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Teen Accused of Raping Many Girls

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An 18-year-old Pennsylvania teen is being held on $5 million bail after being charged with raping and sexually assaulting multiple underage girls.

Joshua Benson was arraigned at a Bucks County court Thursday morning on charges that he raped two young girls.

Authorities say the Bensalem, Pa., native also violently sexually assaulted five other girls over a five-month time period when he was under the age of 18. All of the victims were between the ages of 14 and 16, officials said.

Benson is originally from Ohio and moved to the area a year ago, shortly before the alleged assaults began in December 2012, officials said.

Benson, who cursed at reporters on his way into court on Thursday, met some of his victims on a dating website and others through friends, authorities confirm. They say the teen would befriend the girls and make them trust him before violently forcing himself on them.

"Once he befriended them and gained trust in them where they agreed to have a very short-term relationship with him. Once he began engaging in sexual contact it immediately turned violent," Bensalem Police Sgt. Andrew Aninsman said.

The most recent victims say they were forced to perform sex acts in the basement of a town home along Arrowwood Drive in Bensalem, officials said.

The 18-year-old had been locked up in a juvenile detention center on charges he assaulted the five girls while he was underage. Now, he has been transferred to the Bucks County Prison.

Police believe there are many more victims and are urging them to come forward.

"We do believe there are many other victims out there and if you see this, and your gut is wrenching as to what happened to you, pick up the phone and call Bensalem Police and we will make sure that we do everything in our power to make sure you get justice," said Aninsman.

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Photo Credit: NBC10

Mother Missing, Family Found Dead

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Police are searching for the mother of two boys who were found shot dead, one inside their home and the other inside a car parked at an A&P supermarket in upstate New York, saying she may be injured and in need of medical attention.

The boys' father, identified as 49-year-old Abbas Lodhi, was also found dead of a gunshot wound inside the car Thursday morning in Pleasant Valley,  police say. A shotgun was recovered at one of the scenes.

The children were identified as 9-year-old Zain Lodhi and 13-year-old Mugthba Lodhi. 

Police emphasized there is no threat to local residents as the search for 43-year-old Sarwat Lodhi continues, calling the killings a "family tragedy." 

Officials did not elaborate on their theory as to what happened, or how the mother was injured.

Michael Piccione, whose son was a close friend of Zain, said the boy was "always a peacemaker. He was always the one who never wanted anyone to fight."

"The most important thing right now is for our community to come together and work through this tragedy." 

--Marc Santia contributed to this report. 

Philadelphia Bans 3-D Guns

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The Philadelphia City Council voted on Thursday to ban the use of 3-D printers to create firearms.

The bill, which was introduced by Councilman Kenyatta Johnson in September, prohibits people from creating part or all of a firearm using the three-dimensional printing technology. Licensed gun manufacturers are not affected.

A 3-D printer creates a physical object by laying down many layers of plastic or another resin-infused material in the same fashion as an inkjet printer. The technology has been around for some time, but recent advances have made the devices very affordable and more commonplace.

A gun made this way can be created without any metal and thus be undetectable by current checkpoint screening methods like metal detectors and X-ray machines in use at city buildings, arenas and airports.

“Today, Philadelphia became one of the first cities in America to proactively address an issue that has the potential to pose a significant danger to the public,” Councilman Johnson said in a statement after the vote.

Philadelphia is not alone in the push to ban the 3-D printed weapons. Lawmakers in California and Washington, D.C. vowed to push for similar restrictions in the wake of a reported successful test fire of a 3-D printed weapon earlier this year.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer wants to extend a federal law that prohibits carrying a undetectable gun. The current law is set to expire on Dec. 9.

Schumer says the latest designs for 3-D printed guns, which are available for download on the internet, allow the gun to fire multiple shots before being destroyed. A blueprint for one such firearm was recently downloaded more than 100,000 times, Schumer says.

The 3-D printed gun ban now goes before Mayor Michael Nutter.


Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.



Photo Credit: AP / Austin American Statesman, Jay Janner

JFK Commemoration Details

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For more than a year the City of Dallas planned to mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy with a solemn and dignified event that reflects upon JFK's life, legacy and leadership.

Below is a schedule of events, as released by The 50th Committee:

  • Pre-show begins at 11:30 a.m.
  • Musicians from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform a pre-program ahead of The 50th: Honoring the Memory of President John F. Kennedy event.
  • Dallas Police Department Honorary Color Guard will present the flags for The 50th: Honoring the Memory of President John F. Kennedy event.
  • Dallas Metro Police Pipes and Drums will perform during The 50th: Honoring the Memory of President John F. Kennedy event.
  • Monica Saldivar, a 2012 graduate of Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts will sing the National Anthem. Saldivar is currently attending Dallas Baptist University majoring in Music Business & Performance.
  • Guests should remain standing for the Invocation by Bishop Kevin J. Farrell of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.
  • Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings will deliver remarks.
  • Tolling of the Bells throughout Dallas.
  • A Moment of Silence at 12:30 p.m.
  • The United States Naval Academy Men's Glee Club, under the direction of Dr. Aaron Smith, will perform "America the Beautiful."
  • Remarks delivered by author and historian David McCullough.
  • The United States Naval Academy Men's Glee Club will perform "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
  • Closing Prayer, ready by Rev. Zan W.  Holmes, Jr., pastor emeritus of the St. Luke's Community United Methodist Church.
  • The United States Naval Academy Men's Glee Club will perform "The Navy Hymn."
  • "Missing Man" flyover salute by the Commemorative Air Force, Centex Unit
  • Program ends

The city only allowed 5,000 people to attend the event.  If you aren't on the guest list, you can watch the event at one of three public plazas in downtown including  AT&T Plaza at American Airlines Center, Annette Strauss Square and the JFK Memorial at Founders Plaza. Each location will be equipped with a large screen LED display, with closed captioning.  

If you are not able to attend at one of those locations, the event can be watched live online at NBCDFW.com and through our JFK 50 iPhone app.  The program begins at 11:30 a.m., though our live stream will begin broadcasting at about 10 a.m.



Photo Credit: Ken Kalthoff, NBC 5 News

WATCH: JFK Remembrance

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The enduring symbol of John F. Kennedy’s presidency, the image that defined America’s romance with its heroic young leader and his star-crossed family, came from his widow, Jacqueline, a couple weeks after his assassination.

Struggling to come up with a literary or cultural analogy for their flash of time in the White House, the grieving former first lady settled on a Broadway musical.

“At night, before we’d go to sleep, Jack liked to play some records,” she told Life magazine in December 1963, “and the song he loved most came at the very end of this record. The lines he loved to hear were: Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot.”

With that, the legend was sealed. The Kennedy administration would thereon be remembered as Camelot, with John the king and Jackie the queen, glamorous symbols of a nation’s wealthy new idealism.

The nation will honor JFK's legacy Friday on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. Thousands in Dallas are set to mark the day with a ceremony in Dealey Plaza, where he was shot as his motorcade passed through on Nov. 22, 1963. In Boston the JFK Library and Museum will open an exhibit featuring never-before-displayed items from Kennedy's funeral, while in Washington President Barack Obama will meet privately with leaders and volunteers from the Peace Corps, the national service program Kennedy started, The Associated Press reported.

  • Check back here for a livestream from Dallas at 11 a.m. ET.

Kennedy's portrait remains indelible, even after revelations of adultery, mob ties and bought elections.

“What is remarkable is how durable this image has been surrounding John F. Kennedy all these decades since,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and author of “The Kennedy Half-Century: The Legacy and Influence of the JFK Presidency.”

America’s adoration of JFK still burns in part because he was cut down so early, at the height of his political and cultural influence. He was the youngest elected president, and the youngest to die. He was also the first president of the television age, and so, thanks to the painstaking curation of his image, he is forever frozen in memory as he was 50 years ago: handsome, charismatic, athletic, virile, inspirational.

“The assassination…converted an impressive but flawed man into a saint—an untouchable saint,” Sabato said.

Kennedy made his share of highly dramatic political decisions—on civil rights, space exploration, the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis—but his cultural contributions were, arguably, more lasting.

Much of that has to do with the time and place of Kennedy’s rise. A decorated war hero, Kennedy related with a generation of GIs returning home to a country exploring new financial, educational and technological opportunities; many of these returning troops became the first in their families to attend college. Kennedy became, in a way, their standard-bearer. His high-society, multilingual wife, regarded as an icon of grace and beauty, completed the picture.

“We’re talking about a country that had come out of the war, that controlled the economy of the world. We were rich by any standards in those days, and people didn’t really know how to act,” said journalist Richard Reeves, author of two books on Kennedy. “I think the Kennedys, with their long hair and European-cut suits and languages, were the role models for a new America.”

JFK, who secretly suffered from debilitating ailments and had been given last rites three times before becoming president, approached politics and his personal life with an impatience that seemed indicative of someone who expected to die young. With help from his powerful and wealthy father, Joseph, and his equally ambitious siblings, he took the White House by storm, leapfrogging over the political establishment.

“He lived life as a race against boredom,” Reeves said. “He would not wait his turn. He was the first self-financed, self-created presidential candidate. He had it won before they knew what happened. If you want it, go after it. No one waits their turn now. That was largely because of Kennedy.”

He was also a torrid womanizer, engaging in several well-documented affairs before and during his presidency.

After his death, his wife, family and inner-circle embarked on a campaign to burnish his legacy, which is a big reason why there are so many schools, buildings, streets, plazas and government facilities around the world named after him. No other modern president has enjoyed such treatment, except for maybe Ronald Reagan, Reeves said.

At the same time, the Kennedy family has been struck by a number of tragedies—accidents, illnesses, murder, substance-abuse problems—that gave rise to the notion of a "Kennedy curse.”

Those who believe in such a thing point to a string of events that began before JFK’s assassination: the wartime death of his older brother, Joseph; the botched lobotomy of a sister, Rosemary; the death of another sister, Kathleen, in a plane crash; John and Jackie’s stillborn daughter; and the death of a prematurely born son.

The family misfortunes continued after JFK died. The first was a June 1964 plane crash in which the late  president’s youngest brother, Ted, barely survived. In 1968, another brother, Robert, was assassinated as he campaigned for president. A year later, Ted drove a car off a small bridge near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, killing a young woman in the passenger’s seat. Other members of the extended clan have been convicted of murder, suffered cancer, overdosed and died in other horrific ways. That includes JFK’s son, John Jr., who perished while piloting a small plane near Martha’s Vineyard in 1999.

But scholars scoff at the idea of a Kennedy curse. They point out that the family is so large and sprawling that bad things were bound to happen to some of them. Adding to the peril was that many of JFK’s kin lived the way he did: at full speed, at high risk.

The perception of a curse exists because of that Kennedy mystique, which survives unabated to this day. The 50th anniversary of JFK’s death has sprouted another wave of books about him.

Which raises the question: Will the glow over a president who served less than three years ever dull?

Reeves doesn’t think so. If the negative aspects of his presidency and personal life haven’t sufficiently tarnished him, they likely won’t ever, he said.

The main enemy is time. Eventually, the number of Americans who remember watching John and Jackie in the White House — along with the historians and journalists who documented it — will diminish to nothing.

“They are still the king and queen, at least until my generation dies off,” Sabato said. “It will eventually fade into history. And perhaps the view of the Kennedys will become more realistic. But until then, you’re going to continue to focus on the mythology.”



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Dog Returns Home with Bloody Leash

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A Southern California family is asking for the public's help in finding a missing man whose dog returned home from walk alone with a bloody leash, police said.

Darwin Vela, 22, was last seen Tuesday about 9 p.m. in the 2900 block of South Redondo Boulevard in Los Angeles, east of Culver City, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Vela took his dog "Coco" for a walk, and the 3-year-old, 90-pound chocolate Labrador Retriever dog came home without Vela, dragging a bloody leash, police said. Family members said he has never gone missing before.

"His tail was between his legs and he was hunched over crying," said Vela's fiancée, Kelly McLaren. "I grabbed the leash and looked down and there was a thumbprint-size spot of blood."

A lab test on Thursday confirmed the blood on the leash was human blood, police said.

Police, bloodhounds and choppers were in full force Thursday night in search of the man.

McLaren said she and Vela are witnesses in a criminal case, which had a preliminary hearing earlier Thursday.

"The circumstances caused us concern and caused his family concern, so we are looking into that," LAPD Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese said.

The family plans to canvass the neighborhood to search for Darwin and tell residents of their missing loved one.

Vela's mother is set to take a DNA test Friday to help police determine if the blood is that of her son.

Vela is described as a Hispanic man with black hair and brown eyes, 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 160 pounds. He was dark green knit cap, a black shirt and blue jeans.

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Va. State Senator Leaves Hospital

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Virginia State Sen. Creigh Deeds is heading home, three days after he was stabbed by his son in their Bath County home.

Deeds was discharged from the University of Virginia Medical Center Friday morning, a hospital spokesman confirmed.

The son, 24-year-old Austin "Gus" Deeds, died at Tuesday's scene. An autopsy performed the following day confirmed that Gus Deeds died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Based on the evidence we have right now, we are looking into this as an attempted murder and suicide," said Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller.

State police have stopped short of confirming what other sources had told News4: That 24-year-old Austin "Gus" Deeds stabbed his father and then killed himself. But state police did confirm that the two had an altercation outside Deeds' Bath County home, and that Creigh Deeds suffered multiple stab wounds to the head and upper torso.

Deeds, 55, was able to walk out of the home and down a hill on his property (seen in the picture below) to Route 42, where he was spotted and picked up by a cousin, who took the senator to his residence. 

Deeds was airlifted to UVa. Medical Center, where he was initially listed in critical condition and was treated in the intensive care unit.

"I'm so relieved he's doing better, but the tragedy is that he'll be living with this for the rest of his life," said Va. Sen. Janet Howell, a friend and colleague of Deeds.

Troopers and first responders attempted to treat Gus Deeds, but he died at the scene. His body was taken to the medical examiner in Roanoke for an autopsy.

Investigators recovered a firearm at the scene. The autopsy indicated that the shot was fired from a rifle.

Police are not seeking any other suspects, Geller said.

Virginia State Police said in a press conference Tuesday that they believe the incident happened shortly before 7:25 a.m., when the Bath County Sheriff's Department received the 911 call. They are not sure who placed the call.

Creigh Deeds has been able to speak to investigators, Geller said. The Bath County Sheriff's Department is assisting Virginia State Police with the investigation.

The incident has raised new questions about the capacity of Virginia's mental health system. Tuesday, it was reported that hours before the attack Gus Deeds was the subject of an emergency custody order -- but a bed at a hospital or psychiatric treatment facility was not available, and he was released home.

The Washington Post reported that  three hospitals within a two-hour drive of Bath County did have beds available, and two of the three say they were never contacted by the Rockbridge County Community Services Board trying to find a placement for Deeds son.

The state inspector general has now launched an investigation to find out what led to Gus Deeds' release after the custody order was issued.

"Regardless of whether or not there were beds, there was not a system to determine if there were beds available," Howell said. "It seems to me we should have a clearinghouse of some kind so that when somebody needs a bed, there is a very efficient way to find out where one is available."

The assault shocked many throughout the commonwealth.

"The news from this morning is utterly heartbreaking," said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. "Creigh Deeds is an exceptional and committed public servant who has always done what he believes is best for Virginia and who gives his all to public service."

Four years ago, Deeds, a Democrat, lost badly to Republican McDonnell in the Virginia governor's race, although Barack Obama had carried the commonwealth just a year earlier. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said the loss was a reaction to Obama's election in 2008, and a harbinger of the Tea Party surge.

But Deeds has held strong as a Democrat in a legislative district that encompasses both the urban center of Charlottesville and more rural, typically Republican areas of far western Virginia. Deeds has also been helped by his home turf of Bath County, which is typically Republican but turns out the vote for one of their own, Sabato said.

Colleagues of Sen. Deeds said they've heard of difficulties with his son but never imagined an outcome like this.

Gus Deeds withdrew from the College of William & Mary last month, the college said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. He had been enrolled there since 2007, although not continuously.

He was a music major with "a strong academic record," according to the school.

"Our hearts go out to the entire Deeds family," the school's statement read in part.

The same year his father ran for governor, Gus Deeds, then 20,  was arrested in Bath County for alcohol possession, according to the Virginian Pilot.

"This is a truly sad day for Virginia and for the many people who know Creigh as the fine public servant and friend he is," said Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe, whom Deeds defeated in the Democratic primary in 2009. "We join people across the Commonwealth and country in wishing him a full recovery."

Mark Warner, who campaigned for Deeds in 2009, said:

That sentiment was echoed by Virginia Delegate David Toscano, who represents Albemarle County in the General Assembly:

Creigh Deeds has been a Virginia state senator since 2001, representing Virginia's 25th District. He served in the House of Delegates for 10 years prior and ran unsuccessfully for attorney general of Virginia in 2005 before his run for governor in 2009.

Deeds and his first wife, Pam, divorced after nearly 20 years of marriage in 2010. The couple also has three daughters. Deeds married his second wife in June 2012. She was not home at the time of the altercation.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Memorial Held for Marines Killed at Camp Pendleton

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A memorial service was held at Camp Pendleton Thursday morning for four U.S. Marines killed in an accident on base on Nov. 13.

Family, friends, colleagues and senior Camp Pendleton leaders gathered at the Base Theatre to pay respects to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Marines Gunnery Sgt. Gregory J. Mullins, Staff Sgt. Mathew R. Marsh, Staff Sgt. Eric W. Summers and Sgt. Miguel Ortiz.

According to base officials, the EOD Marines were killed in an explosion during range maintenance operations to dispose of unexploded ordnance in the Zulu impact area at Camp Pendleton.

The four young Marines hailed from all over the U.S. and had each earned a multitude of awards and medals over their respective careers.

Sgt. Ortiz, 27, was from San Diego’s Vista area, while Staff Sgt. Marsh, 28, was from Long Beach, Calif. Gunner Sgt. Mullins, 31, was from Bayou L’Ourse, La., while Staff Sgt. Summers, 22, hailed from Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Thursday’s somber service included eulogies delivered by close friends, EOD personnel, scripture readings, a three-volley rifle salute and a ceremonial final roll call. “Amazing Grace” and Taps were also played.

The Commandant and First Lady of the Marine Corps, General James F. Amos and his wife, Bonnie Amos, attended the memorial service and met with each of the Marines’ families prior to the ceremony.

Camp Pendleton’s Commanding General, Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard, delivered the following statement:

"Today, we pause for a moment to remember our fallen comrades: their lives, service and sacrifice. We, their Marine family, mourn alongside their loved ones. We will always remember their commitment and devotion to duty."

Officials say the cause of the accident remains under investigation. At this point, few details have been released regarding the events leading up to the deadly explosion, but officials say that information will be released as it becomes available.

A Marine official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity last week said the Marines were killed during a routing sweep to make a range safer for future training exercises at the base. According to the official, there was no live firing on the range at the time.

Three others – two additional Marines and a Navy Corpsman – were nearby at the time of the blast and sustained minor injuries, but survived. Their names were not released.



Photo Credit: Photo by Cpl. Sarah Wolff Diaz

Balboa Park Presents Annual Pass

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There’s a lot to see and do at San Diego’s famous Balboa Park. Now, for the first time ever, the park is selling a special annual pass that includes admission to everything the landmark has to offer.

The “Balboa Park Explorer” pass is now on sale. For one price, visitors get general admission to the 17 museums and cultural institutions for an entire year.

Those attractions include the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Air and Space Museum, San Diego Museum of Man, the San Diego Natural History Museum and the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum, among many others.

The price of the pass ranges from $99 to $199, with different price points within that range for students, senior citizens, adults and families, including up to two adults and four children.

The pass – blue and credit card-sized, featuring a sketch of Balboa Park – went on sale last week. The official launch of the annual ticket is set for spring 2014.

That gives plenty of time for the idea of the pass to catch on before the highly-anticipated 2015 Balboa Park Centennial Celebration.

To purchase your pass, click here.
 



Photo Credit: Monica Garske

Speed Skater Sets Sights on Sochi

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Southern California resident Kendal Pumphrey isn’t home much anymore, but when she is, you’ll probably find the teenage Olympic hopeful on the beach doing strange exercises.

Pumphrey, a 19-year-old athlete from San Clemente, Calif., is used to “sticking out” in her hometown. And, her beach training routine is almost as foreign to the Southern California surf culture as her sport of choice – speed skating.

As of November 2013, Pumphrey is one of the youngest skaters on the U.S. team.

Then again, she has always been ahead of her time on the ice.

She started figure skating at age three and turned to speed skating at age six.

“I don’t ever remember not skating…ever,” Pumphrey told NBC 7 San Diego.

While most kids are told not to play with sharp objects, she was getting 16-inch blades strapped to her feet as a first-grader.

Despite Pumphrey’s years of experience on the ice, her mom still gets nervous.

“I like the way her face is right now. I really don’t want to have it rearranged with cuts and things. If it was up to me, I’d put her in bubble wrap,” said Annette Pumphrey, a former figure skater.

Pumphrey’s family keeps her trophies in several large baskets behind the family room couch. The wall behind it is decorated with more medals than one can count.

Pumphrey is clearly good at what she does, but she loves it too.

“Every single time I get to the start line I’m shaking with nervousness and excitement, and you’re racing and you have people’s blades right in your face, it’s a huge adrenaline rush,” she explained.

And, while the young athlete is certainly gifted, it doesn’t come easy.

Pumphrey wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every day for practice. Two years ago she made the tough decision to leave high school behind and get her degree online.

“I was traveling so much it was basically impossible to keep up with class work,” said Pumphrey.

But, her biggest sacrifice came last year when she packed her bags and left her family to train fulltime with the U.S. team in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Pumphrey has her sights set on the Winter Olympics in Sochi, and also the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. Thus, the training for this teen continues, day in, day out.

 

'Fat Leonard' Granted Release

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A Singapore-based defense contractor accused of bribing U.S. Navy officials with prostitutes and lavish gifts is now allowed to leave federal jail, but his release comes with unprecedented restrictions.

Leonard Francis, 49, entered a not guilty plea in one of three cases filed against him and appeared in federal court twice Thursday in San Diego. At the second hearing, Francis’ attorney requested his client be released on bond.

Federal Magistrate Judge Jan Adler ordered Francis – also known as “Fat Leonard” – to post a $1 million bond, with an additional $100,000 bond to be posted by Francis’ aunt, who lives in Maryland.

Adler also imposed several conditions in an effort to assure that Francis does not try to flee the country while he awaits trial on charges that he bribed Naval officers to make sure their ships were docked at Asian ports, where Francis’ companies allegedly overcharged the Navy for docking services.

The conditions include:

  • Francis must stay in the top floor of a multi-story apartment or condo, making it more difficult for him to leave the premises without court approval.
  • He will be monitored around-the-clock by a GPS tracking system.
  • His apartment will be outfitted with closed-circuit TV cameras that are monitored by a security company, to help assure that he does not leave the premises without government approval.
  • He must hire and pay for an independent, 24-hour guard service, as a further assurance that he will not try to flee the country.

Francis’ attorney, Patrick Swan, who is a former federal prosecutor, said he has never heard of such stringent restrictions on a defendant’s pre-trial release.

But it wasn’t enough for federal prosecutors, who strongly opposed Francis’s release, during the two-hour hearing.

Prosecutors portrayed Francis as an extreme flight risk; a foreign national, with no ties to Southern California, and a strong motive – and the financial means – to jump bond and flee to a country that does not have an extradition agreement with the United States.

“He can go wherever he wants to,” warned prosecutor Robert Huie. “He can go wherever we can’t find him.”

Huie said Francis faces a potential life sentence for his alleged crimes. The prosecutor also revealed that Francis faces additional felony fraud charges, in addition to the bribery charges now filed against him.

Huie warned the Magistrate that Francis could make his way to Tijuana, where he could buy phony travel documents “for a few hundred” dollars, and get on a plane to a foreign country.

He also noted that Francis, who he said has “tens of millions of dollars” in the bank, controls a fleet of 50 vessels that can take him anywhere in the world to avoid re-capture by U.S. Marshals.

“He will flee, and he will not come back,” Huie warned.

But Magistrate Judge Adler said he is required by law to fashion a bond release package, if he determines that a defendant meets the requirements for bond.

The Magistrate did agree to “stay” or postpone his bond order until prosecutors can appeal his decision to a District Court Judge.

That delay will have little practical effect on Francis’s release, because it will take days, or weeks, for his attorney to arrange the restrictive living conditions, and have them approved by the federal probation office.

According to federal prosecutors, Francis allegedly built an intricate web of contacts within the U.S. Navy providing him access to classified information on ship movements.

Court documents show through text messaging contacts within the U.S. Navy, Francis successfully redirected nuclear-powered destroyers and aircraft carriers along with their support ships to ports his company controlled.

Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd., or GDMA, would profit millions from inflated prices for fuel, food and other services it provided, the prosecution alleges.

Francis is accused of offering prostitutes, travel, hotel accommodations and Lady Gaga concert tickets to the Navy commanders in exchange for the business.

Defendants U.S. Navy Commander Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz and Commander Jose Luis Sanchez face charges of conspiring to commit bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.

GDMA general manager of global government contracts Alex Wisidagama and a senior Navy investigator, John Beliveau II, are also charged in the investigation.

The man many call “Fat Leonard” is used to luxury. Every year his 70,000-foot Singapore bungalow draws crowds for its Christmas light display.

Former Navy commanders said Francis' generosity was felt by Navy officials over decades, according to the NavyTimes. It was not unheard of for the businessman to personally delivered Cuban cigars and champagne when ships arrived in port, the news website reports.

On Thursday Francis, who has been held in federal custody since his arrest on Sept. 16, could barely fit his large body in the courtroom chair.

His attorney objected to the use shackles, saying it was not necessary but the judge denied the request.

The criminal probe recently widened to implicate two admirals. Rear Admiral Bruce Loveless and Vice Admiral Ted Branch no longer have access to classified material since they were placed on leave two weeks ago.

Also Thursday, Navy officials suspended Capt. David Haas from his position as deputy commander of the San Diego-based Coastal Riverine Group. The group oversees port security. Haas has been temporarily assigned to a training group and will retain his rank. No formal charges have been filed against Haas according to the Associated Press report.

According to his Navy bio Haas served on USS Thach in 2008-2009 and then moved on to Engineering Assessment Pacific, San Diego in 2009-2010.

The Stars and Stripes reported that another Navy Capt. Daniel Dusek was relieved of his command in connection with the investigation. Dusek, who served as deputy operations officer aboard the USS Blue Ridge from January 2009-February 2011, has not been charged by U.S. prosecutors.

Woman Reported Missing; Car Seen Driving into Mexico

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El Cajon police are asking for the public’s help to find a 61-year-old woman last seen two days ago.

Anne Louise Terhune was last seen around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. Her family told police she left to go to the Fletcher Hills Branch Library, but never came home. They reported her missing later that night.

Police confirmed Terhune’s car was seen crossing the border into Mexico Tuesday night. The woman’s family said this would be out of character.

Terhune is described as 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She was driving a gold 2004 Mercury Marquis, similar to the one pictured, with license plate 5KLY673.

She sang with the Choral Club of San Diego for many years, the club's president confirmed to NBC 7.

Anyone with information is asked to call El Cajon police at 619-579-3320 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
 



Photo Credit: El Cajon Police Dept.

Cars Submerged, Motorists Stranded

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Two vehicles became submerged in standing water after heavy rain moved down the coast Thursday night.

San Diego police and lifeguards responded to Pacific Highway and Witherby Street, near the entrance of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, around 9:45 p.m.

A taxi and a minivan got stuck in the rising water. Video shows the minivan submerged almost up to its roof (pictured above.)

Both the taxi driver and the man driving the van, who was visibly shaken up, made it out of their vehicles safely. Police had to rescue at least one of the drivers.

There is no word if either driver was injured. Lifeguards stayed on scene making sure no one else was trapped in the water.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Valley Center Home Gutted by Fire

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Hours after fire broke out inside a home in Valley Center, the homeowners said the only area of their home spared was the garage.

Around 1:30 a.m., a couple said they heard a cracking or popping noise coming from their living room. When they went to inspect the noise, they realized their television was on fire.

When firefighters arrived, the home at 10129 Lilac Ridge Road was fully involved. Now, the home stands gutted, with the only area untouched - the garage.

The wall to the entrance of the home has collapsed and the roof is gone.

Firefighters moved into the overhauling phase to make sure the fire is completely out.

They say the wet, cool weather helped keep the fire from spreading to any other areas or homes.

As for the residents, the couple was not injured. They are staying with family in the Bonsall/Fallbrook area.

The cause of fire is under investigation.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 News

Attorney: Great Weight Lifted Off Skakel’s Shoulders

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When Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel was released from prison yesterday after serving 11-and-a-half years in prison for the murder of his Greenwich neighbor, a “great weight” was lifted off his shoulders, his defense attorney said during an exclusive interview on the "Today Show."

Attorney Hubert Santos sat down with NBC’s Matt Lauer this morning and said his client did not describe his emotions as he walked out of court in Stamford,  but the signs were evident.

“You could see by his conduct that a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and the first thing he said to me when we posted the bond, his first remarks, were ‘Thank God.’” Santos said.

In 2002, Skakel was convicted of beating his 15-year-old Greenwich neighbor, Martha Moxley, to death with a golf club in 1975.

He had served 11-and-a-half years of a 20 years to life sentence when Judge Thomas Bishop last month ruled that Skakel's former trial attorney failed to adequately represent him in 2002.

This case, however, is not over. The state plans to appeal the decision.

Santos told Lauer that his client is not worried about the prospects of a new trial.

“He’s not worried because he knows he did not commit the crime, did not murder Martha Moxley, so he would look forward to another trial where all of the evidence would be heard by the jury,” Santos said.

During the bond hearing, the prosecutor stood up and pointed out that Skakel was being granted a new trial because his former attorney acted poorly, not because Skakel is innocent.

Santos also addressed that this morning.

“Well, the judge who ordered the new trial said very, in a 136-page opinion, that the case against Michael Skakel was weak, very weak, and so we anticipate that at a retrial, the jury will finally hear all of the evidence,” Santos said.

Lauer questioned Santos about strategies for a possible retrial.

Skakel’s legal team would present evidence regarding other people who had been suspected, including Skakel’s own brother, Thomas, who was never charged in the case.

“Would you be willing to point a finger at Michael’s own brother Thomas in this case,” Lauer asked.

“Well, we most certainly, if there is a retrial, we not only would present that evidence for the jury to consider, but we also would present other evidence of people who have been suspects over the years,” Santos said.

Thomas Skakel has always maintained his innocence and has never been charged, Lauer said.
Michael has also said he does not think his brother committed the crime, Santos said. 

In the event of a new trial, Skakel would take the stand, according to Santos.

The discussion also focused on whether it is possible for Michael Skakel to get a fair trial.

“Not in Stamford, not in Fairfield County, where … what was not understood at the first trail was the enormous impact publicity had -- the book by Dominick Dunne, the book by Mark Fuhrman and, of course, the great sympathy for Mrs. Moxley, which everyone shares,” Santos said.

Moxley's mother, Dorthy, has said she remains convinced Michael Skakel is guilty.

Moxley's brother, John, said yesterday that the family stands behind the state, that it is a technicality that Michael Skakel is free and that Bishop's decision will be overturned.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



Photo Credit: Today Show

Sweetwater District, NAGE Union Reach Settlement

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The Sweetwater Union High School District and its National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) union have reached a tentative settlement.

Under the three-year tentative agreement, the district will increase its current annual contribution of nearly $9,000 per employee to over $12,000 per employee.

The agreement also includes the following wage increases:

• 1.56% increase Year 1 (effective 1/1/14)
• 1.80% increase Year 2 (effective 7/1/14)
• 2.20% increase Year 3 (effective 7/1/15)

The district is still in negotiations with its teachers union. An October board meeting that had to be called to recess after teachers became disruptive and were told to leave.

NAGE unit members will vote on the new proposed contract Dec. 6. The Board of Trustees will then vote on whether to approve the agreement at its Dec. 9 meeting.

Ed. Note: A previous version of this article identified the union as that of the teachers in the Sweetwater District. We regret the error.

More NBC 7 Stories:

Blind Dog, Brother Adopted

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The eight-month old puppies that have been melting hearts since a picture of them embracing (see below) was posted on the web a week ago are being adopted, just in time for the holidays.

Jeffrey, who is blind, and his brother Jermaine will head to their new home together on Monday, according to Operation Ava, a no-kill rescue organization in Philadelphia.

"The unconditional love and devotion these two dogs show is positively inspirational," wrote an SPCA spokesperson on the group's Facebook page.

What's even more inspirational is the fact that Jermaine has dedicated his life to being his brother's seeing eye dog.

"I think this is a little bit extraordinary in my experience because they're so careful with one another and play together so well," said Ray Little, Director of Life Saving at Operation Ava. "Jeffrey really does try to maintain contact with Jermaine, especially when he's in an unfamiliar environment. As soon as he gets familiar with a new place, then he becomes a little bit more independent. But it's amazing how they try to maintain contact with each other."

The pups, believed to be lab-pit mixes, were found on a Philadelphia street in October and were taken in by Operation Ava.

The rescue organization received more than 10,000 inquires and multiple applications after the photo of Jeffrey and Jermaine hugging while sleeping was posted by the Chester County SPCA on Friday, Nov. 15. They were able to place the dog brothers in the same home.

Jeffrey and Jermaine reached celebrity status when the photo, and a video produced by Drexel Hill native Tom Hickey caught the attention of Ryan Seacrest who posted the heartwarming story on his website.

For more information on the adoption requirements or to make a donation, visit the Operation Ava website.

Coliseum Torch Lit in Honor of JFK

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The Olympic torch at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was lit Friday in memory of President John F. Kennedy -- one of many events around in the country to mark 50 years since his assassination.

Full Coverage: JFK50 | Motorcade Route | JFK's Texas Trip

Kennedy spoke at the venue, site of two Olympic Games, in Exposition Park  when he accepted his party's nomination at the 1960 Democratic National Convention.

Gil Garcetti, A former Los Angeles District Attorney, said he met Kennedy before he left town from the convention. Garcetti was attending the University of Southern California at the time.

"He must have seen my Air Force ROTC uniform because he reached out and we touched,” Garcetti recalls.

Kennedy was assassinated three years later in Dallas.

The torch high above the Coliseum atop the arch was lit at 12:01 a.m. It will remain lit for 24 hours during a national day of remembrance for Kennedy.

Kennedy's July 15, 1960 speech at the Coliseum became known as "The New Frontier" speech. Then-Sen. Kennedy said, "The New Frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises -- it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them."

Transcript: "The New Frontier" Speech

Diane Garrison, a member of the class of 1963 at John Burroughs High School in Burbank, recalls her prom being booted from the ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel that year for a Kennedy fundraiser.

She said when the president found out, he gave the main hall back to the students, and dropped in for a visit. Students hoping for that situation planned ahead and gave Kennedy a plaque.

“I just stared at him,” Garrison said.

President Barack Obama ordered flags lowered to half-staff. Thousands will be in Dallas' Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy was shot as his motorcade passed, for a remembrance ceremony.

The Coliseum, home field for the USC Trojans football team since it opened in 1923, has played host to two Olympics, two Super Bowls and a World Series. 

More Southern California Stories:

 



Photo Credit: JFK Presidential Library

PHOTOS: Front Pages After JFK Death

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In the days that followed President John F. Kennedy's death, newspapers from across the nation printed what are now historic front pages.

"Batkid Fund" Created for Kids

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Batkid was the recipient of a massive outpouring of love and support when the city of San Francisco turned into Gotham City last week and gave a 5-year-old boy battling leukemia a day to remember for the rest of his life.

Now, Batkid's parents, Nick and Natlaie Scott of Tulelake in Siskyou County, have started the "Batkid Fund" through the San Francisco 49ers Foundation to help other families with sick children. Proceeds will be donated to three organizations that helped the family during their son's three-year battle with cancer.

MORE: SF Morphs into Gotham City for Batkid Battling Leukemia

Their son, Miles, warmed hearts across the globe as his wish to become Batman for a day came true thanks to the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Nov. 15, and the volunteer efforts of about 12,000 people who rallied to support the boy. Miles has been in remission since the summer.

In a statement, Miles' parents' explained their intentions in a statement saying it "seems only fitting that following a day when the world demonstrated caring and compassion for Batkid ... Batkid can now help others" 

PHOTOS: Batkid Saves the City

"We are eternally grateful and humbled by the outpouring of love and compassion we’ve received since Miles had his wish to be Batkid," the statement reads. "We were honored to receive many offers of gifts or assistance, but now that Miles' leukemia is in remission, we want to use this moment to draw attention to other parents who are coping with serious illness." 

MORE: "Batkid" Cost San Francisco $105,000

Donations will be shared among these three groups:

  • Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
  • Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center focuses on ensuring that the people of northern California and southern Oregon receive high-quality healthcare services provided with compassion, dignity, honesty, and skill.


Photo Credit: San Francisco Police Department
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