Alabama: On March 31, 2025, in State of Alabama v. Mac Marquette, Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott denied former Decatur Police Department officer Marquette’s motion for self-defense immunity in the fatal shooting of Steve Perkins. According to the Associate Press, the denial depended legally on whether Marquette acted within his official capacity. Alabama law prohibits law enforcement involvement in repossessions without a court order, which the officers lacked. The court found Marquette was likely “acting outside the scope of his authority” and potentially a trespasser while secretly assisting the repossession. This determination negates the “stand your ground” defense, as it applies to individuals being in a place they have a right to be. The judge ruled the jury must decide if Marquette was acting as a police officer and if a “reasonable” officer would have used deadly force in the same scenario, considering the rapid firing of 18 shots less than two seconds after identifying himself. The case is set for trial in June 2025, pending a potential defense appeal.

California: The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived a civil suit against California Highway Patrol Officer Samantha Diaz-Durazo on March 12, 2025, reversing a lower court’s dismissal based on qualified immunity. According to LAist, the three-judge appellate panel (Lee, Bress, Mendoza) reasoned that a jury could find Diaz-Durazo violated Steven D’Braunstein’s Fourth Amendment rights by failing to provide reasonable post-arrest medical care after his one-car accident. The court found that if Diaz-Durazo unreasonably mistook D’Braunstein’s stroke symptoms for drug impairment and delayed medical attention for hours, this constituted a violation of clearly established law requiring prompt medical care for arrestees. Bress wrote that a jury could determine her belief that D’Braunstein did not need immediate care was an unreasonable mistake. The dissent argued that no clearly established law mandated officers to diagnose symptoms absent obvious major injury. The case was remanded to federal district court for further proceedings.

California: A gay Venezuelan asylum seeker, Andry José Hernandez, was deported to El Salvador’s brutal CECOT prison based on a gang affiliation report written by Charles Cross Jr., a former Milwaukee police sergeant with a documented history of credibility issues. USA Today reported the case of Hernandez, a makeup artist who fled persecution in Venezuela only to be wrongly identified as a member of the Tren de Aragua gang in the U.S. Cross, fired from the Milwaukee PD in 2012 for drunk driving and investigated for overtime fraud, was on the county’s Brady List of untrustworthy officers. Despite this, as an investigator for private prison operator CoreCivic, an ICE contractor in California, Cross confirmed a report identifying Hernandez as a Tren de Aragua member based solely on crown tattoos, a label federal authorities have questioned as a reliable indicator. Migrant advocates and a former ICE official express alarm over entrusting private contractors with such critical gang determinations that can serve as the sole basis for deportation to a high-risk prison. DHS defended its intelligence assessments but declined to comment on the specific role of private contractors or corroborating evidence in Hernandez’s case. Hernandez’s attorney argues the crown tattoos symbolize a “Three Kings” festival in Hernandez’ hometown of Capacho, Venezuela, not gang affiliation. His whereabouts remain unknown since his transfer to El Salvador.

Colorado: On April 14, 2025, former Clear Creek County Deputy Andrew Buen received the maximum three-year sentence for criminally negligent homicide in the 2022 killing of Christian Glass. Colorado Public Radio reported that the sentence put an end to a three-year legal battle that included two trials. Judge Catherine Cheroutes emphasized that Buen was being punished for taking Glass’s life. Buen also received two years of parole with credit for 54 days served. The sentencing hearing featured impact statements from Glass’s family, which detailed the profound and lasting grief inflicted by his death. During the statements, Glass’s mother offered a conditional hope for Buen’s future rehabilitation. State attorney Stephen Potts mentioned that body camera footage is now being used nationwide as a cautionary example of policing failures. Buen, for the first time, apologized in court, and acknowledged his role in escalating the fatal encounter. His mother also conveyed condolences to the Glass family. Along with the prison sentence, Buen lost his law enforcement certification in Colorado. Cheroutes noted the lack of precedent for sentencing officers who kill civilians, underscoring the higher standard expected of law enforcement and characterizing the case as an abuse of power. In 2023, the Glass family received what was said to be the largest settlement in Colorado history for an officer-involved shooting: 19 million in a civil case.

Florida: U.S. Army Intelligence Officer David McGillivray, 37, stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, was arrested on April 2, 2025, by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) on multiple felony charges stemming from an alleged sexual battery incident in December 2024. According to WTSP St. Petersburg, McGillivray was charged with three counts of Sexual Battery (Force Likely to Cause Injury) and Aggravated Stalking following an investigation initiated by a victim’s report of forceful restraint and sexual battery at McGillivray’s residence. He was taken into custody on April 2, 2025, at the base with military assistance. “Predators who use violence to harm and control others have no place in our community,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “This arrest is a testament to the dedication of our detectives and the commitment we have to seeking justice for victims.” The investigation is ongoing, and no further details were available.

Idaho: The Idaho Office of the Attorney General announced on April 15, 2025, that it will conduct a prosecutorial review of the fatal shooting of an autistic Latino teen in Pocatello, according to KTVB in Boise. Eyewitness video depicted a rapid escalation of force by Pocatello police against Victor Perez, 17, described by family as nonverbal, autistic, and having cerebral palsy. Within seconds of arrival, four officers with drawn weapons confronted Perez, who was behind a chain-link fence and holding a knife during a mental health episode. Despite the presence of a woman attempting to de-escalate with a pole, officers immediately shouted commands before firing nine shots as Perez moved towards them while his sister called out in vain that Perez was “special.” The witness who filmed the use of force questioned the lack of de-escalation attempts and described the officers’ arrival as akin to a “firing squad.” Members of Perez’ family stated that the handicapped teen had the cognitive ability of a young child and could not walk properly because of his cerebral palsy. Before he died, doctors were forced to amputate Perez’ leg that was severely damaged in the shooting. Police Chief Roger Schei defended the officers’ actions, citing the perceived immediate threat to nearby individuals. However, the swift use of lethal force against a visibly disabled individual behind a fence has ignited protests and raised serious concerns about excessive force and the failure to explore non-lethal options. An investigation by the East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is also underway.

Illinois: Former Wayne City Police Chief Anson Fenton, 46, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 1, 2025, to charges of misapplication of property from federally funded programs and interstate transportation of stolen property. He admitted to exploiting his position for personal gain. WRUL radio out of Carmi reported that Fenton confessed to unlawfully selling forfeited items, including two Harley-Davidson motorcycles valued over $5,000, and trading a Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle for a Ford Mustang. Fenton then kept the proceeds without the authorization of the Wayne City Board of Trustees. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft condemned Fenton’s actions, saying, “By taking unauthorized possession of forfeited property for his personal benefit, the defendant used his position of trust as police chief to deceive the community he was sworn to protect.” Fenton, who was responsible for safeguarding forfeited property, faces up to 10 years in prison and significant fines per count. His sentencing is set for July 30, 2025. The Illinois State Police led the investigation into Fenton’s misconduct.

Kansas: The Wichita Eagle reported that former Burns Police Chief Joel Womochil, 39, was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child and production of child pornography. The charges involved possession of child pornography, including videos of a child under five. The DOJ traced the crimes to 2019 and a conspiracy between Womochil and Denise Ray Sandmann, 40, of Indiana. “After meeting Womochil online, Sandmann agreed to create images of a child under the age of five engaged in sexually explicit conduct and send the images to Womochil, which he saved to his hard drive,” the DOJ explained. Each count carries a 30-year sentence, to be served consecutively. Womochil, who had been chief of the tiny town since February 2022 and a jail guard, resigned abruptly in August 2023 before his arrest. City officials claimed no prior knowledge of his crimes. His arrest followed a tip to El Dorado police from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Womochil was also ordered to pay $529,050 in restitution to victims.

Massachusetts: Fall River Police Officer Mitchell Walsh, 29, pleaded not guilty on April 7, 2025, to human trafficking charges, including enticement of a child under 16. He was arrested in a Boston sting operation the previous Friday. According to WJAR out of Providence, R.I., Walsh allegedly responded to an online ad used by traffickers and arrived believing he would meet a 15-year-old boy, who was an undercover officer. During his arraignment, prosecutors shared text messages where Walsh offered money, drugs, and a hotel room, stating he brought drugs to the meeting. A bottle of vodka and suspected cocaine were found in his car. Fall River Chief of Police Kelly Furtado called Walsh’s conduct reprehensible and stated there was no place in law enforcement for anyone who violates the public’s trust. Walsh, who was on leave for substance abuse at the time of his arrest, faced a pre-trial hearing on May 5, 2025. His employment status is under review.

Montana: Former Polson Police Officer Matthew Timm, 38, entered a plea deal in Lake County District Court on April 10, 2025, admitting guilt to felony charges of sexual abuse of children and incest. According to KPAX out of Missoula, the disgraced officer served with the Polson Police Department for two years but was apprehended on September 13, 2023, after a flash drive containing illicit images of a minor was discovered in a residence where he previously lived. Evidence revealed that the victim, then 17, endured years of abuse initiated when she was 12 or 13. Timm will serve a 10-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole. Polson Police Chief George Simpson expressed sympathy for the victim and emphasized the agency’s commitment to rebuilding community trust shattered by Timm’s betrayal of his sworn duty in a statement that read, in part, “No one should endure such harm, especially at the hands of someone entrusted with public service.”

New Jersey: Joseph C. Grieco, 38, a retired Tenafly Police Department officer, was sentenced to 11 years on April 9, 2025, after having been found guilty of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, according to northjersey.com. The verdict by a Sussex County jury followed a weeklong trial in January concerning the death of his husband, John Kelly, 44, a retired NYPD officer, who was fatally shot in their Vernon home on July 26, 2023. Prosecutors argued that Grieco shot Kelly in the chest after a night of drinking at the VFW. Grieco maintained the shooting was accidental, claiming he was demonstrating how to kill a snake when his handgun discharged. The jury, however, deliberated for six hours before rejecting this defense. Acting Prosecutor Sahil K. Kabse emphasized the significance of responsible gun ownership following the verdict. Evidence presented at trial revealed Grieco continued to consume alcohol after returning home and handled his firearm despite repeated warnings that it was loaded. Kelly died from injuries to his lower right torso at a nearby hospital. Grieco had faced a possible sentence of 10 to 30 years as prosecutors asked for a 20-year term. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before parole eligibility.

New Jersey: The North Bergen Police Department is being investigated following accusations of offensive misconduct leveled against Chief Robert Farley by five of his officers, according to The New York Times. Allegations of abuse were sent to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey attorney general on March 31, 2025. Court filings reveal claims of a disturbing pattern of harassment, including an alleged hypodermic needle stabbing of an aide, depositing shaved body hair on desks, and spiking the office coffee with prescription drugs. The officers also allege that Chief Farley repeatedly defecated on the floor of police headquarters. Officer Rasheed Siyam, who is Palestinian, further claims that he faced retaliation after reporting superiors for using a racial slur and falsely linking his background to terrorism. Officer Michael F. Derin stated he was abruptly fired after attempting to file a complaint with the state attorney general regarding internal issues. He also alleged Farley stabbed him in the genitals with a needle. Farley denies the allegations, and the township suggests the accusations arose after Farley implemented overtime policy changes. The officers’ attorney, however, refutes any connection to overtime and asserts the claims stem from retaliation for reporting other issues within the department. Farley and the five officers who accused him of misconduct remain employed.

New York: News 12 New York reported that former NYPD officer Steven Marksberry, 51, began serving his sentence on April 11, 2025, following a guilty plea in January to charges of possession of a sexual performance by a child and promotion of a sexual performance by a child. Marksberry’s legal troubles started with his arrest on June 20, 2023, on one count of possession of a sexual act by a child, later revealed to involve over 100 counts related to child pornography. The investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department was initiated after a tip concerning the upload of child sexual abuse images to Marksberry’s iCloud account. Despite beginning his sentence, the formal determination of the length of his punishment has been postponed until a hearing scheduled for December 8, 2025, before an acting Suffolk Supreme Court Justice. Prior to sentencing, Marksberry will undergo a sex offender risk assessment. He was suspended without pay by the NYPD following his initial arrest almost two years ago.

Pennsylvania: Sonya McKnight, 55, a suspended Dauphin County Magisterial District Judge, faced a series of legal problems predating her conviction on April 8, 2025, for attempted homicide and aggravated assault. According to WPMT in York, McKnight was investigated by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office in 2019 following a shooting at her residence where her estranged husband was injured. She was placed on paid leave, but no charges were filed, with authorities citing self-defense due to a Protection from Abuse order against him. In 2020, McKnight was charged with tampering with evidence, official oppression, and obstruction for allegedly using her judicial position to interfere with the arrest of her son on drug charges. She was accused of concealing evidence during the traffic stop. This led to a misconduct charge by the Pennsylvania Judicial Board. McKnight was acquitted, however, on all counts in 2021. Prior to the 2024 shooting of her estranged boyfriend, Michael McCoy, the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board suspended McKnight without pay in 2023. This suspension stemmed from multiple allegations of misconduct, including theft of time, obstructing the administration of law, disregarding a recusal directive, refusing to recuse herself from cases involving officers involved in her 2020 arrest, improper use of social media, and absenteeism. This history of legal and ethical challenges led to McKnight shooting her boyfriend in the head while he was asleep—the same night that he ended their one-year relationship.

Tennessee: Vanessa Richards Murtaugh, a former Shelby County Assistant District Attorney, entered a guilty plea to statutory rape on April 7, 2025, according to local ABC affiliate WATN out of Memphis. Murtaugh, whose prosecutorial appointment was terminated in 2022 for unrelated reasons, was initially indicted on charges of statutory rape by an authority figure and aggravated statutory rape. The indictment alleged the incident involved a minor aged 13–17, with Murtaugh exploiting her “legal, professional or occupational status … to accomplish the sexual penetration.” The aggravated charge was later dismissed. Murtaugh was indicted by a grand jury on February 27, 2025, and was out on a $50,000 bond. Murtaugh, also a former member of Tennessee’s Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board from which she resigned post-indictment, received a sentence of four years of probation and must register as a sex offender for ten years post-sentence. The terms also include a psychosexual evaluation, substance abuse assessment, maintaining employment, and no contact with the victim or his family.

Texas: According to the Wichita Falls Times Record News, former Wichita County District Attorney’s investigator Dan Martinez, 60, was returned to Wichita County Jail and held on $4.25 million bail facing seven charges related to alleged sexual offenses against children. Martinez was initially arrested in Ohio in March and extradited on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. Three additional charges have since been filed: two more counts of indecency with a child by contact and one count of indecency with a child by exposure. The allegations, dating back to 1994, involve three alleged victims detailing incidents of sexual abuse occurring between the ages of 5 and 12. Following Martinez’s initial charges, the Wichita County District Attorney’s Office appointed Lisa Tanner as special prosecutor to ensure impartiality in the investigation and any subsequent prosecution. Tanner is a veteran prosecutor from the Texas Attorney General’s Office with no prior connection to the suspect. Martinez worked for the DA’s Office from 1998 to 2022.

Texas: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, reported that former CBP Officer Emanuel Isac Celedon, 37, received a 117-month federal prison sentence on March 28, 2025, for his involvement in two separate smuggling operations. Celedon had previously pleaded guilty in March 2024 to facilitating the illegal entry of aliens and accepting bribes to allow what he believed to be cocaine to cross the U.S.-Mexico border at the Lincoln Juarez Port of Entry. In 2023 Celedon used his position with CBP to contact the Cartel del Noreste, agreeing to smuggle contraband and individuals through his inspection lane for payment. An undercover operation revealed his willingness to traffic cocaine, providing his work schedule and lane instructions. He allowed several kilograms of sham cocaine to enter the U.S. on two occasions, receiving $6,000. Further investigation uncovered a conspiracy with three others to smuggle aliens, with Celedon providing lane assignments to cartel associates. He permitted at least nine illegal entries without inspection and falsified CBP database entries to avoid secondary inspections.

United Kingdom: To the shock of many, Lydia Mugambe, 49, a United Nations judge and Ugandan High Court justice, was found guilty on March 13, 2025, of multiple offenses, including forcing a young woman into servitude. The BBC reported prosecutors successfully argued that Mugambe exploited her status and prevented the victim from seeking legitimate employment while compelling her to work as a domestic servant and childcare provider without pay. Mugambe was convicted of conspiring to breach UK immigration law, facilitating travel for exploitation, forced labor, and conspiracy to intimidate a witness. Evidence presented at Oxford Crown Court detailed how Mugambe, while pursuing a PhD at the University of Oxford, conspired with a Ugandan deputy high commissioner to bring the victim to the UK under false pretenses. The court heard that Mugambe attempted to use her connections to influence legal proceedings involving her co-conspirator and later tried to coerce the victim into withdrawing her support for the prosecution, even falsely claiming diplomatic immunity upon arrest. Sentencing was scheduled for May 2, 2025.

Utah: Third District Judge William Kenneth Kendall, 54, was formally charged on April 2, 2025, with forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, and distribution of a drug, a third-degree felony, along with misdemeanor drug charges. According to KSL out of Salt Lake City, the allegations stem from a gathering at Kendall’s residence in February when he allegedly provided a “weed pen” to one woman. A second woman accused Kendall of inappropriate sexual touching without consent. Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings filed the charges to avoid a conflict with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. Kendall, a former prosecutor, was already on administrative leave pending an undisclosed criminal investigation. A search warrant executed at Kendall’s home yielded THC products and paraphernalia. Utah Courts confirmed Kendall had not presided over cases during the investigation and has now been placed on administrative leave without pay.

Virginia: Former Culpepper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins, convicted of accepting over $75,000 in bribes for deputizing random businessmen who wanted a badge and the authority to carry a gun legally, announced his intent to appeal his 10-year prison sentence handed down on March 11, 2024. Jenkins, who has yet to begin his sentence, expressed hope for intervention from President Donald Trump during a webinar. During his December 2024 trial, Jenkins testified for five hours wearing jeans and cowboy boots and denied any wrongdoing, saying authorities wrongly perceived a quid pro quo involving the auxiliary deputies. He told the jury that “accepting donations for campaigns is certainly okay” and “swearing in deputies is something a sheriff has complete latitude to do.” He also claimed there was no connection between the tens of thousands of dollars in cash donations and the badges. Claiming insufficient funds for his appeal, Jenkins stated his belief that if Trump administration officials heard his story, the 45th President would offer assistance. Jenkins maintained that he was not allowed to present his full case to the jury.

Wisconsin: KMSP out of Minneapolis reported that St. Croix County Assistant District Attorney Bela Ballo is facing felony charges for allegedly threatening three judges, stating they “need to bleed” during a phone call with a coworker. According to the criminal complaint, Ballo, enraged by the judges’ rulings and case dismissals which he claimed created a “hostile work environment,” repeatedly yelled the threats. Prosecutors filed three counts of battery or threats to a judge against Ballo on April 4, 2025. He also faces charges of disorderly conduct, THC possession, and drug paraphernalia possession related to a separate incident. Ballo’s next court hearing was scheduled for April 16. The St. Croix District Attorney’s Office has declined to comment on the allegations against their prosecutor.  

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