Hot Links: Cappie Pondexter, Snakes, and Gang Rape

A 15-year-old Liberian boy pleaded guilty in a juvenile court to his role in the July, 2009 gang-rape of an 8-year-old girl. The teenager pleaded to charges of kidnapping, sexual assault, three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, and one count of attempted sexual misconduct with a minor. His equivalent of a sentencing will be April 27, and his attorneys say he’ll most likely be sent to a residential treatment center for a year or more…The Phoenix Mercury traded All-Star guard Cappie Pondexter to the New York Liberty as part a major three-team trade. In exchange for Pondexter, the Mercury got Liberty players Shameka Christon and Cathrine Kraayeveld. They were both promptly traded to the Chicago Sky for All-Star Candice Dupree. According to Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, Dupree “has proven herself to be one of the most dominant players in the world.”…The shovel-nosed snakes of Tucson won’t be receiving statutory protection in Arizona. The snakes warrant federal protection, but the Arizona Department of Game and Fish says other endangered species are a bigger priority. The department has, however, added the snakes to a list of species eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act…