Crime & Arrests

Daniel Penny -- the man who choked Jordan Neely to death on a NYC subway -- has avoided a conviction so far this week after a jury of his peers could not come to a unanimous decision Friday in his trial ... and prosecutors decided to drop the top charge in the case as a result.

The prosecution moved to dismiss the second-degree manslaughter charge after the jury twice told the judge today they could not come to a unanimous verdict.

The judge agreed to drop the charge ... and the jury will reconvene Monday to consider the lesser charge in the case -- criminally negligent homicide. If convicted, he could face up to 4 years in state prison.

A sultry Colombian assassin, known as "The Doll" and tagged as a "dangerous hitwoman," has been arrested for a string of gangland hits -- including the murder of her ex-lover.

Karen Julieth Ojeda Rodriguez, AKA "The Doll," was busted and taken into custody for her alleged role in a series of high-profile murders in Barrancabermeja, which were said to have been ordered by the Los de la M gang, according to local reports from Libertad Digital.

The femme fatale's takedown comes after the July 23 ambush-style murder of her ex-BF, Deyvy Jesus. Cops claim she lured him in with a fake peace offering, claiming they’d settle a money dispute.

Lil Durk is facing a legal slugfest, with the feds claiming he's the mastermind behind a murder-for-hire plot ... and his attorneys are convinced it's a classic example of prosecutors grasping at straws with some street-savvy rap lyrics because they don't have a real case against the rap star.

The Chicago rapper's attorneys -- Drew Findling and Marissa Goldberg, of The Findling Law Firm, P.C., along with Jonathan Brayman, and Christy O'Connor -- tell TMZ Hip Hop ... "When you see an artist’s rap lyrics quoted as 'evidence' against them, it is a glaring indication that there is no real evidence against that person."

According to the feds, Durk detailed the steps that led up to the August 2022 murder of rival Quando Rondo's cousin Saviay'a Robinson on Babyface Ray's song "Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy" when he rapped ... "Told me they got an addy (gooo) / Got location (gooo) Green light (go, go, go, go, go) / Look on the news and see your son, You screamin’, 'No, no' (p***y!!!)"

Diddy's defense team is coming out swinging against the prosecution ... accusing the federal government of unfairly spying on him amid his ongoing detention.

In new court documents obtained by TMZ ... the rap mogul's legal team says the feds have trampled Diddy's constitutional rights and hindered Diddy's ability to fairly prepare for his upcoming trial while behind bars.

As the lawyers put it ... the feds flagrantly invaded Diddy's confidential communications with his attorneys -- once again calling into question the raid on the Bad Boy Records founder's cell at MDC Brooklyn.

Diddy will be getting his freak on over Christmas -- but it's not what you think -- his federal jail is giving him several options to play sports and games ... with a special holiday spread.

Our sources in the federal government tell us inmates at MDC Brooklyn -- where Diddy is being held as he awaits trial in his sex trafficking case -- will be able to participate in some friendly competition on Christmas Day ... including card games and dominos.

In addition to a Spades tournament and a dominos competition, Diddy and his fellow inmates will also be able to take part in a 3-on-3 basketball tourney ... and a soccer competition.

Francesca Eastwood just dodged a felony domestic violence charge ... and it looks like she’s celebrating a little too hard, judging by these pics from her wild night out.

Clint Eastwood’s daughter was living her best life, stumbling out of West Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont on Tuesday, when she took a chaotic tumble to the ground.

The pics will definitely give you a laugh -- it's clear she partied a little too hard 'cause it wasn't even like she was rocking heels to throw off her balance. Nope, she was in comfy sneakers and still went down!

Leighton Vander Esch's dad was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly attempted to strangle the former Dallas Cowboys star's mom, new court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show.

According to the docs, the incident happened around midnight on Dec. 1 in Idaho County ... when Darwin Vander Esch allegedly got physical with his wife, Sandy Vander Esch, following an argument at a nearby bar.

Cops wrote that Sandy told them Darwin had locked her out of their house after the dispute, so she broke in ... and soon after, officers say she claimed her husband confronted her and put both of his hands around her neck and "was pushing and squeezing, not letting her talk or breathe."

Kader Sylla -- a popular professional skateboarder who's competed in the X Games -- was arrested over the weekend in New York, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

The NYPD tells us ... Sylla was pulled over at around 2:13 AM on Sunday in Manhattan ... after he was accused of driving the wrong way in his 2017 Porsche SUV.

According to ABC News, Sylla allegedly showed signs during the stop of being impaired -- including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. The outlet also reports cops said the 22-year-old skater admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel.

The father of retired Dallas Cowboys star Leighton Vander Esch was arrested in Idaho over the weekend on several charges -- including felony attempted strangulation.

The Idaho County Sheriff's Office says it received a call regarding a domestic battery outside the city of Riggins around 12:16 AM on Dec. 1.

After cops arrived at the scene, 61-year-old Darwin Vander Esch was arrested for felony attempted strangulation and cited for misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor intentional destruction of a telecommunication device.

Young Thug may have sprung out of jail, but one of his co-defendants is still having a rough time behind bars ... dodging sharp, pointy objects that want to take him out!!!

According to reports straight outta Fulton County, Georgia ... YSL rapper Yak Gotti, AKA Deamonte Kendrick, was involved in an altercation on the inside with another inmate on Sunday, resulting in him being stabbed!!!

"Kendrick received treatment for minor injuries from a sharp object at the Fulton County Jail," Fulton County Sheriff's Office Communications Director Natalie Ammons tells TMZ Hip Hop.

President Biden's annoucement Sunday that he's pardoning his son Hunter was nothing close to a spur of the moment decision ... TMZ has learned.

White House-connected sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Biden had this planned for more than 3 months.

Our sources say President Biden was not involved in Hunter's case in any way until June of last year, when a plea deal was rejected by the judge. We're told he was "agitated" at the reversal and felt his son had become a political pawn.

President Joe Biden is making a controversial decision with less than two months to go in his presidency ... announcing he's pardoned his son Hunter.

The 46th POTUS announced the news just minutes ago ... releasing a statement saying he's stood by while watching his son being "being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted."

Biden goes on to say other people convicted of the same crimes -- lying on federal forms and paying their taxes late because of addiction -- are typically given non-criminal resolutions ... but, Hunter was treated differently.

Diddy is facing another alleged abuse lawsuit ... with a woman claiming he dangled her over the edge of a balcony, 17 stories off the ground.

Bryana “Bana” Bongolan filed the lawsuit in L.A. Superior Court earlier this week ... suing Diddy for sexual battery, false imprisonment, and other claims.

In the suit, Bongolan accuses Diddy of dangling her over the edge of a balcony at his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura's apartment in September 2016.

Some of Hollywood's fallen stars won't be chowing down on lavish meals tomorrow ... 'cause even though they're getting turkey and other Thanksgiving staples behind bars, it ain't gonna be what they're used to.

TMZ's done our yearly check ... and, we know the Thanksgiving menus in prison for inmates like Tekashi 6ix9ine, Suge Knight, Danny Masterson and Tory Lanez, among others.

Here's what everyone's gobblin' down:

Diddy is staying behind bars ... after a judge just ruled his bail is denied because no conditions can assure the safety of the community.

In his decision, filed Wednesday the judge in the case wrote there is a serious risk of witness tampering and direct evidence of Combs' violence ... pointing to the infamous 2016 video of Diddy beating Cassie and subsequent text messages with her.

In the texts, included in the judge's decision, Cassie wrote to Diddy about her injuries ... adding he was "sick for thinking it's OK to do what you've done."

Chad Ollinger found himself in trouble with the law this week after being arrested in Texas, stemming from an alleged police chase on his motorcycle that escalated into a foot pursuit ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the incident unfolded around 9 PM on Monday night when Chad, who appears on Discovery Channel's "Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch," was riding his black Harley Davidson and ran a stop light in front of an unmarked police car. We're told officers attempted to pull him over, but he initially refused to stop, leading to a brief pursuit.

When Chad pulled over on his motorcycle, he allegedly ditched it and ran on foot from cops. The chase allegedly ended when officers finally caught up with him and placed him under arrest.

Our law enforcement sources say Chad is facing two charges -- evading arrest/detention with a vehicle and evading arrest/detention on foot.

He was initially booked into the county jail, but he posted bond and was released Tuesday.