LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — The search for an inmate who escaped from a satellite camp at the Leavenworth Penitentiary is over.&nbsp;

The U.S. Marshal's Service Fugitive Task Force arrested 50-year-old James Thompson, in Mount Pleasant, Texas, according to a statement Tuesday from the U.S. Marshal's Service

On Nov. 10, authorities discovered Thompson was missing. A federal grand jury indicted him on one count of escape from custody.&nbsp;

He is currently back in federal custody. Thompson was serving a sentence of 80 months in prison in the Northern District of Georgia for mail fraud at the time of his escape.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699585891299.png" alt="Thompson-photo U.S. Bureau of Prisons" />
 <figcaption>Thompson-photo U.S. Bureau of Prisons</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — The search for an inmate who escaped from a satellite camp at the Leavenworth Penitentiary is over.&nbsp;The U.S. Marshal's Service Fugitive Task Force arrested 50-year-old James Thompson, in Mount Pleasant, Texas, according to a statement Tuesday from the U.S. Marshal's ServiceOn Nov. 10, authorities discovered Thompson was missing. A federal grand jury indicted him on one count of escape from custody.&nbsp;He is currently back in federal custody. Thompson was serving a sentence of 80 months in prison in the Northern District of Georgia for mail fraud at the time of his escape.

Inmate who escaped Kan. penitentiary camp captured

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 8:30 a.m. Monday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle near 126th and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic violation, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;The driver was identified as Jose Arturo Conejo, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas. 

 During the stop, a deputy observed drug paraphernalia in plain view.   Deputies discovered more drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. 

 The driver was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail and booked into the Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705410391353.png" alt="Conejo-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Conejo-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 8:30 a.m. Monday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle near 126th and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic violation, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;The driver was identified as Jose Arturo Conejo, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas. During the stop, a deputy observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. Deputies discovered more drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. The driver was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail and booked into the Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.

Kan. deputy observes drug paraphernalia during traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and his family were at Camp David.

Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a report just after 7 a.m. that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to talk about the fake emergency call and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined that it was a false report and called off the response.

Someone who was reached at the callback number for the 911 report indicated they did not place it, the person said, indicating it was likely spoofed.

Biden returned to the White House on Monday afternoon after spending part of the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland and participating in a service event in Philadelphia to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr. Day</a>.

The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump in New York and the criminal election subversion case against him in Washington, D.C. have both been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-calls-marjorie-taylor-greene-rick-scott-d568818925c99c8cf17467f737b99e97">targeted</a>&nbsp;in recent days. Also, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was the subject of a fake emergency call Christmas Day.

Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.

Some of the recent calls have featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was sleeping with another man and saying he was holding the boyfriend hostage, demanding $10,000.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">In New York</a>, authorities responded to a bomb threat at the Long Island home of Judge Arthur Engoron early Thursday morning, the day after the judge issued a ruling preventing the former president from delivering his own closing statements in the civil fraud case against him. Nothing amiss was found.

The false report came days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-swatting-threats-fe70d2254f2da4a1cb9e6e55c79e1d40">fake emergency call</a>&nbsp;reporting a shooting at the home of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump’s Capitol attack criminal case in Washington, D.C.

Smith was also the target of fake shooting report at his home, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Smith and his family have been the subject of numerous threats and intimidating messages since he was appointed and Trump began posting messages about them online, prosecutors have said in court documents.

WHAT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TARGETED?

Public officials targeted by swatting range from Republican U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-swatting-georgia-christmas-2081fd3835512cc3180aa1171fc5913d">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia to Maine Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-ballot-swatting-08f1d0e39ee7b111d51045bb9ea48094">Shenna Bellows</a>, a Democrat who removed Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-79373b5043976588b599fc00ede049e8">Constitution’s insurrection clause</a>.

Other high-profile targets in recent days include U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

In Greene's case, a man called the Georgia suicide hotline Christmas morning, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, police said. The call was quickly transferred to police, who determined it was a swatting attempt after contacting a private security detail for Greene, who has been targeted multiple times.

In Wu's case, a male caller claimed the same day claiming he had shot his wife and had tied her and another man up at the Boston mayor's address. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021.

Hundreds of cases of swatting occur annually, with some using caller ID spoofing to disguise their number. And those targeted extend far beyond public officials.

Police have for months reported a huge surge in fake claims about active shooters at schools and colleges. There have also been reports of hundreds of swatting incidents and bomb threats against synagogues and other Jewish institutions since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;began.

The FBI said earlier this year that it had started the process of creating a national database in to track swatting incidents nationwide. The agency said Thursday that investigators take seriously the widespread increase in threats, and every hoax “puts innocent people at risk, is a waste of law enforcement’s limited resources, and costs taxpayers.”

Such calls have proven dangerous and even outright deadly.

In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">Earlier this year</a>, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a related lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.

In 2015, police in Maryland shot a 20-year-old man in the face with rubber bullets after a&nbsp;<a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/maryland-man-gets-2-years-after-swatting-victim-was-shot">fake hostage situation was reported</a>&nbsp;at his home.

In addition to putting innocent people at risk, police and officials say they worry about diverting resources from real emergencies.

No arrests have been made in the recent threats, but some lawmakers have moved for heftier penalties.

Ohio earlier this year made it a felony offense to report a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement. And Virginia increased the penalties for swatting to up to 12 months in jail. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.

In Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones promised “an end to this madness” after his home in a small town south of Atlanta was swatted on Wednesday, only to have a bomb threat called in to his office on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705413308466.png" alt="FILE - A firetruck is parked outside of the White House in Washington, Dec. 19, 2007. A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning. President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David at the time. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - A firetruck is parked outside of the White House in Washington, Dec. 19, 2007. A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning. President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David at the time. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and his family were at Camp David.Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a report just after 7 a.m. that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to talk about the fake emergency call and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined that it was a false report and called off the response.Someone who was reached at the callback number for the 911 report indicated they did not place it, the person said, indicating it was likely spoofed.Biden returned to the White House on Monday afternoon after spending part of the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland and participating in a service event in Philadelphia to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr. Day</a>.The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump in New York and the criminal election subversion case against him in Washington, D.C. have both been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-calls-marjorie-taylor-greene-rick-scott-d568818925c99c8cf17467f737b99e97">targeted</a>&nbsp;in recent days. Also, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was the subject of a fake emergency call Christmas Day.Here's a look at the spike in threats:WHAT IS ‘SWATTING’?Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.Some of the recent calls have featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was sleeping with another man and saying he was holding the boyfriend hostage, demanding $10,000.WHO IN THE COURTS HAS BEEN TARGETED?<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">In New York</a>, authorities responded to a bomb threat at the Long Island home of Judge Arthur Engoron early Thursday morning, the day after the judge issued a ruling preventing the former president from delivering his own closing statements in the civil fraud case against him. Nothing amiss was found.The false report came days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-swatting-threats-fe70d2254f2da4a1cb9e6e55c79e1d40">fake emergency call</a>&nbsp;reporting a shooting at the home of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump’s Capitol attack criminal case in Washington, D.C.Smith was also the target of fake shooting report at his home, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Smith and his family have been the subject of numerous threats and intimidating messages since he was appointed and Trump began posting messages about them online, prosecutors have said in court documents.WHAT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TARGETED?Public officials targeted by swatting range from Republican U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-swatting-georgia-christmas-2081fd3835512cc3180aa1171fc5913d">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia to Maine Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-ballot-swatting-08f1d0e39ee7b111d51045bb9ea48094">Shenna Bellows</a>, a Democrat who removed Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-79373b5043976588b599fc00ede049e8">Constitution’s insurrection clause</a>.Other high-profile targets in recent days include U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.In Greene's case, a man called the Georgia suicide hotline Christmas morning, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, police said. The call was quickly transferred to police, who determined it was a swatting attempt after contacting a private security detail for Greene, who has been targeted multiple times.In Wu's case, a male caller claimed the same day claiming he had shot his wife and had tied her and another man up at the Boston mayor's address. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021.HOW WIDESPREAD IS THE PROBLEM?Hundreds of cases of swatting occur annually, with some using caller ID spoofing to disguise their number. And those targeted extend far beyond public officials.Police have for months reported a huge surge in fake claims about active shooters at schools and colleges. There have also been reports of hundreds of swatting incidents and bomb threats against synagogues and other Jewish institutions since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;began.The FBI said earlier this year that it had started the process of creating a national database in to track swatting incidents nationwide. The agency said Thursday that investigators take seriously the widespread increase in threats, and every hoax “puts innocent people at risk, is a waste of law enforcement’s limited resources, and costs taxpayers.”DO FALSE THREATS POSE OTHER RISKS?Such calls have proven dangerous and even outright deadly.In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">Earlier this year</a>, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a related lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.In 2015, police in Maryland shot a 20-year-old man in the face with rubber bullets after a&nbsp;<a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/maryland-man-gets-2-years-after-swatting-victim-was-shot">fake hostage situation was reported</a>&nbsp;at his home.In addition to putting innocent people at risk, police and officials say they worry about diverting resources from real emergencies.WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE COULD THIS PROMPT?No arrests have been made in the recent threats, but some lawmakers have moved for heftier penalties.Ohio earlier this year made it a felony offense to report a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement. And Virginia increased the penalties for swatting to up to 12 months in jail. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.In Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones promised “an end to this madness” after his home in a small town south of Atlanta was swatted on Wednesday, only to have a bomb threat called in to his office on Thursday.

White House is latest 'swatting' site—after series of fake 911 calls

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegaions following a traffic stop.

Just after 10:30p.m. Jan. 12, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1979 Ford Mustang near 150th and Q.4 Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The deputy observed what was believed to be drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.&nbsp; A search of the vehicle was conducted, where methamphetamine, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, a hallucinogenic drug and open containers of alcohol were located.

The deputy arrested the driver 57-year-old Bruce Leroy Bowers of Harveyville and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of a hallucinogenic drug,&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 3rd conviction,&nbsp;&nbsp;Transporting open container,&nbsp;&nbsp;Operating motor vehicle w/o license and Improper driving on laned roadway.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705325503118.png" alt="Bowers-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bowers-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegaions following a traffic stop.Just after 10:30p.m. Jan. 12, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1979 Ford Mustang near 150th and Q.4 Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The deputy observed what was believed to be drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.&nbsp; A search of the vehicle was conducted, where methamphetamine, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, a hallucinogenic drug and open containers of alcohol were located.The deputy arrested the driver 57-year-old Bruce Leroy Bowers of Harveyville and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of a hallucinogenic drug,&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 3rd conviction,&nbsp;&nbsp;Transporting open container,&nbsp;&nbsp;Operating motor vehicle w/o license and Improper driving on laned roadway.

Sheriff: Kan. man transporting drugs accused of DUI again

JOHNSON COUNTY—A man from Iowa is going to prison for the 2021 killing of a man in Kansas.

According to the Johnson County District Attorney, Michael Balance, 60, Des Moines, was sentenced to just more than 51-year-years in prison for the death of 70-year-old John Hoffman, of Prairie Village. 

In May of 2021, police found Hoffman’s body in his apartment. He had been shot several times. Police quickly identified Balance as a suspect in the shooting and contacted Des Moines police, who arrested him.

In October, a Johnson County jury found Balance guilty of second-degree murder. He was&nbsp;originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder, according to the district attorney's office.

A Johnson County jury found Michael L. Balance, 60, of Des Moines, Iowa, guilty of second-degree murder. He was originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704488000265.png" alt="Balance-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Balance-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—A man from Iowa is going to prison for the 2021 killing of a man in Kansas.According to the Johnson County District Attorney, Michael Balance, 60, Des Moines, was sentenced to just more than 51-year-years in prison for the death of 70-year-old John Hoffman, of Prairie Village. In May of 2021, police found Hoffman’s body in his apartment. He had been shot several times. Police quickly identified Balance as a suspect in the shooting and contacted Des Moines police, who arrested him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620143853583.png" alt="Balance following his arrest in Iowa" />
 <figcaption>Balance following his arrest in Iowa</figcaption>
 </figure>In October, a Johnson County jury found Balance guilty of second-degree murder. He was&nbsp;originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder, according to the district attorney's office.A Johnson County jury found Michael L. Balance, 60, of Des Moines, Iowa, guilty of second-degree murder. He was originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder.

Suspect captured in Iowa going to prison for Kansas murder

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Jaykwon Walton and Jahvon Quinerly scored 23 points apiece to lead No. 13 Memphis past Wichita State 112-86 on Sunday for its tenth consecutive win.

Walton, who played for Wichita State last season, and Quinerly were two of six players to finish in double-digit scoring for Memphis (15-2, 4-0 American Athletic Conference).

The Tigers recorded their most points this season, set a program record with 19 three-pointers and shot a season-high 65% from the floor. It was the first time since 1986 they have scored more than 100 points in back-to-back games.

“My biggest takeaway was the 19 3s we made as a team,” Quinerly said. “We shot the ball really well. … To be able to come out here on the road and shoot 19 3s was huge.”

Colby Rogers had 20 points to lead Wichita State (8-8, 0-3), which suffered its first loss of the season when scoring more than 80 points.

The Tigers held a 49-46 lead at halftime, with both teams shooting 60% from the floor. Wichita State tied the game early after the break, but Memphis erupted for 63 second-half points.

"We couldn’t get caught up in a shootout, and we did,” Wichita State coach Paul Mills said. “We are not the kind of team that can win those games.”

The American's leading scorer, Memphis' David Jones, was held to just two points in the first half, but the Shockers struggled to contain him in the second half. Jones finished with 19 points.

Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored 14, Nick Jourdain added 12 and Malcolm Dandridge had 10 for the Tigers, whose last loss came on Dec. 2. They are off to their best start since the 2007-08 season, when they began 17-0.

“All can say is wow, I was just as shocked as everybody else,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “We finally made some 3s and when they came, they came in bunches and that pushed the game away."

Harlond Beverly scored 17 points and Dalen Ridgnal added 15 for Wichita State.

Memphis: After being limited in the first half, Jones had 10 points in the opening three minutes of the second, which sparked a dominant half for the Tigers. Memphis scored 31 points off 18 Wichita State turnovers.

Wichita State: The Shockers got off to a hot start, hitting 8 of 9 to open the game, and ended the half trailing by three. Wichita State shot the ball well in the first half but struggled to continue the pace after the break.

Tomlin made his return to the Sunflower State for the first time since being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-state-wildcats-30904b1f25692c09947ac7fcb57fc129">dismissed from Kansas State</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 6, nearly one month after his arrest for disorderly conduct. Tomlin, who was was arrested following a bar fight in October, committed to Memphis on Dec. 12 and has appeared in six games for the Tigers.

Memphis: Hosts South Florida on Thursday.

Wichita State: Travels to Boca Raton to face Florida Atlantic on Thursday for the first conference meeting between the two schools.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705272822634.png" alt="Tomlin photo courtesy Memphis Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Tomlin photo courtesy Memphis Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Jaykwon Walton and Jahvon Quinerly scored 23 points apiece to lead No. 13 Memphis past Wichita State 112-86 on Sunday for its tenth consecutive win.Walton, who played for Wichita State last season, and Quinerly were two of six players to finish in double-digit scoring for Memphis (15-2, 4-0 American Athletic Conference).The Tigers recorded their most points this season, set a program record with 19 three-pointers and shot a season-high 65% from the floor. It was the first time since 1986 they have scored more than 100 points in back-to-back games.“My biggest takeaway was the 19 3s we made as a team,” Quinerly said. “We shot the ball really well. … To be able to come out here on the road and shoot 19 3s was huge.”Colby Rogers had 20 points to lead Wichita State (8-8, 0-3), which suffered its first loss of the season when scoring more than 80 points.The Tigers held a 49-46 lead at halftime, with both teams shooting 60% from the floor. Wichita State tied the game early after the break, but Memphis erupted for 63 second-half points."We couldn’t get caught up in a shootout, and we did,” Wichita State coach Paul Mills said. “We are not the kind of team that can win those games.”The American's leading scorer, Memphis' David Jones, was held to just two points in the first half, but the Shockers struggled to contain him in the second half. Jones finished with 19 points.Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored 14, Nick Jourdain added 12 and Malcolm Dandridge had 10 for the Tigers, whose last loss came on Dec. 2. They are off to their best start since the 2007-08 season, when they began 17-0.“All can say is wow, I was just as shocked as everybody else,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “We finally made some 3s and when they came, they came in bunches and that pushed the game away."Harlond Beverly scored 17 points and Dalen Ridgnal added 15 for Wichita State.BIG PICTUREMemphis: After being limited in the first half, Jones had 10 points in the opening three minutes of the second, which sparked a dominant half for the Tigers. Memphis scored 31 points off 18 Wichita State turnovers.Wichita State: The Shockers got off to a hot start, hitting 8 of 9 to open the game, and ended the half trailing by three. Wichita State shot the ball well in the first half but struggled to continue the pace after the break.RETURN TO THE SUNFLOWER STATETomlin made his return to the Sunflower State for the first time since being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-state-wildcats-30904b1f25692c09947ac7fcb57fc129">dismissed from Kansas State</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 6, nearly one month after his arrest for disorderly conduct. Tomlin, who was was arrested following a bar fight in October, committed to Memphis on Dec. 12 and has appeared in six games for the Tigers.UP NEXTMemphis: Hosts South Florida on Thursday.Wichita State: Travels to Boca Raton to face Florida Atlantic on Thursday for the first conference meeting between the two schools.

Former Wildcat shines for Memphis in win over Wichita State

WASHINGTON (AP) A jailed member of the Proud Boys extremist group was sentenced on Friday to more than four years in prison for his role in a mob's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;three years ago, court records show.

William Chrestman, a U.S. Army veteran from Olathe, Kansas, brandished an axe handle and threated police with violence after leading other Proud Boys members to the perimeter of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Chrestman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/william-chrestman-guilty-proud-boys-capitol-riot-8f1f528b40bf41dcf9e945a270bdfcac">pleaded guilty in October</a>&nbsp;to obstructing the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College vote. He also pleaded guilty to a second felony count of threatening to assault a federal officer during the Capitol riot.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly sentenced Chrestman to four years and seven months in prison, according to court records.

Prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of five years and three months, arguing that he “played a significant role during the riot due to his presence and conduct at pivotal moments during the day.”

“Indeed, Chrestman regularly presented himself as a leader among the rioters including when he was part of the tip of the spear that created the breach at the Peace Circle, encouraged other rioters to move to the police barricades, told rioters to stop the arrest of a rioter, and thanked them for supporting the Proud Boys,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.228125/gov.uscourts.dcd.228125.232.0.pdf">prosecutors wrote</a>.

Chrestman has been jailed since his arrest in February 2021. He'll get credit for the nearly three years he already has served in custody.

Defense attorney Michael Cronkright argued that Chrestman never used his axe handle “to do anything remotely violent” on Jan. 6.

“To date, the worst thing that the government has asserted is that he used it to touch a security gate that was already going up,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.228130/gov.uscourts.dcd.228130.233.0.pdf">Cronkright wrote</a>.

Chrestman also had a gas mask, a helmet and other tactical gear when he traveled to Washington with other Proud Boys members from the Kansas City, Kansas, area. On Jan. 6, he marched to the Capitol grounds with dozens of other Proud Boys leaders, members and associates.

Chrestman and other Proud Boys moved past a toppled metal barricade and joined other rioters in front of another police barrier. He shouted a threat at officers and yelled at others in the crowd to stop police from arresting another rioter, according to prosecutors.

Facing the crowd, Chrestman shouted, “Whose house is this?”

“Do you want your house back?” Chrestman asked.

Chrestman also pointed his finger at a line of Capitol police officers, gestured at them with his axe handle and threatened to assault them if they fired “pepper ball” rounds at the crowd of rioters,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.228125/gov.uscourts.dcd.228125.202.0.pdf">according to a court filing accompanying his guilty plea</a>.

More than 1,200 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. About 900 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or judge. Over 750 of them have been sentenced, with nearly 500 receiving some term of imprisonment, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">data compiled by The Associated Press</a>.

Dozens of Proud Boys leaders, members and associates have been arrested on Jan. 6 charges. The group's former national chairman, Enrique Tarrio, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">sentenced to 22 years in prison</a>&nbsp;— the longest for a Capitol riot case so far. A jury convicted Tarrio and three lieutenants of seditious conspiracy charges for a failed plot to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 election.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705095370615.png" alt="Photo U.S. Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) A jailed member of the Proud Boys extremist group was sentenced on Friday to more than four years in prison for his role in a mob's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">attack on the U.S. Capitol</a>&nbsp;three years ago, court records show.William Chrestman, a U.S. Army veteran from Olathe, Kansas, brandished an axe handle and threated police with violence after leading other Proud Boys members to the perimeter of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Chrestman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/william-chrestman-guilty-proud-boys-capitol-riot-8f1f528b40bf41dcf9e945a270bdfcac">pleaded guilty in October</a>&nbsp;to obstructing the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College vote. He also pleaded guilty to a second felony count of threatening to assault a federal officer during the Capitol riot.U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly sentenced Chrestman to four years and seven months in prison, according to court records.Prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of five years and three months, arguing that he “played a significant role during the riot due to his presence and conduct at pivotal moments during the day.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613070062571.png" alt="Chrestman from his Feb. 2021 arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Chrestman from his Feb. 2021 arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>“Indeed, Chrestman regularly presented himself as a leader among the rioters including when he was part of the tip of the spear that created the breach at the Peace Circle, encouraged other rioters to move to the police barricades, told rioters to stop the arrest of a rioter, and thanked them for supporting the Proud Boys,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.228125/gov.uscourts.dcd.228125.232.0.pdf">prosecutors wrote</a>.Chrestman has been jailed since his arrest in February 2021. He'll get credit for the nearly three years he already has served in custody.Defense attorney Michael Cronkright argued that Chrestman never used his axe handle “to do anything remotely violent” on Jan. 6.“To date, the worst thing that the government has asserted is that he used it to touch a security gate that was already going up,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.228130/gov.uscourts.dcd.228130.233.0.pdf">Cronkright wrote</a>.Chrestman also had a gas mask, a helmet and other tactical gear when he traveled to Washington with other Proud Boys members from the Kansas City, Kansas, area. On Jan. 6, he marched to the Capitol grounds with dozens of other Proud Boys leaders, members and associates.Chrestman and other Proud Boys moved past a toppled metal barricade and joined other rioters in front of another police barrier. He shouted a threat at officers and yelled at others in the crowd to stop police from arresting another rioter, according to prosecutors.Facing the crowd, Chrestman shouted, “Whose house is this?”“Our house!” the crowd replied.“Do you want your house back?” Chrestman asked.“Yes!” the crowd responded.“Take it!” Chrestman yelled.Chrestman also pointed his finger at a line of Capitol police officers, gestured at them with his axe handle and threatened to assault them if they fired “pepper ball” rounds at the crowd of rioters,&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.228125/gov.uscourts.dcd.228125.202.0.pdf">according to a court filing accompanying his guilty plea</a>.More than 1,200 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. About 900 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or judge. Over 750 of them have been sentenced, with nearly 500 receiving some term of imprisonment, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">data compiled by The Associated Press</a>.Dozens of Proud Boys leaders, members and associates have been arrested on Jan. 6 charges. The group's former national chairman, Enrique Tarrio, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">sentenced to 22 years in prison</a>&nbsp;— the longest for a Capitol riot case so far. A jury convicted Tarrio and three lieutenants of seditious conspiracy charges for a failed plot to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 election.

Proud Boy from Kan. who carried ax handle into Capitol Jan. 6, is sentenced

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a late December homicide have released the name of the victim as 59-year-old Tammie L. Hanson of Topeka.

Just before 6p.m. Jan. 2, police were dispatched to a welfare check in the 600 Block of SW 14th Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.

Upon arrival, the Officers located Hanson who was found deceased. On Jan. 4, police reported they were&nbsp; investigating this death as a homicide and investigators believe the incident occurred sometime on December 28.

Police identified a suspect and arrested 22-year-old as Daniel V. Hesler of Topeka and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges: 1st Degree Murder and robbery, according to online jail records. He is no longer in custody in connection with the crime.

On Jan. 5, police reported their investigation led to a second arrest. Officers located 28-year-old Jordan R. Reynolds Taylor, 28, of Topeka and arrested him on requested charges of 1st Degree Murder and Aggravated Robbery, according to police Lt. Edward Stanley.&nbsp; Reynolds has been listed as a registered sex offender in Kansas since 2015 following a conviction for&nbsp;Aggravated indecent liberties w a 15-year-old victim, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704547559509.png" alt="Reynolds-Taylor-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Reynolds-Taylor-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a late December homicide have released the name of the victim as 59-year-old Tammie L. Hanson of Topeka.Just before 6p.m. Jan. 2, police were dispatched to a welfare check in the 600 Block of SW 14th Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.Upon arrival, the Officers located Hanson who was found deceased. On Jan. 4, police reported they were&nbsp; investigating this death as a homicide and investigators believe the incident occurred sometime on December 28.Police identified a suspect and arrested 22-year-old as Daniel V. Hesler of Topeka and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges: 1st Degree Murder and robbery, according to online jail records. He is no longer in custody in connection with the crime.On Jan. 5, police reported their investigation led to a second arrest. Officers located 28-year-old Jordan R. Reynolds Taylor, 28, of Topeka and arrested him on requested charges of 1st Degree Murder and Aggravated Robbery, according to police Lt. Edward Stanley.&nbsp; Reynolds has been listed as a registered sex offender in Kansas since 2015 following a conviction for&nbsp;Aggravated indecent liberties w a 15-year-old victim, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Homicide: Police ID Kan. woman who died; sex offender in custody

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER&nbsp;Salina Post

SALINE COUNTY —Salina Police Department officers arrested one of the suspects who allegedly burglarized the Hideaway Bar early on Monday.

Salina police captain James Feldman said officers identified one of the suspects who committed the burglary through their investigations and a tip from the community.

At 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, officers conducted a traffic stop with 44-year-old Patrick Hull Jr. in the 400 block of State Street after identifying his vehicle.

"We did two search warrants at his residence in Salina," Feldman said. "The investigation is continuing, and we hope to make further arrests."

Feldman said Hull did not resist arrest during the traffic stop, and&nbsp; officers requested charges for burglary, two counts of felony theft, two counts of damage to property and driving while suspended.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704979929297.png" alt="Hull -photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Hull -photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER&nbsp;Salina PostSALINE COUNTY —Salina Police Department officers arrested one of the suspects who allegedly burglarized the Hideaway Bar early on Monday.Salina police captain James Feldman said officers identified one of the suspects who committed the burglary through their investigations and a tip from the community.At 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, officers conducted a traffic stop with 44-year-old Patrick Hull Jr. in the 400 block of State Street after identifying his vehicle."We did two search warrants at his residence in Salina," Feldman said. "The investigation is continuing, and we hope to make further arrests."Feldman said Hull did not resist arrest during the traffic stop, and&nbsp; officers requested charges for burglary, two counts of felony theft, two counts of damage to property and driving while suspended.

Tip from community helps in arrest of Kansas burglary suspect

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after an arrest.

This week, a police officer was proactively patrolling in Lenexa when he stopped to investigate a suspicious car parked in a hotel parking lot around 95th and I-35 highway, according to a social media report from Lenexa Police.

During the officer's investigation, he was able to learn that the car was stolen and also identified a couple of suspects who were staying at the hotel.

While officers were investigating the matter, the two suspects were located outside the hotel. Officers detained one suspect, but a female suspect stole another vehicle and drove off, nearly striking officers. 

A short time later, officers located that vehicle abandoned near 92nd and Antioch in Overland Park. 

Together, Lenexa and Overland Park officers worked to secure a perimeter in the area with the hopes the female suspect would "hunker down" and hide. 

Officers used a police K9 and drone to search the area, while rain and snow began falling. A Lenexa detective eventually located the woman hiding in a vehicle.

The Johnson County District Attorney's Office has since charged the male suspect with identity theft, theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The female was also charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of methamphetamine, felony theft, and interference with law enforcement. 

Additionally. officers also uncovered evidence of check fraud occurring by one of the suspects.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704996942621.png" alt="Image Lenexa Police" />
 <figcaption>Image Lenexa Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after an arrest.This week, a police officer was proactively patrolling in Lenexa when he stopped to investigate a suspicious car parked in a hotel parking lot around 95th and I-35 highway, according to a social media report from Lenexa Police.During the officer's investigation, he was able to learn that the car was stolen and also identified a couple of suspects who were staying at the hotel.While officers were investigating the matter, the two suspects were located outside the hotel. Officers detained one suspect, but a female suspect stole another vehicle and drove off, nearly striking officers. A short time later, officers located that vehicle abandoned near 92nd and Antioch in Overland Park. Together, Lenexa and Overland Park officers worked to secure a perimeter in the area with the hopes the female suspect would "hunker down" and hide. Officers used a police K9 and drone to search the area, while rain and snow began falling. A Lenexa detective eventually located the woman hiding in a vehicle.The Johnson County District Attorney's Office has since charged the male suspect with identity theft, theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The female was also charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, possession of methamphetamine, felony theft, and interference with law enforcement. Additionally. officers also uncovered evidence of check fraud occurring by one of the suspects.

Wanted woman nearly struck Kan. officer with stolen vehicle

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man captured in Mexico is going to prison for a double-murder in Kansas. This week, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 37-year-old Kyle Young to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

In October, Young plead guilty to the murder of&nbsp;22-year-old Alicia Roman and 27-year-old George Kirksey, according to the district attorney's office.

In the early morning of January 2, 2020, police responded to a shooting call at the Hotel at WaterWalk in the 700 block of South Main, in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.

Upon arrival, officers located the bodies of Roman and Kirksey with multiple gunshot wounds, according to Wheeler.

The investigation revealed that Roman and Kirksey were inside of the hotel room when a suspect identified as Young entered the room and fired multiple shots, striking them and then he ran from the scene.

Investigators learned of Young's involvement and six months later located him in Mexico and made an arrest, according to Wheeler.

According to court documents Young was upset that his former girlfriend had moved on and found someone else. Young will be eligible for parole consideration after he serves 100-years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593795027094.png" alt="Young-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Young-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man captured in Mexico is going to prison for a double-murder in Kansas. This week, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 37-year-old Kyle Young to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;In October, Young plead guilty to the murder of&nbsp;22-year-old Alicia Roman and 27-year-old George Kirksey, according to the district attorney's office.In the early morning of January 2, 2020, police responded to a shooting call at the Hotel at WaterWalk in the 700 block of South Main, in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.Upon arrival, officers located the bodies of Roman and Kirksey with multiple gunshot wounds, according to Wheeler.The investigation revealed that Roman and Kirksey were inside of the hotel room when a suspect identified as Young entered the room and fired multiple shots, striking them and then he ran from the scene.Investigators learned of Young's involvement and six months later located him in Mexico and made an arrest, according to Wheeler.According to court documents Young was upset that his former girlfriend had moved on and found someone else. Young will be eligible for parole consideration after he serves 100-years.

Man captured in Mexico killed ex-girlfriend at Kansas hotel

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an altercation on the KU campus.

Around 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the area of Missouri Street and Fambrough Drive after a man identified as a Lawrence resident, allegedly engaged in a confrontation with workers at the University of Kansas football facility construction site, according to a media release from police. The man also attempted to stab at least one person.

The 41-year-old man brandished a knife and threatened multiple people in the area. The man initially refused to comply with responding officers’ commands, and only submitted to arrest after being threatened with less-lethal devices. 

The man was safely arrested and transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility and booked in on suspicion of multiple counts of Aggravated Assault. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

  The University of Kansas Police Department assisted LKPD with the investigation.&nbsp; Police did not release the suspect's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704997725441.png" alt="Camera view image of the construction site on Thursday." />
 <figcaption>Camera view image of the construction site on Thursday.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an altercation on the KU campus.Around 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the area of Missouri Street and Fambrough Drive after a man identified as a Lawrence resident, allegedly engaged in a confrontation with workers at the University of Kansas football facility construction site, according to a media release from police. The man also attempted to stab at least one person.The 41-year-old man brandished a knife and threatened multiple people in the area. The man initially refused to comply with responding officers’ commands, and only submitted to arrest after being threatened with less-lethal devices. The man was safely arrested and transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility and booked in on suspicion of multiple counts of Aggravated Assault. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The University of Kansas Police Department assisted LKPD with the investigation.&nbsp; Police did not release the suspect's name.

Police: Man threatened workers at KU stadium construction site with a knife

LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a standoff with police.

Just after 11p.m. Tuesday, 43-year-old Daniel Olivarez is alleged to have forcibly entered a home in southeast Emporia, according to Police Captain Ray Mattas. 

Olivarez was armed with a handgun and held the victims in the residence until approximately 8a.m. the next day. Olivarez then had a victim drive him to another location in south central Emporia and drop him off at a residence. 

Police located Olivarez in a shed in the backyard of that residence. He initially refused to come out of the shed. A standoff ensued and lasted approximately 3 ½ hours. He eventually surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody. Police also located the handgun on the scene. 

Olivarez was placed under arrest and taken to the Lyon County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Robbery, Violation of a PFA, Criminal Threat, and Interference with Law Enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704926471708.png" alt="OLIVAREZ-photo Lyon County" />
 <figcaption>OLIVAREZ-photo Lyon County</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a standoff with police.Just after 11p.m. Tuesday, 43-year-old Daniel Olivarez is alleged to have forcibly entered a home in southeast Emporia, according to Police Captain Ray Mattas. Olivarez was armed with a handgun and held the victims in the residence until approximately 8a.m. the next day. Olivarez then had a victim drive him to another location in south central Emporia and drop him off at a residence. Police located Olivarez in a shed in the backyard of that residence. He initially refused to come out of the shed. A standoff ensued and lasted approximately 3 ½ hours. He eventually surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody. Police also located the handgun on the scene. Olivarez was placed under arrest and taken to the Lyon County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Robbery, Violation of a PFA, Criminal Threat, and Interference with Law Enforcement.

Police: Man accused of Kansas home-invasion kidnapping 

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;made a surprise visit to a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday as Republicans were taking the first step toward holding President Joe Biden's son in contempt of Congress for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-investigation-impeachment-0226bb1041d7b5c10bc8c33e5d98b5e0">defying a congressional subpoena</a>&nbsp;in a bitterly contested standoff

The arrival of president's son arrival at the Oversight Committee, sitting in the audience with his legal team, including attorney Abbe Lowell, sent the panel that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-impeachment-inquiry-mike-johnson-94884b322da40ca9315ac5f4e73a3e86">is working to impeach President Biden</a>&nbsp;into a political frenzy.

One Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, insisted that Hunter Biden be quickly arrested. GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called him a coward as he left during her remarks. Democratic lawmakers argued that Biden, who has refused to testify to the panel behind closed doors, should be allowed to speak publicly.

Hunter Biden has defended his lack of compliance with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-joe-biden-impeachment-congress-subpoena-37fe9652539c2c501d8b8bd8c3cc8901">the GOP-issued subpoena</a>, which ordered him to appear for closed-door testimony in mid-December. Biden and his attorneys said information from private interviews can be selectively leaked and manipulated by House Republicans and insisted that he would only testify in public

On Wednesday, Committee Chairman James Comer struggled to regain control. “Mr. Biden doesn’t make the rules, we make the rules,” he said.

The House Oversight and Judiciary committees will each vote on contempt resolutions that seem likely to result in the U.S. House recommending criminal charges as Republicans move into the final stages of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-impeachment-inquiry-mike-johnson-94884b322da40ca9315ac5f4e73a3e86">impeachment inquiry into the president himself.</a>

It's the latest step for the inquiry, which began in September, but has so far failed to uncover evidence directly implicating the president in wrongdoing involving his son's business dealings.

If the committees approve the contempt resolutions as expected, they will go to the full House for consideration. And if the House votes to hold Hunter Biden in contempt, it will be up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-steve-bannon-merrick-garland-adam-schiff-subpoenas-7051b957a80ef6a5f84016124b00682f">the Department of Justice to decide</a>&nbsp;whether to prosecute.

The contempt referral would be yet another headache for federal prosecutors already under heavy scrutiny for their handling of charges against Hunter Biden related to his taxes and gun use.

Shelving the contempt of Congress charges would likely further stoke conservative criticism that the Justice Department is politicized — especially given that two one-time advisers to former President Donald Trump were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-steve-bannon-congress-donald-trump-sentencing-36d412eba9e1609a030859852378ae3d">prosecuted</a>&nbsp;for contempt of Congress by the Biden administration. But prosecuting contempt cases can be difficult.

“It’s clear the Republican chairmen aren’t interested in getting the facts or they would allow Hunter to testify publicly,” Hunter Biden’s attorney, Lowell, said in a statement Friday. “Instead, House Republicans continue to play politics by seeking an unprecedented contempt motion against someone who has from the first request offered to answer all their proper questions.”

Further angering Republicans, Hunter Biden did come to the Capitol on the day specified by the subpoena — but not to testify. Instead, he stood behind microphones outside the U.S. Capitol complex — a couple hundred feet away from the awaiting GOP investigators — and delivered a rare public statement defending his business affairs and castigating the yearslong investigations into him and his family.

“There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen,” the president's son said in those remarks.

He added, "There is no fairness or decency in what these Republicans are doing — they have lied over and over about every aspect of my personal and professional life — so much so that their lies have become the false facts believed by too many people.

After delivering the statement to the media, Hunter Biden left the Capitol grounds.

The contempt resolution, released by Republicans on Monday, reads, “Mr. Biden’s flagrant defiance of the Committees’ deposition subpoenas — while choosing to appear nearby on the Capitol grounds to read a prepared statement on the same matters — is contemptuous, and he must be held accountable for his unlawful actions.”

While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president, they have taken particular interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;and his overseas business dealings, questioning whether the president profited from that work.

Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations that there has been political interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden.

The committees' votes Wednesday on contempt of Congress come a day before Hunter Biden is scheduled to make his first court appearance on tax charges filed by a special counsel in Los Angeles. He is facing three felony and six misdemeanor counts, including filing a false return, tax evasion, failure to file and failure to pay.

His lawyer has accused David Weiss, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-david-weiss-congress-republicans-aed25541b709a57371cdfe1582be0c5a">special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the yearslong case, of “bowing to Republican pressure” by bringing the charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704904282755.png" alt="After delivering the statement to the media, Hunter Biden left the Capitol grounds.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>After delivering the statement to the media, Hunter Biden left the Capitol grounds.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;made a surprise visit to a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday as Republicans were taking the first step toward holding President Joe Biden's son in contempt of Congress for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-investigation-impeachment-0226bb1041d7b5c10bc8c33e5d98b5e0">defying a congressional subpoena</a>&nbsp;in a bitterly contested standoff<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepNancyMace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepNancyMace</a>: &quot;Who bribed Hunter Biden to be here today? That&#39;s my first question. Second question, you are the epitome of white privilege...what are you afraid of? You have no balls to come up here...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Wd9WbMP5bJ">pic.twitter.com/Wd9WbMP5bJ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1745104946377154656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The arrival of president's son arrival at the Oversight Committee, sitting in the audience with his legal team, including attorney Abbe Lowell, sent the panel that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-impeachment-inquiry-mike-johnson-94884b322da40ca9315ac5f4e73a3e86">is working to impeach President Biden</a>&nbsp;into a political frenzy.One Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, insisted that Hunter Biden be quickly arrested. GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called him a coward as he left during her remarks. Democratic lawmakers argued that Biden, who has refused to testify to the panel behind closed doors, should be allowed to speak publicly.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepMoskowitz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepMoskowitz</a> while Hunter Biden was in the room: &quot;Let&#39;s vote. Let&#39;s take a vote. Who wants to hear from Hunter right now, today? Anyone?&quot; He continues, &quot;There&#39;s no one, other than one or two, that want to hear from the witness... with the American people watching.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/6HWZiFcsha">pic.twitter.com/6HWZiFcsha</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1745118848297177100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Hunter Biden has defended his lack of compliance with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-joe-biden-impeachment-congress-subpoena-37fe9652539c2c501d8b8bd8c3cc8901">the GOP-issued subpoena</a>, which ordered him to appear for closed-door testimony in mid-December. Biden and his attorneys said information from private interviews can be selectively leaked and manipulated by House Republicans and insisted that he would only testify in publicOn Wednesday, Committee Chairman James Comer struggled to regain control. “Mr. Biden doesn’t make the rules, we make the rules,” he said.The House Oversight and Judiciary committees will each vote on contempt resolutions that seem likely to result in the U.S. House recommending criminal charges as Republicans move into the final stages of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-impeachment-inquiry-mike-johnson-94884b322da40ca9315ac5f4e73a3e86">impeachment inquiry into the president himself.</a>It's the latest step for the inquiry, which began in September, but has so far failed to uncover evidence directly implicating the president in wrongdoing involving his son's business dealings.If the committees approve the contempt resolutions as expected, they will go to the full House for consideration. And if the House votes to hold Hunter Biden in contempt, it will be up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-steve-bannon-merrick-garland-adam-schiff-subpoenas-7051b957a80ef6a5f84016124b00682f">the Department of Justice to decide</a>&nbsp;whether to prosecute.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hunter Biden departs hearing.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepMTG</a>: &quot;I think it&#39;s clear and obvious for everyone watching this hearing today that Hunter Biden is terrified of strong conservative Republican women because he can&#39;t even face my words as I was about to speak to him. What a coward.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/MaIkmDIMbv">pic.twitter.com/MaIkmDIMbv</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1745108433072804071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The contempt referral would be yet another headache for federal prosecutors already under heavy scrutiny for their handling of charges against Hunter Biden related to his taxes and gun use.Shelving the contempt of Congress charges would likely further stoke conservative criticism that the Justice Department is politicized — especially given that two one-time advisers to former President Donald Trump were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-steve-bannon-congress-donald-trump-sentencing-36d412eba9e1609a030859852378ae3d">prosecuted</a>&nbsp;for contempt of Congress by the Biden administration. But prosecuting contempt cases can be difficult.“It’s clear the Republican chairmen aren’t interested in getting the facts or they would allow Hunter to testify publicly,” Hunter Biden’s attorney, Lowell, said in a statement Friday. “Instead, House Republicans continue to play politics by seeking an unprecedented contempt motion against someone who has from the first request offered to answer all their proper questions.”He added, “What are they afraid of?”Further angering Republicans, Hunter Biden did come to the Capitol on the day specified by the subpoena — but not to testify. Instead, he stood behind microphones outside the U.S. Capitol complex — a couple hundred feet away from the awaiting GOP investigators — and delivered a rare public statement defending his business affairs and castigating the yearslong investigations into him and his family.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Hunter Biden news conference. <a href="https://t.co/MovQT3qMLJ">pic.twitter.com/MovQT3qMLJ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1735054990631125216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen,” the president's son said in those remarks.He added, "There is no fairness or decency in what these Republicans are doing — they have lied over and over about every aspect of my personal and professional life — so much so that their lies have become the false facts believed by too many people.After delivering the statement to the media, Hunter Biden left the Capitol grounds.The contempt resolution, released by Republicans on Monday, reads, “Mr. Biden’s flagrant defiance of the Committees’ deposition subpoenas — while choosing to appear nearby on the Capitol grounds to read a prepared statement on the same matters — is contemptuous, and he must be held accountable for his unlawful actions.”While Republicans say their inquiry is ultimately focused on the president, they have taken particular interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;and his overseas business dealings, questioning whether the president profited from that work.Republicans have also focused a large part of their investigation on whistleblower allegations that there has been political interference in the long-running Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden.The committees' votes Wednesday on contempt of Congress come a day before Hunter Biden is scheduled to make his first court appearance on tax charges filed by a special counsel in Los Angeles. He is facing three felony and six misdemeanor counts, including filing a false return, tax evasion, failure to file and failure to pay.His lawyer has accused David Weiss, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-david-weiss-congress-republicans-aed25541b709a57371cdfe1582be0c5a">special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the yearslong case, of “bowing to Republican pressure” by bringing the charges.

🎥Capitol Hill chaos: Hunter Biden makes surprise appearance at hearing

CHASE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating five Louisiana men on drug allegations after a weekend arrest during their hunting trip to Kansas.

Just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, deputies stopped a vehicle near mile marker 336 on Highway 50, according to a media release from the Chase County Sheriff's office. The traffic stop led to an application for a search warrant at a home in Cottonwood Falls. After an investigation, deputies found illegal drugs at the home and arrested five men who were on a hunting trip in Kansas. 

Christopher Phillips, 24, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of transporting an open container, interference with an investigation and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 Robert Phillips, 30 and Webb Phillips, 27, both of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession and interference with an investigation.

Hayden Lowery, 23, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of Possession of Depressants, drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.

Max Grabert, 24, New Iberia, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of Possession of hallucinogenic drug, opiates, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, interference with an investigation and no drug tax stamp.

Grabert is the only suspect who remains in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704807181340.png" alt="Phillips-photo Chase Co." />
 <figcaption>Phillips-photo Chase Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>CHASE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating five Louisiana men on drug allegations after a weekend arrest during their hunting trip to Kansas.Just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, deputies stopped a vehicle near mile marker 336 on Highway 50, according to a media release from the Chase County Sheriff's office. The traffic stop led to an application for a search warrant at a home in Cottonwood Falls. After an investigation, deputies found illegal drugs at the home and arrested five men who were on a hunting trip in Kansas. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704807271976.png" alt="Robert Phillips-photo Chase Co." />
 <figcaption>Robert Phillips-photo Chase Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Christopher Phillips, 24, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of transporting an open container, interference with an investigation and possession of drug paraphernalia. Robert Phillips, 30 and Webb Phillips, 27, both of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession and interference with an investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704807318575.png" alt="Webb Phillips-photo Chase Co." />
 <figcaption>Webb Phillips-photo Chase Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704807352243.png" alt="Lowery-photo Chase Co." />
 <figcaption>Lowery-photo Chase Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Hayden Lowery, 23, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of Possession of Depressants, drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704807582286.png" alt="Grabert-photo Chase Co." />
 <figcaption>Grabert-photo Chase Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Max Grabert, 24, New Iberia, Louisiana, was jailed on requested charges of Possession of hallucinogenic drug, opiates, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, interference with an investigation and no drug tax stamp.Grabert is the only suspect who remains in custody, according to online jail records.

Men on Kansas hunting trip jailed on drug allegations

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two teen suspects on multiple allegations after a weekend arrest.

Just after 11a.m. January 6, sheriff's&nbsp;deputies were dispatched to TJ’s Express, 5305 South Topeka Blvd. in Shawnee County on a report of a burglary that&nbsp; occurred overnight. 

During the investigation Deputies located footprints in the snow going away from the business. Deputies were able to follow the footprints to the suspect's home in the 6800 block of south west Knoll Court. 

At the home deputies located items from this burglary as well as items from a burglary that occurred at the Pauline Food Center, 5812 South Topeka Blvd., on December 2.

Deputies arrested Jayden J. Hanner, 17, and Matthew K. Rodenbaugh, 16, both of Topeka, and booked them into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of burglary, theft and felony criminal damage to property.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two teen suspects on multiple allegations after a weekend arrest.Just after 11a.m. January 6, sheriff's&nbsp;deputies were dispatched to TJ’s Express, 5305 South Topeka Blvd. in Shawnee County on a report of a burglary that&nbsp; occurred overnight. During the investigation Deputies located footprints in the snow going away from the business. Deputies were able to follow the footprints to the suspect's home in the 6800 block of south west Knoll Court. At the home deputies located items from this burglary as well as items from a burglary that occurred at the Pauline Food Center, 5812 South Topeka Blvd., on December 2.Deputies arrested Jayden J. Hanner, 17, and Matthew K. Rodenbaugh, 16, both of Topeka, and booked them into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of burglary, theft and felony criminal damage to property.

Kan. deputies followed teens' footprints in the snow, make arrest

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 46-year-0ld John W. Bartrom, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle. Bartrom is the founder of Jericho Home Improvement in Kansas City, according to his website.

Just after midnight Saturday, officers responded to 62nd and Prospect on a medical call, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders found Bartrom lying in a parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;The incident is being investigated as a homicide. Police has not reported an arrest or possible suspects.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704631133794.png" alt="photo Sheriff Darly Forte'" />
 <figcaption>photo Sheriff Darly Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 46-year-0ld John W. Bartrom, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle. Bartrom is the founder of Jericho Home Improvement in Kansas City, according to his website.Just after midnight Saturday, officers responded to 62nd and Prospect on a medical call, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders found Bartrom lying in a parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;The incident is being investigated as a homicide. Police has not reported an arrest or possible suspects.

Police ID KC business owner as victim in deadly shooting

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman for an alleged violent altercation.

Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, Salina police responded to a call from out of state about a disturbance at a residence in the 1400 Block of Derby Street in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.

The out of state caller reported that while she was on an earlier call to the residence, 29-year-old Jecsi Kent and the victim began arguing and it escalated.

During that argument, the victim was stabbed in the right leg with a barbecue fork, according to Feldman. Officers made contact with Kent, and she was arrested on requested charges of aggravated battery, domestic battery, and criminal damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704721993829.png" alt="Kent photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Kent photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman for an alleged violent altercation.Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, Salina police responded to a call from out of state about a disturbance at a residence in the 1400 Block of Derby Street in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.The out of state caller reported that while she was on an earlier call to the residence, 29-year-old Jecsi Kent and the victim began arguing and it escalated.During that argument, the victim was stabbed in the right leg with a barbecue fork, according to Feldman. Officers made contact with Kent, and she was arrested on requested charges of aggravated battery, domestic battery, and criminal damage to property..

Police: Kan. woman stabbed man in the leg with a barbecue fork

NEW YORK (AP) — For nearly two decades, journalists, police detectives, FBI agents, lawyers and amateur sleuths have pried into the depraved world of Jeffrey Epstein.

Yet even after the release of thousands of pages of court records in recent days, some questions about the millionaire pedophile remain unanswered. The documents have gotten a lot of attention, but they shed little new light on the financier’s habitual sexual abuse of underage girls.

<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4355835/giuffre-v-maxwell/">Click here </a>to read the documents released 1/8/24 (caution adult content)

More than anything, the public is still fascinated with the possibility that some of the rich and powerful men in Epstein's social circle were also involved in the abuse.

Here's a look at what we know — and what we don't — about Epstein and his crimes:

Epstein first began getting media attention in 2002 after news organizations, including The Associated Press, covered a trip to Africa by former President Bill Clinton, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Chris Tucker. The five-day tour of Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa was intended to draw attention to the fight against AIDS.

After the visit, New York magazine ran a profile of the man who provided the private jet for the trip: Jeffrey Epstein. The story portrayed him as an “international moneyman of mystery,” who cultivated relationships with Nobel Prize-winning scientists and diplomats but puzzled Wall Street insiders who couldn't figure out how a college dropout got so rich.

“Terrific guy,” Epstein's neighbor in both Florida and New York, Donald Trump, said in the story. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

Those celebrity contacts made it big news when Epstein was arrested in 2006 over allegations that he had hired multiple teenage girls to give him sexualized massages at his home in Palm Beach, Florida.

Two years later, prosecutors allowed Epstein to plead guilty to a charge involving a single victim. He served 13 months in a jail work-release program, then quietly started rebuilding his network of influential friends, with the help of his socialite former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

After a series of Miami Herald stories about the plea bargain that deprived Epstein's victims of justice, federal prosecutors in New York revived the investigation and charged Epstein in 2019 with sex trafficking.

When Epstein killed himself in jail, prosecutors charged Maxwell with facilitating his illicit sexual encounters and participating in some of the abuse. She was convicted and is serving a 20-year prison term.

In 2009, one of Epstein's victims, Virginia Giuffre, filed a lawsuit saying he had flown her around the world for sexual encounters with billionaires, politicians, royals and heads of state.

She initially kept the names of those men secret, but in later legal filings started providing names: Britain's Prince Andrew, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, the French modeling scout Jean Luc Brunel, the billionaire Glenn Dubin and the law professor Alan Dershowitz, who had represented Epstein.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704416234390.png" alt="FILE —&nbsp; A photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell&nbsp; shown during a news conference, July 2, 2020, in New York. While some previously sealed court records are indeed being made public, the great majority of the people whose names appear in those documents are not accused of any wrongdoing. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE —&nbsp; A photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell&nbsp; shown during a news conference, July 2, 2020, in New York. While some previously sealed court records are indeed being made public, the great majority of the people whose names appear in those documents are not accused of any wrongdoing. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — For nearly two decades, journalists, police detectives, FBI agents, lawyers and amateur sleuths have pried into the depraved world of Jeffrey Epstein.Yet even after the release of thousands of pages of court records in recent days, some questions about the millionaire pedophile remain unanswered. The documents have gotten a lot of attention, but they shed little new light on the financier’s habitual sexual abuse of underage girls.<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4355835/giuffre-v-maxwell/">Click here </a>to read the documents released 1/8/24 (caution adult content)More than anything, the public is still fascinated with the possibility that some of the rich and powerful men in Epstein's social circle were also involved in the abuse.Here's a look at what we know — and what we don't — about Epstein and his crimes:JETSETTER TO CONVICTEpstein first began getting media attention in 2002 after news organizations, including The Associated Press, covered a trip to Africa by former President Bill Clinton, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Chris Tucker. The five-day tour of Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa was intended to draw attention to the fight against AIDS.After the visit, New York magazine ran a profile of the man who provided the private jet for the trip: Jeffrey Epstein. The story portrayed him as an “international moneyman of mystery,” who cultivated relationships with Nobel Prize-winning scientists and diplomats but puzzled Wall Street insiders who couldn't figure out how a college dropout got so rich.“Terrific guy,” Epstein's neighbor in both Florida and New York, Donald Trump, said in the story. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”Those celebrity contacts made it big news when Epstein was arrested in 2006 over allegations that he had hired multiple teenage girls to give him sexualized massages at his home in Palm Beach, Florida.Two years later, prosecutors allowed Epstein to plead guilty to a charge involving a single victim. He served 13 months in a jail work-release program, then quietly started rebuilding his network of influential friends, with the help of his socialite former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.After a series of Miami Herald stories about the plea bargain that deprived Epstein's victims of justice, federal prosecutors in New York revived the investigation and charged Epstein in 2019 with sex trafficking.When Epstein killed himself in jail, prosecutors charged Maxwell with facilitating his illicit sexual encounters and participating in some of the abuse. She was convicted and is serving a 20-year prison term.WAS ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED?In 2009, one of Epstein's victims, Virginia Giuffre, filed a lawsuit saying he had flown her around the world for sexual encounters with billionaires, politicians, royals and heads of state.She initially kept the names of those men secret, but in later legal filings started providing names: Britain's Prince Andrew, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, the French modeling scout Jean Luc Brunel, the billionaire Glenn Dubin and the law professor Alan Dershowitz, who had represented Epstein.Some details of Giuffre's allegations have changed over time. She initially said she was 15 when Epstein began to abuse her, but she later acknowledged that she met him the summer she turned 17.In 2022, she withdrew her allegations against Dershowitz, saying she “may have made a mistake” in identifying him as one of her abusers. She said she “was very young at the time” and “it was a very stressful and traumatic environment.”In one newspaper interview, for which Giuffre was paid $160,000, she described dancing with Prince Andrew at a club but said there was no sexual contact. Later, she said they had three sexual encounters. She said the newspaper had refused to print those allegations.In another interview, she described riding in a helicopter with Bill Clinton and flirting with Donald Trump, but she later said in a deposition that those things hadn't happened and were mistakes by the reporter.Giuffre's allegations have been investigated by the FBI. No charges have been brought based on her claims, but because of the attention generated by them Brunel was investigated in France and charged with raping other underage girls. He killed himself while awaiting trial.Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor in 2020, Geoffrey Berman, sought to speak with Prince Andrew about matters related to Epstein, but the royal declined to be interviewed. Berman blasted Andrew at the time for falsely portraying himself to the public as eager to cooperate when he was actually dodging questions.Andrew has repeatedly denied having sex with Giuffre and said he couldn’t recall ever meeting her, though a photograph appears to show them together, and a member of Epstein's household staff also testified about seeing the two at Epstein's home in New York.Many of the documents unsealed in recent days involve efforts by Maxwell's lawyers to discredit Giuffre, and Giuffre's lawyers' efforts to gather evidence backing up her accounts.The records released in the case have contained scant evidence of wrongdoing by famous figures, but testimony from multiple witnesses confirmed Giuffre's accounts of Epstein's sexual misconduct.DEATH BEHIND BARSAny chance that Epstein himself might have been able to answer questions about his famous friends died with him at a federal detention center in Manhattan in August 2019.The death, a month after he was arrested, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-a1ef16a612bd4130a18479c01bd72586">fueled conspiracy theories</a>. But multiple investigations, including an autopsy and FBI probe, have concluded Epstein died by suicide.Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-department-of-justice-investigation-50c229b7953096f0301bfa1e7f0b7703">Inspector General Michael Horowitz said in a June report</a>&nbsp;that Epstein was able to take his own life because of “negligence, misconduct and outright job performance failures” within the jail.The Metropolitan Correctional Center&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-7f6797153ee7fa391731af9cf7c93603">was shut down in 2021</a>&nbsp;amid concerns about squalid conditions, COVID-19, crumbling infrastructure and lingering questions about Epstein's death.Overworked officers assigned to guard Epstein had failed to recognize he had amassed a surplus of bed linens. After a first suspected suicide attempt, jail officials left him alone and never assigned him a new cellmate.On the night Epstein died, officers sat at desks just 15 feet (4.6 meters) from his cell, shopping online and snoozing instead of making required rounds every 30 minutes, prosecutors said.The day before Epstein killed himself, a federal court unsealed about 2,000 pages of records in Giuffre's lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell — the same case involved in the records released in recent days.That, combined with a lack of significant interpersonal connections and “the idea of potentially spending his life in prison were likely factors contributing to Mr. Epstein’s suicide,” prison officials wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">documents obtained by The Associated Press</a>.Whether Epstein would have ever been keen to answer questions to clear up some of the mysteries surrounding his life is a different story. In a 2016 deposition in Giuffre’s lawsuit, he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.WHAT’S NEXTThe document dump isn’t over yet. So far, 191 of the approximately 250 files that U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska authorized for release have been made public. Lawyers involved in the case are posting them to the docket on a rolling basis, as per the judge’s instructions.Another batch is expected Monday, though there is little indication they will yield more than what has already been seen in the nearly 3,000 pages of deposition transcripts, legal memos, emails and other records made public since Wednesday.Versions of many of those records had already been made public in past years, though with some sections blacked out for privacy reasons or to protect the identities of Epstein's victims.