UPDATED::Nebraska City Preacher Arraigned On Sexual Assault Of A Child Charges | Beatrice News Channel

UPDATE::  Jury Finds Nebraska City Preacher Guilty On All Counts

An Otoe County jury found Nebraska City preacher Larry Mullins guilty of two counts of first degree sexual assault of a child and six other charges after nearly three hours of deliberations Wednesday.

In closing arguments, Defense Attorney Robert Schaefer said the 70-year-old Mullins has been afflicted with hip and back problems leading to surgery and said he suffers from long-term troubles in balance and personal mobility.

He said Mullins was physically incapable of performing the acts as alleged by an 11-year-old girl, who was in the courtroom as the verdict was read.

Deputy Otoe County Attorney John Palmtag told the jury that “disability is a weak defense.”

Palmtag: “The claim that he was not able of performing these ‘not rigorous’ sex acts, I think holds no water. The jury should find it holds no water.”

A district judge has rejected a plea for a lower bond from a Nebraska City preacher who was arraigned Tuesday on multiple counts alleging sexual assault of a child.

Larry Mullins’ attorney said the pastor of Apostolic Christian Ministries of Nebraska City has serious health issues that require him to keep his legs elevated and said he needs more space for exercise than his jail cell allows.

Nebraska City Preacher Arraigned On Sexual Assault Of A Child Charges | Beatrice News Channel

Priest pleads not guilty to sexually assaulting woman | Nebraska News | journalstar.com

A May trial has been scheduled for a Roman Catholic priest accused of sexually assaulting a woman in central Nebraska.

Valley County District Court records say the Rev. John Kakkuzhiyil entered a written plea of not guilty Monday to a charge of forcible sexual assault. His trial is set to begin May 6.

The woman who accused him has obtained a protection order against the cleric. She says he assaulted her in November when she went to his Ord home on business. She says she blacked out after having a couple of drinks with him.

Priest pleads not guilty to sexually assaulting woman | Nebraska News | journalstar.com

Former First-Plymouth youth leader accused of making sexual advance on boy | Crime and Courts | journalstar.com

Prosecutors have filed felony charges against a former First-Plymouth Church youth leader whom Lincoln police accuse of making an inappropriate advance on a 12-year-old boy at the church, according to court documents.

A Lancaster County judge Friday issued an arrest warrant for Taylor T. Martin, 22, on charges of attempted sexual assault and child abuse.

The allegation came to light in February, when the boy told a therapist Martin had approached him in a church bathroom during a Wednesday night youth group session, a police investigator said in an affidavit for Martin's arrest.

Former First-Plymouth youth leader accused of making sexual advance on boy | Crime and Courts | journalstar.com

80-year-old former pastor among three men accused of sexually assaulting minor

Three men are accused of sexually assaulting the same 14-year-old boy. Bellevue police Detective Roy Howell said they all met the minor on a dating app and left a trail of evidence for investigators.

"These crimes do not just stay in Bellevue, they go outside of our jurisdictions," Howell said.

One of the male suspects is from Cass County and two are from Iowa.

Bellevue police first arrested Samuel Morris of Logan, Iowa. Howell said the 55-year-old met up with the minor last December in a Bellevue neighborhood and they allegedly had sex. Howell said someone called BPD to report it, which led to Morris' arrest and prompted Howell to look through the juvenile's phone.

"Through my investigation, (I) was able to determine the victim has met three other individuals," Howell said.

80-year-old former pastor among three men accused of sexually assaulting minor

Police: Lincoln man shot neighbor following argument over the Bible | Crime and Courts | journalstar.com

A Lincoln man remained in jail Monday after police say he shot his neighbor twice following an argument over the Bible Friday night.

Jimmy Livingston, 60, shot 30-year-old Andrew Pickering in the shoulder and hip in the incident at an apartment building at 741 Sumner Street, according to an affidavit for Livingston's arrest.

Just before 7:22 p.m., Livingston pulled out his silver and black handgun and threatened Pickering with it, and then Pickering returned to his apartment, police said.

Police: Lincoln man shot neighbor following argument over the Bible | Crime and Courts | journalstar.com

Former youth pastor jailed for sexual assault

A former Omaha youth pastor is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Sarpy County authorities say Klint Andrew Bitter, 34, is held without bond on one felony count of sexual assault.

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Bitter appeared in court Wednesday morning facing first-degree sexual assault of a child charges.

Former youth pastor jailed for sexual assault

Parish removes priest who asked middle school students during confession if they masturbated or watched porn | Omaha Metro | omaha.com

An associate pastor at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church has been dismissed from the parish after asking middle school students during confession if they masturbated or watched pornography.

Deacon Tim McNeil, chancellor and spokesman for the Archdiocese of Omaha, said the Rev. Nicholas Mishek, 26, is an inexperienced priest who was overzealous in his questioning and made a lapse in judgment. He has been removed from St. Robert Bellarmine, but the archdiocese will work with him to review the training he received in the seminary.

“There was this line of questioning that’s unacceptable, and he asked two questions that are particularly unacceptable,” McNeil said. “And parents reacted strongly, and should have, and we responded to that.”

Parish removes priest who asked middle school students during confession if they masturbated or watched porn | Omaha Metro | omaha.com

Federal appeals court upholds funeral picketing law; Westboro Baptist Church vows to take case to Supreme Court | Nebraska | omaha.com

While I applaud this ruling, I do wonder if it will set up a SCOTUS showdown taking into consideration Snyder v. Phelps, 562 U.S. 443 (2011).  A case the WBC won.

The law bans protests within 500 feet of a funeral service from one hour before the rites begin to two hours afterward.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that it wasn’t unreasonable to limit the time and location of picketing because of “vulnerable physical and emotional conditions” of funeral mourners.
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“This law strikes the appropriate balance between First Amendment free speech rights and the rights of grieving families to bury their loved ones in peace,” Peterson said in a press release.
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Friday’s ruling stated that members of Westboro Church have a First Amendment right to speak, but that right is “not absolute” and that some restrictions in “time, place, and/or manner” are allowed.

Federal appeals court upholds funeral picketing law; Westboro Baptist Church vows to take case to Supreme Court | Nebraska | omaha.com

Judge’s order strikes down Nebraska ban on gay marriage – LGBTQ Nation

A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction striking down Nebraska‘s now-negated ban on gay marriage and civil unions.

The injunction issued Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon was largely a formality, as a Supreme Court ruling in late June legalized gay marriage across the county.

Bataillon’s injunction orders state officials to treat same-sex couples the same as different-sex couples in everything from processing marriage certificates to issuing birth certificates.

Judge’s order strikes down Nebraska ban on gay marriage – LGBTQ Nation

Nebraska man charged in burning of neighbor’s gay pride flag calls it a prank: ‘I have gay friends’

Why do people think that "having gay friends" makes their stupidity any more palatable?  If you're an asshole drunk, guess what you're just an asshole

A Nebraska man, accused of stealing a neighbor’s gay pride flag and setting it on fire in front of their home apologized for the “confusion” he created, saying it was only a “prank,” reports KETV.

Cameron Mayfield, 23, is accused of stealing the flag from the home of a neighborhood gay couple at the beginning of March and now faces felony charges of arson aggravated by a hate crime.

Police received a call from the women who identified Mayfield and, while investigating, found the burnt remains of the flag in his basement.

According to Mayfield’s father, his son had been drinking the night before the incident. 

“My client wants to apologize for the foolish stunt he committed on March 1,” said James Martin Davis, Mayfield’s lawyer. “He was intoxicated.”

Speaking with the press, Mayfield searched for a word to explain his actions, finally choosing “prank,” adding, “I have gay friends and I apologize to my neighbors. I’m sorry for the confusion. I don’t hate anybody or anything.”

 
Nebraska man charged in burning of neighbor’s gay pride flag calls it a prank: ‘I have gay friends’

See also:   Attorney: Man accused of burning gay pride flag was pulling drunken prank, not committing hate crime

Man alleges priest sexually abused him 30 years ago | Local News - KETV Home

The Rev. Anthony Palmese was associate pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in 1984-1985 and a member of the New Jersey-based Order of Augustinian Recollects when the alleged abuse took place. The man and his family were members of the parish at the time. Palmese died in 2012.
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The archdiocese learned of the allegation on Dec. 30, 2013, said Deacon Tim McNeil, chancellor of the archdiocese. The allegation was reported to local law enforcement and the order's headquarters. McNeil said that because Palmese belonged to the Augustinian Recollects, the order is carrying out the investigation.

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McNeil said the archdiocese tries to notify a parish within weeks of receiving an allegation or following the completion of a preliminary investigation, but the archdiocese recently learned the specifics of the complainant's allegations. McNeil also indicated that the complainant was reluctant to cooperate with the order's investigation.

Man alleges priest sexually abused him 30 years ago | Local News - KETV Home

After Meeting with Mayor Who Spurned Them, Omaha Atheists Now Say the Issue is Closed

A story I let slip away,,,

I initially posted this story into my "remnants" category on 5/31/14 as I didn't think much would become of it. Not because I felt the subject wasn't important, I just didn't think much would become of it. Well thanks to the tenacity of the Friendly Atheist keeping the story in the news, a "resolution" of sorts has hopefully brought this incident to a close.
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This week, we saw an atheist-led rally at City Hall with the theme “Minorities Matter, Mr. Mayor.” And the day after that, Mayor Kindig met with representatives from the Omaha Atheists.

In a press release issued by the group, they now say the issue is resolved (though, if you read between the lines, they don’t mention any actual apology or sign of understanding from Kindig):

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Good for the Omaha Atheists for not holding a grudge and remaining classy this entire time. They made a simple request, were rejected, and then held a peaceful rally to make a statement. They did it the right way, without resorting to insults or attacks against anyone. Then again, they didn’t have to; the Mayor’s own words did more to damage his image than anything the atheists could have done.


After Meeting with Mayor Who Spurned Them, Omaha Atheists Now Say the Issue is Closed

Man faces up to 40 years for sex assault of boys - Kearney Hub: Local

A former church youth leader has been sentenced to 17 to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting three boys during a span of seven years.

Thomas A. Jones, 37, was sentenced Monday morning in Buffalo County District Court on two counts of felony sexual assault of a child, two counts of felony third-degree sexual assault of a child and one count of femoly attempted first-degree sexual assault of a child.

The incidents took place in Kearney between 1999 and 2006. In each case, Jones either exposed himself to the boys, touched their private parts or was involved in oral sex with them.


Man faces up to 40 years for sex assault of boys - Kearney Hub: Local

Cops Ordered to Return Over $1 Million Seized From Innocent Woman - and Fed Gov Ordered to Pay Nearly $40k in Legal Fees | The Daily Sheeple

Here is a "positive" news story to report.

Civil Forfeiture is slowly coming into the minds of the mainstream but in a very negative and IMO abusive way. Last year (August and September) I posted about two of the more prominent cases of abuse. One has reached its conclusion.

What one needs to remember in regards to Civil Forfeiture, and the article does point this out, "Mishra’s ordeal happened because of civil asset forfeiture laws, which allow law enforcement to seize property that is suspected of being linked to criminal activity. One does not have to be charged with anything to permanently lose their cars, homes, or cash."

Cops Ordered to Return Over $1 Million Seized From Innocent Woman - and Fed Gov Ordered to Pay Nearly $40k in Legal Fees | The Daily Sheeple

Nebraska’s Atheist State Senator Introduces Bill That Would Force Churches to Pay Property Taxes

Here's my very simplistic (an probably naive) take on the matter. If you are a church, stay a church; the second you step foot into politics you pay taxes. if you are a charity stay a charity, again step into the political arena, kiss your 501c3 status bye-bye. As one comment stated, "Churches are not charitable organizations. They often have charitable subsidiaries. The first should be taxed without exception, the subsidiaries should have to respect the laws on charitable organizations. If they evangelize in these charitable subsidiaries, they are the church and they should denied charity status."

Ernie Chambers is arguably the highest-ranking openly-atheist politician in the country right now. The African-American Nebraska State Senator served for 38 years (beginning in 1970), making him the longest-serving senator in the state’s history, until he was term-limited out in 2008. When he was eligible to run again in 2012, he did so and won easily.

And now he has introduced a bill, LB675, that would eliminate a state property-tax exemption for religious organizations — essentially taxing churches.

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The purpose of LB 675 is to help the State gain more revenue, rather than less, by taking away churches’ property tax exemptions.

The Governor and candidates for governor have said that “everything should be on the table.” If taxes were paid on the many churches and cathedrals and temples in every city in this State, perhaps the State’s assistance to local governments and schools would be diminished considerably — leaving more in State coffers for other purposes.

Nebraska’s Atheist State Senator Introduces Bill That Would Force Churches to Pay Property Taxes

Four killed as explosions rip through plants in two U.S. states | Reuters

Explosions in two U.S. states, one at an animal feed plant in Nebraska and another at a steel plant in Oklahoma, killed at least four people and injured almost a dozen on Monday, authorities said.

An explosion and fire flattened part of an animal feed plant in Omaha, Nebraska, killing two people and injuring at least 10 others, authorities said.

In the Omaha incident, about 38 employees were working at the International Nutrition plant at midmorning when there was an explosion and part of the building collapsed, interim Fire Chief Bernard Kanger told a news conference.

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In a separate incident, two workers likely "burned to death" when a furnace exploded at about 4 p.m. local time at an Oklahoma steel plant, a Marshall County Sheriff's Office dispatcher said.

A third person was injured at Mid American Steel and Wire in Madill, Oklahoma, but treated for burns and released from a local hospital, said Madill Fire Department Fire Chief Keith Pruitt.

Four killed as explosions rip through plants in two U.S. states | Reuters

Omaha priests found guilty by church of sexual abuse of minors | Local News - KETV Home

Two Archdiocese of Omaha priests have received ecclesiastical penalties after having been found guilty by the church of sexual abuse of minors.

Alfred J. Salanitro, 54, has been dismissed from the clerical state, and Franklin A. Dvorak, 69, was sentenced to a life of prayer and penance.

Salanitro was accused of sexually abuse in 2011 by a Carter Lake, Iowa, man who came forward with allegations dating to 1991, beginning when the man was 11 years old. Salanitro was associate pastor of Holy Cross Parish at the time.

Archbishop George Lucas and an 11-member board of childcare experts, law enforcement officials, attorneys, clergy and mental health professionals determined the evidence against Salanitro met the church's minimum standard for a credible allegation.

The case was forwarded to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome, which directed Lucas to deal with the matter through an administrative penal process. Ultimately, Lucas determined Salanitro was guilty and dismissed him from priesthood, which means he's prohibited from all priestly functions and ministries and can never agains serve as a priest anywhere in the church.

Omaha priests found guilty by church of sexual abuse of minors | Local News - KETV Home

Government Attorneys Appealing Judges Order For Government To Return $1 Million To Woman

And yet again, the bullies in law enforcement trying to steal that which is not rightfully theirs. Last month I posted concerning this issue in regards to a small Texas/Louisiana border town. This case is from Nebraska,,,

In July, Nebraska police seized over $1 million dollars in cash from husband and wife during a traffic stop. At the time, officers claimed that the enormous sum of cash present in the car indicated it had been earned in the illegal drug trade.

But this wasn’t the case. The cash was actually given to the couple by exotic dancer Tara Mishra. Mishra says the money is her life savings, and that she gave the couple the money to invest in a New Jersey strip club.

The husband and wife were never charged after being pulled over, but police retained the money seized during the stop. The money is being retained under civil forfeiture laws which allow law enforcement to seize the money and property of people involved in crimes.

Police say they found drug residue on the money. But as U.S. District Judge Joseph Batallion points out, it is believed that almost all money in circulation is tainted with drug residue.

Mishra filed a claim to reclaim her money from the government, but her request was denied. Officials ruled that since Mishra had given money to the couple she no longer had a claim to it.

Government Attorneys Appealing Judges Order For Government To Return $1 Million To Woman

Is America's Biggest Liquor Racket About to Go Out of Business? | Mother Jones

I am not sure what caught my eye with this article, the staggering numbers, "the four liquor stores in the town of about a dozen full-time residents sold 4.6 million cans of beer. Or roughly 383,333 cans per person. Or 1,009 cans of beer per resident, per day." Or the idea that merchants are profiting of the misery of the Native peoples.

Activists in Pine Ridge and their allies have tried for years to shut down Whiteclay. For the most part, those efforts have focused on the creation of a dry buffer zone that would extend across into Nebraska (the reservation ends at the state line). Congress had mandated the 50-mile buffer upon creation of the reservation in 1889, but in 1904, the liquor lobby successfully persuaded President Theodore Roosevelt to eliminate that buffer by executive order (which may have not been legal). Lawmakers could have extended the buffer on their own but chose not to, and despite repeated requests, no administration in Washington has been willing to consider reversing Roosevelt's order.

Tuesday's vote would lift the prohibition on beer sales in Pine Ridge entirely (hard liquor would still be prohibited), and put the tribe in charge of sales, the profits from which it could invest in things like alcoholism treatment centers. The theory is pretty straightforward, and consistent with the idea behind repealing prohibition everywhere else: The current legal structure has only served to enrich distributors in Whiteclay while doing nothing to curb addiction. With 8 out of 10 households on the reservation (which has a population of somewhere between 18,000 and 40,000) impacted by alcoholism, it's hard to imagine legalization making things much worse.

Is America's Biggest Liquor Racket About to Go Out of Business? | Mother Jones