The not-guilty plea of a man accused of killing Poway teenager Chelsea King took only a few minutes Wednesday, but it signaled the start of a lengthy courtroom saga that could lead to the death penalty.

John Albert Gardner III, 30, a registered sex offender from Lake Elsinore, has been charged with murder during a rape or attempted rape in Chelsea’s slaying, a special-circumstance allegation that allows prosecutors to seek capital punishment. Gardner also faces a charge of assault with intent to rape in an attack on a woman in December. (READ MORE)
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When Robert J. Ekas decided to exercise his right to free speech, he didn't open his mouth.  He hoisted his middle finger.  His single-digit protests, aimed at Clackamas County sheriff's deputies last year, resulted in verbal showdowns, traffic tickets and, ultimately, a federal lawsuit.  Giving a police officer the finger may be a rude and ill-advised gesture, but it is not against the law, legal experts say. (READ MORE)
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Today's Handel on the News "Big Pile" Selections




She had the curves of Venus de Milo, but her bare bosom drew an icy reception. Cops ordered a New Jersey family to cover up their saucy snowlady after receiving a complaint that the frosty front yard figure was X-rated. (READ MORE)