Roseburg, Ore. — Jesse Stuart Fanus has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for a 1998 murder that once had him on Death Row. The death sentence was overturned on appeal in 2012 and a retrial led to life imprisonment, the Roseburg News-Review reported.
Jerome, Idaho — Jaimi Charboneau has been released on a $20,000 bond pending a ruling by the Idaho Supreme Court on an appeal of his conviction for killing his ex-wife more than 30 years ago. KTVB-TV reported Fifth District Judge Robert J. Elgee vacated Charboneau’s conviction and sentence after determining the state had hidden significant evidence. Charboneau was sentenced to death but was later resentenced to life in prison. He says the shooting was in self-defense.
Folsom — Folsom State Prison Warden Ron Rackley recently presented a check to Wind Youth Services for more than $10,000. Inmates from the Folsom State Prison’s Men’s Advisory Council held an annual food sale fundraiser. This year they raised $10,183.88 and 100 percent of the money raised was donated to the Wind Youth Services of Sacramento.
San Diego — A federal judge has tossed out a postcard-only rule for San Diego County jail inmates. U-T San Diego reported the judge ruled that a jail policy barring personal mail in envelopes is unconstitutional. He issued a preliminary injunction ordering the policy suspended by May 21. The Sheriff’s Department adopted the policy three years ago to reduce the amount of contraband being smuggled into the jail.
Calipatria – Inmates at Calipatria State Prison have donated close to $24,000 to local community groups, thanks to profits from food sales. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous sponsored the food sales. The money will go to assist cancer victims, crime victims and educational programs.
Dilley, Texas — An estimated 500 protesters demonstrated May 2 at a family detention center urging the federal government to “shut it down,” The Texas Tribune reported. The center was built in 2014 to house up to 2,400 undocumented women and children who are seeking asylum.
Lansing, Mich. — The Michigan House voted 57-53 to approve a bill to allow private prison operator GEO Group to reopen a former youth prison as a maximum-security prison. Six Republicans joined all 47 Democrats in voting against the plan. Florida-based GEO Group has been trying to reopen its 1,740-bed North Lake Correctional Facility since 2005, when the state of Michigan ended its contract with the company to house juvenile offenders at the facility. In 2011, GEO Group had a contract to house California prisoners that fizzled, the Detroit News reported.
Salem, Mass. — Angel Echavarria has been released after spending 21 years behind bars for the 1994 shooting death of Daniel Rodriguez, The Associated Press reports. Echavarria said he did not commit the murder. Superior Court Judge David Lowy ordered the sentence vacated after ruling the prosecution’s case was flawed. Prosecutors are reviewing the case to decide whether to drop charges or prepare new charges against Echavarria.
Boston — The Massachusetts Supreme Court has ruled that defendants can seek new trials if their convictions were based on mishandled drug samples, the New York Times reported. State chemist Annie Dookhan was responsible for tainted evidence in tens of thousands of criminal cases, officials said.
Chicago — Jarrett Adams has graduated from law school more than seven years after he was exonerated for a rape conviction that led to a 28-year prison sentence. He graduated from Loyola University with his law degree. He said he hopes to help others who are in similar situations, WBBM-TV reported.
Detroit — Gov. Rick Snyder says he wants to overhaul Michigan’s criminal justice system to provide prison inmates with skills assessments and job training before they are released, The Associated Press reports. He made the comments in a speech at Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, a nonprofit career and job training organization. “This is about smart justice,” Snyder said. “If someone has committed a crime, they should be punished. Helping them be successful coming out is a win for all of us.”