Judge Rules That Taped Statement By Teen Accused Of Murdering George Weber Can Be Entered As Evidence, Las Vegas Pastor Billy Eckstine Arrested And Charged With Eleven Counts Of Sexual Abuse Committed Against Teenage Boys, Florida Department Of Children And Families Will Not Appeal Ruling Finding Thirty-Three Year Old Gay Adoption Ban Unconstitutional

Judge Jon Firetog ruled Wednesday that a videotaped statement by the defendant accused of fatally stabbing a journalist he met through a Craigslist sex ad can be entered into evidence at trial, the Associated Press reports. Judge Firetog made the ruling at hearing in Brooklyn for John Katehis, an 18 year old charged with killing 47 year old George Weber in March, 2009, the tape an admission by Katehis that Weber was stabbed as the two struggled over a knife. Judge Firetog also ruled that a written statement signed by Katehis as well as a witness who identified him from both a police line-up and photograph array can also be used at the jury trial. Weber allegedly hired the then 16 year old Katehis (who reportedly identifies as heterosexual) via Craigslist for sadomasochistic sex play that was to include bondage and choking. Weber’s body was discovered two days after his death, his body partially bound by duct tape, he had been stabbed at least fifty times. Most of the wounds were to Weber’s head, neck, and torso, but several were to hands, indicating that Weber was attempting to defend himself. Mr. Weber was a reporter for WABC in New York for twelve years. Katehis will be tried as an adult.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that a pastor of city church was arrested Friday on eleven charges of sexual abuse, five years after a similar case against his was dropped by prosecutors who cited a lack of evidence. Police Friday arrested 57 year old Billy Eckstine McCurdy, the pastor at the Revival Temple Church of God in Christ, following an eight month investigation into allegation he sexually assaulted teenage boys at his home. The new charges against McCurdy include two teenage boys who testified Thursday before a grand jury, telling that McCurdy used his position of authority and Biblical scriptures to coerce them into several sexual acts. McCurdy is being held without bail, charged with six counts of sexual assault and five counts of open or gross lewdness. The parallels between this case and that of Bishop Eddie Long of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church are as obvious as they are disturbing.

Tuesday, the Miami-Herald reported that the secretary of Florida’s Department of Children and Families George Sheldon said the agency will not appeal a ruling by the 3rd District Court of Appeal that found the state’s thirty-three-year law banning adoption by gay men and women unconstitutional, Sheldon saying “It’s clear that the District Court of Appeal decision is of state-wide application, and it will be binding on all trial courts across the state.”