Despite the psychological problems that Hurd had, the judge still gave Hurd the maximum possible sentence for the misdemeanor offenses.  In making his decision, the judge highlighted the fear that Ashanti’s mother felt as a result of his sordid messages. 

According to Hurd, he never meant to alarm Ashanti and her family.  The Prosecutors did not sympathize with the psychologically unstable fan.  Instead, the prosecution pushed for the maximum sentence on the grounds that persons must be held accountable for their misconduct regardless of underlying psychological disorders.

The takeaway point is that anti-stalking laws still have teeth.  If a person puts you on notice that they do not wish to receive further communications from you and you refrain from complying with the request you may subject yourself to criminal liability.  This includes repeatedly contacting the person via telephone, email and any other form of communication with a telecommunication device, despite their request that you do not do so.  Specifically, 47 U.S.C. § 223(a)(1)(E), makes it a criminal act for a person to make “repeated telephone calls or repeatedly initiate[] communication with a telecommunication device…solely to harass any person at the called number or who receives the communication.”  Additionally, 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2)(A) prohibits any communication that serves to “harass…or cause substantial emotional distress to a person in another state.”  In short, if a recipient tells you that they do not wish to receive further communications from you because they feel harassed by you, then it is in your best interest to merely comply with that request.

The February 1st incident, however, was not the only alleged act of violence.  In the protective order, Candi identifies other acts of violence including choking, hitting and throwing objects at his wife.  According to Candi, the abuse dates as far back as 2003, six months after they were married.  

Domestic violence is obviously not healthy for a relationship or for the children.  Individuals who are being abused should consider their options, legal and otherwise.

According to Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, “[i]njuries are a part of any sport” but “…if you don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of a serious sports injury, it can be life-threatening.”  To address this issue, Ms. Hayashi has introduced two bills.  The first would require coaches to learn about and identify the symptoms of head injuries.  The second bill calls for a doctor’s clearance before an injured athlete can return to the field.  The second bill is very similar to the proposal by the California Interscholastic Federation. 

Despite Hayashi’s enthusiasm to pass legislation that can ensure the present and future well-being of student-athletes, Hayashi has her work cut out for her.  For example, a proposal to mandate new training, was rejected because of potential cost concerns.  Thus, Hayashi will need the support of colleagues and other California residents to pass this legislation.

Preston Burton, a defense attorney and former assistant U.S. attorney in the District, said it would be difficult to build a criminal case against Crittenton based on the scenario described by the witnesses. He said prosecutors would look at factors, including whether they could prove Crittenton had a weapon, and whether the gun was real.

Prosecutors began presenting evidence to a D.C. Superior Court grand jury in the case Tuesday. The case is still being investigated by the police and the league. 
 
It is illegal to possess a concealed firearm in Washington DC.  Arenas could face jail time as there may be multiple counts of the offense if a grand jury decides to pursue criminal charges.
 
Stern’s statement specifies that, “[t]he actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, perhaps worse.”  In other words, Not Arenas’ s $111 million contract may be in jeopardy in addition to his playing days in the NBA. This indefinite suspension that Stern speaks of could last beyond the remainder of the season and may substantially affect Arenas’s bottom line.
 
Athletes and entertainers have been in the news over the past few years for possessing firearms for protection.  However, the cost of possessing a firearm in jurisdictions and venues where it is illegal to do so outweighs the benefit.  Athletes and entertainers should consider hiring off-duty police officers as security detail if they feel their safety is in jeopardy.

Republican Representative Joe Barton from Texas sponsored the bill and said the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) system is unfair and won’t change unless prompted by Congress.  The voice vote, which occurred on December 9, is in response to the BCS selections announced on Sunday, December 6.   Alabama and Texas – ranked number one and two respectively – will play in the national title game.

In a statement issued prior to the vote, BCS executive director Bill Hancock stated, “With all the serious matters facing our country, surely Congress has more important issues than spending taxpayer money to dictate how college football is played.”

Subcommittee chairman, Rep. Bobby Rush, an Illinois Democrat who co-sponsored the bill, responded saying, “We can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

A few congressman criticized the committee’s priorities; Reps. Zach Space, D-Ohio, and Bart Stupak, D-Mich., all made arguments similar to Hancock’s – that with people facing tough times, the decision to focus on college football sends the “wrong message.”

The bill will not pass easily.  Schools in the six major conferences – the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-10 and SEC – get automatic BCS bowl bids.  “The schools in those six conferences, which have such a huge financial benefit from the system, have enormous clout,” said Gary Roberts, dean of the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis and a sports law expert. “I don’t see anything coming from this.”

The current college bowl system features a championship game between the two top teams in the BCS standings, based on two polls and six computer rankings. Eight other schools get the Orange, Sugar, Fiesta and Rose bowls.  Under the BCS, the champions of those six big conferences get automatic bids, while other conferences do not.

Although Alabama and Texas finished with undefeated seasons, so did several other teams that will not get a chance to play for the title game, including TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State.  Each will get to play in a BCS bowl: Cincinnati is the Big East champ; TCU, champion of the Mountain West, gets a bid awarded to a non-automatic qualifying conference that meets certain criteria; and Boise State, winner of the Western Athletic Conference, gets an at-large bid.

At a May hearing, Barton warned college football officials that unless they took action toward a playoff system within two months, Congress probably would act. It took a little longer, but the timing of this week’s vote isn’t exactly a coincidence.  “Part of it is because BCS is in the news,” Barton said before the meeting.

There is no Senate version, although Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has pressed for a Justice Department antitrust investigation into the BCS.

Shortly after his election last year, Obama said there should be a playoff system.

“I’m going to throw my weight around a little bit,” Obama said at the time. “I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Dunlap is a junior from North Charleston, S.C. and was near the University of Florida campus when arrested at 3:25 a.m. and booked into jail at 5:52 a.m. according to Gainesville Police Department spokesmen Lt. Keith Kameg. Dunlap has been ordered to not drive a motor vehicle without a license, and If caught driving without a license, he would violate the terms of his release. The judge released Dunlap without bond because he has no prior convictions.

Judge Mary Day Coker admonished Dunlap for underage drinking, and said he cannot possess alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription drugs that are not prescribed for him.

Kameg specified that Gainesville police officers responded to a reckless driving complaint and found Dunlap’s vehicle stopped at a green light, slumped over in the driver’s seat. He appeared to be asleep. The car windows were slightly open and when officers were unable to wake him, they reached in to turn off the ignition. Dunlap was given a field sobriety test and performed “poorly” and refused to take a breathalyzer at the scene, according to Kameg.

Dunlap is 6-foot-6, nearly 300 pounds, and is considered a potential first round NFL draft choice if he turns pro after this season.

High profile athletes and entertainers are often paradoxically scrutinized for getting into trouble while at the same time being held to a double standard. Whether the judicial system is overly lenient or biased against high profile athletes and entertainers, it can be costly to test the system. In this case, it cost Dunlap his season, possibly his teammates’ season, and in the worst case scenario, his future.

According to a 50-page federal complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Kiley and Cook sold unregistered investments through shell companies, promised to keep each investor’s account separate, and promised 10 percent to 12 percent annual returns.

An SEC statement announcing the lawsuit specified that Kiley pitched the investments on his financially themed show ‘Follow the Money that he hosted on radio stations nationwide.

The complaint by the SEC goes on to say that Kiley and Cook actually pooled the money, lost millions in the forex trading they participated in, misused approximately half of investor funds to make Ponzi-like payments to initial investors and to pay for gambling losses and a Minneapolis mansion.

The SEC is also suing Kiley and Cook’s unregistered companies and froze the accounts of relief defendants. The court also froze the accounts of Cook’s in-laws, and appointed a receiver.

This case is similar to the Bernie Madoff case where Madoff used a Ponzi scheme to steal billions from investors.  However, in this case, Kiley used a radio show to build confidence and credibility and investors were susceptible to his celebrity stature in following his advice.

While the current question before the Commission pertains to professional licensing rather than employment, the Commission has concluded that the Court’s rationale in Ross still applies to athletics.  According to the Commission, “[b]ecause the Compassionate Use Act only provides a defense to criminal charges, any argument that the Act would allow an athlete to use the drug without consequences to his or her license must fail.” 

In light of the Commission’s statement and the Court’s ruling in Ross, athletes should refrain from using medical marijuana to avoid disciplinary proceedings that can affect his or her ability to participate in professional sports.