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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 29 May 2018

Teacher who stopped attack says he had to save students

By KEN KUSMER stable condition following
Associated Press the shooting, though no
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) — other details about her in-
A suburban Indianapolis juries have been released.
teacher who was shot while Seaman is credited with
tackling and disarming a stopping an armed student
student inside his classroom who entered his classroom
said Monday that his swift at Noblesville West Middle
decisions “were the only School. Witnesses said the
acceptable actions” to 29-year-old former college
save his seventh-grade stu- football player ran toward
dents. bullets as he tackled the
Jason Seaman, speaking student. Seaman was shot
publicly for the first time three times, according to
since the shooting Friday, his brother.
thanked the Noblesville “I want to make it clear that
community for its support my actions on that day, in
and stressed that he want- my mind, were the only ac-
ed the focus to be on the ceptable actions I could
other person shot during have done given the cir-
the incident: 13-year-old cumstances,” Seaman said
student Ella Whistler, who Monday. “I deeply care for
was seriously wounded. my students and their well-
“Her courage and strength being. That is why I did what
at such a young age is I did that day.”Seaman, Jason Seaman, a seventh grade science teacher at Noblesville West Middle School in Noblesville,
nothing short of remark- who was released from the Ind., speaks to the media during a press conference Monday, May 28, 2018.
able,” Seaman said during hospital Saturday, didn’t Associated Press
a news conference at the appear to show any pain wounded student’s initials, news conference. “He put “Jason Seaman is a hero,
school district’s administra- or other sign of his injuries EW. Police have said the his own life in danger for his no doubt. But he is only one
tive building. “We all should during the news confer- shooter was quickly ar- students. That alone tells of the heroes I saw on this
continue to keep her in our ence. He spoke for just a rested following the shoot- you about his character day,” Shaw said.
minds as she continues to few minutes and declined ing and didn’t appear to and his big heart.” An online fundraiser started
recover.” to answer questions from be injured. His name hasn’t A school nurse and a by a local high school stu-
School officials said Mon- reporters. been released. school resource officer im- dent for Seaman totaled
day that Ella was improving He wore a white T-shirt em- “We’re so grateful for Ja- mediately provided medial more than $72,000 by mid-
and making progress while blazoned with the mes- son’s quick and brave ac- attention to the injured, day Monday, surpassing
recovering at an Indianap- sage: “#NOBStrong. You tions,” Noblesville Schools said Noblesville West Mid- the original goal of $55,000.
olis hospital. Her family has are the reason I teach.” Superintendent Beth Nie- dle School Principal Stacey Donations ranged from $10
said she was in critical but His shirt also showed the dermeyer said during the Shaw. to more than $3,000.q

Payday lender lawyer sentenced to 8 years in prison

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The for July on conspiracy and breno that he believed at mately it is the lawyer that to be repaid on a custom-
lawyer who represented fraud convictions last fall. the time that everything he needs to implement it,” er’s next paycheck.
payday lenders accused Authorities said Hallinan was doing was legal. Robreno said. “Without Mr. Payday lenders say they
of evading state regula- charged astronomical in- “I now realize how people Neff, (these deals) would have helped thousands of
tions by using Native Ameri- terest rates of more than can be crushed under the not have gone through. . cash-strapped consum-
can tribes and a bank as 700 percent on the short- weight of payday loans,” There was a monumental ers, many of whom do not
fronts has been sentenced term loans in a “rent-a- he said. “However, it was failure in this case.” qualify for more traditional
to eight years in federal tribe” and “rent-a-bank” never my intention to harm In addition to the prison lines of credit. Assistant U.S.
prison. scheme that netted his anyone.” term, Neff was ordered to Attorney Mark Dubnoff ridi-
Wheeler Neff, 69, of Wilm- companies more than $688 District Judge Eduardo Ro- pay $50,000 in fines and for- culed that notion.
ington, Delaware, was million in revenue between breno described deals that feit more than $350,000. “That’s like a heroin deal-
sentenced Friday on rack- 2008 and 2013 from hun- Neff and Hallinan struck Pennsylvania and more er’s defense,” he said. “.
eteering conspiracy and dreds of thousands of cus- with their Native American than a dozen other states You can’t help out heroin
fraud convictions, The Phil- tomers. partners as “unlawful, a have passed laws that addicts by giving them her-
adelphia Inquirer reported . Neff, flanked by family, sham, and a fraud.” criminalize payday loans, oin, just like you can’t help
Neff represented Charles friends and fellow church “A businessman can have which are named as such out a person who needs
Hallinhan, 77, who is await- congregants, told U.S. Dis- a great deal of skill in com- because they’re issued in money by giving them a
ing sentencing scheduled trict Judge Eduardo Ro- pleting a deal, but ulti- small amounts and meant usurious loan.”q