Rogersville, TN – A former bodybuilder, convicted of strangling is 16-year-old foster son, was sentenced Thursday to 5 years in prison. Kenneth Taylor was convicted in October of voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault for the attack which led to the death of Jordan Kaleb Shelton. Judge John Dugger, of the 3rd Judicial District in Hawkins County, noted Taylor’s history of criminal conduct, anger issues, and “abnormal strength” in making the decision. Taylor remains free on bond, pending the results of a January motion for a re-trial.

–In Session Staff

NEW YORK – The wounds still have not healed over the actions of a suburban Midwestern mother of three once linked to the Symbionese Liberation Army. The radical group formed in Berkeley, California, sought a "people's rebellion" against the U.S. government and made headlines after kidnapping newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst in the 1970s.

Sara Jane Olson

Sara Jane Olson, on the lam for more than 20 years before pleading guilty to charges linked to a fatal bank robbery and planting explosive devices under Los Angeles police cars, is once again the subject of heated dispute.

Olson, formerly known as Kathleen Soliah, was rearrested Friday, just days after she was mistakenly released on parole. Read more

She served about six years in a California prison, and like other inmates, Olson earned credit against her sentence by working on a maintenance crew that cleaned the main yard of the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla.

The California Department of Corrections now says it made a miscalculation and Olson must spend another year behind bars. She will not be eligible for release until March 17, 2009. Watch officials explain the error

It is certainly rare that state authorities would make an "administrative error" leading to a prisoner's early release, especially in such a high-profile case. But prison official Scott Kernan says the case is "extremely complicated," given the number of changes to parole law since the crime was committed.

There was a discrepancy over whether Olson should have been sentenced to 14 or 12 years. Olson' s attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, maintains authorities bowed to outside political pressure - referring to the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which voiced its outrage upon Olson's release.

The group's president, Tim Sands, said: "Parole shouldn't even be an option for terrorists who are convicted of murdering innocent bystanders and attempting to murder police officers."

Holley described the latest developments by saying, "It's like we're living in some kind of fascist state." She may seek a new hearing and has vowed to fight for her client's release, again.

– Bob Regan, In Session senior executive producer

CANTON, Ohio – Jurors in Bobby Cutts’s murder case have spared his life, and he’s been sentenced to 57 years to life in prison for the killing his girlfriend and their unborn child.

In court, victim Jessie Davis’s mother, father, sisters and cousin directed tearful statements at Cutts, who remained stoic even as he made occasional eye contact with them. Read more

Davis’s mother, Patricia Porter, told us afterwards that she has forgiven Cutts and did not want a death verdict. Porter is raising Blake, the other child Davis had with Cutts.

The defense team also held a press conference after Cutts was sentenced. They said they will handle the appeal.

One issue will be the failure of the judge to instruct the jury on the lesser crime of manslaughter. Another will be the inconsistent verdicts.

The jury found Cutts guilty of the lesser charge of murder for killing Jessie Davis but the higher charge of aggravated murder for the killing of the nine-month fetus inside her. The only difference between the two crimes is that one death apparently occurred during a burglary and the other did not.

Cutts will be turned over to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction within a week. He will be 87 years old before he is eligible for parole.

– Beth Karas, In Session correspondent

KENOSHA, Wisconsin – Mark Jensen has been sentenced by to life in prison with no chance of parole. Judge Bruce Schroeder said he has sentenced scores of people for murder and has to sentence Mark Jensen to the maximum.

The judge noted, "Mark tortured Julie for years, planned and executed this crime and that speaks to your character."

Defense attorney Craig Albee asked the judge on behalf of Jensen's children to set the minimum parole by statute. "They know what kind of person their father is.”

Albee told the court these children should be able to see their father again. Jensen only became emotional at one point in today's hearing, when the letter written by his two sons was read on his behalf to the court.

David and Douglas Jensen begged for mercy for their father and merely called antifreeze poisoning victim, Julie Jensen, their "birth mother."

I was in court and watched David, who just hung his head. As Julie's four brothers read their victim impact statements David continued to look down, but he clenched his jaw continually while words of condemnation regarding his father and the crime his was convicted of were spoken by his four maternal uncles.

Kelly Jensen, Mark Jensen's current wife, left the courtroom with David without looking at or speaking to anyone.

– Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

KENOSHA, Wisconsin – The sentencing of Mark Jensen is getting close and you wouldn't believe how many people have come today to the Kenosha County courthouse.

Mark Jensen awaits sentencing in court Wednesday.

Mark and Julie Jensen’s eldest son, David, is sitting on the defense side, next to Kelly Jensen, Mark's current wife.

This is the first time we have seen David, who is now 18. He is tall and slim like his father with glasses and blonde shaggy hair. David's mother is the victim in this case, Julie Jensen.

His father will be sentenced today to life in prison after being convicted of the 1998 antifreeze poisoning murder his mother.

Four of the jurors who found Jensen guilty are here in court, along with one alternate and a handful of people who testified for the prosecution.

People are continuing to arrive.

– Jean Casarez, In Session anchor

KENOSHA, Wisconsin – I'm back to Wisconsin, this time for the sentencing of Mark Jensen.
Usually, sentencing hearings don’t come so soon after a jury finds someone guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but in this case the defense waived any presentence report and both sides wanted it sooner than later.

Why would the defense want a fast sentencing? They have other things on their minds, namely an appeal on many of the evidentiary and constitutional issues presented at trial. For the defense attorneys, this case is yet to be resolved and they are anxious for an appellate court to hear the issues.

But for all practical purposes, Wednesday is sentencing day and we will be live so you can watch this emotion-packed hearing.

The prosecution will have those closest to Julie Jensen speak to the court as to the impact of her death. The defense can also have family members speak on the redeeming qualities of Mark Jensen.

There will be argument by the prosecution as to why the judge should sentence Jensen to the maximum penalty possible. The defense should counter with any mitigating factors that show Mark Jensen can still be a viable part of society one day and be reunited with his family.

Judge Bruce Schroeder must sentence Jensen to life in prison, but has the discretion to determine a minimum parole eligibility date, if any, when Jensen can appear before the Wisconsin parole board.

Last but not least, Mark Jensen himself can address the court. It is his constitutional right. Will we hear Mark Jensen speak for the first time in court on the issue of Julie Jensen's death?

– Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

RENO, Nevada – Darren Mack will have to serve at least 36 years in prison for stabbing his estranged wife to death and shooting his divorce judge in June 2006.

Judge Douglas Herndon sentenced Mack, 46, to life in prison for killing wife Charla. Mack also was received the maximum of 20 years for the attempted murder of Judge Charles Weller. Watch Mack explain himself

The sentence was part of a plea deal Mack struck when he pleaded guilty last year to his wife's murder and no contest to attempting to murder the judge. He claimed he killed in self defense.

Mack stabbed his wife, nearly severing her head, on June 12, 2006, and then went on to the courthouse here, where he fired one sniper shot, from a distance the length of three football fields. The bullet smashed through double-paned glass, hitting Weller, a family court judge, squarely in the chest.

Mack has to serve at least 20 years before he even gets his a chance to appear before the parole board. Then, he has two more eight-year terms to complete before he can ask for release

After he imposed sentence, Judge Herndon’s voice cracked and he appeared to hold back tears as he told both sides of the family to put the needs of the Macks’ 10-year-old daughter, Erika, before their own.

– Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

RENO, Nevada – Darren Mack stabbed his estranged wife to death on June 12, 2006 and then went on to the courthouse here where he fired one sniper shot (from a distance the length of three football fields) that smashed through double-paned glass, hitting the family court judge handling his divorce square in the chest.

Because that shot missed a major organ, Judge Chuck Weller survived and will testify during this hearing. I sat with Darren Mack Wednesday in the Washoe County jail for an exclusive one-on-one interview. Watch an excerpt

Now he sits as a murderer in full shackles in this packed courtroom.

On one side of the courtroom are Mack's family and close friends. They are so very devoted to him and believe Judge Weller never gave him a fair shake during the divorce.

They say that Mack went off the deep end because he could never get people to look at what he believed was the truth, that he stabbed Charla Mack in self-defense because she came at him with a gun.

Mack's family cried as 10 character witnesses took the stand to discuss the redeeming qualities of this former leader of Reno's business community. The family is vocal, and grumbles noticeably during the hearing when rulings don't go their way. They want so much more information to come out, but this is a limited sentencing hearing.

On the other side of the courtroom is Charla Mack's mother, a lovely and sweet lady I got to know during the trial. She is sitting in silence as defense witnesses say negative things about her daughter - that Charla had a violent side, that she should be blamed for so much of this.

But Soorya Townley simply takes notes. She will be testifying as the mother of a murder victim. I am told she is very, very nervous but will talk about a daughter that was so precious to her and so many others, gone forever because of a stabbing so brutal her head was almost completely severed.

– Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent

RENO, Nevada – I just finished a one-on-one jailhouse interview with convicted murderer Darren Mack. It's an exclusive.

You may recall that Mack is the millionaire pawn shop owner in Reno, Nevada, who stabbed his estranged wife, Charla, to death. He then went to the Reno courthouse parking garage where he fired a sniper-style shot striking Family Court Judge Chuck Weller.

Weller survived and will be one of several witnesses who will testify during Mack's sentencing hearing, which begins today.

I flew into Reno just for the hearing which we will broadcast live beginning Thursday.

I met with this man who was a business leader of the community until he fled to Mexico after committing his crimes.

Mack came to our interview carrying a box filled to overflowing with legal documents. He wants a new trial and began to tell me so the minute he sat down.

I asked Mack about the gun he says his wife turned on him. I asked him about running to Mexico and why he decided to surrender. I asked him why the judge should give him the minimum sentence.

He told me he still loves Charla and thinks about what he has done every day of his life.

Only In Session snagged an interview with Darren Mack and you can see it right here and on CNN.com's crime page.

– Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent