Month: April 2026

By Fletcher Keel

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio (WLWT) — An Ohio man is believed to be the first person in the nation convicted under the Take It Down Act, a law that prohibits the publication of nonconsensual intimate images and AI-generated forgeries, according to the Department of Justice.

James Strahler II, 37, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to cybercrimes involving both real and AI-generated sexually explicit images, as well as threats of violence against multiple victims, officials said.

According to prosecutors, Strahler installed more than 24 AI platforms and more than 100 web-based AI models on his phone. Officials said he used phone calls, voicemails, text messages and online posts to harass victims.

Strahler pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, producing obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, and publication of digital forgeries. The DOJ said his conviction on the digital forgery charge falls under the Take It Down Act.

Enacted in 2025, the Take It Down Act prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions and AI-generated forgeries.

“We believe Strahler is the first person in the United States to be convicted under the Take It Down Act,” U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said in a press release. “We will not tolerate the abhorrent practice of posting and publicizing AI-generated intimate images of real individuals without consent. And we are committed to using every tool at our disposal to hold accountable offenders like Strahler, who seek to intimidate and harass others by creating and circulating this disturbing content.”

Officials said Strahler sent harassing messages to at least six victims, all adult women, from December 2024 through June 2025. The messages included nude images of the victims, both real and AI-generated.

In one case, officials said Strahler used AI to create pornographic videos depicting a victim engaging in sexual acts with her father. The video was then distributed to the victim’s co-workers.

Prosecutors said Strahler also posted AI-generated obscene images of children online, using the faces of boys from his community.

Authorities said Strahler created more than 700 images of real victims and animated people and posted them to a website dedicated to child sexual abuse. An additional 2,400 images and videos on his phone were flagged as depicting nudity, morphed child sexual abuse material or violence.

Strahler’s criminal conduct was first reported to Hilliard police and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office before being referred to the FBI. He was arrested on federal charges in June 2025.

Strahler will be sentenced at a later date.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Don Davis

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — Two young javelinas that were accidentally separated from their herds have been successfully rehabilitated and reunited with their families, according to the Tucson Wildlife Center.

The animals, found in different locations and belonging to separate herds, were brought to TWC after being left behind during sudden herd movements—a situation the org says can happen when javelinas are startled and flee quickly, unintentionally abandoning vulnerable young.

The older of the two arrived in critical condition, suffering from severe dehydration, weakness, and difficulty standing. Despite initial concerns, X-rays showed no major injuries, though she was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. After receiving fluids, medication, and weeks of care, she regained enough strength to attempt a return to the wild.

That effort was made possible with help from the individuals who rescued her. By tracking the herd’s daily movement patterns, wildlife staff were able to release the young javelina at precisely the right moment. As her family passed by, her mother and siblings paused, allowing her to rejoin them before continuing on together. As you can see in this video below, her mother and siblings stopped and waited for her to catch up before continuing up the hill together.

The second, younger javelina faced a different challenge. She arrived dehydrated and suffering from severe diarrhea, a condition that can often be fatal in young animals. Caregivers adjusted her diet with rice cereal and pumpkin to stabilize her digestion. As her health improved, Tucson Wildlife Center says her energetic and feisty personality became apparent—often seen playing with a stuffed toy in her enclosure.

After recovering, she too was returned to her natural habitat and successfully reunited with her herd.

Wildlife officials say such reunions are among the most rewarding outcomes of rehabilitation work and highlight the importance of public awareness. They urge anyone who encounters a seemingly abandoned wild animal to contact professionals before intervening, as premature rescue attempts can sometimes do more harm than good.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Ricardo Tovar

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    MONTEREY COUNTY, California (KSBW) — The California Highway Patrol has identified the driver suspected of driving under the influence in a fiery solo-vehicle crash Friday night in unincorporated Monterey County.

The crash was reported around 8 p.m. on Meridian Road east of Revilla Drive, according to CHP.

CHP said Edgar Banuelos Sr., 37, of Castroville, was driving a Volkswagen sedan westbound at a high rate of speed when it veered off the road and crashed into a tree. CHP confirmed the driver’s identity but did not describe his relationship to the passengers.

The car was carrying three juvenile passengers from Castroville: a 16-year-old boy, a 14-year-old boy and a 7-year-old boy.

The 16-year-old died as a result of the crash, CHP said. The driver suffered suspected major injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The 14-year-old and 7-year-old passengers were transported to a San Jose hospital with suspected moderate injuries.

The 16-year-old was identified as Edgar Jeremiah Banuelos-Gonzalez of Watsonville, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

Banuelos Sr. was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, manslaughter and child endangerment.

CHP said alcohol and speed are believed to have been factors in the crash.

Edgar’s mother, Jessica Gonzalez, told KSBW that Banuelos was Edgar’s father. She also urged the community to respond with forgiveness rather than anger.

“We don’t have room for hate in our heart. Just love and peace,” Gonzalez said. “I ask the community to please don’t have anger toward anyone. Toward his dad. Let’s forgive.”

In a statement dated April 6, North Monterey County Unified School District said its community was “heartbroken by the tragic traffic accident on April 3, 2026, involving one of our families, that resulted in the passing of one of our high school students.”

The district said every student is a valued member of the community and that the loss is being felt deeply. It also extended condolences to the student’s family and loved ones.

The district said additional mental health and crisis support services will be available when students return to school on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. It also shared resources for families and community members who may need support.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call CHP at 831-796-2160.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Ricardo Tovar

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    SANTA CRUZ, California (KSBW) — The City of Santa Cruz says it strongly opposes the California Department of State Hospitals’ proposal to place a twice-convicted rapist into its city.

The California Department of State Hospitals recently issued a formal proposal for the Santa Cruz County Superior Court to consider releasing Michael Cheek, a Sexually Violent Predator, to a hotel located at 111 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz.

However, the Santa Cruz hotel is a backup option if a hotel in Watsonville, located at 970 Main Street, is no longer a viable option, per the city of Santa Cruz.

“The City of Santa Cruz, the SCPD, and the Santa Cruz City Attorney’s Office are united with the Santa Cruz District Attorney’s Office in forceful opposition to this placement proposal,” said the city of Santa Cruz in a media statement.

Michael Cheek, now in his 70s, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 1980 kidnapping and rape of a 21-year-old woman in Santa Cruz County. In 1981, Cheek escaped from a probation violation proceeding in Contra Costa County and raped a 15-year-old girl in Lake County.

He has been declared a sexually violent predator under the SVP Act. Sexually violent predators may be considered for conditional release under supervision.

Proposed SVP placements must be more than a quarter-mile from any K-12 school, including private schools and homeschool programs.

“The City of Santa Cruz strongly opposes placing Mr. Cheek at 111 Ocean Street and will take all appropriate legal steps in furtherance of that opposition,” said the City of Santa Cruz police.

They gave the following reasons:

Cheek should not have any contact with minors, yet the proposed location is extremely close to at least a dozen youth-serving facilities, including parks, beaches, a preschool and a youth center.

Cheek also should not live in a hotel setting. The city said its understanding is that GPS monitoring would not be able to ensure he is actually in his room, and hotel guests would be unaware they could encounter him on the property. The proposed location is frequently occupied by families and children, creating unavoidable contact with potential victims. It is also near other visitor-serving motels.

In addition, the city said 111 Ocean Street is a low-cost visitor accommodation in Santa Cruz’s coastal access zone. Housing Cheek would require a coastal development permit under the California Coastal Act.

The city also objected to focusing on Santa Cruz County as the location for Cheek’s potential housing. Officials said Cheek’s connection to Santa Cruz County is that he committed sexually violent crimes there, and noted that he has the same connection to Lake County.

A previous proposed placement in Aptos was withdrawn in 2024 after the property owner backed out of an offer to rent to Cheek, according to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office. That proposal involved a home near Spreckels Drive, about four blocks from Rio Del Mar Beach, and drew opposition from neighbors.

At the time, Liberty Healthcare of California told Santa Cruz County Superior Court that the homeowner had rescinded the rental agreement, making the property unavailable for placement. Prosecutors said then that they were pleased to hear the proposal had been withdrawn because of what they described as significant public safety concerns.

The City of Watsonville also issued the following statement:

“The California Department of State Hospitals has proposed placing Michael Cheek, a designated Sexually Violent Predator (SVP), at a hotel located at 970 Main Street in Watsonville as his primary residence.

“The City of Watsonville strongly opposes this proposed placement and does not believe it is in the best interests of our community.

“A hotel setting is not appropriate for SVP placement and raises serious public safety concerns. The proposed site is located in a busy commercial corridor near youth and family-serving spaces, and hotel guests would be unaware they could encounter an SVP on the premises.

“We are actively working to organize a town hall to gather the community’s voice, but in the meantime, we urge residents to submit comments to the Santa Cruz County Superior Court by April 27, 2026, at criminalinfo@santacruzcourt.org. A placement hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2026.”

The Department of State Hospitals’ response to written comments must be filed with the court by May 11, 2026.

A placement hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. May 22, 2026, in Department 6 of Santa Cruz County Superior Court.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By KCCI staff

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A 2-year-old child was seriously injured after being bitten in the face by a dog at a Des Moines hotel Tuesday morning in what authorities say is one of two recent incidents highlighting the risks young children face around animals.

Police and Des Moines Fire Department medics responded just after 8 a.m. to a hotel in the 4900 block of Northeast 14th Street. According to a preliminary investigation, the dog had been sleeping when it was startled by the child immediately before the bite.

The child was taken to a local hospital with serious facial injuries and is expected to survive. The dog, whose breed has not yet been determined, was impounded. No charges have been filed as the investigation continues.

The incident comes days after a more severe case involving an infant. Just after 6:30 a.m. on April 3, officers and medics were called to an apartment in the 3600 block of Kennedy Drive for a reported cardiac arrest. A caller told dispatchers that a dog in the home had injured the child.

First responders arrived to find the infant unresponsive and determined the child had died. Two dogs, described as a shepherd mix and a terrier/bulldog, were removed from the residence.

Detectives with the Des Moines Police Department’s Special Victims Section are continuing to investigate that case and are awaiting forensic evidence, including autopsy results. No charges have been filed.

Authorities say the two incidents underscore the importance of closely supervising interactions between children and pets and understanding animal behavior. Young children may not recognize warning signs in a dog’s body language and can unintentionally startle animals during normal play.

Officials are urging caregivers to remain vigilant and to take precautions to help prevent similar incidents.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa has resources on its website about preventing and avoiding bites.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By WCCO Staff

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    Minnesota (WCCO) — A woman was injured on a southern Minnesota highway Tuesday night after she struck a turkey with her car and it went through her windsheild.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the incident happened on southbound Interstate 35 in Forest Township, north of Faribault.

The 47-year-old woman struck the turkey in her BMW X5 shortly before 7 p.m.

She was taken to the hospital with injuries and is expected to survive, the state patrol says.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Alysia Burgio

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    Michigan (WWJ) — One of the men accused of planning a mass shooting at a Pontiac, Michigan, high school graduation last June learned his fate in court on Tuesday.

Deahveon Shamar-James Whaley, 20, pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges involving last year’s plot to shoot up a graduation ceremony held at UWM Sports Complex. The other suspect involved, 21-year-old Jamarion Jarvante Hardiman, also pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges.

In the final moments before learning his fate, Whaley addressed the judge and appeared apologetic.

“Sorry to the community for my actions and my behavior, and I promise going forward, my behavior and my actions will change,” said Whaley.

On June 3, 2025, authorities say a fight broke out in the venue during graduation. Security broke up the altercation, but the fight resumed outside in the parking lot, prompting security at UWM Sports Complex to call the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

At the scene, deputies learned about a social media post that indicated a shooting was planned. Authorities quickly reviewed security footage of the fight and saw Whaley and Hardiman carrying packages and placing them under parked vehicles.

Deputies found a backpack with a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a 40-round drum magazine under a vehicle. A second firearm with an extended magazine was found under another vehicle.

Authorities say Whaley and Hardiman planned to open fire during graduation, but their plan failed when deputies arrived at the complex.

On Tuesday, Whaley’s defense attorney and the prosecutor addressed the judge ahead of his sentence.

“He has learned, and he is not going to make this mistake again. I can confidently say that,” Whaley’s defense attorney said.

“It’s the people’s position that Mr. Whaley is now in a position where he needs to suffer the consequences of his choices. This was a decision that could have turned very bad, very quickly,” said the prosecutor.

Whaley was sentenced to three years’ probation with 90 days of that sentence spent at a Michigan Department of Corrections boot camp with a tether to follow.

“You are at a crossroads, Mr. Whaley. It’s up to you whether you’re going to continue on this road or take the exit ramp. If you do not take the exit ramp, I’m going to help you with that,” Judge Cheryl Matthews said to Whaley.

Jamarion Jarvante Hardiman, the other defendant involved in this case, is expected to be sentenced in court on April 14, 2026.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.