SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen charged as an adult in a deadly double murder made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon.

Judge Shawn Elliot charged 15-year-old Elias Cerda with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In January, poli e responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims later identified as 14-year-old Emoni Shears and 19-year-old Jhiquez Roberts both of Wichita. They were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Detectives and patrol officers immediately began investigating this case and following up on leads. Police arrested a 14-year-old from Wichita later identified as Cerda. He was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on November 27, according to online jail records.&nbsp; He is being held on a one million dollar bond and is due back in court January 6, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734098604588.png" alt="Cerda-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Cerda-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen charged as an adult in a deadly double murder made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon.Judge Shawn Elliot charged 15-year-old Elias Cerda with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In January, poli e responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims later identified as 14-year-old Emoni Shears and 19-year-old Jhiquez Roberts both of Wichita. They were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.Detectives and patrol officers immediately began investigating this case and following up on leads. Police arrested a 14-year-old from Wichita later identified as Cerda. He was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on November 27, according to online jail records.&nbsp; He is being held on a one million dollar bond and is due back in court January 6, according to the district attorney's office.

15-year-old goes to court for Kansas double murder

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A U.S. senator has called for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-a978470fa3bb07ed3e98c5b7c18f0abb">mysterious drones</a>&nbsp;spotted flying at night over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns the unmanned aircraft.

“We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday, as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill.

People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration.

The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels.

“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh has said they are not U.S. military drones.

In a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said they and their federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, “continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.”

The agencies said they have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and that reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft.

“There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” according to the statement.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-0f4aba00748ac464d42270fbe7457733">The drones</a>&nbsp;appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security.

The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once.

The worry stems partly from the flying objects&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-sightings-central-new-jersey-cd8866c9c2568216759007716990decf">initially being spotted</a>&nbsp;near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off.

Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.

Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey appeared to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear and misinformation.

“We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday.

John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said witnesses may be confused about what they are seeing, especially in the dark, and noted it’s hard to know the size of the drones or how close they might be.

“There are certainly big drones, such as agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” Duesler said Thursday.

Duesler said the drones — and those flying them — likely cannot evade detection.

“They will leave a radio frequency footprint, they all leave a signature," he said. "We will find out what kind of drones they were, who was flying them and where they were flying them.”

Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related.

Duesler said the public wants to know what's going on.

“I hope (the government agencies) will come out with more information about this to ease our fears. But this could just be the acts of rogue drone operators, it’s not an ‘invasion’ as some reports have called it,” Duesler said. “I am concerned about this it but not alarmed by it.”

Associated Press reporters Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and reporter Darlene Superville and videojournalists Serkan Gurbuz and Nathan Ellgren in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A U.S. senator has called for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-a978470fa3bb07ed3e98c5b7c18f0abb">mysterious drones</a>&nbsp;spotted flying at night over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns the unmanned aircraft.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Today, the <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBI</a> and DHS jointly issued a statement on reported drone sightings in New Jersey ⤵️ <a href="https://t.co/kzbmTzjvkr">pic.twitter.com/kzbmTzjvkr</a>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1867317812450246759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday, as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">John Kirby on drone activity in and around New Jersey: &quot;We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus... We have not been able to...corroborate any of the reported visual sightings.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xfxFaJQUaN">pic.twitter.com/xfxFaJQUaN</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1867283595619930459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration.The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels.“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh has said they are not U.S. military drones.In a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said they and their federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, “continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.”The agencies said they have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and that reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft.“There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” according to the statement.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-new-jersey-0f4aba00748ac464d42270fbe7457733">The drones</a>&nbsp;appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security.The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once.The worry stems partly from the flying objects&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-sightings-central-new-jersey-cd8866c9c2568216759007716990decf">initially being spotted</a>&nbsp;near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off.Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey appeared to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists.Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear and misinformation.“We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday.John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said witnesses may be confused about what they are seeing, especially in the dark, and noted it’s hard to know the size of the drones or how close they might be.“There are certainly big drones, such as agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” Duesler said Thursday.Duesler said the drones — and those flying them — likely cannot evade detection.“They will leave a radio frequency footprint, they all leave a signature," he said. "We will find out what kind of drones they were, who was flying them and where they were flying them.”Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related.Duesler said the public wants to know what's going on.“I hope (the government agencies) will come out with more information about this to ease our fears. But this could just be the acts of rogue drone operators, it’s not an ‘invasion’ as some reports have called it,” Duesler said. “I am concerned about this it but not alarmed by it.”___Associated Press reporters Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and reporter Darlene Superville and videojournalists Serkan Gurbuz and Nathan Ellgren in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

🎥FBI and DHS issue statement on reported drone sightings 

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement took a murder suspect into custody following a&nbsp;barricade situation at a residence in Kansas City, Kansas.

Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, Kansas City, Kansas Police Department’s Special Operations Unit was in the area near McGrew Grove and Quindaro Blvd. serving a warrant in the November 30 shooting death of 17-year-old Nicholas Brooks. 

Once on scene, officers made contact with the suspect, an adult male, who then entered a residence and refused to exit, barricading himself inside for several hours.

At approximately 9p.m., following several tactical interventions, Kansas City, Kansas police negotiators were successful in convincing the suspect, to exit the residence. 

He was then taken into custody without incident. Detectives with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department also responded to the scene to investigate the suspect as a person of interest in a number of violent crimes in their city.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police did not release the name of the suspect.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement took a murder suspect into custody following a&nbsp;barricade situation at a residence in Kansas City, Kansas.Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, Kansas City, Kansas Police Department’s Special Operations Unit was in the area near McGrew Grove and Quindaro Blvd. serving a warrant in the November 30 shooting death of 17-year-old Nicholas Brooks. Once on scene, officers made contact with the suspect, an adult male, who then entered a residence and refused to exit, barricading himself inside for several hours.At approximately 9p.m., following several tactical interventions, Kansas City, Kansas police negotiators were successful in convincing the suspect, to exit the residence. He was then taken into custody without incident. Detectives with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department also responded to the scene to investigate the suspect as a person of interest in a number of violent crimes in their city.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police did not release the name of the suspect.

Police capture suspect in killing of 17-year-old Kan. boy

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.

Just before 10:30a.m December 11, special agents with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrested Brian W. Black, 40, without incident at his residence in Arkansas City, according to a media release from the KBI.

 Black was arrested on a warrant on requested charges that include three counts of rape, three counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of exploitation of a child, two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior, abuse of a child, and battery.

  In September 2023, the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance with a sexual assault investigation involving a 16-year-old girl who had reported that Black had raped her. 

Special agents began investigating. They conducted interviews, executed search warrants and gathered evidence. Following the arrest, Black was booked into the Cowley County Jail. Bond was set at $500,000. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734044955692.png" alt="Black photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Black photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.Just before 10:30a.m December 11, special agents with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrested Brian W. Black, 40, without incident at his residence in Arkansas City, according to a media release from the KBI. Black was arrested on a warrant on requested charges that include three counts of rape, three counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of exploitation of a child, two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior, abuse of a child, and battery. In September 2023, the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance with a sexual assault investigation involving a 16-year-old girl who had reported that Black had raped her. Special agents began investigating. They conducted interviews, executed search warrants and gathered evidence. Following the arrest, Black was booked into the Cowley County Jail. Bond was set at $500,000.

KBI: Teen accused Kansas man of sex crimes

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An American who disappeared seven months ago into former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">Syrian President Bashar Assad’s</a>&nbsp;notorious prison system said early Friday he was released by the “liberators” who arrived in Damascus a day after the longtime ruler fled the capital.

Travis Timmerman called his release a “blessing” when he spoke to The Associated Press from a hotel room in Damascus, where he arrived late Thursday. He was among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-saydnaya-prison-assad-families-search-9f533d54b4df72f97416f90921dd2a9c">thousands of people released from Syria’s sprawling military prisons</a>&nbsp;this week after rebels reached Damascus,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">overthrowing Assad</a>&nbsp;and ending his family’s 54-year rule.

Timmerman, 29, said he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.”

The political affairs office of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group that led the lightning offensive to topple Assad’s government, said the group had secured his release.

“We affirm our readiness to cooperate directly with the U.S. administration to complete the search for American citizens disappeared by the former Assad regime,” the group said, adding that a search was underway for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tice-journalist-syria-carstens-e20547144d1ad0580e7d64462b8c4135">Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing</a>&nbsp;in Syria 12 years ago. An official with the group later said it was arranging for Timmerman to leave Syria, but gave no details.

Timmerman said he was released Monday morning alongside a young Syrian man and 70 female prisoners, some of whom had their children with them.

He had been held separately from Syrian and other Arab prisoners and said he didn’t know of any other Americans held in the facility.

“I was there seven months. There were women there up above me,” Timmerman said. He heard the women singing and teaching their children and could hear some of the men being beaten regularly. “I was never beaten,” he said.

He was detained after he crossed into Syria from a mountain along the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle in June. He was questioned for three and half hours by interrogators who thought he must be a spy. In a brief second interview, they searched his mobile phone, and in the last interview, he started discussing his dreams with his captors.

He said their threat of using violence against him was “implicit” because he could hear daily beatings next door. But his captors let him use his mobile to call his family three weeks ago. At the time, Timmerman didn’t tell his family he was in Damascus, only that he was fine.

He said later in his detention, he could hear explosions — at a time when Israel was intensifying its strikes in Syria. Israel’s war with the Hezbollah militant group had intensified in September, before a ceasefire was reached last month.

“I heard some explosives that shook the building,” he said.

In his prison cell, Timmerman said he had a mattress, a plastic drinking container and two others for waste. He had three bathroom breaks and had exercise breaks in the first half of his stay.

He said the Friday calls to prayers helped keep track of days.

He said he gained weight at first because he ate unleavened bread, rice and oats. Sometimes he would get a potato or a tomato — a treatment clearly reserved for non-Syrian prisoners, who often ended up emaciated or sick.

“It is a time of solace and you can meditate on your life,” he told AP. “It was good for me.”

Timmerman was disheveled, with a scraggly beard and long hair and nails. He said he had a good sleep and a meal on Thursday.

He said he planned to return to Damascus.

Timmerman is from Urbana, Missouri, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Springfield in the southwestern part of the state. He earned a finance degree from Missouri State University in 2017.

Timmerman’s mother, Stacey Gardiner, told the AP that as of Thursday evening, she hadn’t spoken to her son. She said he told her he was visiting Prague and Budapest, Hungary, to “write about different churches.” She said she last heard from him in May, when he said he was going somewhere without internet and that he would call when he had access again. Then he stopped replying to calls and texts and she didn't know whether he was alive or dead.

“I couldn’t help him, and that broke my heart more and more each day,” Gardiner said. “I just want my baby (to) come home.”

The family reported him missing, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol issued a bulletin saying “Pete Timmerman" had gone missing in Hungary in early June. In late August, Hungarian police put out a missing persons announcement for “Travis Pete Timmerman,” saying he was last seen at a church in Budapest. Timmerman goes by Travis.

In describing his release from prison, Timmerman said the action outside his cell woke him up. Those who came to release him spoke to him in Arabic. “It was an excited scene. It was not clear if the guards who were there were still there,” Timmerman said. “I didn’t know if they were taking us out in the midst of a war zone … in hindsight, this shooting was not actual clashes.”

He said he was panicked for a moment. But he realized some of the gunfire was celebratory from blanks. One man was shooting from an AK-47. At one point, he went running back into the prison with two other prisoners. A fellow prisoner helped him out, holding his arm, and speaking Arabic to those around. They both accompanied a female prisoner to her home.

He spent two nights in Damascus, one in abandoned apartment in the old town and another at a new friend’s house.

He then started walking toward Jordan, when a Syrian family found him barefoot on a main road in the countryside of Damascus early Thursday.

The Syrian family told AP that Timmerman appeared cold and hungry so they brought him back to their home.

“I fed him and called a doctor,” said Mosaed al-Rifai, the 68-year-old waste collector who first found Timmerman.

A few hours after al-Rifai discovered him, rebels arrived at the family’s house to pick him up, he said.

Mouaz Mostafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a U.S.-based nonprofit group, who was in Damascus learned of Timmerman’s location, reached him and contacted US authorities about him.

Timmerman is now recovering until the rebels can figure out how to hand him to U.S. authorities, Moustafa said.

From Aqaba, Jordan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the White House was “working to bring him home, to bring him out of Syria” but declined further comment for privacy reasons.

Washington’s top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, travelled to Lebanon this week in hopes of collecting information on the whereabouts of Tice.

President Joe Biden has said his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, though he also acknowledged on Sunday that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. The case has frustrated U.S. intelligence officials for years.

“This is a priority for the United States,” Blinken said.

Tice, who has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and others, disappeared at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus in August 2012 as the Syrian civil war intensified.

A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. He hasn’t been heard from since.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-middle-east-syria-journalists-bashar-assad-f7e100380b1bc75c3c895858db9edbc5">Assad’s government had denied</a>&nbsp;that it was holding him.

Ingram reported from Urbana, Missouri. Associated Press writers Jim Salter in O’Fallon, Missouri; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An American citizen who disappeared seven months ago into former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">Syrian President Bashar Assad’s</a>&nbsp;notorious prison system was suddenly discovered Thursday outside Damascus after being released and handed over to rebel forces, Syria’s new authorities said.

The political affairs office of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group that led the lightning offensive to topple Assad’s government, said the group had secured the release of U.S. citizen Travis Timmerman. In interviews with media in Syria, Timmerman said he was imprisoned after crossing from Lebanon into Syria on a Christian pilgrimage.

He appeared to be among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-saydnaya-prison-assad-families-search-9f533d54b4df72f97416f90921dd2a9c">thousands of people released from Syria's sprawling military prisons</a>&nbsp;this week after rebels reached Damascus,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">overthrowing Assad</a>&nbsp;and ending his family’s 54-year rule.

“We affirm our readiness to cooperate directly with the U.S. administration to complete the search for American citizens disappeared by the former Assad regime,” the group said, adding that a search was underway for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tice-journalist-syria-carstens-e20547144d1ad0580e7d64462b8c4135">Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing</a>&nbsp;in Syria 12 years ago.

As footage emerged online Thursday of Timmerman, looking disheveled and disoriented as rebels led him out of a family's home near Damascus, some initially mistook him for Tice.

In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket. A group of men in the video said that he was being treated well and would be safely returned home.

A Syrian family told The Associated Press they found Timmerman barefoot on a main road in the countryside of Damascus early on Thursday. He appeared cold and hungry so they brought him back to their home.

Al-Rifai said it was hard to communicate because of the language barrier but it seemed Timmerman had been held by an internal security agency. A few hours after al-Rifai discovered him, rebels arrived at the family’s house to pick him up, he said.

Mouaz Mostafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a U.S.-based nonprofit group, said he met Timmerman at the house and arranged for a car to take him to Damascus, where the new authorities gave the ex-detainee food and water and brought him clothes and shoes. Timmerman had lice in his long, unkempt hair, Mostafa said, and reported walking for 13 miles barefoot before being discovered.

Timmerman — now recovering until the rebels can figure out how to hand him to U.S. authorities — was planning to get to Jordan after his release to obtain a new passport, Mostafa said.

Earlier this year, a Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin identified him as “Pete Travis Timmerman,” 29, and said he had gone missing in Hungary in early June. In late August, Hungarian police put out a missing persons announcement for “Travis Pete Timmerman,” saying he was last seen at a church in Hungary’s capital, Budapest.

Authorities in Missouri and Hungary had shared photos of a young man who strongly resembles the ex-prisoner who identified himself as “Travis Timmerman" in interviews with international news outlets on Thursday.

Missouri court records indicate Timmerman is from Urbana, Missouri, about 50 miles north of Springfield in the southwestern part of the state. A graduation list from Missouri State University shows he earned his bachelor’s degree in finance in the spring of 2017.

Timmerman’s mother, Stacey Collins Gardiner, told National Public Radio that he returned home to Urbana after working in Chicago for a couple of years. He then left for Budapest with the goal of writing about his Christian faith and helping people, she said.

Timmerman had warned her, she added, that his travels might make communication difficult. After losing contact with him during his stay in Hungary, Gardiner later learned that her son had gone to Lebanon.

On Thursday, she heard that he was found through the media.

“I will hug him. ... And then I probably won’t let him go,” she said, laughing. “I’ll say, well, thank God you’re still alive. And I’m so happy. Our prayers came true."

U.S. officials said they were working to confirm Timmerman's identity and provide the support. From Aqaba, Jordan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the White House was “working to bring him home, to bring him out of Syria” but declined further comment for privacy reasons.

Timmerman, with a scraggly beard and grey sweatshirt, later spoke with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago before being detained and held in a cell alone.

He said that he was treated well in detention, but could hear other young men being tortured.

“It was OK. I was fed. I was watered. The one difficulty was that I couldn’t go to the bathroom when I wanted to,” he said. He said he was only allowed to go three times a day.

“I was not beaten and the guards treated me decently,” he added.

Washington's top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, traveled to Lebanon earlier this week in hopes of collecting information on the whereabouts of Tice.

On Thursday, Blinken emphasized the administration’s work on Tice's case.

“Every single day we are working to find him and to bring him home” Blinken said. "This is a priority for the United States.”

A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. He hasn't been heard from since.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-middle-east-syria-journalists-bashar-assad-f7e100380b1bc75c3c895858db9edbc5">Assad's government had denied</a>&nbsp;that it was holding him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734009338567.png" alt="Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin identified him as “Pete Travis Timmerman,” 29, and said he had gone missing in Hungary in early June. I" />
 <figcaption>Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin identified him as “Pete Travis Timmerman,” 29, and said he had gone missing in Hungary in early June. I</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An American who disappeared seven months ago into former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">Syrian President Bashar Assad’s</a>&nbsp;notorious prison system said early Friday he was released by the “liberators” who arrived in Damascus a day after the longtime ruler fled the capital.Travis Timmerman called his release a “blessing” when he spoke to The Associated Press from a hotel room in Damascus, where he arrived late Thursday. He was among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-saydnaya-prison-assad-families-search-9f533d54b4df72f97416f90921dd2a9c">thousands of people released from Syria’s sprawling military prisons</a>&nbsp;this week after rebels reached Damascus,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">overthrowing Assad</a>&nbsp;and ending his family’s 54-year rule.Timmerman, 29, said he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.”The political affairs office of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group that led the lightning offensive to topple Assad’s government, said the group had secured his release.“We affirm our readiness to cooperate directly with the U.S. administration to complete the search for American citizens disappeared by the former Assad regime,” the group said, adding that a search was underway for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tice-journalist-syria-carstens-e20547144d1ad0580e7d64462b8c4135">Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing</a>&nbsp;in Syria 12 years ago. An official with the group later said it was arranging for Timmerman to leave Syria, but gave no details.Timmerman said he was released Monday morning alongside a young Syrian man and 70 female prisoners, some of whom had their children with them.He had been held separately from Syrian and other Arab prisoners and said he didn’t know of any other Americans held in the facility.“I was there seven months. There were women there up above me,” Timmerman said. He heard the women singing and teaching their children and could hear some of the men being beaten regularly. “I was never beaten,” he said.He was detained after he crossed into Syria from a mountain along the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle in June. He was questioned for three and half hours by interrogators who thought he must be a spy. In a brief second interview, they searched his mobile phone, and in the last interview, he started discussing his dreams with his captors.He said their threat of using violence against him was “implicit” because he could hear daily beatings next door. But his captors let him use his mobile to call his family three weeks ago. At the time, Timmerman didn’t tell his family he was in Damascus, only that he was fine.He said later in his detention, he could hear explosions — at a time when Israel was intensifying its strikes in Syria. Israel’s war with the Hezbollah militant group had intensified in September, before a ceasefire was reached last month.“I heard some explosives that shook the building,” he said.In his prison cell, Timmerman said he had a mattress, a plastic drinking container and two others for waste. He had three bathroom breaks and had exercise breaks in the first half of his stay.He said the Friday calls to prayers helped keep track of days.He said he gained weight at first because he ate unleavened bread, rice and oats. Sometimes he would get a potato or a tomato — a treatment clearly reserved for non-Syrian prisoners, who often ended up emaciated or sick.“It is a time of solace and you can meditate on your life,” he told AP. “It was good for me.”Timmerman was disheveled, with a scraggly beard and long hair and nails. He said he had a good sleep and a meal on Thursday.He said he planned to return to Damascus.Timmerman is from Urbana, Missouri, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Springfield in the southwestern part of the state. He earned a finance degree from Missouri State University in 2017.Timmerman’s mother, Stacey Gardiner, told the AP that as of Thursday evening, she hadn’t spoken to her son. She said he told her he was visiting Prague and Budapest, Hungary, to “write about different churches.” She said she last heard from him in May, when he said he was going somewhere without internet and that he would call when he had access again. Then he stopped replying to calls and texts and she didn't know whether he was alive or dead.“I couldn’t help him, and that broke my heart more and more each day,” Gardiner said. “I just want my baby (to) come home.”The family reported him missing, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol issued a bulletin saying “Pete Timmerman" had gone missing in Hungary in early June. In late August, Hungarian police put out a missing persons announcement for “Travis Pete Timmerman,” saying he was last seen at a church in Budapest. Timmerman goes by Travis.In describing his release from prison, Timmerman said the action outside his cell woke him up. Those who came to release him spoke to him in Arabic. “It was an excited scene. It was not clear if the guards who were there were still there,” Timmerman said. “I didn’t know if they were taking us out in the midst of a war zone … in hindsight, this shooting was not actual clashes.”He said he was panicked for a moment. But he realized some of the gunfire was celebratory from blanks. One man was shooting from an AK-47. At one point, he went running back into the prison with two other prisoners. A fellow prisoner helped him out, holding his arm, and speaking Arabic to those around. They both accompanied a female prisoner to her home.He spent two nights in Damascus, one in abandoned apartment in the old town and another at a new friend’s house.He then started walking toward Jordan, when a Syrian family found him barefoot on a main road in the countryside of Damascus early Thursday.At first some mistook him for Tice.The Syrian family told AP that Timmerman appeared cold and hungry so they brought him back to their home.“I fed him and called a doctor,” said Mosaed al-Rifai, the 68-year-old waste collector who first found Timmerman.A few hours after al-Rifai discovered him, rebels arrived at the family’s house to pick him up, he said.Mouaz Mostafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a U.S.-based nonprofit group, who was in Damascus learned of Timmerman’s location, reached him and contacted US authorities about him.Timmerman is now recovering until the rebels can figure out how to hand him to U.S. authorities, Moustafa said.From Aqaba, Jordan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the White House was “working to bring him home, to bring him out of Syria” but declined further comment for privacy reasons.Washington’s top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, travelled to Lebanon this week in hopes of collecting information on the whereabouts of Tice.President Joe Biden has said his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, though he also acknowledged on Sunday that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. The case has frustrated U.S. intelligence officials for years.“This is a priority for the United States,” Blinken said.Tice, who has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and others, disappeared at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus in August 2012 as the Syrian civil war intensified.A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. He hasn’t been heard from since.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-middle-east-syria-journalists-bashar-assad-f7e100380b1bc75c3c895858db9edbc5">Assad’s government had denied</a>&nbsp;that it was holding him.___Ingram reported from Urbana, Missouri. Associated Press writers Jim Salter in O’Fallon, Missouri; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.--------------DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An American citizen who disappeared seven months ago into former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">Syrian President Bashar Assad’s</a>&nbsp;notorious prison system was suddenly discovered Thursday outside Damascus after being released and handed over to rebel forces, Syria’s new authorities said.The political affairs office of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group that led the lightning offensive to topple Assad’s government, said the group had secured the release of U.S. citizen Travis Timmerman. In interviews with media in Syria, Timmerman said he was imprisoned after crossing from Lebanon into Syria on a Christian pilgrimage.He appeared to be among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-saydnaya-prison-assad-families-search-9f533d54b4df72f97416f90921dd2a9c">thousands of people released from Syria's sprawling military prisons</a>&nbsp;this week after rebels reached Damascus,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/syria">overthrowing Assad</a>&nbsp;and ending his family’s 54-year rule.“We affirm our readiness to cooperate directly with the U.S. administration to complete the search for American citizens disappeared by the former Assad regime,” the group said, adding that a search was underway for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tice-journalist-syria-carstens-e20547144d1ad0580e7d64462b8c4135">Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing</a>&nbsp;in Syria 12 years ago.As footage emerged online Thursday of Timmerman, looking disheveled and disoriented as rebels led him out of a family's home near Damascus, some initially mistook him for Tice.In the video, Timmerman could be seen lying on a mattress under a blanket. A group of men in the video said that he was being treated well and would be safely returned home.A Syrian family told The Associated Press they found Timmerman barefoot on a main road in the countryside of Damascus early on Thursday. He appeared cold and hungry so they brought him back to their home.“I fed him and called a doctor,” said Mosaed al-Rifai, the 68-year-old waste collector who first found Timmerman.Al-Rifai said it was hard to communicate because of the language barrier but it seemed Timmerman had been held by an internal security agency. A few hours after al-Rifai discovered him, rebels arrived at the family’s house to pick him up, he said.Mouaz Mostafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a U.S.-based nonprofit group, said he met Timmerman at the house and arranged for a car to take him to Damascus, where the new authorities gave the ex-detainee food and water and brought him clothes and shoes. Timmerman had lice in his long, unkempt hair, Mostafa said, and reported walking for 13 miles barefoot before being discovered.Timmerman — now recovering until the rebels can figure out how to hand him to U.S. authorities — was planning to get to Jordan after his release to obtain a new passport, Mostafa said.Earlier this year, a Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin identified him as “Pete Travis Timmerman,” 29, and said he had gone missing in Hungary in early June. In late August, Hungarian police put out a missing persons announcement for “Travis Pete Timmerman,” saying he was last seen at a church in Hungary’s capital, Budapest.Authorities in Missouri and Hungary had shared photos of a young man who strongly resembles the ex-prisoner who identified himself as “Travis Timmerman" in interviews with international news outlets on Thursday.Missouri court records indicate Timmerman is from Urbana, Missouri, about 50 miles north of Springfield in the southwestern part of the state. A graduation list from Missouri State University shows he earned his bachelor’s degree in finance in the spring of 2017.Timmerman’s mother, Stacey Collins Gardiner, told National Public Radio that he returned home to Urbana after working in Chicago for a couple of years. He then left for Budapest with the goal of writing about his Christian faith and helping people, she said.Timmerman had warned her, she added, that his travels might make communication difficult. After losing contact with him during his stay in Hungary, Gardiner later learned that her son had gone to Lebanon.On Thursday, she heard that he was found through the media.“I will hug him. ... And then I probably won’t let him go,” she said, laughing. “I’ll say, well, thank God you’re still alive. And I’m so happy. Our prayers came true."U.S. officials said they were working to confirm Timmerman's identity and provide the support. From Aqaba, Jordan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that the White House was “working to bring him home, to bring him out of Syria” but declined further comment for privacy reasons.Timmerman, with a scraggly beard and grey sweatshirt, later spoke with the Al-Arabiya TV network, saying he had illegally crossed into Syria on foot from the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle seven months ago before being detained and held in a cell alone.He said that he was treated well in detention, but could hear other young men being tortured.“It was OK. I was fed. I was watered. The one difficulty was that I couldn’t go to the bathroom when I wanted to,” he said. He said he was only allowed to go three times a day.“I was not beaten and the guards treated me decently,” he added.Washington's top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, traveled to Lebanon earlier this week in hopes of collecting information on the whereabouts of Tice.President Joe Biden has said his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, though he also acknowledged on Sunday that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. The case has frustrated U.S. intelligence officials for years.On Thursday, Blinken emphasized the administration’s work on Tice's case.“Every single day we are working to find him and to bring him home” Blinken said. "This is a priority for the United States.”Tice, who has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and others, disappeared at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus in August 2012 as the Syrian civil war intensified.A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. He hasn't been heard from since.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-middle-east-syria-journalists-bashar-assad-f7e100380b1bc75c3c895858db9edbc5">Assad's government had denied</a>&nbsp;that it was holding him.

Missouri man imprisoned in Syria calls release from prison a 'blessing'

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a series of package thefts in the Kansas City area have arrested 41-year-old Matthew T. Robinson of Excelsior Springs.

Last week, the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff's office asked for help to locate a second suspect in a string of Kansas City area package thefts that took place over the Thanksgiving holidays and the weekend that followed.&nbsp; On Wednesday, the sheriff's office reported Robinson's arrest.

He has now been charged with one count of felony theft and one count of felony possession of a controlled substance in the case.

 These are the same charges faced by his accomplice, 24-year-old Kayley Worthington. She was arrested Monday and remains in custody. At the time of her arrest Robinson was at the home but managed to escape.&nbsp;

Robinson has numerous other warrants for his arrest, as well. If you know where Matthew Robinson is, please call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477) You can remain anonymous and get a cash reward through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KCCrimeStoppers?__cft__[0]=AZUKh1jMBu3_Bx6ZVdbBSkCULGv2gzzuJDOVg_m5XXKYT-yi69FSvSVR6-jJ4H4X-sJ2i5IYxaxLnecL5l9MKUzM_NZKcG2YrPMJTseXJQVUrWgG6iyZ0rwsO9qUlgoEwG_IoMdxCx34K7oBIfP3ffYXUqGQ2BOcgU0vEsICi4jbdKjeQBDWAFRI5Dkt3_4OUX0&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers</a>.&nbsp;

Detectives have now identified 12 victims, but many of the stolen items recovered remain unclaimed. Clay County residents who had a package stolen last week are urged to make a report with their local police department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733275672983.png" alt="Worthington photo Clay County" />
 <figcaption>Worthington photo Clay County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a series of package thefts in the Kansas City area have arrested 41-year-old Matthew T. Robinson of Excelsior Springs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733957460454.png" alt="Robinson-photo Clay Co." />
 <figcaption>Robinson-photo Clay Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Last week, the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff's office asked for help to locate a second suspect in a string of Kansas City area package thefts that took place over the Thanksgiving holidays and the weekend that followed.&nbsp; On Wednesday, the sheriff's office reported Robinson's arrest.He has now been charged with one count of felony theft and one count of felony possession of a controlled substance in the case. These are the same charges faced by his accomplice, 24-year-old Kayley Worthington. She was arrested Monday and remains in custody. At the time of her arrest Robinson was at the home but managed to escape.&nbsp; Robinson has numerous other warrants for his arrest, as well. If you know where Matthew Robinson is, please call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477) You can remain anonymous and get a cash reward through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KCCrimeStoppers?__cft__[0]=AZUKh1jMBu3_Bx6ZVdbBSkCULGv2gzzuJDOVg_m5XXKYT-yi69FSvSVR6-jJ4H4X-sJ2i5IYxaxLnecL5l9MKUzM_NZKcG2YrPMJTseXJQVUrWgG6iyZ0rwsO9qUlgoEwG_IoMdxCx34K7oBIfP3ffYXUqGQ2BOcgU0vEsICi4jbdKjeQBDWAFRI5Dkt3_4OUX0&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers</a>.&nbsp;Detectives have now identified 12 victims, but many of the stolen items recovered remain unclaimed. Clay County residents who had a package stolen last week are urged to make a report with their local police department.

Police capture Kansas City area porch pirate accomplice

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon with a history of crime including his involvement in a 2019 fatal crash in a stolen SUV that killed two people&nbsp;

Last week, a jury found 44-year-old Christopher English guilty of first-degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In December of 2020, police responded to a shooting call at a residence in the 1800 block of South Main in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.

Upon arrival, they located 49-year-old Michael Horn with a gunshot wound to his head. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he died.&nbsp; In July of 2022, police arrested English in connection with Horn's murder.

In 2019, English was on parole and a passenger in a stolen BMW sport utility vehicle driven by Mia Collins who led officers on a chase. After about one mile, the car collided with a car and another SUV at an intersection.

The crash killed 70-year-old Maria Wood and 12-year-old Rosemary McElroy and critically injured 36-year-old Jenny Wood, a popular Wichita musician known for performing with children.&nbsp; Collins was sentenced to life in prison.

English has previous convictions for drugs and weapons, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; &nbsp;He will be sentenced on Jan. 10, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659213439450.png" alt="English-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>English-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon with a history of crime including his involvement in a 2019 fatal crash in a stolen SUV that killed two people&nbsp;Last week, a jury found 44-year-old Christopher English guilty of first-degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In December of 2020, police responded to a shooting call at a residence in the 1800 block of South Main in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.Upon arrival, they located 49-year-old Michael Horn with a gunshot wound to his head. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he died.&nbsp; In July of 2022, police arrested English in connection with Horn's murder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733836413213.png" alt="Collins-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Collins-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>In 2019, English was on parole and a passenger in a stolen BMW sport utility vehicle driven by Mia Collins who led officers on a chase. After about one mile, the car collided with a car and another SUV at an intersection.The crash killed 70-year-old Maria Wood and 12-year-old Rosemary McElroy and critically injured 36-year-old Jenny Wood, a popular Wichita musician known for performing with children.&nbsp; Collins was sentenced to life in prison.English has previous convictions for drugs and weapons, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; &nbsp;He will be sentenced on Jan. 10, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man with a history of crime found guilty of murder

On Thursday President Joseph R. Biden granted clemency consisting of 39 pardons and 1,499 commutations.&nbsp;It's the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/12/clemency-recipient-list-7/">Click here to read the list</a>&nbsp; of 1,499&nbsp; commutations.

The list of the 39 individuals pardoned is below.

Nina Simona Allen is a 49-year-old woman who was convicted of a non-violent offense in her 20s. In the years since, Ms. Allen returned to school to earn a post-baccalaureate degree and two master’s degrees. She now works in the field of education. Ms. Allen strengthens her community by volunteering at a local soup kitchen and at a nursing home. Ms. Allen is described by people who know her as a dependable, hardworking woman of integrity.

KELSIE LYNN BECKLIN – Falcon Heights, Minnesota

Kelsie Lynn Becklin is a 38-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense at the age of 21. After successfully serving her sentence, Ms. Becklin has furthered her education and recently completed a Ph.D. program. In addition to her graduate program research and academic writing, Ms. Becklin mentors previously incarcerated individuals who also seek to pursue higher education. She is also an active volunteer in her community. Friends and professors attest to her work ethic, dedication, and genuine care for others.

Duran Arthur Brown is a 44-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense. Mr. Brown received early termination of his probationary sentence and has advanced his education and maintained consistent employment in the field of education. Mr. Brown is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and during his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and several other medals and awards. Following his honorable discharge, Mr. Brown served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He is described by colleagues as caring and compassionate.

Norman O’Neal Brown is a 56-year-old man who was convicted of non-violent drug offenses when he was 22 years old. If Mr. Brown had been sentenced under current law and today’s sentencing practices, he likely would have received a shorter sentence. After serving over 20 years in prison, President Obama commuted his sentence in 2015. Since then, Mr. Brown has worked with several non-profit organizations, including those focused on rehabilitation, reentry, and justice-impacted youth. Mr. Brown volunteers at several national and community-based organizations that help support incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated people and serves as a board member for a non-profit dedicated to sentencing reform. Family members and colleagues describe Mr. Brown as a man of grace and integrity and an exceptional human being.

ARTHUR LAWRENCE BYRD – Clinton, Maryland

Arthur Lawrence Byrd is a 58-year-old man who pleaded guilty to non-violent offenses at the age of 23. In the years since, Mr. Byrd has been employed as an equipment operator, where he has received various certificates in recognition and appreciation for his work and safety record. He is also active in his church community and contributes to the church’s coat drive and food pantry. People who know him attest to his willingness to help others, his work ethic, and his character.

SARAH JEAN CARLSON – Coon Rapids, Minnesota

Sarah Jean Carlson is a 49-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense. She received early termination of her probationary sentence. Since then, she has furthered her education and worked in addiction counseling at a faith-based rehabilitation center. Ms. Carlson also volunteers in her local community and at her church. Community members emphasize that Ms. Carlson goes above and beyond to help as many people in crisis as possible.

BRANDON SERGIO CASTROFLAY – Alexandria, Virginia

Brandon Sergio Castroflay is a 49-year-old man who pleaded guilty to non-violent, drug-related offenses at age 21. After successfully completing his sentence, Mr. Castroflay continued his career in the U.S. Army and then went on to work as a civilian for both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Castroflay received multiple awards related to his work. He also took night classes to earn a bachelor’s degree while also working full-time. Mr. Castroflay volunteers for several charitable organizations that support Gold Star families and wounded service members. Mr. Castroflay has been described as exceptionally hard working, dedicated, and trustworthy by those who know him.

ROSETTA JEAN DAVIS – Colville, Washington

Rosetta Jean Davis is a 60-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to non-violent drug offenses. After successfully serving her sentence, Ms. Davis has maintained steady employment, including by working as a peer supporter for those struggling with substance abuse. Colleagues, family, friends, and neighbors all speak highly of her, citing her hard work, dependability, and willingness to serve as an example of rehabilitation to those with criminal records or who are battling addiction.

Stevoni Wells Doyle is a 47-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to non-violent offenses at the age of 24. After her conviction, she completed a master’s program and has worked as a licensed substance use disorder counselor. She volunteers in her community and fosters animals. Community members describe her as a great mentor and a person of integrity.

GREGORY S. EKMAN – Fountain Valley, California

Gregory S. Ekman is a 58-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a non-violent drug offense at the age of 25. After successfully serving his sentence, Mr. Ekman has maintained consistent employment and has engaged in extensive community service, including with a youth group and with his local church. Friends and associates uniformly praise his character, honesty, and dedication to family. During his U.S. Air Force service, Mr. Ekman received the Training Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and Air Force Longevity Service Award.

SHANNAN RAE FAULKNER – Muldrow, Oklahoma

Shannan Rae Faulkner is a 56-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a non-violent drug offense. After successfully serving her sentence, she furthered her education and now works as a counselor and recovery coach with female trauma victims and people with disabilities. Ms. Faulkner also volunteers with organizations dedicated to preventing sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as with local charities. Colleagues attest to her inspirational character, her integrity, and the remarkable impact she makes on the lives of those she helps.

TRYNITHA FULTON – New Orleans, Louisiana

Trynitha Fulton is a 46-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to non-violent offenses she committed when she was 23 years old. Since her conviction, she has earned a master’s degree and worked in the education field. Ms. Fulton also contributes to her community by coaching and volunteering, including for an organization that feeds homeless individuals. She also founded two non-profits dedicated to supporting and helping youth. Ms. Fulton has been described as someone who goes above and beyond for her community.

PAUL JOHN GARCIA – Las Vegas, New Mexico

Paul John Garcia is a 72-year-old man who pleaded guilty to non-violent theft offenses. Since his conviction, he has maintained steady employment in the medical field. Mr. Garcia engages in community service, including with a charity supporting and mentoring youth. Mr. Garcia is a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy, where he received the National Defense Service Medal and other medals and awards. He is known for his extraordinary and compassionate delivery of patient care and his volunteerism.

Kim Douglas Haman is a 75-year-old man who pleaded guilty to non-violent offenses. Mr. Haman is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served in the Vietnam War and earned awards, including the U.S. Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged. After his conviction, Mr. Haman worked at a vehicle parts production facility and retired after 16 years of service. Mr. Haman has gained the reputation of being an excellent handyman and a devoted family man who is sincere, honest, and hardworking.

SHERRANDA JANELL HARRIS – Norwalk, Connecticut

Sherranda Janell Harris is a 43-year-old woman who was convicted of a non-violent drug offense when she was 24 years old. In the years since, Ms. Harris has maintained employment in the finance and real estate fields. Ms. Harris is an engaged parent and spends most of her free time with her child. She is also committed to her church and has taken care of fellow parishioners. Ms. Harris has been described as a role model for young women in her community.

TERENCE ANTHONY JACKSON – Seattle, Washington

Terence Anthony Jackson is a 36-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a non-violent drug offense he committed when he was 23 years old. If Mr. Jackson had been sentenced under current law and sentencing practices, he would have likely received a shorter sentence. In the years since his release, Mr. Jackson has worked in the legal industry and is pursuing a degree while he works full-time. In addition to studying, Mr. Jackson has volunteered in his community, including as a barber to children in need. He is described by those who know him as dependable and caring and as someone who always tries to help others.

Edwin Allen Jones is a 60-year-old man who pleaded guilty to non-violent drug offenses. Mr. Jones served in the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of Captain before being honorably discharged. Since successfully completing his sentence, Mr. Jones has had a notable legal career. Mr. Jones also participates in local government and volunteers for addiction recovery groups. Mr. Jones is described by community members as thoughtful, forward thinking, and trustworthy.

JAMAL LEE KING – North Ridgeville, Ohio

Jamal Lee King is a 53-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense. Mr. King is a U.S. Army veteran. He received the National Defense Service Medal and several other awards before being honorably discharged. He received early termination of his probationary sentence and has since worked in various jobs. Mr. King contributes to his community through his church and by caring for his elderly neighbors. His community members describe him as trustworthy and honest.

JERRY DONALD MANNING – Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Jerry Donald Manning is a 70-year-old man who was convicted of non-violent offenses. Mr. Manning received early termination of his probationary sentence and has since advanced his education and career in aviation. He is active in his community, coaching soccer, attending church, and serving as a bible study teacher. Mr. Manning is a veteran of the U.S. Army. While in service, he was awarded a medal during Operation Desert Storm, and was honorably discharged. Friends and colleagues attest to his character, describing him as a good, honest man and a great leader.

HONI LORI MOORE – Rock Springs, Wyoming

Honi Lori Moore is a 46-year-old woman who committed a non-violent drug offense when she was 19 years old. Since her release, she has maintained consistent employment in the mining industry and has furthered her education by earning certificates. Ms. Moore is a member of two charitable organizations and has provided critical support to individuals in need, including fire safety, rescue, and first aid. Friends, neighbors, and colleagues describe Ms. Moore as honest, courageous, trustworthy, and dependable.

EMILY GOOD NELSON – Indianapolis, Indiana

Emily Good Nelson is a 39-year-old woman who was convicted of non-violent drug offenses when she was 19 years old. Since her release, she completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and now works in the healthcare field. She has spoken publicly about drug use and has volunteered as a counselor at an in-patient psychiatric facility. She is described as kind, committed to recovery and helping others, and as someone with tremendous talent and ability.

DENITA NICOLE PARKER – Gaffney, South Carolina

Denita Nicole Parker is a 43-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense when she was in her 20s. Since her conviction, she has been a dedicated parent to her two children and works full-time. Ms. Parker also volunteers with a charitable organization delivering meals at least two to three times per month, organizes donations for the homeless, and buys holiday gifts for children in her community. She and her husband also started a program that feeds approximately 100 families. Friends, work associates, and neighbors describe Ms. Parker as law-abiding, trustworthy, dependable, and dedicated person.

MICHAEL GARY PELLETIER – Augusta, Maine

Michael Gary Pelletier is a 67-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense. Mr. Pelletier served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 14 years on active duty, where he participated in more than 790 search and rescue operations and saved 32 lives. He also previously worked with the U.S. Secret Service and received several citations and awards for his meritorious service. He was honorably discharged and later served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. After his conviction, Mr. Pelletier worked for almost 20 years at a water treatment facility. He volunteered for his county HAZMAT team, assisting first responders at hazardous material spills, accidents, and natural disasters. Additionally, he has grown vegetables for a local soup kitchen and volunteered at an organization supporting wounded veterans and their families. Friends, colleagues, and those who know Mr. Pelletier describe him has honest, dependable, and committed to his country and community.

RUSSELL THOMAS PORTNER – Toutle, Washington

Russell Thomas Portner is a 74-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a non-violent drug offense. Mr. Portner served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged after earning several decorations, including the Bronze Star. Since his conviction, he married, raised four children, operated a successful business, and developed a reputation for charitable generosity and community service. He is currently a member of several veterans organizations. Neighbors, business associates, and friends describe him as trustworthy, loyal, and as a respected businessperson.

NATHANIEL DAVID REED III – San Antonio, Texas

Nathaniel David Reed III is a 46-year-old man who was convicted of non-violent offenses at the age of 21. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years after his conviction, including many overseas deployments, and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant and earned numerous good conduct awards before retiring with an honorable discharge. Mr. Reed has volunteered for numerous causes benefitting both the U.S. Air Force and the civilian community, such as training local firefighters, teaching fire prevention in various settings, and organizing fire prevention weeks. He has also served as a certified sexual assault prevention and response advocate and has used his experience in overcoming the stigma of his conviction to help mentor fellow airmen. Friends, neighbors, and former U.S. Air Force colleagues consistently describe Mr. Reed as highly motivated, reliable, patient, family-oriented, trustworthy, patriotic, dependable, upstanding, honest, hardworking, and personable.

GARY MICHAEL ROBINSON – Redmond, Oregon

Gary Michael Robinson is a 70-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a non-violent drug offense. Mr. Robinson is a distinguished U.S. Army veteran. During his service, he earned the National Defense Service Medal and other awards. He was honorably discharged and served as a reservist for several years. Since his conviction, he has built a successful firefighting and habitat preservation business. He volunteers in his community, gives regularly to charity, and is well-regarded by friends and associates. Mr. Robinson is described by those who know him as honest, trustworthy, and professional.

JOSE ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ – Coral Springs, Florida

Jose Antonio Rodriguez is a 55-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense at the age of 26. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy and received several medals and awards for his service, including the U.S. Navy Achievement Medal. Since his conviction, Mr. Rodriguez has started a family, committed himself to higher education, and has maintained employment in the medical field. Colleagues and friends describe Mr. Rodriguez as compassionate, empathetic, and dedicated to treating patients.

PATRICE CHANTE SELLERS – Bear, Delaware

Patrice Chante Sellers is a 49-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a non-violent drug offense when she was in her 20s. If Ms. Sellers had been sentenced under current law and sentencing practice, she likely would not have been prosecuted federally. Since her conviction, Ms. Sellers enrolled in school, earning multiple certifications and licenses. She gives back to her community by donating clothing and toiletries to a transitional housing program and offering encouragement to its residents. Community members describe Ms. Sellers as someone who goes above and beyond for others.

AUDREY DIANE SIMONE (AUDREY CLARK) – Prescott, Wisconsin

Audrey Diane Simon is a 63-year-old woman who was convicted of a non-violent offense. In the years since, Ms. Simon has worked in the field of addiction recovery and earned a bachelor’s degree and a permanent counseling license. She also contributes to her community through her church where she serves as a deacon and works in the church’s prison ministry. Community members describe her as inspirational, trustworthy, positive, and caring.

James Russell Stidd is a 79-year-old man who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense at the age of 20. After his conviction, he served in the U.S. Air Force until he was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. He reenlisted and served another four years, including during the Vietnam War, and was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant. Upon being honorably discharged, Mr. Stidd worked as a contractor and as a road and park maintenance worker. He has participated in various charitable activities through his church and is a member of a disabled veterans organization. Mr. Stidd is described as a man of integrity and honor.

DIANA BAZAN VILLANUEVA – La Grange, Illinois

Diana Bazan Villanueva is a 51-year-old woman who was convicted of a non-violent drug offense in her 20s. In the years since, Ms. Villanueva has been a dedicated mother to her children and has worked in payroll and accounts. Ms. Villanueva also regularly volunteers at school events, fundraisers, and annual autism-related charitable events. Friends and coworkers uniformly praise Ms. Villanueva and describe her as warm, reliable, and always eager to help.

LASHAWN MARRVINIA WALKER – Minneapolis, MinnesotaLashawn Marrvinia Walker is a 51-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to non-violent drug offenses in her 20s. Ms. Walker received early termination of her probationary sentence for her exemplary probation record. Since then, Ms. Walker has worked in the healthcare field, is an engaged parent, and regularly assists others in her community, including during the holidays when she helps serve dinner at a retirement home. People in her community describe Ms. Walker as caring, good-hearted, and responsible. They also note her willingness to meaningfully help others.

MIREYA AIMEE WALMSLEY – La Porte, Texas

Mireya Aimee Walmsley is a 57-year-old woman who was convicted of a non-violent offense at the age of 25. Since her conviction, she has earned an associate’s degree, a nursing license, and a bachelor’s degree. She has maintained steady employment in the healthcare field. Additionally, she has led emergency response teams during several natural disasters (including Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, and Harvey, and Tropical Storm Allison) and spearheaded vaccination efforts during the H1N1 epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic. Her contributions to public health have been recognized on numerous occasions. She has been commended for her loyalty, integrity, compassion for people of all backgrounds, and is universally described as honest and steadfast in crisis.

KIMBERLY JO WARNER – Portville, New York

Kimberly Jo Warner is a 54-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense. Since her conviction, Ms. Warner earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and works in the healthcare field. She has volunteered at a non-profit that provides therapeutic services to veterans and first responders and serves as a mentor. She also participates in the Gold Star Wives Program and speaks at the local veterans organization meetings. Ms. Warner has been described as positive, empathetic, caring, and nurturing by those who know her.

JOHNNIE EARL WILLIAMS – Denver, Colorado

Johnnie Earl Williams is a 58-year-old man who was convicted of a non-violent offense. In the years since, Mr. Williams has worked as a criminal justice specialist and addiction counselor. He gives back to his community through volunteering and serving in his church. Mr. Williams has received many awards for his charitable work, including an award that honors individuals who work with young men of color. Community members describe Mr. Williams as honest, loyal, and compassionate.

SHAWNTE DOROTHEA WILLIAMS – Columbia, South Carolina

Shawnte Dorothea Williams is a 45-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a non-violent drug offense in her 20s. In the years since, Ms. Williams has been steadily employed in several fields. Ms. Williams is involved in her community, working in her church’s food pantry and serving as a greeter on Sunday mornings. Ms. Williams has been described by those who know her as a loyal and dependable community member.

LASHUNDRA TENNEAL WILSON – Arlington, Texas

Lashundra Tenneal Wilson is a 49-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a non-violent offense she committed when she was a teenager. In the years since, Ms. Wilson pursued her education and has worked in the healthcare field. Ms. Wilson gives back to the community by volunteering at community health fairs and raising funds for non-profit health organizations. Ms. Wilson has been praised for her work ethic, trustworthiness, and dependability by community members.

Lora Nicole Wood is a 39-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to a non-violent drug offense when she was 19 years old. Since her release, Ms. Wood has maintained steady employment and is an engaged parent. She has spent time volunteering with animal welfare and canine therapy service organizations and has organized food drives and fundraisers. Ms. Wood has been praised her work ethic, devotion to her children, and volunteer endeavors.