Plan Would Allow Child Abuse Charges Mothers whose newborns have illegal drugs in their systems would be charged with child abuse under a law proposed Wednesday by Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. County prosecutors receive at least two to four inquiries a month from police investigating cases of babies born on drugs, but the problem is probably on a greater scale because most police officers know nothing can be done, said Patty Stevens, who runs the county attorney's Family Violence Bureau. [continues 303 words]
It's not your father's weed. Canadian-grown "B.C. Bud" is the latest variety of marijuana that teens are using. It is four to 12 times more potent than Mexican, naturally grown marijuana, and it could be coming to a high school near you, police warn. With the higher potency comes a higher price. A pound of B.C. Bud costs between $3,500 and $4,500, compared with $400 to $1,000 for Mexican marijuana. And with that higher price comes an increased risk of violence associated with its sale - typically done by young, white males living in the north East Valley, including Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, police said. [continues 268 words]
John Wigglesworth's hopes for early release from prison soared when a state board recommended in 1995 that his life sentence on drug charges be reduced to eight years. His hopes were dashed two months later when then-Gov. Fife Symington decided that he deserved life. Instead of a potential release date of Dec. 8, 2001, Wigglesworth was looking at jail with no parole until 2018. He was not alone. Wigglesworth was one of an estimated 2,000 inmates who applied to the board for clemency. The panel had been established by lawmakers to review sentences under the state's mandatory sentencing law. [continues 670 words]
