California

Ex-teacher sentenced to two years in prison

A former teacher who had sex with a 15-year old student during a three-day trip to Las Vegas was sentenced to two years in prison.

Tanya Hadden, 34, pleaded guilty last month in a deal that spared her from a possible eight years in prison. As part of her sentencing, Hadden must register as a sex offender and can no longer teach.

“I think she’s relieved it’s over,” defense attorney Mark McDonald said after Friday’s hearing in San Bernardino.

Hadden was arrested in May 2002 when she and the boy were found in a hotel in Las Vegas after police questioned her about their relationship. She has admitted having sex with the teen, who is now 16.

Charges against Hadden included two felony counts of lewd acts with a child, four felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and a misdemeanor count of child-stealing.

Detroit

Prosecutor to review cases of police officers

A county prosecutor has ordered a review of nearly two dozen criminal cases related to the 17 police officers accused of stealing money and drugs from suspects during illegal searches.

The officers were indicted Thursday on federal conspiracy charges. A yearlong probe by city and federal investigators uncovered about 30 incidents involving alleged illegal searches of homes and vehicles, unlawful arrests, excessive force, false police reports and planted evidence, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Wayne County prosecutor Michael Duggan has assigned Paul Benier, a deputy chief prosecutor from the trial division, to revisit the cases, the Detroit Free Press reported in Saturday editions.

The initial review will focus on the 21 cases identified in Thursday’s indictment. Of the 27 victims named in the indictment, 18 were convicted, Duggan said. One person remains in prison, he said.

“My No. 1 priority is to clear anybody who is innocent.” Duggan said.

Nebraska

Search continues for boy father admits killing

Workers picked through a landfill Saturday in Springfiled in search of the body of a 4-year-old boy who has been missing since January.

The landfill search began two weeks ago after Brendan Gonzalez’s father led investigators to a trash bin containing dried blood matching his son’s DNA.

Authorities said the contents of the bin, at an apartment complex near Offutt Air Force Base just outside Omaha, had been emptied at the landfill Jan. 7, the day after Brendan disappeared.

During a court hearing April 29, Ivan Henk shouted that he had killed Brendan because the boy was the anti-Christ.

Henk has not been charged in his son’s disappearance.