New date set for alleged killer
A new hearing date has been set for the alleged killer of a local transgender woman.
Rahaem Felton was scheduled for a pre-trial conference Aug. 19 before Common Pleas Judge Benjamin Lerner, but his defense attorneys requested more time to conduct further investigation. Felton is accused of stabbing to death Londyn Chanel in May at an abandoned home the pair shared with two other transgender women. A witness said Felton stabbed Chanel after she accused him of making sexual advances toward her.
Felton is scheduled for a pre-trial conference 9 a.m. Sept. 29 in Room 1105 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. He is charged with murder and possession of an instrument of crime and remains incarcerated at Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility.
BBQ to target sex-work stigma
The LGBT community and allies are invited to take part in a barbecue next weekend that seeks to combat stigma associated with sex work.
The Connecting Communities BBQ will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 29 at Thomas Paine Plaza, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Hosted by Deja Lynn Alvarez, the event will feature free food, entertainment, a DJ, free and confidential health screenings and HIV testing, and health workshops and resource tables. It is presented by the Strength Alliance, comprised of a number of local agencies, including Resources for Human Development, Youth Health Empowerment Project, Philadelphia Black Pride, GALAEI, Nehemiah Tabernacle and RHD’s Morris Home, Abbottsford-Fall Health Center and Health Annex.
For more information, call 215-951-0300 ext. 3037 or email [email protected].
— Jen Colletta
Pre-trial conference slated for homicide case
A pre-trial status conference is set for next month in the case of Randolph Sanders, who’s accused of murdering coworker Kim Jones, a lesbian, as she waited for a bus in North Philadelphia.
The victim and Sanders ran a program for Turning Points for Children, which has a contract with the city’s Department of Human Services.
Police say Jones hired Sanders two years ago as an assistant director for the nonprofit organization. However, Jones allegedly accused Sanders of mismanaging funds and possibly stealing thousands of dollars from the nonprofit.
On the morning of her murder, police say Jones was on her way to DHS to report Sanders.
Sanders, 37, remains incarcerated at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. He’s charged with murder, illegal possession of a firearm and related offenses.
The pre-trial conference will be held 10 a.m. Sept. 22 in Courtroom 1105 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St.
Mark A. Levenberg is the prosecutor. Michael Coard is the defense attorney. Common Pleas Judge Benjamin Lerner will preside.
Attorney in Milano case gets $9K payment
A payment of $9,232.40 recently was approved for Jules Epstein, who served as an attorney for Frank Chester during a lengthy appellate process in the Anthony Milano murder case.
The payment is in addition to earlier payments to Epstein between 2004-11 totaling $26,695, according to court records.
In 1987, Chester and Richard R. Laird murdered Milano by hacking out his throat with a box cutter. Milano was gay, and prosecutors called it an antigay hate crime.
In 2011, Chester’s first-degree murder conviction was overturned, due to faulty jury instructions by the trial judge.
Chester claims his trial attorney was deficient, necessitating the voiding of all his convictions, including second-degree murder and kidnapping. But a federal judge rejected Chester’s claim, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the rejection earlier this year.
Third Circuit Judge Thomas L. Ambro recently approved a $9,232.40 payment to Epstein for work performed on behalf of Chester between October 2013 and May 2015. According to court records, Epstein worked 50.2 hours on behalf of Chester during that time period.
Epstein couldn’t be reached for comment.
Chester, 46, remains on death row at a state prison in Graterford, while prosecutors decide whether to re-try him for first-degree murder.
Laird, 51, remains on death row at a state prison in Franklin Township. He’s seeking a new trial, on the basis that attorneys during his 2007 retrial served him ineffectively.
Court proceeding set in bullying case
A court proceeding has been scheduled for next month to discuss disputes in the case of Thomas Vandergrift, a gay man who’s suing the Pennsauken School District for anti-LGBT bias.
Vandergrift contends district officials wrongfully accused him of child molestation after he advocated for a proper education for his autistic nephew. Vandergrift also claims his nephew experienced pervasive anti-LGBT bullying while he attended school in the district.
The case is in the discovery phase of litigation, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider scheduled an in-person conference to discuss discovery disputes for 2 p.m. Sept. 22 at the U.S. Court House in Camden.
Both sides must document all disputes to be discussed at the proceeding. If a dispute isn’t documented three days prior to the proceeding, it can’t be discussed, the judge said.
Vandergrift is suing for an unspecified amount in damages, along with policy changes within the school district. n
— Tim Cwiek