Arrests

Alex Dougherty, the oldest son of the parents behind the wildly popular "Dougherty Dozen" social media channels, is standing by his younger brother, James Dougherty, after his arrest on a public lewdness charge.

Alex addressed the controversy on social media, saying he supports James, is there for him and considers the discussion over. He also assured followers his brother is doing okay.

19-year-old James was arrested July 29 at a mall in upstate New York. According to the Ontario County Sheriff's Office, deputies determined James was allegedly masturbating inside his vehicle in the mall parking lot while visible to members of the public.

'Real Housewives of Atlanta' alum NeNe Leakes' son Bryson Bryant added a new mug shot to his collection after being booked into jail once again ... TMZ has learned.

According to jail records obtained by TMZ, Bryson checked into the Gwinnett County Jail in Georgia on July 24 related to a contempt of court charge.

Bryson has a lengthy history of legal trouble. As we first reported, he was arrested May 1 for allegedly failing to pay court-ordered child support, violating probation, and failing to appear.

The leader of a Mexican criminal cartel was swept up by authorities after allegedly ordering the brutal murders of his son's beauty influencer ex-girlfriend and a mayor.

Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala was arrested in late July by military personnel and law enforcement officers during a joint operation ... according to multiple reports.

Mexican officials say Ayala was known as "El R-1" ... he was the main leader of "Los Rs", one of the most violent criminal organizations connected to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel -- a group allegedly involved in murder, extortion and drug trafficking. 

According to authorities, Ayala masterminded and financed the hit on 23-year-old beauty influencer Valeria Marquez -- whose ex-boyfriend is Ayala's son. In May 2025, Marquez was shot and killed by a gunman while livestreaming in her beauty salon in the Mexican city of Zapopan.

Reality star Shamar McCoy was arrested for misdemeanor battery after he and his boyfriend allegedly beat up a man ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs and online records, Shamar was taken into custody on Monday over an alleged November 2024 incident ... and he was released hours later, after posting $2,000 bond.

Per the docs, Shamar and his boyfriend, Alexander Green, went over to a man named Quentin McDowell's home … after Alexander got into it with Quentin on the phone. 

Quentin told police Shamar and Alexander also brought a group of friends ... and claimed Alexander assaulted him by punching him in the face with a closed fist multiple times before throwing him to the ground and kicking him.

The federal crackdown over alleged threats tied to the Nolan Wells investigation is expanding ... an Illinois man became the third person charged with allegedly threatening witnesses and their families, TMZ has learned.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Edward James Porter from Berwyn, IL is accused of using phone calls and text messages to threaten two witnesses involved in the ongoing investigation into Nolan's death.

Prosecutors allege Porter repeatedly called one witness Friday ... threatening to "come kill" the witness and their family. The complaint says he also claimed he had the witness' home address before allegedly texting the address directly to them.

Clavicular is no longer facing criminal prosecution in connection with a fight at a short-term rental in Florida ... because prosecutors dropped the charges.

As we previously reported, the popular and controversial influencer and streamer found himself in legal trouble after he allegedly encouraged a physical fight between two women -- and shared a video of the February confrontation for clicks.

Clavicular -- government name Braden Eric Peters -- was arrested in March on a warrant out of Osceola County and hit with a misdemeanor battery charge.

According to court documents cited by local news outlets ... prosecutors dismissed the case because they couldn't prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Love and Hip Hop" star Sidney Starr is locked up in a special section of the Fulton County jail ... due to her identifying as a trans woman ... TMZ has learned.

Sidney was transferred to the vulnerable population unit for the LGBTQ community after she was arrested Sunday and booked for sexual battery against a child under 16, aggravated sexual molestation, and sodomy. She was accused of sodomizing a juvenile at a hotel in Hapeville, Georgia, but she claimed the interaction was consensual.

A rep for the Fulton County Sheriff's Office said, "Sidney identified as someone who engages in a particular lifestyle" during the intake process, which is why jail officials placed her in the vulnerable unit.

Pokémon is being sued in a class-action lawsuit after a former engineering director allegedly tried to get a "Peek-achu" at women and children while they were undressing in the bathroom.

A woman -- who filed the lawsuit as Jane Doe -- is accusing The Pokémon Co. International Inc. of failing to protect employees and visitors at the company's Bellevue, Washington, office from former director of engineering, Ben Tsai.

Tsai was arrested last month and charged with first-degree dealing in depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, first-degree possession of those depictions, first-degree voyeurism, and second-degree possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Cops say they found hundreds of videos from the bathroom at Pokémon's office as well as recordings allegedly taken in a local Starbucks restroom and videos taken from inside the bathroom in Tsai's own home.

11:28 AM PT -- Sidney Starr's booking photo has been released following her arrest on child sex charges in Georgia.

Sidney Starr is facing some very serious allegations in Georgia, where the reality TV personality has been arrested on child sex charges.

According to booking records, Sidney was taken into custody on Sunday and charged with sexual battery against a child under 16, aggravated child molestation, and sodomy. She is accused of confessing to performing oral sex on a minor at an Embassy Suites in the city of Hapeville, and claimed it was consensual.

The records list the Hapeville Police Department as the arresting agency.

The man accusing Brenda Dickson of assault is seeking court-ordered protection ... claiming the actress got physical with his child.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, a man named Richard Chamberlin beelined it to court Monday and filed for a civil harassment restraining order against Brenda ... alleging "The Young and the Reckless" actress hit his daughter, Isabella, in the face and chest.

He also said she bumped Isabella with trash bags, made threats, and verbally harassed her and others during an alleged July 8 incident that ended with Brenda's arrest.

Richard says he's property maintenance and a renter in the building where Brenda lives. He's seeking protection for himself, Isabella, and another renter.

Sidney Starr says the child sex allegations against her are flat-out false ... and she plans to fight them every step of the way.

In a statement to TMZ ... the "Love & Hip Hop: New York" alum says she "unequivocally denies the allegations against her and intends to vigorously defend herself through the legal process."

Her statement continues ... "Allegations should not be mistaken for fact, and public opinion should never replace due process."

Sidney Starr's arrest on child molestation charges is now coming into view ... with a photo showing the reality star detained at a Georgia hotel.

The image shows the "Love & Hip Hop: New York" alum standing with her hands behind her back while being detained during her arrest at an Embassy Suites in Hapeville.

As we reported ... Sidney was taken into custody Sunday and charged with sexual battery against a child under 16, aggravated child molestation, and sodomy.

Sidney Starr's booking photo has been released following her arrest on child sex charges in Georgia ... and she looks none too thrilled.

The mugshot shows the "Love & Hip Hop: New York" alum staring straight into the camera with her hair pulled back while wearing a dark jumpsuit.

As we reported ... Sidney was taken into custody Sunday and charged with sexual battery against a child under 16, aggravated child molestation, and sodomy.

Michelle Hadley -- Ian Diaz's ex from Netflix's "A Toxic Love Story" -- wrote an emotional letter begging for her ex to serve hard time ahead of his sentencing, TMZ has learned. 

TMZ obtained the letter Michelle sent to the judge to consider before determining how many years Ian would be in prison. 

Ian and his then-wife Angela Diaz were accused of conspiring together to ruin Michelle’s life. The then-couple posted ads on Craigslist with Michelle’s address asking for a man to help her with her “rape fantasy” … in hopes she would be sexually assaulted. 

An Ohio woman allegedly unleashed a barrage of bomb threats against Mississippi government offices following Nolan Wells' death ... placing nearly 30 menacing calls in less than an hour, according to federal prosecutors.

Michelle Francine Edwards was charged Thursday with transmitting a threatening communication across state lines after she allegedly targeted the George County Chancery Clerk's Office and Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say on July 23, Edwards called the clerk's office 21 times in just eight minutes using a blocked number ... allegedly warning employees, "Do not go outside," "the clock is ticking," and "die."

Courtney Clenney has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in the stabbing death of her boyfriend Christian Obumseli ... and his family seems relieved it's over.

The family's attorney, Larry Handfield, confirmed Clenney, prosecutors, and the Obumseli family came to a resolution that will help them avoid a trial. The details will be made public at a sentencing hearing on August 10.

He adds, "Pleading guilty and accepting full responsibility will begin the process of bringing closure to a very tragic life changing event for the Obumseli family."