By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
The death of a Fort Worth sailor stationed in Kuwait strikes close to home for KERA.
43-year old Petty Officer 1st Class Sean Caughman assisted KERA's IT department while also serving with a reserve unit based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve in Fort Worth.
The military declined to release details of his death, saying only that Sean died Tuesday while supporting operations.
KERA staffers knew Sean Caughman as the guy who could synch office email with our cell phones; bring computer systems back to life when they crashed; help us figure out how to use new software.
He was kind, patient, had a good sense of humor and felt passionately about serving his country. He will be missed.
Another 'Scarecrow Bandit' gets long sentence
Another "Scarecrow Bandit" has drawn a long prison sentence for a series of bank heists.
U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle sentenced 30-year-old Jarvis Dupree Ross in Dallas on Friday to 330 years in federal prison without parole for his part in a series of 2008 holdups in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
He's the third of seven "Scarecrow Bandits" to receive lengthy prison sentences without parole for their convictions.
Previously, 32-year-old Antonyo Reece was sentenced to 140 years in federal prison for his part in three Dallas-Fort Worth-area bank heists in 2008. Before that, Boyle sentenced 29-year-old gang member Corey Duffey to more than 354 years in prison.
A guilty plea helped 34-year-old Yolanda McDow get a sentence of 15 years and 10 months. Three defendants await sentencing.
The group was called "Scarecrow Bandits" because of loose shirts and floppy hats worn during some robberies.
Family of 1 of 4 killed in Texas crash sues Toyota
The family of one of four people killed in a Toyota crash in a Fort Worth suburb is suing the Japanese carmaker.
The family of 56-year-old Sharon Ransom of Grapevine filed the lawsuit Thursday in Dallas, accusing Toyota of a design defect in the 2008 Toyota Avalon that plunged into a Southlake pond on Dec. 26.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the lawsuit is at least the third filed against Toyota in Texas recently over fatal accidents, allegedly caused by sudden and uncontrollable acceleration. Toyota recently recalled more than 8 million vehicles including 2005-10 Avalon models. The recall was to address concerns over floor mat and gas pedal problems that could potentially cause the dangerous acceleration.
A Toyota spokesman declined to comment Friday.