Reported by: Bob Aaron
Videographer: WCHS-TV
Web Producer: Bob Aaron
July 6, 2009 5:21pm
Eyewitness News Photo
A former police officer in Montgomery has pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the rights of a mixed-race couple stemming from a September 2008 traffic stop.
Thirty-one-year-old Matthew Leavitt of South Charleston faces up to two years in prison and a $200,000 fine when sentenced Sept. 24 before U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin.
Leavitt pleaded guilty Monday. He was charged last month with beating Twan Reynolds and lacking probable cause to arrest his wife, Lauren Santella-Reynolds, on a charge of driving under the influence.
Leavitt and Santella-Reynolds are white. Reynolds is black.
A lawsuit filed by the couple accuses Leavitt of using pepper spray on Reynolds, licking his wife's neck while she was handcuffed during an interrogation, and making derogatory comments.
W.Va. chamber wants boycott of health care overall November 21, 2009 5:00 AM West Virginia's Chamber of Commerce wants the state's congressional delegation to withhold its vote on federal health care overhauls until questions surrounding the mining of coal are resolved.
Tenn. veteran sentenced in child porn case November 20, 2009 9:15 PM A veteran from Tennessee who admitted sending child pornography on the Internet and asking two Kentucky women to help set up sexual encounters with children has been sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison.
Wanted: Nov. 17, 2009 • You Can Help! Failure to appear for arraignment following sexual assault and incest, grand larceny and burglary, and felon possession of a firearm
Behind The Kitchen Door
November 19, 2009 Bob Evans, Cozumel, Hibachi, Laidley Field concession stand, Texas Steakhouse, Longhorm Steakhouse are on the list. Find out who has violations and who gets a big thumbs up!
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