tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48389825299855527642024-02-20T19:13:20.331-08:00Saxfacts: A Place for Discovery for Those Who Dare to Be in the KnowDISCOVERY is part of the pretrial litigation process during which each party requests relevant information and documents from the other side in an attempt to discovery "pertinent facts." Saxfacts is discovery. Saxfacts, by Robin Sax, is a where to discover issues that need highlighting, trends that are worth sharing, and finds that you must know!!! While you may not agree, you should be in the know.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-55395058654267252712019-02-01T08:24:00.000-08:002019-02-02T10:25:11.328-08:00Jussie Smollet's Attack Is A Hate Crime<br />
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "proxima nova regular";">It is not a
new phenomenon that when a <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/law-and-crime" title="Psychology Today looks at crime"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">crime</span></a> occurs
there are some people who comment, blog, or analyze who are accused of rushing
to judgment and others that are accused of being too slow to
respond. While some people have questions about what may occurred, when a
crime hits the <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/media" title="Psychology Today looks at media"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">media</span></a>, the
results effect society. In an effort to tap the break and
see what has developed I held off on immediately hitting "publish" on
my Jussie Smollet blog. But, I can't hold off anymore because there
is a point that needs to be made. And, that is words matter. Words
matter to survivor's mental <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/health" title="Psychology Today looks at health"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">health</span></a> outcomes.
Words matters to those who are considering to report. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "proxima nova regular";">CNN, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/arts/television/empire-jussie-smollett-attacked.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #477be4; font-family: "proxima nova semi bold"; text-decoration: none;">The New York Times,</span></a> and
other news outlets conveniently repeated the Chicago P.D.’s press statement
referring to the attack on Jussie Smollett as a “possible hate
crime." Seriously? Possible? If the facts as reported are accurate— “that
Jussie Smollet was attacked early Tuesday morning by two people who
yelled racial and homophobic slurs and wrapped a rope around his neck” then
there is no doubt that this is a hate crime. I understand in these days
of unprecedented scrutiny of words that terms like “alleged” and “potential” make
people feel they have legal cover, but what about the need to say things like
they are for the sake of the victims and for the benefit of society at large?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "proxima nova regular";">According to
The <a href="https://avp.org/2017-hv-ipv-report/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #477be4; font-family: "proxima nova semi bold"; text-decoration: none;">National Coalition of Antiviolence</span></a> (NCAV), hate
crimes are on the rise and yet reporting of them is on the decline. Could this
be because the police, the press, and therefore, society, refer to these
blatant attacks against people of color, those who identify or seem to identify
as LGBTQ, or express themselves as something other than the norm, are being
labeled as "alleged," "possible" or "suspected"
hate crimes? The<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/civil-rights/hate-crimes" target="_blank"><span style="color: #477be4; font-family: "proxima nova semi bold"; text-decoration: none;"> FBI defines </span></a>a hate crime as a “<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/punishment" title="Psychology Today looks at criminal"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">criminal</span></a> offense
against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/bias" title="Psychology Today looks at bias"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">bias</span></a> against
a race, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/religion" title="Psychology Today looks at religion"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">religion</span></a>,
disability, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/homosexuality" title="Psychology Today looks at sexual orientation"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">sexual
orientation</span></a>, ethnicity, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/gender" title="Psychology Today looks at gender"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">gender</span></a>, or
gender <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/identity" title="Psychology Today looks at identity"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">identity</span></a>.” In
other words crime + <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/motivation" title="Psychology Today looks at motivation"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">motivation</span></a> of
hate bias = hate crime. In Smollet’s case attack + racial and homophobic slurs
= hate crime. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "proxima nova regular";">Words matter.
Just as the words spewed at Smollet as he was attacked give insight to the
crime committed, the words that reporters, the public, and the police use
matter in how survivors feel, report, participate in prosecution, and
recover. According to the NCAV, “For survivors of hate violence, being
targeted because of who they are and how they express themselves has long-term
emotional, social, financial, physical, and other consequences. One study found
that survivors of hate violence experience <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/depression" title="Psychology Today looks at depression"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">depression</span></a>, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/anxiety" title="Psychology Today looks at anxiety"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">anxiety</span></a>, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/anger" title="Psychology Today looks at anger"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">anger</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/fear" title="Psychology Today looks at fear"><span style="color: #2c2d30; font-family: "inherit" , serif; text-decoration: none;">fear</span></a> for up
to five years after their experience, compared to only two years for survivors
of non-bias motivated attacks.” Could these negative impacts be
compounded by words like alleged, suspected, and possible? No better way
than to discredit the very real experiences of victims than to throw words that
justify, mitigate, or even negate their attack. If we care about the mental
health of victims and survivors and want to hold people accountable for their
atrocious behavior, the police, reporters, and the public need to speak
plainly, without throwing in qualifying words that diminish the experience of
the victim.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-37376434804183606972015-04-16T17:00:00.000-07:002018-08-30T21:51:05.376-07:00Ruling Against V. Stiviano Sets Dangerous Precedence<b>Lace thong and other gifts Shelly Sterling should not be entitled to...</b><br />
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(Note: This article was previously posted on Psychology Today)<br />
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Imagine you go to lunch with a married man. Maybe it was a business lunch, maybe not. Your husband finds out and decides it doesn’t sit so well with him. Instead of holding his wife accountable, he decides he is going after the “home wrecker” lunch date. He files a case. He sues. He wins. That’s basically what happened in the case of Shelly Sterling vs. V.Stivano. <br />
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Judge Richard Fruin awarded Shelly Sterling money to repay her for community property that Donald Sterling spent on V. Stivano during the course of their marriage. Shelly won reimbursement of everything: the car, the house, the jewelry, even a twelve-dollar pair of thong underwear.<br />
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Think what you want about V. Stivano. The fact remains that the court made the wrong call. The person who should have been sued, the person who should have been paying up is the real home wrecker himself, Donald Sterling. <br />
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David Glass is a partner with Los Angeles-based Enenstein Ribakoff LaViña & Pham and heads the firm’s family law practice. Glass says, “under the California Family Code each party to a marriage has a ‘fiduciary duty’ to the other to maintain the community estate.” Therefore, the one who is in breach, the one who should have been sued, the one who owes Shelly Sterling money is no other than Donald Sterling himself. <br />
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"Shelly is thrilled with the decision," her attorney Pierce O'Donnell said. <br />
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Of course she is. O’Donnell acknowledges, "This is certainly a victory for the Sterling family whose funds were dissipated by Donald to lavish millions of dollars of gifts on a conniving mistress. The decision also has broader significance in today's society. Shelly has set a precedent indicating the rights of all spouses to protect their community property."<br />
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So what kind of precedent does this case set? Enenstein attorney Connolly Olyer suggests the precedent set is that 3rd parties could be forced to repay monies, gifts, and benefits they received from a married person. <br />
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To me, there is greater practical impact. Why are our courts so comfortable with scapegoating the indigent “girlfriend” instead of putting the screws to the real bad guy here? Why isn’t Donald paying Shelly back? He was the one who broke the fiduciary duty. He is the real offending party in this action. Not only is this terrible law, it’s creates terrible psychological precedent as well. Cheating spouses should be held accountable for their behavior. Why give them the out? If you ever want to see behavior to change, you must hold the right person accountable.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-56635892733400732542015-04-14T17:00:00.000-07:002018-08-30T21:49:37.976-07:00I'm A Lawyer... and Not Just on TVThis last weekend my daughter became a Bat Mitzvah - the Jewish term used to honor the moment where a Jewish “kid” is considered an “adult.” Clearly, this is a religious moment and not a real life moment as she is far from an independent adult. However, it is a moment of huge significance as it does mark the entering into a new phase of life.<br />
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Today, I embarked on a new journey and felt like I had a Bat Mitzvah of sorts. Just like Hannah, I have had the opportunity to explore my growth. To examine where I have come from and make tweaks to get where I want to go.<br />
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I have joined Enenstein Ribakoff LaViña & Pham, a law firm in Los Angeles. I am Senior Counsel where I will be using my experience and passion to advocate in family law, custody, criminal, victim’s rights and other litigation.<br />
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I cannot express how excited I am to do what I do best – advocate on behalf of clients, fight for justice, be in a courtroom, and actually be a practicing lawyer again (and not just playing one on TV).<br />
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And just like a kid having a Bat Mitzvah, I am still me---the same ole’ Robin Sax. I still who love dissecting cases on TV with the hopes of helping others gain perspective and knowledge of the legal system. So, tune in tonight to Entertainment Tonight (check your local listings) where I weigh in on the latest celebrity lawsuit. This one involves Sophia Vergara's eggs and what Nick Loeb wants to do with them.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-71692163417086150832012-09-24T17:00:00.000-07:002018-08-30T22:15:23.495-07:00Missed Opportunities In Robert Zimmerman's Apology...<div style="text-align: center;">
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He had a message and he chose to come to Fox 11's Good Day LA to give it. The message was an apology written months ago, tweaked over the course of time, but delivered succinctly today. “Less is more,” laser focus, and cause no damage were apparent tenants to the PR strategy. His written apology and even his interview seemed to echo the philosophy that less said, less damage. But in his efforts to do no harm did he miss opportunities to influence the court of public opinion?<br />
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The George Zimmerman case (or Trayvon Martin case depending on your vantage point) has become the quintessential race case of the century. The divisiveness of race is not just amongst the public but the players as well. Prosecutor Angela Corey articulated from the beginning that this was a killing that was motivated by race. On the flip side, others believe that it’s the media that made this case of race—a theory seemingly supported by the news organization that edited the tapes of the 911 call. <br />
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The Zimmerman family has their view as expressed by RobertZimmerman on Good Day LA -- George Zimmerman is not a racist, not a murderer and acted in self defense. Robert Zimmerman says he believes in the “system” and no wonder why—his brother is enjoying freedom out of on bail, the defense was able to get a judge recused, and he has a legal team working around the clock both virtually and in realtime. But if you really believe that the justice system is about exposing the truth does today’s apology illuminate what actually happened on Feb 27, 2011? Are we any closer to the truth? Or have we just witnessed the Zimmerman family attempting to gauge the temperature of the public with a little toe dip in the LA Court of public opinion? Here is the missed opportunity: when the facts are hot and you deliver cool you miss an opportunity to change the temperature. <br />
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What today did do was offer us a glimpse of what may be yet to come. Robert, who is a near double of George, was as poised as George was during bail hearing number one. He was mild mannered, spoke in a low tone, and didn’t so much as flinch, blink, or utter one “ummm.” If I was a betting woman, I’d put money that the Robert Zimmerman we say today on Good Day LA will be a very similar George Zimmerman come the Stand Your Ground hearing in 2013. While a little bizarre, he will be tough to move, difficult to hate, and will remain as calm, cool and collected as his older bro. But remember, there are no read statements and controlling parameters of an interview in the court of law. There is cross examination, impeachment, and bad acts that will come to play. <br />
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But did Robert Zimmerman seem truthful? Will George? Truth matters. It’s what this case will rise and fall on. And ultimately decisions will be based on the version of the truth presented by GeorgeZimmerman and whether his rendition is deemed credible. There is no other he to the “he said” as he Trayvon is dead. So in order to reach conclusions we are looking to things far outside of the case to determine credibility. We look at what is said in court, representations made to lawyers about funds from a website, and now we can include his brother Robert’s apology. This interview, though may seem unmoving, says well scripted, well poised answers don’t enhance credibility. Blunt honesty, admissions of error, and humanness do. Another missed opportunity.<br />
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And finally I felt like something was missing? How can you be calm, cool, and collected if you believe you were acting in self defense and are accused of murder? Wouldn’t you be a little irate? You heard Robert Zimmerman say that George had the crap beaten out of him to the point where his ears were bleeding for a day after the alleged attack yet his brother still can offer an apology. On the flip side, if the Zimmermans are truly apologizing where was the telltale sign of remorse--empathy? Where was the acknowledgement of the one undisputed reality—that Trayvon Martin died at the hands of George Zimmerman . This was not a case of “passing away” like Robert stated. Either way got neither adamant self defense nor heartfelt apology. For a case that is all about emotion, it was the one ingredient that was absent here today. Robert Zimmerman missed the opportunity to show us the behind the curtain, give us the real deal, and make us want to accept his apology.<br />
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I have not heard one person say that they were swayed or moved by Robert Zimmerman and his apology. I supposed if “cause no harm” was the only goal (which I doubt it was) maybe just that and only that was accomplished.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-12735131984015141762012-02-03T17:00:00.000-08:002018-08-30T22:02:17.833-07:00A Monster in Our Midst: Missed Opportunities...<div style="text-align: center;">
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Like many of you, I am blown away by the Mark Berndt case, a story broken by Gigi Graciette, which occurred right here in my hometown of Los Angeles. Mark Berndt, is the Miramonte school teacher who is accused of 23 counts of sex abuse against children. The case stems from a hero (and law abiding) film processor who reported suspected child abuse to law enforcement. The facts are as heinous as any I have ever seen. Some 23 students (that we know of) were allegedly victimized in the grossest of gross ways. The abuse was done under the auspices of a game where many of his 8-year old third-grade students thought they were drinking some sweet treat from a spoon which later turned out to be semen matching Berndt’s DNA. The students were photographed with their mouths bound and many had Madagascar cockroaches on their faces. Yesterday we found out that there was an investigation of him for sex crimes some 20 years ago. and nothing was done by way of prosecution.<br />
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Criminals, most often, are not caught until after the crime has been committed. Law enforcement is reactive -- not proactive. So when we hear about a crime, and find out that the criminal was earlier in police grasp, we get sad and we get angry. These are what I call “missed opportunities,” like Lily Burke, a beautiful 17-year old girl, murdered by a three-striker out of custody on a “clerical error”; Jaycee Duggard, living under the thumb of a registered sex-offender parolee for years and years; and Anthony Sowell, who murdered 11 women in Cleveland seemingly at will, while on parole for rape.<br />
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I am a former prosecutor. I am a staunch victim rights advocate, mostly for women, who are often ignored, neglected or worse by the very people sworn to protect them. I am writing this column to save a girl, save potential future victims, and to call to your attention to a monster in our midst, known to law enforcement, but thus far a missed opportunity.<br />
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You have never heard of him, but Ronny Whitter is a registered sex offender convicted of rape, child abuse and kidnapping. Paulani Hockenhull fled from this man 16 years ago, when their daughter, Nohea, was two years old. She left Hawaii and came to California, then Phoenix, for a safer life for Nohea. For 16 years, she was away from this monster, but he found her through that newly minted 100 billion-dollar company, Facebook.<br />
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Ronny Whitter found Nohea by using his 14-year-old daughter's Facebook page. He made Nohea feel that she had found the long lost father she never had. On her 18th birthday, Whitter flew out from Hawaii to Phoenix. He took her out, bought her gifts and promised her he would be the father she never had. He convinced her that she should move to Hawaii with him. Mesmerized by the idea of living in Hawaii with a father who truly loved her, she agreed to move to Hawaii.<br />
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In January of 2011, he picked her up. Before their departure he took her to a hotel room for 7 days where he groomed and eventually had sex with her for most of the nights. During the day be became her doting father. Nohea told police she first resisted, but then put up with the sex because he was so loving during the day. Once in Hawaii, he moved her in with his family (a wife and three minor children) where his horrible behavior continued. He had sex with her behind his wife’s back, and when he and Nohea argued, he assaulted her, threw her on the ground, and broke her foot. She was hospitalized. Nohea called her mother and left Hawaii.<br />
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She made a police report to the Phoenix Police Department on April 1, 2011. She told her story through her tears, maintained eye contact, and was credible. She called Whitter as the police listened in. When she told her father she may be pregnant, he replied that her pregnancy test came back negative. He did not deny having sex with her. In another call, he admitted he fractured her foot. <br />
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It is almost 1 year later –NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED. Putting aside how disgusting it is for a father to stalk, find, contact, mislead, and have sex with his 18 year-old daughter (he was smart enough to wait until she was no longer a minor under the eyes of the law), where are the felony assault charges for the broken foot? How about felony incest? What about rape charges, and believing the victim when the father is an abusive, conniving rapist criminal who lives with other minor children and is a constant threat to them?<br />
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The questions are endless and the answers are none. I have personally contacted the Phoenix police Department with the hopes of holding Whitter accountable. And what do I get? A big fat nothing. No response to my letters, no answers to the victim, and certainly no justice. <br />
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While the media is not where we should seek justice, if law enforcement fails, it is the media who puts a glare on that failure, and gets the word out, if only to give law enforcement a second chance at a missed opportunity. Today, Nohea and I did just that. Nohea came on Good Day Los Angeles to discuss her story, her case, and tonight we will discuss it more in depth in a special on MYfoxla.com, where we will discuss the missed opportunities in both the Marc Berndt as well as the Ronny Whitter case. <br />
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Please do not let this be another missed opportunity.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-5063529889088175952011-12-09T17:00:00.000-08:002018-08-30T22:23:34.800-07:00Internet Sleuthers are Secret Sauce to Crime Solving...Detectives work for police departments, private investigators work for citizens or lawyers but sleuthers work for any given “cause” or case. Internet sleuthers are not necessarily new but they are certainly the secret sauce that gives hope to victims, provides clues to investigators and insures that criminal investigations stay alive and well.<br />
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Internet sleuthing has helped solve some of the highest profile criminal cases in recent history. Take Casey Anthony for example; it was sleuthers who found the pictures of her partying on the bar over beers bottle during the time one would expect her to be frantically searching for her missing daughter Caylee. Those pictures found on photobucket.com by civilians were a major break in the case. Through those pictures, not only did the whole world see that Casey Anthony was partying while Caylee was missing but also that her accounts of what occurred were quickly impeachable and she was stuck with a story told in photos.<br />
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From murders to missing persons to rapes to kidnaps there are online eyes who are evaluating the evidence, criticizing theories, and solving crimes utilizing tools like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter that many use to simply stay in touch with high school friends.<br />
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Some of the most famous people in this online crime community are names that may be new to you but are legends to crime fighters. A few of them are Tricia Griffith who runs websleuths.com, Levi Page of the levipageshow.blogspot.com, Red and Dana Pretzer of scaredmonkeys.net, who take their own personal UNPAID time to provoke discussions, ask questions, and diligently analyze each and every piece of available information in order to catch the bad guy or at least shed light on some of the nation's darkest crimes.<br />
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Sleuthing merely requires a computer and an internet connection. No uniform required. Most sleuthers are curled up in their pj’s and do their work while sipping coffee. Don’t laugh… even law enforcement takes these armchair detectives seriously. Just ask Tricia, Levi, Red or Dana. Don’t believe me? The subpoenas and calls from law enforcement speak for themselves. Law enforcement has quickly learned that on line sleuthers have data that even the police don’t have…and that is intel on the people who check out the sleuthers on line. Cops have not only found value in the discussions but potentially more valuable are the IP addresses and info on the people who visit these sites.<br />
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I have seen the value of sleuthing, and therefore have become a sleuther myself. In representing several of the victims in the Long Island Serial Killer Case, I created websites on the case. Besides providing information and areas for people to email tips, I can see who visits my site on a daily basis. Why is that important? I have long believed that this case has stayed alive only because the media took an interest in it. Once they took an interest the police did. How do I know this? My websites. A&E airs the documentary, the documentary raises questions, media outlets start covering the case and guess who is on my website today? The State Department, the FBI, and the police department are just a few.<br />
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Who else do I think is on these sites? The killer. Killers are narcissistic people who love to read about themselves and take an active interest in their own case. I saw this when I represented Samantha Spiegel in the John Mark Karr case and I believe that could be happening in the Long Island Serial Killer Case as well.<br />
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Sleuths are ahead of the curve in that unlike cops, they believe there are invaluable bits of telling evidence that criminals trail all over the internet everyday. Let’s face it, your average fuddy-duddy, coffee addicted detective is not necessarily the best source for the latest internet trends. You don’t expect “Columbo” to know the ins and outs of Facebook, Photobucket, Twitter, Find My iPhone App, ask-Siri, or anything else that sounds like social media. Unfortunately most officers are still caught up with hard evidence like fingerprints and blood splatter analysis. But if you ask me, it’s a mistake for police to fail to investigate internet intel as closely as they do other things.<br />
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By having such a narrow focus, investigators leave behind a world of evidence that sleuths are all too happy to dive into. Aptly put by Kimberly Wilson of The Oregonian regarding the disappearance of Kyron Horman, “Feverish website owners and their volunteer acolytes tap into theories, plot time lines, parse media reports, truth-squad comments and study aerial maps, all in an effort to solve what has baffled the pros…”<br />
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Tonight on myfoxla.com we will be dissecting the good, the bad, and never heard stories and breaking news that happens online in the world of crime. We will discuss the hottest cases trending in the sleuthing world including ones that you would think are long cold. These include The People’s Court Case (Michelle Parker), The Long Island Serial Killer Case, Robyn Garnder the 2nd missing Aruban case, and even Jon Benet Ramsey. Liz Habib will host Darren Kavinoky and I when we discuss these cases as well as the effect the internet and sleuthers have on criminal justice.<br />
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Hear the armchair detectives and experts themselves; Levi Page, Tricia Griffith, and Pat Brown will be on online tonight from 9-10:30pm and we will culminate with an on air special on KTTV Fox LA from 10:30-11pm.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-90828693375624779062011-11-27T17:00:00.000-08:002018-08-30T22:42:11.138-07:00(de) OCCUPY LA: There's Somethin Happen Here -- What It Is Ain't Exactly Clear...<div style="text-align: center;">
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“I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" declared the lifer news anchor Howard Beale in the 1975 film classic Network. A movie ahead of my time but the message I certainly understand. I have been occupied with Occupy.<br />
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Following Mayor Villaragoisa’s order to activists to decamp from City Hall no Angeleno can help but evaluate their stance on Occupy LA and wonder what will happen at 12:01 AM. Two questions are repeated: What’s going to happen? Where the Occupy protestors go? <br />
What will happen is easy. The Occupiers will be forced to vacate their camp – the police will move them out. But what about after they are decamped? What happens to the things the Occupiers stand for? Will they be able to continue to assert their beliefs? Or will the eviction from their camp mean the end of their protest?<br />
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But as I sit here I can’t help wanting to break out into my inner UCSB liberal self, holding hands and singing kumbaya. But instead, Buffalo Springfield’s 60’s lyric seems way more apropos to Occupy.; “There’s somethin’ happenin’ here, what it is ain’t exactly clear.”<br />
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Occupiers have achieved one thing -- they have our attention. And thanks to the City of Los Angeles -- the Mayor, the police, LA City Council Members, etc. -- they were allowed to use City grounds to make their point. But now what?<br />
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We all understand that the Occupiers are mad, but about what? I mean, specifically -- what are Occupiers mad about? And after you tell me that, please tell me -- what do the Occupiers exactly want? To me, Occupy has failed to do anything more than occupy -- and as such I am left no choice but to stand by the City in its decision to decamp. The City may do so not only legally but ethically as well.<br />
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My best guess is that the Occupiers represent the 99% of America that feels at an economic disadvantage to the top 1% of American wage earners. And I must admit that I am not a member of that 99% for definitional purposes. But I know financial pressure. I know the job market and I have spent a career advocating, serving and protecting the 99%. I get the cause and I get the issue. <br />
I am all for protest, free speech and providing those who choose to protest every protection under the First Amendment – letting voices of dissent make their point is one of the things that makes this country great.<br />
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However, Occupiers, you must now listen to our Mayor…as he did you.<br />
The Mayor unequivocally delivered both a message and a plan of action. He stated, "The movement is at a crossroads. It is time for Occupy LA to move from holding a particular patch of park land to spreading the message of economic justice and signing more people up for the push to restore the balance to American society."<br />
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Occupiers, maybe if you had not only a message but also an actual plan the Mayor and the rest of us could stand behind what appears to have become an unsanitary slumber party at City Hall. But you have put forth no plan, and the Mayor is now forced to act. That park doesn’t belong to you -- it belongs to all of us. So, Occupiers, what happens next is up to you. <br />
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How you going to play it? Do you know? Who decides what the next step is?<br />
You have done a great job raising awareness and bringing an extremely important message of economic inequality to the table. But I can’t take issue with the City of Los Angeles saying it’s time to pack up when there is no end in sight. And like I do when I am confused about my stance, I simply look to the law. <br />
The First Amendment allows for the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly to that end. But, there is no right in the Constitution that permits day in and day out sleepovers and camp-outs in city owned/public property. There is no right to loiter nor right to trespass that appears in the Constitution.<br />
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The City of Los Angeles’ position has been that the City would not interfere with Occupy to show its support for the cause. In doing so, however, the City did not somehow abdicate its rights to provide a safe and sanitary park for all citizens to enjoy. The City has the right to enforce the laws of the land and to order people to disperse when the peaceful assembly has become a nuisance, a public health issue, or has created danger.<br />
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"The goal is to do this as peacefully as possible," Chief Beck said. But some Occupy protesters have already indicated that they will resist eviction from the City Hall park. So now that we are less than 4 hours away from decampment time what’s gonna happen? <br />
Cops are doing NOTHING today but keeping a watchful eye. Both sides (cops and Occupiers) are saying what happens depends on the actions of the other. By tomorrow we can expect about 300-400 police officers at the scene. The number of folks coming to protest remains largely unknown though there was a Facebook page inviting 26,000 people to a Eviction Block Party.<br />
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Inside law enforcement sources say that the Occupy decampment plan is to be dictated by the number and demeanor of the protestors. The mantra is that the crowd will dictate police action -- not the other way around. Internal police meetings (roll call as well as internal emails) suggest that LAPD and LASD are specifically discussing how now to have a “Davis”.<br />
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As such, I am told that they will NOT use pepper spray as a subduing mechanism -- but any escalation may warrant a change of ground rules. For now the police are relying on traditional means per protocol for people who don't disperse. However, there is word that there may be other nonviolent means that police could use should the situation start to get out of hand. <br />
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They will arrest people who are committing clear crimes – using drugs, alcohol, or flagrantly disturbing the peace. If the number of protestors grows so large to require dispersement, police will physically lift people and take them into police cars to remove them from the scene. Even this however, according to an internal police email, will not be done without SUPERVISOR permission. <br />
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Law enforcement is anticipating that some folks will be easy to get to remove from the scene as they commit crimes in front of the police that will justify arrest. Those protesters who are peeing in public or using drugs and alcohol, people who have known warrants out for their arrest – those people will be removed first. The next round of people to be removed will be the ones considered trespassers, loiterers and obstructers. Finally, there will come an official time set to say “move it or arrest” -- we do know that time will come and police are hopeful that it will be as drama-free as it was at the Occupy march a week ago.<br />
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So, LA Occupiers we know what the police are going to do. We know how they are going to do it and their message is pretty darn clear, “It’s time to vacate the premises.” They made a decision, have a plan, and will implement in only a few hours. You have been on the lawn for 7 weeks. My question to you is if you are fighting to stay then please tell us what you are saying and what you want.<br />
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And while I can’t find a clear message for what Occupy the movement stands for I did find a number of resources on the Occupy LA website. Here they have provided things you can do to Stop the Eviction of Occupy LA. Occupiers are calling for people to show up on 11pm on Sunday night in solidarity and have generated a petition to stop the eviction. “Take the time to sign it, tweet it, and pass it along to your friends, “ they say.<br />
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They further encourage supporters to email the Mayor and Council Members too!<br />
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Antonio Villaraigosa: mayor@lacity.org (213) 978-0600 or (213) 978-0721<br />
District 1: Ed Reyes: councilmember.reyes@lacity.org (213)-473-7001<br />
District 2: Paul Krekorian: councilmember.Krekorian@lacity.org (213)-473-7002<br />
District 3: Dennis Zine: councilmember.zine@lacity.org (213)-473-7003<br />
District 4: Tom LaBonge: councilmember.Labonge@lacity.org (213)-473-7004<br />
District 5: Paul Koretz: paul.koretz@lacity.org (213)-473-7005<br />
District 6: Tony Cardenas: councilmember.cardenas@lacity.org (213) -473-7006<br />
District 7: Richard Alacorn: councilmember.alarcon@lacity.org (213)-473-7007<br />
District 8: Bernard Parks: councilmember.parks@lacity.org (213)-473-7008<br />
District 9: Jan Perry: Jan.Perry@lacity.org (213)-473-7009<br />
District 10: Herb Wesson Jr.: councilmember.wesson@lacity.org (213)-473-7010<br />
District 11: Bill Rosendahl: councilman.rosendahl@lacity.org (213)-473-7011<br />
District 12: Mitchell Englander: councilmember.englander@lacity.org (213)-473-7012<br />
District 13: Eric Garcetti: councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org (213)-473-7013<br />
District 14: Jose Huizar: councilmember.huizar@lacity.org (213)-473-7014<br />
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(PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS LEMIRE)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-71768569708866085512011-11-16T08:33:00.000-08:002012-06-07T20:51:27.584-07:00My Thank You to Bob Costas and Jerry Sandusky, TooI gotta send a big thank you to Bob Costas. Upon hearing<a href="http://nbc.com/"> NBC</a> was doing this interview, I was pissed that your show was going to be a platform for Jerry Sandusky. However, I think the the surpisingly bad interview will only be helpful for justice in the future. You did a bang up job, asked excellent questions, and gave us an opportunity to hear from the alleged pedophile himself in an a way that I would not have predicted. The 10 minute or so phone interview did nothing to change my view of the horrific case at Penn State U and the alleged crimes of this horrific man. But unexpectedly the interview gave me and the prosecutors more corroboration. <br /><br />This may sound strange but I am also sending a big "thank you" to Jerry Sandusky, for being so darn typical, that is typical of the words of a predator. Your answers and lack of answers were telling. I particularly enjoyed how you did this as a phone interview not allowing anyone to judge your facial expressions and lack thereof in order to really assess your credibility. You, like every other accused deserve a vehement defense and are entitled to every protection of the law in a court of law. But last night you chose to play in a place that doesn’t have the same legal protections. You played in the court of public opinion via the media and in my view convicted yourself while also previewing the legal case to come. For your sake, I hope the legal decisions and tactics are more strategized, more believable and more helpful as last night’s showing was pathetic for both you as an individual and despicable for the defense of your case as a whole. I mean, who puts their client on the tv (even via phone) for an interview at all? Did Amendola and Sandusky not hear about the Conrad Murray taped interview? There is a reason that we have the 5th Amendment. I still have not seen an interview yet where anyone thinks this helped your case. Frankly, I could care less if you and your lawyer make ridiculous decisions and chose to yap despite the protections of the 5th Amendment.<br /><br />We have learned a lot from the Grand Jury Indictment but the tidbits we saw in Bob Costas’ interview were the most insightful and telling. To his demise, Sandusky may have implicitly divulged key facts about the defense strategy and offered a sneak peak into what’s ahead in the legal battle. <br /><br />Many of you have emailed, tweeted, and facebooked me, etc saying “creepy”, “gross”, “disgusting”. Many had that feeling but let me point you to the specifics so you understand why.<br /><br /><br />1. INTERVIEW WAS VIA PHONE:<br />This was an interview where we merely heard the voice of the accused. He had no affect, no emotion, and no face. There is no doubt that this was intentionally orchestrated. Trust me, NBC can find an optic wire to satellite him, or Skype would have worked too. The ability to believe and trust comes from things like eye contact, sincerity, and facial expressions. Without having that benefit we can only assume he either had none or even worse had facial expressions and affect that his attorneys were so concerned about that they hid him.<br /><br /><br />2. THE “UMs” AND THE “UHs”<br />Even without the “tells” of facial expressions, the interview still painted a very eerie picture. There were countless times when Sandusky stumbled and seemed to be searching for the words while being asked the most basic of questions.<br /><br />How hard is it just to say no?<br />BOB COSTAS: Are you sexually attracted to young boys, to underage boys?<br /><br />JERRY SANDUSKY: Am I sexually attracted to underage boys?<br /><br />BOB COSTAS: Yes.<br /><br />JERRY SANDUSKY: Sexually attracted, you know, I enjoy young people. I love to <br /><br />be around them. But no I’m not sexually attracted to young boys.<br /><br /><br />“An innocent person doesn’t have to repeat that question and then parse it, ” said a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/joel-achenbach/2011/02/24/AB5edOJ_page.html">Joel Achenbach</a> a Washington Post blogger. "The innocent would have said, simply, “no!” he added. <br /><br />Same thing happens here:<br /><br />BOB COSTAS:<br />Do you feel guilty? Do you feel as if it's your fault?<br /><br />JERRY SANDUSKY:<br />Guilty--?<br /><br />How hard is that to answer that question? I mean really!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://nbc.com/"> NBC </a>touted the interview as breaking-silence but there were certainly pauses and long moments of silence. Silence may not be used against you in a courtroom but it can in a TV interview. Silence can either be seen as a tacit admission, a sign of inability to answer, shame, or even guilt. When asked what he has to say about those who see him as a monster, Sandusky struggled to come up with a response, almost conceding to the label. “I don't know what I can say or what I could say that would make anybody feel any different now. I would just say that if somehow people could hang out until my attorney has a chance to fight, you know, for my innocence. That's about all I could ask right now. And you know, obviously, it's a huge challenge,” he said.<br /><br />3. LACK OF SINCERITY<br />More than one time, Costas asked why several unrelated people over the span of years would falsely accuse Sandusky of the same pattern of misconduct. Nearly each and every time, Sandusky responds, “You’d have to ask them.” No, Mr. Sandusky, YOU were asked for a logical explanation as to why so many unrelated people would have varying accounts of the same abusive behavior on different occasions. On the surface, Sandusky was a revered football coach for a Division I school and a very charitable man. Why would several people who don’t know each other wrongly accuse Sandusky of the most heinous acts? The only answer Sandusky could come up with was to divert the question and victimize himself. Thank you Bob Costas for pointing out the lack of sincerity in Sandusky’s response by stating that he must just be the “unluckiest and most persecuted man that any of us has ever heard about.” <br /><br />4. PASSING THE BLAME<br />Another classic maneuver for a perpetrator to separate himself from any future guilt is blame. Sandusky already set up the blame and strategy to be on his lawyer. In his words, “if somehow people could hang out until my attorney has a chance to fight, you know, for my innocence.” What words were noticeably absent? - “The truth will come out,” “I will be exonerated,” and “This is a terrible injustice.” That was far from what we heard. What he gave were long pauses, ums, and stumbling to denounce that he’s sexually attracted to young boys. Translation of that is I am guilty and I hope my lawyer can get me out of this jam. And what message was also received but not stated…I am taking this to trial to save myself and maybe even save those who tried to save my ass. Hell, he must think he has nothing to lose.<br /><br />While I could continue to analyze the telltale moments of the interview, the single most important aspect was that it provided great intel and a heads up to the prosecution of what’s to come. Joseph Amendola stated: “We expect we're going to have a number of kids. Now how many of those so-called eight kids, we're not sure. But we anticipate we're going to have at least several of those kids come forward and say this never happened. This is me. This is the allegation. It never occurred. In fact, one of the toughest allegations -- the McQueary violations -- what McQueary said he saw, we have information that that child says that never happened. Now grown up... now the person's in his twenties.” <br /><br />Ladies and gentleman, you may remember the McMartin case here in my <a href="http://www.lacity.org/index.htm">City of Angels</a>. To remind you I quote Wikipedia.org, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_preschool_trial">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_preschool_trial</a>“The McMartin preschool trial was a day care sexual abuse case of the 1980s. Members of the McMartin family, who operated a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preschool">preschool</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California">California</a>, were charged with numerous acts of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abuse">sexual abuse</a> of children in their care. Accusations were made in 1983. Arrests and the pretrial investigation ran from 1984 to 1987, and the trial ran from 1987 to 1990. After six years of criminal trials, no convictions were obtained, and all charges were dropped in 1990. When the trial ended in 1990 it had been the longest and most expensive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_trial">criminal trial</a> in American history. The case was part of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_care_sex_abuse_hysteria">day care sex abuse hysteria</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic">moral panic</a> over <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_268614892">satanic ritual abuse</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_ritual_abuse"> </a>in the 1980s and early 1990s.”<br /><br />Think I’m kidding? Sandusky supporters are already commenting all over the blogosphere even <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/11/report_cinder_blocks_were_thro/3032/comments.html">on </a><a href="http://pennlive.com/">pennlive.com</a><a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/11/report_cinder_blocks_were_thro/3032/comments.html">, </a>a comprehensive website featuring news, sports, entertainment, and information about Central Pennsylvania. Like <a href="http://connect.pennlive.com/user/hojalata/index.html">Creole Chavez </a>said, November 11, 2011 at 6:35PM, “Maybe Sandusky is highly likely to be guilty, but the McMartin preschool was burnt to the ground too. It was also later proven to be all LIES. That is why folks need to rant here and not go vigilante. It tends not to turn out well. No sense in someone that thinks they are helping to add to the fire. Eric Rudolph did not help the pro-life crowd. Yes, be angry and scream, but do no harm. Enough physical harm has already been done. Roll Tide.” <br /><br />As AP columnist<a href="http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2011/11/watch_uncomfortable_interview.html">, Mac Engle so aptly stated, “Nothing in this approximately 10-minute interv</a>iew is apt to change the public's perception that Sandusky's behavior is anything other than amoral, criminal and sick under any code in any society. For the sake of argument, let us assume that the very worst act Sandusky committed is that he showered with young boys, and that he touched their legs without sexual intent. As a parent, I would want to know this so I could make my own judgment and take appropriate action. This is black and white. This is not horseplay. There is no oops. There is no misunderstanding. Get out of my kid's shower. And don't you lay a finger on my kid, you repugnant creep.”<br /><br />So a big thank you to Bob Costas. You helped those who will prosecute Sandusky have a preview of how the defense will present its case. You let us hear the words of this accused pedophile failing to change the minds of the public. And hopefully, each child who was abused (especially the ones that could have been spared had the mandated reporters reported) will be able to say thank you, too if this interview is replayed in a real court for a juror to hear.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-20530787770502597462011-08-24T16:22:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.456-07:00Michael, Casey, and Nancy ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Casey Anthony, Michael Jackson, Nancy Grace … It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke doesn’t it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wish I could say it was. But it’s not only NOT a joke but it’s crux of a legal argument. </div><br /><br />Imagine this --The King of Pop -- now being mentioned in the same sentence as -- wait for it, ‘Tot Mom.’<br /><br /><br />That’s right Casey Anthony is casting a giant shadow in a courtroom thousands of miles away from her Florida legal extravaganza.<br /><br /><br />Lawyers representing the doctor accused in the Jackson drug overdose case, demanded jurors be sequestered in this case. Why? Because, they say, interest in the upcoming Conrad Murray trial will be bigger than, wait for it - the Casey Anthony trial. Murray’s Lawyers have even gone on to say, “There is a reasonable expectation that Dr. Murray’s trial will be the most publicized trial in history.” <br /><br /><br />Now, let me say I don’t disagree. Some of you may actually remember I left the Los Angeles County DA’s office because of this case. I knew on June 25, 2009 (the day Jackson died) what lawyers are arguing now. This case would receive gavel-to-gavel coverage. Now before you balk about my self-promotion, think about it, our society is OBSESSED with crime, obsessed with celebrity, obsessed with drama, characters, LA, so it’s the perfect story. Knowing this was going to be the biggest case of my time, I was NOT going to miss the opportunity to opine, as I actually have the skinny, the insight, and know the nuances of my former office. The LA District Attorney’s office -- the players, the case, the evidence, and strategies -- will all be under intense scrutiny. Who better to cut through the hype than a former DA like me? <br /><br /><br />OJ was called ‘the trial of the century,’ but that was before the world-wide-web. OJ was covered via good old fashion cameras, radio, and reporters. But that was before Nancy Grace, bloggers, tweets and status updates. And Casey proved it – minute- by -minute coverage paid off with sky-high ratings. <br /><br /><br />And she wasn’t even famous.<br /><br /><br />When everybody’s jaws finally returned to normal after the Anthony not guilty verdict, the experts began discussing what kind of impact this case would have on the jury system. I was one of them. Was I surprised by the Anthony verdict? Not really. I know what it’s like to stand up in front of a packed courtroom for a big trial. I know what it means to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt, and never discount the burden of proof, something I think the Florida prosecutors did.<br /><br /><br />And this one IS going to be big. I just hope that the DA in LA doesn’t watch too much of its own press, drink too much of their own Kool-Aid, or get too cocky, like the Florida prosecutors did. This case, while seemingly easy on the surface, is actually TOUGH. There are many legal nuances presented by a case involving a drug like Propofol. Then, there is the question of whether Michael was responsible for his own demise or not. And even with the best lawyers, a smart judge, a good jury, the DAs will have to do their job. And they will have to do it even better than they think. <br /><br /><br />Turns out Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor didn't buy any of the defense team's arguments, saying he didn't want jurors to feel like "inmates." He even said no to keeping cameras out of the courtroom. <br /><br />And whether you agree or not, one must ask how much does the analysis, the talk, and the hype affect the case. Was Casey Anthony acquitted because her case got too much attention? I mean her jurors were sequestered after all.<br /><br />Judge Pastor probably summed it up best. "Yes, there will be talking heads," he said, "frequently talking heads are talking through other body parts than their heads. " I bet Nancy Grace couldn't have come up with that one!<br /><br />Face it people, circumstances impact all cases. Rampart haunted LAPD for years, Kobe Bryant and the DSK cases affect all rape cases. We are a knowledgeable society, and we will weigh in. But are we weighing in fairly? I mean how crazy is it - the “People versus Dr. Conrad Murray” is being dubbed the, ‘The Jackson Trial.’ Michael’s family will be seated in that courtroom day-in and day-out. His parents, siblings and his children will watch, as Michael is once again center stage. His health, use of drugs, odd behaviors, and yes, the condition of his body after death, will be exposed for all to hear. TV, analysis or not, these circumstances will affect the case just as much as a camera, and yes, even Nancy Grace.<br /><br /><br />The prosecutor in this case, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren is a darn good lawyer. He’s fair, and hard working, but in this post-Casey Anthony era, does he stand a chance? The evidence as laid out so far, seems to put Murray in a heap of trouble. But we’ve all seen what reasonable doubt can do to a jury. After Casey, I called for professional juries. The idea isn’t a new one, but it may be worth looking at. With 24 hour, 7 days a week coverage of a case like this one, what pressures will Murray and his defense team face? What about the DA and his team? Can justice prevail? I don’t know about you, but I’ll be watching, tweeting, and Facebooking just as I’ve planned since 2009.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-76842221264082673852011-06-02T17:19:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.587-07:00DENIAL IN NAPLES: THE STEVEN NOYES CASE<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b> by <a href="http://www.robinsax.com/">Robin Sax</a></b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv6ID6dtu70W4UA7QJiwNsT7kHCdikpy-CtpFUhVoj0AYtRy9UNXAEtVdiYSQOuUZ56AvcAaNY-nLzAyNgKpX0hwneL-XRrz3ON1Jrms9vG2-i64KDbjojiswj5dpNKCN-RvTT3LnDOI/s1600/noyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv6ID6dtu70W4UA7QJiwNsT7kHCdikpy-CtpFUhVoj0AYtRy9UNXAEtVdiYSQOuUZ56AvcAaNY-nLzAyNgKpX0hwneL-XRrz3ON1Jrms9vG2-i64KDbjojiswj5dpNKCN-RvTT3LnDOI/s320/noyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>O</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">ne would think that in the year 2011, given the advances in technology, communication, and social awareness, child sexual assault would not only be accepted as something that exists but should at this point be known as a crime that takes a particularly skilled type of perpetrator to commit. Yet, everyday very smart, caring people put theirs and other children at risk by not accepting the very harsh realities of child sexual assault. </span><br /><div><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today’s case of denial begins in the tight-knit Naples, Florida community at a school dedicated to Christian values where a young 9 year old -- herein referred to as Doe did as we hope any child would -- reported that her beloved teacher <a href="http://freemenow.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/molesting-teacher-cover-up-steven-noyes-vs-jane-doe/">Steven Noyes</a> touched her. Yet as the news spread throughout the school community, as is often the case, a loud group of disbelievers, naysayers, and deniers made their voices heard. It is the children of those people that I am most concerned for.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What motivates those members of the school community jump to the teacher's defense? Why do people in these cases automatically disbelieve the victim and support the teacher? Is it possibly because the parents cannot stomach the image of a teacher being a sexual predator? Is it all about denial? Are these people naïve or are they cruel? Eternal optimist that I am, I'm betting on naïve. So as we sit here and pat ourselves on the back about how far we have come when it comes to sexual assault, I say it's time to accept the facts: </span></div></div></div><ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">When society accepts the </span><a href="http://www.leadershipcouncil.org/1/res/csa_myths.html">myths surrounding sexual abuse</a>, it assists sex offenders by silencing victims and encouraging public denial about the true nature of these assaults against children.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">Even "really great" and "really nice” teachers can be sexually inappropriate. As a matter of fact, the "nicer" the teacher is the more likely that the teacher is using charm and kindness as a way to groom and seek victims. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">Statistics show that the number of false allegations of sexual assault are far less than the number of truthful allegations of sexual assault. Yet, the default mode is to disbelieve, rather than to believe, the victim. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">1 in 4 women will be assaulted in the course of her lifetime. It is because of the blame, denial, and fear that many do not report the crime. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">Not everyone who comes in contact with a child molester will be abused. In truth, sex offenders tend to carefully pick and set up their victims. Thus, while sex offenders may feel driven to molest children, they rarely do so indiscriminately or without a plan.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;">Sexual assault survivors are never responsible for the attack, no matter what, no matter how much alcohol was consumed. Responsibility lies with the perpetrator; the survivor is never responsible for the assailant's behavior.</span></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">THE PEOPLE</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jane Doe is an outgoing, kind girl, who still to this day doesn’t even get the sexual nature of a breast-touch, or even breasts as sexual body parts. She had loved the Village School of Naples since she started there in kindergarten. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Her parents are the kind of folks you’d want in your community and in your school-- trust me, you’d want them as your friends. They are church going, softball playing parents who take pride in their value-driven life. In fact, they chose Doe’s school because of its mission of, “educating the child’s mind, body, and spirit through Christian values in an ever-changing world.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since the day they were made aware that Doe’s allegations had been reported to the school, they’ve felt anything but Christian values. And the fact that Doe had to suffer the molestation wasn’t enough; the teacher and the school decided to question Doe’s story. Interestingly it didn’t happen right away… no the questioning came right before the school was getting a visit for re-accreditation. Hmm… coincidence? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The teacher’s name is Steven Noyes, a one-time Golden Halo honoree, who has responded to the investigation by hiring a criminal defense attorney who hijacked the investigation. Noyes refuses to answer questions and refuses to take a polygraph--leaving the sheriffs who want to get to the truth no choice but to suspend the investigation until Noyes changes his mind. Thankfully there is no statute of limitations on child sexual assault, so if Mr. Noyes is faced with another case --therefore corroboration -- this case should come back to haunt him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: small;">THE INCIDENT</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The facts of the case are not much different than any other sexual assault. That is, a a sexual assault that was reported early in the cycle of abuse like Doe’s. After all, a perpetrator doesn’t just start with out with intercourse or oral copulation. No--they start slow. They groom and groom to test the “loyalty” and vulnerability of their victim.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just after Christmas 2010, Doe was in her homeroom class working on her math homework and got stumped on a long division problem. She asked her teacher for help. She went up to her teacher’s desk, and that’s when it happened. <br /><br />As Doe tells her mother and father, the teacher began helping her with her first question. He put his hand under her dress and on her knee. Then, he reached his hand up her back and under her shirt, coming around the front to rub her chest. He kept his hand there while he helped her with three other math problems.<br /><br />Afterward Doe didn’t protest. Instead she thanked Mr. Noyes and returned to her seat. She didn’t understand what just happened to her, but she couldn’t push one thought from her mind. When she went home that night, Doe says she still feels her teacher’s hand on her chest. It’s a horribly vivid sensation she can’t shake. As Doe’s mother was getting ready for our courthouse press conference, she told me “Doe still feels that hand--to this day.<b>"</b></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qhGXkVVki3_P3h78sKEksv5AOQj7aMech-i8Vjml7DY0Y7LIekDRHdWjjSTcASeuq0LjdGi-0VmeNVpRM2rrLnxRWFYv_jQit3q3blNgY_sUOUS-lUYu3m3HY_Dm_SKdmCdtdbHrxzbO/s1600/noyes2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qhGXkVVki3_P3h78sKEksv5AOQj7aMech-i8Vjml7DY0Y7LIekDRHdWjjSTcASeuq0LjdGi-0VmeNVpRM2rrLnxRWFYv_jQit3q3blNgY_sUOUS-lUYu3m3HY_Dm_SKdmCdtdbHrxzbO/s200/noyes2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE AFTERMATH</b><br /><br />The parents didn’t panic, but they simply wanted answers, direction, and support. They didn’t call lawyers or press instead they approached the head of the school, Ginger Sauter, a woman they’ve gone to church with for years, as a friend. Ginger told them, “this is all my fault, I shouldn’t have let him hug the children.”<br /><br />Then things quickly turned from bad to worse. A criminal investigation began on January 21, 2011, two days after the incident, conducted by an officer from the Collier County Sheriff’s Department. On January 28, the investigator received a phone call – not from Stephen Noyes, but from his criminal defense attorney – who informed the officer that Mr. Noyes, “would not be answering questions, or submitting to a polygraph examination."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">On February 1, the same officer paid a visit to the Doe’s home. The little girl bravely met with the investigator, even agreeing to wear the same dress she wore to school that day. She even allowed him to photograph her in it. <br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then the officer informed Doe’s mom the investigation had gone as far as it could. He told the family that he could find no other leads, no other child to corroborate Doe’s story, and with the suspect, ”not agreeing to speak to me,” there was nothing further he could do. And so, the case would be suspended. So sad, how this suspension somehow provides some people with an excuse to think that this crime couldn’t have occurred. As if the abuse and aftermath was not enough, The Village School of Naples added salt to the fresh wound. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The school doesn’t sit the family down to discuss what to do next. They church pastor, closely associated with the school, does not come to administer spiritual support to the family, instead the Village School quietly expelled little Doe from school! How’s that for child-centered education? The teacher was allowed to return to his job. Imagine. You did the right thing and they don’t believe you. In a blink of an eye, you go from honor student, to expelled student. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> THE LAWSUIT</span></b><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1967350189"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Child+Sexual+Abuse&section=Facts+for+Families">Child sexual abuse</a> has reached epidemic proportions in schools throughout our nation and has become an alarmingly frequent occurrence. The cases that are surfacing almost daily serve as a wake-up call to everyone in America to protect our children.<br /><br />T<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">he teacher, Steven Noyes, is by all accounts "beloved” and has a clean record. The same scenario goes for the priests who sexually abuse children and all of the other people who choose careers working with children, only to groom them and then sexually abuse them. That’s the typical M.O. of a child abuser. And yet it is the priest, or the accused teacher, who often is believed over the victim.</span></span><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The day of our news conference, as Doe’s parents nervously walked up to the podium of microphones to face those cameras, there was a taint of disbelief in the air, as though someone had convinced the reporters covering this lawsuit Doe had made-up this story. The questions from the press came fast and furious.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Wasn’t there a complete investigation?"</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Didn’t they close the case due to lack of evidence?"</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I answered one by one.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"No the investigation isn’t over, it was suspended when Mr. Noyes refused to answer the sheriff’s questions."</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some of the questions came from a man standing among the press core. Well-dressed and well coiffed despite the heat, we learned he was criminal attorney Jerry Berry. Berry began shouting his comments from behind the line of cameras.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I invited him up so he could speak his mind. He began to attack us--for filing a lawsuit, for holding a press conference, and worst of all the press seemed to go along with this approach. Yes, they wanted to know, why do you want to sue the school. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">This is the story of a father who believes, and is standing up for his little girl. It’s about a mother who wants to make sure no other child goes through the pain and suffering her daughter has. The goal in filing a suit is to get answers, to hold the school accountable; to make sure that this case is not simply <span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">swept under the rug.</span></span><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">It is our goal to have a safe forum for people to come forward as we know that there are likely other victims out there. My co-counsel Jeff Herman said it best, “Now we wait for the other girls to come forward. The ones who also know they were touched inappropriately, but <span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">suffered in silence."</span></span></span><br /><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our suit describes what happened to Doe. Over the years, Noyes reportedly the “hugging” teacher essentially groomed his young victim. He showered her with affection, drew her close and built a relationship based on trust. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Doe’s parents told me they feel he groomed them t</span>oo with signs of friendship over the years, all the while insinuating Doe closer and closer into his circle. They remain solid in their conviction they are doing what’s right. And their daughter gives them the strength to do it. After she won an award in her new school, she said, “see mommy, God rewards good people.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hope so. I really do.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-51915387653551384062011-05-06T17:10:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.544-07:00California Department of Corrections Misses Another One<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5v7VHkDNEbBss3A9SomNr4q5MBtzfB1FFpROoU6xvvjWbXh3u84aipY8Zd6cWB-S5TxDk3xHyNAN_3C3zrWGaux2CSQsa36xtoDzVGosSFuqJmeqrMnaDG0IyZP-GyupZKIvHuWg4ow/s1600/gonzalez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5v7VHkDNEbBss3A9SomNr4q5MBtzfB1FFpROoU6xvvjWbXh3u84aipY8Zd6cWB-S5TxDk3xHyNAN_3C3zrWGaux2CSQsa36xtoDzVGosSFuqJmeqrMnaDG0IyZP-GyupZKIvHuWg4ow/s400/gonzalez.jpg" width="316" /></a>March 25, 2011. <br /><br />A six-year old girl innocently plays hide-and-seek with friends outside her Boyle Heights home. <br /><br />Just another day in <a href="http://lacity.org/">Los Angeles</a>. <br /><br />Then, the unspeakable happens. <br /><br />Remember the catchphrase of<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-sax/the-summer-of-missed-oppo_b_349385.html"> summer 2009</a>? "Missed opportunities,"<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/28/costra-county-sheriff-war_n_271710.html"> a term coined by Sheriff Warren Rupf</a> when he tried to wiggle out of the most embarrassing clusterf*#ks and examples of parole/Department of Correction ineptitude in recent history. <br /><br />In case you don't remember, he was the sheriff who tried to pass off mistakes made by the California Department of Corrections as, 'missed opportunities.' Those missed opportunities led to eighteen years of hell for a young woman named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping_of_Jaycee_Lee_Dugard">Jaycee Dugard. </a><br /><br />According to police and parole reports, Jaycee was enslaved, raped, and forced to bear and raise children in a makeshift tent under lock and key by a parolee named Phillip Garrido. While many consider the Dugard case such an extreme case, and not the norm, there are too many stories of "missed opportunities" everyday in this country. <br /><br />It happened that day when a little girl's innocence was forever shattered. Her game of hide-and-seek ended when a man lured her to the nearby <a href="http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Sheridan_EL/">Sheridan Elementary School</a>. Her playmates knew something was wrong and immediately alerted her family. The child's uncle rushed to the school, and with the help of the janitor, he found his niece, chased down the suspect, and held him for custody. <br /><br />Now for the kicker: the suspect accused of rape was out of prison on parole. He is identified as Edward Gonzalez, 28, hardcore gang member on parole for assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to commit great injury. <br /><br />The questions are many and the answers are few. <br /><br />Gonzalez is a parolee with a record dating back to 2005 and possibly even longer. He has been classified as a "High Control Supervision" case, a multi-termer with an extensive criminal arrest history for very violent criminal offenses. <br /><br />What does all that mean? It means: watch him! This guy has a proclivity for violence! He is on our radar. We know about him. We have knowledge and knowledge is power.<br /><br />There is no ambiguity in his record. His criminal history speaks for itself. Gonzalez was released on parole on Feb 18, 2009. By June of that year, he was in trouble for criminal threats, battery on a spouse/child, and for absconding parole supervision.<br /><br />You would think enough is enough, forget it. Gonzalez was given another chance after he violated parole again in September 2010, not to mention the other parole violation in June 2010. More chances to ruin more lives.<br /><a href="http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/About_CDCR/index.html"> Clearly the California Department of Corrections has failed to maintain their mission statement.</a> <br /><br />The California's Governor's Budget 2011-12 web page the CDCR's mission clearly, <br /><br />"The mission of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is to enhance public safety through safe and secure incarceration of offenders, effective parole supervision, and rehabilitative strategies to successfully reintegrate offenders into our communities." <br /><br />What's worse? This vicious attack happened at 7:45 PM on a FRIDAY. Yes, a Friday. Why was the school unlocked after hours? <br /><br />The school has directly violated the <a href="http://lausd.net/">LAUSD</a> policy in keeping school grounds locked after hours. As stated in their own policy guidelines :<br />BUL-2426: Closing the Site <br />• Close and lock all interior and exterior doors, windows and transit <br />openings. <br />• Turn off air conditioning and heating units, fans and office machines. <br />• Free alarm sensors of ALL obstructions, including mobiles or other moving <br />objects. <br />• Just prior to departure, notify the School Police Department and turn on the <br />intrusion alarm system.<br /><br />Despite this clear violation of school procedure LAUSD officials have refused to comment or support the family and community members affected by this heinous crime. Hmmm... worried about a lawsuit coming their way? <br /><br /><br />Whether it is the notorious headline-grabbing Dugard-Garrido case, or the less publicized rape in Boyle Heights, these are examples of bad guys committing crimes while on the radar of law enforcement. These are the criminals we know about, the ones we rely on society to protect us from, but instead they are released early, sentenced improperly, monitored ineffectively, or simply fall through the cracks only to reemerge to victimize again. <br /><br />So as I evaluate the recent "missed opportunity" I ask the same questions you ask: why does this happen, how is it possible, where did the system break down, what are we going to do about it.<br /><br />It's mind-boggling that when the "worst of the worst" have been identified there still are missteps and glitches that allow them to reoffend. <br /><br />So is there a way to make it stop? What will force law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, parole agents etc, to make sure that they do their job? <br /><br />Personal accountability. <br /><br />What kind of accountability is expected of clerks, producers, DCFS workers, and the like?<br />What type of deterrents, checks and balances are in place to make sure innocent people don't get hurt or killed? Clearly, it's time we as society say "no" to mediocrity and hold those who slack off -- letting potential killers slip through the system -- accountable for lives that are lost or injured as a result of "clerical errors."<br /><br />Just ask a six-year-old little girl in Boyle Heights.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-92173800656672445222010-12-22T12:02:00.000-08:002012-06-07T20:51:27.615-07:00Will Charges Be Filed Against Lindsay Lohan?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6VJwcm67XvuLbTOFaf7QKcdLY10FZ9omlQ9tbKD3sTHytUvKTY4TOFqlhGl5ZPjvzU_JncaxJ86nDq3DIbdh6kycI9okoEoQNet3aS_hIs3c7Jsv7_WgVyzk7950oSPWYNdyN4AhuGY/s1600/admin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6VJwcm67XvuLbTOFaf7QKcdLY10FZ9omlQ9tbKD3sTHytUvKTY4TOFqlhGl5ZPjvzU_JncaxJ86nDq3DIbdh6kycI9okoEoQNet3aS_hIs3c7Jsv7_WgVyzk7950oSPWYNdyN4AhuGY/s200/admin.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are two different issue to consider in the latest Lindsay Lohan incident (a possible assault charge against her from a run in with a female worker at the Betty Ford Rehab Clinic last night). First issue: are there going to be charges in this case, and second: is this going to be a violation of her probation. Either one could land her back in custody.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a "she said/she said" kind of situation so it is all about credibility here. Lindsay Lohan does not have very good credibility, so the issue is now going to be, is this worker, Dawn Holland, credible? The worker, Holland, was just fired because she broke the confidentiality rules at the clinic. There are rumored allegations that Holland has a former assault charge against her husband, which also goes toward her credibility.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anytime that there is a confidential situation with leak of information, there is going to be a mark against credibility. Here also though we have a drug addict, Lohan, who will go to any desperate measures to be able to use and abuse drugs. We have someone who has lied to the court before, someone who has done very little to stay out of jail. So in a credibility call, it is hard predict where the truth will come down.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lohan was only two weeks away from her end of the stay. It is hard to believe that she would risk everything by sneaking out, according to what many witnesses are saying, since she did not have permission to leave the clinic that night. If she sneaked out and used drugs, it would make sense why she refused to take a test and became agitated with Holland. Judge Fox specifically kept Lohan in custody to make it through the difficult time of the holidays, ending her stay on January 3rd. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although some may want to believe Lohan is now cured after her rehab stay, it seems consistent with her continued addiction that she is relapsing again. After several months in rehab, why is she resorting to this kind of behavior? Is she really taking it all seriously? No one seems truly convinced that Lindsay Lohan has been cured. She has not admitted she has a problem. It seems she is utilizing rehab as a way of avoiding jail. Bar-hopping and drinking is is not on the Betty Ford list of approved activities. However, they have given Lohan opportunities to have day passes because these are markers that Betty Ford uses to test how well a patient is committed to the process. Lohan had permission to shop, but not to drink.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lohan is probably going to be facing a Judge, yet again, and possibly even facing now criminal charges. The real problem is, from a PR point of view, that Lohan is on the defensive once again. Until she really takes an offensive approach to her problem, she will always be steps behind. If this assault allegation and violation has anything to do with drugs or alcohol, and that is proved, Judge Fox will put Lohan back in custody.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-65892735437570151252010-12-10T16:35:00.000-08:002012-06-07T20:51:27.577-07:00Justice For Smart Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp2ELVX2PAoj6W-YGf6eQ7M_hzTLltrOeHslts3XPZB4eWoL8-c0p9n3MjB8tOyZdvpROyR_gp44owi420e1-r4yffG_L1uyErXauqdxkCyhJod1PEqYCG_LqYYqZifsJ5S9YujIv1us/s1600/elizabethsmart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp2ELVX2PAoj6W-YGf6eQ7M_hzTLltrOeHslts3XPZB4eWoL8-c0p9n3MjB8tOyZdvpROyR_gp44owi420e1-r4yffG_L1uyErXauqdxkCyhJod1PEqYCG_LqYYqZifsJ5S9YujIv1us/s320/elizabethsmart.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just want to echo the simple yet eloquent words of 23-year-old Elizabeth Smart as she said today: "I am so thrilled with the verdict, but not only that I am so thrilled to stand before the people of America today and give hope to other victims who have not spoken out about what’s happened to them," Smart said from the steps of the federal courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City Friday afternoon. <br /><br />Today was a win, even if it wasn’t surprising, it certainly relieving and thankfully quick to justice with only five hours of deliberation (two hours yesterday and three today). This has been an excruciatingly long process for the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/10/utah.smart.trial.verdict/?hpt=T2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smart family</span></a></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Thankfully, justice delayed is still justice. Now we, again, wait to see what happens in the penalty portion of the trial. Let’s hope that the sentencing will be equally as quick and equally as just.<br /><br />Happy Holidays to the Smart family and to all victims of crime who can only hope for justice even if it is prolonged.</span> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-22829118852154282482010-12-03T19:37:00.000-08:002012-06-07T20:51:27.463-07:00The Last Few Weeks in Hollyweird<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_7Dynoi4EsO1gzRsKm-gViK_cS0anKPWQgUm7dgIjQzQIPlZ8nUailrZ7IO35yEn_RpeF2kSW_vt5q7WpXVeq2y4quiWJIVEqCH_k7zwRyu86r9eiMGT_cCOyxvx0qf8UDcwQnKBlwo/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_7Dynoi4EsO1gzRsKm-gViK_cS0anKPWQgUm7dgIjQzQIPlZ8nUailrZ7IO35yEn_RpeF2kSW_vt5q7WpXVeq2y4quiWJIVEqCH_k7zwRyu86r9eiMGT_cCOyxvx0qf8UDcwQnKBlwo/s200/Picture+1.png" width="171" /></a></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Ronni Chasen case has everyone on the edge of their seats with new twists and turns around every corner. Some call this case a strange murder mystery, but for Angelenos this is more than a captivating story – this is personal. We are all obsessed here. Obsessed with the clues and obsessed with the lack of 4-1-1. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But the lack of 4-1-1 is a refreshing new change to the leaks that dominate celebrity justice. But is no news really helping or are we now going the other way where the lack of clues and insights is causing new waves of rumor, speculation, and potential loonies falsely confessing? Would it be helpful to get more information out there? Do we have a right to know? </span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Whatever your opinion, it is certainly refreshing to see the investigation begin and end with Beverly Hills Police Department. They have said they are in charge and they certainly are. Kudos to you and anytime you want to share news, I am here for you guys!!! </span></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-12936293776344902112010-12-01T14:06:00.000-08:002012-06-07T20:51:27.452-07:0010 Most Incriminating Types of Evidence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFeOxYw2zEqPJu8ndN1rnu_wxf2dZejnHeTlBgEOxzvR2ZMUXZWnqt1FmkSFr9pMFiFKlnfYVrdVdCYhDWAjJcHr_R8mqXn4EDT7MueE25LFtoZTS7_WX3f2cJht3d-W1U9feLiyuL64/s1600/fingerprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFeOxYw2zEqPJu8ndN1rnu_wxf2dZejnHeTlBgEOxzvR2ZMUXZWnqt1FmkSFr9pMFiFKlnfYVrdVdCYhDWAjJcHr_R8mqXn4EDT7MueE25LFtoZTS7_WX3f2cJht3d-W1U9feLiyuL64/s200/fingerprint.jpg" width="145" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Evidence is crucial for ruling out suspects, finding criminals and proving their guilt. Many criminals go to great lengths to cover up their crime and leave no feasible trace of evidence, but major advances in forensics and investigation practices have made it possible to dig up various types of evidence that are admissible in court and bring police closer to catching criminals. Here are the 10 most incriminating types of evidence:</i></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Fingerprints</b>: Fingerprints are the most incriminating types of evidence used in criminal cases because it’s one of the most reliable forms of identification. No two people have the same fingerprint, making it a truly fundamental tool for accurate identification of criminals. Only when fingerprints can’t be traced back to a person with a criminal history do they have less power in an investigation. However, if the suspects can be narrowed down, their fingerprints can be tested to see which one matches.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Blood</b>: Blood is an incriminating type of evidence for various reasons. DNA can be extracted from blood to find a criminal and blood type can be analyzed to help rule out suspects. Blood splatters can also help investigators piece together crime scenes and it provides more evidence to test.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Hair</b>: Hair is another useful type of evidence that can bring police closer to a criminal. A strand of hair collected from a crime scene can be submitted for DNA testing. Forensic scientists may have a better chance at testing the DNA if the hair follicle is still intact. In addition, the color of a hair strand can also be used to rule out suspects whose hair does not match the recovered hair sample.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Skin</b>: Although difficult to see at a crime scene, skin can be analyzed and tested to find a criminal. Like hair, skin samples can help determine the skin color of the person involved in the crime and DNA can be extracted for a more accurate identification of criminals. Skin can also be a harbinger of other evidence at the scene, which brings police closer to finding the criminal and understanding the crime in greater detail.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Witness Testimony</b>: Testimony from a witness who was at the scene of the crime is one of the most incriminating types of evidence. How incriminating the testimony is depends on the credibility of the witness, which is determined by the jury. It can be the deciding factor in a case.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Written Documents</b>: One of the worst things you can do as a criminal if you want to evade the law is write things down. Some criminals write in dairies, journals, letters and even e-mails to chronicle their plan of action or confess their guilt. Suspects may be in correspondence with others who can present these documents to police, or investigators may find such documents when searching a suspect’s home.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Semen</b>: Semen can be used in several ways to verify rape accusations, as well as extract DNA to identify the criminal. Semen can also be analyzed and tested to determine if there was more than one person involved in a sexual crime.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Shoe Prints</b>: Shoe prints are extremely useful in police investigations and they can be a very incriminating type of evidence. Police can tell by a lot about a shoe print, such as the make, model and size of a shoe, as well as the gender and approximate height of the person. Shoe prints also indicate the activity of the wearer when the print was made and, if the impressions are visible, police may be able to trace the criminal’s moves and follow their prints to the next destination, such as a nearby home or woods.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Videotapes/Photographs</b>: Videotapes and photographs are both compelling and incriminating types of evidence. Whether the videos or photos capture the crime taking place or the people present during or after the crime, it is valuable evidence that can be used to rule out suspects and find the criminal.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Ballistics</b>: Ballistics is the study of firearms and ammunition. This technical form of evidence includes shell casings, gun powder, bullets, gunshots and other firing characteristics of a weapon. Even the slightest remnants of a gunshot can be traced to a specific firearm, where it’s sold and its owner, if registered. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://www.criminaljusticedegreesguide.com/features/10-most-incriminating-types-of-evidence.html">Criminal Justice Degrees Guide</a></u></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-40804546947634043702010-11-30T16:24:00.000-08:002012-06-07T20:51:27.501-07:00Sign the Letter<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Letter to Superintendent Cuneo and Principal Pedroza about Mr. Ari Marken, Santa Monica HS teacher</b></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please <u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://chwe.net/safety/letter/">click</a></span></u> if you would like to sign this letter. </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sPKMQfJDK7Ml2pBYjRf1UnGbPubC6F1hSfBZoU7wbrcVYzHfBIkkRo1YQYimPVTFTc3zkavP2mMRfN82tsPgcbO356zHy3FCas9IMaPijkG6qmghfK1a8dkciWLkElgWU6eYmIdhFOg/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sPKMQfJDK7Ml2pBYjRf1UnGbPubC6F1hSfBZoU7wbrcVYzHfBIkkRo1YQYimPVTFTc3zkavP2mMRfN82tsPgcbO356zHy3FCas9IMaPijkG6qmghfK1a8dkciWLkElgWU6eYmIdhFOg/s320/Picture+1.png" width="241" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">D<i>ear Superintendent Cuneo and Principal Pedroza, </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We have learned that on December 4, 2008, the SMMUSD found that Mr. Ari Marken, math teacher at Santa Monica High School, sexually harassed a thirteen-year-old student in one of his classes, in violation of SMMUSD policy 5145.7. He was placed on leave for five weeks while the investigation took place. We are also aware that Mr. Marken was placed on leave again in December 2009 while the SMMUSD investigated him for improper electronic communications with present and former students. We are aware that Mr. Marken did not return for the entire 2009-2010 school year, and resumed teaching at Santa Monica High School in September 2010. </i></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more information about this case, please see the web page: </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://chwe.net/safety/marken">http://chwe.net/safety/marken</a></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://chwe.net/safety/letter/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Read More of the L</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">etter</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-22747523036081832342010-11-19T11:19:00.000-08:002012-06-07T20:51:27.460-07:00Updated: Grayson Vaughn's best interest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqP6RsfXvZCgigI-pELJIV0LOe-bKHqpvoxVxpuczDia9yNGCw_mV9XZ9t1qpzboFWic9knm8Ibbq0KXoh6LTKitAkyIDlufLn8npbyqWAmW7Gigz3tc1fSJcx7a1Redb-rsJJUK8QC0U/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqP6RsfXvZCgigI-pELJIV0LOe-bKHqpvoxVxpuczDia9yNGCw_mV9XZ9t1qpzboFWic9knm8Ibbq0KXoh6LTKitAkyIDlufLn8npbyqWAmW7Gigz3tc1fSJcx7a1Redb-rsJJUK8QC0U/s1600/Picture+1.png" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.robinsax.com/media.html#CURRENT">Grayson Vaughn</a></b> is now an endangered child, victim of flaws in our justice system that ignore the best interest of children. After a three-year legal battle, parents Christy and Jason Vaughn lost custody of their son Grayson to his biological dad, who many have said is unfit to be a parent. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please, if you would be willing to take a moment to tweet and ask your followers to help support the Vaughn family during this terrible time, it will go a long way. We are still working to bring this child home to his adoptive parents who love and miss him!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Read my updated article on</span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-sax/bio-father-hysteria-versu_b_786067.html">Huffington Post</a></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Twitter:</span> Follow @KeepGraysonHome</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/KeepGraysonHome/">http://twitter.com/KeepGraysonHome/</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Facebook:</span> thousands of “Like” supporters already, join the fight at</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keeping-Grayson-HOME/116044681786495">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keeping-Grayson-HOME/116044681786495</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Website:</span> You can learn more about Grayson Vaughn's story at </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://KeepingGraysonHome.com/">http://KeepingGraysonHome.com</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-3296569175272647712010-11-12T11:40:00.000-08:002012-06-07T20:51:27.491-07:00It is time to DEMAND Justice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoEHk7qr3KixuWaXd2F7o6N8oBt5tZD6w6Y68ooVbbRhs0FjE2jPuL_Ta0IKsPbPDISZChPyG7TjZM_EsrkB4nbNq11lX9fqSLu_WtWezf2-Lb2QSTZTnqqXvWrlMnUc24SrQ1XVjwl4/s1600/cw8-89e.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoEHk7qr3KixuWaXd2F7o6N8oBt5tZD6w6Y68ooVbbRhs0FjE2jPuL_Ta0IKsPbPDISZChPyG7TjZM_EsrkB4nbNq11lX9fqSLu_WtWezf2-Lb2QSTZTnqqXvWrlMnUc24SrQ1XVjwl4/s200/cw8-89e.png" width="200" /></a></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">Please consider attending and/or sending out this information about an important march/rally and Press Conference happening tomorrow, Saturday November 13. Some background:</span></div><div></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">With the arrest of Phillip Garrido in August 2009, the entire nation learned how broken the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has become. Investigative findings by California State Inspector General David Shaw and the State Attorney's General' office concluded that a number of parole agents over a period of nine years had <em><strong>failed to do their jobs</strong></em> properly surrounding the parole supervision of Phillip Garrido.<br /><br />Other CA parolees making the news for their horrific crimes include: John Gardner (murdered Amber Dubois and Chelsea King), Charles Samuel (murdered Lily Burk), Omar Armando Loera (murdered Chere Osmanhodzic) -- to name a few. It is time to <u>DEMAND</u> something be done. Join me in a rally tomorrow to demand justice and accountability! Here are the details:</span></div><div></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><strong><br /></strong></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>What:</strong><br />March and rally will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in El Sereno from 1974 N. Marianna Ave. to the 1800 block of Landsdowne Ave to demand an investigation of the Division of Adult Parole Operation and that those responsible for the breakdown in parole supervision be held accountable.<br /><br /><strong>Where:</strong><br />Cal State LA (1800 block of Landsdown) -- at the University Hills sign flagpole<br /><br /><strong>When:</strong><br />Marching, speeches and Press Conference will begin at <strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">1:30pm</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> tomorrow, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SILm4DdhPiaa52OmceRMx6yHbFoFs_CArdQMavzhyphenhyphenF8vwq_tyPY-F4QHcnh28BqyNyt8HqsAEVjxYE6LptFM5xM6it41T0sipCLRoeVw98sCar9X0SV5l3bflf0KHDVJWpxWDkfuwmmo/s1600/JUNTOS+hALLOWEEN+029.jpg">Saturday Nov. 13</a></span><br /><br /><strong>Contact Information:</strong><br /><a href="mailto:carolineaguirre@sbcglobal.net" target="_blank">carolineaguirre@sbcglobal.net</a>, 323-254-3221 (or call me at 310-470-9955 with questions)<br /><br /><strong>Links:</strong><br /><a href="http://ronkayela.com/MT/mt-search.cgi?blog_id=1&tag=Robin%20Sax&limit=20&IncludeBlogs=1" target="_blank">Ron Kaye LA announcement about rally </a><br /><a href="http://citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4172" target="_blank">City Watch article by former parole agent</a></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/2010/11/rally-to-address-broken-parole-system.html">Mayor Sam</a> </span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">JOIN US!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-83151034900753814952010-10-25T12:00:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.594-07:00Top 10 Unsolved Missing-Person Cases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBRI0LIzBxt5sxBZnO79qIINf4PmWXBDf3y0nMOtquIH0FKErCoWQX6D4H1rNBjjLNh28hrwVDz1mw8Oko5ziIyLAWuAeoBbKaNr5j1Hgfuki6cxD0NVKw-BvfoWF-9E2H-lFD6SbclQ/s1600/mis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBRI0LIzBxt5sxBZnO79qIINf4PmWXBDf3y0nMOtquIH0FKErCoWQX6D4H1rNBjjLNh28hrwVDz1mw8Oko5ziIyLAWuAeoBbKaNr5j1Hgfuki6cxD0NVKw-BvfoWF-9E2H-lFD6SbclQ/s200/mis.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From Criminal Justice Degrees Guide Online:</span></i><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unsolved crimes take on a whole new level of eerie attraction when it comes to missing-person cases: instead of the stone-cold whodunit murder with a body and clues, they revolve around unexplained disappearances and thus feel more puzzling than other crimes. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Circumstantial evidence often presents itself later, allowing family, friends, and investigators to mostly piece together what happened, but the lack of finality makes an unsolved missing-person case feel like a situation that will never be resolved, no matter what’s learned. Top 10 Unsolved Missing-Person cases:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. The Springfield Three, 2. Maura Murray, 3. Natalee Holloway, 4. D.B. Cooper, 5. The Beaumont Children, 6. Ambrose Bierce, 7. Percy and Jack Fawcett, 8. Joseph Crater, 9. Michael Rockefeller, 10. The Roanoke Colony</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.criminaljusticedegreesguide.com/features/top-10-unsolved-missing-person-cases.html"><b>Go to Site to read full story</b></a></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you or someone you know was a victim of crime or is a missing person, consider visiting </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.spcoalition.org/index.html"><b>The Surviving Parents Coalition</b></a>. From their site:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>The Surviving Parents Coalition is a parent-driven, 501c4 organization committed to saving lives. Our coalition’s founding demonstrates the power of survival and how suffering can motivate people to accomplish extraordinary things. We must defend the innocent. Child safety programs and the agencies involved need resources. We lobby for funding and legislation because they are essential to effective change. Our goal is to ensure young people mature naturally without abuse and emotional turmoil. </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The SPC is determined to grow and spread out nationally one family at a time. United together we become a mighty force for reform.</i></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-90814933989876050992010-10-14T08:49:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.612-07:00"Survive and Thrive"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTuYap4o2mk-75yupYhdA_81QN_WtDRPHWYjvgr9GEYQ-qqhE_Z_KaKhdcWX1hj7wOC3I3yYKmeosqABmoF9JTRmOpeUPu_4bCQFZnlGkLs3rOtFQ2WzmyEeGtPbtMEVF-C4S_aKcSw0/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTuYap4o2mk-75yupYhdA_81QN_WtDRPHWYjvgr9GEYQ-qqhE_Z_KaKhdcWX1hj7wOC3I3yYKmeosqABmoF9JTRmOpeUPu_4bCQFZnlGkLs3rOtFQ2WzmyEeGtPbtMEVF-C4S_aKcSw0/s200/Picture+1.png" width="200" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">October is </span><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Domestic Violence Awareness</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> month as established twenty three years ago in October 1987. While many think we have come along way... I think we still have a long way to go. Today, statistics indicate that domestic violence is still quite prevalent and actually reported instances are climbing. </span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span> </span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This past weekend, I was honored and blessed to be amongst runners, advocates, law enforcement, survivors, and supporters atthe </span><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=15210848&msgid=263021&act=RHHW&c=236225&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocregister.com%2Fvideo%2F%3FvideoId%3D630200089001%26lineupId%3D1125901233" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Survive and Thrive Walk Event</span></u></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> organized by </span><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=15210848&msgid=263021&act=RHHW&c=236225&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fcrimesurvivors.org%2F" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">CrimeSurvivors.org</span></u></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. This event, at the Orange County Sheriff Regional Training Academy, was beyond inspiring, it was downright exhilarating to see so many survivors, so much passion, and so much positive energy in one place.</span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span> </span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As one of the featured speakers at the event I used the opportunity not only to be a cheerleader for survivorship and empowerment but to educate and advocate. My issue for the day was about the power of language and the importance of "word choice." The crux of the speech was distinguishing between being a "survivor" and being a "victim." I also used the opportunity to chat about the problem of semantics in human trafficking as well and how the wrong words further perpetuate the problem. </span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span> </span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One can be victimized (and referred to as a victim in a criminal case), but my dream and goal is for all victims to become survivors. Victimization is not just a word - it is an entire way of thinking. Likewise, being a survivor is also a way of thinking. Both a victim of abuse and a survivor of abuse have gone through the same trauma, but how they choose to 'label' themselves post the event makes all the difference. A victim stays in a victim role and never moves forward to change any behaviors that might influence the feelings that they are suffering from. While one who has been victimized by crime cannot change what happened, they CAN change how they will react to it. Once a "victim" makes the decision to recover, they become a survivor who has the power to go on. Abusers do not have to win! </span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span> </span><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Words and misues of words can perpetuate crime, abuse, and misjustoice. Another example is in the case of </span><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=15210848&msgid=263021&act=RHHW&c=236225&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Frobin-sax%2Fbaby-vaughn-court-battle_b_752793.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Baby Grayson Vaughn</span></u></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. There is a small but vocal minority of supposed "father's rights" activists out there who haven been blasting my assertions that a mother has the </span><a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=15210848&msgid=263021&act=RHHW&c=236225&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.momlogic.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fbaby_vaughn_failed_adoptions_and_false_choices.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">right to choose adoption</span></u></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> as a viable option for her unborn child. The words "father's rights" are being used to mislead in the media, the public, and particularly men. </span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span> </span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just because one advocates for a child does not mean that they are fighting against a biological father. In this case,</span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I am not advocating against the biological father but rather advocating on behalf of the child.</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I have cut both biological and adoptive parents out of the equation, and am only looking at what is best for Grayson Vaughn NOW regardless of all the screw ups and problems with the court system. And unfortunately, when it comes to adoption you can't cut a kid up (split the baby so to speak), as only one person is going to be deemed custodial parent. To me whatever the case was in the past, it is NOW about saving a child from being ripped from his home and loosing the only parents he has ever known for the three short years of his life. You can read more about this case in my </span><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=bsp&ver=ohhl4rw8mbn4#12ba73fa8dc5c26c_ArticlesFeature"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">posted articles</span></span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. <br /><br />So for October it is truly so important that we come together to recognize that protecting ourselves and our kids starts with us. This month we mourn with those who have lost loved ones because of domestic violence, we celebrate those who have survived it, and we connect with those who work to end violence and injustices for children and parents everywhere! </span> <br /></span></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-41974918730527750812010-09-17T14:44:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.505-07:0010 Good Murder Mysteries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQIXil2Nxw3dSbk1tn-wNARoqF_fyxDmzj1uFcPmW2uJ2BYAgt_iAlK2BjSbzvzhzvoeZCj4F9zyEL50uk2MIkPQYdOnA5Q2RGFyVlwPxaBT277Hn_rofD4xDm2SGGec5yHGZuE5aK5c/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQIXil2Nxw3dSbk1tn-wNARoqF_fyxDmzj1uFcPmW2uJ2BYAgt_iAlK2BjSbzvzhzvoeZCj4F9zyEL50uk2MIkPQYdOnA5Q2RGFyVlwPxaBT277Hn_rofD4xDm2SGGec5yHGZuE5aK5c/s320/Picture+1.png" /></a></div><a href="http://www.lawenforcementschools.org/blog/2010/10-good-murder-mysteries-to-get-your-hands-on/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">From Law Enforcement Schools.org</span></a>: <i>For some reason, murder mysteries really intrigue us. Some provide us with an escape from reality and we get tangled in the web that authors spin, leaving us hunting for more answers within the book. The following murder mysteries are great reads for the murder mystery mind:</i><br /><br /><ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li># 1 The Postcard Killers</li><li># 2 All Around the Town</li><li># 3 And Then There Were None</li><li># 4 Ice Cold</li><li># 5 Roses are Red</li><li># 6 The Nine Tailors</li><li># 7 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</li><li># 8 Murder on the Orient Express</li><li># 9 The Killing Room</li><li># 10 The Final Detail</li></ul></ul></ul></ul></ul><div>And for #11 one of my personal favorites ...</div><div><ul><ul><ul><li>MURDER BEHIND THE BADGE: True Stories of Cops Who Kill by <a href="http://www.stacydittrich.com/flashsite/#/true-crime-stories/">Stacy Dittrich</a></li></ul></ul></ul></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-63371320320846889132010-09-08T12:41:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.574-07:00Taking Sides & Making Judgments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zx8HoLytc-4HPC1P2bJmtuQwq0K2CO7uCYFiupUJot72-3H40DIzfrhrYfPxm8d6ng1qEG3ekrU_VFMHnPo6E22n5dN5nXOslH644B7an64qGLu9c2ezmm-gTcda1YmsostkseoIPFE/s1600/elin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zx8HoLytc-4HPC1P2bJmtuQwq0K2CO7uCYFiupUJot72-3H40DIzfrhrYfPxm8d6ng1qEG3ekrU_VFMHnPo6E22n5dN5nXOslH644B7an64qGLu9c2ezmm-gTcda1YmsostkseoIPFE/s200/elin.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">How is that divorce cases always become about sides? Have we learned nothing from our own lives -- that is: most things are not black and white and are often very gray? Let's take a peek at the divorce cases making headlines in the last two weeks: Elin Nordegren vs. Tiger Woods - and - Jamie McCourt vs. Frank McCourt. From the Blogsphere this week on Wood's divorce: "Her divorce all but a formality, Elin Nordegren Woods will very soon walk away from her six-year marriage with Tiger Woods with approximately $100 million ... I say, Kick ass Tiger. It'll only be a matter of time before the capricious media is on your side again."</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"> There was a lot of banter on whether or not Elin "deserved" the money. I think this is ridiculous - how can we as a society decide the value of their marriage (let alone their divorce)? Even courts don't try to decide that -- instead looking to a dissomaster to spit out the correct answer. Most importantly, how can we criticize ELIN when it was Woods' zillions of affairs that brought their marriage to a tumbling crash? I usually don't like to comment on people's marital affairs as there is soooo much behind the scenes; however, in this case I really must say that Elin has been nothing but a class act. She handled the infidelity news with grace and dignity. </span></div></div><div></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">I was particularly impressed with Elin's interview in People Magazine. In her own words: "My immediate plan is for the kids and me to continue to adjust to our new situation. I am going to keep taking classes, but my main focus is to try to give myself time to heal." It was refreshing to hear from her directly to put some closure on the whole mess. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for Elin to do that interview and I give kudos to her for being brave and forthright.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">And from the Blogsphere on the McCourts: "The McCourt case may end up being the most-discussed case of all recent divorce cases. It is the ultimate Hollywood he said-she said, a saga that includes Malibu mansions, millionaire ballplayers, conflicting legal documents and some of the country's most accomplished -- and most expensive -- attorneys."</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">Like the Woods' case, the McCourts are dealing in a dispute in the hundreds of millions. Unlike the Woods' case though, allegations of Jamie cheating on Frank have not been confirmed (although I'm not surprised there is infidelity underlying both cases). The McCourt trial started this past week and we are definitely in for a bumpy ride.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;">Obviously in the law there are always at least two sides (A "versus" B). And the news media, while trying to remain fair and balanced in their reporting of the stories, inadvertently (sometimes) leads us to one side or the other. Whether or not you think Elin deserves her 100 million dollar settlement from Woods or whether Jamie should share in the Dodger empire with Frank, I'm sure we can all agree that public divorces are a source of some fascination (especially when the divorce involves a large amount of money) but really is a private matter where our big mouths and noses should not be.</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We all know there is always much more to the story then what we hear. Even between non-divorcing spouses, people often cannot get the facts straight. (Just ask Andy, we fight about the "facts" everyday -- he still is insisting that Hannah got up in the middle of the night Saturday when both she and I say KNOW she did not). Divorces often begin with different views of the "facts" that gets rolled into other issues: childhood problems, our psyche, etc. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Isn't the real issue that we all have flaws and its much easier to point the finger at others than look at ourselves? Well, I'm going to start (I hope a new trend) in that I'm going to admit that marriage is hard, that I'm a handful and I have a ton of flaws. (Thankfully, Yom Kippur is not till next week so I don't have to start admitting and apologizing about them till next week.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As we sit in here in judgment of others perhaps we should spend a few moments judging ourselves, looking at our own story, and deciding for ourselves whose side would you be on if you were being told your life/marital story. In the spirit of Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) we should take this time to reflect on our own relationships and see where at and how we could be better.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whereas the Woods' case has wound down for now, the McCourt case is gearing up, and all of our own lives continue on each and every day. How about using today to decide what side you are on in your own marriage, relationship, or in life? Are you happy? What would you say about yourself on a gossip rag? Don't worry you don't need to share, you don't need to write it down, just think about it... especially when you start talking about others.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have a Happy 5771 and Jewish New Year to those who are celebrating!</div></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-58861145486787424592010-08-17T12:00:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.553-07:00My Middle Men Moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6h41M6Qs1DjNcOJ1sY_TJ5clvKH3xodrpVL9OxHKEXwCA6pHZsgjl0vzzwpl_Snn9EjiLBRuzfE7Whkj2qEwrOvjz3S77YITbudyZE_jtQB6HZxOx0Rs9Vr3Al8HTlqbioV37LrE1HE/s1600/middlemen_bigposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6h41M6Qs1DjNcOJ1sY_TJ5clvKH3xodrpVL9OxHKEXwCA6pHZsgjl0vzzwpl_Snn9EjiLBRuzfE7Whkj2qEwrOvjz3S77YITbudyZE_jtQB6HZxOx0Rs9Vr3Al8HTlqbioV37LrE1HE/s200/middlemen_bigposter.jpg" width="139" /></a></div>For over a week I have been agonizing if I should publicly write about a movie premier I recently attended: Middle Men. You can imagine my trepidation writing about a movie which appears to be Studio 54 meets Boogie Nights and is about the creation of porn on the Internet. While the trailer certainly was designed to tantalize the masses by showing ample skin - to me this movie was as entertaining as it was thought provoking. Throughout the fast paced story of sex, drugs, money, and greed there were strong underlying themes of business savvy succeeding and positive messages that appeal to our inner-self help/hope mantras. The movie touched upon core issues that lurk behind closed doors of our lives: faithfulness, family dramas, personal struggle, and selling out.<br /><br />I would have never thought that the main character, Jack, would have become a hero or even a guiding force as there is so much about him that one could find despicable (i.e. the man who made sellable sex on the Internet what it is today). However, Jack is not an adult film producer or even its advocate. He is a businessman, a leader, and a fixer. He was not in the adult film business, he was in the “fixing business.” Jack's track record of fixes fledgling companies gives way to his mantra, “Let's focus on why we are here” -- a line that I have used daily since I have saw the movie. <br /><br />This concept of staying focused has really made me think. Focus is an essentially skill that often gets lost in the shuffle of our day-to-day task oriented way of proceeding with our lives. My focus and goal, newly reaffirmed, is to educate people, advocate for people and causes and sometimes even shame or cajole people to be better. So I realized that this movie is not so dissimilar from my core beliefs and what I stand for. As important as it is to insure that the justice system does what it is supposed to, I want to also make sure I do my part: that is to teach others to open their minds and become aware. What will your refocus moment be like?<br /><br />So my friends, the bottom line is this: Middle Men is a movie I urge you to see. It is now playing at selected theaters -- <u><b><a href="http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes-tickets/movies/1810046213-movie/?location=Los+Angeles,+CA&date=20100817">Find Local Listings</a></b></u>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-81112436176714010792010-08-03T15:32:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.591-07:00What News?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8v4je13JQ4AMzbQ0l74aJhLCS5VK1paYZdFdh8yk301LOlNAJ4nuJQ9AuWsS7X1FpRahQgv79lM9DVD27hRT7fjEMVhcSmfEOMUK8NKbL_M8QmGhZLF-P0wgPJXwCFgELHRjzmqEHD4/s1600/The+View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8v4je13JQ4AMzbQ0l74aJhLCS5VK1paYZdFdh8yk301LOlNAJ4nuJQ9AuWsS7X1FpRahQgv79lM9DVD27hRT7fjEMVhcSmfEOMUK8NKbL_M8QmGhZLF-P0wgPJXwCFgELHRjzmqEHD4/s200/The+View.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Do we really want our President chillin' on the couch with the ladies of <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20012103-10391698.html">The View</a>? I mean, isn't there other business he could be tending to...? Maybe yes or maybe not. It is August now where Congress is on hiatus and The Supreme Court is down for the count -- so what else is really going on? I mean we can talk Mel until we are blue in the face, but as skilled as Radar is at making it news each day, it's really the same old story.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There is, of course, Lindsay Lohan whose release from custody would have been way more newsworthy if she threw a pre-rehab "blow out" party. There is also the tragic case of Kyron Horman -- the news conference last week where even the media griped for calling a news conference when there was actually no update. There is Arizona, the thunderstorms in the Southwest, and of course the catastrophic BP oil spill. But really no matter how you cut - things slow down in the summer. The people who normally make news are watching the news from their hotel rooms, rehab beds, jail cells or - if you're Polanski - from wherever you want!</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So what better change of pace than having our Commander-In-Chief have a little sit down with the ladies of The View where we can see him raw and see just how The President dodges questions on pop culture, life, and politics - right!? Frankly, he said it best himself when he said he would rather answer questions about Afghanistan than about Mel Gibson.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But what I really wanted to know is: does Barack think Chesea Clinton needed $15,000 a piece porcelain port-a-potties with piped in music when there are people starving, jobless rate at record highs, etc. etc. Of course, if Chelsea is only to to get married once and mom and dad are paying - go for it, right? Did he think that the the "cheating" clause in Chelsea's pre-nup was appropriate? Did he think Hillary's dress outshined Chelsea? Ah soo many questions, but I'll leave the pondering to <a href="http://dianedimond.net/">Diane Dimond</a> whose coverage of Marriage de Golden Child on ET was simply awesome.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As for Obama's View appearance ... I still think he should have known who Snookie is -- that is a matter of National Security for sure! In any case, even though I still can't decide how I feel about the appearance I am happy to see that Obama is pushing the barriers of presidential appropriateness and at least trying to reach out to the regular folk. I am happy he chose August, and the only thing I guess that I am hoping for is that if he does something like it again -- he will actually weigh in on life's pressing issues: Should the bachelorette have chosen Chris Lambton instead? Should Jennifer Anniston go through fertility treatments? Was Charlie Sheen's sentence fair?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838982529985552764.post-63349438356524555812010-08-02T10:36:00.000-07:002012-06-07T20:51:27.572-07:00Justice for Stacey Doss & Baby Vanessa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOFHJEtDtimRhDWFBLYwCj7hITfcUR3oMH54jEZrXi1Zw-_ThBC1sT6sFvnNI9-fNMCSN0W3OrZCh4U2x-N-rPZCjbr4GvukyQwdNLNvBONYduNX_ccV0Y-2bGS4IpKxAGzkcJSLDNX4/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOFHJEtDtimRhDWFBLYwCj7hITfcUR3oMH54jEZrXi1Zw-_ThBC1sT6sFvnNI9-fNMCSN0W3OrZCh4U2x-N-rPZCjbr4GvukyQwdNLNvBONYduNX_ccV0Y-2bGS4IpKxAGzkcJSLDNX4/s200/Picture+1.png" width="141" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Background & Commentary</span></span><br />Stacey Doss adopted baby Vanessa at birth with the help of an adoption agency. This was a legitimate adoption. Baby Vanessa, now two years old, has been ordered to return to Ohio. Vanessa will be cared for by her paternal grandmother, whom she has never met. Stacey Doss, Vanessa’s adoptive mother, was given until July 16 to turn over the child. Vanessa's allegedly violent biological father, Benjamin Mills, Jr. (who has a child endangerment charge on his record as well as being imprisoned for domestic violence) is seeking to take Vanessa away from Stacey, the only mother she has ever known. It is unclear why Mills suddenly wants to assert his paternity. As a former prosecutor, I see this as an case where bio-dad has desire to gain power and control over his favorite victim, bio-mom. So he is hurting everyone in the process to to gain power -- instead of thinking of the best interest of this child.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Please visit my recent posts on Baby Vanessa and join our fight to help Stacey Doss retain custody of her daughter.</span><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i>SIGN THE PETITION: </i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i></i><a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/operationvanessa/">http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/operationvanessa/</a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><br /></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">More information: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Articles</span></span></span><br /><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-sax/the-battle-for-baby-vanes_b_638486.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">The Battle For Baby Vanessa, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Huffington Post</span></a></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://womenincrimeink.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-system-failures-part-one.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">July System Failures - Party One, Women In Crime</span></span></a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/fighting-vanessa-adoptive-mother-battles-birth-father-custody/story?id=11102794"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Fighting for Vanessa, Good Morning America</span></a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/The-Battle-For-Vanessa--The-Birth-Mother-Revealed-97859029.html">The Battle For Vanessa: Birth Mother Revealed, NBC</a></span></span></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Media Clips</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7T9zzLgv3XiuSAOitsmyPQbYKAhwxACKwuC1aDLpyBat8r8wJrgrHB0-Bt9B9VIq4rkuA1EWQEAfpVoyVP3Z41yWHk2qOgdrzMZgS5BSFGYGyN4dyIIE6SEvvWNfXHnukMlX_bCSVmQo/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7T9zzLgv3XiuSAOitsmyPQbYKAhwxACKwuC1aDLpyBat8r8wJrgrHB0-Bt9B9VIq4rkuA1EWQEAfpVoyVP3Z41yWHk2qOgdrzMZgS5BSFGYGyN4dyIIE6SEvvWNfXHnukMlX_bCSVmQo/s320/Picture+9.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NBC Ch. 4 Available at: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.robinsax.com/media.html">www.robinsax.com/media.html</a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaOFlcV8Jv0_v6rn4GdbpDEnaemFB2Y2N1vhaoOnMwXrI3r81NIwKFVIqDZUEIRxMnkQ1teaMLfxk71b_eReCWptm6HX9W6myw9BHaplFUYzgUFBqP_tqSydk_ACoMi3f0gjaGEdyNpQ/s1600/Picture+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaOFlcV8Jv0_v6rn4GdbpDEnaemFB2Y2N1vhaoOnMwXrI3r81NIwKFVIqDZUEIRxMnkQ1teaMLfxk71b_eReCWptm6HX9W6myw9BHaplFUYzgUFBqP_tqSydk_ACoMi3f0gjaGEdyNpQ/s320/Picture+10.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Good Morning America Interview</div><div style="text-align: center;">Available at: <a href="http://www.robinsax.com/media.html">www.robinsax.com/media.html</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GNqQp1GnMBhRpPCdFH_th8orzm9jdfYUPt7-ZirsL0L1Er9iI7Zhycdtx9ynP1-7EULV824-rNo2gLDlMtWgpEClI2bs2l0T7CpRCmn_4x-t62XvW6I0B2HlAKFF691icdjTCiQ3S-w/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GNqQp1GnMBhRpPCdFH_th8orzm9jdfYUPt7-ZirsL0L1Er9iI7Zhycdtx9ynP1-7EULV824-rNo2gLDlMtWgpEClI2bs2l0T7CpRCmn_4x-t62XvW6I0B2HlAKFF691icdjTCiQ3S-w/s320/Picture+3.png" /></a></div><a href="http://cbs2.com/video/?id=139412@kcbs.dayport.com">CBS Channel 2 News Link</a><br /><a href="http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/oc-woman-gets-help-in-adoption-battle">Fox News Vigil Footage</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YnBf3zbEzWjXQ-DCmGBU80kib47LqSGQwCypiGDDzudiJc4tmVCFHkYzGKq9L54fgmXNe5RfVEbLkIrg8VVtecDbSlkwOS92JjTnRV53jOfkpZnTQOEnRLN1R5dKzQmwWnDH9m2OgT4/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YnBf3zbEzWjXQ-DCmGBU80kib47LqSGQwCypiGDDzudiJc4tmVCFHkYzGKq9L54fgmXNe5RfVEbLkIrg8VVtecDbSlkwOS92JjTnRV53jOfkpZnTQOEnRLN1R5dKzQmwWnDH9m2OgT4/s320/Picture+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix6_bypVTqE">NBC July 31, 2010</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Statements from Stacey Doss: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc;">"My attorneys have told me that in California, an adopting parent and a child get a hearing in the case of a failed adoption to determine if custody must change or if, perhaps, a guardianship, which permits the birth parent to retain parental rights, is in order. By blindly following Ohio's orders, the CA court denied me that right and violated my constitutional rights and my daughter's rights as well.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b><i>Wednesday July 14, 2010</i></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff2cc;">"The California Court of Appeal has granted us our appeal request for an immediate temporary stay. The response states, '...the child shall not be removed from Orange County, CA, until further order of this court.' This means that Vanessa is safe in California, with me, for the time being. We are elated that the emergency stay is based on the Appellate Court’s concern for Vanessa’s best interest. Today's decision is one victory in what will likely be a long fight. We are hoping that this case is somehow precedent setting for all children in this country." </span></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://ink-la.com/helpvanessa/blog/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Operation Vanessa</span></a> <i>(visit the site)</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/OperationVanessa?ref=ts#!/OperationVanessa?v=wall&ref=ts">Facebook Page</a> <i>(to leave Stacey a message)</i><br /><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18