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Man sentenced to 50 years for brutal kidnapping and torture

DeWitt, NY A man was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the kidnapping and torture of another man. Shah Powell, 36, was convicted after holding Jhomiel Brown hostage in a shed, where he subjected him to severe brutality.

Brown testified that on September 24, he was beaten with metal poles, burned with cigarettes, and had his two front teeth pulled out with pliers. He described how he used one of his extracted teeth to saw through duct tape binding his wrists to his ankles, allowing him to escape.

Powell testified that Brown’s injuries were the result of a drug deal gone awry. Prosecutors countered that Powell lied while testifying in his defense.

Prosecutors stated that Powell was not prepared to accept the gravity of his actions. Following the guilty verdict, Powell punched a wall in frustration.

Before trial, Powell turned down a plea deal that would have resulted in a 10-year sentence. The judge dismissed the defense’s request for a lighter sentence, emphasizing the need for accountability for the assault on Brown.

Woman shoots 4-year-old boy in face during apartment altercation

Phoenix, AZ A woman has been arrested after allegedly shooting a 4-year-old boy in the face. Joanna Chalup Cortez, 29, faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault and disorderly conduct with a firearm.

The incident occurred on January 6 at an apartment complex near 29th Street and Weir Avenue. Qahsiem Sinclair was struck in the cheek by a bullet that managed to exit without hitting any critical areas.

Witnesses reported that the boy’s father believed his son had narrowly survived the ordeal. Family members had been present and were able to provide details to local news outlets.

According to police, moments leading up to the shooting involved a confrontation between Chalup Cortez and another woman. This dispute escalated after Chalup Cortez sent alarming text messages to Qahsiem’s mother, stating that she intended to “shoot up the house.”

At approximately noon, Chalup Cortez returned to the apartment complex, exited her vehicle, and fired a rifle toward the residence. Security footage captured the moment.

She fled the scene, and the boy was immediately transported to a hospital where he is expected to recover. Qahsiem’s family set up a GoFundMe to assist with medical expenses following what they described as an “absolutely heartbreaking” situation.

On Wednesday, Chalup Cortez surrendered to law enforcement. Court documents revealed that she subsequently sent text messages to the boy’s mother claiming that she did not realize Qahsiem was outside during the incident.

The boy’s father disputed this, insisting Chalup Cortez saw his son at the moment she fired the weapon. Chalup Cortez is currently being held at the Maricopa County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

Title: Fugitive captured after month on the run

Pittsburgh, PA A man wanted for probation violations has been arrested following a month-long search. William Hudson, 50, was taken into custody on Thursday morning at a residence on Desiderio Boulevard in Clairton.

Hudson was a fugitive since five bench warrants were issued for him in December. He faced charges that included aggravated assault, strangulation, terroristic threats, and endangering the welfare of children.

In addition, Hudson held an active warrant charging him with drug delivery from the City of Pittsburgh. Detectives received a tip about his location and arrived at the residence, announcing their presence for ten minutes without a response.

After hearing movement inside, they continued their announcement through an open window. Hudson eventually opened the door and was arrested without incident.

He was taken to the Allegheny County Jail following his capture.

Man arrested for domestic violence against woman and child

Sandusky, OH

Thomas Vance, 44, faces multiple charges after allegedly strangling a woman and injuring her toddler. The case began on July 18 when the woman approached police about a domestic dispute.

During the conversation, she detailed a threat made by Vance. He purportedly stated that he would “make her life hard and make her feel the pain he is feeling.”

The incident reportedly occurred on July 17. According to the victim, Vance became upset and began hitting and strangling her, subsequently assaulting her child.

After the attack, the woman sought medical attention for bleeding, a swollen throat, and bruises but left the emergency room due to long wait times.

An intake officer noted her injuries and requested to photograph the bruises, but the woman declined and expressed her desire for Vance not to be jailed that weekend.

Despite her reluctance, the investigation continued, leading law enforcement to file charges based on the extent of injuries.

Records show Vance has a previous domestic violence conviction from Tiffin Municipal Court, where a charge was upgraded to a felony.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody on December 29.

Vance has since been released and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

Man indicted after injuries leave 2-month-old boy critically hurt

PEORIA, IL A 20-year-old man has been charged with aggravated battery to a child after his infant son was hospitalized with severe injuries. Jaravion Nichols has been booked into the Peoria County Jail with no bond following his indictment on Tuesday.

On December 12, police responded to a local hospital where a car had dropped off a 2-month-old child suffering from critical head trauma. Medical professionals discovered multiple brain bleeds and fractures in the infant’s body during examination.

Careful analysis revealed bleeding within the eyes, brain swelling, and rib and leg fractures. Medical staff expressed concerns that the child’s injuries were not accidental.

Detectives launched an investigation after being informed of the child’s critical condition. Interviews with individuals who had contact with the baby did not yield any explanations for the severity of the injuries.

The investigation revealed that Nichols was the only individual caring for the baby at the time the injuries were sustained. Authorities apprehended him while responding to the 2000 block of Northeast Jefferson Avenue.

Nichols was indicted on aggravated battery charges and arrested on Tuesday. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to uncover further details surrounding the case.

Nichols is scheduled for arraignment on February 5.

Man slashes victim’s throat over cigarette refusal in Miami Beach

Miami Beach, FL A man was attacked and had his throat slashed after refusing to give a cigarette or lend his cellphone. Jack Daniel Gutierrez, 24, faces charges of aggravated battery with a weapon causing great bodily harm.

Gutierrez is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

On Tuesday, a man was walking near the 1700 block of Collins Avenue when he decided to sit by a lifeguard tower. Gutierrez approached him and requested a cigarette, which the man denied, stating he does not smoke.

Gutierrez then asked to borrow the man’s cellphone, which was again rejected. After this brief interaction, the victim believed Gutierrez had left. Suddenly, Gutierrez attacked with a knife, stabbing the man in the neck.

The victim described feeling a puncture and then blood pouring from his neck. He used a hands-free Siri application on his phone to call 911.

Emergency responders arrived to find the victim with a severe laceration from ear to ear. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and his condition remains unclear.

Gutierrez was located and arrested on Thursday. Jail records indicate he was on probation for a weapons charge at the time of the incident.

Michigan father fires gun outside school amid custody dispute

Romulus, MI A Michigan father is facing multiple charges after allegedly firing a gun outside of his son’s middle school when he was not allowed to pick him up. Shawntez Marshaun Gregory, 44, is charged with making a false report of terrorism, intentional threat to commit violence against a school, and carrying a concealed weapon, among others.

The incident occurred on Tuesday around 9:50 a.m. Gregory reportedly became angry after being denied entry to Romulus Middle School.

Witnesses said he fired a handgun several times while standing close to the school, prompting officials to place the facility on lockdown. Reports of an active shooter led to a rapid response from Romulus police, who apprehended Gregory at the scene.

No injuries were reported during the incident, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Gregory appeared virtually in district court on Thursday, where he refused to engage with the judge and became confrontational.

He allegedly expressed disdain for court proceedings, yelling at the judge and disrupting the session.

The judge noted Gregory’s past complaints of trespassing and previous violations regarding his son, which included kidnapping him from school. Prosecutors requested that Gregory be denied bond and prohibited from contacting school officials, his child, or his ex-wife.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy described the situation as a nightmare for parents. She stated the quick response to the active shooter report helped in the swift apprehension of Gregory.

Gregory is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause conference on January 20, followed by a preliminary hearing one week later.

Two daycare workers sentenced for child abuse in Alabama

Daleville, AL

Kailey Gilley and Magan Koker, employees of Happy Hearts Christian Academy Daycare, have received prison sentences for abusing children in their care. Both women were sentenced to five years in prison following a plea agreement that left the sentence undisclosed at the time.

They will also serve a probation term of three years and are not eligible for parole. Gilley faced multiple counts of abuse, while Koker was charged with several counts of aggravated child abuse and torture.

Court records indicate that the women were arrested on October 10 after alarming injuries were discovered on a child picked up from the daycare. The case began when parents noticed bruising and swelling on their child, leading to a police investigation.

During the court proceedings, emotional testimony was provided by parents of the affected children. The judge emphasized the severity of the abuse after reviewing the evidence.

The daycare remains closed following the arrests. Happy Hearts Christian Academy Daycare, which had been described as a safe environment, catered to children up to age ten.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed the two women hitting children as part of their abusive behavior. Many of the victims were reportedly unable to communicate about the abuse due to their young age.

Man charged with murder for allegedly poisoning estranged wife with cyanide

Herricks, NY

Asif Qureshi, 53, has been arrested for the murder of his estranged wife, Aleena Asif, 46. He faces one count of murder and two counts of burglary, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.

The alleged poisoning occurred on October 17 at their home in Herricks. Qureshi reportedly gained entry while his wife was out dropping off their children at school.

Witnesses claim he wore dark clothing and a mask while slipping into the residence. Once inside, he allegedly secluded himself until Aleena returned home.

At around 10:50 a.m., Qureshi left the house adorned in the same outfit, carrying a large black duffle bag. He reportedly used an electric scooter to flee the scene.

Aleena’s eldest daughter was alerted by the school that her mother never arrived to pick up her younger sister.

When authorities arrived, they found Aleena deceased in her bedroom, with red burns around her mouth. An autopsy revealed she died from asphyxiation due to inhalation of cyanide.

Surveillance footage linked Qureshi to the events surrounding the murder. Video from a nearby 7-Eleven and bus stop showed him wearing the same clothing before and after the incident.

Additional footage from the week prior appeared to show him observing the residence. Police executed a search warrant at Qureshi’s home and recovered items connecting him to the crime.

Qureshi had allegedly stalked his estranged wife for months following her divorce request. He was arrested on October 23 and arraigned the following Thursday, entering a plea of not guilty.

He is currently being held in the Nassau County Correctional Center without bond. Qureshi is scheduled to appear in court on February 18.