Man paid $20,000 in support for nonexistent child
ALBUQUERQUE — Steve Barreras’ attorney said he had never seen anything like it.
After Barreras was hauled into court, peppered with threats and demands for money for a child he adamantly denied fathering five years ago and even paid out $20,000 to support, his ex-wife was under a judge’s order to produce the child.
So last week, Viola Trevino picked up a 2-year-old girl and her grandmother off the street, promised them a trip to see Santa Claus and $50 and took the girl to court, alleging it was her daughter.
“I have seen hundreds of jury trials and I have never seen anything like this,” said Rob Perry, Barreras’ attorney.
It was the latest chapter in a bizarre case that has prompted Gov. Bill Richardson’s office to call for a full investigation.
The elaborate ruse stretched over five years and involved fake DNA evidence, a forged Social Security number and birth and baptismal certificates, court records show.
Last week, state District Judge Linda Vanzi ruled the child did not exist.
After feeding the standin daughter and her grandmother hamburgers, it seems Trevino parked near the courthouse, where she left the grandmother in the car and took the child into court.
Only when the grandmother followed her into court did Trevino admit that the child was not hers.
The 52-year-old Trevino announced to a family-court judge in December 1999 that she gave birth to a girl fathered by Barreras that September.
Barreras, 47, who says he had a vasectomy in 1998, said it was impossible . The couple had two adult children, a son and a daughter.
Paternity tests were ordered, and, in February 2001, Barreras was ordered to pay Trevino child support . Barreras continued to protest.
Trevino was ordered to bring in a birth certificate, but she did not.
Her adult daughter was even fired from a hospital after she was caught attempting to create documents pertaining to the birth of a Stephanie Trevino , according to court records.
Then another DNA paternity test was ordered, this time done by a private doctor, but Trevino did not obey the court order and instead went back to the same company where the first test was done.
Court records show that both DNA tests were done by a friend of the couple’s daughter.
Because of the DNA matches, Perry said the Child Enforcement Division of the state Human Services Department garnisheed Barreras’ paycheck , forcing him to pay child support.
“How can this happen? It is like a plane wreck caused by a cascading series of events,” he said.
Betina Gonzales McCracken, spokeswoman for the department, said her agency is not to blame because the division was only enforcing a court order for payment of child support .
When the agency got a tip that there might be fraud in this case, she said officials investigated.
Meanwhile, Vanzi’s ruling that the child does not exist has prompted reaction from Richardson’s office.
“The governor’s office has asked the Human Services for a complete report on what happened to make sure this mistake is never repeated,” said Billy Sparks, Richardson’s spokesman.
Dec 14, 2004
Japanese men lap up new comfort
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Japanese men lap up new comfort: "Japanese men without a shoulder to cry on this Christmas are being offered a woman's lap - made out of foam - to rest on instead.
The 'lap pillow', shaped like the bottom half of a kneeling woman, is selling for about 9,429 yen ($90), the French news agency AFP reported.
'Single men find this soothing,' said Mitsuo Takahashi of the manufacturer Trane KK.
He told AFP that the Hizamakura, or lap pillow, fulfilled a primal need.
'From the time people were kids, people have laid their heads on their mothers' laps to get their ears cleaned,' he said. 'This is made to be quite close to the real thing.'
But they are also reported to be proving popular as joke gifts at office parties.
So far the company has sold about 3,000 laps, Mr Takahashi said.
The Hizamakura is similar to a product, shaped like a man's torso with one sturdy arm, which has been on sale since last December.
That product, the Boyfriend's Arm Pillow, was made by Japanese company Kameo, and is being targeted at Japanese single women. "
The 'lap pillow', shaped like the bottom half of a kneeling woman, is selling for about 9,429 yen ($90), the French news agency AFP reported.
'Single men find this soothing,' said Mitsuo Takahashi of the manufacturer Trane KK.
He told AFP that the Hizamakura, or lap pillow, fulfilled a primal need.
'From the time people were kids, people have laid their heads on their mothers' laps to get their ears cleaned,' he said. 'This is made to be quite close to the real thing.'
But they are also reported to be proving popular as joke gifts at office parties.
So far the company has sold about 3,000 laps, Mr Takahashi said.
The Hizamakura is similar to a product, shaped like a man's torso with one sturdy arm, which has been on sale since last December.
That product, the Boyfriend's Arm Pillow, was made by Japanese company Kameo, and is being targeted at Japanese single women. "
Man who howled like werewolf sent to jail
Man who howled like werewolf sent to jail: "A MAN who 'alarmed' his neighbours by making howling noises after watching the film An American Werewolf in London has been jailed.
David Boag was given four months in prison for breaching an anti-social behaviour order handed down after a string of similar incidents.
The 28-year-old stood for several hours at his bedroom window, dancing with a Christmas tree and 'screaming and wailing like a werewolf' at the top of his voice.
Worried neighbours who went to investigate saw Boag at the window with his head thrown back, howling and pretending to dance with the tree.
He then started banging on the window of his home in Dechmont, West Lothian. His wails disturbed several households in the street.
It is understood Boag had been drinking heavily and taking drugs while watching An American Werewolf in London.
In January, Boag, of Knightsridge Road, was issued an anti-social behaviour order at Linlithgow Sheriff Court banning him from shouting, swearing, banging windows, moaning and dumping rubbish in his back garden. But he breached the order twice in February and found himself in the dock once more. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail with the condition that he did not enter the village.
In August, he was jailed for two months for each breach.
And last Saturday, police were called to Boag�s semi-detached house again after he breached his order for the third time with his werewolf impressions.
Neighbours said the noise began at about 4pm, but they did not call police until 7.40pm when the wails reached a deafening crescendo.
Officers had to break down Boag�s door to get in. He was arrested and held in custody until he appeared at Linlithgow Sheriff"
David Boag was given four months in prison for breaching an anti-social behaviour order handed down after a string of similar incidents.
The 28-year-old stood for several hours at his bedroom window, dancing with a Christmas tree and 'screaming and wailing like a werewolf' at the top of his voice.
Worried neighbours who went to investigate saw Boag at the window with his head thrown back, howling and pretending to dance with the tree.
He then started banging on the window of his home in Dechmont, West Lothian. His wails disturbed several households in the street.
It is understood Boag had been drinking heavily and taking drugs while watching An American Werewolf in London.
In January, Boag, of Knightsridge Road, was issued an anti-social behaviour order at Linlithgow Sheriff Court banning him from shouting, swearing, banging windows, moaning and dumping rubbish in his back garden. But he breached the order twice in February and found himself in the dock once more. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail with the condition that he did not enter the village.
In August, he was jailed for two months for each breach.
And last Saturday, police were called to Boag�s semi-detached house again after he breached his order for the third time with his werewolf impressions.
Neighbours said the noise began at about 4pm, but they did not call police until 7.40pm when the wails reached a deafening crescendo.
Officers had to break down Boag�s door to get in. He was arrested and held in custody until he appeared at Linlithgow Sheriff"
Dec 10, 2004
Police called to Santa rumble
: "Police called to a mass brawl found an army of Santas punching and kicking each other.
Officers had to use batons and CS spray to quell the fight in the centre of Newtown, Powys.
Four were hurt and there were five arrests.
The battle of the Santas followed a 21/2-mile charity run involving more than 4,000 people dressed as Father Christmas. Some of them are believed to have overindulged in alcohol after crossing the finishing line.
The fun run is expected to benefit up to 200 charities and it is hoped that it will exceed last year's total raised of 80,000.
Organisers believe they have broken their own world record for having the most number of Santas in the same place. Last year a mere 3,200 took part.
PC Gareth Slaymaker, community safety officer for North Powys, said: ' Behaviour like this justifies the reluctance by the police to
extend the licensing hours for public houses and bars for this type of event'. "
Officers had to use batons and CS spray to quell the fight in the centre of Newtown, Powys.
Four were hurt and there were five arrests.
The battle of the Santas followed a 21/2-mile charity run involving more than 4,000 people dressed as Father Christmas. Some of them are believed to have overindulged in alcohol after crossing the finishing line.
The fun run is expected to benefit up to 200 charities and it is hoped that it will exceed last year's total raised of 80,000.
Organisers believe they have broken their own world record for having the most number of Santas in the same place. Last year a mere 3,200 took part.
PC Gareth Slaymaker, community safety officer for North Powys, said: ' Behaviour like this justifies the reluctance by the police to
extend the licensing hours for public houses and bars for this type of event'. "
Dec 8, 2004
$1M gift to boost study of animal rights law
heraldsun.com: Bob Barker's $1M gift to boost ...
BY MICHAEL PETROCELLI : The Herald-Sun
mpetrocelli@heraldsun.com
Dec 6, 2004 : 10:46 pm ET
DURHAM -- Duke Law School has a new $1 million endowment fund, but it didn't have to guess the price of a dinette set to win the money.
Bob Barker, the octogenarian host of daytime television's long-running game show "The Price is Right," chose Duke to receive one in a series of gifts he is making to top law schools to promote the teaching of animal rights law.
Barker, a longtime animal advocate who ends his show by reminding viewers to have their pets spayed and neutered, recently gave similar gifts to the law schools at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and the University of California at Los Angeles.
But Duke won't have to start its animal rights law program from scratch.
Professor William Reppy, who does pro bono work for animal rights causes, has been teaching a class on animal law in alternating years. The endowment, he said, should allow him to teach the course every year.
Duke's animal law program encompasses a number of issues, including cruelty to animals, veterinary malpractice and laws prohibiting people from hoarding large numbers of pets, Reppy said.
The school also plans to use the Bob Barker Endowment Fund for the Study of Animal Rights Law to establish an animal law clinic, where students can earn credit working on animal rights-related litigation.
According to Duke officials, Reppy already has been involved in the state's passage of a law, unique in the United States, that allows individuals and outside organizations to seek injunctions against people who violate the state's animal cruelty laws.
Reppy noted that Duke already draws interest from prospective students interested in animal law. It is poised to become a national leader in the field, he added.
"We've got a head start," he said.
Thomas Hadzor, the law school's associate dean for external relations, said Barker's representatives had approached Duke with the offer -- a scenario he called "one of those development officer dreams."
Although he has never spoken directly to Barker, Hadzor surmised that the host might have included Duke in his plans because of its existing animal law program, or simply because he wanted to endow a program at a top-flight law school in the Southeast.
"I never asked why, because I didn't want to scare him off," he said.
Barker, who was taping back-to-back episodes of his show Monday, could not be reached for an interview. However, he recently told The New York Times that he hopes his gifts would create a cadre of lawyers steeped in animal rights and animal cruelty issues.
"The laws are not stringent enough, and unfortunately, the laws that we do have are not necessarily enforced," Barker told the Times. "If we can get more and more young lawyers to be aware of this, then if they're involved in a case that involves animals, they'll know what to do.
"If they become judges, that's wonderful," he said, "they're making decisions. And some of these lawyers are going to become politicians."
BY MICHAEL PETROCELLI : The Herald-Sun
mpetrocelli@heraldsun.com
Dec 6, 2004 : 10:46 pm ET
DURHAM -- Duke Law School has a new $1 million endowment fund, but it didn't have to guess the price of a dinette set to win the money.
Bob Barker, the octogenarian host of daytime television's long-running game show "The Price is Right," chose Duke to receive one in a series of gifts he is making to top law schools to promote the teaching of animal rights law.
Barker, a longtime animal advocate who ends his show by reminding viewers to have their pets spayed and neutered, recently gave similar gifts to the law schools at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and the University of California at Los Angeles.
But Duke won't have to start its animal rights law program from scratch.
Professor William Reppy, who does pro bono work for animal rights causes, has been teaching a class on animal law in alternating years. The endowment, he said, should allow him to teach the course every year.
Duke's animal law program encompasses a number of issues, including cruelty to animals, veterinary malpractice and laws prohibiting people from hoarding large numbers of pets, Reppy said.
The school also plans to use the Bob Barker Endowment Fund for the Study of Animal Rights Law to establish an animal law clinic, where students can earn credit working on animal rights-related litigation.
According to Duke officials, Reppy already has been involved in the state's passage of a law, unique in the United States, that allows individuals and outside organizations to seek injunctions against people who violate the state's animal cruelty laws.
Reppy noted that Duke already draws interest from prospective students interested in animal law. It is poised to become a national leader in the field, he added.
"We've got a head start," he said.
Thomas Hadzor, the law school's associate dean for external relations, said Barker's representatives had approached Duke with the offer -- a scenario he called "one of those development officer dreams."
Although he has never spoken directly to Barker, Hadzor surmised that the host might have included Duke in his plans because of its existing animal law program, or simply because he wanted to endow a program at a top-flight law school in the Southeast.
"I never asked why, because I didn't want to scare him off," he said.
Barker, who was taping back-to-back episodes of his show Monday, could not be reached for an interview. However, he recently told The New York Times that he hopes his gifts would create a cadre of lawyers steeped in animal rights and animal cruelty issues.
"The laws are not stringent enough, and unfortunately, the laws that we do have are not necessarily enforced," Barker told the Times. "If we can get more and more young lawyers to be aware of this, then if they're involved in a case that involves animals, they'll know what to do.
"If they become judges, that's wonderful," he said, "they're making decisions. And some of these lawyers are going to become politicians."
Dec 3, 2004
South Korean parents can preserve their child's umbilical cord
Oddly Enough News Article | Reuters.com: "SEOUL (Reuters) - Forget desktop photographs of your children.
Doting South Korean parents can preserve their child's umbilical cord in acrylic resin to make a personal seal or even have it gold plated.
In this Confucian society where family values are highly prized, suppliers also offer services for parents to have traditional Korean calligraphy brushes made from their child's hair.
Shim Jae-cheol of U&I Impression said the firm had gold-plated about 80 to 100 umbilical cords a month since starting business in August, with prices ranging from 80,000 won to 100,000 won ($76 to $96). It also offers mail order.
South Korean law allows parents to keep the umbilical cord of their children, although sales to a third party would be illegal.
Another supplier, Agamo, which makes calligraphy brushes made from human hair and preserves umbilical cords in personal seals, hopes to branch out to Japan.
'The company got the idea from mothers just storing umbilical cords and navels in an album or what-not,' said Suk Tae-jin of Agamo.
Keeping children's umbilical cords and making calligraphy brushes from their hair have long been a long tradition in Korea."
Doting South Korean parents can preserve their child's umbilical cord in acrylic resin to make a personal seal or even have it gold plated.
In this Confucian society where family values are highly prized, suppliers also offer services for parents to have traditional Korean calligraphy brushes made from their child's hair.
Shim Jae-cheol of U&I Impression said the firm had gold-plated about 80 to 100 umbilical cords a month since starting business in August, with prices ranging from 80,000 won to 100,000 won ($76 to $96). It also offers mail order.
South Korean law allows parents to keep the umbilical cord of their children, although sales to a third party would be illegal.
Another supplier, Agamo, which makes calligraphy brushes made from human hair and preserves umbilical cords in personal seals, hopes to branch out to Japan.
'The company got the idea from mothers just storing umbilical cords and navels in an album or what-not,' said Suk Tae-jin of Agamo.
Keeping children's umbilical cords and making calligraphy brushes from their hair have long been a long tradition in Korea."
Dec 2, 2004
Blind car thief strikes again
IOL: Blind car thief strikes again
Bucharest - Romanian police have arrested a blind man for stealing a car and crashing into a tree for the second time in one month.
Alin Prica, 24, managed to drive the stolen car 40km before crashing into a tree, according to reports.
Prica allegedly stole the car with another blind pal and a sighted friend in the passenger seat telling him which direction to drive.
A police spokesperson said: "He drove the car after instructions from his friend who could see.
"But again the journey ended with a crash. We were astonished for the second time in a month by this same man."
Earlier this month, Prica, from Izvoare, in south-west Romania, stole a car and managed to drive it for almost two kilometres by himself before smashing into a tree and knocking himself out.
"I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do anything I wanted - despite my handicap. I only crashed because I was not sure of the way home," he said at the time.
Police said they would not press charges against the two teenagers who helped but have taken Prica in for questioning.
Bucharest - Romanian police have arrested a blind man for stealing a car and crashing into a tree for the second time in one month.
Alin Prica, 24, managed to drive the stolen car 40km before crashing into a tree, according to reports.
Prica allegedly stole the car with another blind pal and a sighted friend in the passenger seat telling him which direction to drive.
A police spokesperson said: "He drove the car after instructions from his friend who could see.
"But again the journey ended with a crash. We were astonished for the second time in a month by this same man."
Earlier this month, Prica, from Izvoare, in south-west Romania, stole a car and managed to drive it for almost two kilometres by himself before smashing into a tree and knocking himself out.
"I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do anything I wanted - despite my handicap. I only crashed because I was not sure of the way home," he said at the time.
Police said they would not press charges against the two teenagers who helped but have taken Prica in for questioning.
Nov 30, 2004
And they said nothing good came of nuclear weapons testing !
My Way News: "LOS ANGELES (AP) - Godzilla received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, 50 years after he stomped onto movie screens and hours before the premiere of his latest film, 'Godzilla: Final Wars.'
Producer Shogo Tomiyama appeared at a ceremony outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre, where the 2,271st star is located.
'I'm here representing Godzilla. Unfortunately, he cannot speak English,' he said. 'We're very excited he is being honored in America.'
On screen, the fire-breathing sea creature was spawned by nuclear weapons testing. He made his appearance in Japanese theaters in November 1954 - while the United States was conducting nuclear tests in the South Pacific.
A version starring Raymond Burr made it to theaters in the United States two years later."
Producer Shogo Tomiyama appeared at a ceremony outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre, where the 2,271st star is located.
'I'm here representing Godzilla. Unfortunately, he cannot speak English,' he said. 'We're very excited he is being honored in America.'
On screen, the fire-breathing sea creature was spawned by nuclear weapons testing. He made his appearance in Japanese theaters in November 1954 - while the United States was conducting nuclear tests in the South Pacific.
A version starring Raymond Burr made it to theaters in the United States two years later."
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