Advertisement

May 14, 2014 / 10:55 AM

P.A. pastor accused of sex crimes commits suicide

The 61-year-old former pastor shot himself a week before his trial was set to begin.

LEVITTOWN, Pa., May 14 (UPI) -- Police in Pennsylvania have confirmed that a disgraced former pastor facing trial for child abuse allegations has committed suicide.

61-year-old Scott Sechrist was found dead in his home of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Advertisement

Sechrist, former pastor of the First Baptist Church in Morrisville, stood accused of 30 felony counts of various sex crimes involving a young girl between 1989 and 1992. Sechrist allegedly met the then-9-year-old victim through his church, where her parents regularly attended. His trial was slated to begin next week.

Investigators found a suicide note in which Sechrist maintained his innocence, but have not released further details.

Read More

House Speaker Mike Johnson calls on Columbia's president to resign

U.S. News // 8 hours ago

House Speaker Mike Johnson calls on Columbia's president to resign

April 24 (UPI) -- House Speaker Mike Johnson met with Jewish students at Columbia University on Wednesday and called on president Nemat "Minouche" Shafik to resign during a tense campus news conference before pro-Palestinian activists.

USDA announces new school meal standards that call for less sugar, salt in students' food

U.S. News // 3 hours ago

USDA announces new school meal standards that call for less sugar, salt in students' food

April 24 (UPI) -- Gradually improved nutrition standards for school meals will help promote the health of the nation's schoolchildren, the United States Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday.

Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin appears in Hamas video

U.S. News // 4 hours ago

Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin appears in Hamas video

April 24 (UPI) -- Hamas Wednesday released a video of injured Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The video showed him delivering a long statement written by Hamas.

N.J. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dies after hospitalization for diabetes

U.S. News // 5 hours ago

N.J. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dies after hospitalization for diabetes

April 24 (UPI) -- Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who followed in the footsteps of his father by taking his Congressional seat in 2012, has died after being hospitalized for diabetes earlier in the month. He was 65.

Biden approves $95B aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan -- and potential TikTok ban

U.S. News // 5 hours ago

Biden approves $95B aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan -- and potential TikTok ban

April 24 (UPI) -- Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan will get military aid while TikTok will get a new owner in the United States or or be banned in the nation after President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion aid package bill into law Wednesday.

USDA takes new steps to better avert bird flu in nation's livestock

U.S. News // 5 hours ago

USDA takes new steps to better avert bird flu in nation's livestock

April 24 (UPI) -- The Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it's working with other agencies to protect the U.S. livestock industry from H5N1 bird flu. A federal order will develop critical information to limit the virus spread.

President Biden pardons or commutes sentences for 16 non-violent drug offenders

U.S. News // 9 hours ago

President Biden pardons or commutes sentences for 16 non-violent drug offenders

April 24 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden said Wednesday he's using his clemency powers to pardon 11 people and commute the sentences of 5 others who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses.

DOJ recommends 36-month prison sentence for former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao

U.S. News // 10 hours ago

DOJ recommends 36-month prison sentence for former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao

April 24 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors Tuesday recommended 36 months in prison and a $50 million fine for former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao. He pleaded guilty to violating money laundering laws under the Bank Secrecy Act.

Wildfire season may bring air quality risks

U.S. News // 10 hours ago

Wildfire season may bring air quality risks

The 2024 wildfire season is right around the corner, and although AccuWeather meteorologists are not expecting a record-shattering season, it may still bring air quality risks similar to what was experienced last year.

New Biden administration overtime rule increases pay for millions of workers

U.S. News // 11 hours ago

New Biden administration overtime rule increases pay for millions of workers

April 24 (UPI) -- The Biden administration has adopted a final rule extending overtime pay protections to millions of salaried workers, effective July 1. Those workers will make more money for working over 40 hours a week.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement