Steven van de Velde, Olympian convicted of rape, cries in first interview after Games
Dutch Olympic beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, who was convicted of raping an underage girl in 2016, broke down in tears in his first comments since being booed during his controversial selection for the Paris Olympics. Van de Velde, 30, did not speak to reporters during the Olympics and told Dutch media outlet […]
Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters convicted in election interference case
A former Colorado county clerk who had become an icon among election deniers was convicted of election interference on Monday for hacking into the county’s voting system. Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters was convicted of four felony counts after a lengthy criminal trial. She was acquitted of three misdemeanors. Prosecutors alleged that Peters stole […]
Haitian National Previously Convicted in Deadly Smuggling Scheme Arrested after Returning to Florida
Federal authorities arrested a Haitian man in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who had previously been convicted of felony human smuggling and deported from the United States in a smuggling operation that resulted in the deaths of 10 migrants more than a decade ago. Jimmy Metellus, an illegal immigrant from Haiti, recently completed a 14-year federal prison […]
‘Pro-Democracy Activist’ Convicted of Being Chinese Agent Faces 25 Years in U.S. Prison
A federal court in New York on Tuesday convicted naturalized U.S. citizen Wang Shujun of working as an agent for China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). Wang is accused of posing as a democratic activist to spy on real opponents of Beijing’s Communist Party oppression. He could face up to 25 years in prison. “The […]
NJ Gov. Phil Murphy eyes his ex-chief of staff to replace convicted Sen. Bob Menendez
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is seriously considering appointing his former chief of staff to replace convicted Sen. Bob Menendez, The Washington Post has learned. Former Chief of Staff George Helmy, a close aide to Murphy who sources say implemented the governor’s hardline policies behind the scenes, may be heading to Washington when Menendez resigns […]
Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of rape, eliminated from Olympics
PARIS — Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of raping a 12-year-old British girl in 2016, was eliminated from the Paris Olympics on Sunday night after he and his partner Matthew Immers lost in straight sets to Brazil. In his fourth and final match, van de Velde was met with a […]
Florida ballerina – who said she killed husband in self-defense – convicted in ‘Black Swan’ murder trial
A former ballerina accused of shooting and killing her estranged husband has been found guilty in what has been called a “black swan” murder trial. Ashley Benefield, 33, had been charged with second-degree murder for shooting and killing her husband, Doug Benefield. According to People magazine, the couple met at a Republican fundraiser in 2016 […]
Ex-ballerina convicted of manslaughter in ‘Black Swan murder’ trial
A former ballerina at the centre of the highly publicised “Black Swan murders” has been found guilty of manslaughter. Ashley Benefield, 33, was convicted Tuesday night by a jury in Manatee County, Florida. The manslaughter conviction was a reduction from a second-degree murder charge originally brought against Benefield following her husband’s 2020 death. Former Florida […]
Steven van de Velde, Olympian convicted of rape, receives mixed fan reaction
PARIS — Steven van de Velde, the Dutch beach volleyball player who served time in prison for having sex with a 12-year-old girl, received a mix of boos and applause when he was introduced before his loss in the opening match of the Paris Olympics on Sunday. Van de Velde didn’t speak to reporters after […]
Convicted Rapist Booed at First Paris Olympics Beach Volleyball
PARIS (AFP) – A Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of raping an underage girl was booed by fans when he played his first Olympic match in Paris, his controversial selection putting the sport in the spotlight. Steven van der Velde, now 29, was convicted of raping an underage girl in 2016 and sentenced to four […]