Strip clubs crackdown; ethnic menacing; sex product firm expands

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — A Minot family has celebrated a belated Christmas after being reunited with missing gifts.

The gifts fell from the back of the Deanna and Alex Wojtczak family's truck as they drove to Wyoming in December.

North Dakota Transportation Department equipment operator Dale Sveen discovered the seven wrapped presents in a ditch along U.S. Highway 2 between Minot and Berthold two days before Christmas.

"I thought, 'It's garbage. I better pick it up,'" he told the Minot Daily News (http://bit.ly/1SPTnwj ).

Deanna Wojtczak said she was heartbroken when she discovered Christmas Eve that the gifts were missing.

"I just felt they were long gone. I didn't have any hope of ever finding them again," she said.

The Transportation Department earlier this month asked the public for help in finding the owners of the gifts. Deanna Wojtczak learned of them while chatting about the holidays with the manager of the mobile home park where the family lives.

They looked up the Facebook post that included a picture of the presents, and Wojtczak recognized her wrapping paper. She was able to claim the presents because the gift tags matched the names of her two daughters.

"It made me ecstatic because the kids were going to get their presents," she said.

Her daughters opened the gifts on Wednesday.

"I am very thankful they are found," Wojtczak said. "I am thankful to have honest people who returned them."

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Information from: Minot Daily News, http://www.minotdailynews.com

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker has proposed a bill that would hold refugee groups liable for damages if one of the refugees they have accepted commits a crime.

Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion introduced the measure Thursday amid a heated debate over whether Nebraska should accept refugees from war-torn Syria.

The bill would apply to refugees from more than 30 "high-risk" territories, including Syria, Iraq and Russia.

Kintner said he is not aware of any national trends to hold agencies liable for the refugees that they help resettle. The list was adopted from a border security bill that Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul introduced in Congress last year.

Kintner said he will not predict how the bill will fare in committee because he doesn't know what the opposition will be.

"I don't know what arguments are: That we shouldn't protect the citizens from possible jihadists?" Kintner said.

The bill would require groups to compensate state or local governments for the cost of prosecuting a refugee. It also would allow crime victims to sue the groups, and require the refugee agencies to demonstrate that they have the capacity to cover up to $25 million in damages.

Several nonprofit agencies have said they are working to resettle the refugees in Nebraska. Gov. Pete Ricketts has said the state should welcome refugees, but he has concerns about how they're screened.

Phone messages left Thursday afternoon with two nonprofit refugee resettlement groups weren't immediately returned.

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The bill is LB966.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — Rochester police have arrested a man suspected of scamming churchgoers out of hundreds of dollars with a story about his dead family.

Investigators say the man visited Pax Christie Church and St. John the Evangelist Church Monday where he talked about how his family was killed by explosives in Beirut. Police say that between the two churches he received more than $1,000. Police were called when the man was spotted at Trinity Lutheran Church Wednesday night.

KTTC-TV reports that the man also has a pending warrant for theft deception from Fargo, North Dakota.

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Information from: KTTC-TV, http://www.kttc.com

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A new proposal to lift Indiana's eight decades-old ban on Sunday carryout alcohol sales would impose fewer new restrictions on grocery stores and pharmacies than a bill that failed in the Legislature last year.

The measure represents a fresh attempt by Indiana House Public Policy Chairman Tom Dermody to end the state's status as having the last such statewide "blue law" in the U.S.

The new proposal would require groceries and pharmacies to keep alcohol in a separate area or limit alcohol displays to a single store section that's not adjacent to areas with items such as toys, candy or school supplies. Clerks would have had to be 21 or older and have mandated alcohol training and permits.

Retail stores opposed Dermody's bill last year after provisions were added that would have required beer and wine be kept in designated areas and liquor stored behind a counter.

Grocery chains, convenience stores and pharmacies, which have pushed for years to have the ban lifted, argued that segregating liquor would inconvenience customers and force expensive renovations. But liquor store owners have long opposed Sunday sales for fear of increased overhead costs without additional revenue.

"I learned a lot from last year," Dermody, a Republican from LaPorte, told The Indianapolis Star on Thursday. "I re-evaluated. Other issues can still be dealt with in the future and can still have discussion, but at least the Sunday sales bill should come to the floor, hopefully for a vote."

The bill has been assigned to Dermody's committee, but a hearing wasn't immediately scheduled. Dermody withdrew his bill last year before a House vote after deciding it didn't have enough support to win approval.

The Indiana Retail Council, which has long supported lifting the Sunday sales ban, hasn't yet decided whether to support the new proposal, said Grant Monahan, the group's president.

"Certainly we support the concept of Sunday sales," Monahan told The Associated Press. "We applaud Rep. Dermody for proposing the bill, but we need a little bit of time to look at the various provisions and see how it will impact our stores' operation."

Patrick Tamm, president of the Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers, which represents liquor store owners, issued a statement saying the bill "fails to acknowledge that alcohol is not like any other consumer product" and, as introduced, "gives big box retailers capabilities to sell alcohol as if it were milk."

"Last year's Sunday Sales bill contained sound public policy that took a hard look at how and where alcohol is sold, which we supported," Tamm said.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A 7-year-old Milwaukee boy and his mother say he was stranded outside on one of the coldest days of the year after he was dropped off of a school bus in the wrong place.

Hope Christian School executive director Zachary Verriden said in a statement that a student was dropped off at home instead of daycare Monday. Zechariah Bradley said he forgot his hat and gloves on the bus and was shut out of his home with his mother at work.

"I was crying really hard," he said. "I was very cold. My hands and feet were hurting. I started yelling, asking if someone could help me."

Neighbor Renee Love heard the boy's cries for help and took him home with her, and he was later reunited with his mom.

Verriden said Monday was the first day of a new bus route for the boy, and that he was on the wrong bus. He said the school feels "terrible that the student was dropped off at home with no one to receive him."

"We are considering additional safeguards in consultation with the bus company and I am personally taking responsibility to ensure this never happens again," Verriden said.

PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) — A judge in Port Huron sentenced a former special education teacher to jail time Thursday for assault and battery of early childhood students in her classroom.

Shirley Thoen, 59, apologized in district court for the incidents that police secretly recorded at Thomas Edison Elementary, The Times Herald of Port Huron reported (http://bwne.ws/1OkNgNf ).

"I lost my patience and let the frustrations of the classroom situation get the best of me," Thoen said. "I should never have allowed myself to lose my patience with the children."

According to the newspaper, a police report said cameras that authorities placed in the classroom recorded Thoen stepping on a child's hand, pushing a student down onto a rug, stepping on a student's leg or foot, and dropping a child and then kicking him in the head and neck area.

Thoen worked with about eight children between the ages of 4 and 6, according to the newspaper.

Judge John Monaghan sentenced her to 93 days in jail, with 73 days suspended once she completes probation. Thoen cannot volunteer or work in settings where she would have direct contact with children.

Last fall, paraprofessionals told school officials of inappropriate behavior in Thoen's classroom, and police set up surveillance equipment. Video captured Thoen dropping the one child and kicking him on Oct. 29 and the teacher was put on leave the next day.

Thoen, of Marysville, retired after pleading guilty in December to two counts of assault and battery. She had been with the district 36 years.

The mother of one of the children assaulted told the court Thursday that her son displayed an aversion to school, but couldn't express it verbally.

"I never got to know my child was hurting all of those months," Lindsay Schneider said. "I kept him in an environment that I assumed was safe because people around me — principals, administrators and the defendant herself — gave me a false sense of security."

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Information from: Times Herald, http://www.thetimesherald.com

URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A central Illinois judge has found a man guilty but mentally ill of attempted murder and child abduction after authorities said he left his 6-month-old baby daughter to die by abandoning her in a bean field.

Thomas Boitnott, 24, of St. Joseph was convicted Wednesday, The (Champaign) News-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1RHdeia ) reported. The prosecution and defense had expected Judge Tom Difanis to find Boitnott not guilty by reason of insanity, based on Champaign psychiatrist Lawrence Jeckel 's opinion that Boitnott didn't understand his actions were criminal.

Boitnott would have gone to a Department of Human Services facility for treatment if acquitted based on insanity. Under his conviction, he would serve six to 30 years in prison, where he would get mental health services.

State's Attorney Julia Rietz said it's unusual for a judge to reject the opinion from a psychiatric expert that the judge appointed, but that it's within the judge's authority.

"What is most important to me is that this child is safe, that Thomas Boitnott receives the mental health treatment he so clearly needs, and society is protected from him if he does not get that treatment," Rietz said.

Difanis said Wednesday that it's "the court's opinion that Dr. Jeckel is correct that Boitnott is suffering from a mental illness," but that Boitnott hadn't proven "by clear and convincing evidence" that he wasn't able to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.

The baby girl was found alive in a muddy field in June. Difanis said deputies believe she was placed in the field about 13 hours before she was found.

Boitnott's attorney, Tom Bruno, said he would file a motion to appeal the judge's ruling.

"The record contains the uncontradicted evidence from one psychiatrist, appointed by Judge Difanis, that the defendant was not legally responsible for his actions," Bruno said.

Difanis set another hearing for Feb. 12.

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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A judge has sentenced a man to 20 days in jail after he was convicted of "ethnic menacing" for harassing a gay man at a central Ohio health club.

At his sentencing this week in Columbus, Michael D. Smith said it was "an unfortunate situation that got overblown." After he gets out of jail, he'll be on probation for two years.

The Columbus Dispatch (bit.ly/1SOIKty) reports that the 41-year-old Smith was convicted last week after he made anti-gay remarks toward a gay man and had to be restrained by two other gym members on Aug. 23.

In addition, the jury convicted of disorderly conduct for the altercation and aggravated menacing for sending the gym manager a pair of brief emails filled with profanity and gay slurs.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln pharmacist who pleaded guilty to defrauding Nebraska's Medicaid program out of $14.4 million has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison.

Prosecutors say 45-year-old Scott Tran submitted hundreds of false claims for a solution used in inhalers for cystic fibrosis patients in the names of his customers' children.

Documents show Tran submitted 399 claims for reimbursement between May 2009 and February 2015, stating they had been ordered by six Lincoln-area doctors identified only by their initials.

United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Tran to 110 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Tran was also ordered to pay more than $14.4 million in restitution to the Nebraska Health and Human Services Agency.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Everett had said he would dismiss 17 other counts against Tran if he pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud.

Tran has agreed to forfeit his right to cash and property that was seized early in the investigation to go toward paying restitution. Everett has said that the government could recoup just under $3 million from the sale of Tran's Omaha home, Lincoln pharmacy, bank accounts, life insurance policies and stocks.

Tran operated Pharmacy Specialty Services in Lincoln for nearly six years between May 2009 and March 2015.

Defense attorney Clarence Mock said Tran suffered from a gambling addiction. Mock said that most of the money that Tran received from filing false claims was spent gambling at two casinos in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

U.S. District Judge John Gerrard said Tran's case was highly unusual and that a gambling addiction was certainly an explanation for what was otherwise virtually unexplainable to people who knew him.

"Nonetheless, an addiction like this, not unlike an alcohol or drug addiction that I see too often in my court, does not excuse your behavior, and it will not minimize your sentence," Gerrard said.

DELL RAPIDS, S.D. (AP) — A student has obtained a protection order against a high school band teacher in Dell Rapids who apparently has since been put on leave.

Court documents say the teacher sent sexually explicit messages to the female student via Facebook last month. A judge granted the student a protection order.

The teacher has not been charged with a crime. KSFY-TV reports that a Feb. 9 hearing is scheduled on whether the protection order will be extended.

The Argus Leader newspaper went to the teacher's home for comment and was referred to the school district. KSFY-TV reports that the school district on Wednesday sent a voicemail to parents about "an alleged improper incident involving a school district employee and student," saying the employee has been placed on leave.

CINCINNATI (AP) — An Ohio-based company selling products promoted for better sex lives is getting bigger again.

Cincinnati's Pure Romance says it acquired a similar company in a deal expected to increase revenues by nearly 20 percent, expand geographical reach and add thousands of consultants to its direct-sales force.

The privately held company says its 2015 revenues totaled $150 million, continuing steady growth for its sales of sex toys, lingerie, massage oils and other bedroom items. The company says acquiring Las Vegas-based Passion Parties adds Canadian markets.

Pure Romance says millions of women each year attend its in-home parties across the United States and in Australia, South Africa and Canada.

The company last year acquired Slumber Parties. Started in a suburban Cincinnati basement two decades ago, Pure Romance's 2000 sales were $1 million.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — New state data shows the number of unemployment benefits claims filed in Ohio last year was the lowest since 1973.

The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1W9GE7x ) reports just under 422,000 applications for benefits were filed in 2015 as the state's unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade. Benefits claims have trended lower since 2009, when there were nearly 1.2 million applications.

The peak in filings over the past four decades came in 1982, when 1.6 million applications were submitted during a recession.

A spokesman for the Department of Job and Family Services says the drop in claims "strongly suggests" that people are keeping their jobs and that the risk of layoffs has fallen. Spokesman Benjamin Johnson says more people are working and not relying on unemployment insurance.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — The city of Williston is cracking down on downtown strip clubs.

KXMC-TV reports (http://bit.ly/1Q7JXLI ) city commissioners have given initial approval to ordinances restricting all exotic dancing to industrial zones, on the city's outer fringe. Strip clubs also would be prohibited from serving alcohol and would have to obtain a cabaret license.

The city in 2011 began requiring adult entertainment venues to move to industrial zones, but the Heartbreakers and Whispers clubs downtown were grandfathered in at their current locations. Under the new ordinances, they can remain there only if they operate solely as bars.

In 2014, one club was the scene of a fatal beating and the other was the site of a fatal shooting. Both clubs have had their liquor licenses suspended in the past because of disturbances.

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Information from: KXMC-TV, http://www.kxnet.com

CINCINNATI (AP) — A federal judge in Ohio has approved class-action status for a tea party group's lawsuit stemming from Internal Revenue Service delays in approving nonprofit status for conservative groups seeking the tax-exemption classification.

The NorCal Tea Party Patriots sued the IRS, along with workers and officials in Cincinnati and Washington, after it was revealed in 2013 that the IRS delayed approving conservative groups for the nonprofit status. No criminal charges were filed after an FBI investigation.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports (http://cin.ci/1ZkDPAg) a U.S. District Court judge in Cincinnati granted class-action status Tuesday. That means other impacted groups across the country can join the case unless they opt out.

The judge also sealed the case to protect taxpayer records that might be on file with the IRS and the tea party group.

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Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.com

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An appeals court has refused to order a lower sentence for a former Iowa State University scientist who faked AIDS vaccine research results.

Dong-Pyou Han had been sentenced in July to serve 57 months in prison. The Des Moines Register reports (http://dmreg.co/1PZQar7 ) that Han's lawyer said in his appeal that the sentence was unreasonable. The appellate court disagreed in its ruling this week.

Han entered a plea agreement in February admitting guilt to two counts of making false statements.

A group of researchers at Harvard University found in January 2013 the promising results Han and his research team had reported were achieved with rabbit blood spiked with human antibodies.

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Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com

OCONTO, Wis. (AP) — A woman is charged in Oconto County with dragging a dog behind her car, killing the animal.

Twenty-eight-year-old Jordan McDonald is charged with a felony for mistreating the dog, causing its death and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

WLUK-TV (http://bit.ly/231phKy ) reports the criminal complaint says McDonald got into an argument Sunday night and left a residence with the dog tied to her vehicle. Police were called, pulled McDonald over about three miles away and found the dog, which died a few minutes after an officer loosened the rope.

McDonald says she didn't know the dog was tied to the vehicle. She's due back in court Thursday for the balance of her initial appearance.

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Information from: WLUK-TV, http://www.fox11online.com

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Conditions are ripe for mountain lion hunting, but this year's cougar season in South Dakota is still off to a slow start.

Only six lions have been killed since the season started the day after Christmas. Three lions were shot during the first two weeks, with two more killed Sunday and another on Monday, the Rapid City Journal reported (http://bit.ly/1Q7O7Do ).

There is good snow cover that should provide for good tracking — the most common way of hunting mountain lions in the Black Hills.

"We have had some good conditions, so I was a bit surprised we haven't had more harvested," said John Kanta, regional wildlife manager for South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.

The low harvest number is not the most reliable predictor of the lion population in the Black Hills, since there are other factors such as weather, Kanta said. However, the latest estimate puts the population at about 240 animals, down from the 2011 peak of 400. Game, Fish and Parks considers the ideal population to be in the range of 150-200 lions.

This year's limits were dropped to 60 lions total or 40 females, to stay in line with the population goals. Last year's limits were 75 animals or 50 females, but hunters killed only 21 males and 22 females.

The lion season runs through March in the Black Hills unless the quota is reached earlier. The season is year-round in the rest of the state, where lions are not plentiful.

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Information from: Rapid City Journal, http://www.rapidcityjournal.com

SPRINGBORO, Ohio (AP) — A teenager accused of passing out brownies laced with hashish to students and a teacher at his southwest Ohio high school has pleaded guilty to one count of possession of hashish.

Warren County's prosecutor says 19-year-old Edward Goschinski III of Springboro also pleaded guilty Wednesday to three counts of contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a minor.

A message seeking comment was left Thursday for Goschinski's attorney.

Prosecutor David Fornshell says Goschinski was a senior at Springboro High School when he brought the brownies to school in April 2015. Fornshell says Goschinski supplied them to three students and gave one to a teacher.

Fornshell says another student overheard Goschinski and others discussing giving a pot brownie to a teacher and told the teacher.

Hasish is made from marijuana.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say two men have been accused of faking an armed robbery in Omaha.

An Omaha police news release says a man reported early Wednesday morning that as he was leaving a building an armed man forced him back inside and forced him to open a safe. Police say detectives soon determined that the man was lying. They eventually found the other man and arrested both.

Police say 21-year-old Adam Norton is charged with theft, conspiracy and false reporting and say 21-year-old James Reck is charged with theft and conspiracy and charged for theft in an unrelated crime.

Online court records don't list the names of attorneys who could be contacted to comment for the men.