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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Accused kidnapper pleads not guilty

The Spokesman-Review

The woman accused of slashing a new mother’s throat and kidnapping her baby whispered not guilty to the charges and convulsed in sobs during her arraignment Thursday.

Shannon Torrez, in handcuffs, spoke only in hushed tones before the Franklin County court. Her legs shook as she stood to enter pleas to charges of kidnapping, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action.

Prosecutors say Torrez, 36, abducted then-7-day-old Abigale Lynn Woods on Sept. 15 after slashing the throat of the infant’s mother, 21-year-old Stephenie Ochsenbine. They allege that she tried to pass the newborn off as her own for five days before her sister-in-law became suspicious.

Cincinnati

Diet supplements maker indicted

The maker of dietary supplements that claim to improve everything from sexuality to memory defrauded thousands of customers and banks of at least $100 million, federal authorities say.

A federal indictment names Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, its owner and president, Steven Warshak, and five other individuals, including Warshak’s mother, on charges that include conspiracy, money laundering, and mail, wire and bank fraud. They are accused by federal authorities of luring customers with free-trial offers and money-back guarantees, then billing their credit cards without authorization.

Warshak, who has 107 counts against him, denies the accusations.

The company is known for its “Smiling Bob” ads that depict a man whose life gets better after he uses the company’s Enzyte for “natural male enhancement.”

Santa Rosa, Calif.

Karr rejects deal on porn charges

One-time JonBenet Ramsey murder suspect John Mark Karr rejected a deal from prosecutors that would have freed him on probation in exchange for a guilty plea on child pornography charges, his lawyer said Thursday.

“My client has maintained his innocence throughout these proceedings, and he is not going to plead guilty to a crime that he did not commit,” Karr’s attorney, Robert Amparan, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The deal, presented Tuesday, would have waived three of the five misdemeanor child pornography possession charges against Karr if he pleaded guilty to the two remaining ones. He would get credit for time served, would be placed on probation for three years and would be required to register as a sex offender.