‘Bent On Causing Mayhem’: Maryland Teen Sentenced After July 4 Mass Shooting ‘Bent On Causing Mayhem’: Maryland Teen Sentenced After July 4 Mass Shooting
‘Bent On Causing Mayhem’: Maryland Teen Sentenced After July 4 Mass Shooting A Maryland teenager who helped unleash gunfire on a crowded neighborhood party — killing one and wounding seven others — will spend decades behind bars, officials said. J’Shawn Drayton, 17, of Salisbury, was sentenced to life in prison with all but 40 years suspended for first-degree murder and 10 years for using a firearm in a violent crime, the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office announced.  The firearm sentence will run concurrently. Drayton will be placed on five years of supervised probation once he’s released. Drayton pleaded guilty to both charges on March 6, and has been…
Loaded Gun Found In Diaper Bag Next To Baby In Colonie, Police Say Loaded Gun Found In Diaper Bag Next To Baby In Colonie, Police Say
Loaded Gun Found In Diaper Bag Next To Baby In Colonie, Police Say Two Schenectady men are facing serious charges after police allegedly found a loaded handgun and high-capacity magazines hidden in a diaper bag—directly under a baby seated in a stroller. The discovery unfolded at around 9:40 p.m. Friday, July 18, as Colonie Police Lt. were investigating reported suspicious behavior near a Wendy’s restaurant near Central Avenue and Karner Road. Officers located a diaper bag beneath a stroller carrying a 2-month-old infant, according to police. Inside the bag, they found a loaded Taurus 9MM handgun and two 12-round high-capacity magazines. The child was not…
Teen Admits Role In HS Attack That Injured Educator, Student In Middletown: DA Teen Admits Role In HS Attack That Injured Educator, Student In Middletown: DA
Teen Admits Role In HS Attack That Injured Educator, Student In Middletown: DA A teenager has admitted to her role in a violent group attack at an Orange County high school that left both a student and a teacher injured, prosecutors announced.  Jennifer Ramirez-Castelan, age 19, of Middletown, pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to second-degree assault in connection with the March 25 incident, during which six students allegedly assaulted another student on the grounds of Middletown High School, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday, July 16.  As previously reported by Daily Voice, the incident took place inside the school an…
Easton HS Cop Jailed After Flashing Girl On FaceTime, Sending Her CashApp Money Easton HS Cop Jailed After Flashing Girl On FaceTime, Sending Her CashApp Money
Easton HS Cop Jailed After Flashing Girl On FaceTime, Sending Her CashApp Money A school police officer once honored for his service to students was sentenced to jail after exposing himself to a 16-year-old girl during a FaceTime call and sending her money and explicit images, the Northampton County District Attorney announced. Guilty Plea And Sentencing John “J.T.” Smoke, 45, of Bangor, pleaded guilty to Corruption of Minors, a first-degree misdemeanor, on May 22, 2025, before Judge Jennifer Sletvold in Northampton County Court. On July 16, 2025, she sentenced him to 9 to 24 months minus two days in county prison, followed by 36 months of probation, according to court …
New Haven Driver Gets Prison After Deadly Crash, Leaves Father Of 4 Dying In Street New Haven Driver Gets Prison After Deadly Crash, Leaves Father Of 4 Dying In Street
New Haven Driver Gets Prison After Deadly Crash, Leaves Father Of 4 Dying In Street A 21-year-old New Haven man is headed to prison after he sped away from a crash that left a motorcyclist dead.  Dajon Morris was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with it suspended after five years, the state prosecutor said. He must serve five years of probation once he's released from jail after pleading guilty to evading responsibility in connection with a deadly 2023 hit-and-run.  The crash happened at the corner of Clay Street and Haven Street in New Haven just before 9:30 p.m. on June 7, 2023. Morris, who was driving without a license, registration, or insurance, failed …
Man Who Filmed Kids, Other Patients In Bathrooms Of Manhasset Sleep Center May Dodge Prison Man Who Filmed Kids, Other Patients In Bathrooms Of Manhasset Sleep Center May Dodge Prison
Man Who Filmed Kids, Other Patients In Bathrooms Of Manhasset Sleep Center May Dodge Prison A former employee who hid cameras in bathrooms at a Long Island sleep center, recording hundreds of patients – including children – may dodge prison. Sanjai Syamaprasad, 48, pleaded guilty to unlawful surveillance and tampering with physical evidence in Nassau County Court on Tuesday, July 15. He admitted to planting hidden cameras disguised a smoke detectors inside restrooms at the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center in Manhasset. Syamaprasad secretly recorded patients and staff between July 2023 and April 2024, downloading the footage to an SD card after each shift, prosecutors sai…
Off-Duty PA Cop Who Killed Witness At Walmart Shooting Scene Gets Probation Off-Duty PA Cop Who Killed Witness At Walmart Shooting Scene Gets Probation
Off-Duty PA Cop Who Killed Witness At Walmart Shooting Scene Gets Probation An off-duty police officer whose violent takedown of a bystander at a Walmart shooting scene led to the man’s death has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to probation, authorities announced Tuesday, July 15. John J. Hawk, 38, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, simple assault, and reckless endangerment in Beaver County Court, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday. “This sworn officer’s actions contributed to the death of a man who was not a threat to anyone,” AG Sunday said. 'The Glue That Held Their Family Together' T…
Marijuana Birthday Cake Found With NY Dad, Infant Daughter, Teen Son In Car On PA Road: DA Marijuana Birthday Cake Found With NY Dad, Infant Daughter, Teen Son In Car On PA Road: DA
Marijuana Birthday Cake Found With NY Dad, Infant Daughter, Teen Son In Car On PA Road: DA A marijuana-laced birthday cake with a man’s name on it — and two children in the car — has landed a New York father on probation in Pennsylvania, officials said. Rylan Matthew Manuel LaForest, 22, of Lockwood, New York, was sentenced to 24 months of probation for Corruption of Minors, Bradford County District Attorney Richard Wilson announced on Sunday, July 6. The charges followed a November 2024 investigation by Athens Township Police Officer Thomas J. VanFleet Jr., who found LaForest parked with his 21-month-old daughter and a 14-year-old boy. Inside the vehicle, police discovered mari…
Online Ad Lures Lancaster Man To Pay For Sex With 14-Year-Old: DA Online Ad Lures Lancaster Man To Pay For Sex With 14-Year-Old: DA
Online Ad Lures Lancaster Man To Pay For Sex With 14-Year-Old: DA A Caernarvon Township man was sentenced to state prison after he tried to pay for sex with a 14-year-old girl — but was arrested in a human trafficking sting, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office announced on Thursday, July 10. Luke R. Martin, 62, of the 1800 block of East Main Street, responded to an online advertisement in February 2024 and agreed to pay money for 30 minutes of sex with a teen girl, prosecutors said. He arrived at a hotel in Ephrata Township, where he thought he’d meet the child — but instead, he was taken into custody by the Lancaster County Human Trafficking …
Roslindale Man Sentenced For 120 MPH Racing Crash That Killed Father Of 2 On I-93 In Braintree Roslindale Man Sentenced For 120 MPH Racing Crash That Killed Father Of 2 On I-93 In Braintree
Roslindale Man Sentenced For 120 MPH Racing Crash That Killed Father Of 2 On I-93 In Braintree A Roslindale man will spend up to five years in state prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter for killing another driver during a high-speed street race on I-93 in Braintree, authorities said.  Hedweens Quetant, 21, admitted in court to driving more than 120 miles per hour with his headlights off before smashing into an SUV and killing its driver, 46-year-old Michael Wojdag of Hanson, authorities said. Wojdag was married with two children.  The deadly crash happened on I-93 North near Exit 6 on Feb. 19, 2023. Massachusetts State Police said Quetant was racing another ca…
East Haven Mom Sentenced In Fatal Hit-Run Crash With Son in the Car: State East Haven Mom Sentenced In Fatal Hit-Run Crash With Son in the Car: State
East Haven Mom Sentenced In Fatal Hit-Run Crash With Son in the Car: State A Connecticut woman is going to prison for more than four years after fatally crashing into a pedestrian last year, then driving home without stopping or calling for help. Her son was in the vehicle during the crash, authorities said. Elizabeth Cronk, 46, was sentenced Thursday, July 10, to 10 years behind bars. She'll serve 51 months, with the remainder of the sentence suspended, followed by five years of probation, according to state prosecutors. Judge Frank A. Iannotti handed down the sentence following a plea agreement. Cronk hit 47-year-old Gina LaVacca as she walked on Main Street in…
Driver Found Passed Out Behind Wheel After Driving Wrong Way In Putnam Valley Guilty Of DWI: DA Driver Found Passed Out Behind Wheel After Driving Wrong Way In Putnam Valley Guilty Of DWI: DA
Driver Found Passed Out Behind Wheel After Driving Wrong Way In Putnam Valley Guilty Of DWI: DA A Dutchess County man has been found guilty of driving drunk after allegedly traveling the wrong way up a Taconic Parkway exit ramp and later being found unconscious behind the wheel in Putnam County, prosecutors said. Nicholas Nappi, age 33, of Hopewell Junction, was convicted of driving while intoxicated following a bench trial on Tuesday, July 8, before Judge Robert Nachamie in Putnam County Court, Putnam District Attorney Robert Tendy announced on Thursday, July 10.  Nappi’s arrest stemmed from an incident on October 11, 2024, when a concerned 911 caller reported a vehicle driving …