Crime Time

FBI reveals once-confidential celebrity files to the public

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is opening its files into important cultural figures of the past for anyone with a computer to see.

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, the Federal Bureau of Investigation recently opened the files on public figures like Malcolm X, rock music legend Jimi Hendrix, sitcom icon Lucille Ball, and even the seemingly innocuous folk singer John Denver. 

The 359-page files on the 1997 murder of rapper Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G., has already made headlines with its disclosure of new details in the unsolved case.

The most recent files joined the likes of rock band KISS, Diana, Princess of Wales and actor Clark Gable.

Of course, the files aren't without some form of redaction so the whole picture is unlikely to ever be seen outside the people behind the investigations but it's an interesting glimpse into the FBI's fascination with celebrities and cultural figures.

-Chance Welch

Motocross champ arrested for impersonating a police officer

A motocross champion has been arrested in Florida after police say he tried to impersonate an officer when he pulled over two off-duty Highway Patrol troopers.

TV news station WKMG reports that James "Bubba" Mark Stewart, 25, dubbed the "Tiger Woods of motocross," was arrested on suspicion of impersonating an officer after he used red and blue police lights in the dashboard of his 2008 Toyota Tundra truck to stop a vehicle in Osceola County.

The off-duty troopers in the vehicle had reason to believe that Stewart's pickup wasn't an undercover police vehicle and the driver identified himself as a police officer. That's when authorities say Stewart went back to his truck and sped off.

Police caught up with Stewart and the passenger in the truck at Orlando International Airport, where they were both arrested. Stewart's passenger, Thames Jehrrod Quinalt, 44, faces a charge of tampering with evidence after he allegedly hid the blue and red lights in his luggage.

Stewart bonded out of jail.

Stewart's list of accomplishments in motocross include 11 American Motorcyclist Association Amateur National titles and the AMA 125 Motocross National Championship he won in 2004.

He also stars in a reality TV show called "Bubba's World," currently airing on Fuel TV.

-Chance Welch

Prosecutor of Paris Hilton and Bruno Mars busted for buying cocaine

The Las Vegas deputy district attorney who prosecuted socialite Paris Hilton and singer Bruno Mars for cocaine possession is now facing charges of ... cocaine possession.

News service Reuters reports that Clark County Deputy District Attorney David Schubert, 47, was arrested in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon after allegedly buying a rock of cocaine.

Police arrested Schubert after he was followed to an apartment complex where he had another man buy $40 worth of cocaine for him, reports said. The man later told police that Schubert would have him buy cocaine several times a week.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger told reporters that Schubert had been assigned to a state and federal drug task force.

Schubert was booked on one count of cocaine possession and was released Sunday after posting bail. He has been suspended pending his termination.

Paris Hilton, 30, was arrested last August after police found cocaine in her purse. Singer Bruno Mars, real name Peter Hernandez, was arrested in September after a bathroom attendant at the Hard Rock Hotel spotted him with a bag of white powder.

- Chance Welch

Pop singer accused of rape released for lack of evidence

The popular Mexican pop singer Kalimba -- jailed on rape charges -- was released from police custody Thursday by a judge who ruled there was insufficient evidence for a trial, CNN reported.

Kalimba Maichal Ibar had been accused of raping a 17-year-girl at a hotel in the state of Quintana Roo in December.

He was arrested last week in El Paso, Texas, and deported to Mexico for an immigration violation, CNN reported.

-- Lance Murray

Deputy: Arkansas legislator chased at 100 mph, but not ticketed

An Arkansas state senator got nothing but a tongue-lashing from a deputy sheriff on Monday after leading the deputy on a chase that the officer said topped 100 mph, 4029TV.com reported.

Why just a scolding, you ask?

Well, the deputy thought the state constitution exempted state lawmakers from arrest, even though a 2003 AG's opinion said they can be ticketed and arrested for criminal offenses.

The senator, Bruce Holland, of Greenwood, said he didn't know the deputy was chasing him and that he had no idea how fast he was going, but said it wasn't 100 mph,  4029TV.com reported.

-- Lance Murray

U.S. deports Mexican pop singer Kalimba, who's facing sex assault charge

U.S. and Mexican authorities say that Mexican pop-singing sensation Kalimba was arrested Thursday at El Paso International Airport and returned to Mexico where is facing sexual assault charges.

U.S. authorities said that Kalimba Marichal Ibar, 28, was taken into custody because he lacked the proper documents to travel in the United States.

He was sent back to Mexico at the Zaragosa bridge southeast of El Paso late Thursday night, Mexican officials told the El Paso Times.

He's facing sexual assault charges in connection with the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl at a hotel in Chetumal, the capital of Quintana Roo state. Kalimba has denied the charges and previously said he would cooperate with the investigation, the El Paso Times reported.

-- Lance Murray

Documents: Ex-weatherwoman says stress led her to file false rape report

The former New York television weatherwoman told police that the stress of work, family and her life made her make up a story that a man had tried to rape her while jogging, the New York Daily News reported.

Former WABC-TV weatherwoman Heidi Jones appeared in court Wednesday where whe was formally charged with make false reports to police -- two misdemeanor counts that could land her in prison for up a year, if she's convicted.

Jones didn't talk during Wednesday's hearing, but in a criminal complaint, prosecutors detail what she told investigators.

"I did make this up. I made it up for attention. I have so much stress at work, with my personal life and with my family. I know there is no justification for it," Jones told police on Dec. 13, according to court papers, the Daily News reported.

Jones, who also did fill-in work on Good Morning America, was fired from her job at WABC.

-- Lance Murray

'Teen Mom' TV star arrested on domestic assault charges

The legal problems for reality TV star Amber Portwood of "Teen Mom" fame are anything but over.

Portwood, 20, was arrested Monday and booked into jail on felony domestic violence charges, TMZ reported.

The charges stem from her videotaped assault on former fiancee Gary Shirley that actually aired during an episode of the show. 

She was shown punching, slapping and kicking Shirley as he tried to leave their residence.

Portwood has been charged with two counts of domestic battery and one count of neglect of a dependent, TMZ reported.  She also has been charged with one misdemeanor count of domestic battery, TMZ reported.

Sometimes reality TV can get a little too real.

-- Lance Murray

Ex-TV chef sentenced for soliciting men to kill his wife

A former TV chef has been sentenced to nine years in prison for soliciting two homeless men to kill his wife, the Associated Press reported.

Juan-Carlos Cruz, who used to host "Calorie Commando" on the Food Network had pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year, the AP reported.

At Monday's hearing, Cruz smiled and winked at his wife, the AP reported.

-- Lance Murray

Immigrant convicted in 2001 killing of Chandra Levy

Nearly a decade from the time the crime occurred, a jury in Washington, D.C., convicted a Salvadoran immigrant of killing government intern Chandra Levy in 2001.

The jury deliberated a little under three days to reach it verdict.

Ingmar Guandique received two first-degree murder convictions and could face a possible 30 years to life in prison. The District of Columbia does not imposed the death penalty. He had been accused in a number of attacks in the area.

Levy, who had just finished an internship at the Bureau of Prisons, was killed May 1, 2001 in Rock Creek Park. The case drew national attention and led to the political downfall of California Congressman Gary Condit.

He was considered a person of interest in Levy's disappearance in the months before her decomposed body was found.  Evidence of Condit's DNA being found on a pair of underwear in Levy's apartment supported the long-held belief that she had an affair with Condit.

During his testimony in Guandique's trial, Condit would not admit to any affair with Levy, the Associated Press reported.

-- Lance Murray