A former Transportation Security Administration baggage inspector at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport has pleaded guilty to stealing Apple iPads from travelers' luggage over an eight-month period.

Clayton Keith Dovel, 36, of Bedford, was sentenced by state District Judge Sharen Wilson to three years deferred adjudication probation,  which means that he will not have a conviction on his record if he completes the probationary term without incident.

Dovel paid restitution of $4,746 to six different victims whose iPads were stolen while they were traveling through DFW airport. The restitution was paid before the guilty plea as part of a deal with prosecutors.

"He used his position and people trusted him, thinking their property was going to be there when they arrived at their destination," said prosecutor Steven Gebhardt.

The victims included three people from North Texas, including a woman from Fort Worth, and other travelers from Oregon, Utah and Norway.

The investigation led to the recovery of eight stolen iPads, including one that was among Dovel's possessions at Terminal E when he was arrested Feb. 1.

A traveler reported to authorities on Jan. 24 that his iPad2 had been stolen and that it had been traced electronically to a home in Bedford owned by Dovel.

Dovel's attorney, Greg Westfall, could not be reached for comment.

-Dianna Hunt

A 32-year-old Fort Worth tattoo artist who police say knowingly gave a 16-year-old girl a tattoo was charged Monday with illegally tattooing a minor.

Simon Valentino Gasca was arrested Wednesday and released the next day after posting a $15,000 bond. 

It is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas to tattoo a person under the age of 18. If convicted, Gasca faces up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

The incident allegedly occurred Dec. 29 at the Aliens Ink Tattoo shop at 4723 River Oaks Blvd.

Sharron Neal, a police spokeswoman, said the girl had gone to the shop with a friend of Gasca’s and filled out paperwork indicating she was only 16.

“She did write down that she was 16 but he did it anyway, I guess because a friend of his brought her there,” Neal said.

It is unknown whether Gasca still works at the tattoo shop. A message left at the business Monday was not immediately returned.

- Deanna Boyd

FORT WORTH - A former Austin-area schoolteacher has pleaded guilty to having an improper relationship with a male student during a school-related trip to Fort Worth.

Cristina Roberts McCann, 40, of Cedar Park, was sentenced Monday to five years of deferred adjudication probation, which means she will not have a conviction on her record if she completes the terms of probation without incident.

McCann was a teacher at Lake Travis High School but resigned after the incident. The student was not a juvenile and McCann will not be required to register as a sex offender, officials said.

"The relationship Cristina McCann had with her student was improper and unlawful," prosecutor D.J. Estes said in an e-mail. "We felt the case resolution was appropriate considering the facts of the case and the wishes of the victim. For the next five years she will be under court supervision and she will never be able to teach again in Texas."

Neither McCann nor her attorney, Samantha Hill, could be reached for comment.

-Dianna Hunt

An Arlington police officer responding to a report of an emergency domestic disturbance Monday afternoon shot one of two dogs that charged at him on the scene, police officials said.

One of the two dogs, described as pit bull mixes, was struck and injured in the shooting on Mossy Oak Street, near Northwest Green Oaks and West Lamar boulevards. The other was not hit but fled, and officers were searching for it.

Sgt. Christopher Cook, a police spokesman, said an elderly couple had called police, reporting that their son, who also resides at the home with his girlfriend, broke a house window and was holding a piece of broken glass.

Cook said the officers had just arrived and were preparing to make contact with the residents when one of the occupants opened the door and “two aggressive pit bulls charged out at the officer.”

“The officer was in the street and, as the dogs started charging him, he used force against the animals to protect his own safety,” Cook said.

Cook said that animal control officers were on the scene and that the injured dog would be taken for treatment either to the city’s veterinarian or the veterinarian of the family’s choice.

Cook cautioned residents who call 911 to secure their dogs whenever possible before officers arrive.

“The last thing we ever want to do is, obviously, get in a situation where you have to deal with an aggressive animal," Cook said.

Cook said an administrative investigation will be conducted, as is routine whenever an officer uses such force.

-- Deanna Boyd

UPDATE: 1:45 p.m.

The trial of accused ID thief Aleksandr Goukasian has been halted for the day after attorneys indicated that Goukasian is likely to be hospitalized after being found unconscious in his far North Fort Worth home.

State District Judge Wayne Salvant indicated he would likely try again Wednesday morning to resume the trial.

Goukasian is accused of using illegal "skimmers" to obtain credit and debit card information and PIN numbers from gas station pumps throughout North Texas. 

Secret Service Special Agent Troy Sarria testified that he went to Goukasian's home Tuesday morning after Goukasian failed to show up in court. No one answered the door, but after obtaining a warrant officers entered the home and found Goukasian incoherent in bed.

"He was almost unresponsive, on the bed," Sarria testified.

Agents found a bottle of Ambien - a sleeping pill - in the room but Sarria said he did not know how many, if any, were in the bottle.

Salvant said trials can continue in cases where defendants abscond in the midst of trial, but indicated he was reluctant to continue without a defendant whose location is known.

Prosecutors Lori Burks and Jon O'Toole rested their case Tuesday. Defense attorney Abe Factor was set to begin presenting his case.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: At 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, officials report that the trial will resume at 1 p.m., with or without Goukasian.

A California man accused of using illegal "skimmers" at gas stations to steal consumers' account information was taken to a Fort Worth hospital Tuesday morning after he failed to show up at his trial and was found inside his residence, according to a Tarrant County district attorney official.

Alexandr Goukasian's medical condition was not immediately clear though officials say he was conscious when found by law enforcement officers.

Earlier in the morning, State District Judge Wayne Salvant had held Goukasian's bond insufficient and issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to show up to his ongoing trial, according to court records.

Goukasian, 52, of Los Angeles, is on trial on charges that he engaged in organized crime, and credit and debit card abuse that generated thousands of dollars in cash and goods from dozens of victims over a few months in 2010.

Prosecutors allege the theft ring used a device about the size of four decks of cards to skim credit- and debit-card information and PINs from consumers at gasoline stations. The skimmers were placed inside gasoline pumps and connected to the part that accepts credit cards and the keypad where consumers typed their passwords.

Thirteen skimmers, all bearing the same design and unique markings, were recovered in North Texas, and others were recovered in Houston, Mojave, Calif., and Las Vegas, prosecutors said.

Testimony in the trial had begun June 12. The defense was to begin presenting its case Tuesday morning.

"We're waiting to see if we're going to proceed with the trial," said Melody McDonald, a spokeswoman with the district attorney's office. "We're waiting to see what the judge wants to do."

- Deanna Boyd

Fort Worth police are asking for help in identifying two men who brandished pistols during a robbery of a T-Mobile store at 5860 N. Tarrant Pkwy.

The men entered the store at about 10:10 a.m. June 11 and held up the manager and another employee, police said. They demanded cell phones and money from the safe.

One suspect was described as about 5-foot-10 and of unknown race. He was wearing a red hoodie.

The other was described as 5-foot-8, possibly black, and wearing a black hoodie.

Anyone with information should call 911, CrimeStoppers at 817-469-8477 or Detective Desmarais at 817-392-4375. You can also visit 469tips.com.

The former band director of Venus High School has been indicted by a Johnson County grand jury on charges he had an improper sexual relationship with a student.

Jason Jack Rabinowitz, 35, of Grand Prairie, is accused of having sexual contact with the female student on Feb. 25, according to the indictment handed up last month.

The victim was a student at Venus High School, according to the indictment.

Johnson County District Attorney Dale Hanna declined to comment about the pending case. Rabinowitz could not be reached for comment.

Venus ISD Superintendent Billy Matthews said Rabinowitz worked as band director in the Venus ISD from July 28, 2008 until he resigned on May 11. Matthews declined to comment on the charge.

In a profile posted on LinkedIn.com, Rabinowitz said he managed the band program from 6th through 12th grade in the Venus ISD.

His profile also notes that he worked as an associate director of bands for the College Station ISD for about nine years, from June 1999 until June 2008.

The Texas Education Agency website indicates that his teacher certification is under investigation.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 9:30 a.m.

The trial of accused ID "skimmer" Aleksandr Goukasian has been delayed until Monday  while the defendant recovers from what appears to have been an overdose of sleeping pills.

State District Judge Wayne Salvant announced Wednesday morning that he had spoken with the doctor and that he did not believe Goukasian would be able to sit through trial this week.

"The accused, Goukasian, was having an irregular heartbeat and he was bleeding," Salvant said. "The doctor doesn't feel comfortable allowing him out of the hospital. He said he was a little more coherent but not completely."

Salvant said the trial would resume at 8:45 a.m. Monday.

-Dianna Hunt

Accused ID thief Aleksandr Goukasian is not in court for a second day and is reported to still be hospitalized.

Goukasian was taking to John Peter Smith Hospital on Tuesday after being found nearly unconscious in his Fort Worth home. He had failed to appear in court for his trial on charges he used an illegal "skimmer" to cull consumer account information from gas pumps across North Texas.

Secret Service agent Troy Sarria testified Tuesday that a bottle of sleeping pills was found in Goukasian's bedroom but at the time it was not known if he had taken any.

State District Judge Wayne Salvant indicated Tuesday he would decide this morning whether to proceed with the trial without Goukasian or to delay the trial another day to see if he could be present.

Prosecutors Lori Burks and Jon O'Toole have rested their case. Defense attorney Abe Factor was set to begin presenting his witnesses.

Attorneys appear to be meeting with the judge behind closed doors.

-Dianna Hunt

Benbrook police need the public's help in identifying a man who robbed the Pinnacle Bank on June 5.

The robbery occurred at 12:28 p.m. after a man walked into the bank, located at 9282 Benbrook Blvd., and handed the teller a demand note. 

He fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and was last seen
walking west toward a nearby apartment complex.

Anyone with information about the man's identity is asked to call police at 817-249-1610.

- Deanna Boyd

A Fort Worth man who confessed at least three times to fatally shooting a convenience store owner during a robbery was convicted Thursday of capital murder and given an automatic life sentence without parole.

The jury in state District Judge George Gallagher's court deliberated about three hours before convicting Frederick Jones, 31, in the fatal shooting of Azmi Elqutob, 66, on June 1, 2011.

Jones is still facing five charges he harassed jailers at the Tarrant County Jail by throwing feces and urine on them. FULL STORY: http://bit.ly/NdqmoV

-Dianna Hunt

The trial for accused ID skimmer Aleksandr Goukasian will resume on Friday after being halted for two days while the defendant was hospitalized with an apparent overdose of prescription sleeping pills.

The defense is expected to begin presenting its case at 8:45 a.m. Friday in state District Judge Wayne Salvant's court.

Goukasian, 52, an Armenian who listed a Los Angeles address at the time of his arrest, is accused of participating in a theft ring that used high-tech "skimmers" to cull consumers' account information from gas pumps across North Texas.

Prosecutors Lori Burks and Jon O'Toole presented evidence that the ring placed small devices inside gas pumps to collect credit and debit card information and PIN numbers as consumers filled their tanks. Thirteen skimmers were discovered throughout North Texas.

Defense attorneys Abe Factor and Gerard Kardonsky could not be reached for comment.

-Dianna Hunt

GRAPEVINE — More than 3,600 area customers were without power Thursday afternoon.

An Oncor spokeswoman said that the cause of the 5 p.m. outage was unknown. The number of outages had been reduced to 1,800 by Thursday evening.

The spokeswoman did not have an estimated time for restoration of power to all customers.

— Marty Sabota

UPDATE: 1:30 p.m.

The jury resumed deliberations in the "skimmer" trial after taking a one-hour lunch break.

Shortly after returning to the jury room, they asked to see additional evidence, including photos of the hotel room where evidence was seized and the black card case that defendant Aleksandr Goukasian had that contained cards made with stolen date.

Goukasian, 52, an Armenian who listed a California address when arrested, is charged with participating in a theft ring that used illegal "skimmers" to steal credit and debit card information and PIN numers from gas pumps.

-Dianna Hunt

UPDATE: 10:45 a.m.

The jury began deliberating about 10:30 a.m.in the case against Aleksandr Goukasian, accused of participating in a credit and debit card "skimming" ring that victimized 38,000 people across the nation.

Prosecutors Lori Burks and Jon O'Toole told jurors that Goukasian is linked to four other people, all of whom arrived from California to plant high-tech "skimmers" in gasoline pumps across the area so they could skim account information and PIN numbers.

"He came to North Texas and he targeted our community, our financial information," Burks told jurors. "Why? Money. He's greedy."

Defense attorney Abe Factor told jurors that Goukasian was guilty of using stolen credit card information but that he had not been linked to the larger theft ring.

"Aleksandr Goukasian is a mule," Factor said. "He was packed up and given a task ... He is guilty of credit card abuse."

The trial in state District Judge Wayne Salvant's court was delayed for two days after Goukasian was found nearly unconscious in his home in Fort Worth. Investigators found him after he failed to appear in court for his trial.

-Dianna Hunt

Friday morning, 9:25 a.m.

Accused ID skimmer Aleksandr Goukasian is back in court Friday after being hospitalized for an apparent overdose of prescription sleeping pills.

Closing arguments are expected to begin by 9:30 a.m. in Goukasian's trial on charges he participated in a theft ring that used illegal "skimmers" placed surreptitiously in gas pumps across North Texas to cull consumers' account information.

Goukasian, under questioning from his attorney Abe Factor, told the judge outside the jury's presence that he had decided not to testify. A Russian translator was brought in to ensure that Goukasian, who is Armenian, understood the decision.

Prosecutors Lori Burks and Jon O'Toole presented evidence that Goukasian was part of a ring that bilked thousands of dollars from credit and debit cards after obtaining account information and PIN numbers from the skimmers.

Thirteen skimmers were found throughout North Texas. Others were found in Houston, Mojave, Calif. and Las Vegas.

The jury in state District Judge Wayne Salvant's court is expected to begin deliberating Friday morning.

-Dianna Hunt

A 19-year-old Euless man was in the Arlington City Jail on Friday facing a murder charge in connection with the shooting of Obeth Hernandez, 18, of Dallas outside a house party in east Arlington.

Bail was set at $250,000 for Dreonte Baron Dillard (at left), whom police said was with a group of friends who were asked to leave the party in the 1600 block of Geraldine Lane after an argument early Sunday.

Hernandez was shot in the chest and abdomen while outside the house and later died at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth.

Police said they continue to investigate other suspects who may have been involved.

A 21-year-old man whom police did not identify also suffered gunshot wounds. He was taken to JPS in critical condition.

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FOREST HILL — A 55-year-old man was killed Tuesday afternoon when he was thrown from his truck that jumped a retaining wall and crashed in front of oncoming traffic, police said.

Interim Police Chief Dan Dennis said the man, who was not identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The wreck occurred about 5:15 p.m. in the 5300 block of Southeast Loop 820 near Mansfield Highway.

Traffic was backed up for miles as emergency personnel worked to clear the scene, Fire Chief Ed Henderson said.

According to Dennis, the driver of a red 2007 Ford F-150 suddenly crossed three westbound lanes, struck a guardrail and went over a concrete barrier. He said the vehicle rolled and landed upside down in an eastbound lane.

No one else was involved in the crash.

Dennis said there was no obvious reason why the driver had suddenly crossed three lanes of traffic, adding that the driver may have been speeding.

The Police Department asks that anyone who may have witnessed the accident contact Detective Winters at 817-531-5250.

— Marty Sabota

FORT WORTH _ A motorist was injured Tuesday afternoon when a patrol car rear-ended a vehicle on a service road, police said.
The driver who was not identified was taken to a local hospital, but her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The officer was not injured, police said.
The crash occurred about 3 p.m. Tuesday on a service road near east Loop 820 and Craig Street.
The vehicle was on the service road when it stopped because of ladders on the road, police said. A patrol car that was behind the vehicle collided with the back of the vehicle, police said.
_ Domingo Ramirez Jr.

A former Texas Tech University student and native of Saudi Arabia was found guilty Wednesday afternoon of planning to bomb several American sites that included dams, the homes of former military officers and the Dallas residence of former President George W. Bush.
Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 22, also researched how to place explosive devices in infant dolls to target a nightclub.
A federal jury in Amarillo found Aldawsari guilty of one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Aldawsari who faces a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9 in Amarillo
The 22-year-old was arrested on Feb. 23, 2011 in Lubbock.
Aldawsari was lawfully admitted to the United States in 2008 on a student visa and had attended Texas Tech and South Plains College in Levelland near Lubbock.
At the time of his arrest last year, evidence in the trial showed that the Saudi Arabia native had been researching  online how to construct an improvised explosive device using several chemicals as ingredients. Aldawsari allegedly described his desire for violent jihad and martyrdom in blog postings and a personal journal.
Federal agents got tipped off in February 2011 when a chemical supplier reported to the FBI a suspicious attempt to purchase concentrated phenol by a man identifying himself as Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari.
Excerpts from a journal found a Aldawsari’s residence indicated that he had been planning to commit a terrorist attack in the United States for years.
_ Domingo Ramirez Jr.

FORT WORTH _ This is a warning to motorists in Texas who in the next few days will be driving too fast, not wearing their seat belts or driving drunk.
Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety will be out in force this Fourth of July holiday to stop you.
Increased DWI patrols will begin on Saturday and continue until July 8 throughout the state, particularly near lakes and recreation areas. Troopers also will participate in Operation C.A.R.E. from July 4 to July 8 where they will be watching out for seat belt violators and speeders.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the July 4th holiday ranks as number one nationally for alcohol-related fatal crashes.
Last summer, DPS troopers made 1,406 DWI arrests during the holiday.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, more than 1,000 Texans are killed each year because of impaired drivers.
In addition last summer, troopers issued more than 21,300 speeding and seat belt violation citations and made more than 1,500 fugitive and felony arrests.
_ Domingo Ramirez Jr.

A Waco man who told police he was having a "bad trip" after taking synthetic marijuana has been accused of beating -- and eating -- his family's dog after chasing a neighbor on his hands and knees while, yes, barking like a dog.

Michael Terron Daniel, 22, has been charged with felony cruelty to a non-livestock animal in the fatal attack against the dog, according to numerous news reports.

Waco police responded to a call on June 14 with a report of a man going crazy.

Police found Daniel,  covered in blood, on the porch and holding the dead dog. He apparently told people in the home that he had taken K-2, synthetic marijuana.

- Lee Williams

The last of 10 members of a drug-trafficking ring working in Northeast Tarrant County was sentenced to federal prison today.

William Walter Rainey was sentenced to 30 years in prison by by U.S. District Judge John McBryde in Fort Worth, the U.S. attorney's office said.

The other nine defendants in the case were sentenced to federal prison terms ranging from six to 40 years months, following their guilty pleas to their respective roles in the black tar heroin operation.

   The invesgitation was conducted by the DEA, Tarrant County Narcotics Unit and police departments from Bedford, Euless, Grapevine, Haltom City, Hurst, North Richland Hills and Watauga.

   The investigation began in May 2011 when Mark Andrew Talamini was arrested for possessing two ounces of black tar heroin, which led investigators to his supplier and other dealers.

   Investigators eventually determined that the 10 defendants were part of a larger organization responsible for distributing heroin in Northeast Tarrant County.

  Other defendants, and their sentences, are:

 Mario Guerra-Rocha, 28 years

Agusten Diaz, aka “Popeye,” 40 years
Michael Diaz, aka “Darky,” 9 years

Manuel Parada, aka “Pelon,” 6.6 years

Matthew Christopher Talamini, 9 years

Christopher Paul Sibley, 9 years

Mark Andrew Talamini, 26 years

Timothy Joseph Metzler, 6 years

John David Talamini, 11 years

- Lee Williams