In brief: General charged with sex crimes

Fort Bragg, N.C. – An Army brigadier general who served five combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan has been charged with forcible sodomy, multiple counts of adultery and having inappropriate relationships with several female subordinates, two U.S. defense officials said Wednesday.

The defense officials spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to provide details on the case.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair faces possible courts-martial on charges that include forced sex, wrongful sexual conduct, violating an order, possessing pornography and alcohol while deployed, and misusing a government travel charge card and filing fraudulent claims.

Sinclair, who served as deputy commander in charge of logistics and support for the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan, was sent home in May because of the allegations, the officials said.

Police to check out Hoffa driveway tip

Detroit – Investigators will take soil samples from the ground beneath a suburban Detroit driveway after a man told police he believes he witnessed the burial of missing Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa about 35 years ago, police said Wednesday.

Roseville Police Chief James Berlin said his department received a tip from a man who said he saw a body buried approximately 35 years ago and “thinks it may have been Jimmy he saw interred.”

“We are not claiming it’s Jimmy Hoffa, the timeline doesn’t add up,” Berlin said. “We’re investigating a body that may be at the location.”

Hoffa was last seen on July 30, 1975, outside a suburban Detroit restaurant where he was supposed to meet with a New Jersey Teamsters boss and a Detroit Mafia captain.

Florida man offers gator pool parties

Madeira Beach, Fla. – Forget about ponies, bounce houses and clowns.

For $175, a Florida businessman is spicing up kids’ parties by bringing tiny alligators and letting them swim in clients’ pools. Bob Barrett said the gator pool parties are totally safe – the reptiles’ mouths are clamped shut with veterinary-grade tape.

He said he gives the kids a safety lesson and a science talk about gators. Barrett runs a beachside alligator attraction where people can get their photos taken with the young reptiles; he started renting the gators to parties last summer when business was slow.