Crime

Novelist and Filmmaker assesses the impact of story telling on famous murder trials

The Department of Criminology, Law and Society hosted a night exposing failed murder cases and what caused them to fail with famed novelist and filmmaker Mark Olshaker .

On October 30th, Olshaker focused on three highly publicized murder cases- the West Memphis Three, Meredith Kercher (the Amanda Knox case), and JonBenet Ramsey.  

Boxwoods chef takes leave of absence following arrest


Boxwoods' Executive Chef Konrad Meir was arrested for allegedly being drunk in public; he has since taken a leave of absence. (Jenna Beaver)

Konrad Meier, executive chef at the Mason Inn’s Boxwoods restaurant, has taken a leave of absence following his Feb. 3 arrest for allegedly being drunk in public. 

An agreement for GMU professor arrested for alleged child pornography possession still pending

An agreement has yet to be reached in the child pornography case involving part-time Italian language professor, Diego Fasolini, the GW Hatchet reported.

“Nothing has been agreed to at this point,” Moore was quoted as having said by the GW Hatchet. “We’ll see what happens.”

Tyson's Corner tragedy has Mason tie

The parents of the 2-year-old girl allegedly thrown from a fifth-story walkway by her grandmother at Tyson’s Corner Center Monday evening had connections to Mason’s campus.

According to a Washington Post story published today, the child’s mother is a Mason graduate and both the grandmother and her husband have worked part time as ushers at the Patriot Center.

Fasolini granted conditional release

Standing before Magistrate Judge Alan Kay, Diego Fasolini — the part-time Italian professor arrested on child pornography charges — was granted conditional release today until the continuation of Friday’s scheduled preliminary hearing. United States of America v. Diego Fasolini will reconvene until Dec. 10.

Professor no longer employed by Mason after alleged child porn possession, according to spokesman

The part-time Italian language instructor, arrested last week on charges of alleged child pornography possession, has been dismissed by George Mason University, according to University Spokesman Dan Walsch.

“He is no longer employed at the university,” Walsch said Friday afternoon.

UPDATE: Mason professor arrested for alleged child pornography possession

A part-time adjunct professor of Italian at George Mason University was arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography on Thursday, according to a detective with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police.

Diego Fasolini, 42, who is also a part-time Italian professor at George Washington University, was arrested on that campus by Metropolitan Police after GWU staff allegedly found suspected child pornography on an external hard drive, according to GWU Director of Media Relations Michelle Sherrard.

UPDATE: Potentially dangerous juvenile recently spotted on campus 'still at large'

A potentially dangerous runaway from a juvenile detention facility was seen recently on the George Mason University Fairfax campus, and Mason Police are asking for help in locating him. 

The individual is described as a "Juvenile Male 15 years of age Asian 5’7” height 155 lbs. Black Hair Brown Eyes." He was last seen wearing a "Gray T-Shirt or Sweatshirt Bluish/Greenish Pants Bright Orange Shoes."

George Ginovsky, assistant chief of police for University Police, said he was deemed potentially dangerous because of a history of edged weapons use. 

Mason Police release annual security report outlining campus crime

George Mason University Policed released the Annual Security Report, which includes crime statistics on campus, on Oct. 1. The statistics only include incidents that were reported to police or school officials.

Of the reported incidents, the Fairfax campus saw a decrease in more than half (from 11 to 5) of forcible sexual offenses from 2008 to 2009 according to the report.