SC Man sentenced for joining isis will appeal sentence
July 2nd, 2019 - The 19-year-old Ladson man that was sentenced for providing material support for ISIS will appeal his court case to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, according to a notice of appeal filed last week.
The notice was was filed at the United States District court in Charleston.
Zackaryia Abdin was 18 at the time of his arrest at Charleston International Airport. He was arrested by special agents of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force before he boarded an outbound flight from Charleston connecting to the Middle East. Prosecutors say he also recorded videos of himself vowing to wage "Jihad" against the "enemies of Allah."
He originally pleaded ‘not guilty’ but entered a guilty plea in August 2018. Abdin was sentenced to 20 years in prison that will follow by a lifetime of supervised release in June.
The notice was was filed at the United States District court in Charleston.
Zackaryia Abdin was 18 at the time of his arrest at Charleston International Airport. He was arrested by special agents of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force before he boarded an outbound flight from Charleston connecting to the Middle East. Prosecutors say he also recorded videos of himself vowing to wage "Jihad" against the "enemies of Allah."
He originally pleaded ‘not guilty’ but entered a guilty plea in August 2018. Abdin was sentenced to 20 years in prison that will follow by a lifetime of supervised release in June.
Provost search committee announces four potential candidates
Elizabeth Hudson, Aswani Volety, Deborah D. Ricker and Jason W. Osborne have been announced as finalists to become the next Elon University provost, according to the provost search committee.
All four candidates will be on campus this month for interviews and opportunities to engage with the community.
Hudson is the dean of the College of Arts, Media and Design and professor of music at Northeastern University. She will be on campus to do a presentation for the Elon community at 4:15 p.m. this Thursday in McKinnon Hall. The committee invites all community members to attend. Hudson said she "is very happy to be considered."
Volety is the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, professor of biology and marine biology and executive director of the Center for Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He will be on campus Thursday, May 16. Volety could not be reached for comment.
Ricker is the provost and vice president of academic affairs and professor of biology at Hood College. She will be on campus Monday, May 20. Ricker said it was an "honor" to meet the search committee. Ricker called Elon a "wonderful community" with "engaged faculty and students."
Osborne is the associate provost and dean of the graduate school and professor of applied statistics at Clemson University. He will be on campus Wednesday, May 22. Osbourne could not be reached for comment.
The university provost is in charge of all academic programs, including Elon’s six academic schools and the library.
This candidate announcement comes five months after current provost Steven House announced his resignation from the position. House will step down at the end of the calendar year.
The provost search committee is comprised of 20 members, including co-chairs Eric Hall, professor of exercise science, and Jean Rattigan-Rohr, professor of education and incoming vice president of the Center for Access and Success.
The committee has met five times since its formation in February. According to the search committee’s explanation on Elon's website, it hopes to make a recommendation on who to select for the next provost before Commencement later this month.
Family of Lyft passenger sueing for wrongful death
July 19, 2019, WEST ASHLEY, S.C. (WCIV) — The family of a Lyft passenger who was killed in a West Ashley crash is suing the ride-share company claiming the driver's negligence led to their family members death, the lawsuit shows.
The Lyft driver picked up Jason Lynn Williams in his 2012 Toyota RAV4 at the Kickin’ Chicken in West Ashley on March 20, 2018. Lawsuit documents show the driver allegedly made a left into oncoming traffic on Sam Rittenberg Blvd and collided with a 2008 Toyota Camry, severely injuring and eventually killing Williams in the backseat.
The driver recently finished up a shift at the Charleston Sports Pub.The summons and complaint were filed on July 15.
The family is seeking actual and punitive damages for the death, claiming wrongful death and gross negligence in the accident.
The Lyft driver picked up Jason Lynn Williams in his 2012 Toyota RAV4 at the Kickin’ Chicken in West Ashley on March 20, 2018. Lawsuit documents show the driver allegedly made a left into oncoming traffic on Sam Rittenberg Blvd and collided with a 2008 Toyota Camry, severely injuring and eventually killing Williams in the backseat.
The driver recently finished up a shift at the Charleston Sports Pub.The summons and complaint were filed on July 15.
The family is seeking actual and punitive damages for the death, claiming wrongful death and gross negligence in the accident.
Town of Elon toughens its stance on noise complaints
March 14, 2019 - Police officers are no longer required to give a verbal warning on their first notification when dispatched to a noise complaint under the Town of Elon Code of Ordinances.
Before the Code of Ordinances was passed by the Board of Aldermen in January, it was required for officers to give a verbal warning when dispatched to a house for the first time. Town of Elon Assistant Chief of Police James Perry said they went to one address 30 times without a single recorded citation.
Perry made it clear that the new ordinance won’t necessarily lead to more citations but hopefully will give people violating this ordinance a stronger incentive to comply.
“I think that there's an issue from permanent residents that we're not addressing the noise complaints,” Perry said. “People are complaining, and we are only addressing it after they complain.”
Section 13.45 in the Code of Ordinances prohibits anyone to create or be a part of ‘Unreasonable Loud and Disturbing Sound Levels.’ Residents who blast music through a speaker, play an instrument or keep an animal who makes a loud noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. violate this ordinance.
When asked why he thought this ordinance was passed, Perry said residents of Elon were fed up with unlawful noise.
“I think the citizens wanted a more permanent solution,” Perry said. “Hopefully this will give them that.”
Elon Police responded to 411 noise complaints in 2018. Perry guessed less than five of those complaints led to a citation. Perry said the department’s motive has not changed —they are still looking for voluntary compliance when responding to an unlawful noise.
“Our first instinct isn't going to be ‘write a citation,’” Perry said. “However, if we have been to your house two ...three…..., four…..., 10 times, yes we are going to start writing a citation, and hopefully that is going to get your attention because you are not complying with our ordinance.”
The noise complaints are usually from year-round town of Elon residents calling in on a college party, according to Perry. He did not give a specific number, but said nearly every time the department receives a complaint alcohol is involved.
“I would hesitate to say 100 percent, but I’m going to tell you 99 percent,” Perry said. “99 percent of the time, the reason that we get calls is because they are having a loud party and everyone is drinking.”
Student Response
Students are responding in large numbers. Elon Junior Logan Marcus started a petition to change the town ordinance. Marcus claims that the "ordinance will effectively end off-campus weekend social events" and lose prospective students. He calls the rule "overbearing" and claims that "current students and recent alumni are like not to donate" according to the petition.
The petition that started on March 12 has over 1,800 signatures and increasing. Students are sharing the petition online and on social media.
Elon University freshman Hannah Otos thinks giving out a citation on the first offense is a little unreasonable.
“I think not having a warning is kind of inhumane,” Otos said in response to the ordinance change. “You may not know how loud it is for other people.”
Otos thinks a warning should still be required because it gives people more of an incentive to comply.
“I think once you’ve been warned it’s like, ‘Oh now you know,’” Otos said. “But if you have no idea how loud you are, then I think it’s not fair.”
It was re-emphasized to Otos that the ordinance does not necessarily result in a citation on the first notification every time, but it is now allowed for the officer to give out one on the first notification.
“I still don’t think that that’s good,” Otos said. “The police officer can be having a bad day, and he can just be like, ‘I just want to get people in trouble.’”
How it Applies to the University
The town ordinance applies to Elon University, but Perry said it falls under the jurisdiction of Elon University police.
“Honestly, we haven't had that much of a conversation with the University police,” Perry said. “I don’t know if they plan on addressing this issue the same way we are.”
Perry said he plans on having that conversation with university police soon. Junior Grace Brown, an off-campus apartment tenant, agrees.
“I think that getting a warning would definitely be more helpful for a situation,” Brown said. “I feel like it’s a little unfair unless it’s a repeating occurrence or something.”
Brown said communication between the people hosting the party and the surrounding neighbors is key to not calling the cops in the first place.
“Most of the parties are near non- Elon homes,” Brown said. “That could be annoying if there’s no communication between the neighbor and whoever is throwing the party.”
In Perry’s 22 years on the job, he does not recall one noise complaint that resulted in an arrest.