Author: CNN Newsource

By Ford Hatchett

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    PHOENIX (KNXV) — Tuesday in Maricopa County Justice Court, Benjamin Alvarez, the man whom MCSO accused of neglecting more than 50 animals at his Rio Verde property in August, scored a big win as a judge granted Alvarez all of his animals back.

A full day of testimony from investigators, animal advocates, a veterinarian, and Alvarez himself resulted in the judge determining that MCSO had not met the burden to show that the animals were cruelly mistreated or neglected.

Detectives showed video of them walking the property, finding no water available for the horses, zebras, camels, goats, and birds on site. A detective testified to checking the property for available water sources and finding none.

Alvarez, who said he’d kept animals on the property since the late 1990s, testified he had provided water to the animals both the night before and the morning of MCSO’s search, but said a leak from a water container resulted in MCSO believing there was insufficient water on site.

Alvarez testified that he had not lived on the property with the animals since 2002, but visited the site at least twice a day and had other people who also visit the site regularly to feed, water, and check on the animals.

Witnesses who saw the animals testified they looked healthy.

Alvarez’s defense attorney, Melissa Baugh, argued that MCSO’s initial entry onto Alcarez’s property without a warrant was unlawful, but the judge found exigent circumstances did exist for an MCSO deputy to make entry to check on the well-being of the animals before Animal Crimes Detectives obtained warrants to search the property and seize the animals.

After the judge ruled to return all of his animals to his custody, Alvarez told ABC15 he was thrilled to get the animals back and finally get to share his side of the story.

“There are two sides to the story, and they never heard my story until now, and the judge has decided to have them give back my animals, and that makes me very happy,” Alvarez said. “People don’t understand that I also rescue animals. I mean, I love animals more than anything.”

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By Dean Fioresi

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    California (KCAL, KCBS) — A brother and sister from Rosarito, Mexico, were sentenced to federal prison on Monday for their roles in a kidnapping and ransom scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prosecutors say that the brother, 55-year-old Mario Alex Medina, also known as Shyboy, pretended to act as an intermediary between the victim’s family and kidnappers. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

His sister, 52-year-old María Alejandra Medina, a U.S. citizen living in Mexico, was sentenced to eight years for crossing the border with her brother’s son to collect the ransom money, the DOJ’s news release said.

A jury found both siblings guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking and one count of conspiracy to demand a ransom payment in October 2024, prosecutors said. The same jury also found Mario Medina guilty of one count of making a foreign communication with intent to extort.

“On November 5, 2022, Mario Medina directed and helped accomplices break into the house of a neighbor, identified in court documents as ‘R.V.,’ kidnapping the victim at gunpoint, pistol whipping him and firing a gun near his head,” prosecutors said. “

The next day, they placed a ransom call to the victim’s Los Angeles County family and demanded $70,000 for his release. They sent the family video of the victim being beaten via WhatsApp, prosecutors also noted.

Another accomplice called the victim’s family on Nov. 10, telling them that he would be killed if they did not pay $30,000, the release said.

“Later that day, Mario Medina — pretending to be an intermediary between R.V.’s family and the hostage takers — told the victim’s family to meet at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro … to make the ransom payment,” the DOJ said.

Mario Medina’s son, 32-year-old José Salud Medina, who is also known as Gordo, joined María Medina as they met the family at the McDonald’s and secured the ransom payment. They then took the money back to Mexico, prosecutors said.

“The hostage takers on November 11, 2022, then left R.V. tied up and alone in a small, subterranean trench, where Mexican law enforcement rescued him later that day,” the release said.

Prosecutors also said that José Salud Medina is in custody of Mexican officials on unrelated charges, but that he will be tried separately for the same case. He has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking, one count of conspiracy to demand a ransom payment and one count of making a foreign communication with intent to extort.

Each sibling was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution as well.

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By Doug Myers

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    Texas (KTVT) — A hammer-wielding Dallas FedEx employee is facing charges after allegedly attacking and shooting a co-worker on Monday morning — with that co-worker’s own gun, according to an arrest warrant.

Ian Hollingsworth, 25, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and remains in Dallas County Jail on $25,000 bond. His co-worker, Reginald Miles, was taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center, where he was in stable condition, authorities said.

Attack happened outside FedEx facility The incident occurred at the FedEx facility at 3901 Adler Drive in Dallas.

Investigators say Miles was sitting in a 2018 Nissan Sport, preparing for his 10:30 a.m. shift Monday, when Hollingsworth blocked Miles’ vehicle in with his 2013 Chevrolet pickup. Hollingsworth exited and began smashing Miles’ car window with a hammer.

Hammer blows, then gunfire According to the warrant, Hollingsworth struck Miles’ front driver-side window — and then Miles himself multiple times — with a hammer while arguing with him. Fearing for his life, Miles grabbed his .32 revolver, which he had owned for two decades, and got out of the car. But Hollingsworth hit Miles in the hand, knocking him to the ground and causing him to drop the revolver.

Hollingsworth picked up Miles’ gun and shot him three times — twice in the shoulder and once in the chest — before driving away, the warrant said.

Suspect fled, then surrendered While Miles attempted to retreat, Hollingsworth fled in the truck to his Grand Prairie home. Police later found and arrested Hollingsworth after his father convinced him to surrender to police, the warrant said.

The hammer and revolver were found in Hollingsworth’s truck, police said.

Longtime employee targeted Miles has been a FedEx employee since 1994, while Hollingsworth has worked at FedEx since 2021.

Miles told police that Hollingsworth had accused him of giving him dirty looks in the past, but that he didn’t know why the incident escalated.

Text message hints at motive A witness received a text message from Hollingsworth at about 11:05 a.m., stating he wasn’t sorry for what he had done and that he took action because others wouldn’t.

Video and witnesses confirm attack According to the warrant, a co-worker witnessed the hammer being raised and heard gunshots. Another employee captured cell phone video of the attack, and surveillance footage corroborated the sequence of events.

A search of law enforcement databases showed Hollingsworth had no prior criminal history, according to authorities.

CBS News Texas will provide additional details as they become available.

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By Darren Cunningham, WXYZ Web Team

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    TROY, Michigan (WXYZ) — A judge heard testimony on Monday in connection with an explosion at a medical facility that claimed the life of a little boy.

The explosion happened on Jan. 31 at The Oxford Center in Troy.

Five-year-old Thomas Cooper was receiving treatment in a hyperbaric chamber when it exploded, killing him.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the charges in March.

“This tragedy could have been prevented if proper safety protocols were followed,” Nessel said in a previous statement. “Instead, deliberate negligence and a blatant disregard for safety cost a child his life. I appreciate the investigatory efforts of the Troy Police Department. My office remains committed to seeking justice for Thomas and holding those responsible accountable.”

A judge heard testimony Monday to see if there is enough evidence to send the owner and three employees at the facility to trial.

The first and only witness to testify on day one of the preliminary hearing was a former employee who says taking a critical shortcut was the norm.

“My primary concern is that we were not putting grounding straps on the patients,” former employee Tiffany Hosey said.

Visibly anxious, Hosey testified that she warned former co-workers about what she felt was a safety risk months before the death of Thomas.

CEO Tamela Peterson, who’s charged with second-degree murder, watched the first day of the hearing in court.

The judge asked Hosey what Peterson said about not using grounding straps.

“She saw them as a strangulation risk for some of the kiddos,” Hosey said.

Jeff Mosteller and Gary Marken are also charged with second-degree murder. The prosecutor charged Aleta Moffitt, the operator of the hyperbaric chamber, with involuntary manslaughter and intentionally placing false information on a medical record.

Hosey says she raised concerns several times to Peterson and Mosteller that failing to use grounding straps, which go around the patients’ wrist while inside a chamber, was a fire hazard.

“I was told that I was uneducated and ill-informed,” Hosey said.

A defense attorney asked Hosey “who told you that?”

“Tammy told me that,” Hosey responded. “About a week later, I was let go.”

But the defense attorneys objected, saying Hosey worked at the Brighton location and not in Troy where the incident happened. They also said she left in April of 2024.

The defense suggested her testimony about the Troy location was speculative.

One attorney also questioned her efforts to report the facility.

“You were employed at the center for roughly 45 months, during which you allegedly had all these safety concerns. Did you report it to any outside agency?”

“Officially report? No,” Hosey said.

“So, you only took your concerns in house. Is that fair?” the defense asked.

“That’s true,” Hosey responded.

The Oxford Center released the following statement about the charges:

After cooperating with multiple investigations starting immediately after the tragic accident in January, we are disappointed to see charges filed.

The timing of these charges is surprising, as the typical protocol after a fire-related accident has not yet been completed. There are still outstanding questions about how this occurred. Yet, the Attorney General’s office proceeded to pursue charges without those answers.

Our highest priority every day is the safety and wellbeing of the children and families we serve, which continues during this process. Thomas’ family is being represented by Fieger Law.

James Harrington, managing partner at Fieger Law, told us in February that Thomas had received 35 treatments and the explosion happened during his 36th treatment.

“Under no circumstances should anything like this ever happen — ever,” Harrington previously told us. “When we met with the family, it was one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen.”

Thomas’ mother was also reportedly in the room and sustained some injuries to her arms.

Officials say the chamber contains 100% oxygen, which is five times the amount of oxygen in a normal room, and can be “extremely combustible.”

According to The Oxford Center website, the therapy is a “specialized form of medical treatment administered by delivering 100% pure oxygen to the body through increased atmospheric pressure greater than 1.3 ATA in an enclosed hard chamber.”

According to a GoFundMe page, Thomas loved life, running, and swimming, and he liked to draw and figure out how things worked. Thomas leaves behind his mom, dad, and younger brother.

The hearing resumes Tuesday morning.

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By Julie Dunmire

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    KALAMAZOO, Michigan (WXMI) — An Office Depot store near the Crossroads Mall in Portage is making national headlines after a video surfaced showing employees allegedly refusing to print a poster memorializing Charlie Kirk.

It’s a video seen across the country: employees at the Portage Office Depot appearing to call the image propaganda and refusing to print it.

James Asher, Chair of the Kalamazoo Young Republicans, placed the print order.

“They told us that they looked up who it was for, and that they just wouldn’t do it. And I thought that was unacceptable,” Asher said.

Asher described the poster.

“The picture literally just said the legendary Charlie Kirk 1993-2025, and it was a nice picture of Charlie, black and white, it wasn’t political propaganda. This was for a prayer vigil,” he said.

While he joked about the situation—

“I’ve lived in Kalamazoo my entire life, and I think they might be a Spirit Halloween in a couple weeks,” Asher said—he stressed the seriousness of the matter.

“So I want to ask you, because you can see these people in the video. Were you worried at all when you took that video, that their safety might be at risk for what was going on?” FOX 17 reporter Julie Dunmire asked.

“I just want to say, if this is how people show themselves on camera, imagine how they show themselves off camera. I think it goes back to the point that yeah, they may have had the right refuse me service, but people also have a right to know where they’re shopping. I think that goes to show that we have to be able to show the evil in the world, so that’s what I did. I pray for them. I hope they’re safe I don’t want any ill will to happen to them— so if anyone is thinking like that— I hope they would never do anything. These are humans that just showed a very unfortunate side of themselves,” Asher said.

In a statement posted on X, Office Depot said the employees involved are “no longer with the organization.”

Legal experts say the incident highlights changing workplace dynamics and the risks of viral moments.

“Is this caution more so prevalent now, more so now, amidst this world where everyone is talking about Charlie Kirk? Should people be conscientious of what they’re putting out on social media, and how they’re conducting themselves when it comes to employment?” Julie Dunmire asked.

“Without a doubt. Especially as we’ve become more polarized, when it comes to this political discussion.” said Cooley Law Professor Mark Dotson.

“You might not realize how sensitive your employer is to the politics, the optics of things, until a situation like this occurs,” Dotson said.

Asher says he paid $56 for a print he never received, but believes the incident may have sparked a broader conversation.

“I think it did go wild, because we’ve seen across the country, like you said, a lot of these situations. I think this is the first situation where we have it recorded, of someone being refused service for a Charlie Kirk poster,” Asher said.

Over the weekend, security measures were visible at the Office Depot store. On Monday, security was also observed at the store.

Asher returned to the store on Monday, and printed off an image. He says he is thankful for Office Depot’s apology, and them printing off a poster for him.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXMI’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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By Zachariah Wheaton

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    GRAND HAVEN, Michigan (WXMI) — A massive Victorian dollhouse with an emotional backstory has found its permanent home at the Midwest Miniatures Museum in Grand Haven, bringing closure to a family’s decades-long journey of love and loss.

The Juliana, named after Julia Poland, stands as more than just an intricate miniature display — it represents a daughter’s dream that her family refused to let die.

Julie grew up in Richmond, Virginia, where she and her sister would often commission their father, Jim, to build them dollhouses. The idea for this extravagant house came from Julie’s fascination with the Victorian age. She purchased the first pieces of wood for the project in 1989.

“I had built them smaller dollhouses before, but I had no idea that her plans were going to amount to this,” Jim Poland said.

With a design in mind and dimensions all mapped out, Julie reached out to her father for help with construction.

“I was the designated carpenter, so I cut the wood, did the routing that was necessary, and clamped boards together,” Jim Poland said. “She purchased all the wood, she purchased the windows, and she did the painting initially.”

But before they could finish, Julie tragically passed away in an automobile accident in 1995 while attending nursing school.

“We were building the house and everything. But then, when she died in an automobile accident in 1995 then it just sat there for 20 years,” Jim Poland said.

After decades of collecting dust, the family met artist Vicky Bickell, who vowed to finish what Julie started.

“I had all of Julie’s books and notes and drawings and clippings,” Bickell said. “Anything that I could find that was hers I would use in the house. So in the kitchen where she had a certain kind of table that was made to look like oak, everything in the kitchen would be oak.”

In total, it took nine years to finish and a couple of years just to find a museum with the space to hold it — something Julie’s mother and sister couldn’t help but chuckle at.

“I told her at first that she pictured the most complicated dollhouse she could,” Jerry Poland said.

Julie’s family made the trip to Michigan in September for a ribbon cutting and to see their Juliana in her final home, helping bring closure that’s long overdue.

“Coming in here and seeing the dollhouse is just gorgeous. She’s perfect,” Jerry Poland said.

“It certainly is one of a kind,” Jim Poland said.

“It definitely feels like it’s at its home and it’s at its place. It just couldn’t be a better home for it,” Jenny Poland said.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXMI’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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