Crime & Arrests

The truck driver who caused the crash that killed 4 and whose sentence of 110 years behind bars motivated more than 5 million people, including Kim Kardashian, to get behind his cause has been granted clemency by Colorado's Governor ... and his sentence has been reduced to 10 years.

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was driving an 18-wheeler in 2019 when the truck's brakes failed, causing the horrific pileup crash. His 110 year sentence was mandatory, but caused public outcry from those who felt it was harsh and unfair given the whole thing was an accident.

In his clemency letter Thursday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said, "The crimes you were convicted of are serious. Four individuals lost their lives and others were seriously injured because of your bad decisions.”

He continued, "Though your actions have caused immense pain, I am encouraged by your personal reflection and the commercial vehicle safety changes that were made in the wake of this tragedy to ensure this type of event never happens again.”

As we reported, Kim Kardashian was made aware of the case after Rogel's sentencing, and urged the Gov. to get involved to reduce his sentence.

Rogel will be eligible for parole in 2026.

Kim Kardashian's business manager has been murdered, and the manager's boyfriend has been charged with the crime.

Angie Kukawski repped a bunch of celebs, including Kim. According to the LAPD, Angie had been reported missing and on December 23, police went to an address in Simi Valley where they found her body inside a vehicle.

Her boyfriend, 49-year-old Jason Barker, was arrested and charged with her murder.

Police claim Barker killed Angie at her Sherman Oaks home, put her body in the car and drove it to Simi.

Angie worked for a number of other celebs, including Nicki Minaj and Kanye. She also did work for Tupac's estate.

A member of her firm, Todd Bozick, told Variety, “We are saddened and heartbroken by the loss of our colleague, Angie Kukawski. Angie was a kind, wonderful person, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Our deepest condolences go out to all of Angie’s family and friends.”

Angie was 55.  RIP

Kylie Jenner can take a small measure of comfort knowing a restraining order sometimes works, because an obsessed fan who violated hers has been arrested.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Sunday afternoon, a guy named Jrue Mesgan approached Kylie's Holmby Hills home -- a super-exclusive part of Bev Hills -- and buzzed the gate.

A security guard eyeballed Mesgan and called the cops. He was arrested for misdemeanor violation of a court order and is being held on $20,000 bail.

Turns out Mesgan has a past with Kylie, and not a good one. Mesgan had been to the house numerous times over the last few months trying to see Kylie, so she got a stay-away order, which he violated Sunday -- thus, the arrest.

Kylie has had lots of problems with obsessed fans ... earlier this month a 23-year-old man armed with flowers came to Kylie's home to profess his love for her and ask for her hand in marriage.

The fan showed up at Kylie's house, hopped the fence and knocked at her front door. Turns out he had the wrong house ... he was at one of Kylie's neighbors. He was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing.

The problem with restraining orders ... they're effective against people who are in a state of mind where they understand they can be arrested if they violate it, but people who are unstable often view these docs as worthless pieces of paper.

Scary times.

The LAPD officer who fired the fatal rounds in the Burlington Coat Factory shooting, killing the suspect and an innocent bystander, looked like he went rogue ... so says a retired cop.

Timothy Williams Jr., an expert on the use of force in policing and a retired LAPD detective supervisor, joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live" and he broke down the police body cam footage in the fatal shooting ... and it's his opinion the shots were not justified.

The first thing that jumped out to Timothy ... the cop with the AR-15 appearing to act separately from the rest of the cops and gun down the suspect, even though other police in the group had less-lethal weapons.

Remember ... the suspect was wielding a bike lock and chain, bloodying a shopper and injuring others before cops arrived ... and Timothy says the use of force was warranted in this situation, but he thinks police didn't need to use lethal force and fire an assault rifle.

As you know ... the bullets from the AR-15 killed the suspect, as well as a 14-year-old girl who was cowering in the background in a dressing room. The walls in these kinds of stores are usually paper-thin, and the L.A. County Medical Examiner says a bullet struck her in the chest and killed her.

Former Navarro College cheerleader Jerry Harris' child pornography case is getting addressed in the upcoming season of the Netflix docuseries that made him famous.

The streaming giant just dropped the trailer for the upcoming second season of the super popular "Cheer" ... and it shows the school's cheer team coach, Monica Aldama, referencing Jerry's arrest.

In the clip released Tuesday, Aldama says ... "I can't even process it" ... and one of Jerry's former teammates adds, "Everyone just felt lost."

As we reported ... Jerry was the breakout star of "Cheer" season 1, but he was arrested for child pornography back in Sept. 2020 in Illinois, casting a dark cloud over the hit series.

Remember ... the feds hit Jerry with 2 charges and he's also being sued by 2 of his alleged victims.

"Cheer" director and executive producer Greg Whiteley says the new season, which debuts Jan. 12, will "tackle extremely difficult moments" as it centers around "the impact of COVID-19 and criminal charges against one of Navarro's former team members."

The woman who got arrested on a Delta flight on Xmas Eve after spitting on a passenger and striking him on the head, after grousing to a flight attendant that she was no Rosa Parks ... well, it's not her first run-in with authorities, because we've learned she tried picking a fight with cops just a month earlier as she was arrested for DUI.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... on November 10, Patricia Cornwall crashed into a tree in Santa Rosa Beach. Sheriff's deputies arrived on scene and asked her if she needed medical help. She said she did not and was merely trying to get her car "unstuck."

According to the police report, Cornwall became belligerent, refusing to ID herself. She got out of her car "going after EMS and Fire." The deputy who wrote the report said, "Once we stopped her she tried to fight us. At that point, she was detained for her safety and ours."

Cops say her breath smelled of alcohol, she had slurred speech and her face was flushed.

Cornwall refused to take a breathalyzer and failed the field sobriety test.

She was arrested for DUI. That case is pending. Her next court date is January 5.

As we reported, Cornwall was also arrested on Xmas Eve on that Delta flight, after first getting into it with a flight attendant and then attacking an 80-year-old man. The flight attendant was in the middle of beverage service and the cart was blocking the aisle. When the flight attendant told Cornwall, who had just gotten out of the bathroom in the back, to find an open seat until service ended, she shot back, "What am I Rosa Parks?"

Cornwall, a former Raiders cheerleader and currently a realtor, ended up getting into it with the male passenger, berating him for not wearing a mask -- he was eating at the time. And, as she was screaming at him she herself didn't have her mask around her mouth or nose.

Jubilee Sharpe won't end up having a DUI blemish on her criminal record -- but she sure is being treated like someone who got convicted for it ... this as her case comes to an end.

The ex-'Bachelor' star pled guilty last week to 2 counts -- willfully refusing to sign and accept a summons or citation, and reckless driving causing injury to property or person. Her actual DUI charge was dropped by prosecutors in Palm Beach ... and only the reckless driving charge will show up on any future background check, per the State Attorney's Office.

As a result of her plea deal ... Jubilee's facing 12 months of probation. As part of the deal  -- according to court docs, obtained by TMZ -- she'll have to complete a DUI education course, attend a victim impact session, do 75 hours of community service ... and pay hundreds in fines.

Jubilee will also be without her car for over a week, and when she does get it back ... it'll have an ignition interlock device, to make sure she isn't boozing and driving.

As we reported ... Jubilee was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving 2 years ago after a cop found she'd crashed her car. He described her as looking smashed -- noting she failed all the field sobriety tests ... then refusing to blow for a breathalyzer.

The truck driver whose 110-year sentence outraged millions of Americans doesn't deserve ANY prison time at all, because the fatal crash was purely an accident ... according to justice reform activist Jason Flom.

Jason, who's on board of the Innocence Project, says Rogel Aguilera-Mederos getting such a severe sentence -- one even a Colorado prosecutor wants to be reviewed -- is purely about revenge, instead of justice.

As you probably know, Aguilera-Mederos was found guilty on 27 charges for the fiery interstate crash caused by his 18-wheeler smashing into multiple cars. 4 people were killed and more than a dozen more seriously injured.

Still, when Jason joined us Thursday on "TMZ Live" he said, "If I were the governor I would sentence him to community service.”

His reasoning is Aguilera-Mederos had no intent to harm anyone that fateful day in 2019 -- the truck driver said his brakes had failed, and there was nothing he could do to avoid the tragedy.

The judge seemed to believe him, and after giving him 110 years -- the minimum under Colorado law -- said, "If I had the discretion, it would not be my sentence."

More than 4 million people, including Kim Kardashian, signed a petition for the case to be reconsidered. Jason says the justice system is flawed -- "Doubling down on the tragedy by destroying this young man’s life -- I believe he is a father as well -- how does that serve anybody’s best interest?"

Kim Potter -- the MN cop on trial for shooting and killing Daunte Wright -- has just been found guilty of manslaughter.

The jury returned the verdict Thursday after starting deliberations Monday, finding Potter guilty of one count each of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter.

As we reported ... Potter took the stand Friday and was emotional as she was questioned about what happened in the moments leading up to Wright's fatal interaction with cops.

Potter started sobbing and grabbing for tissues as she fought back tears to tell the court, "I remember yelling Taser, Taser, Taser and nothing happened. And then, he told me I shot him."

Remember ... Potter always maintained she thought she was reaching for her Taser, when in fact, she pulled out her firearm.

Wright's shooting death back in April was captured on police bodycam footage, which showed the exchange between Potter and 20-year-old Wright, who was trying to flee from police after cops made a traffic stop for an outstanding warrant.

Kim Kardashian is getting very opposite emotional reactions after lending her support to a man sentenced to 110 years behind bars for an accident that killed 4 ... getting praise from the driver himself and blasted as an uninformed loudmouth from the victim's family.

Kim recently posted about Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, a 26-year-old Colorado truck driver, who in 2019 caused a pile-up crash that killed 4 when his brakes went out. Rogel was given a mandatory minimum sentence of 110 years for the accident.

Rogel's attorney, Leonard Martinez, says while he hasn't spoken to Kim directly, they're aware she's spoken in support of reducing Rogel's sentence. Martinez says the legal team is very thankful Kim has lent her voice to the cause and understands how important it is to get the word out.

On the other hand, we spoke to Kathleen Harrison, whose husband, Doyle, was killed in the crash. Kathleen certainly didn't mince words ... she thinks Kim is just a loudmouth who has no clue about the case. Kathleen says the accident was avoidable, but Rogel just threw caution to the wind.

For instance, the trial laid out Rogel lied about his experience in getting the trucking job, noticed earlier in his trip that his brakes were smoking -- yet proceeded -- and failed to yield onto a truck ramp and avoid a collision.

Kathleen thinks 100 years is harsh, suggesting 20, but says this of Kim -- "I don't think that we want our local proceedings in any state taken over by who has the loudest mouth out there, because people don't know all the details, they are running on emotion."

Buzz McCallister is probably gonna be the one who's home alone for Christmas this time around -- because he got arrested for beating up his girlfriend ... and is already out of jail.

'Home Alone' star Devin Ratray was booked on domestic violence charges Wednesday after turning himself in to the authorities in Oklahoma City -- this after a warrant was issued for his arrest ... stemming from an alleged altercation with his now-ex from 2 weeks ago.

Ratray was booked for domestic assault and battery by strangulation, a felony, as well as misdemeanor domestic assault and battery. Ratray was released on $25k bond within 15 minutes after posing for a mug shot.

As we reported ... the alleged victim filed a police report on Dec. 10, claiming Buzz had gotten violent with her in a hotel room after a night out on the town. She told cops he'd pushed her, punched her in the face and pressed his hands against her throat and mouth.

There's more disturbing detail in the probable cause affidavit -- obtained by TMZ -- which says Ratray allegedly told her, "This is how you die." The GF also told police Ratray was really drunk -- downing upwards of a dozen drinks -- and then got pissed at her for giving autographed photos of him to fans for free.

The cops note the alleged victim appeared to have multiple injuries from the dustup, including bruises and marks on her face.

A Colorado district attorney wants a judge to review the 110-year sentence of the truck driver who killed 4 people in a massive freeway wreck ... after millions of people -- including Kim Kardashian -- signed a petition opposing the stiff punishment.

Alexis King, D.A. for Colorado's First Judicial District, filed the motion Tuesday for a hearing to reconsider the sentencing. She mentioned that it was the "desire" of both living victims and families of those who died in the crash.

In April 2019, 26-year-old Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was driving a semi-truck in Lakewood, CO when the brakes went out and he slammed into traffic, killing 4 people.

He was found guilty of 27 criminal charges in October -- and earlier this month he was sentenced to the minimum under Colorado law ... 110 years.

You read that right, it's the minimum, because Aguilera-Mederos must serve multiple sentences -- for the 4 deaths and 16 other injured victims -- consecutively and not concurrently.

Aguilera-Mederos says the tragedy was a terrible accident ... and he has gotten the support of millions in a petition -- making this case very controversial. Kim chimed in, recently posting about the 26-year-old and calling on the Colorado governor to "do the right thing".

Earlier this month, Aguilera-Mederos gave an emotional statement ... saying "my life has been very difficult, sad, depressing, terrible since April 25, 2019." He continued, "I know it has been hard and heartbreaking for everyone involved."

Prosecutors tell TMZ Sports they believe Aldon Smith was driving with a BAC of greater than .20 before he was arrested for a DUI earlier this month.

Smith was booked back on Dec. 6 after cops say he had driven drunk in San Mateo County and then got involved in a two-car accident -- and, on Monday, prosecutors formally filed charges against the 32-year-old over it all.

Court documents show Smith was hit with two felony DUI charges ... and, in the docs, prosecutors revealed they believe Smith was HEAVILY intoxicated at the time of the incident.

In the docs, prosecutors say Smith had a BAC of greater than .15 ... and when we spoke with the San Mateo County District Attorneys Office on Monday afternoon, a spokesperson told us they believe Smith actually had a BAC of greater than .20.

The DA spokesperson noted they're waiting on further test results to reveal the final number. Of course, the legal limit in California is .08.

Prosecutors also allege in the docs that Smith had an open container of booze in his car at the time of the crash ... and they also claim he had weed in an open container in the vehicle as well. They added that the other person involved in the accident suffered minor injuries.

Smith is facing up to three years in prison if he's convicted on the charges, prosecutors say. He's due in court for a hearing on the matter on Tuesday morning.

We've reached out to Smith's attorney for comment, but so far, no word back yet.

As for Smith's NFL career ... he balled out for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, but he's currently a free agent after he was released by the Seattle Seahawks before the 2021 season began.

NFL legend Lawrence Taylor was arrested in Florida on Thursday ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

The former New York Giants superstar was booked at around 8:45 PM ET and released hours later, jail records show. The 62-year-old posed for a mug shot before his release.

The news was first reported by Andy Slater.

Details surrounding the arrest are unclear -- we're working on it -- but according to a spokesperson for the Broward County Sheriff's Office, Taylor was booked on charges of sex offender violations.

As we previously reported, Lawrence was declared a sex offender back in 2011 ... after he pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute.

In the case, Taylor was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl ... though he said at the time he thought she was 19.

Due to his status as a sex offender, Taylor is required to be on top of several things ... including letting law enforcement know of any residence or name changes.

Of course, Taylor is no stranger to run-ins with the law ... the former football player has been arrested several times in his life, including multiple times in the late 1990s after he allegedly tried to buy drugs from undercover police officers.

Fetty Wap made a trip to the airport that ended with handcuffs after police allegedly got an alert about his ankle monitor.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Fetty was at Newark Liberty airport Friday, when for whatever reason, cops got an alert about his ankle monitor. We're told after officers spoke to FW and ran his info, they discovered he had a warrant out for his arrest.

Details about the warrant aren't exactly clear, but we know it was for public nuisance out of North Bergen, NJ.

We're told Fetty was arrested and booked for the warrant, but will be able to make bail and get released.

It's not the first run-in Fetty's had with the law lately, he was taken in by the FBI back in October. The feds claimed Fetty and his associates helped to distribute over 100 kilograms of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine across Long Island and New Jersey.

Agents say the investigation yielded $1.5 million in cash, 16 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl pills, pistols, handguns and a rifle.

Fetty was able to come up with his $500,000 bail for that arrest, so it's possible that's why he had the ankle monitor.

Kim Potter -- the MN cop on trial for shooting and killing Daunte Wright -- just broke down during her testimony about the second she realized what she had done.

An emotional Potter was questioned Friday on exactly what happened in the moments leading up to Wright's death. Potter has maintained she thought she was pulling out her taser, when in fact, it was her gun.

Fighting back tears, she told the court, "I remember yelling Taser, Taser, Taser and nothing happened. And then, he told me I shot him."

By the end of the sentence, Potter was sobbing, and grabbing for tissues.

Potter's been charged with manslaughter for Wright's death, which happened back in April. Bodycam showed the exchange between Potter and 20-year-old Wright -- who was trying to drive away from cops after officers stopped him on a weapons possession warrant.