Citrus County Deputy, Gregory Entrekin, shoots sex offender in his home

Something isn't right here, see last story?

9-27-2012 Florida:

An investigation is under way after an off-duty Citrus County deputy allegedly shot a sex offender who broke into his home.

Investigators say 28-year-old Derrick Vaccianna broke into the home of Deputy Gregory Entrekin, 24, at around 11 p.m. Wednesday, when he was confronted by Entrekin and his girlfriend.

Vaccianna was shot during the confrontation and taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Vaccianna was a registered sex offender on probation at the time of his death.

Since Entrekin was off-duty at the time, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was called in, and both the FDLE and the Citrus County Sheriff's Office are investigating.

As is customary in cases such as these, Deputy Entrekin has been placed on paid administrative leave pending further notice. ..Source.. by Melissa Ramsey

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Off-duty Citrus County deputy shoots, kills intruder

9-27-2012:

An off-duty Citrus County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed a 28-year-old man who broke into his girlfriend's home late Tuesday, officials said.

Citrus County Sheriff's officials did not immediately identify the deputy other than to say he was familiar with the intruder, Derrick Vaccianna, 28, who broke into the house on Eden Drive about 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

Vaccianna, who lived in the town of Hernando, was a registered sex offender and on probation at the time of his death.

According to the Sheriff's office, the deputy was inside the residence with his girlfriend when Vaccianna broke in.

Soon after, the deputy and Vaccianna became embroiled in an argument, which quickly escalated to a physical fight, officials said.

Then the deputy got his gun.

He shot the intruder once in the chest, according to Sheriff's Office reports.

Vaccianna was taken to Citrus Memorial Health System, where he was pronounced dead.

It was not immediately clear whether the victim was armed at the time of the shooting.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and State Attorney's Office are investigating the incident. No further information was available early Thursday morning. ..Source.. by Marissa Lang, Times Staff Writer

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Off-Duty Sheriff's Deputy Shoots Man in Alleged Break-in

10-2-2012 Florida:

We love stories of self-defense because they prove just how important guns are, but every once in a while you get a story that's a real puzzler.

Florida Citrus County Sheriff's Deputy Gregory Entrekin, who was actually deputized last month, was spending some off-duty time with his girlfriend, Amanda Vance, when 28-year-old Derrick Vaccianna broke into Vance’s home. Now, before we get too far with this, we should point out that this wasn’t just some random robbery. Neighbors claim that Vaccianna and Vance had been in a relationship as recently as two weeks ago, and Entrekin personally knew Vaccianna. We're using the term "break in" because people involved in the case are calling it a break in, but it's not entirely clear if that's an accurate description.

First off, Vaccianna had a key to Vance's home, and it appears that Vance had invited Vaccianna into her home in order to talk. Chuck Hobbs, the attorney for Vaccianna’s family, stated, “I have strong confirmation that [Vance] had been trying to reach out to Derrick all that day, saying she wanted him to come over to the house because she was trying to reconcile their relationship.”

So, did Vaccianna "break in" or did he simply walk in? We suppose that depends on who's telling the story.

To complicate matters, Vaccianna is a registered sex offender who was convicted of lewd and lascivious conduct involving a 12-year-old girl. But these are all complicated details -- let's get to the facts.

According to reports, Vaccianna entered Vance’s home at about 10:45 p.m last Tuesday. Vaccianna and Entrekin became embroiled in an argument, which escalated into physical violence. The deputy got his gun and shot at Vaccianna, striking him once in the chest. Vaccianna was taken to the hospital but was later pronounced dead. Entrekin has since been placed on paid administrative leave.

We’ve come across some fuzzy, morally ambiguous self-defense shootings before, but this one might take cake. With so many complicated factors at play, how can we determine whether Entrekin was justified in pulling the trigger?

Did Vaccianna have a right to be in the home or was it a real break-in? Did the physical confrontation warrant violence? Were jealousy and relationship issues factors in this shooting?

We’d hate to be in Entrekin’s shoes right now. By the looks of things, Vaccianna’s family might be able to make a persuasive argument that Vaccianna had just as much right to be in Vance’s home as Entrekin did, and at that point it all boils down to the question of whether or not the physical confrontation warranted pulling the trigger.

We’re not saying that physical threat isn’t a sufficient reason to use a gun to defend yourself -- we’re just saying that in this case it really isn’t clear that it was the best course of action. After all, what if Vaccianna had shot Entrekin instead of the other way around? Would he also be able to claim self-defense?

This case might hinge on Vance, whose testimony could condemn or support Entrekin.

What do our readers think? When you invite somebody into your home, how (if at all) does that change your rights self-defense? Or even better yet – if you are invited to somebody else’s home and you get into a fight with another guest, who gets to claim self-defense -- whoever is left standing? ..Source.. by dabneybailey

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Citrus County Deputy involved in fatal shooting made news before

9-28-2012:

Inverness, FL - A Citrus County sheriff's deputy who authorities said fatally shot a man inside his girlfriend's house, has made headlines before.

10 News did a story on Gregory Entrekin back in 2008, when he saw his newborn daughter for the first time over a computer screen. The then-Marine reservist was serving in Iraq at the time. According to court documents, Entrekin and his wife divorced in 2010.

Officials with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office said Entrekin, now 24 years old, was with his current girlfriend when he shot a man inside her house along Eden Drive Wednesday.

Authorities said 28-year-old Derrick Vaccianna broke into the home and confronted the off-duty deputy and his girlfriend, Amanda Vance. According to detectives, a fight broke out and Deputy Entrekin shot Vaccianna once in the chest. He later died at an area hospital.

Vaccianna was a sex offender on probation. In 2005, when he was 19, Vaccianna was convicted of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct involving a 12-year-old girl.

Neighbors, however, said Vaccianna and Vance were a couple, and saw them together as recently as last week. They add, from what they could tell, Vaccianna did live at the house at some point.

"I've never had any issues with him. Upstanding guy. Always waving 'hi'. We have our little conversations here and there. But that was very shocking," said a neighbor, who didn't want to be identified.

Deputy Greg Entrekin is new to the Sheriff's Office. He joined the agency in August after serving overseas with the Marines. He has now been placed on paid administrative leave. ..Source.. by Althea Paul

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Deputy cleared in off-duty shooting

1-17-2013:

Report paints picture of love triangle gone wrong

An off-duty deputy involved in the shooting of a Hernando man early last fall has been cleared of any wrongdoing, according to a report from the State Attorney’s Office.

Trainee deputy Greg Entrekin shot and killed Derrick Vaccianna, 28, the night of Sept. 26 after a struggle in the bedroom of an Inverness woman.

According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, Entrekin and his girlfriend at the time, Amanda Vance, were confronted by Vaccianna after he entered the residence on Eden Drive in Inverness through a bedroom window. Entrekin shot Vaccianna when he reportedly charged at him. Vaccianna died at the scene. The case was handed to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct an independent investigation.

“This was a tragic event in which there were no winners,” said Sheriff Jeff Dawsy. “We knew right away it was best to have an independent review of the case and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted a very comprehensive and detailed investigation. We are very confident in their findings.”

That investigation and just-released report points to a love-triangle rife with alleged threats and declarations of love.

Vaccianna’s family was stunned by news of the state attorney’s decision.

“That’s just wrong. Wow, I can’t believe this. How is it that they couldn’t find anything wrong with what he (Entrekin) did?” Derrick Vaccianna’s sister Verron Vaccianna said.

Ms. Vaccianna said the family is now pondering possible legal options.

Entrekin, who had been with the sheriff’s office barely a month before the incident, was initially placed on administrative leave, and then returned to the sheriff’s office in an administrative capacity. Recently, Entrekin was permitted to begin his field training officer program, which is required before he goes on the road as a patrol deputy, according to CCSO.

“I’m sure Deputy Entrekin is anxious to officially begin his career as a law enforcement officer,” Dawsy said. “We are looking forward to the contributions he will make here as a member of this team.”

According to the report released by the State Attorney’s Office, before the fateful September day, Vance was dating Entrekin, but was carrying on a relationship with Vaccianna.

The report state Entrekin knew Vance and Vaccianna had previously been romantically involved, but did not know the entire story.

Vance reportedly altered the entry for Vaccianna in her phone to read “Janice” and would delete text messages to and from Vaccianna from her phone immediately so Entrekin would not see them.

Vaccianna, conversely, also knew Vance was seeing Entrekin and on Sept. 24 called Entrekin and, according to Entrekin, threatened him if he continued to see Vance.

The report stated the phone call was followed by a series of text messages to Entrekin from Vaccianna that said, among other things, that Entrekin would “catch a bullet” if he continued to see Vance. “If I catch you you’re a dead man,” one text reported said.

FDLE was reportedly able to piece together a sequence through text records and by tracking Vaccianna’s movement on the night of the shooting. Vaccianna was on sex-offender probation and had a GPS ankle bracelet on.

Vaccianna reportedly exchanged a series of texts with Vance the day of the shooting, with Vance saying she loved Vaccianna, but she later said it was a ruse to pacify him because he was mad that she was with Entrekin.

The report stated Vaccianna eventually entered Vance’s residence through a bedroom window and confronted the couple, who were in bed.
Vaccianna reportedly grabbed Vance and started screaming at Vance and Entrekin, who had the gun by the bed and grabbed it. Vaccianna called 911 to report that Entrekin was holding a gun to his head.

Vaccianna reportedly “lunged” at Entrekin after more shouting, and Entrekin pulled the trigger. ..Source.. by

Suspicious death investigation of Elkhart man

8-5-2012 Indiana:

Suspicious. That's how investigators are, so far, describing the death of an Elkhart man, found on Saturday at his home in the 1700 block of Morton Avenue.

The victim is identified as 69 year-old James Grant, who also went by the name Tyrannosaurus Rex Mullins.

He's said to be a registered sex offender, having been convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor going back to the late 1990's.

Right now, the case is under investigation pending an autopsy. ..Source.. by News Talk 95.3 MNC

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Elkhart police investigate possible murder

8-5-2012 Indiana:

Elkhart police are investigating a possible murder.

Officers were called to a home on Noble St., near Morton Ave. late Saturday morning. Police were called to this home on Noble Street, near Morton Avenue just after 11:00 a.m.

Inside the home, they found a man dead.

He’s identified as Tyrannosaurus Rex Mullins.

Neighbors say the man who lived there was a convicted sex offender and they stayed away from him.

“It's scary not knowing if there's somebody out there that's doing something, breaking into homes or if it's just a random act, or if it's just was somebody who knew him,” said neighbor Deb Fay.

Neighbors also told WSBT that teenagers were constantly coming and going from that house. ..Source.. by WSBT-TV Report

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Elkhart County Coroner: Autopsy determined T-Rex was murdered

ELKHART, Ind. -- We have an update on the death investigation of an Elkhart County sex offender.

The Elkhart County Coroner's Office just told us that "Tyrannosaurus Rex Mullens'" death has been determined to be a homicide.

The coroner also said that Mullens died of "multiple sharp force trauma". He would not confirm whether or not T-Rex was stabbed.

The 69-year-old man's birth name is James E. Grant.

Police found his body on Saturday morning at a home on Morton Ave. ..Source.. by Jenny Dolph

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Coroner: Man was victim of homicide

8-10-2012:

ELKHART -- The Elkhart man found dead last weekend in his home was the victim of a homicide, according to Elkhart County Coroner John White.

White confirmed 69-year-old James Grant was killed by a sharp object, what he described as "sharp force trauma,"

WSBT reported.

Grant was also known as Tyrannosaurus Rex Mullins.

Police were called to 17011/2 Morton Ave. late Saturday morning when they found Grant dead inside. ..Source.. by Staff

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Mother says teen accused of murdering convicted sex offender "T-Rex" acted in self-defense

8-22-2012 Indiana:

The mother of 18-year-old Brandon Johnston, who is accused of murdering 69-year-old convicted sex offender James Grant, aka Tyrannosaurus Rex Mullens, defended her son on Tuesday saying he acted in self-defense.

Mullens, who was convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor in 1996, was found stabbed to death in his home on the 1700-block of Morton Avenue on August 4. The Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of Johnston on Monday. Johnston’s mother believes Mullens was a predator who targeted her son for years.

Jessica Dills, Johnston’s Mother, said she, son and her parents lived on Morton Avenue for years and Mullens moved in about five-years ago. Dills claimed that nobody in the neighborhood was notified that Mullens was a sex offender and only found out after they grew concerned about Mullens’ behavior.

"He tried to buy my parents gifts, he tried to buy us stuff because he always tried to get a hold of Brandon…he would call and ask where my son was,” Dills described. “He even showed up at our house before, he showed up at my parent's house, it was just creepy."

Dills claimed she and others made numerous formal complaints and reports to the Elkhart Police Department about Mullens’ behavior, saying that he often had contact with the numerous children in the neighborhood.

"People would see him, supposedly, masturbate in front of their window," Dills explained. “The bus stop is right in front of his house.”

Eight-months ago Dills moved to her current home in Three Rivers, Michigan, in part to get away from Mullens. However, he parents (Brandon Johnston’s Grandparents) remained at their home near Mullens and her son often stayed with them. Johnston was staying with his grandparents when Mullens was murdered and has told his mother that Mullens had gotten him drunk on the night of the murder, but he can’t remember much of what happened.

"I don't know if he slipped something into the drink that he gave my son and that's why my son can't remember some of it, it knocked him out and then he woke up and that's when everything happened,” Dills claimed. “My son tried to get it to stop and he (Mullens) was hitting my son with an object and my son said, ‘I had to defend myself.’"

Brandon Johnston is in the Elkhart County Jail awaiting trial.

"I saw him by myself and when he started crying I just started to lose it, it's not easy to see your kid there," Dill described. "The rest of his life it's going to haunt him, it's going to haunt us…he wanted to join the Army, that's never going to happen, so much is going to be taken away from him just because of this.”

Dills said she believes police should have done more to investigate Mullens before his murder and that the case should serve as a reason for stricter rules about where sex offenders should be allowed to live.

“I’m not saying he (Mullens) didn’t have a right to live anywhere, but in amongst a general population with tons of kids that wasn’t right,” she said. “I don’t want this to ever happen again, this shouldn’t have happened this time.”

Brandon Johnston is scheduled to be in court for an initial hearing on August 23. ..Source.. by Tony Spehar

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Teen pleads guilty to Elkhart man's murder

12-13-2012 Indiana:

18-year old Brandon Johnston pleaded guilty to murder Thursday morning in Elkhart County.

He's accused of killing James Grant – Also known as Tyrannosaurus Rex Mullens – back in August.

Police say Grant was stabbed several times in his head, neck, and chest in his Morton Avenue home in Elkhart.

Johnston is scheduled to be sentenced next month. ..Source.. by WSBT.com

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Teen sentenced on murder charge said victim gave him drugs

1-31-2013:

GOSHEN — What exactly happened the early morning of Aug. 2, 2012, may never be known. But what came out of the incident was the death of a 69-year-old man —a registered sex offender,— and the sentencing of an 18-year-old on charges of murder.

Brandon Johnston pleaded guilty in December to the charge of murder in connection to the death of James Grant, also known as Tyrannosaurus Rex Mullens. He was sentenced to 51 years in prison Thursday morning in Elkhart Circuit Court. He also will serve four years on probation.

Grant was killed in the early hours of Aug. 2. His body was found two days later in his home located at 1701 ½ Morton Ave., Elkhart. According to the probable cause affidavit for Johnston’s case, during their investigation police found a witness who said Johnston had said he “stabbed Rex in the head.”

Police also interviewed another person who said Johnston had told them “he had hurt someone and he thought he had killed them.” Johnston had told the witness he was going to “Rex’s house” to drink some beer. According to the witness, “Rex” was known as a person who lived on Morton Avenue and frequently spent time with Johnston.

Johnston was arrested Aug. 17.

An autopsy revealed that Grant died of multiple sharp force injuries to the chest, neck and head. During the sentencing hearing in Elkhart Circuit Court, Deputy Prosecutor Vicky Becker said Grant received a total of 23 stab wounds. She added that Grant, who used a wheelchair to move around, had stab wounds on his forearms, which indicated he was trying to shield himself from Johnston.

Becker said Johnston had committed acts that sent red flags with his constant use of alcohol and drugs since the age of 15, which he admitted to in his pre-sentence report.

“The choices that he was making led him down the path that resulted in the death of Mr. Grant,” Becker said.

Judge Terry Shewmaker said Johnston’s case was one he had given much thought to.

A few letters filed to the court by Johnston’s mother, Jessica Dills, and other members of Johnston’s family, asked the judge for leniency in his sentencing.

In one of her letters, Dills said her son, as other children in the neighborhood, had been targeted by Grant. Dills said in her letter that several phone calls were made to police about possible ongoing molestation the last few years.

Grant was a registered sex offender who in 1996 was found guilty on two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.

Those letters were brought up during the hearing. Shewmaker asked Johnston if it was true he had received alcohol and drugs from Grant.

Johnston admitted that he had received marijuana, synthetic marijuana, alcohol and pills from Grant on multiple occasions.

Johnston, whose address is listed in Three Rivers, Mich. said that on the day of the incident he was in Elkhart to visit family. He said he had gone to Grant’s house, which he described was just around the corner from where his family lives, to get alcohol.

The fact that Johnston was receiving drugs and alcohol from the victim was considered as a mitigator at the time of the sentence, Shewmaker said. Johnston’s acceptance of responsibility and his arguments at the sentencing hearing were also taken into consideration.

“I’m not going to make an excuse or try to justify what I did,” Johnston told the court. “I don’t want people to think I’m a psychopath or a monster.” ..Source.. by Sharon Hernandez

UPDATE Deputies: Suspect Admitted to Pope County Killing

5-22-2012 Arkansas:

A murder suspect admitted to deputies he pulled the trigger, all because he believed the murder victim had molested his five-year-old daughter.

Andrew James Cody appeared before a judge for the first time Monday, charged with first degree murder.

Deputies say he told them he waited for 65 year-old Lee Britton in Britton's home off Shadow Lane in London in Pope County and then shot him once in the head.

Cody's supporters believe his actions were justified.

"He did me a favor, my little girl could have been the next victim," said Heather Shrives-Dornan.

Before a judge, a deputy recounted his interview with Cody just hours after the murder.

"He stated he went into the residence to confront Mr. Britton about molesting his daughter," said deputy Sgt. Stephen Pack.

Pope County Sheriff Aaron Duvall confirmed to KARK, Thursday they received allegations Lee Britton sexually abused a child.

But deputies say Friday, Cody put trash bags over his shoes to conceal evidence and put one shot into Britton's head.

"There's nothing I can say," Cody said in court, regarding his bond.

He was handed a half million dollar bond.

But outside the courtroom, his supporters were very vocal, saying they don't blame Cody one bit.

"I wish more daddies would stand up for their children like this, they should," said supporter Tara Laffoon.

Supporters of Lee Britton declined an on-camera interview, but soon, began a shouting match, calling out to Cody's supporters to prove the allegations of sexual abuse.

Deputies forced the crowd to break it up.

But people say as the case proceeds in court, they'll be back.

"This is what daddies have to do," Laffoon said.

While Cody's wife was originally arrested for being an accomplice to murder, the prosecutor says he won't be pursuing charges on her for now.

As of 4:00 p.m. Monday, Cody had not yet posted bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for July. ..Source.. by Lauren Trager, KARK 4 News

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Sheriff's office received complaint on slain man

5-25-2012 Arkansas:

Pope County Sheriff Aaron DuVall confirmed Thursday the Pope County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) received a report late last week that a 65-year-old man who was killed Friday for allegedly molesting his accused murderer’s daughter had committed inappropriate acts with a child.

Fifth Judicial District Prosecutor David Gibbons said the initial complaint against Britton is being investigated further, but he and DuVall were unable to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.

While Andrew James Cody, 26, has not yet been formally charged with first-degree murder, he admitted to killing Lee Britton in his home with a shotgun to police, according to testimony given by PCSO Investigator Stephen Pack at Cody’s bond hearing Monday.

Cody was arrested Friday about 30 minutes after PCSO received a report of a shotgun blast at a home on Shadow Lane, about two miles northwest of London. PCSO responded to Britton’s residence at 12:58 p.m. Friday and found Britton’s body in the kitchen. An investigation led police to believe Britton was killed by a shotgun blast to the head, according to Pack’s testimony.

Pack said Cody was arrested about two miles from the crime scene on U.S. Highway 64 approximately 30 minutes after Britton’s body was found. Pack said Cody was arrested and upon being interviewed, initially denied involvement in Britton’s death, but eventually changed his story and admitted to the charges.

Pack said Cody stated he entered Britton’s home with plastic bags wrapped around his feet and a long-sleeve shirt on “to cut down on blood splatter.” Cody waited inside the residence for Britton to return home, at which time he confronted the man.

“Once he came in, he confronted him with the shotgun and stated that he got pretty irritated and shot him in the head,” Pack said.

Pack said Cody admitted to shooting Britton in the left side of the head and then fled, dumping the plastic bags and his shirt in a nearby creek bed. Pack said Cody then hid the shotgun, and upon arrest, showed police where the gun was stored.

Pack said Cody stated he went inside the residence to confront Britton about molesting his daughter.

Britton’s body was turned over to Pope County Coroner Leonard Krout Friday to be transported to the Arkansas Medical Examiner’s office in Little Rock.

Cody was issued a $500,000 bond Monday by District Judge Don Bourne. He posted his bond and was released from police custody Tuesday evening.

Sheena Lakay Cody, 25, was arrested with Andrew Cody Friday on accomplice charges, but her charges were dropped by Monday morning

A Freedom of Information request to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for Britton’s criminal history was not immediately returned Thursday; however, Britton’s name was not featured on several online sex offender registry websites. ..Source.. by Preston Tolliver

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Trial begins for father accused of killing suspected child molester

6-17-2013:

RUSSELLVILLE (KATV) - Opening statements began Monday in the Pope County trial of a father accused of killing the man suspected of molesting his child.

Andrew Cody is accused of killing 65-year-old Lee Britton of London in May 2012. Cody told investigators he believed Britton had sexually abused his 5-year-old daughter.

A handful of people turned out to make their support for Cody clear on the first day of the trial.

Security is reportedly extremely high because of the sensitive and volatile nature of the trial. ..Source.. by KATV.com

Man killed in mobile-home park identified

12-2-2011 California:

Deputies identify the victim as Bobby Ray Rainwater – a name that appears on a state website of registered sex offenders.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – Deputies responding to an early-morning disturbance call at a mobile-home park here found a man dead in the street outside his home.

Investigators were releasing few details Thursday afternoon, but they were treating the man's death as a homicide and said it was not a random crime.

"There's not a danger to the community," Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Steve Doan said. "We're not looking for somebody running around the neighborhood."

The Sheriff's Department identified the victim as 54-year-old Bobby Ray Rainwater. A man by that name and age is registered as a sex offender on California's Megan's Law website, with an address in San Juan Capistrano.

He was convicted of assault with intent to commit a specified sex offense, according to the website. It does not provide other details, and Bobby Rainwater does not appear in criminal court records in Orange or Los Angeles counties.

Rainwater worked as a handyman and lived with his elderly parents at the San Juan Mobile Estates, park manager Ted Roberts said. A woman who answered the phone at the family's home immediately hung up.

Deputies were called to a disturbance at the mobile-home park in the 32000 block of Alipaz Street around 5:30 a.m. Thursday. Doan did not know who was involved in the disturbance, or who called to report it.

Arriving deputies found Rainwater in the street just outside his home. He had obvious injuries, but the Sheriff's Department was not releasing details about the manner of his death because of its ongoing investigation.

Deputies were interviewing Rainwater's family and neighbors and were "zeroing in on some things," Doan said. They had not made any arrests or named any suspects, but Doan said: "This person was not the victim of a random crime."

He asked that anyone with information about the case call the Sheriff's Department at 714-628-7170. ..Source.. by DOUG IRVING / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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UPDATE: Man Killed at Mobile Home Park ID'd

The body of a 54-year-old man was found outside his mobile home residence early Thursday in what authorities consider a homicide.

Orange County Sheriff's deputies later identified the man as Bobby Ray Rainwater, who lived in the San Juan Mobile Estates park with his elderly parents, said Lt. Steve Doan.

A Bobby Ray Rainwater is also listed as a sex offender on the state's Megan's Law registry. Although the Sheriff's Department wouldn't confirm any connection, both have the same birthdate and town of residence, San Juan Capistrano.

The registry says Rainwater was convicted of assault with intent to commit a specified sex offense, but provided no details. He had several tattoos, including a dragon, devil, and skull and crossbones.

The Sheriff's Department received a 911 call around 5:30 a.m. about a disturbance at the mobile home park at 32302 Alipaz St. When they arrived on the scene, they found Rainwater's body outside a mobile home on Paseo Perdido.

"The victim was already deceased when deputies arrived, but we don't know for how long," Doan said.

2 Lubbock teens charged with murdering sex offender

Missing in news reports is, if the plan was to rob Brinson, what additional occurred to raise that to murder, assuming murder was not originally planned?

12-22-2010 Texas:

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Two teens, including a juvenile, have been arrested on murder charges in the shooting death in Lubbock of a registered sexual offender.

Police say 52-year-old Brian James Brinson of Wilson was found dead in his car in downtown Lubbock before dawn Sunday. He had been shot at least once in the torso.

Police officials say 18-year-old Devante Lamar Jones and a 16-year-old boy were taken into custody Monday. Online jail records listed neither bond settings nor attorneys for the two.

Brinson's sexual offender registration shows that he had been convicted in Oregon in 2002 of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy. ..Source.. by ConnectAmirillo.com

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Murder suspect: Plan was to rob Brinson because "he had touched me"

12-21-2010 Texas:

A 16-year-old murder suspect said he decided to beat up and rob Brian Brinson because the 52-year-old man touched him in November, according to court documents released Tuesday.

Zeven Devon Sanders, 16, admitted to being involved in the murder victim’s robbery late Saturday night, but claimed somebody named “Black” fatally shot Brinson, who was a registered sex offender, court documents revealed.

Lubbock Police arrested Sanders and Devante Lamar Jones, 18, late Monday afternoon on murder charges, but no other warrants had been issued.

Police on Tuesday couldn’t confirm if a third person named “Black” might have been involved, but Police Capt. Greg Stevens said they were checking into the claims. However, witnesses only reported seeing two people inside the victim’s car the night of the murder.

Sanders, who turns 17 on Sunday, wrote in his statement to police: “The plan was to beat up Bryan because the way he had touched me before. Devante and I decided since we were going to beat him we might as well take his money. I figured Bryan would have money on him and I needed sixty dollars to try and get back to Fort Worth so I could see my mom. I assumed because Bryan was a white guy he would have money. Devante and I did not want to kill anyone.”

Sanders said he was walking home from Monterey High School in November when a man approached him. He said the man, who he later learned was Brinson, asked him directions to a BBQ place, according to court documents. The teen told him about a place on the east side of town.

“I was tired so I sat in the guy’s car... I was talking with the guy and while we were talking he grabbed my leg, between my knee and thigh. This guy and I finished talking and then he touched my chest. I felt uncomfortable and told the guy my grandma was calling me,” according to his statement to police.

Brinson sent him numerous text messages over the next several weeks, asking him to meet up, Sanders told police.

It was unclear on Tuesday whether police had confirmed Sanders’ story about the text messages or about Brinson allegedly touching him in November. Stevens said they couldn’t comment on that since it was still an ongoing investigation.

But Brinson did have a history of sexually assaulting children.

He was convicted in 2002 in Oregon for the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy, according to Oregon prison officials. Brinson also was convicted of manslaughter in 1989 in Oregon in connection with the beating death of an 8-year-old girl on the Ecclesia Athletic Association’s farm in Clackamas County. The Ecclesia Athletic Association has been described by some as a cult.

After multiple requests to meet up, Sanders said he finally agreed to meet Brinson the night of the murder with the intention of beating him up and robbing him, according to police reports. He told Brinson to meet him at 24th Street and Avenue L.

“Black” showed up at Sanders’ house just before Sanders and Jones planned to leave to meet Brinson and insisted on being involved, Sanders told police. “Black” brought along a gun.

While Sanders claimed he, Jones and “Black” were inside Brinson’s car, at least two witnesses said they only saw two people near and inside the car that night.

A neighbor called police at about 11:15 p.m. Saturday to report “shots fired.” The neighbor also reported the Mercedes at the corner of 24th Street and Avenue K. The caller said the vehicle’s lights were on and the doors open.

A patrol officer found Brinson slumped over in the Mercedes in the 1300 block of 24th Street at about 12:15 a.m. after another call from a different neighbor reporting the vehicle. The caller “knew it didn’t belong” and was scared, according to court documents.

The car was sitting in front of the duplex where Sanders lived with his grandmother and 10-year-old brother.

In his statement to police, Sanders said he, Jones and “Black” initially ran from the car after the gunshot, but then went back. “Black” drove the car and parked it in front of Sanders’ residence.

While Sanders claimed that “Black” brought the gun, at least one person told police that Jones had the gun Saturday night that he always carries with him, according to court documents.

The neighbor also overheard a conversation between the two teens on Saturday night less than an hour before the murder was believed to have taken place.

Sanders and Jones were talking about meeting up with a guy. At one point, Jones said to Sanders: “The guys going to take your booty.” Sanders replied: “Hell no.”

That statement was taken at 6:15 p.m. Sunday, according to court records.

Officers arrested both Sanders and Jones on Monday after they served a search warrant on Sanders’ residence in the morning. Police recovered an orange sweatshirt and pair of jeans which appeared to have blood stains, according to court documents. Sanders reportedly was wearing an orange sweatshirt the night of the murder, according to several witness statements.

Sanders was being held at the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center on Tuesday.

Jones, who was last arrested in August on a marijuana possession charge, was booked into the Lubbock County Jail.

The bond attached to Jones’ arrest warrant was $500,000. Bond information was not available for Sanders since he’s a juvenile.

Police didn’t know if either teen had retained an attorney. Public documents didn’t indicate attorney information for either suspect. ..Source.. by Robin Pyle

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Lubbock murder victim had ties to Oregon cult-like group; convicted in child's death in 1989

12-20-2010 Texas:

Lubbock Police on Monday didn’t know if a murder victim’s connections with a cult-like group in Oregon or his criminal past that included the beating death of a young girl had anything to do with his shooting death over the weekend in a Central Lubbock neighborhood.

Local officials a day after the apparent homicide had few leads in the death of Brian James Brinson, 52, who was a registered sex offender in Midland for a 2002 conviction in Oregon for the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy, according to the Texas Sex Offender Registry.

Brinson also spent 12 years in an Oregon prison after he was convicted in 1989 on manslaughter charges for the beating death of an 8-year-old girl on the Ecclesia Athletic Association’s farm in Clackamas County, Oreg., according to the Sheriff’s Office and Oregon news reports.

A patrol officer found Brinson’s body at about 12:15 a.m. Sunday in the 1300 block of 24th Place after a call reporting “shots fired.” He was found dead of a gunshot wound in his Mercedes sedan.

Police didn’t know what he was doing there or why he was in Lubbock.

Brinson was reportedly involved with the Ecclesia Athletic Association in the 1980s. The group was called a religious-based cult at the time. The association was connected with the severe beatings of more than 50 children on the farm, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

The children on the farm were taken into state custody after the death of Dayna Lorae Broussard, the 8-year-old daughter of Ecclesia founder Eldridge Broussard.

Brinson was one of four convicted in the child's death.

Young Dayna was taken to a fire station on Oct. 13, 1988, but paramedics were unable to revive her, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities later learned she had been beaten hundreds of times with a hose, a pipe and an electrical cord while other children watched. The child reportedly was beaten because she stole food after the group withheld food as punishment.

A total of 53 children, some with scars on their backs, were removed from the group’s Sandy farmhouse by the state Children’s Services Division.

Broussard formed the Ecclesia Athletic Association in 1982 to “shape group members through intense training and strict discipline so they could resist the temptations of crime and drugs in Watts,” according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

In 1990, a federal grand jury in Portland began investigating other Ecclesia leaders for possible civil rights violations. Officials arrested Eldridge Broussard and three of his followers in early 1991 on charges of holding Ecclesia children in slavery and conspiring to deny them their civil rights.

Broussard never made it to trial because he died in September, 1991 of complications related to his diabetes.

Brinson served prison time between June 1989 and April 2001 on the manslaughter charge, said Jeanine Hohn, Oregon State Corrections spokeswoman. He then was convicted in 2002 on the sexual abuse charge. State records show Brinson was released from the Oregon prison system on June 11, 2004.

Brinson registered in Midland as a sex offender in July 2009. He submitted a change of address notification in June, when he relocated to Wilson, according to Texas records.

Police ask anyone with information about Brinson’s death to call them at 775-2410 or 775-2745. Residents also may call Crime at 741-1000 and remain anonymous. ..Source.. by LubbdockOnline

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Cult member convicted in brutal child beatings at Sandy farm shot to death in Texas

A former Clackamas County cult member and sex offender was found shot to death Sunday in Lubbock, Texas.

Two teenage boys, one a juvenile, were arrested on murder charges in the shooting death of 52-year-old Brian James Brinson of Wilson, Texas. Brinson was found dead in his Mercedes, shot at least once in the torso.

A former member of the Ecclesia Athletic Association based in a Sandy farmhouse, Brinson was convicted along with three others in Oregon in 1989 in the beating death of 8-year-old Dayna Lorae Broussard, daughter of the cult's founder.

Police found 53 other children in the farmhouse had been systematically beaten, starved and forced to watch the girl being flogged to death with hoses.

The brutal case made national news in the New York Times, as well as Time Magazine.

After spending 12 years in prison on the manslaughter conviction, Brinson was convicted in 2002 of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy in a department store dressing room.

Lubbock police say 18-year-old Devante Lamar Jones and a 16-year-old boy were taken into custody Monday. ..Source.. by Kimberly A.C. Wilson, The Oregonian

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Last defendant pleads guilty to killing sex offender in Lubbock

1-17-2013:



Zeven Devon Sanders, the last of three defendants in the December 2010 murder of a sex offender from Oregon, was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to one count of robbery.

Sanders entered his plea before District Judge Brad Underwood.

He had originally been charged with capital murder because the killing took place during the commission of another felony. He would not have faced the death penalty, however because he was 16 years old when the crime was committed.

Sanders, now 19, initially intended to lure Brian Brinson to a location so he and a friend, Devante Lamar Jones, could beat him, apparently because Brinson had touched him inappropriately when he gave Sanders a ride in his car near Monterey High School.

As the plan developed, they decided to also rob Brinson because Sanders wanted money to visit his mother in Fort Worth.

Sanders wrote in his confession: “The plan was to beat up Bryan because the way he had touched me before. Devante and I decided since we were going to beat him we might as well take his money. I figured Bryan would have money on him and I needed sixty dollars to try and get back to Fort Worth so I could see my mom. I assumed because Bryan was a white guy he would have money. Devante and I did not want to kill anyone.”

Sanders told police he was walking home from Monterey High School about a month before the murder when Brinson asked him for directions to a barbeque restaurant. Sanders said he got into Brinson’s car. While they talked, he said, Brinson grabbed Sanders’ thigh and touched him on the chest.

In the written confession following his arrest, Sanders told police that Brinson frequently sent him text messages asking for a meeting.

The two planned to only beat and rob Brinson. But on the day they planned to ambush Brinson, a man initially identified to police by the nickname “Black” showed up and insisted on going along.

“Black,” who was later identified as Arenn Lamar Davis, brought a gun and shot Brinson in the torso, according to Sanders’ confession.

Police found Brinson slumped over the steering wheel of his Mercedes-Benz, which was parked in front of the duplex where Sanders lived.

Brinson, 52, had been convicted in Oregon of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy and of manslaughter in connection with the beating death of an 8-year-old girl. He served prison sentences for both crimes. ..Source.. by WALT NETT

CA- Carmichael Couple Charged In Man's Death

7-14-2009 California:

Missing 66-Year-Old's Body Found In El Dorado County

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Investigators have recovered evidence they said connects a married couple to the death of a missing 66-year-old man.

On Saturday, deputies arrested Charles Francis Gaskin, 44, and his wife, Sandra Sheaves, 40, both of Carmichael, charging them with murder, according to a statement issued Sunday by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

The arrests stem from an investigation into the disappearance of a man whom KCRA 3 sources identified on Monday as Neil Hayes. Acting on a tip that Hayes stayed at the couple's house in the 4900 block of Whitney Avenue, homicide detectives executed a search warrant and discovered evidence that they said indicates he was murdered there.

The investigation led authorities to a site in rural El Dorado County, where authorities from Sacramento and El Dorado counties found a man's body. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office was scheduled to perform an autopsy to determine an exact cause of death.

Sacramento County detectives said Gaskin and Sheaves killed Hayes in their home and dumped him in rural El Corado County.

Hayes and Gaskin had spent time in prison together. Sources told KCRA 3 that Hayes was a sex offender, which may contribute to a possible motive.

Authorities arrested Gaskin without incident late Saturday night at a friend's house in San Francisco, and detectives arrested Sheaves at her home shortly before midnight. Both have arraignments scheduled for Tuesday.

If you have information regarding this investigation, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department asks you to contact homicide detectives by dialing 916-874-5115. ..Source.. by KCRA3.com

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Officials identify man, 66, found dead in rural El Dorado County

7-13-2009 California:

Sacramento County coroner's officials have identified the 66-year-old man found dead on Saturday in rural El Dorado County.

He was Neil Lee Hayes of Sacramento. A deputy coroner said he did not have a permanent address.

Authorities have arrested a Carmichael couple, Charles Francis Gaskin, 44, and his wife, Sandra Sheaves, 40, in connection with Hayes' death.

Hayes was first reported missing Friday and his body discovered about 8 p.m. Saturday on Newtown Road near Placerville, authorities said.

Sacramento County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran said the victim is believed to have been killed in the couple's residence in the 4900 block of Whitney Avenue sometimes between June 29 and July 1.

Curran said the victim and Gaskin met in prison. Sacramento County online court records show that Gaskin had a misdemeanor theft case in 1997 that was dismissed and Hayes had court records dating back to 1989.

His last record showed he pleaded no contest to a felony sex-related offense in 2005. The records showed no filings on Sheaves. Curran said that the victim had been staying at the couple's residence for the past several months. ..Source.. by Chelsea Phua

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Supremacist convicted of killing child molester sentenced to 26 years to life in prison

5-4-2013:

A Northern California white supremacist convicted of killing a child molester has been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison, while his wife — convicted of being an accessory — will be released from jail in about two months, The Sacramento Bee reported (http://bit.ly/17D3Y4l ) Saturday.

Charles Francis Gaskins, 48, was sentenced Friday after pleading no contest in March for the killing of Neil Hayes in 2009. A probation report said Gaskins was a member of a supremacist group that required its members to attack anyone with a history of child molestation.

Gaskins and his wife — Sandra Sheaves — was living in a home she owned in Carmichael, a community outside of Sacramento, when they allowed the 66-year-old Hayes to move in. Gaskins had met Hayes while they were both serving time in prison, The Bee said.

When Sheaves discovered on the Megan’s Law website that Hayes was a registered sex offender, she told Gaskins.

Gaskins and Sheaves confronted Hayes in the garage of the home, with Gaskins killing him by repeatedly hitting him in the head with a large rock, prosecutors said.

Hayes’ body was later found dumped along the side of a rural road about 35 miles away in Placerville.

As part of his no-contest plea, Gaskins insisted authorities go easy on Sheaves, who also was charged with Hayes’ murder.

Prosecutors agreed, allowing her to plead no contest to accessory to murder. Sheaves, 43, was sentenced to eight years in prison.

“In a way, you almost instigated this, by showing the information from Megan’s Law to Mr. Gaskins,” Sacramento Superior Court Judge Sharon Lueras said in sentencing Sheaves.

With time served and other factors, Sheaves is expected to be released in 66 days, according to her attorney, James Warden. ..Source.. by Washington Post

Two alleged gang members suspected in death

9-26-2006 Oklahoma:

LAWTON, Okla. A man serving time in a private prison for lewd molestation may have fallen victim to two imprisoned gang members.

Lawton police investigators allege Brandon James Horne and Michael Sean Rose -- both 23 -- attacked Charles -A- Willingham in his cell on Monday. The 53-year-old died at the Southwestern Medical Center emergency room.

Detectives allege that Horne and Rose are members of the Aryan Brotherhood, a gang notorious for extorting protection money from sex offenders.

Witnesses told investigators Horne and Rose entered Willingham's cell to either extort money from him or rob him of his belongings.

The witnesses claim when Willingham refused to pay them 100 dollars, he was knocked to the ground and stomped to death.

No formal charges have been filed against the pair. ..more..

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Lawyer disqualified in local murder appeal

3-27-2013 Oklahoma:

While the court could still hear arguments and testimony regarding the possibility of a new trial for a Lawton inmate serving time for murdering a convicted sex offender in 2006, a Comanche County judge ruled Tuesday that they would not be heard from the defense attorney who filed initial motions.

Comanche County District Court Judge Mark Smith ordered Gretchen Mosley, an attorney with the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System, disqualified from representing Brandon J. Horne, 29, on grounds her representation would be a violation of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. Smith told Mosley that without a signed waiver of consent from her previous client, Michael Rose, he did not feel it would be appropriate for her to continue representing Horne.

Prison inmate beaten to death
Rose and Horne were both charged with the 2006 murder of Charles Willingham, who was beaten to death during an apparent attempt to extort money from him at the Lawton Correctional Facility. Horne and Rose were reportedly members of the Aryan Brotherhood (UAB) gang.

Mosley initially represented Rose in his murder case while G. Lynn Burch represented Horne. Both men have now contested their convictions. In November, Mosley filed a motion arguing that Burch did not interview two crucial witnesses. But before the court could address merits of the request, Smith had to hear evidence regarding Stoneman's request to have Mosley disqualified, which he filed Friday.

Stoneman made two arguments. First, he pointed out that Horne and Rose were co-defendants and that both have implicated each other. Since Mosley initially represented Rose, he said she had a conflict of interest regarding her previous client's interests and her new client's interests. Second, Stoneman argued that OIDS is statutorily prohibited from being ordered to represent defendants in post-conviction cases, a claim Mosley countered, saying she was representing Horne in a private capacity.

Stoneman argued the court's assumption that Mosley was representing Horne in her own personal capacity was "in bad faith" as OIDS investigators, who work for the state, had been contacting people involved with Horne's appeal on behalf of Mosley. The defense attorney argued she was not using state-provided resources. The judge said he would take her on her word, but pointed out it was interesting that Mosley claimed Horne had the funds to hire her to file the motion but said he was indigent after Smith ruled to disqualify her. ...continued... by Malinda Rust