Off the Cuff has come to an end. Since April 2008, the blog has been a big part of my life and I thank you – all of you even the wisecrackers – for reading and commenting.

Jacksonville Police Chief Mike Yaniero and I sat down Thursday to iron out a few things and talk about good times past. Similar to the hiccup I had with NCIS in early 2008, there have been a few minor points of contention between JPD and myself that I feel we worked out during our hour-long [...]

When I wrote about a Richlands volunteer firefighter charged with having sex with his 14-year-old girlfriend at the fire station last month, I was just uncovering the tip of the iceberg. After a little digging I find that the accused firefighter’s father pulled hard time in prison for rape and incest and was a Richlands firefighter before [...]

A killer whale involved in two other human deaths has claimed a third victim. Read news here. Best comment on the article at jdnews.com: “The guests were evacuated and the park closed? The entire park? I mean, it’s not like the whale was going to climb out of the tank and go all velociraptor on [...]

N.C. State Sen. Charlie Albertson is going out with a bang. The long-time law-maker – who announced last month he wasn’t running again - is crooning about Willie Nelson’s band being busted for weed and moonshine before a concert, that didn’t happen, in Kenansville a few weeks back. Check it out: I wonder whether Dewey Hudson [...]

My journey as crime reporter for the The Daily News is coming to the end of the road… Don’t celebrate yet. I’ll still be around. I will be assuming the government beat Monday. And while a final decision about my replacement has not been made by my bosses, one of the possible choices is someone [...]

The Associated Press is reporting that Ric Flair’s new wife has been charged with assaulting the pro-wrestler in their Charlotte home. Flair, the 60-year-old platinum blond grappler nicknamed “The Nature Boy,” told police that his wife attacked him after they went out for dinner. He had minor injuries, but refused treatment from paramedics. Jacqueline Beems, 41, was charged with simple assault. On [...]

A stay-at-home Maple Hill mother is in jail accused of breaking her months-old child’s leg and shaking him cause real damage to the child’s brain. Read news here. These cases just keep stacking up… The jury is still out (actually not even seated) in this case, but for convicted child abusers, there is a special place reserved for [...]

Since talking to the appearant owners of a group of unleashed dogs running amok in my otherwise quiet neighborhood hasn’t helped and calling the dog catcher and 911 has proved fruitless, I thought I’d post some photos on here and see what shakes loose. Here are the three large dogs running loose – despite the countywide leash [...]

- After 17 years on military death row, Wade Walker has been given life in prison after an appeal won him a new trial. He was found guilty again last month of joining in the 1992 racial slaying of a white man, but was given life instead of death on Friday afternoon. The triggerman in [...]

Read the news here. The wife and her son from her MySpace page: Let the complaints role in as to why I said he was a former Marine…

Nielson has asked my wife to keep track of what shows we watch on TV. So when you read about TV ratings every week, you will know that I had a hand in it. Not that I think I will make any difference; most of the shows I watch are nowhere near the top of the ratings [...]

The Onslow County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the stabbing of a woman and a small child late Wednesday night. A military female was found with a stab wound in the chest and a small child with a cut on the leg. I will find out more Thursday morning…

- I’m sure there will be more on this Monday. I learned late Sunday night that former Onslow County Commissioner and current Board of Education member Fred Holt passed away this weekend. I only spoke to Dr. Holt on a few occasions, but he was highly intelligent and very articulate each time. He cared tremendously [...]

A news brief will be in print tomorrow, but I got this from Ernie Lee at 10 p.m. so I figured I’d post it here. PRESS RELEASE February 12, 2010 On February 12, 2010, I traveled to Raleigh to the State Board of Elections and filed for election for the office of District Attorney for [...]

A story I feel is just not getting enough attention in the news media is the recent re-conviction of a former Camp Lejeune Marine who set out with five others to commit a racial murder – and did so. If you have a mental image in your head of skin-headed white Marines in off-duty attire that [...]

The Daily News will feature an article in Friday’s edition, and online, about the legal issues surrounding the 2008 death of an Onslow County deputy sheriff. I will link the story here when it is made available.

Read the news article about Laurean’s response to the Lauterbachs’ wrongful death lawsuit.  I am anticipating some big news in the Cesar Laurean case Friday. Can’t say what just yet, but I will post it here and jdnews.com as soon as possible.

My good friend Scott Lawson is at it again. This guy is gangbusters when it comes to busting child-porn pervs. And I am 100 percent behind that. Pornography is free speech. Child porn is evil. Lawson’s press release about sexting in Pender County Schools: The Pender County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating several incidents involving [...]

A Carteret County woman said her $30,000 pregnant retired racehorse was killed by someone with a personal vindetta. Read the news here. Below is a photo of the dead horse provided by the Carteret County Sheriff’s Department: Anyone with information please call the authorities.

Straight from the press release: Onslow County Sheriff’s Office investigators are investigating a shooting that occurred at approximately 2:30 am Sunday in Sneads Ferry. Deputies responded to a residence in reference to a shooting that occurred during a domestic situation between a husband and wife.  The husband and wife had been arguing during the night.  [...]

Photo from a FaceBook page dedicated to Lucian Gravitt. I nearly lost it when I looked at the baby photos on the site. Such a beautiful little baby. As a father of five, I just had to close my eyes for a few minutes and take a few deep breaths. Like I always tell detectives [...]

Read the Doe Network file on the “Bear Creek Skeleton.”  Check out the very detailed NamUs web site with excellent details. Still waiting for DNA comparison with a Florida woman…. Read the news article here about Onslow County Sheriff’s detectives spending the week in Florida interviewing folks in the case of a female skeleton found in [...]

- It only took like 30 minutes for the false rumor that a stabbing occurred at Swansboro High School to spread Tuesday. In truth a 20-year-old hurt himself while washing the dishes.It never ceases to amaze me how fast parents can spread wild stories about their kids’ schools, but when something really happens I don’t hear about it. Weird. [...]

Take this to mean what you will. Mike McHugh found this tidbit in The Tideland News, which was deleivered to his doorstep tonight. Onslow County Sheriff Reports……   …Jan 26: Reported by James Robert Powers of Hubert, the theft of $50 worth of prescription drugs from 201 Smallwood Road, Trailer 8. Deputy L.C.Darden. I was [...]

- The most recent Marine sergeant accused of molesting teenage girls has an extensive MySpace account. Here is a few photos from the page. To see the rest go to http://www.myspace.com/raueshunting.        – Seems like a story I did on the mayor of Cedar Point recieving a harassing note in the mail generated a lot of interest (though [...]