NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;’s sex trafficking case, joining two other judges who declined to release similar records from investigations into the late financier's sexual abuse of young women and girls.

Judge Richard Berman, who presided over the 2019 case, ruled a week after another Manhattan federal judge turned down the government’s request to release transcripts from the grand jury that indicted Epstein’s longtime confidante&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>.

Barring reversal on appeal, Berman’s decision appears to foreclose the possibility of federal courts releasing Epstein-related grand jury testimony. A federal judge in Florida&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-trump-grand-jury-records-florida-3254decc623fbf2a5ee2967c7adfa2e6">declined to release grand jury documents</a>&nbsp;from an investigation there in 2005 and 2007, though some material from a state case against Epstein was made public last year.

The rulings were a resounding repudiation of the Justice Department's effort to unlock the records, a move the Republican administration undertook amid a fierce backlash over its refusal to release a massive trove of documents in its possession.

Berman and the judge in Maxwell's case, Paul A. Engelmayer, made clear in their rulings that the grand jury transcripts contain none of the answers likely to satisfy the immense public interest in the case, with Berman calling the request a “diversion.”

President Donald Trump had called for the release of transcripts amid rumors and criticism about his long-ago involvement with Epstein. During last year's presidential campaign, Trump promised to release files related to Epstein, but he was met with criticism — including from many of his own supporters — when the small number of records released by his Justice Department lacked new revelations.

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on Wednesday.

Each of the judges who declined to release transcripts cited longstanding grand jury secrecy rules and concluded that the government did not meet any of the extraordinary exceptions under federal law that could justify making them public.

They also noted that the Justice Department has voluminous records related to Epstein that aren't covered by grand jury secrecy rules. Berman wrote that the scant information contained in around 70 pages of Epstein grand jury transcripts “pales in comparison to the Epstein investigative information and materials in the hands of the Department of Justice," which he said totals around 100,000 pages.

“The Government is the logical party to make comprehensive disclosure to the public of the Epstein Files,” Berman wrote in an apparent reference to the Justice Department’s refusal to release additional records. He said the request to release grand jury records "appears to be a ‘diversion’ from the breadth and scope of the Epstein files in the Government’s possession. The grand jury testimony is merely a hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged conduct.”

The Justice Department had informed Berman that the only witness to testify before the Epstein grand jury in 2019 was an FBI agent who, the judge noted, "had no direct knowledge of the facts of the case and whose testimony was mostly hearsay.” The rest of the grand jury presentation consisted of a PowerPoint slideshow and a call log.

Last year, a judge in Florida&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-transcript-florida-b5dce49bdd9bcbce2969107919ddc2d0">unsealed around 150 pages of transcripts</a>&nbsp;of the grand jury proceedings that led to Epstein's indictment on state charges there in 2006.

Maxwell, a British socialite and publishing heir, is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. She was recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">transferred from a prison in Florida</a>&nbsp;to a prison camp in Texas. Epstein died in jail awaiting trial.

Maxwell’s case has been the subject of heightened public focus since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">an outcry</a>&nbsp;over the Justice Department said last month that it would not release any additional documents from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. The decision infuriated online sleuths, conspiracy theorists and elements of Trump’s base who had hoped to see proof of a government cover-up.

Since then, officials in Trump's Republican administration have tried to cast themselves as promoting transparency in the case, including by requesting the unsealing of grand jury transcripts.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-053ad2ae16f31b9d7300340d5f9349c5">Maxwell was interviewed</a>&nbsp;at a Florida courthouse weeks ago by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The House Oversight Committee also said it wanted to speak with Maxwell. Her lawyers said they would be open to an interview but only if the panel were to ensure immunity from prosecution.

In a letter to Maxwell’s lawyers, Rep. James Comer, the committee chair, wrote that the committee was willing to delay the deposition until after the resolution of Maxwell’s appeal to the Supreme Court. That appeal is expected to be resolved in late September.

Comer wrote that while Maxwell’s testimony was “vital” to the Republican-led investigation into Epstein, the committee would not provide immunity or any questions in advance of her testimony.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704416234390.png" alt="FILE — Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell AP Photo/John Minchillo, File" />
 <figcaption>FILE — Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell AP Photo/John Minchillo, File</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;’s sex trafficking case, joining two other judges who declined to release similar records from investigations into the late financier's sexual abuse of young women and girls.Judge Richard Berman, who presided over the 2019 case, ruled a week after another Manhattan federal judge turned down the government’s request to release transcripts from the grand jury that indicted Epstein’s longtime confidante&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>.Barring reversal on appeal, Berman’s decision appears to foreclose the possibility of federal courts releasing Epstein-related grand jury testimony. A federal judge in Florida&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-trump-grand-jury-records-florida-3254decc623fbf2a5ee2967c7adfa2e6">declined to release grand jury documents</a>&nbsp;from an investigation there in 2005 and 2007, though some material from a state case against Epstein was made public last year.The rulings were a resounding repudiation of the Justice Department's effort to unlock the records, a move the Republican administration undertook amid a fierce backlash over its refusal to release a massive trove of documents in its possession.Berman and the judge in Maxwell's case, Paul A. Engelmayer, made clear in their rulings that the grand jury transcripts contain none of the answers likely to satisfy the immense public interest in the case, with Berman calling the request a “diversion.”President Donald Trump had called for the release of transcripts amid rumors and criticism about his long-ago involvement with Epstein. During last year's presidential campaign, Trump promised to release files related to Epstein, but he was met with criticism — including from many of his own supporters — when the small number of records released by his Justice Department lacked new revelations.A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on Wednesday.Each of the judges who declined to release transcripts cited longstanding grand jury secrecy rules and concluded that the government did not meet any of the extraordinary exceptions under federal law that could justify making them public.They also noted that the Justice Department has voluminous records related to Epstein that aren't covered by grand jury secrecy rules. Berman wrote that the scant information contained in around 70 pages of Epstein grand jury transcripts “pales in comparison to the Epstein investigative information and materials in the hands of the Department of Justice," which he said totals around 100,000 pages.“The Government is the logical party to make comprehensive disclosure to the public of the Epstein Files,” Berman wrote in an apparent reference to the Justice Department’s refusal to release additional records. He said the request to release grand jury records "appears to be a ‘diversion’ from the breadth and scope of the Epstein files in the Government’s possession. The grand jury testimony is merely a hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged conduct.”The Justice Department had informed Berman that the only witness to testify before the Epstein grand jury in 2019 was an FBI agent who, the judge noted, "had no direct knowledge of the facts of the case and whose testimony was mostly hearsay.” The rest of the grand jury presentation consisted of a PowerPoint slideshow and a call log.Last year, a judge in Florida&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-transcript-florida-b5dce49bdd9bcbce2969107919ddc2d0">unsealed around 150 pages of transcripts</a>&nbsp;of the grand jury proceedings that led to Epstein's indictment on state charges there in 2006.Maxwell, a British socialite and publishing heir, is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. She was recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">transferred from a prison in Florida</a>&nbsp;to a prison camp in Texas. Epstein died in jail awaiting trial.Maxwell’s case has been the subject of heightened public focus since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">an outcry</a>&nbsp;over the Justice Department said last month that it would not release any additional documents from the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. The decision infuriated online sleuths, conspiracy theorists and elements of Trump’s base who had hoped to see proof of a government cover-up.Since then, officials in Trump's Republican administration have tried to cast themselves as promoting transparency in the case, including by requesting the unsealing of grand jury transcripts.Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-053ad2ae16f31b9d7300340d5f9349c5">Maxwell was interviewed</a>&nbsp;at a Florida courthouse weeks ago by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The House Oversight Committee also said it wanted to speak with Maxwell. Her lawyers said they would be open to an interview but only if the panel were to ensure immunity from prosecution.In a letter to Maxwell’s lawyers, Rep. James Comer, the committee chair, wrote that the committee was willing to delay the deposition until after the resolution of Maxwell’s appeal to the Supreme Court. That appeal is expected to be resolved in late September.Comer wrote that while Maxwell’s testimony was “vital” to the Republican-led investigation into Epstein, the committee would not provide immunity or any questions in advance of her testimony.

Judge denies Justice Dept. request to unseal Epstein grand jury transcripts

SALINE COUNTY—A fire in rural Saline County caused thousands of dollars in damage.

Just before 9a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp;&nbsp;a metal pole style building fire was reported at 6304 W. Thorstenberg Road, according to Saline County Sheriff's Captain Jim Hughes.

The fire destroyed 150 large round hay bales valued at $12,000, a Massey Ferguson swather with header valued at $40,000 and the 60-foot by 80-foot metal building.&nbsp; Owner, Miguel Contreras, did not have a value of the building.&nbsp;

The cause of the fire is suspected wet hays bales that spontaneously combusted, according to Hughes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755698280106.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—A fire in rural Saline County caused thousands of dollars in damage.Just before 9a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp;&nbsp;a metal pole style building fire was reported at 6304 W. Thorstenberg Road, according to Saline County Sheriff's Captain Jim Hughes.The fire destroyed 150 large round hay bales valued at $12,000, a Massey Ferguson swather with header valued at $40,000 and the 60-foot by 80-foot metal building.&nbsp; Owner, Miguel Contreras, did not have a value of the building.&nbsp;The cause of the fire is suspected wet hays bales that spontaneously combusted, according to Hughes.

Sheriff: Thousands of dollars in damage after rural Kansas fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kristi-noem">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that the entire border wall along the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-border-militarized-zones-arizona-trump-33092c7e6132bbe97a39ce94ee945e5f">southern border with Mexico</a>&nbsp;is going to be painted black to make it hotter and deter illegal immigration — and she credited President Trump with the idea.

Noem spoke during a visit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-noem-homeland-security-waiver-border-wall-california-99f5b8209279c5af65be3b27da451371">to a portion of the wall</a>&nbsp;in New Mexico, where she also picked up a roller brush to help out with the painting.

She touted the height of the wall as well as the depth as ways to deter people seeking to go over or under the walls. And then Noem said Homeland Security was going to be trying black paint to make the metal hotter.

“That is specifically at the request of the president, who understands that in the hot temperatures down here when something is painted black it gets even warmer and it will make it even harder for people to climb. So we are going to be painting the entire southern border wall black to make sure that we encourage individuals to not come into our country illegally,” Noem said.

U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks, who attended the event with Noem, said the paint would also help deter rust.

During Trump’s first term, building the wall was a central focus of his hardline immigration policy. During his second term, his mass deportation agenda with arrests in the interior of the country has been the main focus, but Homeland Security will be getting about $46 billion to complete the wall as part of new funding passed by Congress this summer.

Noem said they have been building about a half mile of barrier every day.

“The border wall will look very different based on the topography and the geography of where it is built,” she said.

She said that in addition to barriers like the one she visited Tuesday, the department is also working on “water-borne infrastructure.” Long sections of the roughly 2,000-mile border between the U.S. and Mexico sit along the Rio Grande River in Texas.

The Trump administration is pushing forward with completing the wall at the same time that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-arrests-trump-biden-52f82acf0899e88bcaea167ea21d2f61">number of people crossing</a>&nbsp;the border illegally has plummeted.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kristi-noem">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that the entire border wall along the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-border-militarized-zones-arizona-trump-33092c7e6132bbe97a39ce94ee945e5f">southern border with Mexico</a>&nbsp;is going to be painted black to make it hotter and deter illegal immigration — and she credited President Trump with the idea.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today marks seven months of <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> Trump’s second term. When we got to work, America faced the worst border crisis in history. Today, that crisis isn’t just under control— it’s been obliterated. This wall is part of the difference. Too high to climb. Too narrow to squeeze… <a href="https://t.co/pPxfVWVSCU">pic.twitter.com/pPxfVWVSCU</a>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1958122674858926410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Noem spoke during a visit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-noem-homeland-security-waiver-border-wall-california-99f5b8209279c5af65be3b27da451371">to a portion of the wall</a>&nbsp;in New Mexico, where she also picked up a roller brush to help out with the painting.She touted the height of the wall as well as the depth as ways to deter people seeking to go over or under the walls. And then Noem said Homeland Security was going to be trying black paint to make the metal hotter.“That is specifically at the request of the president, who understands that in the hot temperatures down here when something is painted black it gets even warmer and it will make it even harder for people to climb. So we are going to be painting the entire southern border wall black to make sure that we encourage individuals to not come into our country illegally,” Noem said.U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks, who attended the event with Noem, said the paint would also help deter rust.During Trump’s first term, building the wall was a central focus of his hardline immigration policy. During his second term, his mass deportation agenda with arrests in the interior of the country has been the main focus, but Homeland Security will be getting about $46 billion to complete the wall as part of new funding passed by Congress this summer.Noem said they have been building about a half mile of barrier every day.“The border wall will look very different based on the topography and the geography of where it is built,” she said.She said that in addition to barriers like the one she visited Tuesday, the department is also working on “water-borne infrastructure.” Long sections of the roughly 2,000-mile border between the U.S. and Mexico sit along the Rio Grande River in Texas.The Trump administration is pushing forward with completing the wall at the same time that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-arrests-trump-biden-52f82acf0899e88bcaea167ea21d2f61">number of people crossing</a>&nbsp;the border illegally has plummeted.

Southern border wall to be painted black to stop people from climbing it

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash involving a pedestrian and a car that occurred just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday near Mulvane.

Based on a preliminary investigation, 48-year-old George E. Shaw III of Mulvane, had stopped his vehicle off the roadway in the 10600 block of South Hydraulic to turn off power to an irrigation pivot on the opposite side of the road, according to Sheriff Office spokesman Branden Stitt.

As he crossed back toward his vehicle, he slipped and fell in the road.

 A southbound Mazda 6, driven by a 55-year-old Wellington man, was&nbsp; struck him. The collision forced the Mazda into a ditch and field.&nbsp;First responders found the Shaw unresponsive. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;

Sedgwick County EMS transported the Mazda driver to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

At the time of the collision, witnesses reported heavy rain and reduced visibility.

In addition to Sedgwick County deputies, Sedgwick County Fire District 1, Sedgwick County EMS, Mulvane EMS, Mulvane Fire Rescue and Derby Fire Rescue, responded to the scene.

The Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Team and detectives are assisting with the investigation. Investigators do not believe impairment played a role in the crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755687068355.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash involving a pedestrian and a car that occurred just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday near Mulvane.Based on a preliminary investigation, 48-year-old George E. Shaw III of Mulvane, had stopped his vehicle off the roadway in the 10600 block of South Hydraulic to turn off power to an irrigation pivot on the opposite side of the road, according to Sheriff Office spokesman Branden Stitt.As he crossed back toward his vehicle, he slipped and fell in the road.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755687099889.png" alt="Investigators at the scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Investigators at the scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure> A southbound Mazda 6, driven by a 55-year-old Wellington man, was&nbsp; struck him. The collision forced the Mazda into a ditch and field.&nbsp;First responders found the Shaw unresponsive. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Sedgwick County EMS transported the Mazda driver to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.At the time of the collision, witnesses reported heavy rain and reduced visibility.In addition to Sedgwick County deputies, Sedgwick County Fire District 1, Sedgwick County EMS, Mulvane EMS, Mulvane Fire Rescue and Derby Fire Rescue, responded to the scene.The Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Team and detectives are assisting with the investigation. Investigators do not believe impairment played a role in the crash.

Sheriff: Kan. man struck, killed after he fell in the rain

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes in Manhattan.

Just after 2p.m. Tuesday, police arrested 46-year-old Jeremy Welch of Tucson, Arizona, on a Riley Count District Court warrant, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Welch is being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges that include two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.&nbsp; The RCPD did not report where the crimes are alleged to have occurred.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes in Manhattan.Just after 2p.m. Tuesday, police arrested 46-year-old Jeremy Welch of Tucson, Arizona, on a Riley Count District Court warrant, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Welch is being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges that include two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.&nbsp; The RCPD did not report where the crimes are alleged to have occurred.

Arizona man jailed for alleged child sex crimes in Manhattan

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a> Associated Press

Walmart has recalled frozen, raw shrimp sold in 13 states because federal health officials say it could have potential radioactive contamination.

<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-public-not-eat-sell-or-serve-certain-imported-frozen-shrimp-indonesian-firm">Click here for the FDA alert</a>

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked Walmart to pull three lots of Great Value brand frozen shrimp from stores after federal officials detected Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers and a sample of breaded shrimp imported from Indonesia.

The products could pose a “potential health concern” for people exposed to low levels of Cesium-137 over time, FDA officials said.

“If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away,” FDA officials said in a statement.

The risk from the recalled shrimp is “quite low,” said Donald Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University.

Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear reactions, including nuclear bombs, testing, reactor operations and accidents. It’s widespread around the world, with trace amounts found in the environment, including soil, food and air.

The level detected in the frozen breaded shrimp was far lower than FDA intervention levels. However, the agency said that avoiding potentially contaminated products could reduce exposure to low-level radiation that could lead to health problems over time.

The FDA is investigating reports of Cesium-137 contamination in shipping containers and products processed by P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods of Indonesia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials alerted FDA that they found Cesium-137 in shipping containers sent to U.S. ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah, Georgia.

FDA officials collected several product samples and detected contamination in one sample of frozen breaded shrimp. The shipping containers and products were denied entry into the U.S.

However, the FDA then learned that Walmart had received potentially affected products imported after the first detection, from shipments that did not trigger contamination alerts.

Walmart immediately recalled the products, a company spokesperson said. They include Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp with lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1 and 8005539-1, all with best-by dates of March 15, 2027. The shrimp was sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. Consumers should discard the products or return them to any Walmart store for refund.

___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a> Associated PressWalmart has recalled frozen, raw shrimp sold in 13 states because federal health officials say it could have potential radioactive contamination.<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-public-not-eat-sell-or-serve-certain-imported-frozen-shrimp-indonesian-firm">Click here for the FDA alert</a>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked Walmart to pull three lots of Great Value brand frozen shrimp from stores after federal officials detected Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in shipping containers and a sample of breaded shrimp imported from Indonesia.The products could pose a “potential health concern” for people exposed to low levels of Cesium-137 over time, FDA officials said.“If you have recently purchased raw frozen shrimp from Walmart that matches this description, throw it away,” FDA officials said in a statement.The risk from the recalled shrimp is “quite low,” said Donald Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University.Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear reactions, including nuclear bombs, testing, reactor operations and accidents. It’s widespread around the world, with trace amounts found in the environment, including soil, food and air.The level detected in the frozen breaded shrimp was far lower than FDA intervention levels. However, the agency said that avoiding potentially contaminated products could reduce exposure to low-level radiation that could lead to health problems over time.The FDA is investigating reports of Cesium-137 contamination in shipping containers and products processed by P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati, doing business as BMS Foods of Indonesia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials alerted FDA that they found Cesium-137 in shipping containers sent to U.S. ports in Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and Savannah, Georgia.FDA officials collected several product samples and detected contamination in one sample of frozen breaded shrimp. The shipping containers and products were denied entry into the U.S.However, the FDA then learned that Walmart had received potentially affected products imported after the first detection, from shipments that did not trigger contamination alerts.Walmart immediately recalled the products, a company spokesperson said. They include Great Value brand frozen raw shrimp with lot codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1 and 8005539-1, all with best-by dates of March 15, 2027. The shrimp was sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. Consumers should discard the products or return them to any Walmart store for refund.___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Walmart recalls frozen shrimp over potential radioactive contamination

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement on Tuesday shared a unique video of an arrest after a chase following a crash on a Kansas highway.

On Monday night, sheriff's deputies used a drone to locate a suspect in a field near the unincorporated Douglas County community of Vinland, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.

He had fled from a crash into a ditch in a vehicle that identified as involved in an earlier pursuit with another agency.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement on Tuesday shared a unique video of an arrest after a chase following a crash on a Kansas highway.On Monday night, sheriff's deputies used a drone to locate a suspect in a field near the unincorporated Douglas County community of Vinland, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Deputies on Monday night used a drone to locate a suspect in a field near Vinland. He had fled from a crash into a ditch. Deputies identified the vehicle as one involved in an earlier pursuit with another agency. <a href="https://t.co/BdpKqBt8Rq">pic.twitter.com/BdpKqBt8Rq</a>&mdash; Douglas Co. Sheriff (@DGSOSheriff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DGSOSheriff/status/1957904224886403179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He had fled from a crash into a ditch in a vehicle that identified as involved in an earlier pursuit with another agency.

🎥 Kan. deputies use a drone to capture suspect hiding in a field

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a large house fire in Johnson County.

Just before 6p.m. Tuesday, crews responded to a home near 119th and Cherokee lane in Leawood after a 911 caller reported smoke in the area, according to the Leawood Fire Department.

First arriving crews found heavy smoke coming from the eaves of a large home. Fire moved into the attic and burned through the roof. Overland Park fire crews also responded to assist.

Two firefighters were injured. One was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other was treated on the scene. There was nobody home at the time of the fire.

119th Street was closed at Cherokee for several hours while crews battled the blaze and investigated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755684945461.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a large house fire in Johnson County.Just before 6p.m. Tuesday, crews responded to a home near 119th and Cherokee lane in Leawood after a 911 caller reported smoke in the area, according to the Leawood Fire Department.First arriving crews found heavy smoke coming from the eaves of a large home. Fire moved into the attic and burned through the roof. Overland Park fire crews also responded to assist.Two firefighters were injured. One was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other was treated on the scene. There was nobody home at the time of the fire.119th Street was closed at Cherokee for several hours while crews battled the blaze and investigated.

Two firefighters injured battling  large Kansas house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to the waters off Venezuela as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels, according to a U.S. official briefed on the planning.

The USS Gravely, the USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson are expected to arrive soon, said the official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.

A Defense Department official confirmed that the military assets have been assigned to the region in support of counter narcotics efforts. The official, who was not authorized to comment about military planning, said the vessels would be deployed “over the course of several months.”

The deployment of U.S. destroyers and personnel comes as Trump has pushed for using the U.S. military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into American communities and for perpetuating violence in some U.S. cities.

Trump has also pressed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to cooperate more on security than her predecessor, specifically being more aggressive in pursuit of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cartels-trump-administration-bondi-justice-department-712bdb8f99522ee72ec357492cfa393b">Mexico’s cartels</a>. But she has drawn a clear line when it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-drug-cartels-terrorist-organizations-8f010b9762964417039b65a10131ff64">Mexico’s sovereignty</a>, rejecting suggestions by Trump and others of intervention by the U.S. military.

Trump in February&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-foreign-terrorist-organizations-eb35567b69fc66f13f7f79fb90906a50">designated</a>&nbsp;Venezuela’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tren-de-aragua-gang-venezuela-trump-40ec0390047c2b17e961dd029da02e65">Tren de Aragua</a>, MS-13 in El Salvador and six groups based in Mexico as foreign terrorist organizations. His Republican administration has also stepped up immigration enforcement against alleged gang members.

The designation is normally reserved for groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group that use violence for political ends — not for money-focused crime rings such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/drug-cartels">the Latin American cartels</a>.

But the Trump administration argues the international connections and operations of the groups — including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and violent pushes to extend their territory — warrant the designation.

Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">doubling to $50 million</a>&nbsp;a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine.

The press office of Venezuela’s government did not respond to a request for comment from the AP on the deployment of the destroyers. But without mentioning the ships, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil in a statement Tuesday characterized the U.S. government’s drug-trafficking accusations against Venezuela.

“Washington’s accusing Venezuela of drug trafficking reveals its lack of credibility and the failure of its policies in the region,” Gil said. “While Washington threatens, Venezuela steadily advances in peace and sovereignty, demonstrating that true effectiveness against crime is achieved by respecting the independence of its peoples. Every aggressive statement confirms the inability of imperialism to subdue a free and sovereign people.”

The statement was followed by the government’s decision to temporarily ban the purchase, sale and operation of drones in Venezuela’s airspace. In 2018, drones armed with explosives detonated near Maduro&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ba6e6ef53ea34030b1e1b4c5fca79a6d">in an apparent assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;while he was delivering a speech to hundreds of soldiers being broadcast live on television.

On Monday, Maduro said the U.S. had increased its threats against Venezuela and announced the planned deployment of more than 4.5 million militia members around the country. The militias were created by then-President Hugo Chávez to incorporate volunteers who could assist the armed forces in the defense of external and domestic attacks.

“The empire has gone mad and has renewed its threats to Venezuela’s peace and tranquility,” Maduro said at an event in Caracas, without mentioning any specific action.

Maduro was indicted in a New York federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency, along with several close allies on federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. Back then, the U.S. offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.

Rueda reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano contributed to this report from Mexico City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755651756653.png" alt="Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">doubling to $50 million</a>&nbsp;a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine." />
 <figcaption>Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">doubling to $50 million</a>&nbsp;a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to the waters off Venezuela as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels, according to a U.S. official briefed on the planning.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Whoa… The US currently has warships and 4,000 marines on rout to Venezuela Karoline Leavitt says the Venezuelan President is not the legitimate president and is a Narco Terrorist.. wanted for trafficking drugs into the United States<a href="https://t.co/Y8rb66Y4hI">https://t.co/Y8rb66Y4hI</a> <a href="https://t.co/5KeYk4qxnf">pic.twitter.com/5KeYk4qxnf</a>&mdash; MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) <a href="https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1957913503672471746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The USS Gravely, the USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson are expected to arrive soon, said the official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.A Defense Department official confirmed that the military assets have been assigned to the region in support of counter narcotics efforts. The official, who was not authorized to comment about military planning, said the vessels would be deployed “over the course of several months.”The deployment of U.S. destroyers and personnel comes as Trump has pushed for using the U.S. military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into American communities and for perpetuating violence in some U.S. cities.Trump has also pressed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to cooperate more on security than her predecessor, specifically being more aggressive in pursuit of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cartels-trump-administration-bondi-justice-department-712bdb8f99522ee72ec357492cfa393b">Mexico’s cartels</a>. But she has drawn a clear line when it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-drug-cartels-terrorist-organizations-8f010b9762964417039b65a10131ff64">Mexico’s sovereignty</a>, rejecting suggestions by Trump and others of intervention by the U.S. military.Trump in February&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-foreign-terrorist-organizations-eb35567b69fc66f13f7f79fb90906a50">designated</a>&nbsp;Venezuela’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tren-de-aragua-gang-venezuela-trump-40ec0390047c2b17e961dd029da02e65">Tren de Aragua</a>, MS-13 in El Salvador and six groups based in Mexico as foreign terrorist organizations. His Republican administration has also stepped up immigration enforcement against alleged gang members.The designation is normally reserved for groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group that use violence for political ends — not for money-focused crime rings such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/drug-cartels">the Latin American cartels</a>.But the Trump administration argues the international connections and operations of the groups — including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and violent pushes to extend their territory — warrant the designation.Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">doubling to $50 million</a>&nbsp;a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine.The press office of Venezuela’s government did not respond to a request for comment from the AP on the deployment of the destroyers. But without mentioning the ships, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil in a statement Tuesday characterized the U.S. government’s drug-trafficking accusations against Venezuela.“Washington’s accusing Venezuela of drug trafficking reveals its lack of credibility and the failure of its policies in the region,” Gil said. “While Washington threatens, Venezuela steadily advances in peace and sovereignty, demonstrating that true effectiveness against crime is achieved by respecting the independence of its peoples. Every aggressive statement confirms the inability of imperialism to subdue a free and sovereign people.”The statement was followed by the government’s decision to temporarily ban the purchase, sale and operation of drones in Venezuela’s airspace. In 2018, drones armed with explosives detonated near Maduro&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ba6e6ef53ea34030b1e1b4c5fca79a6d">in an apparent assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;while he was delivering a speech to hundreds of soldiers being broadcast live on television.On Monday, Maduro said the U.S. had increased its threats against Venezuela and announced the planned deployment of more than 4.5 million militia members around the country. The militias were created by then-President Hugo Chávez to incorporate volunteers who could assist the armed forces in the defense of external and domestic attacks.“The empire has gone mad and has renewed its threats to Venezuela’s peace and tranquility,” Maduro said at an event in Caracas, without mentioning any specific action.Maduro was indicted in a New York federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency, along with several close allies on federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. Back then, the U.S. offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.___Rueda reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano contributed to this report from Mexico City.

US deploys warships near Venezuela to pressure drug cartels

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department is seeking information to help identify suspects in an aggravated assault that occurred in the area of 27th Street and Indiana Ave on August 16.

 A large group riding ATV’s and dirt bikes followed the victim from E 18th and Grand Ave to E 27th St and Indiana Avenue where one of the riders shot into the vehicle, in which two children were riding in, striking two adults, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

If you have any information, please contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or the Assault Unit at 816-234-5227.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755644194648.png" alt="KCTV" />
 <figcaption>KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas City Missouri Police Department is seeking information to help identify suspects in an aggravated assault that occurred in the area of 27th Street and Indiana Ave on August 16. A large group riding ATV’s and dirt bikes followed the victim from E 18th and Grand Ave to E 27th St and Indiana Avenue where one of the riders shot into the vehicle, in which two children were riding in, striking two adults, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.If you have any information, please contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or the Assault Unit at 816-234-5227.

KCPD: Group of ATVs, bikes shot into car with children inside

JOHNSON COUNTY — A man admitted his role in a drug overdose death.

On August 14, Joseph Thomas Miller pleaded guilty to distribution of drugs causing death in connection with he death of 33-year-old Mason Findley of Wellsville in August of 2024, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

In February,&nbsp; police found and arrested Miller in Kansas City in connection with the alleged crime, according to Jackson County court records.&nbsp;

In August of 2024, Miller sold a controlled substance to Findley which ultimately caused his death, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Johnson County, Kansas District Attorney's office.

Miller of Blue Springs was extradited to Kansas to face justice. He is scheduled for sentencing on October 8.&nbsp; <a href="https://memorials.brucefuneralhome.com/mason-findley/5476330/">Click here to read Mason Findley's obituary.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755639317775.png" alt="Mason Findley is survived by a wife and three children. Photo courtesy Bruce Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Mason Findley is survived by a wife and three children. Photo courtesy Bruce Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY — A man admitted his role in a drug overdose death.On August 14, Joseph Thomas Miller pleaded guilty to distribution of drugs causing death in connection with he death of 33-year-old Mason Findley of Wellsville in August of 2024, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755391331093.png" alt="Miller photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Miller photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>In February,&nbsp; police found and arrested Miller in Kansas City in connection with the alleged crime, according to Jackson County court records.&nbsp;In August of 2024, Miller sold a controlled substance to Findley which ultimately caused his death, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Johnson County, Kansas District Attorney's office.Miller of Blue Springs was extradited to Kansas to face justice. He is scheduled for sentencing on October 8.&nbsp; <a href="https://memorials.brucefuneralhome.com/mason-findley/5476330/">Click here to read Mason Findley's obituary.</a>

Suspect admits selling drugs that killed Kansas man

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. gymnastics world was only just recovering from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-0c2c815aa329494ea687d11db4c4653d">devastating sexual abuse scandal</a>&nbsp;when a promising young coach moved from Mississippi to Iowa to take a job in 2018 at an elite academy known for training Olympic champions.

Liang “Chow” Qiao, the owner of Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, thought highly enough of his new hire, Sean Gardner, to put him in charge of the club's premier junior event and to coach some of its most promising girls.

But four years later, Gardner was gone from Chow’s with little notice.

USA Gymnastics, the organization rocked by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-lansing-in-state-wire-3b446f2430674bafb5b6909549ea8142">Larry Nassar sex-abuse crisis</a>&nbsp;that led to the creation of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, had been informed by the watchdog group that Gardner was suspended from all contact with gymnasts.

The reason for Gardner’s removal wasn’t disclosed. But court records obtained exclusively by The Associated Press show the coach was accused of sexually abusing at least three young gymnasts at Chow’s and secretly recording others undressing in a gym bathroom at his prior job in Mississippi.

Last week, more than three years after being suspended from coaching, the FBI arrested Gardner, 38, on a federal child pornography charge. But his disciplinary case has still not been resolved by SafeSport, which handles sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports.

In cases like Gardner’s, the public can be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-sex-abuse-safesport-nassar-dff194c817ea985fe7f94055edbeb0b7">in the dark for years while SafeSport investigates</a>&nbsp;and sanctions coaches. SafeSport requires that allegations be reported to police to ensure abusers don’t run unchecked outside of sports, but critics say the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/butt-slap-safesport-swimming-olympics-sexual-abuse-3699dae4adc281696ae1fbb5f7b76c6a">system is a slow, murky process.</a>

“From an outward operational view, it seems that if SafeSport is involved in any way, the situation turns glow-in-the-dark toxic,” said attorney Steve Silvey, a longtime SafeSport critic who has represented people in cases involving the center.

While acknowledging there can be delays as its investigations unfold, SafeSport defended its temporary suspensions in a statement as “a unique and valuable intervention” when there are concerns of a risk to others.

Nevertheless, in 2024, Gardner was able to land a job helping care for surgical patients at an Iowa hospital — two years after the abuse allegations against him were reported to SafeSport and the police.

And it was not until late May that West Des Moines police executed a search warrant at his home, eventually leading to the recovery of a trove of photos and videos on his computer and cellphone of nude young girls, court records show.

Authorities in Iowa sealed the court documents after the AP asked about the investigation earlier this month, before details of the federal charge were made public Friday. Gardner, Qiao and Gardner’s former employer in Mississippi did not respond to AP requests for comment.

Chow’s Gymnastics is best known as the academy where U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas trained before becoming gold medalists at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Qiao opened the gym in 1998 after starring on the Chinese national team and moving to the United States to coach at the University of Iowa. The gym became a draw for top youth gymnasts, with some families moving to Iowa to train there.

Gardner moved to Iowa in September 2018, jumping at the opportunity to coach under Qiao.

“This is the job that I’ve always wanted. Chow is really someone I have looked up to since I’ve been coaching,” Gardner told the ABC affiliate WOI-TV in 2019. “And you can tell when you step foot in the gym, just even from coaching the girls, the culture that he’s built. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful.”

A year later, Gardner was promoted to director of Chow’s Winter Classic, an annual meet that draws more than 1,000 gymnasts to Iowa. He also coached a junior Olympics team during his four-year tenure at Chow’s.

Several of his students earned college gymnastics scholarships, but Gardner said he had bigger goals.

“You want to leave a thumbprint on their life, so when they go off hopefully to school, to bigger and better things, that they remember Chow’s as family,” he said in a 2020 interview with WOI-TV.

Coach accused of sexual misconduct in Iowa and Mississippi

Gardner is accused of abusing his position at Chow’s and his former job at Jump’In Gymnastics in Mississippi to prey on girls under his tutelage, according to a nine-page FBI affidavit released Friday that summarizes the allegations against him.

A girl reported to SafeSport in March 2022 that Gardner used “inappropriate spotting techniques” in which he would put his hands between her legs and touch her vagina, the affidavit said.

It said she alleged Gardner would ask girls if they were sexually active and call them “idiots, sluts, and whores.” She said this behavior began after his hiring in 2018 and continued until she left the gym in 2020 and provided the names of six other potential victims.

SafeSport suspended Gardner in July 2022 – four months after the girl's report – a provisional step it can take in severe cases with “sufficient evidentiary support” as investigations proceed.

A month after that, the center received a report from another girl alleging additional “sexual contact and physical abuse,” including that Gardner similarly fondled her during workouts, the FBI affidavit said. The girl said that he once dragged her across the carpet so hard that it burned her buttocks, the affidavit said.

SafeSport shared the reports with West Des Moines police, in line with its policy requiring adults who interact with youth athletes to disclose potential criminal cases to law enforcement.

While SafeSport's suspension took Gardner out of gymnastics, the criminal investigation quickly hit a roadblock.

Police records show a detective told SafeSport to urge the alleged victims to file criminal complaints, but only one of their mothers contacted police in 2022. That woman said her daughter did not want to pursue criminal charges, and police suspended the investigation.

Victims of abuse are often reluctant to cooperate with police, said Ken Lang, a retired detective and associate professor of criminal justice at Milligan University.

“In this case you have the prestige of this facility,” he said. “Do they want to associate their name with that, in that way, when their aspirations were to succeed in gymnastics?”

Police suspended the investigation, even as Gardner was on probation for his second-offense of driving while intoxicated.

A dormant case reopened, and a year later, an arrest

The case stayed dormant until April 2024 when another former Chow’s student came forward to the West Des Moines Police Department to report abuse allegations, according to a now-sealed affidavit signed by police detective Jeff Lyon. The AP is not identifying the student in line with its policy of not naming victims of alleged sexual abuse.

The now 18-year-old told police she began taking lessons from Gardner when she was 11 or 12 in 2019, initially seeing him as a “father figure” who tried to help her get through her parents’ divorce. He told her she could tell him “anything,” the affidavit said.

When she moved in 2021, she told police, he gave her a hug and said she could text and follow him on Instagram and other social media sites, where he went by the nickname “Coach Seanie,” because gym policy barring such contact no longer applied.

According to a summary of her statement provided in Lyon’s affidavit, she said Gardner fondled her during exercises, repeatedly touching her vagina; rubbed her back and butt and discussed his sex life; and made her do inappropriate stretches that exposed her privates.

She told police she suspected he used his cellphone to film her in that position.

Reached by the AP, the teen’s mother declined comment. The mother told police she was interested in a monetary settlement with Chow’s because the gym “had been made aware of the complaints and they did nothing to stop them,” according to Lyon’s affidavit. The gym didn’t return AP messages seeking comment.

It took 16 months after the teen’s 2024 report for the FBI to arrest Gardner, who made an initial court appearance in Des Moines on Friday on a charge of producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which can carry up to 30 years in prison. A public defender assigned to represent him didn’t return AP messages seeking comment.

It’s unclear why the case took so long to investigate and also when the FBI, which had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-nassar-justice-department-settlement-3b760f3d317cbe18209aa02a611a298f">pay $138 million to Nassar’s victims</a>&nbsp;for botching that investigation, got involved in the case.

Among evidence seized by investigators in late May were a cellphone, laptop and a desktop computer along with handwritten notes between Gardner and his former pupils, according to the sealed court documents.

They found images of girls, approximately 6 to 14 years in age, who were nude, using the toilet or changing into leotards, those documents show. Those images appear to have come from a hidden camera in a restroom.

They also uncovered 50 video files and 400 photos, including some that appeared to be child pornography, according to the FBI affidavit. One video allegedly shows Gardner entering the bathroom and turning off the camera.

Investigators also found images of an adult woman secretly filmed entering and exiting a bathtub, and identified her as Gardner’s ex-girlfriend. That woman as well as the gym’s owner, Candi Workman, told investigators the images appeared to come from Jump’In Gymnastics’ facility in Purvis, Mississippi, which has since been closed.

SafeSport has long touted that it can deliver sanctions in cases where criminal charges are not pursued as key to its mission. However, Gardner’s ability to land a job in health care illustrates the limits of that power: It can ban people from sports but that sanction is not guaranteed to reach the general public.

While not commenting about Gardner’s case directly, it said in a statement provided to AP that a number of issues factor into why cases can take so long to close, including the 8,000 reports it receives a year with only around 30 full-time investigators. It has revamped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-abuse-safesport-1685e2e20397de86a28b6479793b47c3">some procedures, it said,</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to become more efficient.

“While the Center is able and often does cooperate in law enforcement investigations,” it said, “law enforcement is not required to share information, updates, or even confirm an investigation is ongoing.”

USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung called the center’s task “really tough, difficult to navigate.”

“I would like to see more consistency with their outcomes and sanctions,” Leung said. “I would like to see more standardization on things. I would like to see more communication, more transparency from their side.”

A case that lingers, even after the SafeSport ban

As the investigation proceeded, Gardner said on his Facebook page he had landed a new job in May 2024 as a surgical technologist at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center. It's a role that calls for positioning patients on the operating room table, and assisting with procedures and post-surgery care.

Asked about Gardner’s employment, hospital spokesman Todd Mizener told the AP: “The only information I can provide is that he is no longer" at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the case lingers, leaving lives in limbo more than three years after the SafeSport Center and police first learned of it.

“SafeSport is now part of a larger problem rather than a solution, if it was ever a solution,” said attorney Silvey. “The most fundamental professional task such as coordination with local or federal law enforcement gets botched on a daily basis, hundreds of times a year now.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755612703063.png" alt="Gardner photo Iowa Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Gardner photo Iowa Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN J. FOLEY and EDDIE PELLS&nbsp;IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. gymnastics world was only just recovering from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-0c2c815aa329494ea687d11db4c4653d">devastating sexual abuse scandal</a>&nbsp;when a promising young coach moved from Mississippi to Iowa to take a job in 2018 at an elite academy known for training Olympic champions.Liang “Chow” Qiao, the owner of Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, thought highly enough of his new hire, Sean Gardner, to put him in charge of the club's premier junior event and to coach some of its most promising girls.But four years later, Gardner was gone from Chow’s with little notice.USA Gymnastics, the organization rocked by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-lansing-in-state-wire-3b446f2430674bafb5b6909549ea8142">Larry Nassar sex-abuse crisis</a>&nbsp;that led to the creation of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, had been informed by the watchdog group that Gardner was suspended from all contact with gymnasts.The reason for Gardner’s removal wasn’t disclosed. But court records obtained exclusively by The Associated Press show the coach was accused of sexually abusing at least three young gymnasts at Chow’s and secretly recording others undressing in a gym bathroom at his prior job in Mississippi.Last week, more than three years after being suspended from coaching, the FBI arrested Gardner, 38, on a federal child pornography charge. But his disciplinary case has still not been resolved by SafeSport, which handles sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports.In cases like Gardner’s, the public can be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-sex-abuse-safesport-nassar-dff194c817ea985fe7f94055edbeb0b7">in the dark for years while SafeSport investigates</a>&nbsp;and sanctions coaches. SafeSport requires that allegations be reported to police to ensure abusers don’t run unchecked outside of sports, but critics say the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/butt-slap-safesport-swimming-olympics-sexual-abuse-3699dae4adc281696ae1fbb5f7b76c6a">system is a slow, murky process.</a>“From an outward operational view, it seems that if SafeSport is involved in any way, the situation turns glow-in-the-dark toxic,” said attorney Steve Silvey, a longtime SafeSport critic who has represented people in cases involving the center.While acknowledging there can be delays as its investigations unfold, SafeSport defended its temporary suspensions in a statement as “a unique and valuable intervention” when there are concerns of a risk to others.Nevertheless, in 2024, Gardner was able to land a job helping care for surgical patients at an Iowa hospital — two years after the abuse allegations against him were reported to SafeSport and the police.And it was not until late May that West Des Moines police executed a search warrant at his home, eventually leading to the recovery of a trove of photos and videos on his computer and cellphone of nude young girls, court records show.Authorities in Iowa sealed the court documents after the AP asked about the investigation earlier this month, before details of the federal charge were made public Friday. Gardner, Qiao and Gardner’s former employer in Mississippi did not respond to AP requests for comment.<h2>‘The job that I’ve always wanted’</h2>Chow’s Gymnastics is best known as the academy where U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas trained before becoming gold medalists at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.Qiao opened the gym in 1998 after starring on the Chinese national team and moving to the United States to coach at the University of Iowa. The gym became a draw for top youth gymnasts, with some families moving to Iowa to train there.Gardner moved to Iowa in September 2018, jumping at the opportunity to coach under Qiao.“This is the job that I’ve always wanted. Chow is really someone I have looked up to since I’ve been coaching,” Gardner told the ABC affiliate WOI-TV in 2019. “And you can tell when you step foot in the gym, just even from coaching the girls, the culture that he’s built. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful.”A year later, Gardner was promoted to director of Chow’s Winter Classic, an annual meet that draws more than 1,000 gymnasts to Iowa. He also coached a junior Olympics team during his four-year tenure at Chow’s.Several of his students earned college gymnastics scholarships, but Gardner said he had bigger goals.“You want to leave a thumbprint on their life, so when they go off hopefully to school, to bigger and better things, that they remember Chow’s as family,” he said in a 2020 interview with WOI-TV.<h2>Coach accused of sexual misconduct in Iowa and Mississippi</h2>Gardner is accused of abusing his position at Chow’s and his former job at Jump’In Gymnastics in Mississippi to prey on girls under his tutelage, according to a nine-page FBI affidavit released Friday that summarizes the allegations against him.A girl reported to SafeSport in March 2022 that Gardner used “inappropriate spotting techniques” in which he would put his hands between her legs and touch her vagina, the affidavit said.It said she alleged Gardner would ask girls if they were sexually active and call them “idiots, sluts, and whores.” She said this behavior began after his hiring in 2018 and continued until she left the gym in 2020 and provided the names of six other potential victims.SafeSport suspended Gardner in July 2022 – four months after the girl's report – a provisional step it can take in severe cases with “sufficient evidentiary support” as investigations proceed.A month after that, the center received a report from another girl alleging additional “sexual contact and physical abuse,” including that Gardner similarly fondled her during workouts, the FBI affidavit said. The girl said that he once dragged her across the carpet so hard that it burned her buttocks, the affidavit said.SafeSport shared the reports with West Des Moines police, in line with its policy requiring adults who interact with youth athletes to disclose potential criminal cases to law enforcement.While SafeSport's suspension took Gardner out of gymnastics, the criminal investigation quickly hit a roadblock.Police records show a detective told SafeSport to urge the alleged victims to file criminal complaints, but only one of their mothers contacted police in 2022. That woman said her daughter did not want to pursue criminal charges, and police suspended the investigation.Victims of abuse are often reluctant to cooperate with police, said Ken Lang, a retired detective and associate professor of criminal justice at Milligan University.“In this case you have the prestige of this facility,” he said. “Do they want to associate their name with that, in that way, when their aspirations were to succeed in gymnastics?”Police suspended the investigation, even as Gardner was on probation for his second-offense of driving while intoxicated.<h2>A dormant case reopened, and a year later, an arrest</h2>The case stayed dormant until April 2024 when another former Chow’s student came forward to the West Des Moines Police Department to report abuse allegations, according to a now-sealed affidavit signed by police detective Jeff Lyon. The AP is not identifying the student in line with its policy of not naming victims of alleged sexual abuse.The now 18-year-old told police she began taking lessons from Gardner when she was 11 or 12 in 2019, initially seeing him as a “father figure” who tried to help her get through her parents’ divorce. He told her she could tell him “anything,” the affidavit said.When she moved in 2021, she told police, he gave her a hug and said she could text and follow him on Instagram and other social media sites, where he went by the nickname “Coach Seanie,” because gym policy barring such contact no longer applied.According to a summary of her statement provided in Lyon’s affidavit, she said Gardner fondled her during exercises, repeatedly touching her vagina; rubbed her back and butt and discussed his sex life; and made her do inappropriate stretches that exposed her privates.She told police she suspected he used his cellphone to film her in that position.Reached by the AP, the teen’s mother declined comment. The mother told police she was interested in a monetary settlement with Chow’s because the gym “had been made aware of the complaints and they did nothing to stop them,” according to Lyon’s affidavit. The gym didn’t return AP messages seeking comment.It took 16 months after the teen’s 2024 report for the FBI to arrest Gardner, who made an initial court appearance in Des Moines on Friday on a charge of producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which can carry up to 30 years in prison. A public defender assigned to represent him didn’t return AP messages seeking comment.It’s unclear why the case took so long to investigate and also when the FBI, which had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-nassar-justice-department-settlement-3b760f3d317cbe18209aa02a611a298f">pay $138 million to Nassar’s victims</a>&nbsp;for botching that investigation, got involved in the case.Among evidence seized by investigators in late May were a cellphone, laptop and a desktop computer along with handwritten notes between Gardner and his former pupils, according to the sealed court documents.They found images of girls, approximately 6 to 14 years in age, who were nude, using the toilet or changing into leotards, those documents show. Those images appear to have come from a hidden camera in a restroom.They also uncovered 50 video files and 400 photos, including some that appeared to be child pornography, according to the FBI affidavit. One video allegedly shows Gardner entering the bathroom and turning off the camera.Investigators also found images of an adult woman secretly filmed entering and exiting a bathtub, and identified her as Gardner’s ex-girlfriend. That woman as well as the gym’s owner, Candi Workman, told investigators the images appeared to come from Jump’In Gymnastics’ facility in Purvis, Mississippi, which has since been closed.<h2>SafeSport’s power has limits</h2>SafeSport has long touted that it can deliver sanctions in cases where criminal charges are not pursued as key to its mission. However, Gardner’s ability to land a job in health care illustrates the limits of that power: It can ban people from sports but that sanction is not guaranteed to reach the general public.While not commenting about Gardner’s case directly, it said in a statement provided to AP that a number of issues factor into why cases can take so long to close, including the 8,000 reports it receives a year with only around 30 full-time investigators. It has revamped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-abuse-safesport-1685e2e20397de86a28b6479793b47c3">some procedures, it said,</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to become more efficient.“While the Center is able and often does cooperate in law enforcement investigations,” it said, “law enforcement is not required to share information, updates, or even confirm an investigation is ongoing.”USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung called the center’s task “really tough, difficult to navigate.”“I would like to see more consistency with their outcomes and sanctions,” Leung said. “I would like to see more standardization on things. I would like to see more communication, more transparency from their side.”<h2>A case that lingers, even after the SafeSport ban</h2>As the investigation proceeded, Gardner said on his Facebook page he had landed a new job in May 2024 as a surgical technologist at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center. It's a role that calls for positioning patients on the operating room table, and assisting with procedures and post-surgery care.Asked about Gardner’s employment, hospital spokesman Todd Mizener told the AP: “The only information I can provide is that he is no longer" at the hospital.Meanwhile, the case lingers, leaving lives in limbo more than three years after the SafeSport Center and police first learned of it.“SafeSport is now part of a larger problem rather than a solution, if it was ever a solution,” said attorney Silvey. “The most fundamental professional task such as coordination with local or federal law enforcement gets botched on a daily basis, hundreds of times a year now.”___

FBI arrests ex-coach at renowned US gymnastics academy 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is substantially diverging from U.S. government vaccine recommendations.

The group’s new COVID-19 recommendations — released Tuesday — come amid a tumultuous year for public health, as vaccine skeptics have come into power in the new Trump administration and government guidance has become increasingly confusing.

This isn’t going to help, acknowledged Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious diseases committee.

“It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them,” he added.

The AAP is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Shots also are advised for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated, the AAP said.

That differs from guidance established under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which doesn’t recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians.

Children ages 6 months to 2 years are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and it was important that recommendations continue to emphasize the need for them to get vaccinated, said Campbell, a University of Maryland infectious diseases expert.

Vaccinations also are recommended for older children who have chronic lung diseases or other conditions that put them at higher risk for severe disease, the AAP said.

In a statement, Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said “the AAP is undermining national immunization policymaking with baseless political attacks.”

He accused the group of putting commercial interests ahead of public health, noting that vaccine manufacturers have been donors to the AAP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aap.org/en/philanthropy/friends-of-children-fund/" target="_blank">Friends of Children Fund</a>. The fund is currently paying for projects on a range of topics, including health equity and prevention of injuries and deaths from firearms.

The 95-year-old Itasca, Illinois-based organization has issued vaccination recommendations for children since the 1930s. In 1995, it synced its advice with recommendations made by the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There have been a few small differences between AAP and CDC recommendations since then. For example, the AAP has advised that children get HPV vaccinations starting at age 9; the CDC says that’s OK but has emphasized vaccinations at ages 11 and 12.

But in 30 years, this is the first time the recommendations have differed “in a significant or substantial way,” Campbell said.

Until recently, the CDC — following recommendations by infectious disease experts — has been urging annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older.

But in May, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-pregnant-women-children-70c358cad726e57d680234c3ecdec926">announced</a>&nbsp;that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. A few days later, the CDC issued language that healthy children&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-cdc-kennedy-fd6ab0c7303a4a1698b319885a02ef54">may</a>&nbsp;get the shots, but that there was no longer a “should” recommendation.

The idea that healthy older kids may be able to skip COVID-19 boosters has been brewing for some time among public health experts. As the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, experts have increasingly discussed the possibility of focusing vaccination efforts on people 65 and older — who are among those most as risk for death and hospitalization.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-cdc-acip-kennedy-d9777cba947f5f52705af04d95e5f7fa">CDC expert panel</a>&nbsp;in June was set to make recommendations about the fall shots. Among the options the panel was considering was whether suggest shots for high-risk groups but still giving lower-risk people the choice to get vaccinated.

But Kennedy bypassed the group, and also decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">dismiss</a>&nbsp;the 17-member panel and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">appoint</a>&nbsp;his own, smaller panel, that included vaccine skeptics. Kennedy also later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-committee-cdc-cfbdcab84b2a919a6131d471959c3431">excluded</a>&nbsp;the AAP, the American Medical Association and other top medical organizations from working with the advisers to establish vaccination recommendations.

Kennedy’s new vaccine panel has yet to vote on COVID-19 shot recommendations.

The panel did endorse continuing to recommend fall flu vaccinations, but also made a decision that led to another notable difference with the AAP.

The new advisory panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-flu-vaccine-thimerosal-c5696bbc19f345323153d5336cb5e798">voted</a>&nbsp;that people should only get flu vaccines that are packaged as single doses and do not contain the preservative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thimerosal-mercury-vaccine-preservative-7626ec1455ad98228cf8b041f6388bab">thimerosal</a>.

The AAP said there is no evidence of harm from the preservative, and recommended doctors use any licensed flu vaccine product that’s appropriate for the patient.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is substantially diverging from U.S. government vaccine recommendations.The group’s new COVID-19 recommendations — released Tuesday — come amid a tumultuous year for public health, as vaccine skeptics have come into power in the new Trump administration and government guidance has become increasingly confusing.This isn’t going to help, acknowledged Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious diseases committee.“It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them,” he added.The AAP is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Shots also are advised for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated, the AAP said.That differs from guidance established under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which doesn’t recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians.Children ages 6 months to 2 years are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and it was important that recommendations continue to emphasize the need for them to get vaccinated, said Campbell, a University of Maryland infectious diseases expert.Vaccinations also are recommended for older children who have chronic lung diseases or other conditions that put them at higher risk for severe disease, the AAP said.In a statement, Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said “the AAP is undermining national immunization policymaking with baseless political attacks.”He accused the group of putting commercial interests ahead of public health, noting that vaccine manufacturers have been donors to the AAP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aap.org/en/philanthropy/friends-of-children-fund/" target="_blank">Friends of Children Fund</a>. The fund is currently paying for projects on a range of topics, including health equity and prevention of injuries and deaths from firearms.The 95-year-old Itasca, Illinois-based organization has issued vaccination recommendations for children since the 1930s. In 1995, it synced its advice with recommendations made by the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.There have been a few small differences between AAP and CDC recommendations since then. For example, the AAP has advised that children get HPV vaccinations starting at age 9; the CDC says that’s OK but has emphasized vaccinations at ages 11 and 12.But in 30 years, this is the first time the recommendations have differed “in a significant or substantial way,” Campbell said.Until recently, the CDC — following recommendations by infectious disease experts — has been urging annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older.But in May, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-pregnant-women-children-70c358cad726e57d680234c3ecdec926">announced</a>&nbsp;that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. A few days later, the CDC issued language that healthy children&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-cdc-kennedy-fd6ab0c7303a4a1698b319885a02ef54">may</a>&nbsp;get the shots, but that there was no longer a “should” recommendation.The idea that healthy older kids may be able to skip COVID-19 boosters has been brewing for some time among public health experts. As the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, experts have increasingly discussed the possibility of focusing vaccination efforts on people 65 and older — who are among those most as risk for death and hospitalization.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-cdc-acip-kennedy-d9777cba947f5f52705af04d95e5f7fa">CDC expert panel</a>&nbsp;in June was set to make recommendations about the fall shots. Among the options the panel was considering was whether suggest shots for high-risk groups but still giving lower-risk people the choice to get vaccinated.But Kennedy bypassed the group, and also decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">dismiss</a>&nbsp;the 17-member panel and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">appoint</a>&nbsp;his own, smaller panel, that included vaccine skeptics. Kennedy also later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-committee-cdc-cfbdcab84b2a919a6131d471959c3431">excluded</a>&nbsp;the AAP, the American Medical Association and other top medical organizations from working with the advisers to establish vaccination recommendations.Kennedy’s new vaccine panel has yet to vote on COVID-19 shot recommendations.The panel did endorse continuing to recommend fall flu vaccinations, but also made a decision that led to another notable difference with the AAP.The new advisory panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-flu-vaccine-thimerosal-c5696bbc19f345323153d5336cb5e798">voted</a>&nbsp;that people should only get flu vaccines that are packaged as single doses and do not contain the preservative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thimerosal-mercury-vaccine-preservative-7626ec1455ad98228cf8b041f6388bab">thimerosal</a>.The AAP said there is no evidence of harm from the preservative, and recommended doctors use any licensed flu vaccine product that’s appropriate for the patient.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

US pediatricians’ new COVID shot recommendations differ from CDC advice

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a fatal hit-and-run went before a judge on Monday afternoon.

Gauge Brasher, 19, made his first appearance in court for the alleged crime, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; Last week, the DA's office charged him with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa. He is also charged with failure to stop at an accident and criminal damage to property.

&nbsp;Wichita police took Brasher&nbsp; into custody shortly after 4 p.m. Friday in the 3100 block of E. Range Road, according to a statement from Wichita Police.

Around 6:30 p.m. August 13, a nearby Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw the aftermath of the crash that killed&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa and saw two men running from a black BMW that had crashed. After a short foot pursuit, both men were apprehended.

The preliminary investigation indicated the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a power pole and then a utility box. The impact forced the power pole and utility box into Nzabonimpa, who died on scene from his injuries.&nbsp;

Witnesses at the intersection identified the 19-year-old suspect Gauge Brasher, who fled as the driver. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The investigation indicated that impairment and speed were likely contributing factors in the collision. Brasher was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and later left the hospital. Police issued an alert in attempt to locate him. The passenger in the BMW is a 24-year-old man who was detained and later released with no charges.&nbsp;

Police investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office late last week.&nbsp; Brasher remains jailed on bond totaling over $500,000.00, according to online jail records. He is due back in court next week, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755212957933.png" alt="View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a fatal hit-and-run went before a judge on Monday afternoon.Gauge Brasher, 19, made his first appearance in court for the alleged crime, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; Last week, the DA's office charged him with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa. He is also charged with failure to stop at an accident and criminal damage to property.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755346851465.png" alt="Brasher photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Brasher photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Wichita police took Brasher&nbsp; into custody shortly after 4 p.m. Friday in the 3100 block of E. Range Road, according to a statement from Wichita Police.Around 6:30 p.m. August 13, a nearby Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw the aftermath of the crash that killed&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa and saw two men running from a black BMW that had crashed. After a short foot pursuit, both men were apprehended.The preliminary investigation indicated the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a power pole and then a utility box. The impact forced the power pole and utility box into Nzabonimpa, who died on scene from his injuries.&nbsp;Witnesses at the intersection identified the 19-year-old suspect Gauge Brasher, who fled as the driver. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The investigation indicated that impairment and speed were likely contributing factors in the collision. Brasher was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and later left the hospital. Police issued an alert in attempt to locate him. The passenger in the BMW is a 24-year-old man who was detained and later released with no charges.&nbsp;Police investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office late last week.&nbsp; Brasher remains jailed on bond totaling over $500,000.00, according to online jail records. He is due back in court next week, according to the district attorney's office.