In Brief

ARIZONA SLAYING

Jurors acquit man who shot fellow veteran

A Mohave County jury deliberated about three hours before acquitting Robert Reed, 63, of second-degree murder Tuesday.

There was no dispute that Reed shot and killed Gary Shain after an afternoon of beer and whiskey drinking in Shain's north Kingman, Ariz., home on St. Patrick's Day 2007.

Reed said he shot Shain in self-defense after an argument between the two Vietnam War veterans.

Jury foreman Tim Mahan said that there was too much confusing and conflicting testimony and evidence and that the prosecution did not meet its burden of proof.

DEFAMATION ALLEGATIONS

Dealer in Simpson case sues 'Dr. Phil' show

The memorabilia dealer who led O.J. Simpson to a hotel room where an infamous robbery occurred filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Los Angeles against the "Dr. Phil" show and alleged his remarks in an interview were spliced to change their meaning.

Thomas Riccio, who testified at Simpson's recent kidnapping-robbery trial, sued Philip McGraw and Stage 29 Media for unspecified damages. The lawsuit alleged defamation, fraud, emotional distress and being portrayed in a false light.

Riccio said that on the show he was referred to as "the shady deal maker," "a puppet master who would sell his soul for a coin" and "the ring leader of this crime."

Riccio said that during the show, McGraw falsely claimed that Riccio "set O.J. Simpson up and told people to bring guns into the room."

Riccio said his denial of the statements were edited out and replaced by a shot of him nodding his head as if in agreement with the host.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT'S DEATH

Jurors picked for retrial of Border Patrol agent

A jury was seated Tuesday in Tucson, Ariz., for the retrial of a U.S. Border Patrol agent charged in the fatal shooting of an illegal immigrant.

The panel of seven men and seven women, including two alternates, was sworn in after U.S. District Judge David Bury and lawyers questioned candidates for a full day.

Nicholas Corbett is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and negligent homicide.

More than seven months ago, Corbett's first prosecution ended in a mistrial after jurors told Bury they were deadlocked.

Corbett is accused of shooting Francisco Javier Dominguez Rivera of Puebla, Mexico, without provocation in January 2007 just north of the Mexican border between Douglas and Bisbee.

MISCONDUCT PROCEEDINGS

Federal judge facing scrutiny steps down

Edward W. Nottingham, the chief federal district judge in Colorado who oversaw the insider trading trial of former Qwest Communications CEO Joe Nacchio, is resigning amid complaints of judicial misconduct.

Tuesday's statement, issued by Chief Circuit Judge Robert H. Henry, said that the 10th Circuit Judicial Council has started misconduct proceedings against Nottingham.

Sean Harrington, who heads a legal technology firm, had filed a complaint in January citing news reports that Nottingham viewed adult Web sites on his government computer in his chambers.

In March, Henry acknowledged that a complaint had been filed with the 10th Circuit alleging that a District Court judge had "brought disrepute to the judiciary."