Nation in brief: Boy enters plea in shooting

A 9-year-old boy accused of methodically shooting his father and his father’s roommate to death last fall pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of negligent homicide, settling the case that shocked and mystified the nation.

Under a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty in the death of the roommate and charges of premeditated murder for both deaths were dropped. Police said the boy used a .22-caliber rifle to shoot the men as they returned home from work Nov. 5.

The boy’s plea spares the rural community of about 4,000 from what would have been an emotional trial and prevents the boy from serving time in the state juvenile corrections system or being tried as an adult.

He was polite in court and was never asked to explain any motive for the killings.

The boy has not yet been sentenced. He could be sent to the county juvenile system, which would keep him close to his relatives. Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting wants the boy to undergo extensive mental evaluations and treatment, an option allowed by the plea agreement.

Fredericksburg, Va.

Billionaire tracked down, served

FBI agents tracked down billionaire R. Allen Stanford at the Virginia home of an acquaintance Thursday and served him with legal papers in a civil case alleging he orchestrated an $8 billion fraud scam.

But there have been no criminal charges filed against him so he remains free, said FBI spokesman Richard Kolko. Neither was Stanford asked to remain in the area or in touch with federal agents, he said.

“He was served the papers and went on his way,” Kolko said. “He wasn’t hiding.”

Stanford was in Fredericksburg, Va., sitting in a car outside the home of an acquaintance, Kolko said.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint Tuesday alleging that Stanford and two other top executives of his investment empire misled depositors in a “massive fraud.” A federal judge in Texas issued search warrants and shut down the Dallas headquarters of Stanford’s global financial empire. But the SEC has said it continues to investigate Stanford and two others, Stanford International Bank Chief Financial Officer James Davis and Stanford Financial Group Chief Investment Officer Laura Pendergest-Holt.

No criminal charges have been filed nor arrest warrants issued, according to SEC and FBI officials.