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Santa is missing
MESICK, Michigan (Court TV) -- A tiny, tight-knit community is reeling after a 7-foot dancing Santa that many consider the town's identity during the holiday season was stolen last week. With only three weeks until Christmas, the Wexford County Sheriff's Department is feverishly trying to bring back the 100-pound Santa that sings "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" to admirers in front of a local business called The Red Barn. Authorities said they suspect at least two people participated in the Nov. 29 Santa-napping, and noted tire tracks and beer bottle caps near the scene of the crime. Store owner Cheryl Harder is offering a $100 reward for Santa's return. Work presentation leads to arrestFORT WORTH, Texas -- When a photo of a nude boy popped up during a departmental computer slide presentation at work, James Andrew Smith blamed it on a virus. But a supervisor contacted authorities just to make sure and Smith, a well-respected businessman and pastor, was soon arrested after a short investigation. Smith, 42, was charged with three child pornography felonies after authorities found 65 computer printouts, 27 computer disks and numerous files containing explicit sex acts between children and adults, which they said belonged to Smith. Authorities said Smith was making a PowerPoint presentation September 4 to a group of employees at the Fort Worth company where he worked. During the presentation, a photograph of a young, naked boy suddenly appeared on the projection screen. Though he was provisionally suspended, his co-workers gave Smith the benefit of doubt because of his respected reputation. Smith continues to claim that his computer has a virus. But as one investigator reportedly said, there is no virus that "would print out your pictures, put them in a folder and put the folder in your desk." Smith, a pastor at a small Sanger church who has been married for 13 years, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The trial is expected to begin next spring, according to the Tarrant County District Court clerk. 'Champagne bandit' behind barsPORT ST. LUCIE, Florida -- Authorities are celebrating the capture of the "Champagne Bandit," who had a fondness for expensive bottles of bubbly. "We toasted his capture with diet soda," said St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken. J. Mascara. Kimani Alphonso Young, 36, faces charges of felony theft in connection with a Nov. 8 incident at a local Publix store during which authorities said he stole four bottles of Moet & Chandon White Star, valued at $30 apiece. A security officer, who had staked out the wine aisle in anticipation of a possible heist, spotted Young stuffing the White Star -- described as "extra-dry with an aroma of flowers, hazelnuts and biscuits" -- into his jeans and waddling out of the store. Young was able to escape in a 2003 Dodge, but witnesses noted the tag number and authorities eventually traced the car back to him. He was arrested Nov. 20. Young, who weighs nearly 300 pounds, is suspected of stealing nearly 24 other bottles of the same drink from the store since October 5, and is accused of stealing champagne from several Publix stores from Jensen Beach to Vero Beach. A search of his apartment recovered none of the stolen bottles. Young is currently free on a $25,000 bond awaiting a yet to be determined trial date, according to St. Lucie County court officials. He faces up to five years in prison. Man steals computer to pay for crime rehabSCRANTON, Pennsylvania -- An accused thief, who didn't have the money to pay for a rehabilitation program that would clear his criminal record, stole a courthouse computer to pawn. Authorities said Ernesto Valdez arrived at the Lackawanna County courthouse on December 2 to enroll in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, which expunges the criminal record of first-time offenders. But when he arrived, Valdez was disappointed to learn the program cost $685. In an attempt to raise money, Valdez allegedly stole a laptop computer from the court stenographer. A pawn shop, however, refused to take the computer because the power cord was missing, so Valdez returned to the courthouse to retrieve it. He was arrested after a stenographer spotted him with a wire dangling from his pocket. The series of events occurred the same day, much to the bemusement of Judge Trish Corbett. Corbett accepted the 32-year-old Valdez into the program, but revoked his bail hours later when he appeared again in front of her after his theft attempt. Valdez was originally charged in connection with theft of stereos from several cars in Scranton in June, according to a Lackawanna County court clerk. No trial date has been set.
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