This week marks the capture of the last member of the Symbionese Liberation Army, or SLA, who had

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skipped out before she could stand trial in 1976.  Kathleen Soliah, who when arrested had changed her name to Sara Jane Olsen, was one of the women who played a role in not only kidnapping Patty Hearst, but who is also at least partly responsible for several murders and bank robberies.

After being showcased on America’s Most Wanted in 1999, several people who lived in the St. Paul, MN area called in tips that finally brought her out of hiding and back into the spotlight to stand trial.  After having gone from hostage to SLA member, Patty Hearst drove the getaway car during a bank robbery in California where one woman was killed during the heist.  She was the one who said Soliah was in the bank when the bank customer was killed.  A few months later, a bomb was placed under a police car but never detonated.  It didn’t take long to figure out the SLA was behind it as well.  During this time, Soliah patiently waited for the right time to make her escape.  Before she ever stood trial, she’d dropped off the radar.  When she was arrested in MN, she was the epitome of an American soccer mom and doctor’s wife.  She led several local charities and was a community advocate for many projects within the St. Paul area.  With her pleasant domesticated life and the fact she is an excellent mother and wife, it was difficult to reconcile this woman with the one in the 1970s who played such a big role in so much destruction and tragedy.

After she was brought back to California, her lawyer managed to work out an agreement with the district attorney that meant her only having to serve five years in prison.  The Board of Prison Terms decided it wasn’t an acceptable sentence and promptly upped it to fourteen years.  Naturally, a judge overturned it later and said the board abused its discretion.  But this first sentencing had nothing to do with the deal her lawyers would have to negotiate for her role in the bank robbery.  She ended up with an additional six years.  She’s still in prison, but should be set free within the next twelve months.

Once again, New Orleans has reclaimed the unwanted title of the nation’s murder capital.  The FBI released its statistics this week and after losing this title for a year, it’s found itself at the top yet again.  With 64 killings per 100,000 people, it comes in well ahead of St. Louis, in second place, with 47 murders per 100,000.

No city wants this title, but New Orleans has had an especially tough time over the past several years.

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Hurricane Katrina’s devastating effects remain, both on a physical and psychological level, unemployment rates have never recovered and are still incredibly high and of course, poverty runs rampant in one of the most beautiful and historical cities this country has to offer.

2008 looked promising for the city.  Murder rates were down nearly 15% at the end of the year with a total of 179.  That was a decrease of 31 murders from 2007.  Hopes were high as the city struggled to move forward, despite its violent reputation.  The fact populations numbers were on the rise, even as the murders were declining only added to that hope.

2008 also brought an increase in the number of police officers on the city’s force and with that, city officials were hoping for a continued trend in the decrease.  Unfortunately, that simply didn’t pan out and now, once again, leaders struggle to not only understand why, but how they can begin to see those numbers decrease.

As time moves forward, so does progress as this southern city works to reestablish its court systems.  New buildings are still being constructed four years after Katrina and new infrastructures are being developed as well.  Hopefully, with federal funding and a continued commitment among the residents and police officials, New Orleans can finally shed its unwanted title and can work to become a favorite vacation or retirement area.  For those who’ve never visited New Orleans, you owe it to yourselves to see the historic cemeteries, churches and other landmarks.  And, too, you’ve not lived until you’ve survived a night on Bourbon Street and witnessed the personalities and charm that makes New Orleans…well, New Orleans.

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“An extraordinary violation of trust” is how a U.S. District judge referred to an accountant who received only one year and a day in prison for stealing over five million dollars from his clients.  His lawyer negotiated this peachy sentence because of his cooperation in the prosecution of two former New York cops who were involved in mob killings and other crimes.

Stephen Corso agreed to wear a wire and serve as an informant for the federal government in 2004 and 2005.  The judge acknowledged the danger he allowed himself to be put into during sentencing.  Judge Janet Hall said she considered this sacrifice and said, “I can’t find the words to describe the value, at least in my judgment, of this cooperation”.

Risking his life with this testimony allowed his attorney to negotiate this reduced sentence.  He potentially could have served seven years.

New York detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa were said to have worked for the Luchese crime family and have been accused of being involved in one of the worst cases of police corruption in history.  They were found guilty in 2006 for several murders, conspiracy and racketeering, but their judgment was dismissed because of a statute of limitations that had passed for part of their convictions, namely the conspiracy charges.  A federal court reinstated the convictions last year.  These two former cops are now in prison.

Corso says he spent the stolen money on girlfriends and jewelry as he traveled back and forth to Vegas.  Many of the taped conversations that were a part of convicting the two former New York detectives were gathered in casino hotels.  Corso’s family friends weren’t safe either; he stole over $800,000 from them.  Part of his sentencing includes restitution from those he stole from.  His formal sentencing is scheduled for May 6^th and is expected to enter some kind of protection program after he’s released from prison.