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Police find 20 pounds of pot in presents

CARTHAGE, Mo., Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The Missouri Highway Patrol said a trooper found about 20 pounds of marijuana in wrapped Christmas gifts and luggage inside a vehicle.

Officials said Brooke Molina, 28, and passenger Brianna Berban, 22, were pulled over for speeding at 7:37 a.m. on Interstate 44 in Jasper County, the Joplin (Mo.) Globe reported Thursday.

The trooper searched the vehicle and discovered the cannabis concealed in wrapped gift packages and luggage.

Molina of Nevada City, Calif., and Berban of Ojai, Calif., were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Judge decides to pack a pistol

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A female judge in Alabama, concerned about court security cutbacks, says she is keeping both a gun and pepper spray next to her gavel.

Jefferson County Domestic Judge Suzanne Childers was prompted to get qualified to bring a gun to court after hearing a child support case a few weeks ago that necessitated her setting off her panic device, The Birmingham (Ala.) News reported Saturday.

Because 46 sheriff deputies have been laid off due to budget constraints, court security has dropped off and help didn't arrive for 40 minutes, the newspaper said.

"Both the county and the state are having shortages in funding, so we're having to do our best with what resources we have available," said Scott Vowell, the presiding judge in Jefferson County.

Security guards and bailiffs also handle court security but they're limited to building, not courtroom security, said Jeff Smith, director of the county's general services department.

"We need some help," Childers said. "I am just really concerned that someone is going to get hurt in my courthouse because, I hate to say it, but it's an angry courthouse. Every day people come to court, someone is angry at someone else."

Xbox IP leads police to suspect

NEW YORK, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Police said a suspected serial burglar was arrested in New York after he used an Xbox taken during one of his alleged crimes to play games online.

Pelham, N.Y., police said they traced the Internet protocol address of the stolen Xbox to the New York home of Jeremiah Gilliam, 22, who had already been under police investigation for his suspected involvement in 13 unlocked car burglaries, the New York Post reported Friday.

"On the day of the burglary, the victim used another Xbox and saw his system was already online," Pelham Detective John Hynes said. "At the house, we found Xboxes, PlayStations, GPS units, laptops -- a total of 53 items, including stolen credit cards."

Hynes said the items are believed to be from as many as 200 car break-ins and multiple home burglaries.

Gilliam was arrested and charged with grand larceny.