As of this morning, the jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial remains deadlocked for the seventh day. Clancy, accused of killing her three children, faces charges including murder, second-degree murder, and manslaughter, or may be found not criminally responsible due to her mental health at the time of the deaths. Courtroom tensions escalated yesterday when the jury sent a note prompting Judge William Sullivan to question each juror individually under oath and confer with attorneys outside the jury’s presence. Clancy’s defense attorney argued that one juror was refusing to follow the court’s instructions regarding reasonable doubt and asked the judge to remove the alleged holdout and replace that juror with an alternate. Prosecutors opposed the request, contending that the court should not intervene in the jury’s deliberative process or attempt to determine which juror was correct. Judge Sullivan declined to replace any juror, instead reminding the panel of the legal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt and instructing them to continue deliberating. If the jurors remain unable to reach consensus, the case could ultimately end in a mistrial. Read on for more criminal law news.
Conviction in Tupac Murder. A Las Vegas jury has convicted Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, of murder with a deadly weapon for his role in the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur, bringing a long-awaited resolution to one of the most infamous unsolved cases in music history. After less than three hours of deliberation following a nine-day trial, jurors found that Davis orchestrated the retaliatory attack that left Shakur dead and Death Row Records co-founder Marion “Suge” Knight injured. Prosecutors argued that Davis, a Southside Compton Crips leader, obtained the firearm and ordered the shooting after Shakur and others assaulted Davis’ nephew following a boxing match in Las Vegas. Although prosecutors acknowledged Davis was not the shooter, they contended that his own statements over the years, including admissions in interviews and his 2019 memoir, placed him inside the vehicle from which the fatal shots were fired. Davis faces a potential life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for October.
North Carolina Teen Charged with San Diego Shooting. WBTV reports that a North Carolina teenager has been charged with three counts of murder and one count of conspiracy for allegedly assisting the perpetrators of a deadly 2026 attack on a San Diego mosque that left three people dead. Forsyth County prosecutors announced that 17-year-old Sarah L. Santiago was indicted on allegations as an adult that she agreed in advance to distribute a livestream of the attack and publish the gunmen’s manifesto. Prosecutors further claim she purchased and sent one of the gunmen a patch bearing a white-supremacist symbol to wear during the assault. Investigators said the attackers were motivated by extremist white-supremacist ideology and had planned additional attacks targeting a Jewish congregation and Black students.
Housing Advocate Sentenced in Real Estate Fraud Scheme. An Asheville woman who publicly presented herself as a housing advocate has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for her role in a real estate fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable property owners. Lisa Roberts-Allen, 64, received a prison sentence of 75-to-102 months after a Buncombe County jury convicted her of six counts of forging deeds and two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses involving more than $100,000. According to a news release from the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, the conviction followed a multi-year investigation conducted by notary law enforcement agents. Prosecutors alleged that Roberts-Allen used fraudulent real estate transactions to acquire control of properties and to profit at the expense of families whose assets represented generational wealth. In addition to her prison term, the court ordered her to pay $55,000 in restitution. The case involves multiple defendants. Earlier this year, attorney Robert P. Tucker II was sentenced to four-to-nearly-six years in prison for his role in the scheme. A second attorney, Ilesanmi Adaramola, still faces pending notary fraud and forgery charges related to the investigation.
Florida Reverses Course on Plate Readers. Florida officials have revoked local law enforcement agencies’ authority to operate license-plate reader (LPR) cameras on state highway rights-of-way, citing growing concerns over surveillance, privacy, and potential misuse of vehicle-tracking technology. The move follows an order from the Florida Department of Transportation that immediately rescinds previous approvals for such cameras on state-controlled roadways. Transportation officials pointed to a rapid increase in camera deployments and reports of data privacy issues as justification for the policy change. The decision reflects a broader national debate over automated LPR systems, particularly those operated by Flock Safety, whose technology allows law enforcement agencies to share vehicle-location data across jurisdictions. While Florida’s order affects only cameras located on state rights-of-way, some agencies, including the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, have announced plans to discontinue use of the technology altogether despite acknowledging its investigative value.
Hoofing it Straight into Trouble. Two Ford Mustang drivers in Rocklin, California, learned an expensive lesson after allegedly launching a street race directly in front of a marked police vehicle. According to the Rocklin Police Department, officers observed the cars accelerating to approximately 75 mph in a 45-mph zone along Wildcat Boulevard before initiating traffic stops. The consequences extended beyond routine speeding citations. Police said the drivers also faced possible referrals to the California Department of Motor Vehicles for reexamination, a process that can be triggered when law enforcement questions a motorist’s ability to drive safely. Depending on the outcome, the DMV could impose restrictions, place drivers on probation, suspend licenses, or revoke driving privileges altogether. Authorities also reported that parents were contacted, and at least one of the vehicles was towed from the scene.
