Idiot of the Week: Palm Beach clerk of courts Michael Caruso jailed on child sex abuse charges

Here's another conservative Republican arrested and jailed on child sex abuse charges. Suspended Palm Beach clerk of courts Michael Caruso, 67, was ordered held without bond. The charges filed against him include kidnapping, molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child and child abuse. Why does the Republican party seem to have a lot of child molesters? 

Palm Beach Clerk of Court arrested on child sex abuse charges

WPBF-TV, August 19, 2026

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Suspended Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Michael Caruso was denied bond during a court appearance Wednesday and is expected to be transferred to Orange County to face additional charges.

Caruso, who is represented by attorney Jason Weiss, requested to be transported to Orange County to address five charges filed there.

During Wednesday's hearing the judge said there is no deadline for Orange County authorities to pick him up. However, the court set a Sept. 2 recheck date. The hearing would allow the court to review Caruso’s status if he has not yet been taken to Orange County.

During the hearing, the judge imposed a strict no-contact order prohibiting Caruso from having any contact with the alleged victim, the victim's immediate family members, witnesses in the case or anyone under the age of 18.

At the outset of the hearing, the judge addressed Caruso's public position and made a statement for the record before ruling on bond.

"As Mr. Weiss is approaching, let the record reflect that I have never met Mr. Caruso, nor do I know him in any capacity other than the fact that he is now the suspended clerk of court," the judge said.The judge ultimately ordered that Caruso be held without bond.

Caruso's arrest was announced Tuesday by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who said the case was investigated with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local law enforcement agencies.

According to charging documents, Caruso faces multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child and child abuse causing mental injury.

Authorities have said the investigation remains ongoing.

Hours after Caruso's arrest, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order suspending him from his position as Palm Beach County clerk of court.

Caruso remains in custody as the criminal case proceeds and ahead of his expected transfer to Orange County next month.

Idiot of the Week: Jay Lucas Pleads Guilty In $50M Fraud

 This week's idiot is someone who was prominent in New Hampshire politics. Former gubernatorial nominee and donor Jay Lucas pled guilty to securities fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and investment adviser fraud.  

New Hampshire Political Figure Jay Lucas Pleads Guilty In $50M Fraud
By Damien Fisher, NH Journal Tue, Jul 28, 2026

Former Republican gubernatorial nominee and longtime New Hampshire GOP donor Jay Lucas may soon bring his Sunshine brand of positivity and optimism to federal prison after pleading guilty to operating a $50 million investment fraud. Lucas, 71, pleaded guilty Friday, July 24, 2026 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to securities fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and investment adviser fraud.

“Lucas lied to investors to induce them into investing millions of dollars in private equity funds that he created, promising to invest their money in emerging companies in the health and wellness space,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “In reality, Lucas used much of the money to pay for personal expenses and ventures entirely unrelated to the funds, and to make Ponzi-like payments to other investors.

“Today’s plea reflects the continued commitment of this Office and our law enforcement partners to holding accountable investment advisers who abuse their investors’ trust to illegally enrich themselves.”

WHO IS LUCAS? 

Lucas is a former two-term Republican state representative who was first elected at age 19 while attending Yale University. He was an alternate delegate to the 1976 Republican National Convention and later served as treasurer of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee.In 1998, Lucas spent nearly $1 million of his own money to win the GOP gubernatorial nomination in a bitter primary against former state Sen. Jim Rubens. He went on to lose the general election to incumbent Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen.Lucas remained a major Republican donor and activist after his gubernatorial campaign and was mentioned as recently as 2020 as a possible GOP candidate for U.S. Senate. His son, Gates Lucas, represented Sullivan County as a Republican in the New Hampshire House from 2018 to 2020.

The securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering charges each carry maximum prison sentences of 20 years. The investment adviser fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of five years. Lucas’ actual punishment will be determined at a sentencing hearing.

Lucas operated Lucas Brand Equity, a boutique investment firm that purported to focus on emerging companies in the health and wellness industry.

WHAT ELSE DID HE DO?

1) Prosecutors say he instead used investors’ money to pay his rent and alimony, finance the Eagle Times newspaper, hire political consultants and cover other personal expenses. The Securities and Exchange Commission also alleges Lucas used investor money to pay for his wedding reception.

2) Lucas concealed negative information about companies in which he claimed to be investing, including the fact that one had gone out of business, according to federal authorities. He also used money from new investors to make Ponzi-like payments to disgruntled earlier investors. A separate SEC lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York links the alleged fraud to Lucas’ relationship with his current wife, Karen Ballou.

3) Lucas took control of Immunocologie, a skincare-products company in 2013, purchasing a 51 percent interest through his investment operation. “From about 2013 through 2018, [Lucas] directed more than $5.3 million of Fund 1 investor money to Immunocologie. From 2018 to 2024, [Lucas] directed more than $6.9 million of Fund 2 investor money to Immunocologie,” the lawsuit states.

Those transfers made Immunocologie the largest investment held by both funds, representing approximately 40 percent of Fund 1’s invested capital and 43 percent of Fund 2’s. Fund 3 transferred at least $310,000 to Immunocologie, representing approximately half of the money that fund invested in portfolio companies.

4) Lucas also moved investor money into an account for XL7 Group, an LLC he operated with Ballou, according to the SEC. “[Lucas] operated [XL7] as a slush fund masquerading as a business account that he could tap for personal expenses,” the lawsuit states.

5) Lucas and Ballou married May 12, 2018, in a lavish ceremony allegedly financed in part with investor money. Nine days before the wedding, a married couple investing with Lucas for the first time gave him $375,000. The entire investment was supposed to go into one of Lucas’ funds, but he instead transferred $123,000 to XL7, the SEC alleges. Lucas then used $118,448 from the investor deposit to pay three vendors for his upcoming wedding. Around the same time, XL7 also paid $6,700 to a political consultant and $3,000 to one of Lucas’ family members, according to the lawsuit.

Idiot of the Week: Woman Drives Car into Roadrunner Highway Mural in Mexico

This week's idiot is an unnamed woman who was driving in Monterrey, Mexico and crashed her car into a wall after mistaking a hyper-realistic Looney Tunes/Road Runner mural of a tunnel entrance for a real roadway. It was created by an anonymous artist.

Road Runner mural surprises drivers in a Monterrey, Mexico tunnel 

Monterrey, Nuevo León | July 16, 2026

A distinctive painting in a Monterrey tunnel caught the attention of social media users by creating a visual illusion inspired by the famous *Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote* cartoon. The artwork, which recreated the classic Looney Tunes gag of a painted tunnel featuring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, created a convincing optical illusion from a distance.

The image, which plays with perspective, required some drivers to pay closer attention while passing through the area, as the design creates an impression of continuity and depth.

The artistic detail quickly became a topic of conversation among internet users, who recalled classic scenes from the animated series where Wile E. Coyote would find himself surprised by his own schemes.

ABOUT THE REALISTIC HIGHWAY ART- (Noalzine) 

The mural’s realistic design has also sparked conversations about the power of street art and optical illusions. While many viewers found the situation humorous, it also served as a reminder for drivers to stay alert and not rely solely on what they see from a distance.

The artwork, originally created as a playful tribute to one of animation’s most recognizable characters, gained even more attention after the crash. What was meant to be a fictional joke became a real-world moment that perfectly matched the cartoon inspiration behind it. In the end, Wile E. Coyote’s fake tunnel may have accomplished something the character never did — successfully fooling someone.

Idiot of the Week: J6er Denied Medical License

This week's idiot stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as part of the insurrection to overthrow the election. She assaulted an officer, was arrested, tried, convicted, and then pardoned by a virus. But Karma would still catch up. What's astounding is that she was a doctor.  Now, the Massachusetts Medical board will not allow her renew her license to practice medicine. 

(This image from U.S. Capitol Police body-worn video that was in the government sentencing memorandum in the case, shows Jacquelyn Starer, a physician from Massachusetts, striking a police officer in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Credit: U.S. Department of Justice)

Medical board revokes right to renew license for Mass. doctor who hit officer on Jan. 6

By Ross Cristantiello, Boston.com, July 21, 2026

The state’s Board of Registration in Medicine revoked a Massachusetts doctor’s right to renew her medical license last week, citing the fact that she struck a police officer while breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Jacquelyn Starer, of Ashland, pleaded guilty to eight charges, including a felony assault charge, in 2024. She was sentenced to 9 months in prison for her actions, but was pardoned by President Donald Trump shortly after he began his second term last year.

Starer is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist who has a subspeciality in addiction medicine. She was primarily a practitioner of addiction medicine before her arrest in 2022.

After traveling to Washington, D.C. to attend Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally, Starer walked with other protesters to the Capitol and entered the building through its East Door. She initially found the atmosphere inside “fairly calm,” but was drawn to an argument between police and rioters in the rotunda, Starer’s attorneys wrote in court documents.

Starer engaged in a “heated discussion” with another member of the crowd, and pushed his arm away from her because she felt like he was “invading her space.” During this interaction, she turned away from the line of police. One officer pushed Starer in the back. She responded by turning and striking the officer with a closed fist, her attorneys wrote.

She said that she was upset with the other rioter who had apparently tried to hold her back, and instinctively punched the officer’s arm after being pushed, her attorneys said.

Prosecutors said in court documents that Starer’s assault of the officer “riled up the hostile crowd and contributed to the dangerousness of the situation.” They emphasized that Starer yelled expletives at officers and pushed her way through the mob in order to confront police.

Starer was affected by pepper spray and exited the Capitol about 15 minutes after she entered it.

The interaction occurred as police attempted to keep rioters away from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. It was captured on video, including on footage from body-worn cameras.

Starer pivoted to addiction medicine after dealing with addiction herself and attempting suicide in 1996, according to court documents. She went on to serve as president of the Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine and as a consultant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

In a 2024 letter to the judge who oversaw Starer’s case, her husband said that Starer hoped to continue practicing medicine.

“She would very much like to regain her privileges to practice medicine and continue to care for those struggling with addiction, but this is unlikely if the outcome of these proceedings is not in her favor,” he wrote. “At the very least, she would like to restore her reputation in the medical profession and in the community.”

Idiot of the Week: Oklahoma Megachurch pastor & Founder of "Pastors for Trump" exits GOP runoff after thousands of inappropriate texts

One thing that can be said about conservatives- They're consistent. They scream that LGBTQ people, drag queens and "liberals" are all criminals doing evil things, when they're not. Instead, it's the conservatives doing them, and they hide behind their accusations - like this week's idiot. The idiot is yet another Rump-backed Pastor who created the organization "Pastors for Trump" made "thousands" of inappropriate texts to a woman who was not his wife.  Can these deplorables please crawl back into their caves? 

Oklahoma pastor who was backed by Trump exits GOP House runoff after reports of inappropriate texts

By MEG KINNARD, Associated Press, June 17, 2026

Jackson Lahmeyer, an Oklahoma megachurch minister who founded Pastors for Trump, has withdrawn from a runoff for a U.S. House seat from Oklahoma, following reports that he had sent romantic text messages to a woman who is not his wife.

A day after advancing to the August runoff, Lahmeyer issued a statement on Wednesday saying that he had made the “difficult decision” to suspend his campaign “after prayerful consideration with my wife, Kendra, and my team over the last twenty four hours.”

“I do not want to be a distraction to my family, my church, and the great people of Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, who deserve a strong conservative voice representing them in Washington,” Lahmeyer added.

Lahmeyer’s email statement announcing his withdrawal hit inboxes just minutes after President Donald Trump endorsed his runoff opponent, Mark Tedford.

(Editors Note: Look! He got praise from a criminal!) “I greatly appreciate Jackson Lahmeyer’s hard work under difficult circumstances,” Trump wrote, going on to call Tedford — a state representative in Oklahoma — “Pro Trump and MAGA all the way!”

On Monday, a day before Oklahoma’s primary, Trump had reiterated his support for Lahmeyer, whom he initially endorsed last month, commending him for founding Pastors for Trump. The nationwide faith leader coalition was among the groups that worked to boost Trump in his 2024 campaign.

The Daily Mail reported Sunday that Lahmeyer had exchanged thousands of romantic text messages with a woman who worked as a fundraiser for his campaign. Multiple news organizations reported that Lahmeyer acknowledged his behavior in a now-deleted social media post, saying the matter “was already dealt with privately” and that he owned “crossing a boundary line through text messaging.”

Lahmeyer’s campaign did not immediately return a message.

*********************************** 

In the Primaries recently, 26% of Republican Voters cast a ballot for this idiot.

Republican Primary ✪

There's a long list of candidates running to secure the Republican nomination to succeed Rep. Kevin Hern, who is running for U.S. Senate. President Donald Trump endorsed Jackson Lahmeyer, a pastor who is connected with several members of Trump’s inner circle.

estimates
99% of votes counted

Mark Tedford and Jackson Lahmeyer advance to a runoff election.

candidate	votes	pct
Mark Tedford GOP	23,230	32.2%
Jackson Lahmeyer GOP	18,699	25.9%
Nathan Butterfield GOP	11,532	16.0%
Kim David GOP	4,722	6.5%
Jed Cochran GOP	3,419	4.7%

Idiot of the week: Woman Arrested After NH Route 101 Chase With Troopers

 This week's idiot is another reckless driver. There's a lot of them around and no state is free from them.  This idiot decided to race from State Troopers on a New Hampshire state highway after causing an accident.

Woman Arrested After Route 101 Chase With Troopers 

 Tony Schinella, Patch, June 18, 2026

CONCORD, NH — A woman from Rochester was arrested on multiple charges after a chase with New Hampshire State Police on Route 101 on June 11, 2026.

Around 7:45 a.m., state police received reports about a red Toyota Corolla failing to stop for police on Route 101 in Hampton. Troopers found the vehicle, traveling west, and attempted to stop the driver, but the driver refused to stop, a report stated.

A chase ensued until Auburn, when the driver, Kathleen Feeney, 45, of Rochester, was accused of being involved in a minor crash with another vehicle. However, she continued to attempt to flee, state police said.

Tire deflation devices were deployed and the driver stopped near Hookset Road.

Feeney was arrested on felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor charges of disobeying a police officer, conduct after an accident, criminal mischief, and a violation of reckless operation. She was held on preventive detention in the Rockingham County Jail, with a scheduled arraignment booked for June 12.

Idiot of the Week: MD Gubernatorial Candidate convicted of stalking, intimidation

This week's idiot is a guy who is running for governor in Maryland and who doesn't have the sense to leave an ex-wife alone after being court-ordered to do so.

Maryland candidate for governor convicted of stalking, intimidation

Pamela Wood, 6/12/2026, Baltimore Banner

Dwight Douglas Larcomb, a longshot Republican candidate for governor, was convicted of stalking, witness intimidation and multiple counts of violating a protective order following a trial this week in Frederick County Circuit Court.

Larcomb, a Frederick resident who uses the name “Douglas Larcomb” in his political campaign, asserted his innocence, alleged he’s a victim of “vindictive” prosecution and said he plans to appeal.

The case dates to October 2020, when protective orders were issued against Larcomb and his then-wife. Larcomb was ordered not to contact her.

A few months later, in February and March, law enforcement and prosecutors allege that he sent a barrage of Facebook messages to the woman and called her repeatedly, in violation of the protective order. Larcomb sent messages from his own accounts and also using aliases, according to police and court records.

“You have to fix this and fast,” Larcomb wrote the woman, using an alias. “And, the very first thing is that you have to STOP INVOLVING LAW ENFORCEMENT for attention!!!!”

In another series of messages introduced at trial, Larcomb wrote: “What do I want from you? Most expedient is truth to officials. I want all legal matters against me gone. I don’t care if you have to kick and scream to the gallows, you have to tell them that you aren’t testifying to ANYTHING. PERIOD. No matter if they say you have to.”

Larcomb was initially found guilty at trial in 2022 and was sentenced to nine years in prison. After appeals, Larcomb won a new trial in 2025 and was released from custody. The case was prosecuted at trial by the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office. “I am happy to see another jury came to the same result for the victim,” said Karla Goldman, assistant state’s attorney.

Idiot of the Week: Maine State Rep. Republican Randall Hall pleads guilty to violating clean election law

 This week's idiot is a legislator in the Maine House who violated election law. Funny how the Republican party has always cried about illegal voting, when they are the majority of the ones who do it. Such was the case recently in Maine. Today's Idiot is one of those people (AND 66% of the people in his district voted him in...think about that). 

Maine State Rep. Republican Randall Hall pleads guilty to violating clean election law

May 27, 2026 , WMTW-TV , Francis Flisiuk

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine State Rep. Randall Hall pled guilty to charges of unsworn falsification and criminal violations of the Maine Clean Election Act in Oxford County Superior Court on Tuesday.

The Republican state representative from Wilton entered the misdemeanor pleas after reaching an agreement with state attorneys.

Following the guilty plea, Speaker of the Maine House Ryan Fecteau, a Democrat, renewed his calls for Rep. Hall to resign, saying that his "illegal actions have violated the public's trust."

Speaker Fecteau also said if Hall does not resign, he will refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee, which will "convene in earnest to determine its recommendation to the full House.”

Hall was originally indicted on 10 counts of aggravated forgery after being accused of forging 10 names on election documents in 2024.

The indictment accused Hall of knowingly submitting fraudulent documents to qualify as a clean election candidate in Maine, specifically the Cash Qualifying Contribution Affirmation Form.

Court documents indicate that Hall has been sentenced to 48 hours in jail, as well as 100 hours of community service that must be completed by May 28, 2027. Hall is scheduled to serve his 48 hours in jail starting at 7 a.m. Friday, according to the court documents.

Hall is serving his fourth term in the Maine House representing House District 74, which includes the towns of Industry, New Vineyard, Strong, Wilton, Avon, Carthage, Temple, Weld, Perkins Township, Washington Township, New Portland and South Franklin.

He won re-election last November with 66% of the vote over Democrat Gregory Kimber.

Idiot of the Week: Florida pastor arrested on sexual battery charge

This week's idiot is another pastor who was arrested and charged with sexual battery on a child. What is with these pastors and conservative thinkers that do this?  They accuse others of doing these heinous things and hide behind their accusations to do it themselves. They're sick. Here's the article from a Florida newspaper.

(Caption: Randon Carroll (41) is a Florida pastor who was arrested and charged with sexual battery on a child. Deputies from the Holmes County Sheriff's Office took him into custody after a parent found explicit messages on their child's phone, and Carroll reportedly confessed during an interrogation.)

Florida pastor arrested on sexual battery charge

 By Holmes County Advertiser, Florida. Staff Report  May 19, 2026  

Investigators with the Florida Holmes County Sheriff’s Office arrested local pastor Randon Carroll early on May 19, 2026 on charges of sexual battery on a child.

According to HCSO, investigators were contacted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office regarding an incident involving a juvenile after a parent reportedly discovered concerning messages on the child’s phone that were allegedly sent by Carroll.

Investigators met with Walton County authorities at the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center in Niceville, where the child was interviewed and disclosed inappropriate sexual conduct involving Carroll.

Following the interview, HCSO investigators traveled to Carroll’s residence and interviewed him regarding the allegations. During the interview, Carroll confessed to the incident, according to investigators.

Carroll was arrested and charged with sexual battery on a child. The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges could be filed.

Sheriff John Tate thanked the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center for their assistance in the investigation.

Idiot of the Week: MAGA Pastor pleaded guilty to sex crimes against minors ages 13–15

This week's idiot is another MAGA guy who committed sex crimes with young teenagers. He was a pastor at a church in Ohio, who demanded an LGBTQ book be removed from a school because it "made him sick."  ✅ Not a drag queen ✅ Not an immigrant ✅ Not a Muslim .   Almost every week these Maggots who preach hatred aganist LGBTQ and immigrants are the ones commiting vile crimes. It says that anyone who spews that hatred against others is HIDING their OWN CRIMES. Here's the story.

(Image: WLWT-TV, Channel 5, Ohio)

Former Blanchester pastor pleads guilty to sexual conduct with a minor

News Journal, April 20, 2026 

Silas Shelton, former pastor of Blanchester Community Ministries (OH), pleaded guilty today to sex crimes against minors ages 13–15, dating to 2019. In 2023 he showed up at a school meeting demanding Scholastic pull “Heartstopper” from the book fair — said the gay teen romance made him “sick.”

WILMINGTON, Ohio — The former pastor of Blanchester Community Church pleaded guilty Monday in Clinton County Common Pleas Court to three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor as part of a negotiated plea agreement reached April 17.

Silas Shelton, 49, of Morrow, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on the three third-degree felony counts, and a menacing by stalking charge was reduced from a fourth-degree felony to a first-degree misdemeanor, Clinton County Prosecutor Brian Shidaker said in court.

As part of the agreement, prosecutors dismissed the remaining charges in the 12-count indictment, which originally included charges of rape, gross sexual imposition, sexual battery and arson.

The case had been scheduled for a five-day jury trial beginning Monday before the plea agreement was reached late last week.

Prosecutors said the charges involve three separate incidents and qualify as third-degree felonies because Shelton was at least 10 years older than the victim.

Each of the three felony counts carries a potential prison term from 12 months to 60 months. Shelton could face a maximum of 15 years in prison if the sentences are imposed consecutively.

The amended misdemeanor charge carries a potential jail term of up to 180 days.

If the court imposes a prison sentence, Shelton would be subject to up to five years of post-release supervision after his release.

Shelton would also be classified as a Tier II sex offender, requiring him to register in person every 180 days for 25 years.

Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Sievers said Shelton knew the victim and her family through their church and his son. Shelton later became a pastor at the church in 2020.

During the summer of 2019, the victim lived in Wilmington with her parents, and Shelton later asked the victim to start working for his construction business.

“He would pick her up most weekdays and return her home on days that typically no one was present,” Sievers said.

Sievers said Shelton engaged in sexual conduct with the victim, who was 14 at the time, beginning in September 2019. The conduct included incidents while returning from a work site, as well as at Cowan Lake and the Holiday Inn at the Roberts Centre, and continued through December 2019, according to the indictment.

Idiots of the Week: Ex-funeral home owner faces 20 years in prison after giving families fake ashes

 This week's idiots are a married couple who ran a funeral home and bilked grieving families out of thousands of dollars, then desacreated people's remains, while using the money they charged to buy luxury goods. They plead guilty to 189 counts of corpse abuse. Fortuntately, they were caught, but only after a long time. Her now ex-husband, Jon received 40 years in prison, and now she's being sentenced. 

Ex-funeral home owner faces 20 years in prison after giving families fake ashes, corpse abuse

By COLLEEN SLEVIN, Associated Press, March 16, 2026

DENVER (AP) — A former Colorado funeral home owner who helped her ex-husband hide nearly 200 decomposing bodies in a building is asking for leniency when she is sentenced Monday, saying she was a “scared and desperate mother” who was manipulated to keep the family business operating.

Together this former husband and wife stashed 189 decomposing bodies in a building over four years and gave grieving families fake ashes.

Carie Hallford, 48, faces up to 20 years in prison for taking over $130,000 from families for funeral services, including cremations, and often giving them urns full of concrete mix instead. In two cases, investigators found the wrong body was buried.

In August, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and admitted that she and her ex-husband Jon Hallford cheated customers and also defrauded the federal government out of nearly $900,000 in pandemic small business aid.

Carie Hallford decided to get a divorce after she was put back in jail in her state case in November 2024, which put her out of reach of her husband’s constant calls and texts and allowed the “fog in her mind from the years of abuse” to lift, according to a court filing by her lawyer, Robert Charles Melihercik.

Federal sentencing guidelines recommend prison time up to eight years since Carie Hallford didn’t have a criminal history. But lawyers for the government are asking U.S. District Judge Nina Y. Wang to sentence her to 15 years, in part for taking advantage of grieving people following one of the largest discoveries of decaying bodies at a funeral home in the U.S.

Families struggle with guilt, shame and nightmares

 Those who entrusted their loved ones to the Hallfords struggled with guilt, shame, nightmares and panic attacks since the bodies were discovered in 2023. They were stacked so high in some places that they blocked doorways. There were bugs and maggots. Buckets had been placed to catch leaking fluids.

Prosecutors also want a longer sentence because the former couple, who had offered “green burials” without embalming, lavishly spent a pandemic-era small business loan on vehicles, cryptocurrency, pricey goods from stores like Gucci and Tiffany & Co. and laser body sculpting rather than on their Return to Nature funeral home in Colorado Springs.

Carie Hallford is asking to be sentenced to eight years. In court documents, Melihercik, said Hallford’s actions were motivated by “fear and severe anxiety.” He said Hallford’s former husband used “classic instruments of domestic violence” to control her, including threatening at times to kill himself and her.

The lawyer who represented Jon Hallford in state court, Adam Steigerwald, declined to comment on the abuse allegations. The lawyer who represented him in federal court, Laura Suelau, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Carie Hallford was the public face of the business Some victims are not sympathetic to Carie Hallford, the public face of the business who met with families and assured them their loved ones would be treated with respect.

Emma Williams, whose family entrusted the Hallfords to take care of her father’s remains in 2022, said Carie Hallford had a choice. “She continued to stay with the business and take advantage of us out her own greed,” she said.

Crystina Page, whose son’s body was left at the funeral home after he was killed in 2019, said Carie Hallford spent four years “feeding the monster” by continuing to accept more business.

“She is just as guilty as he is, except that he couldn’t have done it without her bringing him the bodies,” Page said.

Defense says a shorter sentence would allow for restitution 

Carie Hallford says that much of the lavish spending of the government loan money was the result of “love-bombing” as Jon Hallford attempted to apologize to her. She urged her husband to buy a cremator with the loan money, but was too scared to force the issue, Melihercik said in the court filing.

“Although she will be behind bars for the next decade or more, she finally feels free,” Melihercik wrote. He also said a shorter sentence would allow Carie Hallford to be able to return to work and repay the money the couple took from their victims. Carie Hallford is also facing 25 to 35 years in prison when she is sentenced in state court on related charges next month.

Jon and Carie Hallford each pleaded guilty in December to nearly 200 counts of corpse abuse in state court. The plea deals require their state and federal sentences to be served at the same time.

Jon Hallford was sentenced to 20 years in the federal case and 40 years in the state case. At his sentencing last month in the state case, he apologized and said he will regret his actions for the rest of his life.“I had so many chances to put a stop to everything and walk away, but I did not,” he said. “My mistakes will echo for a generation. Everything I did was wrong.”

Idiots of the Week: 4 MAGA men convicted of Child Sx Abuse

 This week is a quadfecta (collection of 4) idiots, who are all conservative, MAGA movement supporters who claimed to be religious, and haters of people like liberals, drag queens, transgender people, and democrats. Yet, they hide behind their religion and their political party and have committed heinous crimes against children. It seems that every week there are more and more of these people uncovered. Hopefully Americans who once supported that conservative movement can see there are many hiding behind it and attacking innocent others while abusing children. Nothing is more heinous than that. 

Idiots of the Week: 4 MAGA men convicted of Child Sx Abuse

One was an evangelical pastor, David Rogers of Kentucky, who took his own life after being found out. Another was Former Republican U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on April 27, 2016, for violating federal banking laws as part of a hush-money scheme to cover up his past sexual abuse of male students. Two others are MAGA supporters that posted hateful things on their social media pages.

Article: KY Worship Pastor Dies by Suicide After Being Arrested

Ministry Watch.com Feb 26, 2026 

Last week, former Kentucky pastor David Rodgers, 40, killed himself after being arrested on multiple sexual abuse charges, including possession of abuse materials exploiting a minor under 12.  

Police initially arrested Rodgers on February 16. A few days later, on February 19, police responded to the report of a 40-year-old man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Kentucky State Police released an updated statement the next day. “The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and Daviess County Coroner’s Office responded to the apparent suicide of Mr. David Rodgers around 9:45 am yesterday morning near his Utica residence.” Police protocol dictates the case remain open until a formal death certificate is entered, after which the case can be closed. Police began its investigation after receiving a complaint in January 2026 accusing Rodgers of inappropriate behavior against a minor, according to reporting by 14 News.

The former worship pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was ultimately charged with various sexual abuse crimes, including third-degree rape, second-degree sodomy involving a position of authority, first-degree sexual abuse, procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means, and possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under the age of 12.

“It looks like it was somewhere around 10-11 years ago where the victim was of early age, perhaps as young as 12 but that can give or take some years with that. The relationship flourished from there where ultimately it went to a sexual relationship and ultimately that’s where the charges stem from with sodomy, rape 3rd, and also the abusing the power of trust,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King said, according to 14 News.  After his arrest, Rodgers confessed to the offenses during his interview with police. He was then released on a $75,000 bond.

THEN THERE IS THIS GUY****Man arrested in Missouri to face child rape charges in North Carolina   WCNC-TV NEWS, February 27, 2026

GASTONIA, N.C. — A man who was arrested recently in Missouri is set to be extradited back to North Carolina to face a child sex charge from eight years ago. The Gastonia Police Department announced on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, that 65-year-old Arnold Ogle was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service's Fugitive Task Force in Kansas City. Police said he is accused of the statutory rape of a child in 2018. The department notes that as of publication, he is being held in Missouri as he awaits extradition.

Court documents reviewed by WCNC Charlotte reveal that Ogle's address at the time of his arrest was in Gardner, roughly 30 miles southeast of Kansas City. He was indicted earlier in the month on the statutory rape charge, along with incest.

The indictment also suggests that the crimes Ogle is accused of spanned the course of 13 years; the date range in his indictment suggested a start date of November 2005.

    AND FINALLY THIS GUY   Bonne Terre Man Charged in Jefferson County Child Sex Abuse Case

Dustin Kopp, KFMO-TV February 23rd, 2026 

 Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A Bonne Terre man is facing multiple felony charges following allegations of sexual abuse involving a young girl in Jefferson County. Court documents state that 36-year-old David A. Boren allegedly sexually abused a girl for about a year while she was younger than 12 years old.

The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Boren on December 4 with felony first-degree statutory rape or attempted statutory rape and felony statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy. Boren was arrested on February 9 and is being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail, according to court and jail records.

A probable-cause statement filed by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office indicates the girl told investigators the abuse occurred between January 2018 and January 2019 and that Boren allegedly told her not to report the abuse.

Idiot of the Week: In Ireland 12 Police cars and Helicopter Chased Driver with Drugs

This week's idiot is from Ireland, who caused an all-out Garda (Irish Police) chase that involved 12 cars and a helicopter. Not only was the idiot on drugs, but his drug of choice was even more gross than possible, because it had Trump's face on it! Here's the story.

Twelve Garda cars and a helicopter involved in high-speed pursuit of driver, court told 

Man drove towards patrol car, went wrong way on M50, was later found with drugs featuring Trump’s face

Declan Brennan, Irish Times , Fri Feb 27 2026 -  

Twelve Garda cars an air support helicopter were involved in a high-speed pursuit that lasted more than an hour across north Dublin and into Co Meath, a court has heard.

At around 12.30am on May 29th, 2023, Dublin man Dziugas Odinas (25) was driving a Volkswagen Passat with two passengers in the car.A Garda inspector driving in a marked patrol car saw Odinas driving on the Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, driving on the wrong side of the road and at high speed in a direction towards gardaí.

Garda Emma Young told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this inspector had to drive his car on to the grass verge of the road to avoid being struck by the oncoming car. The inspector then activated the blue lights and sirens of the patrol car, but Odinas drove off at speed.

During the high-speed pursuit that ensued, Odinas was observed driving the wrong way on the M50 against the flow of traffic, driving the wrong way down slip roads and driving across red bollards. At one point, he drove in the wrong direction around Dublin Airport roundabout between heavy traffic. On a number of occasions, his driving forced other drivers to take evasive action to avoid colliding with his car.

During the pursuit, Odinas did a U-turn. At a number of times, he switched the car lights off to try to evade detection, the court heard.

The pursuit ended outside Gormanstown, Co Meath, when gardaí threw a stinger, or spiked device, across the road. All four tyres [tires] on the car driven by Odinas were punctured and a number of patrol cars were used to box the car in. Odinas stopped the car and got out, Gda Young said.

She accepted a submission from John Byrne, defending, that from this point his client accepted his arrest and was well mannered towards gardaí.

He was not insured and the car was not taxed (Registered). A small amount of cannabis for personal use was found on him and a large knife was found in the car.

Emmet Nolan, prosecuting, told the court that 12 Garda vehicles were involved in the pursuit and about 30 minutes into it the force’s national air support unit became involved.

Odinas was released on bail and three months later plain clothes gardaí on patrol on the Ballymun road, north Dublin, stopped him and found he had 34 bags of MDMA and four bags of ecstasy tablets.

Doubly Gross

Gda Pierce O’Dwyer told the court that the tablets had Donald Trump’s face stamped on them and that the total estimated street value of the drugs found on Odinas was about €60,900 (71,971.62 U.S. Dollars).

When stopped by gardaí, Odinas said “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” and told them he was being paid €300 for transporting the drugs. Gda O’Dwyer said there was no Garda intelligence to suggest he was doing anything other than moving the drugs. He accepted Odinas was not on the “Garda radar” and not considered to be part of a “hierarchy”.

Odinas, of Sheepmoor Lawns, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of MDMA, ecstasy tablets and alprazolam tablets on Ballymun Road on August 3rd, 2023.

He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and endangerment at locations in north Dublin on May 29th, 2023.

His previous convictions include road traffic offences [offenses in U.S. English] and convictions for fuel drive-off type thefts. Byrne told the court his client was 22 at the time of these offences and was a more mature man now.

Judge Sarah Berkeley adjourned the case to May 11th next for finalisation. She remanded Odinas into custody for appearance on that date