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the action of forging or producing a copy of a document, signature, banknote, or work of art.

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) -- Mark Whitaker will see no jail time for felony forgery.

The Portsmouth councilman went before a judge Wednesday morning for a sentencing hearing. This comes after a jury convicted him in July on three counts of felony forgery.

Prosecutors said he forged loan documents for $35,000 to demolish a drug-infested apartment complex across from New Bethel Baptist Church where Whitaker is a pastor.

Judge Harold Burgess Jr. upheld a jury's verdict that Whitaker is guilty of three felony counts of forgery.

Whitaker's legal team had asked for the verdicts to be set aside and dropped because they argued the jury got the law wrong that led to conviction.

The jury recommended $2,500 for each of the three felony convictions, so on Wednesday, Judge Burgess sentenced Whitaker to pay $7,500, but spared him any jail time.

Councilman Whitaker was first indicted in April 2017, and Wednesday it came full circle. He is required by a new state law to be suspended from city council pending his appeal. His pay goes into an escrow account.

10 On Your Side asked Whitaker what he plans to do about his suspension, "I plan on living the way I live, and I will be at the next city council meeting. I most certainly will, and I will serve until I am told by my lawyers otherwise."

10 On Your Side was first to report his name has been removed from the city website as a councilman.

He is also on the ballot and is running for re-election, but efforts are already underway to let voters know due to his felony convictions he is no longer eligible to hold elected office.

His legal team disagrees and insists it will be easy for Whitaker to get his civil rights restored. He remains on the ballot, and insists he will win.

Whitaker stood in front of the Portsmouth Judicial Center with his family after the judge's decision, "I want to make sure I am clear about this in letting you know what we have done, we will continue to do, and that is stand for what is right. This is all about trying to silence my voice, and my voice will not be silenced, and I am not intimidated. As I have told you on council I am not intimidated by white supremacy nor by black inferiority."

Whitaker left the courthouse defiant, and maintaining he did nothing wrong.

"In no regard am I deterred from doing what I am doing, or going through this. I feel a sense of righteousness and in that sense I have stood for the truth."

A diverse jury of his peers disagreed, finding Whitaker guilty of forgery. "There was no forgery in this case. There were no victims in this case. What we did was to improve our community to take blight out of it, to use funds that were appropriate to use from our credit union ... we were cleaning up drugs in the neighborhood and prostitution," Whitaker said.

Whitaker named names in who he blames for his legal predicament.

Their goal was to remove me from council, and the investigation began with his political enemy, former Sheriff Bill Watson.

According to Whitaker's attorney Jon Babineau, the official noting of the felony convictions will likely be next week, "Once the judge signs the order and it is entered on the record in the clerks office of the Circuit Court then the conviction is memorialized, so between now and then there is no conviction order in place."

How does this impact Whitakers November re-election bid?

"Since Dr. Whitaker is not sentenced to any incarceration, he is not on probation, so he can have civil rights resorted immediately which means he is eligible to be in elective office, and to run for elective office," Babineau said.

Whitaker also noted the possible plea agreement that would have made all this go away.

"They went from 20 felonies to one misdemeanor. I rejected it because I refused to admit to something I know I didn't do."

Whitaker says he is also buoyed by the support he sees in the community, "I have been in the mall, in the store, black, white, Jew, gentile, protestant, Catholic they all come up to me and say 'thank you for what you are doing,' and I will continue to do that."

Whitaker says that feedback plays into the November election, which he says will take care of itself.

"I am going to continue to move forward. This does not dishearten me. In fact, it empowers me. I must have been a major threat for this type of action.

Whitaker stood for 23 minutes taking questions talking about being a family man, alongside his son behind him, and his father, Bishop James Whitaker, to his right who stood up for his son.

"I am so glad he has not bowed or bend and stands up for righteousness, segregation, and wickedness and we are going to fight and stay on the battlefield as long as God gives us breath," Bishop Whitaker said.

His son, Mark Whitaker, responded, "amen, amen."

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Mark Whitaker to serve no jail time for felony forgery

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) -- Mark Whitaker will see no jail time for felony forgery. The Portsmouth councilman went before a judge Wednesday morning for a sentencing hearing. This comes after a jury convicted him in July on three counts of felony forgery.

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When a person knowingly enters or stays in another person's house/vehicle with the intent to damage the property

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"Operation Low Tide" shuts down burglary ring near Buckeye Lake; six arrests made

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On Thursday, September 27, Fairfield County Sheriff's Office detectives, Fairfield County SWAT deputies, investigators from the Major Crimes Unit and the Fairfield County Prosecutor's Office conducted a large scale joint operation in the Fairfield Beach area near Buckeye Lake, according to Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen.

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The practice of obtaining something, mostly money, through force of threats

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Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories

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Subscribe to The Courier-Mail to get unrestricted digital access, home paper delivery, Apps for iPad and Android, member only +Rewards and much more...

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A person commits robbery when he or she knowingly takes property, except a motor vehicle from the person or presence of another by the use of force or by threatening the imminent use of force.

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The suspect in an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant Wednesday that was captured on surveillance video faces federal charges of possessing an illegal firearm.

According to KCTV5, Terry K. Rayford, 54, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City.

The dramatic video showed the suspect walking into a local Jimmy Johns and pulling a gun from the front pocket of his sweatshirt. He then proceeded to point the gun at the employee behind the counter and demanding money. At one point, the barrel of the gun was only inches away from the victim's face.
MORE: Jimmy John's reaction to news the suspect was caught is classic
To his credit, the Jimmy Johns worker maintained his cool while the pistol was pointed at him, even going so far as to take off the plastic glove he was wearing before opening the register. After handing over the cash, the employee showed him the empty. The robber grabbed a stray dollar bill that had fallen back onto the drawer and took off.

The suspect was taken into custody, Kansas City police said in an update to the YouTube video they posted Thursday.

The incident remains under investigation, they added.

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kc police: suspect identified in jimmy johns robbery caught

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KC police: Suspect identified in Jimmy Johns robbery caught

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The suspect in an armed robbery at a fast-food restaurant Wednesday that was captured on surveillance video faces federal charges of possessing an illegal firearm. According to KCTV5, Terry K. Rayford, 54, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S.

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theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer.

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On December 5, the Independent Investigations Officer (IIO) brought a charge of embezzlement against Bill Elder, the former secretary treasurer of Ventura California Local 186. After Elder was defeated for reelection a year ago, he paid out $97,780 "severance" to himself, former president Douglas Saint, former office manager Dennis Shaw and former BA Carlos Torres. Saint was also charged by the IIO.

The charge report notes that the payments were "without authority and served no union purpose" and violated the IBT Constitution clause prohibiting "extraordinary expenses" after an election defeat without the approval of the officers-elect. Incoming secretary treasurer Abel Garcia sent Elder a letter citing this clause, soon after winning the election last December. The payments were made on December 28-29, 2015.

With the phony "severance" and accumulated vacation, Elder pulled down over $276,000 in 2015 from a local of about 1700 members.

This kind of greed has no place in the Teamsters Union. Unfortunately, under the Hoffa-Hall administration, we have to rely on the Independent Investigations Officer provided in the Final Order of federal court rather than any Teamster ethics mechanism in our International union.

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Bill Elder Charged with "Embezzlement" after Local Election Defeat

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On December 5, the Independent Investigations Officer (IIO) brought a charge of embezzlement against Bill Elder, the former secretary treasurer of Ventura California Local 186. After Elder was defeated for reelection a year ago, he paid out $97,780 "severance" to himself, former president Douglas Saint, former office manager Dennis Shaw and former BA Carlos Torres.

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Larceny is when a person commits theft of personal property

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POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR SHOPLIFTING IN UPSTATE NEW YORK

Petit Larceny, Shoplifting and other Thefts require special attention from an experienced criminal defense attorney. There are many different charges and rules that need to be factored in when considering a plea bargain.

Whether the police issued you an appearance ticket or not, the charges you will likely face include the misdemeanors or felonies charges of:

Petit Larceny (NY Penal Law 155.25)

Felony Shoplifting in Excess of $1,000

Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (NY Penal Law 155.30)

Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (NY Penal Law 165.45)

Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree (NY Penal Law 165.40)

Both Petit Larceny and Stolen Property in the 5th Degree are misdemeanors. This does not mean they shouldn't be taken seriously. Both can actually be punishable by Upstate New York Courts by one year in jail. They can be generally viewed as the stealing of property and possession of stolen property regardless of how insignificant the value is.

Thefts of property value exceeding $1,000 are more extreme. Grand Larceny and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree are both actually now considered "E" felonies in the eyes of the court. These charges are even more serious and can be punishable by serving up to four years in prison.
CARBONE & CARBONE CAN GET YOU A PLEA OFFER
Each County has their own plea guidelines. the ramification of stealing $200 worth of merchandise from a store in Albany may be different than in Lake George, Rochester, Saratoga Springs or Clifton Park. Our 30 experience and relationships with various courts can help you get the best deal

There is no real "cookie cutter" defense to a petit larceny shoplifting case. First time offences, the severity of the crime, the value of the property, the actual charge and the location of the alleged crime are all factors that our attorneys look at for you.

Call us today and we can help. 518-283-1245

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Petit Larceny Lawyer | Carbone & Carbone LLP

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Petit Larceny, Shoplifting and other Thefts require special attention from an experienced criminal defense attorney. There are many different charges and rules that need to be factored in when considering a plea bargain.

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Vandalism in an action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property.

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Swastikas and abusive messages were spray-painted on walls in Lockerbie just hours after an Armistice Day service to honour victims of war.

The sickening vandalism has been described as "absolutely shocking and shameful" by a former serviceman in the town.

Gary Nicol, ex-chairman of the disbanded branch of the Lockerbie Royal British Legion, said: "I've never seen blatant disrespect like it.

"The whole thing is absolutely shocking and shameful and for it to happen on Remembrance Day is even worse."

Police are investigating the vandalism which happened around McConechy's garage in the town between 2.30pm on Sunday and 7.30am on Monday.

A number of Swastika symbols were painted on vehicles around the garage and on the wall of a nearby shop.

Constable David Noble said: "We are currently carrying out door to door enquires into this crime and we appeal to anyone in the community who may have any knowledge as to who is responsible for this disgusting act at this time of remembrance and reflection in our community, to get in touch with us at Lockerbie on the 101 number."

Councillor Adam Wilson also condemned the thugs responsible.

He said:"It is disgusting that someone on Remembrance Sunday of all days feels that it is acceptable to graffiti Swastika's over a town like Lockerbie.

"This is certainly not a representation of the people or town of Lockerbie. On Sunday, I had the privilege to lay a wreath alongside veterans and townspeople to commemorate those who have fought in conflict since World War One, especially to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom and our democracy.

Mr Wilson added: "The fallen that we have stood in silence for over the weekend protected us from the horrible ideology that the Swastika represents.

"The people of Lockerbie along with me will be horrified by this graffiti because we stand with the fallen as they gave the ultimate sacrifice to give us our freedom."

Mr Nicol, who helped to organise the Armistice service in the town, added: "Sunday was an emotional day and particularly during the Lockerbie service when one of our elderly war veterans struggled to walk to lay a wreath at the memorial.

"We have people like him who fought for his country and others like him who died and then the vandals who did this on Sunday and they are just the complete opposite.

"It worries me that we've got people like this in our quiet wee town. It's disgusting."

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Disgraceful vandalism sees Swastika symbols spray-painted around Lockerbie

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Swastikas and abusive messages were spray-painted on walls in Lockerbie just hours after an Armistice Day service to honour victims of war. The sickening vandalism has been described as "absolutely shocking and shameful" by a former serviceman in the town.

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Arson is when a person intentionally destroys real or personal property by a means of fire or explosive

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If you are dependent upon an embedded medical device, should the device that helps keep you alive also be allowed to incriminate you in a crime? After all, the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects a person from being forced to incriminate themselves.

Nonetheless, that's what happened after a house fire in Middletown, Ohio.

WCPO Cincinnati caught video of the actual fire, as well delivered news that the owner's cat died in the fire. As a pet owner, it would be hard to believe that a person would set a fire and leave their pet to die in that fire. The fire in question occurred back in September 2016; the fire department was just starting an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

A month later, 59-year-old homeowner Ross Compton was arrested and charged with felony aggravated arson and insurance fraud. The cause of the fire was still undetermined, but it had resulted $400,000 in damages to the house and contents of the 2,000-square-foot home.

Fire investigators knew there had been "multiple points of origin of the fire from the outside of the residence." At the time, the police cited inconsistencies in Compton's statements when compared with the evidence from the fire.

There were additional "conflicting statements" given to the 911 operator; Compton had said "everyone" was out of the house, yet the 911 operator also heard him tell someone to "get out of here now." In the 911 call published by WLWT5, an out-of-breath Compton claimed he had "grabbed a bunch of stuff, threw it out the window." He claimed to have packed his suitcases, broken the glass out of bedroom window with his walking stick, and tossed the suitcases outside.

Compton also told the dispatcher he had "an artificial heart."

After this, things really get interesting because police investigators used data from Compton's electronic heart device against him. Isn't that self-incrimination? Can a person "plead the Fifth" when it comes to self-incriminating data collected from their medical device?

Police set out to disprove Compton's story about the fire by obtaining a search warrant to collect data from Compton's pacemaker. WLWT5 reported that the cops wanted to know "Compton's heart rate, pacer demand and cardiac rhythms before, during and after the fire."

On Friday, Jan. 27, the Journal-News reported that court documents stated: "A cardiologist who reviewed that data determined 'it is highly improbable Mr. Compton would have been able to collect, pack and remove the number of items from the house, exit his bedroom window and carry numerous large and heavy items to the front of his residence during the short period of time he has indicated due to his medical conditions.'"

Middletown Police said this was the first time it had used data from a heart device to make an arrest, but the pacemaker data proved to be an "excellent investigative tool;" the data from the pacemaker didn't correspond with Compton's version of what happened. The retrieved data help to indict Compton.

Lt. Jimmy Cunningham told WLWT5, "It was one of the key pieces of evidence that allowed us to charge him."

It's worth noting that gasoline was also found on various pieces of Compton's clothing. Could police have indicted him without using the data from his pacemaker against him?

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Cops use pacemaker data to charge man with arson, insurance fraud

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If you are dependent upon an embedded medical device, should the device that helps keep you alive also be allowed to incriminate you in a crime? After all, the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects a person from being forced to incriminate themselves. Nonetheless, that's what happened after a house fire in Middletown, Ohio.