Law & Order – Page 9 – Sightseers' Delight

Disputed report: Paterno contacts defense attorney

November 11, 2011 Express Telegraph

Legendary Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno has “reached out” to a criminal defense attorney with an Atlanta-based firm, NBC news reported. The Paterno camp, according to the report, reached out to J. Sedgwick Sollers, the managing partner of King & Spalding’s Washington’s office, NBC News National Investigative Correspondent Michael Isikoff reported. Paterno was fired Wednesday in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky and two university administrators

Feds to investigate Penn State’s handling of Sandusky case

November 10, 2011 Express Telegraph

The U.S. Department of Education said it will launch an investigation into whether Penn State University broke federal law in how it handled allegations of sexual misconduct involving minors and a former school official. Former Penn State Defensive Coach Jerry Sandusky has been charged with sexually abusing several young boys, including incidents on campus, authorities said. The school’s Board of Trustees on Wednesday fired Coach Joe Paterno and the university’s president, Graham Spanier. Under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure

Paterno: ‘I am disappointed with the Board of Trustees’ decision’

November 10, 2011 Express Telegraph

Joe Paterno, in a statement, said he is “disappointed with the Board of Trustees’ decision,” but admitted, “I have to accept it.” The long-time Penn State football coach was fired late Wednesday in the wake of a child sex scandal involving a former assistant coach. “A tragedy occurred, and we all have to have patience to let the legal process proceed,” Paterno said. “I appreciate the outpouring of support but want to emphasize that everyone

Two Penn State officials face criminal charges

November 7, 2011 Express Telegraph

Following an executive session Sunday night, members of Penn State’s Board of Trustees and President Graham Spanier received a request from athletic director Tim Curley to be placed on administrative leave so he can “devote the time needed to defend himself against recent allegations” by the Pennsylvania Attorney General. In addition, Gary Schultz, interim senior vice president for finance and business, will step down so that he also can defend himself and return to retirement. Both

State’s high court reinstates death penalty in Hall County case

October 19, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — The state's Supreme Court unanimously voted to reinstate the death sentence handed down to a man convicted in Hall County of the 1994 murders of his girlfriend and her friend. Earlier this year, a lower court threw out the sentence against Scotty Garnell Morrow after finding that he was denied effective counsel during the sentencing phase of his trial. But, in a decision handed down this week, Justice Hugh Thompson writes, “we conclude that trial

Former DeKalb officer sentenced to federal prison

October 19, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — A former DeKalb County police officer faces a year and a day in federal prison for helping hide a stolen vehicle, unlawfully accessing government information and lying to federal agents, the FBI said. Donald Briston, 41, of Lilburn, who pleaded guilty to the federal charges in July, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine. “The citizens

Ga. court declines to remove Johnson’s stay of execution

October 6, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — The state’s Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to drop a stay of execution a Dougherty County judge granted to a man who was set to be executed for the 1994 murder a woman he met at a west Albany bar. Dougherty County Superior Court Chief Judge Willie Lockette on Tuesday granted the stay of execution to 46-year-old Marcus Ray Johnson. District Attorney Gregory Edwards filed an emergency motion to dismiss the stay, but the

Stay remains in place for Johnson

October 5, 2011 Express Telegraph

The Supreme Court of Georgia today refused to vacate the stay of execution granted yesterday to Marcus Ray Johnson by Chief Judge Willie Lockette of the Dougherty County Superior Court. In a unanimous vote, the high court dismissed the State's appeal on procedural grounds. District Attorney Gregory Edwards filed an emergency motion this morning, asking the state Supreme Court to vacate the judge's order granting the stay. But the purpose of the stay was toallow

Johnson faces Monday clemency hearing

September 29, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — The State Board of Pardons and Paroles set a Monday appointment to hear why it should commute an Albany man’s death sentence. Marcus Ray Johnson is scheduled to be executed next Wednesday for the 1994 murder of Angela Sizemore, a woman he met at a west Albany bar. If executed, he will be the 30th inmate in Georgia put to death by lethal injection. Johnson and his attorneys will meet with the board

Dougherty County man faces Oct. 5 execution

September 23, 2011 Express Telegraph

ATLANTA — A Dougherty County Superior Court judge signed a death warrant for convicted killer Marcus Ray Johnson. Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens has set Oct. 5 as the date for Johnson’s execution. Johnson is set to died by lethal injection at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson. Johnson was convicted for the 1994 murder of Angela Sizemore. If executed, he will be the 30th inmate in Georgia put to death by