A 56-year-old San Jose woman pleaded guilty in Santa Clara County Superior Court to charges that she scammed a woman out of almost $450,000 by telling the victim she was cursed and money would cleanse the evil.

Lola Miller pleaded guilty on Aug. 20 to two counts of grand theft for the psychic/fortune teller scam. She was charged with scamming a San Jose woman between August 2004 and March 2005 who gave Lola Miller $350,000 in cash and another $95,000 in goods and services to have a curse lifted from her family.

The victim has since passed away from cancer and her husband said any restitution received will be given to cancer research.

Sentencing for Lola Miller is scheduled for Dec. 1. Her duration in prison will depend on how much restitution her family pays before her sentencing date.

She will receive two years in state prison if restitution of $400,000 is paid, three years incarceration for at least $150,000 and five years in prison if no restitution is paid.

Lola Miller's daughters-in-law were arrested in Aug. 21 for committing similar psychic/fortune telling scams.

Danielle Miller was arrested in a San Jose motel room while she was "cleansing" a victim of a curse after the victim had paid her more than $35,000, while Lisa Miller was arrested for a 2005 scam in which she allegedly stole more than $100,000 from a victim.

Have you been charged with a criminal offense? Contact Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation of your case by calling 480/302-9719 24 hours a day to speak with a crminal defense attorney or visit arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com

A collision involving a car and city bus injured one person sending him to the hospital in critical condition.

Phoenix Police say that the car was westbound on Dunlap and may have ran a red light.

The bus was going northbound on 12th street when they collided.

The collision closed the intersection of 12th street and Dunlap. The patient transported to the hospital was a male in his twenties.

Reports were that there were 2 people in the car at the time of the collision.

 If you have been injured in a motor vehicle collision or simply by the negligence of another, contact Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation 24 hours a day by calling 480/302-9719 or visiting arizonaaccidentinjury.com to set an appointment today for an evaluation of your claim.

A man was sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting that he forced his 7-year-old daughter to kill the family cat by holding a knife in her hand and making her stab the pet.

"I am extremely sorry for what I did," Danield J. Collins said during his sentencing Thursday. "Everything is my responsibility."

Collins, 39, pleaded guilty to a felony count of animal cruelty and two felony counts of neglect of a dependent. In exchange, prosecutors dropped three other felony charges.

Under the plea agreement, Collins must receive counseling and attend parenting classes and substance abuse treatment. The judge also prohibited Collins from owning a pet.

Collins was arrested March 13 after police said he forced his daughter to stab Boots, the family's 8-month-old cat.

The girl and Collins' 11-year-old son said their father ordered them to stab the cat because he wanted them to "learn to kill." Police said the boy tried to hide the cat from his father, but Collins found the animal and strangled it as his children watched.

Collins said he was intoxicated at the time and remembered little about what happened that day.

The Prosecutor said she was outraged by the crime but agreed to the plea deal so that the children would not have to testify against their father.

Collins' Defense attorney said Collins, a Navy veteran, has no previous felony convictions.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense and need representation, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. by calling 24 hours a day or visiting arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com to set an appointment for a free consultation of your charges.

Mesa police spokesman Sgt. Ed Wessing said officers were doing surveillance on two suspects in the area of Eighth Street and Country Club Drive.

The suspects left "recklessly" in a white Ford Focus.

The officers didn't pursue the suspects, but they drove south on Country Club and hit an unmarked police car. The vehicle then went over a curb into a yard and hit a pole, nearly ending up in a house. The suspects ran away, but were eventually captured.

Both suspects had warrants for their arrests.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney by calling 480/302-9719 or visiting arizona criminaldefenselawfirm.com for a free consultation of your charges. An attorney is available 24 hours a day.

Arizona Department of Transportation officials and law enforcement agencies throughout the state are asking drivers and passengers this holiday weekend to buckle up and observe the following safe driving tips:

* Allow extra travel time and be patient.

*Observe speed limits, including lower speeds in work zones.

*Check your vehicle before traveling, including tire pressure.

*Be prepared for an unscheduled closure; bring extra supplies, including water.

*Get a good night's rest before driving

* Think ahead; arrange for a designated driver and never drive impaired.

No construction closures are scheduled on Phoenix area freeways or other highways across the state through the Monday holiday.

Ten people were killed in crashes on Arizona's roads and highways during Labor Day weekend last year.

Drivers can get the latest information about highway restrictions via ADOT's Travel Information site at www.az511.gov or by calling 5-1-1.

Las Vegas police arrested Marion "Suge" Knight on drug and assault charges after he was accused of beating his girlfriend while brandishing a knife.

Knight was arrested about 6:40 a.m. Wednesday on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription and battery domestic violence.

Police responded to a report of a car hitting a curb near the Las Vegas Strip and say they found Knight standing over his longtime girlfriend with a knife in his hand.

The woman tried to run from the car, but Knight grabbed her.

He's accused of having the drugs Ecstasy and hydrocodone when he was arrested.

Knight's lawyers, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, declined immediate comment.

Knight is co-founder of the hip-hop label Death Row Records.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney ar Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. by contacting 480/302-9719 or visiting arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com 24 hours a day for a free consultation.

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, actress who appeared on the HBO series "The Wire" has been arrested on minor drug charges.

Court records show Pearson was charged after police arrived at her home and served a warrant to arrest her for refusing to cooperate as a witness in the murder trial of Steven Lashley which has been set for September 16.

Police recovered two cigars containing suspected marijuana and loose plant material. Pearson was charged with one count of drug possession.

Authorities say Pearson witnessed Lashley stab three men, killing one, during an argument in 2005.

If you have been charged with a drug related offense(s), contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation of your charges by visiting arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com or calling (480) 704-0777.

The Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety released numbers Sunday for the Labor Day Weekend Holiday DUI Task Force, which started statewide Aug. 15.

Police made 3,055 traffic stops arresting 228 people for DUI during one week. According to law enforcement agencies, 69 of the 228 DUI arrests were extreme DUI cases with blood-alcohol levels of .15 or above. A blood-alcohol content of .08 is considered intoxicated. Twenty minors were also arrested with DUIs, according to the report.

This year's DUI task force will operate from Aug. 15 to Sept. 1. According to the state's records, 3,055 traffic stops have already been made in one week, compared with 1,812 in the entire two weeks of last year's DUI task force enforcement.

If you have been charged with a DUI related offense or may face a DUI charge, contact Arizona's top DUI defense attorneys at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation with an experienced DUI attorney by contacting 480/302-9719 or visiting arizonadui.com

The Suns center has been slapped with a temporary restraining order by hip hot artist Alexis Miller - known professionally as Maryjane.

Miller filed the restraining order in Atlanta with Fulton County Superior Court, alleging that O'Neal stalked her, threatened her with bodily harm and made harassing phone calls in which he breathed heavily into the phone before hanging up.

Miller, 23, claimed she ended an intimate relationship with O'Neal last month. She alleged he then threatened to pay performers $50,000 each not to work with her.

O'Neal still had not been served the legal paperwork as of early Friday afternoon.

O'Neal's agent, Perry Rogers, did not return three phone messages from left at his office Friday afternoon. Officials with the Suns couldn't be reached for comment.

Under terms of the temporary restraining order, O'Neal is prohibited from having any contact or coming within 200 yards of Miller or her 19-month-old son. O'Neal, who resides in Florida, is not the father of the child.

Both parties are scheduled to appear before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Karen Woodson on Sept. 4 to determine whether the restrictions should remain

If you need assistance defending a restraining order that was issued against you in a Court of law, contact Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for assistance by calling (480) 704-0777 or visiting our website at arizonarestrainingorders.com for a free evaluation of your case.

Jeanie Kay Smith, 42, of Scottsdale was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison for stealing from her second husband and his family to fund elaborate shopping sprees.

Smith was sentenced for a string of felonies related to theft and identity theft, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

A Scottsdale police investigation found Smith stole from her now-former husband and his family, as well as several area merchants for a series of shopping trips topping $250,000.

Authorities say Smith's shopping jaunts included purchases ranging from massages to a new car.

This is not the first time Smith pilfered from a spouse, according to authorities. Smith previously pleaded guilty to fraud charges and served time in Tucson in 2002 for stealing from her first husband, authorities said.

Police say she married her second husband, whose name authorities declined to reveal, when she was released from jail two years ago.

In July, Smith pleaded guilty to four felony counts for taking the identity of another, fraudulent scheming, and theft. She was sentenced last week.

If you are facing criminal charges or have been charged with a criminal offense, contact an aggressive criminal defense attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. 24 hours a day by calling (480) 302-9719. You may also contact Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. by visiting arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com to schedule a free consultation of your case.

Prosecutors cleared officers of criminal wrongdoing in death of a New York City woman who died at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport while in police custody last year.

Carol Anne Gotbaum accidentally asphyxiated herself after being chained to a bench in a police holding room after her Sept. 28 arrest. Police said the 45-year-old was intoxicated and unruly after missing her connecting flight while on the way to a substance-abuse rehabilitation clinic in Tucson. Mrs. Gotbaum was flying alone and without an escort.

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas says officers didn't know Gotbaum suffered from alcoholism and depression and while her death was tragic, they did nothing wrong. Gotbaum's family has filed an $8 million lawsuit against Phoenix and its police department.

A Knoxville student shot a 16-year-old classmate at Knoxville High School Thursday during a dispute Thursday at a Knoxville high school. The teen died as other teenagers watched in horror as the victim fell to the floor.

The shooting happened shortly after 8 a.m. at the Central High School cafeteria. The suspected shooter was taken into custody minutes later on a nearby street.

The suspect and victim knew each other. School official believe that the shooting wasn't a random shooting. It is believe that it was an individual directing his aggression toward another individual, not the school or the students inside the school.

The cafeteria was a popular place to gather before classes started at 8:30 a.m. Two witnesses said that they were sitting about 10 feet away from the victim and talking when they heard a noise. The witnesses that first thought someone had dropped a book. The victim was shot and started walking and he was holding his chest. There was blood everywhere. And then he fell and his arm hit me a witness said.

Wintnesses thought it was fake at first but then realized the shooting was real. Students in the cafeteria began crying and scrambling to leave, while others tried to get in the room, thinking they had missed a fight. Students began to gather around the victim.

 Authorities haven't released the names of the victim, who died at University of Tennessee Medical Center, or the suspect. No other students were injured.

The school, which has about 1,400 students, was placed on lockdown after the shooting. Classes were dismissed and students were bused to a nearby church so they could be picked up by their parents.

If your teen has been charged with a criminal offense or is pending charges, it is very important to contact an experienced attorney before speaking with any other party to learn your juvenile's rights. Contact an experienced juvenile criminal defense attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. by calling (480) 302-9719. An attorney is available 24 hours a day. You may also visit Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. by visitng arizonajuvenilelawyer.com

Three people are under arrest in relation to the early Sunday fatal shooting of 17-year-old Anibal Mendoza of Queen Creek.

Thais "Lamar" Cooper, 20, Johnny Lee Cooks, 21, and a 17-year-old boy whose name was not released, all of Queen Creek, were arrested Sunday afternoon, according to a Pinal County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

The sheriff's office received several 911 calls about 2:30 a.m. Sunday regarding multiple shots fired and a subject lying facedown next to the street off of Altadonna Street near Cambria Drive in the Cambria neighborhood, east of Queen Creek. Mendoza was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the head. Sheriff's spokesman Michael Minter said Mendoza was part of a group alleged to have had ongoing issues with another group.

On Sunday morning, the groups confronted each other at a park in Cambria. The altercation began with a shotgun blast from a male juvenile member of a group of approximately five people into a group of approximately nine people. No major injuries resulted from the shotgun shot.

After the initial confrontation, the five-member group left the park and drove to a nearby side street in Cambria. Mendoza and another member of the nine-member group followed to confront the group on the side street. After another altercation, Cooper is reported to have shot Mendoza, and Cooks shot at the other members of the victim's group as he drove away, Minter said. He said alcohol could have been a factor in the incident.

Cooper faces felony charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy and child abuse.

Cooks faces felony charges of endangerment and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The 17-year-old, whose name was not released because of the sheriff's office's policy on withholding the names of juveniles, faces aggravated assault charges, authorities said.

Angela Chomokos, principal of Queen Creek High School, which Mendoza attended, said Monday he was a likable teen who got along well with his former classmates.

Chomokos said Mendoza, a former student who did not graduate from the school, had a lot of friends there and lived in the community. Chomokos said counselors and teachers are available for students who want to talk about Mendoza's death.

She said she had no information about where Mendoza went to school last year. "We don't have a lot of facts," Chomokos said. "We're fielding rumors and trying to keep students informed."

Coolidge Unified School District spokeswoman Kelly Dooley said on Monday that Mendoza came to the school on Friday to get information on attending, but didn't enroll.

If you or a family member has been charged with a criminal offense, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. by visiting arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com for a free consultation.

A 26- year old woman told authorities that she was kidnapped and held in her apartment for two days by a man who allegedly beat and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The woman said the man forced himself into her apartment and held her against here will. While she was being held hostage, the woman said the man burned her with cigarettes, threaten to kill her and sexually assaulted her. The man and woman had previous social contacts.

The woman told police she used methamphetamine during that period and escaped Tuesday morning, while the man fell asleep. She called authorities and was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Police arrested the man without incident.The man surrended after verbal negotiations. The man is in the custody on suspicion of a felony warrant from the Department of Corrections. No other additional charges have been filed against the suspect.

If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony criminal offense, contact an experienced attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation of your charges by visiting arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com.

Sgt. Tom Lovejoy, of the Mesa Police Department, was found not guilty Friday of misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges.

After testimony from investigators, an assistant police chief, experts and Lovejoy himself, Judge Samuel Goodman ruled in the one-day bench trial in San Tan Justice Court that the Chandler officer was not reckless in the Aug. 11, 2007, death of Bandit, his Belgian Malinois police dog.

After a working several shifts in the two days leading up to the event, Lovejoy forgot the dog in the back of his patrol SUV after he returned home at 9 a.m. that day.

He then began a day dealing with a variety of personal issues.

He discovered the dog dead in the car at 10 that night.

Judge Goodman said Lovejoy was negligent in the death of Bandit, but that prosecutors failed to prove recklessness, a requirement on the cruelty charge.

Goodman told Lovejoy he would expect that an officer would think of his partner during the 12-hour time period, but "you forgot; you admitted that." Lovejoy, who had been silent for nearly a year on advice of his attorneys, finally told his side of the story Friday.

"I was just too tired," he said during testimony, describing his mental state after getting only 6 1/2 hours of sleep in the 51 hours leading up to Bandit's death. "My mind wasn't working."

The year that followed included an internal investigation that resulted in a two-day suspension; Lovejoy's removal from the K-9 unit; a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office inquiry; and public outrage.

Following the verdict, both Lovejoy and his wife said they were ready to put the turmoil behind them. "It's over," Carolynn Lovejoy said. "It's freaking over. I can't believe it." After hugging dozens of fellow officers and family members who had packed the courtroom, Tom Lovejoy exhaled and said, "I'm elated."

About 35 Chandler police officers were in the courtroom to watch the proceedings. Lovejoy said the case brought against him was politically motivated, calling out Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose agency opened the criminal investigation, and County Attorney Andrew Thomas after the trial.

The assistant county attorney who was prosecuting the case, Lisa Aubuchon, walked briskly out of the courtroom immediately after the verdict, telling reporters she had no comment. Later, Special Assistant County Attorney Barnett Lotstein said the office was disappointed with the verdict.

If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony criminal offense, contact an experienced attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation of your charges by visiting arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com

Tougher DUI penalties and photo enforcement may have helped spur the nearly 18 percent decline in the number of highway-related deaths in Arizona last year, according to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

Arizona had 1,066 traffic fatalities in 2007, down from 1,293 in 2006, according to a report released last week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Traffic deaths across the nation were the lowest in 13 years. Arizona ranked fifth for the highest percentage reduction in fatalities.

Deaths in all four categories of traffic-related fatalities - vehicles, pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists - declined from 2006, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The Office of Highway Safety credited a combination of factors, such as stiffer penalties for DUI and photo enforcement and a safer driving environment.

For example, public awareness of the harsher DUI penalties, which went into effect in September, may have spurred drivers to think more carefully about unsafe driving. A spokeswoman for AAA Arizona said that drivers may be developing better driving habits.

Other factors that have contributed to the decline in traffic-related deaths include:

• Safer vehicles. Newer vehicles tend to be safer, experts say, and with newer models on the road, drivers are less likely to be in a fatal accident.

 • A reduction in miles driven. Nationwide, Americans drove slightly less in 2007 than in 2006, partly due to higher gas prices.

Arizona could reduce traffic deaths even more if the state passed tougher legislation to require drivers to wear seat belts and increased the required age for booster seats. More than half of those killed in 2007 accidents were not wearing a seat belt, and about 45 percent would have survived had they worn a seat belt.

The Teenage Driver Safety Act, a law that went into effect July 1, requires more driver training, a curfew and other limitations on young drivers.

Even with the reduction in fatalities, the more than 1,000 deaths last year is a major issue.

Los Angeles Prosecutors have filed felony drug charges against Craig Phillip Robinson, an actor best known for his role as Darryl Philbin on NBC's "The Office."

According to police in Culver City, Robinson was arrested on June 29 on suspicion of possessing MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and methamphetamine. He was released the same day after posting bail, jail records show.

Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Robinson with two felony counts of drug possession and one count of being under the influence of illegal drugs.

The 36-year-old is scheduled to appear in court on August 21.

He is familiar to television audiences for his portrayal of Philbin, a warehouse foreman on "The Office." He also recently appeared in the comedy film "Pineapple Express."

If you have been charged with a drug offense, contact Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation with a criminal defense attorney available 24 hours per day at arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com

In just two hours, Phoenix police Sgt. Doug Hardin scanned more than 900 license plates, yet his hands rarely moved from the steering wheel of his unmarked pickup truck.

The magnetically mounted cameras on the flatbed of Hardin's truck automatically scan vehicle tags using technology that recognizes the characters on each plate. Software in the laptop mounted inside the truck processes the characters in real-time, rapidly looking for matches against stolen vehicles in law enforcement databases.

An audible alert reminds him when a vehicle reported stolen is captured by the Automated License Plate Recognition cameras. The Arizona Department of Public Safety Vehicle Theft Task Force, said the technology used by Phoenix and other local police departments helps officers find everything from expensive stolen cars to unreturned rentals - all automatically, with very little physical effort required.

"I can run 5,000 plates a day," Hardin said. "An officer (manually) concentrating on nothing but stolen vehicles could run 400 a day, maybe, if he's working real hard."

Phoenix auto theft investigators attributed the recent 29 percent drop in citywide vehicle thefts not only to the rising use of ALPR technology, but also to an updated Arizona law requiring people who report auto theft to provide police with an affidavit that ensures greater accuracy in investigations.

ALPR has made Phoenix detectives' jobs easier since the cameras were introduced about 18 months ago. Phoenix police use two cameras that are shared between precincts. The Phoenix Desert Horizon Precinct was approved for a grant to buy its own camera system to use across exclusively in the northeast part of the city, officials said Phoenix ALPR technology is provided by Tennessee-based PIPS Technology, which is contracted with nearly 300 U.S. law enforcement agencies, according to a company spokesman. The units cost roughly more than $25,000 apiece.

Lt. Troy Finley, who oversees Phoenix police auto theft investigations, said one arrest will make an impact on the numbers, since one talented auto thief could steal as many as 10 cars in a day.

Finley added that the strategy of "dredging" parking lots at malls like Desert Ridge Marketplace and Metrocenter will lead to at least a couple of arrests per outing. Desert Horizon became a focus for auto theft investigations in recent years because of the size of the area and number of affluent neighborhoods that draw thieves.

Finley credited his team of about 16 investigators for the recent impact, adding that he lost four people through recent budget cuts. "It helps buy-in from the patrol guys because they see us out there," he said. "We can help them write search warrants for chop-sops and help them shut down some of the bigger operations out there."

Stealing cars is as simple as knowing how to wield a screwdriver or "jiggle key," often created from a nail file. Finley said auto theft is mostly a juvenile crime, common for teens. It also draws young adults with drug problems, he said. A 16-year-old boy, for example, was shot and critically wounded Saturday by Phoenix officers during an attempted auto theft in south Phoenix after the boy reportedly tried to strike officers with a stolen vehicle. The boy had an outstanding felony warrant for auto theft, according to police officials. His father, who had a history of drug-related arrests, was arrested at the scene.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is set to deploy as many as 25 mobile ALPR cameras over the next two months after investigators work out the kinks with software.

Longview, Texas police say they watched a minivan turn into a driveway without signaling on Wednesday and bump into a home at a low speed. They say the car was driven by Jennifer Lynn Rosenberg's daughter.

Police say the girl told an officer she had just dropped her mother off at a bar. They say they found Rosenburg at the bar and that she admitted having her daughter drive her there.

Rosenburg remains in the Gregg County Jail on a $2,500 bond.

A jail official declined to say whether she had an attorney. A spokeswoman for Child Protective Services told the Longview News-Journal that the agency is investigating.

If you are facing charges for a DUI related offense, contact Arizona's top DUI defense firm, Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. at arizonadui.com or call (480) 302-9719 24 hours a day for a free consultation with an experienced DUI attorney.

Two Department of Public Safety photo-enforcement vans have been taken out of service and the tickets issued from them could be in question.

According to an Arizona newspaper, the vans were operating under a year-old pilot program. They were monitoring speeds on parts of state highways where the accident rates are high.

American Traffic Solutions, which handles Valley speed and red-light cameras, complained to the Federal Communications Commission that the radar units on those DPS vans, which are operated by a competing company, did not have required government certification.

The vans were taken off the roads earlier this month. They will not be put back into service until they get the needed federal approval.

DPS has not said how many tickets were issued based on the vans' operations. It's also not clear if those cases will be dismissed and fines refunded to drivers.

Competition among companies like American Traffic and Redflex Systems, which ran the DPS vans, is fierce as they vie for law-enforcement contracts throughout the country.

The family of a Casa Grande police officer killed during a Pinal County SWAT training exercise is seeking $11.5 million for his death.

Lawyers representing the family filed a notice of claim - a settlement offer before a lawsuit - with the county Tuesday.

Sgt. Tate Lynch, 36, died Oct. 25 when he fell nearly 50 feet while rappelling off a Pinal County detention center in Florence.

The claim asks $4 million for his widow, Christie Lynch, and $2.5 million for each of his three children, stating that negligent acts by the sheriff's office "caused and contributed" to Lynch's death.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety investigation of Lynch's death was released to the Tribune this week. The DPS report and an investigation by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health show that few safety measures or precautions were taken and little instruction, if any, was provided to Lynch and other rappellers. The investigations found:

No safety checks were done on equipment.

The instructor overseeing the exercise lacked qualification, with training only from an intermediate rappelling class.

No safety spotters or equipment, including helmets, were used. The rope used during Lynch's rappel was too thin for the device he was using, causing it to slip.

Lynch was a two-year member of the sheriff's office SWAT team, made up of officers from several police departments in Pinal County. He was doing the rappelling exercise as part of required training.

Lynch was one of the last scheduled to rappel.

After he climbed over the wall, Lynch dropped a short distance and stopped for a few seconds before going into a free-fall, records show. On the way down, he hit his head on the wall and landed on a steel mesh picnic table.

The medical examiner determined that Lynch died from blunt force head trauma, and investigators calculated that he hit the table at more than 20 mph.

Lynch and other rappellers were told by the officer running the exercise, Ben Cook, that they didn't need helmets, DPS records show. There were also no safety spotters, or belays, even though it was the first time many of the SWAT officers had ever rappelled and the first time the sheriff's office used a new descending device.

A belay is a spotter who stands above or below a rappeller and can pull on excess rope to stop a descent - something required by safety regulations and used by other SWAT teams.

ADOSH issued two $7,000 fines against the sheriff's office in April. Sheriff's officials have hired a law firm to challenge the agency's findings and fines.

But it's not clear whether DPS will recommend charges for Lynch's death or if further action will be taken.

Detective Jennifer McGrath, the DPS investigator, did not return calls seeking comment, and department officials said they will not comment on the investigation without the consent of the sheriff's office or Casa Grande city officials.

The Pinal County Attorney's Office has not been given the report from DPS, which is awaiting test results from ASU on equipment worn and used by Lynch. Officials said it will be a few weeks until tests are completed.

Since Lynch's death, the sheriff's office has suspended all rappelling exercises and is reorganizing SWAT command and procedures. It has also created a position to oversee training and formed a review board of experts from outside police departments.

The sheriff's office has declined to comment on the investigations, and lawyers representing the Lynch family did not return calls Thursday.

If you have lost a loved on as a result of the negligence of another person/party, contact an attorney with experience in wrongful death claims at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation. Call (480) 302-9719 or visit arizonaaccidentinjury.com to speak with an attorney today.

Two men were arrested in Scottsdale for using a phony cancer diagnosis to scam several pharmacies, insurance companies and doctors out of $300,000 over the last 17 months.

Scottsdale police arrested Charles Wayne Desplanques and his alleged accomplice, Anders Hallstrom, both 25 and from Glendale on Wednesday.

Hallstrom allegedly pushed Desplanques in a wheelchair as part of the scam.

When he was arrested, Hallstrom, who has a history of drug abuse, was sucking on a lollipop made of fentanyl, a pain killer hundreds of times more powerful than street heroin.

The two were booked on suspicion of fraudulent schemes, forgery, and illegally obtaining prescription drugs.

Detectives began the investigation in February after a doctor working at a pain-management clinic in Scottsdale tipped them off to the possible fraud. Desplanques allegedly used the fake diagnosis to bilk Aetna, an insurance company, out of $144,000 for an early death benefit, and scammed $107,000 from United Healthcare.

Scottsdale police on Wednesday served a search warrant on the men's Glendale home, where they found fraudulently obtained prescription drugs and other evidence. Maricopa County Superior Court documents give this account of the alleged scam.

Beginning in January 2007, Desplanques began bringing a phony cancer diagnosis to pain-management clinics in the Valley. The doctors who Desplanques said made the diagnosis told Scottsdale police that they had never seen him.

Eleven doctors told police they relied on what turned out to be a phony diagnosis to give Desplanques narcotics, dangerous and prescription-only medications.

Hallstrom, court records say, drove Desplanques to his appointments and picked up prescriptions for him.

Hallstrom, who last year violated probation in a drug case, admitted to police that he knew Desplanques used phony paperwork to get the prescription drugs.

Desplanques is being held on a $10,000 cash bond. Hallstrom was released on his own recognizance. They are scheduled for an Aug. 28 status conference in Maricopa County Superior Court.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense contact an attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation. Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. attorneys are available 24 hours a day to assist you. Visit arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com to set your appointment.

Eastbound traffic on the Interstate 10 near Casa Grande was reopened at about 11:50 a.m. Wednesday after being diverted due to a fatal collision involving a tractor trailer and a bicyclist.

The fatality occurred on the Interstate 10 eastbound around milepost 199, near Casa Grande, according to a statement by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Eastbound traffic on Interstate 10 had been diverted and traffic on the highway near Casa Grande was at a standstill Wednesday morning as authorities investigated the accident.

Traffic headed east on the Interstate 10 was diverted westbound on the Interstate 8 as DPS investigated the fatality, according to the statement.

Westbound traffic on the Interstate 10 is still restricted because of construction in the area.

Shelley Malil who appeared in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" has been arrested for investigation of attempted murder after his former girlfriend was stabbed more than 20 times, leaving her critically injured, authorities said Tuesday.

Shelley Malil, 43, was arrested Monday in Oceanside when he got off a train from Los Angeles, Lt. Phil Brust of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

Malil had come to Oceanside to meet his attorney, who along with family and friends had persuaded him to turn himself in, police said.

On Sunday night, about 15 miles east in San Marcos, deputies answering reports of screams for help and breaking glass found a woman with multiple stab wounds and cuts on her face.

She was listed in critical condition Monday morning, but authorities did not know her condition early Tuesday.

"Malil and the victim had apparently been in a dating relationship which recently ended," the statement said.

Malil was arrested for investigation of attempted murder, mayhem and burglary, the statement said.

A deputy on duty early Tuesday did not know the name of Malil's lawyer and attempts to identify a lawyer and reach him for comment were unsuccessful.

Malil played one of star Steve Carell's co-workers in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," and has appeared in dozens of TV shows including "NYPD Blue" and "Scrubs."

If you have been charged with a crime or are being questionned, before making any statement or speaking with a law enforcement officers, contact Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. for a free consultation of your charges by calling 480/302-9719 or visiting our website at Beauchamplawoffice.com

Federal authorities have charged a 33-year-old man with driving a vehicle packed with suspected illegal immigrants that crashed last week southeast of Phoenix, killing nine people.

The driver and nine other passengers were hurt.

The complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix says Brian Guzman Ochoa of Hermosillo, Mexico, knowingly transported and moved people who were in the United States illegally.

The complaint says at least two survivors identified Guzman and a man who died in the crash as guides who took the others from Agua Prieta, Mexico into the United States. Both witnesses said Guzman was the driver.

Guzman is due in federal court Tuesday afternoon. It wasn't immediately clear if he had a lawyer.

If you or a loved one is facing or has been charged with a criminal offense, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C. by visiting our website at arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com or calling 480-302-9719 for a free consultation.

Five years after a Superior Court presiding judge stripped Constable Annette Clark of most of her duties, it remains unclear whether Clark will be allowed to return to her post full time in the Arcadia Biltmore Precinct.

A recent ruling by the Arizona Court of Appeals found that while the presiding judge, Colin Campbell, had the authority to restrict Clark's duties, he went about it inappropriately.

"Supervisory authority must be exercised reasonably, and Clark should have received notice and an opportunity to be heard followed by an explanation of the reasons for the actions," the ruling states.

Now, Clark's fate is in the hands of the current presiding judge, Barbara Mundell, who can either uphold Campbell's decision or reverse it and reinstate all of Clark's duties.

The next step in the process depends on consultations with the state Attorney General's Office, which represented Campbell in the case. The Attorney General's Office said Thursday it's reviewing the ruling to decide whether to appeal.

Clark, who is running against an opponent in the Sept. 2 primary election, said she hopes to put this all behind her and get back to work as soon as she can. Clark has said from the beginning that she does not believe Campbell behaved reasonably and that she was never given notice or an opportunity to be heard.

"If my side was told, this would never have happened," Clark said Thursday. "I have not done anything wrong. I don't even have a parking ticket, so why did they do this?"

Clark found out in 2003 most of her constable duties were being revoked when she received a letter from Campbell that said, " . . . for the duration of your term as Constable, your services . . . are no longer required."

Clark was allowed to retain her Constable status, along with her salary, and in 2004 she won re-election.

Clark said some of the duties she was allowed to maintain include attending training sessions, keeping records and answering phone calls from her constituents.

Clark sued the judge who took away her duties and the case wound up making its way to the Court of Appeals. Clark said she considered the court's decision a victory.

"I've been waiting for the decision (for) God knows how long," she said.

Phoenix police on Thursday formally presented the Maricopa County Attorney's Office with the investigation into the death seven years ago of an Ahwatukee Foothills man whose girlfriend, they believe, called a national talk radio show and bragged that she got away with murder.

Phoenix police officially named the girlfriend, Megan Suzanne Vice of El Mirage, as the suspect in the case. Police won't arrest the 30-year-old Vice, they are seeking charges of first-degree murder and obstructing a criminal investigation for filing a false police report.

Two years ago, a woman claiming to be the dead man's girlfriend said on a national radio talk show that she killed him but had convinced police it was a suicide.

Detectives continued to work on the case that drew attention on Nov. 3, 2006, when nationally syndicated radio talk-show host Tom Leykis took a call on his live show from a woman claiming she got away with murder. Police have linked the call to the March 2001 death of Tortsen Rockwood.

In May, Phoenix police filed a "reasonable cause statement" showing that they believe Vice shot and killed Rockwood, her live-in boyfriend, in March 2001. Their 2-year-old son reportedly was in another room. The court record shows that Vice told police the couple argued about Rockwood hitting the boy and that she thought Rockwood shot himself.

Vice could not be reached for comment.

Records show that last May 29, police had Vice read a transcript over the telephone of what the caller said on Leykis' show. The idea was to compare her voice with that of the woman who called "The Tom Leykis Show" in 2006.

During the call, the woman said she was a nurse at the same hospital where she and her ex-boyfriend worked, and that they had a child when she was 19. She told Leykis that she tried to talk to her ex-boyfriend about why he wasn't paying child support and was told he quit his job so he wouldn't have to.

The woman said on the radio program that her former boyfriend wouldn't listen to her, so she shot him. She said that she was a nurse and knew where to aim, and claimed to have used his 9 mm gun to shoot him in the heart.

Before going on radio, the caller spoke with an associate producer and asked if there was a way the call could be traced or if they could find out who she was. The associate producer told her he hoped she was not going to threaten the president. She said no and told him her story. She told him she receives survivor benefits.

Court records indicate the Leykis show sent a list of 1,440 call-in numbers to Phoenix police.

An MP3 file posted on the show's Web site, www.blowmeuptom.com, has the woman telling Leykis that she had a one-night stand that produced a child. The father would not pay child support, she said. Leykis said she identified herself only by her middle name of "Sue" or "Susan."

"I went over and tried to talk to him just about doing some under-the-table money," the woman said on the air. "He wouldn't listen, so I shot him."

"You shot him?" Leykis said.

"Oh yes, I did."

"You shot him dead?"

"I did."

The woman told Leykis that she wasn't arrested because she had lied to police. Leykis told her he would use her phone number to turn her in.

"They've got your confession on tape," Leykis said. "You just confessed."

The woman replied: "But people call up and make up stories all the time, Tom."

Seconds later, the line went dead.

Tranter said the woman could face charges of first-degree murder and obstructing a criminal investigation, the latter for filing a false police report. He said that the woman won't be arrested because of circumstantial evidence and admissions the woman made to police.

"This is an extremely unusual case," Tranter said. "It's not unusual, however, not to book someone but seek charges. We've determined that this woman is not a flight risk."

Gary Zabransky, executive producer of the Leykis show, said last week that he and Leykis have cooperated with Phoenix police. Zabransky added that police asked that they not discuss the case on the air.

"I've been here 11 years and, by far, this is the most talked-about call we've ever had," Zabransky said. "Callers still want to know about it. This is one that's not going away. We don't want it to go away. Ultimately, we want to see an arrest and prosecution. And, we want to talk about it."

If you are facing criminal charges contact an experienced, aggressive attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, PC, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week by calling 480/302-9719 or visiting us at arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com

A charter bus carrying Vietnamese worshippers on a pilgrimage ran off a highway overpass north of Dallas and plunged onto a roadway below early Friday, killing at least 13 people and sending at least 24 to hospitals.

The bus ran off U.S. 75 about 12:45 a.m. and skidded across a guard rail before falling 15 feet and landing on its side. The bus carrying 55 people from Houston to Missouri may have blown a tire, but officials were still investigating the crumpled wreckage littered with luggage, shopping bags and scattered clothing.

The bus came to rest on its right side in the northbound lane of an access road. Workers righted the wreckage and loaded it onto a flatbed truck.

Police said 12 people died at the scene and another died at a Dallas hospital. At least five more were hospitalized in critical condition.

The accident happened less than a mile from the spot where a trucker crossed the median and killed 10 people five years ago.

The injured, including the driver of the bus, were rushed to several hospitals. It was unclear if weather played a role in the accident. A National Weather Service meteorologist said there was some light rain in the area around midnight.

Northbound traffic on the highway was shut down as ambulances and helicopters used the roadway and median to ferry the injured to hospitals.

KHOU-TV quoted a Galveston/Houston archdiocese church official as saying many of those on the bus were from the Vietnamese Martyrs Church of Houston and were on their way to a religious festival in Carthage, Mo. At least four translators were brought to the scene, the Herald Democrat of Sherman reported.

 If you have lost a loved one in a catastrophic incident, contact Beauchamp Law Office for a free consultation of your claim. Beauchamp Law Office attorneys are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week or visit our website at arizonaaccidentinjury.com

Eight months after a former state lawmaker died in a three-way car crash last year, lawyers are warring over who was at fault in his death. Was it the two drivers allegedly racing along Scottsdale Road at high speed when they slammed into Calvin Holman's Chevrolet Camaro on Dec. 28, flipping him 75 feet into the air? Or was Holman to blame for turning left into the path of the allegedly speeding Mercedes and Mustang sweeping northbound on Scottsdale Road?

In the midst of the legal wrangling, blood tests revealed that Robert Van Brakel, at the wheel of the Mercedes sedan, had marijuana in his system. It was not immediately clear whether the drug was a factor in the crash.

Prosecutors in Pinal County have charged Van Brakel of Phoenix, and Travis Jordan Aronica, of Michigan, with second-degree murder in Holman's death.

The case is being tried in the neighboring county because Van Brakel's sister is a Maricopa County prosecutor. Both defense lawyers, said Holman was at fault for turning left into the path of the oncoming cars, a violation of state law.

The attorney representing the Holman family in a wrongful-death suit against Van Brakel and Aronica dismisses the defense attorneys' arguments.

Aronica and Van Brakel were "driving at ambush speeds," the Holman's attorney said, and according to "nearly every witness," were making "severe lane changes."

Court records show that Aronica has been cited nine times for speeding and once each for careless and reckless driving since 2001. Aronica has been cited in Michigan, Virginia, Florida and Maryland. Five months before Holman's death, Aronica was cited for reckless driving for going 84 mph in a 65 mph zone in Greensville County, Va. Aronia paid $906 in speeding tickets in six of the 11 cases. Fine amounts weren't available in the other five.

Van Brakel has a less-extensive driving record, but reached higher speeds. In November 2004, he was clocked driving 120 mph in a 75 mph zone on Interstate 17 near Mayer. He told the officer he was "trying out a new car," records shows. The ticket cost him $480. In June 2004, Van Brakel paid a $293 fine for driving 67 mph in a 40 mph zone in Scottsdale. He was also cited for separate criminal and civil traffic citations in North Valley Justice Court in 2006, but details were not available. T

he Holman's attorney states that Aronica and Van Brakel had been driving the 45 mph speed limit when they were driving north on Scottsdale Road, Holman would have "had plenty of time to make the turn."

Court records based on the Scottsdale police investigation cited witnesses who gauged the men's speed at up to 100 mph. The document gives this account of the accident.

Van Brakel could not stop his Mercedes and slammed into Holman's Chevrolet Camaro on the passenger side. Aronica's Mustang struck next. The impact flipped the Mustang upside down in a ditch, and sent Holman 75 feet into the air. He died at the scene. He had been a Republican state representative from 1975 to 1985.

Mehrens discounts the 100 mph-speed estimates. His accident reconstruction experts says Aronica was driving about 65 mph in the 45 mph zone, and Van Brakel was traveling about 70 mph. The defense expert found that the accident could have happened at 47 mph. The men deny that they men were racing.

Beauchamp Law Office is composed of criminal defense and personal injury attorneys. If you have been charged with a criminal offense or have been the victim of another's negligence, contact an attorney for a free consultation by visiting beauchamplawoffice.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two students were taken to the hospital after their bus crashed in Queen Creek on Tuesday afternoon.

The bus was carrying 58 Skyline Ranch Elementary School students when it clipped a pickup truck near Hunt Highway and Gary Road.

The pickup truck was parked illegally, partially blocking the bus exit. A first bus was able to maneuver around the truck, while the second bus clipped the vehicle's rear bumper at 5 mph.

A 10-year old boy with foot and knee pain and a 9-year old girl with neck, shoulder and abdomen pain were transported by ambulance to a local hospital. One other student was treated at the scene. No serious injuries were reported. The 55 other children were transferred to another bus and taken home.

If you or your child has been injured in a motor vehicle or bus collision, contact Beauchamp Law Office (480) 704-0777 for a free consultation of your claim or visit our website at arizonaaccidentinjury.com. An attorney is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to assist you.

A former Buckeye employee accused of stealing $90K in cash from residents water bill payments, she did it because she was '"desperate for money" and "kept going because she got greedy".

Lizbet Bueno worked as a cashier in the public works department, she allegedly took the money from water customers paying in person, she would take their payments and credit their accounts, give them a receipt, then once the customers left she would delete the receipt and pocket the money.

Buena pleaded not guilty to the theft, a Class 2 felony, in Maricopa County Superior Court on June 30. This after telling police back in January, that she used the money to pay bills, pay her rent, buy clothes for her kids, fix her car and paint her house.

A consultant's audit of town finances last year discovered the missing receipts. Assistant Public Works Director Damon DuQuenne, who oversaw Bueno at the time, said that the department immediately alerted town management and turned over the investigation to Buckeye police.

During the investigation, police found lax security measures in the department's computer system, including the ability for staff to log on under another employee's cashier number and delete receipts. The department upgraded its computer system to "close the loopholes", according to the police report. The theft did not affect customers' accounts since their accounts were credited, DuQuenne confirmed.

The missing money also will not affect the Public Works Department's operating budget.

Bueno's initial pretrial conference is set for August 18th.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense and need aggressive representation, contact an attorney at Beauchamp Law Office, P.C for a free consultation of your case. Call (480)302-9719 or visit the Firm at arizonacriminaldefenselawfirm.com

Insurance claim adjusters have thrown cold water on a Gilbert father's demand for compensation filed because of a rare downpour that drenched Gilbert High School's graduation ceremony in May. Kirk Gossett, whose son just graduated, filed an insurance claim after the ceremony and hoped to collect $400 to replace a damaged sport coat and his daughter's plane ticket from Utah.

Gossett argued the high school should have been prepared to move the ceremony indoors because forecasts throughout the week had predicted rain. But the Arizona School Risk Retention Trust, which handles insurance and small legal claims for nearly all public school districts in the state, sent Gossett a letter last Wednesday denying his claim.

Thomas Mullen, an adjuster for the trust, wrote in the letter that Gilbert High "made a good faith effort to conduct the graduation ceremony . . . to best accommodate the participants and their invited guests." Mullen added: "The fact that it rained and caused some disruption and an abbreviated ceremony is unfortunate but does not create a liability."

Gossett hasn't returned messages seeking comment.

When rain hit graduation ceremonies last May, officials at some schools moved ceremonies into gyms or auditoriums, which had limited seating, prompting a few families to complain that not all of their relatives and friends could watch. Schools that had closed-circuit broadcasts asked attendees who couldn't squeeze into the auditorium to watch the event in other areas. But Gilbert High decided to weather the rain. The move ensured everyone could watch even in the steady rain.

Assistant Superintendent Clyde Dangerfield said that he has never seen it rain on graduation in his 15 years with the district. And he's never seen a claim like Gossett's before. "You can't hold the school district responsible for weather," Dangerfield said. "It's just not a reasonable request."

The state attorney's office filed official charges against the mother of a missing Orlando girl Tuesday as a search for her missing daughter continues.

Charges of felony child neglect and making a false report to law enforcement authorities were filed against the Casey Anthony, 22, in connection with the disappearance of her daughter Caylee, 2, Local 6 reported.

The false information concerned the date and location where Casey Anthony alleged that she saw the child, Caylee Anthony.

The charges come after Casey Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, said immunity is a "moot point," in the case, Local 6's Jessica Sanchez said.

Baez said earlier there were informal discussions but nothing was put on paper and no offers were made.

"I was contacted and we spoke about it but there was not formal letter offered or sent," Baez said.

Meanwhile, Caylee's grandmother, Cindy Anthony, canceled a scheduled meeting Tuesday with her daughter at the Orange County Jail. A reason for the cancellation was not known.

Cindy and husband, George Anthony, met with investigators Monday concerning the search for Caylee.

"It was a meeting at our request just to touch base with them and see where we are all at," Cindy Anthony said.

No information was released about the private meeting but detectives continue to deny the existence of a mysterious baby sitter who Casey Anthony has claimed was last with her daughter.

Also, DNA results concerning a mysterious stain and hair samples from Casey Anthony's car are due any day this week.

Casey Anthony may be back in court in the next 24 hours. The defense could ask for a hearing where prosecutors would be forced to reveal the evidence they've gathered against Casey Anthony.

A national search for the child continues.

Gilbert resident Deborah Lynn Ward, 47 (DOB 12/2/60), has been sentenced to six years in prison and four years of supervised probation for the theft of over