Sunday, April 26, 2020
Reflections on the First Amendment Paper free essay sample
Reflections on the First Amendment Paper Ephraim Iivula HIS/301 May 29, 2011 Kenneth Johnston University of Phoenix Reflections on the First Amendment According to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, ââ¬Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Consequently, citizens from different occupations often file legal challenges for court adjudication on perceived injustice. This paper focuses on numerous momentous cases related to three of the provisions of the First Amendment, namely freedom of speech, press, and religion. The cases as enumerated shortly represent such examples, in which citizens challenge social norms and seek for Supreme Court hearing or interpretation. In addition, the paper evaluates the rights and responsibilities that the Constitution gives American citizens. We will write a custom essay sample on Reflections on the First Amendment Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Notable First Amendment Court Cases John D. Ashcroft, Attorney General, et al. v. Free Speech Coalition, et al. (2002) The right to freedom of speech came under scrutiny in the case of John D. Ashcroft, Attorney General, et al. versus Free Speech Coalition, et al. in 2002. In this case, the U. S. Supreme Court affirmed the Ninth Circuits judgment against the plaintiffââ¬â¢s broader definition of pornography in enacting the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996. This broader definition, the court finds it in contravention with the First Amendment. The Ninth Circuit reasoned that the definition of banning any depiction of pornographic materials, including films that Congress adds on the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 was overboard and as such violated the First Amendment. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote: First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought or to justify its laws for that impermissible end. The right to think is the beginning of freedom, and speech must be protected from the government because speech is the beginning of thought. FCC . v. Pacifica Foundation, (1978) This case put to test the First Amendment protections extended to a radio stations daytime broadcast. At the center of the case was comedian George Carlins Seven Filthy Words monologue. ââ¬Å"The Supreme Court held that Section 326 of the Telecommunications Act, which prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcasts over radio or television, does not limit the FCCs authority to sanction radio or television stations broadcasting material that is obscene, indecent, or profane. Though the censorship ban under Section 326 precludes editing proposed broadcasts in advance, the ban does not deny the FCC the power to review the content of completed broadcasts. â⬠In addition, the Supreme Court pronounced that, ââ¬Å"broadcast materials have limited First Amendment protection because of the uniquely pervasive presence that radio and television occupy in the lives of people and the unique ability of children to access radio and television broadcasts. â⬠Sherbert v. Verner et al. , members of South Carolina Employment Security Commission,(1963) In this case, Adell Sherbert applied to the Employment Security Commission for unemployment benefits following her dismissal from work after she refused to work on Saturdays, something forbidden by her Seventh-day Adventist faith. However, the Employment Security Commission denied her unemployment benefits stating that she lost her employment because of misconduct and therefore ineligible for benefits. On appeal, the Supreme Court of the United States contended that Sherbertââ¬â¢s dismissal ââ¬Å"violates the guarantee of religious freedom contained in the First Amendment. As such, withholding Sherbertââ¬â¢s benefit was unlawful and therefore in breach of the religious freedom under the First Amendment. Reasons for the Supreme Court Hearing and Interpretation of Each Case In the case of John D. Ashcroft, Attorney General, et al. versus Free Speech Coalition, et al. (2002), the Supreme Court upheld the judgment because the expanded definition of the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 contravenes the provision under the First Amendment. Consequently, the appellant feared that leaving that expanded definition unchallenged in the Supreme Court curtails freedom of speech as enshrined in the Constitution. The Supreme Court interpretation became necessary as the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 led to the plaintiffââ¬â¢s misinterpretation of the regulation or deliberate distortion thereof to advance unlawful ends. Instead, the merit of the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 bans unethical materials depicting children and not just about any pornographic material. In the case of FCC versus Pacifica Foundation, (1978), the Supreme Court hearing became necessary to offer clarity on Section 326 of the Telecommunications Act regarding its limitations and the FCC jurisdiction. The appellant assumes Section 326 of the Telecommunications Act prevents FCC the authority to review the content of completed broadcasts. However, the Supreme Court manifested that FCC could still sanction a station broadcasting obscene, indecent, or profane materials. In the case of Sherbert against Verner et al. , members of South Carolina Employment Security Commission, et al. 1963), Sherbertââ¬â¢s employer denied her unemployment benefits because she refused to work on Saturdays. She claimed that this effectively impeded the free exercise of her religion. The Supreme Court found that denying Sheberts unemployment benefits, was an unconstitutional burden on the free exercise of her religion. The Supreme Court interpretation became necessary, as the First Amendment does not intend to govern the mere beliefs or opinions of people. Interference with religious practices may transpire when there is a compelling interest in refusing to accommodate religiously motivated conduct. The effect of the Supreme Court decision on American citizens The effect of the Supreme Court judgment in the case of John D. Ashcroft, Attorney General, et al. v. Free Speech Coalition, et al. (2002), is that pornography is lawful. As evident today, there is an increase in the pornography industry as there is no legal basis to ban the practice. The Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 however remains within the confines of its mandate that of protecting children, and as a result many cyber-violators have faced prosecution after its enactment. The judgment on FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, (1978) has a profound effect on day-to-day radio and television broadcasting. For example, producers particularly of television programs provide parental guidance to prevent children accesses to explicit programs but yet satisfy the viewing needs of matured viewers. This same practice finds resonance in the music and movie industry. This further promotes good social etiquette, ethics, and public decency. The extent to which the Constitution protect the right of privacy The United States Constitution fully express privacy right. However, under the Fourth Amendment, the right to privacy is inherent. As such, law enforcement agents may not search properties without appropriate search warrants. In some cases, national security supersedes privacy protection, and this happens particularly in the wake the Patriot Act. ââ¬Å"The Patriot Act drove a stake through the heart of the Bill of Rights, violating at least six of the ten original amendmentsthe First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Amendmentsand possibly the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments, as well. â⬠J. W. Whitehead May 16, 2011. The Patriot Act after its enactment in response to the 9/11 terrorist attack has come under fire from many citizens claiming that its roving wiretaps system violates citizen rights to privacy. Even as government through the Department of Homeland Security defends the Patriot Act provisions citing national security, many citizens continue to express dissatisfaction with the process. Whitehead May 16, 2011, contends that ââ¬Å"roving wiretapsâ⬠provision allows the FBI to wiretap phones in multiple homes without the targetââ¬â¢s name or even phone numbermerely the possibility that a suspect ââ¬Å"mightâ⬠use the phone is enough to justify the wiretap. He further observed that ââ¬Å"lone wolfâ⬠provision allows intelligence gathering of people not suspected of belonging to a foreign government or known terrorist organization. Moreover, Section 215 allows court-approved seizure of records and property in antiterrorism operations. In light of the above concerns, the extent to which the Constitution protects privacy right is negligible as Congress twists the legislative arm regardless of public displeasure. Screening citizens based on race, ethnicity, religious belief and justified as a means to protect the nation, have drawn reservations as it targets innocent people and groups regularly. Such investigations compromise and invade citizensââ¬â¢ privacy by law enforcement and as such expose the Constitutional privacy protection. Conclusion ââ¬Å"The First Amendment of the Constitution prohibits laws that restrict personal freedomâ⬠Patterson, T. E. (2009, p. 6). The United States Constitution particularly the First Amendment ensured the protection of citizensââ¬â¢ rights. However, this protection is often under constant infringements. Some contraventions happen because of ignorance to the First Amendment and others for the sake of national security. As the Patriot Act shows, privacy right is not absolute particularly when national security is at stake. With reference to the above-mentioned cases, one can see that the provisions under the First Amendment receive many legal challenges. The Supreme Court interpretation and various hearings ensured that citizens freely exercise their opinions and believes. References American Library Association: Notable First Amendment court cases: Retrieved from http://www. ala. org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/firstamendment/courtcases/courtcases. fm John W. Whitehead , May 16, 2011, Renewing the Patriot Act: Who Will Protect Us from Our Government? , Retrieved from http://www. rutherford. org/articles_db/commentary. asp? record_id=711 Patterson, T. E. (2009). The American democracyà (9th ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Sherbert v. Verner et al. , Members of South Carolina Employment Security Commission, et al. (1963): Retrieved from http://www. yale. edu/lawweb/avalon/curiae/html/374-398/001. ht m U. S. National Archives and Records Administration, First Amendment: Retrieved from
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
George Burroughs - Salem Witch Trials
George Burroughs - Salem Witch Trials George Burroughs was the only minister executed as part of the Salem Witch Trials onà August 19, 1692. He was about 42 years of age.à Before the Salem Witch Trials George Burroughs, a 1670 Harvard graduate, grew up in Roxbury, MA; his mother returned to England, leaving him in Massachusetts. His first wife was Hannah Fisher; they had nine children. He served as a minister in Portland, Maine, for two years, surviving King Philips War and joining other refugees in moving farther south for safety. He took a job as minister of the Salem Village Church in 1680 and his contract was renewed the next year. There was no parsonage yet, so George and Hannah Burroughs moved into the home of John Putnam and his wife Rebecca. Hannah died in childbirth in 1681, leaving George Burroughs with a newborn and two other children. He had to borrow money for his wifes funeral. Not surprisingly, he remarried soon. His second wife was Sarah Ruck Hathorne, and they had four children. As had happened with his predecessor, the first minister to serve Salem Villages separately from Salem Town, the church would not ordain him and he left in a bitter salary fight, at one point being arrested for debt, though members of the congregation paid his bail. He left in 1683, moving back to Falmouth. John Hathorne served on the church committee to find Burroughs replacement. George Burroughs moved to Maine, to serve the church in Wells. This was near enough the border with French Canada that the threat of French and Indian war parties was real. Mercy Lewis, who lost relatives in one of the attacks on Falmouth, fled to Casco Bay, with a group that included Burroughs and her parents. The Lewis family then moved to Salem, and when Falmouth seemed safe, moved back. In 1689, George Burroughs and his family survived another raid, but Mercy Lewis parents were killed and she began to work as a servant for George Burroughss family. One theory is that she saw her parents killed. Mercy Lewis later moved to Salem Village from Maine, joining many other refugees, and became a servant with the Putnams of Salem Village. Sarah died in 1689, probably also in childbirth, and Burroughs moved with his family to Wells, Maine. He married a third time; with this wife, Mary, he had a daughter. Burroughs was apparently familiar with some works of Thomas Ady, critical of witchcraft prosecutions, whom he later quoted at his trial: A Candle in the Dark, 1656; A Perfect Discovery of Witches, 1661; and The Doctrine of Devils, 1676. The Salem Witch Trials On April 30, 1692, several of the girls of Salem leveled accusations of witchcraft at George Burroughs. He was arrested on May 4 in Maine - family legend says while he was eating dinner with his family - and was forcibly returned to Salem, to be jailed there on May 7. He was accused of such acts as lifting weights beyond what would be humanly possible to lift. Some in town thought he might be the dark man spoken of in many of the accusations. On May 9, George Burroughs was examined by magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne; Sarah Churchill was examined the same day. His treatment of his first two wives was one subject of the interrogation; another was his supposed unnatural strength. The girls testifying against him said that his first two wives and the wife and child of his successor at Salem Churchà visited as specters and accused Burroughs of killing them. He was accused of not baptizing most of his children. He protested his innocence. Burroughs was moved to Boston jail. The next day, Margaret Jacobs was examined, and she implicated George Burroughs. On August 2, the Court of Oyer and Terminer heard the case against Burroughs, as well as cases against John and Elizabeth Proctor, Martha Carrier, George Jacobs, Sr. and John Willard. On August 5, George Burroughs was indicted by a grand jury; then a trial jury found him and five others guilty of witchcraft. Thirty-five citizens of Salem Village signed a petition to the court, but it did not move the court. The six, including Burroughs, were sentenced to death. After the Trials On August 19, Burroughs was taken to Gallows Hill to be executed. Though there was a widely held belief that a true witch could not recite the Lords Prayer, Burroughs did so, astounding the crowd. After Boston minister Cotton Mather reassured the crowd that his execution was the result of a court decision, Burroughs was hanged. George Burroughs was hangedà the same day as were John Proctor, George Jacobs, Sr., John Willard and Martha Carrier. The next day, Margaret Jacobs recanted her testimony against both Burroughs and her grandfather, George Jacobs, Sr. As with the others executed, he was cast into a common, unmarked grave. Robert Calef later said that he had been buried so poorly that his chin and hand protruded from the ground. In 1711,à theà legislatureà of the Province of Massachusetts Bayà restored all rights to those who had been accused in the 1692 witch trials. Included were George Burroughs, John Proctor, George Jacob, John Willard, Giles andà Martha Corey,à Rebecca Nurse,à Sarah Good, Elizabeth How,à Mary Easty, Sarah Wilds, Abigail Hobbs, Samuel Wardell, Mary Parker, Martha Carrier, Abigail Faulkner,à Anne (Ann) Foster, Rebecca Eames, Mary Post, Mary Lacey, Mary Bradbury, and Dorcas Hoar. The legislature also gave compensation to the heirs of 23 of those convicted, in the amount of à £600. George Burroughs children were among those.
Monday, March 2, 2020
Turn Your Teacher Weaknesses Into Assets to Get the Job
Turn Your Teacher Weaknesses Into Assets to Get the Job One interview question that can stump even seasoned job-seeking educators is What is your greatest weakness as a teacher? This question may come at you disguised as What would you most like to change/improve about yourself? or What frustrations did you encounter in your last position? This weakness question really tags as an opportunity to Describe your strengths. Your response can tip the interview in your favor or send your resume to the bottom of the pile. Forget Conventional Wisdom In the past conventional wisdom recommended putting a spin on this question by describing an actual strength camouflagedà as a weakness. For example, you might have tried to be clever and offered perfectionism as your weakness, explaining that you refuse to quit until the job gets done right. But in responding to your weaknesses, you should should stay away from any personal qualities. Save your personal qualities such as perfectionism, enthusiasm, creativity, or patience for describing strengths. In responding to a question about a weakness, you should offer more professional traits. For example, you may recall how you noticed your attention to detail, organization, or problem-solving may have needed improvement. Once you have provided the trait, you should provide details on how you purposefully worked to address this weakness. Include any of the steps you have taken or are currently taking to mitigate this weakness. Here are two examples of how you might respond to a question about your greatest weakness. Corrected Weakness: Organization For example, you can state that you have been less excited about the amount of paperwork that comes along with a classroom of students. You may admit that in the past you tended to procrastinate on assessing classwork or homework. You can also admit to having found yourself on more than one occasion scrambling to catch up right before the grading period ended. You might feel like your honesty leaves you vulnerable. But, if you go on to explain that in order to combat this tendency, you set a schedule for yourself this past school year that dedicated time every day to paperwork, you will be viewed as a problem solver. You might include other strategies you used such as self-grading assignments whenever practical, which allowed students to assess their own work as you discussed the answers together in class. As a result, you can acknowledge that you learned to stay on top of your grading and needed a short time at the end of each period to compile the information. For new teachers, examples like this could come from student teaching experiences. Now an interviewer will see you as self-aware and reflective, both highly desirable attributes in a teacher. Corrected Weakness: Seeking advice Teachers are independent, but that can lead to isolation in problem solving, and some problems may necessitate advice from others.This is particularly true in dealing with confrontational situations such as dealing with an irate parent or a teachers aide who arrives late to your class every day. You might admit that you may have tried to solve some problems on your own, but upon reflection, felt it was necessary to seek the advice of others. You can explain how you found the teacher next door to you or an administrator was important in helping you address different kinds of uncomfortable confrontations. If you are an educator looking for first job, you may not have classroom experiences to use as examples. But dealing with confrontations is a life skill and not limited to the school building. In this case, you can provide examples of problem-solving confrontations you may have had at college or at another job. Seeking the advice of others shows that you can identify people or groups that can be resources instead of trying to tackle confrontational problems on your own. Self analysis Employers know job candidates have weaknesses, says Kent McAnally, director of career services at Washburn University. They want to know that we are doing the self-analysis to identify what ours are, he writes for the American Association for Employment in Education. Showing that you are taking steps to improve is essential to making a positive impression, but more importantly, it is essential for developing your personal and professional goals and development plans. And THAT is the real reason for the question. Tips to Master the Interview Be truthful.Do not try to guess what the interviewer wants to hear. Answer questions candidly and present your authentic self.Prepare for the question but do not let your answers sound coached.Remain positive as you explain how your weakness could be seen as a positive in the job.Avoid using negative words like ââ¬Å"weakâ⬠and ââ¬Å"failure.â⬠Smile!
Saturday, February 15, 2020
The James Bond Franchise Movies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 17
The James Bond Franchise Movies - Essay Example The movies produced in the James Bond franchise strongly reflect the changing American identity and experience. The start of James Bond Films began with the purchase of rights from Ian Fleming by the American CBS television network, to turn the novel, Casino Royale, into a television adventure that would last for one hour (Rubin 23). The television adventure was adapted for screen by Anthony Ellis and Charles Bennett. It starred the American actor, Barry Nelson, as Bond. The movie franchise then developed over time under the auspices of Eon Productions, expanding in terms of business revenues and performance. It currently takes pride as the worldââ¬â¢s one of the most experienced and lasting film organization in the world. Most of its movies espouse the events that mark the American experience and identity (Rubin 27). A number of these movies are highlighted below to show how they show and strongly reflect the identity and experience of America. From Russia with Love (1964) was the second movie done by the James Bond Film franchise. It was produced by the Eon Productions. The producers of the film were Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman while the director of the movie was Terence Young. The movie was premised and informed by a novel that had the same title done by Ian Fleming. The movieââ¬â¢s story centers on the mission that James Bond is sent to accomplish, which is to help in the defection of Soviet consulate clerk in Turkey. SPECTRE has arrangements for revenging the killing of Dr. No by Bond (Dodd 125). Red tells Bond ââ¬Å"The first one wont kill you; not the second, not even the third... not till you crawl over here and you KISS MY FOOT!â⬠(Young). The film is quite informative about the experience and identity of America. An analysis of the film presents a picture of how America was during the days and the transformation that had taken effect in the movie industry by then.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Beyond Worlds Introduction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Beyond Worlds Introduction - Essay Example in 2002. He has also translated books and poems as well as having written other story collections. Agueros has been the recipient of many awards for his writing including the most recent Asan World Prize for Poetry (Poets.org). Though Agueros was an American, his parents had migrated from Puerto Rico. His father, who had worked as a police officer in Puerto Rico, came to New York in 1920, only to be able to work in factories and restaurants. Eleven years later, Aguerosââ¬â¢ mother came to be a seamstress in the garment district. As immigrants living in a poor part of New York, his family received an early form of what is now welfare. As a graduate of high school in 1953, Agueros spent four years in the Air Force. It was after his discharge that he received a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College in English in 1964 where he won the first of many literary awards in playwriting and poetry. He went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Urban Studies in 1970 from Occidental College (Espada). In ââ¬Å"Sonnet Substantially Like the Words of F Rodriguez One Position Ahead of Me on the Unemployment Line,â⬠Agueros writes a poem about business. In this poem, there are several uses of symbolism, using music and yo-yos to talk about business and how the average person can be taken advantage of in it. He appears to evoke his own frustrations about how it is difficult to ever be heard by corporations and to get jobs (Agueros, 2003). In ââ¬Å"Halfway to Dick and Jane: A Puerto Rican Pilgrimage,â⬠Agueros discusses the triumphs and trials that an immigrant encounters when coming to America. He describes it in such a way that readers can feel that Puerto Ricans may feel as though they have lost a part of who they are when they come to America. However, in his comparison to storybook characters Dick and Jane, he seems to suggest that even those characters were created in a fictional society and established an identity so migrants
Friday, January 24, 2020
Country vs. Culture Essay -- Culture
America is a land based on freedom. This freedom is for every individual no matter their race or culture. Our society has surpassed many judgments and concerns that these demographic differences had created in the past. These differences had previously led to a great amount of cultural diversity through the act of discrimination among our nation. America, as a country, has now opened opportunities for individuals to work and interact in environments which were previously unsuited. USA Today surveyed a minority group in 2005 and found that over one third of corporate culture embraces diversity (El Nasser). They have opened doors to expand numbers that are now reaching around 41percent of minorities working at all levels of companies and 37percent of minorities at senior management (El Nasser). America has allowed cultural views of religion and other lifestyle beliefs and values to be an individualââ¬â¢s choice. They have also given a vast amount of freedom to different ethnic and religious groups throughout the past decades. A number of individuals along with various groups have taken advantage of these freedoms in unacceptable and illegal ways and given a lesser punishments for their actions. There have been cultural cases surrounding the acts of rapes and murders, for example, where a defendant was given 5 years of probation for murder and another individual was given 120 days in prison for murder (Phillips). These sentences can be compared to the 10 or more years charged for a ââ¬Ënormalââ¬â¢ murder case or the average 11.8 years in prison for an individual convicted of rape ("Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure"). The freedom this country is based on should not be shaken by the cultures coming in, but this country should s... ...ce in the English Courts." Modern Law Review. 66.4 (2003): 510-531. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/534/1/when_culture_means_gender(LSERO).pdf. Reddy, Sita. "Temporarily Insane: Pathologising Cultural Difference in American Criminal Courts." Sociology of Health and Illness. 24.5 (2002): 667-687. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-9566.00313/pdf. United States. Justia US Law. Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure. Justia, 2010. Web. http://law.justia.com/codes/us/2010/title18/. Valladares, Rene. Culture Clash: Cultural Issues in Criminal Defense. District of Nevada: Juris Publishing Inc., 2007. 424-466. eBook. www.fd.org/pdf_lib/culture_clash.pdf. Willing, Richard. "Courts Asked To Consider Culture." USA Today 25 May 2004, n. pag. Web. 2 Apr. 2012. http://www.usatoday.com/educate/college/casestudies/Multicultural.pdf.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
The Candyman – Dean Corll and the Houston Mass Murders
The Candy Man- Dean Corll and the Houston Mass Murders Victims: 1. Billy Baulch, 17 2. Billy Ridinger-survived 3. Danny Yates, 14 4. David Hilligiest, 13 5. Donald Waldrop, 15 6. Frank Anthony Aguirre, 18 7. Gregory Malley Winkle, 16 8. Homer Garcia, 15 9. James Dreymala, 13 10. James Glass, 14 11. Jeffrey Konen, 18 12. Jerry Waldrop, 13 13. John Sellars, 17 14. Johnny Delone, 16 15. Joseph Lyles, 17 16. Mark Scott, 17 17. Marty Jones, 18. 18. Michael ââ¬ËTony' Baulch, 15 19. Randall Harvey, 15 20. Rhonda Williams -survived 21. Richard Kepner, 19 22. Ruben Watson, 17 23. Steven Sickman, 17 4. Tim Kerley-survived 25. Wally Jay Simoneaux, 14 26. Willard ââ¬ËRusty' Branch, Jr. , 17 27. Charles Cary Cobble, 17 28. Richard Hembree, 13 Facts: Dean Coril was a 33-year-old electrician living in Houston, Texas, who with two teen accomplices was responsible for kidnapping, torturing, raping and murdering at least 27 young boys in Houston in the early 1970s. Dean Corll was an electrician for Houston Power and Light, but most of Henley's friends knew him as the Candy Man, so named because he had labored for years in the candy manufacturing plant that he and his mother had once owned. Corll was famous for giving away candy to the kids. Coril had an odd choice of friends, who were mostly young male teens. Two, who were particularly close to Coril, was a 14-year-old boy named Elmer Wayne Henley and a 15-year-old boy named David Brooks. The three spent much time hanging around at Coril's house or driving with him in his van. That was until August 8, 1973, when Henley shot and killed Coril at his home. While in police custody, Henley began to tell about his relationship with Coril. He said Coril paid him $200 or more for each boy that he could lure to Corilââ¬â¢s house. After searching Coril's house, the police discovered a bedroom that looked as if it was designed for torture and murder. There was a board with handcuffs attached, ropes, sex toys and plastic covering the carpeted floor. Coril was furious when Henly brought his young girlfriend, Rhonda Williams over to the house with another friend, Tim Kerley. The group drank and did drugs until they fell asleep. When Henley awoke, his feet were bound and Coril was handcuffing him to his torture board. His girlfriend and Tim were also bound with electrical tape over their mouths. He managed to convince Corll to free him by promising to participate in the torture and murder of his friends. Once free, he went along with some of Corll's instructions, including attempting to rape the Rhonda Williams. Corll meanwhile, was trying to rape Tim, but the young boy fought so much Corll, frustrated, left the room. Henley immediately went for Corll's gun which he left behind. When Corll returned, Henley shot him six times, killing him. Over the next few days, Henley readily talked about his part in the deadly activity in Corll's house. He led the police to where many of the victims were buried. The first location was a boatshed Corll rented in southwest Houston, stall # 11. There police uncovered the remains of 17 of the boys Corll had murdered. Ten more bodies were found at various other burial sites in or near Houston. Altogether there were 27 bodies recovered. Henley confessed to knowing about Corll's brutal crimes and also participating in murdering one of the boys. Brooks told police that he had no knowledge of the crimes. When tried, Brooks was found guilty of one murder and sentenced to life in prison. Henley was convicted of six of the murders and sentenced to six 99-year-terms. Because Henley acted in self-defense, he was not convicted of killing Corll. The Crime Scene: Around 8:30 a. m. that Wednesday morning, the Pasadena, TX, police department got a telephone call from a hysterical Wayne Henley. Patrolman A. B. Jamison raced over to the address, 2020 Lamar Drive, a green and white frame house. Three teenagers, two boys and a girl stood in front of the house when Jamison responded to the call. The officer noted the . 22 caliber pistol on the driveway near the trio. Henley informed the officer that he was the individual who had made the call and indicated that Corll was lying dead inside the house. After confiscating the pistol and placing Henley, Williams and Kerley inside the patrol car, the officer entered the bungalow and discovered Corll's dead body inside the hallway. In custody, Henley explained that, for almost three years, he and David Brooks had helped procure teenage boys some of whom were their own friends for Corll, who had raped and murdered them. Corll had paid $200 for each victim he or Brooks were able to lure to his apartment. Henley gave a statement admitting he had assisted Corll in several abductions and murders of teenage boys, informing police that Corll had buried most of his victims in a boat shed in Southwest Houston, and others at Lake Sam Rayburn and High Island Beach. Henley agreed to accompany police to Corll's boat shed in Southwest Houston, where he claimed the bodies of most of the victims could be found. Inside Corll's boat shed, police found a half-stripped car, which turned out to have been stolen from a used car lot in March, a child's bike, empty bags of lime, and a box full of teenage boys' clothing. Police begin to excavate Corll's boat shed on August 8, 1973. Police began digging through the soft, shell-crushed earth of the boat shed and soon uncovered the body of a young blond-haired teenage boy, lying face up and encased in clear plastic, buried beneath a layer of lime. Police continued digging through the earth of the shed, discovering the remains of more victims in varying stages of decomposition. Most of the bodies found were wrapped in thick, clear plastic sheeting. Some victims had been shot; others strangled the chords and ropes still wrapped tightly around their necks. All of the victims found had been sodomized and most victims found bore evidence of sexual torture. On August 8, 1973, a total of eight corpses were uncovered at the boat shed. David Brooks presented himself at the Houston Police Station on the evening of August 8, 1973, and gave a statement denying any participation in the murders, but admitting to having known that Corll had raped and killed two youths in 1970. On August 9, 1973, police accompanied Henley to Lake Sam Rayburn in San Augustine County, where Henley had told police that Corll had buried four victims he had killed that year. Two additional bodies were found in shallow graves. Police found nine additional bodies in the boat shed on August 9, 1973. David Brooks gave a full confession that evening, admitting to being present at several killings and assisting in several burials, although he continued to deny any direct participation in the murders. He agreed to accompany police to High Island Beach to assist in the search for the bodies of the victims. On August 13, 1973, both Henley and Brooks again accompanied the police to High Island Beach, where four more bodies were found, making a total of twenty-seven known victims. Rule: Sec. 19. 01. TYPES OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE. (a) A person commits criminal homicide if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence causes the death of an individual. (b)à à Criminal homicide is murder, capital murder, manslaughter, or criminally negligent homicide. Acts 1973, 63rd Leg. , p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1973, 63rd Leg. , p. 1123, ch. 426, art. 2, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg. , ch. 900, Sec. 1. 01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994. Sec. 19. 02. MURDER. (a) In this section: (1)à à ââ¬Å"Adequate causeâ⬠means cause that would commonly produce a degree of anger, rage, resentment, or terror in a person of ordinary temper, sufficient to render the mind incapable of cool reflection. (2)à à ââ¬Å"Sudden passionâ⬠means passion directly caused by and arising out of provocation by the individual killed or another acting with the person killed which passion arises at the time of the offense and is not solely the result of former provocation. (b)à à A person commits an offense if he: 1)à à intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual; (2)à à intends to cause serious bodily injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual; or (3)à à commits or attempts to commit a felony, other than manslaughter, and in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempt, or in immediate flight from the commission or attempt, he commits or att empts to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual. (c)à à Except as provided by Subsection (d), an offense under this section is a felony of the first degree. d)à à At the punishment stage of a trial, the defendant may raise the issue as to whether he caused the death under the immediate influence of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause. If the defendant proves the issue in the affirmative by a preponderance of the evidence, the offense is a felony of the second degree. Acts 1973, 63rd Leg. , p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1973, 63rd Leg. , p. 1123, ch. 426, art. 2, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg. , ch. 900, Sec. 1. 01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994. Section 15. 31: CRIMINAL SOLICITATION OF A MINOR (a) A person commits an offense if, with intent that an offense listed by Section 3g(a)(1), Article 42. 12, Code of Criminal Procedure, be committed, the person requests, commands, or attempts t o induce a minor to engage in specific conduct that, under the circumstances surrounding the actor's conduct as the actor believes them to be, would constitute an offense listed by Section 3g(a)(1), Article 42. 12, or make the minor a party to the commission of an offense listed by Section 3g(a)(1), Article 42. 2. (b) A person commits an offense if, with intent that an offense under Section 21. 02, 21. 11, 22. 011, 22. 021, or 43. 25 be committed, the person by any means requests, commands, or attempts to induce a minor or another whom the person believes to be a minor to engage in specific conduct that, under the circumstances surrounding the actor's conduct as the actor believes them to be, would constitute an offense under one of those sections or would make the minor or other believed by the person to be a minor a party to the ommission of an offense under one of those sections. (c) A person may not be convicted under this section on the uncorroborated testimony of the minor all egedly solicited unless the solicitation is made under circumstances strongly corroborative of both the solicitation itself and the actor's intent that the minor act on the solicitation. d) It is no defense to prosecution under this section that: (1) the minor solicited is not criminally responsible for the offense solicited; (2) the minor solicited has been acquitted, has not been prosecuted or convicted, has been convicted of a different offense or of a different type or class of offense, or is immune from prosecution; (3) the actor belongs to a class of persons that by definition of the offense solicited is legally incapable of committing the offense in an individual capacity; or (4) the offense solicited was actually committed. e) An offense under this section is one category lower than the solicited offense. (f) In this section, ââ¬Å"minorâ⬠means an individual younger than 17 years of age. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg. , ch. 262, Sec. 79, eff. Jan. 1, 1996. Amended by A cts 1999, 76th Leg. , ch. 1415, Sec. 22(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Section 21. 06: HOMOSEXUAL CONDUCT (a) A person commits an offense if he engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex. (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
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