Bump and Update: Lori Berenson and her son were prevented from leaving Peru at the airport. The prosecutor says he filed a motion to nullify her travel order on the grounds that parolees may not leave Peru. He didn't know if it had been granted. (A three judge panel had granted her permission, overruling a lower court which had denied it in October.) Berenson says Peruvian airport officials are falsely stating she arrived late.

Original Post below: [More...]

A state court in Pennsylvania held a preliminary hearing today for Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, the two Penn State officals charged with perjury before the grand jury investigating sexual assault allegations against Jerry Sandusky and failing to report child abuse.

Mike McQueary testified, and Joe Paterno's grand jury testimony was read into the record, as was that of the two officials.

Other witnesses were Thomas Harmon, a former director of Penn State's university police and John McQueary, Mr. McQueary's father.

The court found there was probable cause the officials committed the charged crimes and they were bound over for trial. [More...]

Update: Bonds was sentenced to 2 years probation and 30 days home detention. The sentence was stayed pending appeal.

Former baseball giant Barry Bonds faces sentencing today (11 am PT) for his conviction for obstruction of justice, resulting from his evasive answer to a grand jury question in the BALCO steroids use probe.

Prosecutors are asking for 15 months. The Presentence Report by the Probation Department recommends probation, location monitoring and community service.

Pvt. Bradley Manning, accused of aiding the enemy and violating the Espionage Act by leaking the Wikileaks documents and other material, is finally getting a hearing in military court.

Firedoglake has bloggers in the overflow media center. They can't post while court is in session, but are posting during recesses with a running live blog. The Guardian also has a running live-blog. [More...]

The U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York issued a press release yesterday about its massive civil lawsuit alleging money laundering against the defunct Canadian Lebanese Bank and various U.S. businesses and auto dealerships for engaging in monetary transactions to support Hezbollah. . The 66 page complaint is here.

8 of the car dealerships are in Michigan. According to a Detroit news station, DEA Special Operations Chief Derek Maltz told ABC's Brian Ross that the dealerships, as well as all 30 US businesses named in the Complaint are being investigated to determine whether they were aware their proceeds from sales of cars shipped to Africa ended up in Hezbollah's coffers. Maltz said it's not clear yet whether the businesses did have knowledge. [More...]

Jerry Sandusky waived his preliminary hearing today. Some lawyers (ex-prosecutors mostly) are criticizing the move, saying he gave up the ability to get the alleged victims' versions on the record and under oath now, which would be valuable at trial for impeachment if they change their version of events.

Personally, I think it was an okay move and the least damaging to Sandusky in the long run. Had the hearing proceeded, the media would have continually reported the most sensational allegations over and over. By the time of trial, the odds of finding unbiased jurors would be even more unlikely than they are now. [More...]

There was a lot of action in the war against drug cartels today. The Mexican Army killed 11 suspected cartel members in a shootout in Valle Hermoso, 30 miles south of Matamoros, which in turn is south of Brownsville, Texas. The shootout was part of operation "Noreste," which according to the Mexican Military, "seeks to generate a climate of peace, trust and harmony for the population."

The Mexican Navy captured one of the founding members of the Zetas, Raul Lucio Hernandez Lechuga, aka "El Lucky."

Colombia extradited former Norte Valle Cartel chief Ramon Quintero Sancelmente to the U.S. [More...]

The media is giddy with excitement over the Jerry Sandusky preliminary hearing tomorrow. The Court decided to allow live-tweeting for real-time coverage.

Sandusky's lawyer says no plea deal is in the works. Some of the alleged victims will testify.

Also not having a great week: Joe Paterno, who broke his pelvis in a fall yesterday.

There's still no explanation for why the security guards were dancing at the Sofitel following the hotel maid's report that she was assualted by Dominique Strauss-Kahn. (Background here.)

But now the video is available. (Also below.) The dance lasts 13 seconds, not 3 minutes as originally reported. [More...]

Two additional alleged victims of Jerry Sandusky have testified before a grand jury in Pennsylvania, resulting in new charges being filed today and Jerry Sandusky's arrest. The complaint is here. The new grand jury presentment is here. The press release from the Attorney General's office is here. [More...]

Former Illinois Governor will get a chance to speak to the Judge before sentence is pronounced today. After so many years of legal travails, he's got to be running on empty.

I'm hoping the judge will decide on less than 10 years. If he gives him 84 months, it sends a message, is big punishment, will still wreak havoc on his family, but at least, with good time, allow him to return home in time for his younger daughter's high school graduation. I think 5 would be a fairer sentence, but I don't see the judge getting to that level after his comments today.

Bump and Update: Dr. Conrad Murray has been sentenced to four years in jail. A restitution hearing has been set for January. Dr. Murray waived his right to be present. The defense will file a Notice of Appeal.

He was remanded to the custody of the LA Sheriff. They didn't handcuff him this time, and as he left, he blew a kiss to his family. [More...]