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Indianapolis Star Published 8:42 a.m. ET June 24, 2020

The impact of IndyStar's USA Gymnastics investigation Indianapolis Star

In Athlete A, filmmakers Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk follow IndyStars investigative team as they broke news on USA Gymnastics mis-handling of child sexual abuse cases. The documentary features behind-the-scenes discussions, and in-depth interviews with gymnasts, reporters, police, prosecutors and the heroic women who stepped forward to halt years of sexual abuse by former team doctor Larry Nassar. The film exposes the human toll wrought by a decades-long shift toward younger athletes, and harsh coaching techniques, that helped reap success but enabled abusers like Nassar.

Maggie Nichols is interviewed in Netflix documentary "Athlete A."(Photo: Netflix photo)

Athlete A is the name USA Gymnastics used to refer to Maggie Nichols, the first gymnast to report Nassar to USA Gymnastics officials. Nichols reported Nassar in the spring of 2015, but USA Gymnastics pursued a policy of keeping the allegations quiet. Nassar continued working in gyms for more than a year as an FBI investigation languished. During that time he abused dozens more women and girls. The film follows Nichols through her surprise exclusion from the 2016 Olympic team after she was injured, and her efforts to recover from the loss of her lifelong Olympic dream.

IndyStar reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski works with investigations editor Steve Berta in a scene from Netflix documentary "Athlete A."(Photo: Netflix photo)

IndyStar reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski received a tip in March 2016 that USA Gymnastics had an internal policy of dismissing allegations of sexual abuse, unless they were submitted in writing and signed by the athlete, guardian or a witness. IndyStar teamed Kwiatkowski with reporters Mark Alesia and Tim Evans and launched an investigation. The first story, published on Aug. 4, 2016, revealing that the policy had resulted in at least four instances when coaches accused of sexual misconduct were allowed to continue coaching, and molested other girls. That story led three women, Rachael Denhollander, Jamie Dantzscher and Jessica Howard, to contact IndyStar saying Nassar had abused them. IndyStar published its first story about Nassar in September 2016.

Dr. Larry Nassar appears at his sexual-abuse trial.(Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/USA Today Sports)

Nassar faced three criminal cases. After police found 27,000 images of child pornography on Nassars computer, he pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges and was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison. He later pleaded guilty to sevencounts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ingham County Circuit Court in Michigan, where he was sentenced to 175 years in prison. Nassar was also sentenced in an Eaton County, Michigan, court to40 to 125 years in prisonon three charges of sexual assault against gymnasts at Twistars gymnastics gym in Lansing.

Simone Biles shows off one of the four gold medals she won at the Rio Olympics.(Photo: Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports)

More than 500 survivors have said Nassar abused them. Among them were several Olympic medalists, including Dantzscher, McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles and Aly Raisman.

U.S. marshals are shown arresting former USA Gymnastics CEO Steve Penny in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018.(Photo: U.S. Marshal's Service)

Former USA Gymanstics CEO Steve Penny was forced to resign in March 2017 and later was charged in Walker County, Texas, with evidence tampering and arrested in Tennessee. He was released on bond and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Throughout the entire four-year long scandal, Penny has declined every interview request from IndyStar. He was questioned by a congressional committee, he declined to answer every question, citing the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.

USA Gymnastics President and CEO Li Li Leung speaks about the organization, Thursday, April 25, 2019.(Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar)

In the wake of the scandal, Michigan State University paid Nassars abuse survivors $500 million to settle claims. USA Gymnastics faces similar lawsuits from hundreds of survivors, and has filed for bankruptcy protection. Its entire board of directors and most of its management staff were replaced. Most of its major sponsors have pulled support.

Contact Steve Berta, investigations editor at IndyStar, at steve.berta@indystar.com.

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What you need to know about the Netflix documentary 'Athlete A' and USA Gymnastics - IndyStar

Lici Beveridge, Hattiesburg American Published 12:02 p.m. CT June 23, 2020 | Updated 1:02 p.m. CT June 23, 2020

Derrian Moye(Photo: Courtesy of Forrest County Jail)

Derrian Moye, who bills himself as "Mr. Hattiesburg," was scheduled for trial this month in Forrest County Circuit Court on a witness intimidation charge,but the trial was delayed once again after his attorney withdrew from the case.

Circuit Judge Jon Mark Weathers issued an order Monday allowing attorney Ottowa Carter to withdraw.

"Having considered the motion, the arguments of attorney Carter and Defendant Moye, and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, the court finds that a significant breach of trust has developed between Defendant Moye and Attorney Carter which would make his continued representation of Defendant especially difficult in this criminal case," Weathers wrote in the order.

Click here to read the judge's order.

Moye has 30 days to retain a new attorney.

Carter, in his motion to withdraw, said he could no longer represent Moye because a "significant breach of trust has developed between Defendant and the undersigned which cannot be repaired."

He said he has represented Moye since September and has filed several motions on his client's behalf.

Carter also wrote in his motion that he had given Moye advance notice of the filing, and on March 27 gave Moye a copy, giving Moye adequate time to find a new attorney before the trial was set to begin.

Click here to read the full motion to withdraw.

Moye has not indicated whether he has a new attorney.

Moye, 32, was charged with witness intimidation in 2015. His first trial ended in a mistrial.

He was charged in connection with an incident involvingDreshawn Sullivan, who was found guilty ofburglary of a dwelling, attempted kidnapping and child abuse at Burkett's Creek Westin which one female victim was hospitalized. Sullivan's conviction was upheld on appeal.

Moye was called to testify at Sullivan's trial, but used his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. It is unclear what, if any, Moye's role was in the case.

Police said theintimidation charged stemmed from verbal threats Moye allegedly made in connection with Sullivan's case.

Moye, a self-proclaimed youth leader, attempted to run for Forrest County supervisor in 2019. He was not certified to run since he has a felony conviction.

Despite being ineligible, Moye continued his campaign, even seeking contributions from supporters.

Moye isknown for the many community programs he has implemented over the years, from youth ministriesto organizing job fairs, paradesand other events in the city.

Moye has a criminal history that has sometimes eclipsed his community efforts.

He has been accused ofcrimes ranging from statutory rape and contributing to the delinquency of a minor to forging checks and witness intimidation.

In July 2011, the Hattiesburg American reported Moye, who was 23 at the time, was arrested with another man after two juvenile girls were foundat Moyes residence in the early morning hours after one of the girl's motherreported her missing.

Former Hattiesburg police spokesman Eric Proulx told the Americanthe mother said her daughter had not returned home from an event at a community center that evening.

In the course of the investigation, Proulx said,a witness reported seeing two girls get into a black SUV owned byMoye. Police went toMoyes home, where the girls were found. The menwere charged withmisdemeanor contributing to thedelinquency of a minor.

It is unclear what became of that case.

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Moye was onprobation at the time, after pleading guilty in 2008 to uttering forgery, admitting he wrote and tried to casha check for around $3,400 on a bank account that was not his.

"I found a checkbook made out in the name of another person," he said in the plea agreement. "I took (illegible) to the bank where we attempted to cash the $3,432 check."

Astatutory rape chargewas passed to the inactive files, according to court documents.

He was sentenced to fiveyears in prison with one to serve and four years of post-release supervision.

Lamar County: Mississippi man convicted of murder as a teen will have no chance at parole

After his release, Moye was arrested at least twice more for violating the terms of his probation.

Affidavits filed in circuit court byMoye's probation officer said he violated his probation by not paying his fines and fees and finding a job.

Contact Lici Beveridgeat 601-584-3104 orlbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her onTwitter@licibevor Facebook atfacebook.com/licibeveridge.

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Lawyer for 'Mr. Hattiesburg' withdraws, citing a 'significant breach of trust' - Hattiesburg American

The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against several thousand acres of land in South Texas on Monday in an effort to move forward with construction of the controversial and long-stalled border wall.

Submitted on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the lawsuit names 5,934 acres of land, more or less in Hidalgo County as well as Mary Francis Chupick Bennett as the defendants in the eminent domain action.

Presented as a complaint in condemnation, the lawsuit is a typical Department of Justice (DHS) filing used to condemn private property in order for the government to forcibly gain control, access and title when the landowner refuses to sell the real estate in question.

Declarations of takings were originally permitted and limited by the Bill of Rights via the Fifth Amendment and later further elaborated upon via the Federal Declaration of Taking Act, both which provide that any such taking is conditioned on the government providing just compensation for the property sought by the state.

Per that statute, such information includes:

(1) a statement of the authority under which, and the public use for which, the land is taken; (2) a description of the land taken that is sufficient to identify the land; (3) a statement of the estate or interest in the land taken for public use; (4) a plan showing the land taken; and (5) a statement of the amount of money estimated by the acquiring authority to be just compensation for the land taken.

Here, the DOJ is relying on a 2017 defense appropriations bill for the statutory authority necessitated by the act. The Trump administration has consistently broadcast their intent and argued their authority to reallocate traditional military funds for the purpose of constructing the 45th presidents long-promised wall on the U.S.-Mexico border due to Congress generally refusing to directly fund the project.

The lawsuit also describes the intent of the proposed seizure: The public purpose for which said property is taken is to construct, install, operate, and maintain roads, fencing, vehicle barriers, security lighting, cameras, sensors, and related structures designed to help secure the United States/Mexico border within the State of Texas.

Also contained are the necessary land descriptions and maps of the property the government is trying to claim for its own.

The just compensation outlined in the proposal looks to be a decided bargain for the federal government. For the nearly 6,000 acre plat, the DOJ is suggesting the landowners are only entitled to $113,202. That equates to roughly $19.08 per acre.

The average market value of rural acreage in Texas is just shy of $3,000 per acre, according to Texas A&M Universitys Real Estate Center. The government clearly believes they are entitled to an exponential discount on the would-be land grab.

Assistant United States Attorney Manuel Muniz Lorenzi signed the lawsuit on behalf of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Ryan K. Patrick.

Perhaps curiously, or perhaps not, complaints in condemnation generally contain a jury demand instruction. Patricks filing on behalf of DHS, however, expressly disclaims that typical request.

[image via Joe Raedle/Getty Images]

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Trump Admin Files Lawsuit Against 5,934 Acres of Land, More or Less in Order to Build the Wall - Law & Crime

Chico celebrated Juneteenth on Friday with back-to-back events. The first focused on building better relations with Chico police while the second included speakers seeking to defund the police and demanding justice.

The Orion covered the second event, Juneteenth: Gathering for Justice and Healing, organized by the Justice for Desmond Phillips campaign. The event sought to honor the lives of people of color killed by police across the country.

Speakers strongly advocated for holding Butte County and Chico Police officers accountable. They also sought to educate citizens in Chico about the killings of Desmond Phillips and Marc Thompson, two cousins both killed in Butte County.

Desmond Phillips was a Black man who was shot dead in his home after having a PTSD attack on March 17, 2017. When his father David Phillips called an ambulance to diffuse the situation. Chico police arrived and tased Desmond, then shot him multiple times.

For over three years, father David Phillips has been speaking out against police brutality, advocating for police accountable and organizing events in hopes of seeing justice for his son Desmond Phillips and Desmonds cousin, Marc Thompson.

This is a peaceful event, Phillips said. And you will hear the truth, the real story in the capital murder of Desmond Phillips as well as the murder of Marc Thompson.

Thompson was a Chico State student. His body was found in his burned car 28 miles northeast of Oroville on Sept. 3, 2014. Almost six years later police have not made any arrests.

The plaza stage doubled as an altar. Pictures, candles, signs and flowers were placed at the foot of the stage to honor Desmond Phillips and other Black citizens killed by the police. The stage featured two large posters of Desmond.

The rest of the event focused on educating the public on Black history, the significance of Juneteenth and knowing ones rights when encountering law enforcement.

The crowd honored the memory of George Floyd with eight minutes and 46 seconds of silence while three on-stage drummers played a slow cadence symbolizing George Floyds heartbeat.

David Phillips teared up on stage as he began talking about his son. He told the audience of the warnings he gave to emergency responders. He accused Chico Police of entering his home unannounced. He said his grandchildren were in their rooms while Desmond suffered from a PTSD attack and grabbed two knives from the kitchen. Seeing his son dead literally brought him to his knees, Phillips said.

The bullet holes from that night are still scattered throughout his living room, David Phillips said. He shared a picture of his son taken moments after his death.

The Justice for Desmond Phillips team again called for Chico Police officers Alex Fliehr, Jeremy Gagnebin and Sgt. Todd Lefkowitz to be arrested. David Phillips claimed to be in contact with the FBI and expressed deep frustration and anger with the former Chico Chief of Police Mike OBrien and District Attorney Mike Ramsey.

David Phillips wasnt the only person to appear on stage. Other family members and community organizers shared their personal stories, history lessons and poetry.

Lesa Johnson, assistant professor of sociology at Chico State, provided a history lesson on the Emancipation Proclamation

The Bethel AME church had a Juneteenth celebration this time last year, said Johnson. We did research on President Lincoln and the true nature of the emancipation proclamation, the fact that it did not free all slaves, it only freed slaves in states that he needed to negotiate with.

The second lesson concerned the racist legacy of some Northern California orchards.

We also did research on the heritage of some of the orchard owners, Johnson said. The history here is that there were descendants of slave owners who settled in Northern California.

Johnson shared these lessons because she feels her students and the general public often have an inaccurate perception of U.S. history.

It is always important to understand our history, Johnson said. I find that so many of our students do not understand the true history of the places where we live or of the United States. If you cant understand the history of where you are then you dont understand the nature of the relationships between the racial and ethnic groups there. So we have to be able to go back into history and understand where all of this started.

Another session focused on teaching citizens their rights, such as the right to record police or the right to walk away if you are not being detained or arrested. They shared ways to hold police accountable for their actions. Rain Scher, another event organizer who has hosted Cop Watch events in the past, shared her advice and opinions.

This entire event is happening because of the police, Scher said. If it werent for police violating peoples rights and killing people, we wouldnt have this event in the first place. We want to make sure anyone that is interested in supporting people who are affected by police violence know what their rights are and know how to support other people in asserting their rights.

Scher presented a recap on citizens rights when encountering police and provided handouts of Chico police officers involved in fatal shootings.

Scher recommended recording footage of police encounters using the American Civil Liberties Union app. The footage is automatically sent to the ACLU database for review.

One of the most important rights Scher mentioned during an encounter with the police is the Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.

A lot of people get bullied and intimidated into talking and incriminating themselves, even saying things that arent true, Scher said.

Chico State student Cami Tillman found out about the event throughout the Justice for Desmond Phillips Facebook page.

Tillman presented her poem Rotating States in Cycles in front of the large audience. The piece focused on the struggles that Black people face through events like the killing of George Floyd.

It was about the different emotions we and Black people are feeling as we navigate all the different deaths and trauma that has been going on consistently, Tillman said. Just having to continue to play the game even though there is so much more being stacked on constantly.

Julian Mendoza can be reached on Twitter @JulianMTheOrion or at [emailprotected]

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Juneteenth rally for justice and healing in Chico - The Orion

J. Layne Smith, Ask Judge Smith Published 1:53 p.m. ET June 13, 2020

Judge J. Layne Smith(Photo: Judge J. Layne Smith)

The British Navy deprived Americans of their liberty by kidnapping them, placing them on British ships, and forcing them to serve the Crown or walk the plank. The British Army deprived Americans of their property by occupying their homes and eating their food without permission or compensation. These abuses served as catalysts for the Third Amendment, regarding the quartering of soldiers, and the Fifth Amendment, regarding of due process of law.

Q. Judge Smith, what is due process of law? Jules

A. Jules, a fundamental difference between the United States and other nations is our adherence to the rule of law and due process of law. Its not exaggerating to suggest we owe our many freedoms and national development to these twin pillars of the law.

The rule of law is a simple concept. The laws enacted by Congress and the state legislature apply to everyone, and no one is above or below the law. Now, lets focus on due process of law.

The original 13 colonies were founded by people who immigrated here in search of opportunity and religious freedom, and to escape over-reaching by the government. Agriculture dominated the economies of the colonies, so consider how much nerve, blind faith, and work ethic it took to establish homes, plant and harvest crops, and survive in the wilderness with no safety net.

Given these immense challenges, the people expected the government to protect their property interests rather than confiscating them. Likewise, the people expected to live free from undue government interference with their lives and liberty. Our guarantee that the government fulfills these expectations is due process of law.

Due process of law is so important that its the only substantive phrase repeated in the U.S. Constitution. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, respectively, prohibit the federal government and state governments from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. In this context, life involves death penalty cases, liberty involves involuntary confinements, and property involves uncompensated takings.

Before the government can take peoples lives, liberty or property, they must be put on notice and provided with an opportunity to be heard. Diligent-good-faith efforts must be made to find people and service of notice on them should be hand delivered when practical. The opportunity to be heard includes the right to counsel and a fair and impartial process. The goal is to reach just decisions on the merits.

Think of due process as a floor and not a ceiling. It provides the minimum level of protection that must be afforded. Although, perhaps we could do more, we can do no less. Every day, in courtrooms throughout America, judges safeguard the peoples right to due process of law. When courthouses reopen to the public visit one and see for yourself.

The Honorable J. Layne Smith is a Leon County Judge and author of the international bestselling book Civics, Law, and JusticeHow We Became U.S. Email your questions to askjudgesmith@gmail.com.

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J. Layne Smith's bookCivics, Law, and Justice How We Became U.S. is available on Amazon. It's currently ranked No. 1 on 13 of Amazon's bestseller lists. It's 99 cents for the ebook and $10 for the paperback.

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Notice and an opportunity to be heard are part of due process of law | Ask Judge Smith - Tallahassee Democrat