Wilmington DE – Delaware does not hold Primary and General Elections in odd numbered years. Thus, Delaware will not hold a General Election on November 5, 2013.
Delaware will hold a Primary Election on September 9, 2014 and a General Election on November 4, 2014.
Contact:
(302) 577-5066
Dover – Delaware Child Predator Task Force detectives have arrested a Dover man on child pornography charges following an investigation into the online distribution of child pornography, Attorney General Beau Biden announced today.
“With each arrest our Child Predator Task Force makes we put all predators on notice that we have the tools to uncover your criminal acts, the resources to track you down, and the authority to take you off the streets so that you can no longer be a threat our children,” Biden said.
After the investigation identified a person of interest as 37 year-old Joel W. Thorpe, Task Force members made contact with him yesterday at Dover Air Force Base, where he is stationed as an active duty Air Force member, and took him to DSP Troop #3 for further investigation. At the same time, detectives executed a search warrant at Thorpe’s residence on Edgewood Road in Dover. During the search, multiple computers and numerous digital storage devices were seized. An initial forensic examination of the seized evidence recovered multiple images of child pornography.
As a result of the investigation detectives arrested Thorpe and charged him with 25 counts of dealing in child pornography. He was arraigned via videophone by JP Court #2 and was taken to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $375,000 cash bail.
The Delaware Child Predator Task Force investigation continues. A booking image of Thorpe is below:
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The iOS and Android Mobile App Honored as a Finalist at the 2013 NASCIO Awards
Dover – The National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO) has selected Delaware’s State Police (DSP) Mobile Crime Tip Line Application as a finalist in the Fast Track Solutions category at the 25th annual NASCIO Recognition Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology in State Government.
“The Delaware State Police continues to utilize technology as a force multiplier to combat and solve crime,” said Sergeant Paul G. Shavack, director of public information for the Delaware State Police. “By the use of smart phone technology, we want to make it as easy and convenient as possible to provide anonymous tips on crimes and criminal activity. When the public becomes involved and provides crime tips, it helps keep their communities safe.”
The DSP free Crime Tip Line application was launched in March of 2013 and already has over 830 downloads on both iPhones and Android phones. The application provides a mobile solution for accepting crime tips, allowing users to report information such as location, activity description, subject description, vehicle description, and even photographs to the police. Tips can be submitted anonymously. All crime tips are passed directly to the DSP via email. The mobile app complements other reporting crime-reporting channels and meets the citizen expectation of “mobile access anytime, anywhere.” This is particularly relevant in the context of public safety. The application is available for download on either iOS or Android at apps.delaware.gov.
NASCIO represents state chief information officers and seeks to recognize technology achievements in state government in order to highlight, promote, and share innovation as well as to engage citizens. Details about the 2013 Awards are posted at www.nascio.org/awards/2013awards. Recognition from the nation’s CIOs highlights Governor Markell’s initiative to promote and develop eGovernment services in the state of Delaware.
The DSP Crime Tip application was developed by Delaware Interactive, LLC in partnership with the Government Information Center (GIC).
Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden announced today that UBS Financial Services, Inc. has paid the Delaware Department of Justice $70,077 as a result of a settlement with the Attorney General’s Investor Protection Unit. The settlement resolves a multi-state investigation which found that UBS failed to ensure that its agents were properly registered in Delaware and other states.
“State law requires those who sell stocks and securities to Delaware investors to be registered with our Investor Protection Unit,” Attorney General Biden said today. “We’ve acted to hold UBS accountable to Delaware’s Securities Act and ensure UBS agents are registered with us as required so that we can continue to safeguard the investments, pensions, and retirement funds of Delawareans.”
UBS Financial Services, Inc. functions as a broker-dealer in Delaware. The states’ investigation found that a flaw in UBS’s order entry system allowed agents not registered in Delaware to accept orders from investors in Delaware. The flaw was unrecognized for six years. UBS settled the multi-state investigation, coordinated by the North American Securities Administrators Association and led by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities, by agreeing to pay up to a total of $4.58 million in civil penalties among the 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. UBS entered into the settlement with the Investor Protection Unit without admitting or denying the findings of fact and conclusions of law. In addition to its payments to the states, UBS revised its client transaction processes and supervisory procedures to address the violations. Delaware’s payment was made to the Attorney General’s Investor Protection Fund which supports securities fraud investigations and investor education initiatives.
The Attorney General’s Investor Protection Unit, formerly known as the Securities Division, enforces the Delaware Securities Act and seeks to prevent the public from being victimized by fraudulent, unscrupulous or overreaching practices by those offering investments and investment services within the state. Biden urged investors who believe they have been the victims of such practices to immediately contact the Investor Protection Unit Hotline at 302-577-8424.
Delaware’s participation in the multistate investigation that led to the settlement was handled for Delaware by Investor Protection Director Owen Lefkon and Assistant Attorney General David Casler.
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DOVER – Delaware jockeys are continuing their support of a nutrition program to help improve jockey health and safety on the state’s racetracks with a recent donation.
The Delaware Jockey Health and Welfare Fund recently presented $1,000 to the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension to continue an initiative begun in 2009 to improve jockey nutrition. The donation will provide new jockeys with information to make healthy choices in their daily diets.
With jockeys facing strict weight limits to participate in races and not impede their horses, many riders can develop eating disorders or practice other unhealthy behaviors to get their weight down before races. Such practices can hinder their riding abilities and safety on the horse, said John F. Wayne, executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.
“Healthy riders are safer riders,” said Wayne. “This program helps educate jockeys and their spouses about the risks to their health.”
The nutrition education effort was launched in 2009 with a study by the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and a collaboration with the Delaware Jockey Health and Welfare Benefit Board and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. An advisory committee of current and former jockeys was appointed to help meet riders’ needs.
The Delaware Jockeys Health and Welfare Benefit Board oversees management of a $350,000 fund each year, offsetting health and welfare costs for participating riders. Half of the money comes from track video lottery funds and half from the Horsemen’s Purse Account. Delaware Park also has a $1 million on-track injury policy in force, covering riders injured during racing, and has the option to accept an additional $1 million on-track policy for $4 per mount, with the other portion of the premium covered by the Delaware Jockeys Health and Welfare Fund.
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Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520