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Ty Detmer testifies at Ponzi fraud trial

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- A tearful Ty Detmer testified at the Texas trial of Triton Financial chief Kurt Barton, accused of bilking the ex-NFL quarterback of $2 million.

Detmer Monday was the first prosecution witness against Barton, 43, who is accused of running a $50 million Ponzi scheme that cheated hundreds of investors, including many former pro athletes, of their savings, the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman reported.

Prosecutors played a video showing Detmer joining other Heisman Trophy winnings touting Triton Financial.

"You lose money, that's one thing," said Detmer, 43, on the stand at U.S. District Court in Austin. "But I feel like all I've ever tried to do was just the right thing."

The 43-year-old 1990 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Brigham Young University said he first invested with Triton in 2005 and later made $100,000 a year as a company executive. He retired from the NFL in 2005 after 14 years playing with the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.

Barton is charged with criminal conspiracy, wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering.

O'Neal-linked kidnapping case dismissed

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Charges have been dropped against Los Angeles gang members accused of kidnapping a music producer who once said he had a sex tape of Shaquille O'Neal.

In February, seven members of the Main Street Crips were charged with kidnapping, assault and robbery in the abduction of O'Neal's former friend Robert Ross. O'Neal, a former center for the Los Angeles Lakers, announced his retirement this year after 19 NBA seasons.

LA Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar de Lorgoria Tuesday granted a defense motion for dismissal of the charges against the gang members after prosecutors said they no longer wanted to proceed to trial, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Deputy District Attorney Hoon Chun said prosecutors did not have confidence in Ross' credibility. Ross had alleged O'Neal and his business partner, Mark Stevens, orchestrated the gangland kidnapping when Ross was taken from his Hollywood Hills home and beaten and robbed.

Ross, a one-time gang member himself, said the gang members had demanded a sex videotape allegedly of O'Neal, but later said he never possessed such a tape.

Los Angeles Explosion Severely Injures Two Workers | California ...

Several workers suffered injuries on the job the afternoon of August 9, 2011 in a Sylmar building after a powerful explosion tore open the roof. News reports identify the two critically injured victims of this explosion as off-duty Los Angeles firefighter Timothy Larson and Tyson Larson. It is not clear if they were related. Officials say the explosion occurred in a 7,400-square-foot facility at 12349 Gladstone Avenue.

Powerful Explosion

Fire officials say the building housed an alternative fuel business that involved the extraction of hydrogen from water. The process apparently involves two pressure vehicles with 20-inch diameters that are 8 feet tall. Investigators are still looking into whether these large vessels were related to the explosion. The explosion was so powerful that it blew a hole through the roof. The two critically injured victims were thrown from the building into an alley. Several others suffered relatively minor injuries. Timothy Larson sustained major injuries to his arms and legs and was undergoing surgery. Tyson Larson's condition is unknown at this time.

My heart goes out to everyone who was injured in this industrial accident, particularly Timothy and Tyson Larson, who were critically injured. I pray for their speedy and complete recovery.

Statistics for Industrial Explosions

According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health's (CAL/OSHA) industrial accident statistics for 2005, 14 workers died that year in fires and explosions at their workplace or manufacturing facilities. Totally, 253 deaths relating to industrial accidents were reported in California in the year 2005.

What Caused This Industrial Accident?

There are still several unanswered questions here. Were there workers in this alternative fuel facility trained adequately to perform their jobs? Were they following all the required safety procedures? Did they have knowledge of those safety procedures? Was a dangerous or defective product involved? I trust an investigation by local authorities as well as the CAL/OSHA will provide some answers, although it could take months before we find out precisely what occurred, and why.

Compensation Issues

Injured workers in such cases will be entitled to receive workers compensation benefits to cover some of the medical expenses and lost wages. However, it is important to remember that California workers' compensation benefits are extremely inadequate especially considering the tremendous loss these workers and their families have suffered and may continue to suffer.

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