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Articles by Dale Chappell

Sheriff Wanted Medical Examiner to Alter Reports

by Dale Chappell

A pair of San Joaquin County forensic pathologists recently quit, citing abusive treatment working under Sheriff Steve Moore. They say Moore tried to influence their decisions in cases, especially on deaths that occurred at the hands of law enforcement.

“I realized that I had to leave to ...

Texas: Retroactive Application of Law That Decriminalized Specific Conduct Not Violation of Separation of Powers

by Dale Chappell

The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas (“CCA”) held that the state legislature does not violate the Separation of Powers Clause of the Texas Constitution when it exercises its power to repeal criminal laws, and the legislature was within its authority to apply the change to individuals ...

Shocking Video Shows Police Disparity for Same Actions, Different Races

by Dale Chappell

A video posted to Facebook shows a white man walking down the street with an AR-15 assault rifle on his shoulder. The police approach the man and ask for identification. The man refuses and the cops accept his answer, but ask him why he is carrying the ...

Colorado Springs Police Target Leftist Group's Peaceful Protest

Undercover officers from Colorado Springs Police Department took the stand to explain why they were ordered by the department to embed themselves in a protest called "March Against Imperialism" in March, which resulted in four of the marchers being charge with obstruction.

"Mark" and "Amy" are undercover officers for the ...

Former Illinois State Attorney Indicted: Misconduct, Misappropriation of Funds

by Dale Chappell

A former Illinois state attorney was indicted by a grand jury September 5, 2017, on 17 counts of misconduct and misappropriation of public funds in connection with a special police force he created.

Brian Towne created the State's Attorney's Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Unit in 2011 when he ...

DNA Sketches Answer Prayers, Raise Concerns

by Dale Chappell

When Chantay Blankinship was killed in May 2016 in Brown County, Texas, the police had no leads other than DNA found at the crime scene. Her family isolated themselves out of fear the killer could be right next to them. Then they got a break in the ...

Maine Supreme Court: State Must Provide Evidence to Support Probation Revocation

by Dale Chappell

The State carries the burden of proving that a probationer has violated his probation in order to support a revocation of probation, the Maine Supreme Court held on December 12, 2017.

Cory Kibbe was sentenced in 2004 to 20 years in prison, with all but four years ...

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: Right to Appeal Judge’s Questioning Not Forfeited by Failure to Object

by Dale Chappell

The right to appeal a judge’s improper questioning of a witness during trial was not forfeited by the defendant’s failure to object contemporaneously because such an error is not forfeitable and can be raised for the first time on appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas ...

Ohio Supreme Court: Courts Can Seal Case Records Prior to Expiration of Statute of Limitations

by Dale Chappell

A trial court may seal the records of a person whose case has been dismissed without prejudice before the statute of limitations for the offense expires, the Ohio Supreme Court held on September 27, 2017.

In March 2015, Colton Dye was charged by the State for arson ...

Massachusetts Supreme Court: Sleeping Juror Is “Structural Error,” Requires Intervention

by Dale Chappell

The Massachusetts Supreme Court reversed convictions for involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery and ordered a new trial because the trial judge failed to conduct voir dire after the prosecutor advised that some jurors fell asleep during trial.

Anthony Villalobos took his murder and assault charges to ...

 

 

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