Pastor accused of impregnating New Jersey church member and 5 more legal cases
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Thousands of legal cases reach U.S. courts every year. From accusations of mistreatment in prisons to fraud to sexual abuse and beyond, here are some of the latest from across the country.
Fugitive with fake name found in Georgia escaped custody in Caribbean, feds say
A man accused of murder in Saint Lucia, Orville Andrew Pernell, was found in Georgia after escaping custody in the Caribbean twice, according to federal prosecutors. Pernell, who is accused of entering the U.S. under a fake name, has been indicted on a federal firearm charge in Atlanta, prosecutors say. He is expected to be extradited to Saint Lucia after his U.S. case is resolved, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. | Published May 12 | Read More
17-year-old tased by cop paralyzed, suit says. FL sheriff’s office pays millions
A 17-year-old was paralyzed after being tased by a Palm Beach County deputy in Florida, according to a lawsuit. The sheriff’s office settled the case for $5.5 million but declined to comment on the settlement. The lawsuit argues the incident is part of a larger pattern of excessive force by deputies. | Published May 12 | Read More
Pastor abuses, impregnates NJ church member, tells her to get abortion, feds say
Federal prosecutors say a self-proclaimed New Jersey pastor, Treva Edwards, physically and sexually abused a church member and forced her and other church members into unpaid labor. Edwards faces charges of sex trafficking and forced labor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. His wife is also charged in the case, prosecutors say. The couple is accused of manipulating church members through fear and religious rhetoric. | Published May 13 | Read More
Nurse lied 3 times about visiting VA patient who died at Texas hospital, feds say
Christiana Ogbonnaya, a former nurse at a Houston veterans’ hospital, is accused of lying about checking on a patient who later died. Ogbonnaya has been indicted on a charge of creating false government records, federal prosecutors say. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison, according to prosecutors. | Published May 13 | Read More
Cop sexually assaults injured teen after pretending he’d help in GA, suit says
A lawsuit against former Atlanta officer Anthony L. Anderson says he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl after she crashed her car and needed help. Anderson, who was charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated sexual battery, is serving a six-year prison sentence. The lawsuit accuses the Atlanta Police Department of having a history of officers involved in sexual misconduct and seeks over $250,000 in damages. | Published May 15 | Read More
Man with faulty car light was killed by WA deputy, suit says. Family owed $3.5M
A wrongful death lawsuit says Jenoah Donald was shot by a Clark County deputy in Washington after being pulled over for a faulty taillight. Now, the case has been settled for $3.5 million after Donald’s mother sought accountability and justice, according to the family’s attorneys. The lawsuit argues that the deputy used excessive force. | Published May 16 | Read More
McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuits and legal cases from around the country. Check back for more legal stories.
This story was originally published May 16, 2025 at 8:39 AM with the headline "Pastor accused of impregnating New Jersey church member and 5 more legal cases."