criminal responsibility
What happens when someone has been sentenced to death in a state that doesn't carry out executions?
More than half of the 2,100 inmates on death row in the US are in jurisdictions where executions are on hold. Many states like Pennsylvania and California have moratoriums on executions, leaving inmates like John Lesko in legal limbo for decades. This creates an uncertain situation where both inmates and victims' families are left waiting indefinitely for executions that may never happen. The practice has become increasingly controversial due to concerns about wrongful convictions and racial bias, with 40% of death row inmates being Black despite Black people making up only 14% of the US population.
Watch clip answer (03:09m)
Philip DeFranco
11:30 - 14:40
How many false emergency calls did the teenager make and over what period?
According to the plea agreement, the now 18-year-old LA county resident admitted to making over 375 calls to emergency services between August 2022 and January 2024. These calls were made with the specific intention of eliciting a response from emergency services, constituting what is known as swatting. His targets were diverse, including high schools, universities, and religious buildings. This persistent pattern of false emergency reporting occurred over approximately 17 months, demonstrating the scale and systematic nature of the teenager's swatting activities before legal consequences were finally imposed.
Watch clip answer (00:16m)
Philip DeFranco
00:39 - 00:56
What was Alan Fillion sentenced for and what was his punishment?
Alan Fillion was sentenced to four years in federal prison for orchestrating a swatting campaign. As described in the clip, Fillion was responsible for over 375 swatting calls, including those with fake gunfire sounds and threats made in the name of Satan. These dangerous actions put countless lives at risk, as swatting involves making false emergency calls to provoke an armed police response to an innocent person's address. Fillion's case highlights the serious legal consequences now being imposed for this form of online harassment, which has become an increasing concern in digital culture.
Watch clip answer (00:16m)Philip DeFranco
00:23 - 00:39
What sentence did Kristen Donay receive after pleading guilty to child neglect charges?
Kristen Donay was sentenced to three years in prison on two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, with the sentences to run concurrently. However, her entire sentence was suspended, meaning she will not serve any prison time for these offenses. Instead of incarceration, Donay will only face probation despite pleading guilty to charges that involved endangering her dependent's life or health and depriving the child of necessary support. The case involved her two-month-old baby who suffered from severe malnutrition.
Watch clip answer (00:37m)
Law&Crime Network
16:08 - 16:46
What saved the baby's life in this neglect case?
The baby's life was saved when he was rushed to emergency services in critical condition. As emphasized in the clip, the situation could have had much different consequences if medical intervention hadn't occurred when it did. The infant, who reportedly appeared like a 'Holocaust victim' due to severe starvation, survived only because of this timely emergency response. Despite the mother Kristen Donay later pleading guilty to neglect charges, the most crucial factor in this case was the emergency medical intervention that prevented a tragic outcome.
Watch clip answer (00:14m)
Law&Crime Network
21:28 - 21:42
Could attempted murder charges have been filed in Kristen Donay's child neglect case?
Based on the discussion between host Jesse Weber and former child abuse prosecutor Josh Korman, the possibility of attempted murder charges was raised in this severe child neglect case. The infant was found in such a malnourished state that medical personnel compared the condition to Holocaust victims due to starvation. However, Korman indicated he wasn't familiar enough with Indiana law specifically to determine if attempted murder charges would have been applicable in this case. This legal uncertainty highlights the complex nature of prosecuting severe neglect cases and the different thresholds jurisdictions may have for escalating charges from neglect to attempted murder.
Watch clip answer (00:17m)
Law&Crime Network
11:48 - 12:05