American Scene

WASHINGTON

Security guard fired after nabbing child who ate from box

EVERETT | A TV station says a grocery store security guard has been fired after he told the father of a 4-year-old girl that she would face criminal charges for eating from a dried fruit package.

KOMO reported Wednesday that the child’s mother Alissa Jones said the father wasn’t looking when the girl grabbed the package, ate a few pieces of fruit then returned it to a shelf at a Safeway store in Everett.

Mrs. Jones says a guard took the child and her dad to a room and said the girl would face charges and be banned from the chain.

Mrs. Jones also says the guard had the girl sign a paper acknowledging she wasn’t allowed to enter any Safeway stores.

Safeway spokesperson Cherie Myers says the company was appalled by the guard’s actions and dismissed him. Store officials have apologized to the girl’s parents.

The name of the guard was not available.

UTAH

Sect spokesman guilty of contempt

ST. GEORGE | A southern Utah judge has found the former spokesman for the polygamous sect led by Warren Jeffs guilty of a contempt of court charge for failing to show up for a pair of hearings.

Fifth District Court Judge G. Rand Beacham issued the ruling against William R. Jessop on Wednesday, the Spectrum of St. George reported.

Judge Beacham previously issued a $15,000 warrant for Mr. Jessop’s arrest. Mr. Jessop had paid the fine before Wednesday’s hearing, however, and remains free.

In court, Mr. Jessop told Judge Beacham that he had been in Europe for speaking engagements and was not aware of a September court date. Mr. Jessop also missed a hearing in June. The contempt charge was specifically related to the June hearing.

Judge Beacham set no date for sentencing, nor indicate what punishment might be imposed.

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