner’s practices may determine whether his administration survives the ongoing corruption allegations and judicial reprimands as the controversial DA runs for his third term. 

Texas: Dan Martinez, 66, a former investigator for the Wichita County District Attorney’s Office, was arrested in Ohio on March 11, 2025, on charges of aggravated sexual assault and indecency with a child. The Wichita Falls Times Record News reported that the Wichita Falls police’s Crimes Against Children Unit launched an investigation after four women came forward with allegations. The first victim alleged Martinez abused her from ages 8 to 12, beginning with Martinez exposing himself, which then escalated to touching himself and forcing the victim to touch him until he eventually sexually assaulted her. Another claimed he sexually assaulted her while driving her to school, always wearing a badge and carrying a firearm. A third stated he forced her to sleep in his bed and later coerced her into lying during a forensic interview in 2008. Martinez left the DA’s Office in 2022 and moved out of state after the victim told police she confronted Martinez and his wife about the alleged incidents of sexual abuse. Aggravated sexual assault is generally a first-degree felony in Texas which can carry up to life in prison upon conviction. Indecency with a child is a second-degree felony and can carry up to a 20-year prison sentence.

Utah: KUTV out of Salt Lake City reported that Judge Kevin Christensen resigned on March 10, 2025, from the 1st District Justice Court following eight felony charges, including enticing a minor and aggravated sexual exploitation. His resignation came after being placed on unpaid leave during the investigation. Christensen, 64, allegedly engaged in disturbing conversations with Tremonton Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen about sexually abusing children. Hansen is also charged with child sex abuse. The FBI has evidence that Hansen and Christensen met and had sexual relations. As a judge, Christensen previously denied a request to detain Hansen. Investigations by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI revealed Christensen’s involvement in online communications discussing child sexual abuse, including graphic exchanges with minors. Hansen admitted to possessing child sex abuse material and had extensive, explicit chats with Christensen. Hansen was fired from his position. Both men face court appearances in Ogden during the third week of March after their cases were moved from Brigham City.

Utah: A juvenile court judge vacated 15-year-old Emiliano’s manslaughter plea on March 12, 2025, after allegations of prosecutorial misconduct surfaced, according to KUTV in Salt Lake City. The case, involving a self-defense stabbing, saw initial declination then aggressive prosecution. Former Salt Lake County Deputy DA Meghann Mills alleges DA Sim Gill’s office covered up prosecutorial misconduct in the case of a 15-year-old, Emiliano, who pled to manslaughter. Mills claims her former boss, Adrianna Davis, had an inappropriate relationship with Detective Josue Llil, which influenced the aggressive prosecution of Emiliano. The court cited “extraordinary circumstances” in restarting the case, warning Emiliano he could again face murder charges. The DA’s office consented to vacating the plea, citing a “technical discovery violation.” Motions to disqualify the DA and release Emiliano remain pending, highlighting ongoing concerns about fairness. Emiliano’s new attorney seeks to dismiss the case, disqualify the DA’s office, and free Emiliano. Gill denies any case compromise, but internal investigations are underway. Mills, who resigned, expressed her regret, claiming she “failed” Emiliano.

Vermont: Shelburne Police Sgt. Kyle Kapitanski faces a felony charge of “grossly negligent operation of a vehicle resulting in a death” after fatally striking cyclist Sean Hayes in November 2024. According to vtdigger, the Vermont State Police issued the citation following a month-long review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney. During their review, State police examined Kapitanski’s tablet and found multiple YouTube addresses accessed in the 11 minutes leading up to the crash. The last video the officer allegedly accessed was entitled, “Trans woman CONFRONTING Matt Walsh takes UNEXPECTED turn.” Hayes, 38, was standing by his bicycle near a bus stop when Kapitanski’s cruiser hit him. A wrongful death lawsuit alleges Kapitanski did not immediately stop and drove quite a bit onward before stopping and activating his emergency lights. Kapitanski’s attorney, David Sleigh, has promised a “zealous” defense after he receives the accident report. Kapitanski was scheduled to be arraigned on March 13, 2025, in Burlington.

Wisconsin: Former Milwaukee police officer Juwon Madlock faces federal charges for allegedly aiding the “Burleigh Zoo Family (BZF)” gang, according to Urban Milwaukee. Madlock, 29, is accused of providing gang member Cobie Hannah Jr. with rival gang addresses, stolen vehicle assistance, and police activity information. He allegedly discussed weapon sales, machine gun converters, and high-speed chase tactics. Text messages revealed that Madlock provided intel to Hannah instead of gathering it for the Department. A search of Madlock’s home yielded a machine gun conversion device and a hidden phone used for gang communication. He admitted to providing ammunition and rival addresses to BZF. Madlock, who had previously been suspended for dishonesty and misconduct, resigned after his arrest on March 12, 2025. A judge deemed him a flight risk and danger to the community and ordered his detention.   

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