Big Top founder pleads not guilty to felony sexual assault, battery charges

The founder and artistic director of the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua pleaded not guilty today to felony charges of sexual assault and battery.

Warren Paul Nelson, 61, entered the plea during a hearing in Bayfield County Circuit Court. He waived his preliminary hearing, and his attorney, Gene Linehan, filed a demand for a speedy trial.

“That means they have to hold the trial within 90 days,” Linehan said. “This is adversely affecting his reputation and job. Let’s get it resolved quickly...

NY state senator indicted, accused of assault

A freshman state senator sworn in to office despite allegations he slashed his girlfriend's face with broken glass in a jealous rage has been indicted on domestic assault charges, prosecutors said Monday.

A grand jury in Queens indicted Hiram Monserrate on three counts of second-degree felony assault and three counts of third-degree misdemeanor assault. Arraignment is expected later this week. He faces seven years in prison if convicted on the most serious charges.

Monserrate, who was in Albany on Monday for a legislative session, issued a statement saying he did not commit a crime.

"I've said all along this was accident. The district attorney's politically motivated decision to pursue this case doesn't change the fact that this was an accident," he said.

The 41-year-old former police officer was arrested after Karla Giraldo's face was slashed on Dec. 19 at his New York City home. The gash over her eye required 25 stitches. Both said the incident was an accident...

Woman seriously injured in alleged domestic violence

Takoma Park woman remains in critical condition at a Baltimore hospital, and a man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and sexual assault after a domestic dispute Sunday in the 600 block of Houston Avenue.

Harvey Scott Jr., 46, of Takoma Park has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, first- and-second-degree sexual assault and first- and-second-degree assault in connection with the incident, according to police and court case filings.

The victim admitted herself to Washington Adventist Hospital on Saturday after fleeing the Houston Avenue apartment, where police allege Scott had assaulted her from late Friday into early Saturday. Police say Scott and the victim were in a relationship with one another but are unclear of the details, said police spokeswoman Catherine Plevy...

High School Senior Charged With Rape

A White Plains teenager was arrested yesterday after a female acquaintance accused him of raping her in an empty classroom at their Charles County high school, authorities said.

Anthony Hansley, 18, was charged with second-degree rape and second-degree assault and was ordered held on $150,000 bond, authorities said. Hansley, a senior at Henry E. Lackey High School in Indian Head, is accused of raping a 16-year-old junior about two hours after school let out Wednesday, authorities said.

Hansley, a basketball player at Lackey, was waiting at the school for a ride to his game at Chopticon High School, authorities said. The junior was there for a different after-school activity, authorities said...

Man convicted of sexual abuse of minor

Wearing a pink sweater and clutching a stuffed bunny rabbit, the 7-year-old girl spoke in a quavering voice as she answered the prosecutor's questions. The man she knew as "Mr. Mike" had kissed and fondled her numerous times, she told the jury, when her baby sitter left them alone.

The second-grader wiggled in her chair and colored furiously with markers as she told how the man had warned her to not to tell anyone. She put her hand up as if blocking from view the white-haired man sitting at the defense table.

That man, Michael Phillip Hein Sr., 62, was convicted of the sexual abuse of a minor, a third-degree sex offense, and two counts of second-degree assault by an Anne Arundel County Circuit jury in Judge J. Michael Wachs' courtroom yesterday...