Philadelphia

Catch Up Quickly, May 17: President of Temple Frat Charged with Attempted Rape, Bucks Co. Killer Pleads Guilty, Another Rejects Plea Deal, Bag of Crack Cocaine Found in 6-Year-Old Student's Mouth

Here are the top news stories you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.


TODAY'S TOP STORY 

President of Temple Frat Charged with Attempted Rape: The president of Temple University's suspended Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity was arrested Tuesday after being accused of attempted rape. Ari Goldstein, 21, of Wrightstown, Pennsylvania, is charged with attempted rape, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, intimidation, attempted sexual assault, indecent assault, simple assault, unlawful restraint and false imprisonment. He was arraigned Wednesday and is being held on $2 million bail. Goldstein's arrest comes less than a month after Temple police issued a bulletin saying they had received "multiple credible reports" of various alleged crimes at Alpha Epsilon Pi events. The alleged acts reported included sexual misconduct, sexual assault, drug use and underage drinking. Capt. Mark Burgman, head of the Philadelphia Police Department's Special Victims Unit, said three victims came forward in April reporting they were sexually assaulted. Two of the victims are 19-year-old Temple students, Burgman said. The first incident happened in February at the fraternity house. Burgman said that case was referred to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office on Friday.

WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY

Bucks Co. Killer Pleads Guilty, Another Rejects Plea Deal: Cosmo DiNardo received four consecutive life sentences Wednesday morning after pleading guilty to killing four young men and burying their bodies on his family's sprawling suburban Philadelphia farm. In an unexpected turn, DiNardo's cousin, Sean Kratz, rejected an offer to plead guilty to third-degree murder and related offenses Wednesday. Instead, the state will now pursue first-degree murder and the death penalty. “Justice is not perfect. Justice has no time limits,” Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said during a press conference. “I’m just as whiplashed as all of you.” Weintraub added that DiNardo could now testify against his cousin. The DA expects Kratz's trial to take place no earlier than next year. He spoke directly with Kratz in the moments before the young man officially rejected the offer in court, he said. “We had a cordial conversation,” Weintraub said. “He was resolute. That’s his right.” Four civil cases against the cousins, Dinardo's parents and the family's holdings remain, attorney Tom Kline, who is representing the Finocchiaro, said.  Twelve family members of the men killed -Dean Finocchiaro, Thomas Meo, Mark Sturgis and Jimi Taro Patrick - at times angry and other times tearfully grieving, read emotional victim impact statements before Judge Jeffrey Finley. Their sorrow filled the courtroom for nearly two hours.

YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST  

Rain is expected for Thursday with temperatures in the 70s. Friday is also expected to see rain with temperatures in the 60s. Saturday could see rain and temperatures back in the 70s. There is a potential for thunderstorms on Sunday and Monday as well. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.

NBC10 First Alert meteorologist Bill Henley is following heavy rain across our area that is causing ponding on the roads.
TODAY'S TALKER               

Bag of Crack Cocaine Found in 6-Year-Old Student's Mouth: An investigation is underway after a bag of crack cocaine was found in a 6-year-old student’s mouth at a Southwest Philadelphia charter school. The incident occurred at the Hardy Williams Mastery Charter School on the 5400 block of Warrington Avenue. A teacher at the school found what appeared to be a bag of crack cocaine inside a student’s mouth. The girl was taken to the hospital, treated and later released. She said she got the drugs from another student’s school bag. The teacher turned over the bag of drugs to police who continue to investigate. No arrests have been made.

AROUND THE WORLD

US Births Hit a 30-Year Low: U.S. birth rates declined last year for women in their teens, 20s and — surprisingly — their 30s, leading to the fewest babies in 30 years, according to a government report released Thursday. Experts said several factors may be combining to drive the declines, including shifting attitudes about motherhood and changing immigration patterns. The provisional report, based on a review of more than 99 percent of the birth certificates filed nationwide, counted 3.853 million births last year. That's the lowest tally since 1987. Births have been declining since 2014, but 2017 saw the greatest year-to-year drop — about 92,000 less than the previous year.


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