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Ohio teens convicted in murder plot to collect insurance money
A Toledo, Ohio, girl and her boyfriend, secretly living in her family’s house, were convicted of a plot to kill the girl’s mother in what the she said was an effort to collect the insurance money and inherit the home.

Catherine Varner and Devan Fields, both 17, of Toledo, pleaded guilty in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to conspiracy in the commission to commit murder.

Fields also pleaded guilty to attempt to commit murder in what prosecutors said was an attack on Varner’s 15-year-old brother, who was stabbed and choked March 9 in the basement of the home. Varner pleaded guilty to complicity in the commission of an attempt to commit murder.

Both teens face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when they are sentenced.

Iowa judge says hidden restroom camera case can proceed to trial
An Iowa judge has sent a case involving an insurance agent accused of installing a hidden camera in a restroom to trial.

The attorney for Robert Speirs had asked the court to throw out a charge of misdemeanor invasion of privacy. An employee noticed a wireless camera in the women’s room at the American Family Insurance office on La Porte Road. Police found a monitor and receiver in Speirs’ desk.

No evidence was found that photographs or videos were made. State law does not prohibit an attempt to view, photograph or film someone in a state of nudity without their knowledge where they have an expectation of privacy.

However, District Associate Judge James Coil noted that Speirs had the capability to view people through the camera, and that any question about whether he had viewed people a state of undress would have to be addressed by a jury during trial.

Coil overruled the defense’s motion to dismiss the case, and a June trial date was set.

Woman pleads innocent to stealing soldier son’s insurance money
An Indiana woman who was accused of stealing more than $250,000 in insurance money set aside for the 6-year-old daughter of a soldier killed in Iraq pleaded innocent to charges.

Janie Lee Espinoza, a 56-year-old pastor and mother of the soldier, entered her plea in Porter County Superior Court. Her jury trial on eight counts of felony theft was scheduled to begin Aug. 28.

Prosecutors allege that a month after her son Specialist Roy Buckley died in Iraq in 2003, Espinoza became the guardian of $250,000 from his life insurance policy. The money was left to Buckley’s daughter.

But Espinoza spent all the money, plus $406 in interest, on cars, jewelry, a time share property, church pews and more.

Espinoza’s attorney said his client was grieving and didn’t realize the money was not hers to spend.

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