My take on the Oregonian hit piece as a SO Clear Response video

The full length audio response is here:

And here is a summary of the articles:

http://absolutezerounites.blogspot.com/2017/06/is-oregonian-slam-of-osu-ballplayer.html

Below is a short article I'm writing for the ICoN Newsletter:

OSU PLAYER SLAMMED FOR JUVY SO RECORD

As the Oregon State University baseball team stood at the cusp of a historic run to the College World Series, one young man was credited as having led the team through his own historic performance—ace pitcher Luke Heimlich. Unfortunately, Heimlich also committed an offense as a juvenile and is forced to register as a low-level registrant. On the day OSU reached Omaha for the Super Regionals series against Vanderbilt, the Oregonian newspaper engaged in a targeted campaign to humiliate both Heimlich and the University. Initially, the paper released FOUR articles targeting Heimlich, including an article defending their actions. One reporter stated, “Our society decided long ago that sex offenders should carry the burden of their conviction well after their sentences end - and that juvenile sex crimes should follow offenders into adulthood.” Another stated, “"Can we start with the premise that human life matters? … The victim matters. She matters more than Heimlich…Some people, myself included, don't believe a registered sex offender has a place on a major college athletics team. I don't believe an athlete who has committed a violent offense, including domestic violence, belongs there either.”

And, of course, the biggest bomb of all—“ For those who say Heimlich has, "Paid his debt to society" or "Been punished for his crime," and should be left alone -- huh? An important part of his punishment is that he has to register as a sex offender. There's a reason a felony crime is a felony crime. The punishment is supposed to act as a deterrent.” I have to thank him for admitting the registry is punishment, despite the absurd claim in Smith v Doe (2003).

I believe this to be an act of vigilantism, NOT journalism, but it poses some questions—at what point can a RC ever be redeemed and allowed to become a productive member of society? And just what kind of jobs should we be allowed to have? Consider the fact Iron Mike Tyson had a successful career despite being forced to register. What about Ben Roethlisberger? He was suspended for 8 games (reduced to 6) on a sex crime allegation that was eventually dropped, but still plays football and the arrest jokes have all been played out. But both of these men were current players. Heimlich, on the other hand, was convicted at 15, years before going to college. He served his sentence and completed treatment. Even the original article stated juveniles are very amenable to treatment and less likely to reoffend than adult offenders. Yet, this paper made every effort to derail this kid’s career, and they appear to be successful.

Sadly, this brings me to a sad realization—As registrants, we will have to prepare for our lives to be derailed at any time, for any reason, by people who don’t believe we deserve second chances. They feel we don’t deserve any successes, or even a voice. We have to fight for our successes. It is up to you to find that strength, but you don’t have to fight alone. If you stand up and fight, I’ll stand with you, and hopefully, we will encourage others to take a stand as well.

Vigilante Violence is NOT "Justice"

Christine and Jeremy Moody -- Skinhead "Heroes"

“How do we rehabilitate a sex offender? They cannot be fixed, what they can do, is convinced the Psychologists that they are ‘fixed’ and they are safe to be released into society. The only cure for child abusers and molesters is to have every member of their immediate family killed. These nefarious crimes and people should not be allowed to procreate. By destroying their immediate family members, you purify the blood line. This is the only way to ensure that they (the pervert or family) cannot ever hurt a child again. Liberals will think that these statements are immature and that I must be empty headed. How many people consider the children that were abused or molested? What about the mental destruction that this child has to live with for the rest of their lives? How these children will find it difficult to ever trust another person. How these children may possibly never be able to have children of their own, because they were raped so severe, that it damaged them permanently? I don't think my suggestion is immature, I think it's the only answer, and if you don't agree, then you two should be destroyed[i].” – Jeremy Moody, “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” Lulu Publishing, 2012. p.5

On Sunday, June 8, 2014, Jay Maynor[ii] of Cullman, Alabama shot and killed Raymond Earl Brooks, a registered citizen, who had served time for a sex crime against Maynor’s daughter 12 years ago[iii]. As with any story involving so-called “vigilante justice,” there are plenty of individuals coming out of the woodwork proclaiming this man a “hero.” The killer’s family has set up a Facebook page[iv] and a defense fund[v], and has raised $1500 in 10 days (the listed goal is $5000). A few of the comments from the fundraiser page are frightening and disturbing indeed:

“There is no room in this world for pedophiles. They cannot be rehabilitated, and there is no cure. They should all be chucked off a boat and left for sharks.” – Holly Perkins

“We have several sexual offenders living around us. Unless they start neutering them, I am with Mr. Maynor kind of justice.” – Kat Perry, who donated $5.00

“As a survivor of abuse I support Mr. Maynor for seeking justice for his daughter. This demon should have never been allowed to walk the streets again, to have the chance to abuse another child. You are a hero to me Mr. Maynor.” – Jeanna Phillips, who donated $20.00

Jay Maynor's mugshot

A woman by the name of Kayla Maddux[vi], whose Facebook picture is a blue variation of the “Keep Calm” internet meme proclaiming “Keep Calm and Free Jaybird,” posted a comment to detractors at the Cullman Times, stating, “Dont [sic] go trying to tell facts when you dont know them.” When has the lack of facts stop the mass media from exploiting the tragedy for ratings? Even though the AP story didn’t mention the shooter’s name to “protect the victim’s identity,” they had no reservations posting the victim’s mug shot and proclaim him a sex offender[vii]. The lack of details didn’t stop Catherine Connors, an executive with the Walt Disney Company and “award winning blogger,” from writing a post on the Nancy Grace HLN site hinting that what Maynor did, although legally wrong, is understandable and she would be tempted to do the same thing. Connors states, “I know, if something like this happened to me, I might be tempted to do wrong, too[viii].” Michelle Lund from CrimeJail.com called the victim’s father a “pedo-sympathizer” and claimed that Cullman County Sheriff Mike Rainey cares more about sex offenders than “a father who had to watch her child suffer[ix].” Dr. Drew’s “Behavioral Bureau” also added their two cents[x]. HLN is notorious for focusing on stories such as this one.

The Dr. Drew show deserves a more in-depth critique. I have had the privilege of taking on Dr. Drew’s “Behavior Bureau” on two occasions in the past year. This is how the Bureau works – the show invites a panel of personalities to come on the show to discuss various topics, and not all of the panelists have explicit knowledge of the subject at hand. For this particular episode, the panelists were Leeann Tweeden, a TV sportscaster for poker and baseball’s Anaheim Angels, Anahita Sedaghatfar, a civil defense attorney and TV analyst, and Jason Ellis, a journeyman MMA fighter (who only fought two matches) who hosts a show on Sirius XM radio. Out of three individuals, only one has any degree of criminal justice experience, so the outcome of the show should come as no surprise.

Defense attorney Anahita Sedaghatfar stated she was against vigilante violence and that we can't be allowed to take the law into our own hands, but in the end, she still stated, “I would definitely defend [Maynor]. I think he has a strong case for mitigation in terms of sentencing.” As expected, the discussion simply went downhill from this point. Leeann Tweeden stares glaringly into the camera and proudly proclaims, “You do that to my child, I will shoot you in the head.” Jason Ellis gave the strangest statement of all. So, I don`t wanna -- I already said what I had to say, this -- when you bring up the extra -- I mean, I didn`t remember until I was 40 who the guy was that molested me. So, I didn`t know until I was about 26 that I`d been molested. I had to take a bunch of acid and they also recall it. Then, at 40 I find out who it is, because my body can`t even handle knowing who it is. You did that to that girl in that fashion, I don`t need to be related to the girl, I`ll kill him right now[xi].” It is interesting that Jason Ellis just stated that he “recalled” abuse that happened decades ago. (The False Memory Syndrome[xii] controversy continues, but that is a discussion for a different day.) The point is whether we want a person who took headshots for a living (like Ellis) or some “eye-candy” model who peddles her body for a living (like Weeden) to dictate the rules of society, especially not knowing the whole story behind the murders.

Returning to Kayla Maddux’s statement about knowing “all the facts,” supplemental articles have put together the facts. This is the complete story up until this point. The day of the murder, Jay Maynor got into an argument with his stepdaughter’s boyfriend (investigators say there was “bad blood” between the two men), and apparently, somewhere along the way, the boyfriend used the sexual abuse narrative to criticize Maynor, sending him into a rage. Maynor pulled out a gun and shot into the Berlin Quick Mart gas station where the boyfriend was sitting. Painter then went to the home of Raymond Earl Brooks and ambushed him, killing him in the home of his parents. The defense made the claim that a “catalyst” or “triggering event” that should considered mitigating factors for lowering his bail[xiii].

It is rather ironic that the term “trigger” was used Maynor’s defense since pulling a gun trigger landed Maynor in jail. The term “Trigger Warning” (or TW for short) is a relatively new buzzword. “In the area of mental health, a trigger is something which causes instant distress in a vulnerable person. If you know what can trigger a bad reaction, you can try to avoid those triggers in the same way that someone with an allergy might take steps to avoid dogs.” Trigger warnings first appeared on feminist websites to flag up stories of abuse[xiv]. This word is particularly dangerous because, in the words of Rhiannon Cosslett, triggers “smacked to me of victimhood.” Cosslett does not believe triggers hinder free speech, but states, “they do display an increasingly nannying approach to language that is being used to shut down discourse and to silence. Often, it is coupled with a sense of passive aggressive glee…I do not doubt that they are of enormous service to survivors with specific triggers likely to reoccur on feminist websites, but it has got to a point now where I feel women I have never met are trying to wrap me in cotton wool, and I detest that. PTSD can make you hypersensitive and hyper-aware…[xv]”Furthermore, trigger words perpetuates cultural victimhood; as one example, college campuses are considering placing trigger warnings on classic literature because people do not like feeling even slightly uncomfortable. As one RT reporter proclaimed, “Our kids WANT to be nannied. They WANT to be protected, and feel safe, and coddled[xvi].” And fear justifies some very atrocious behavior, like canonizing a man who shoots into a business establishment because he later killed a pariah of society.

When society canonizes a vigilante, society overlooks a lot of things; however, we should not forget Maynor’s actions have harmed many people, not just the murdered Registrant. Those victimized by Maynor’s actions found Maynor to be anything but heroic.

At Maynor’s bond hearing, “Cullman County District Attorney Wilson Blaylock called two witnesses, Jeremy Trimble and Bobby Weeks, who were present for the gas station shooting. Trimble testified he was present in the store at the time of the shooting and claimed one of the stray bullets came within 10 feet of hitting his child. ‘I was alarmed for my son’s safety and it made my heart stop,” he said. “He tried to shoot someone and shot another man.’Weeks was attending a child’s birthday party at the karaoke business located beside the gas station and said he heard a gun shot then looked outside to see Maynor with a gun drawn chasing another man. At that point, Weeks said he gathered the children together and took them inside for safety. ‘It sounded like he was yelling, ‘Come here you motherfucker,’ Weeks testified. ‘It scared me and the kids[xvii].’”

Jay Maynors shows the world how he feels about the laws of society

“Mike Hays, who cooks and operates a small barbecue restaurant inside Berlin Plaza Quick Stop, where the shooting occurred, said he came face-to-face with the shooter after the man opened fire outside and then entered the store looking for his intended victim, who wasn't hurt. ‘People here are calling him a hero for killing a child molester. I'm calling him a psychopathic lunatic for endangering peoples' lives, including mine,’ Hays said. After stopping his motorcycle at an intersection outside the store, the father fired once at a man who was standing beside an ice cooler, Hays said. The bullet entered an exterior wall of the store and chipped a window but no one was injured. Hays said he retrieved his own weapon and confronted [Maynor] near the cash register. ‘He had the gun down by his side. He was calm, as calm as you are standing there now. But he had that look in his eye,’ said Hays. ‘I have no problem with him shooting a child molester, just not 12 years later. If it was my daughter he would have died back in 2002[xviii].’”

“Brooks' father, Ralph Brooks, told WBRC-TV in Birmingham that his son did not deserve to die. He said Raymond Earl Brooks turned his life around after his conviction and lived a godly life that included being active in his church. Because his son's conviction happened so long ago, he said he couldn't be sure if the shooting was a form of revenge. ‘It would be unbelievable to hold animosity in your heart for 12 years,’ Brooks said[xix].”

It should not be surprising with anyone that Jay Maynor had a criminal history. Maynor had made several court appearances over the years—once for DUI and three times for domestic violence (though the domestic violence charges were eventually dropped). It is laughable Maynor’s defense attorney brought these prior charges up in attempt to show the court that Maynor would come to court responsibly and should thus receive a lower bond. Thankfully bail was not reduced [xx].

This story has played out numerous times over the years. This brings me to the statement by Jeremy Moody at the beginning of this article. Moody’s proclamation could have been written just as easily by any anonymous commenter. But Moody’s proclamation was written in a self-written skinhead manifesto, alongside discussions on racial purity and ethnic cleansing. (Ironically, the head of Moody’s skinhead group, known as “Crew 41,” is a Registered Citizen[xxi].) Patrick Drum, who murdered two registrants in Washington State in 2012, had 47 criminal convictions over a 15 year period, including assault, drug, and burglary charges. One of his victims landed on the list for a consensual act with a teen when he was 17 years old. Drum and the Moody clan were unrepentant thugs with disgusting pasts. Had they killed anyone else, society would not have given any of them a second thought except to call for the heads of these men on a silver platter. But because their victims were Registered Citizens, people want to give murderers a free pass.

Even the Neo-Nazi skinhead Jeremy Moody had support from the public, as illustrated by this statement from a CNN commenter:

Kimberly269life – “In this case the dude had been convicted of a sex crime on a child!where is the good old killemall mindset we normally apply to pedophiles?What is your prob people? Pedophilia is a well known incurable condition-even castration doesn not cure this despicable condition in many men! He def needed killing.His wife on the other hand seems to have been collateral damage-but thats the price you pay for being connected to child molesters! Its true that many wives allow crimes against children-their own and others-by doing nothing and turning away.They are culpable.They are helping ! Nazis and other white supremists are really disgusting people-yes-but the pedophile is probably even lower ...frankly its a win/win from what I can see[xxii]” [Grammatical errors included]

The vigilante violence and the people who support them are definitive proof the registry, or any degree of public disclosure of Registered Citizens in the community, should be abolished. Until the registry is abolished, we will see this same story play out repeatedly in the coming years. Patt Morrison from the LA Times says, “Justice in a democracy cannot be some tit-for-tat clan vendetta, or determined by bribes or bias. It must be the dispassionate act of the people and the state, whose good order and laws have been violated. Vigilante justice erodes the authority and regard for a legal system that can’t be about vengeance or passion… And when an Alabama father or a California mother usurps that role, they are not heroes, because vengeance is not justice. And justice, not just someone’s child, becomes a victim too[xxiii].” 

The registry is a “catalyst” and a “trigger event” that enrages the community, and when a person is assaulted or murdered because of this registry, justice is perverted.

---

[i] http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/jeremy-moody/yesterday-today-forever/paperback/product-20441110.html

[ii] In terestingly enough, the AP did not publish the perpetrator’s name, stating “The Associated Press doesn't identify victims of sex crimes, and it isn't naming the man charged with murder to protect his daughter's identity.” Yet, they published the victim's name and picture and proclaimed him a sex offender. See Jay Reeves, “ALABAMA MAN CHARGED IN SLAYING GAINS SUPPORT.” AP, June 10, 2014. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/alabama-man-charged-slaying-gains-support

[iii] Trent Moore, “Cullman man charged with murder in Berlin shooting.” Cullman Times, June 9, 2014. http://www.cullmantimes.com/breakingnews/x1396881180/Cullman-man-charged-with-murder-in-Berlin-shooting

[iv] https://www.facebook.com/pages/Family-Friends-and-Supporters-of-Jay-Maynor/325444844270469

[v] http://www.gofundme.com/a51e8g

[vi] Apparently Kayla the daughter of Jay Maynor, though she does not list him as her father on her Facebook page.

[vii] Jay Reeves, “ALABAMA MAN CHARGED IN SLAYING GAINS SUPPORT.” AP, June 10, 2014. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/alabama-man-charged-slaying-gains-support

[viii] Catherine Commons, “Avenging a horrid crime: Right, but still wrong?” HLN, June 18, 2014. http://www.hlntv.com/article/2014/06/18/catherine-connors-dad-kills-sex-offender-two-wrongs-right

[ix] Michelle Lund, “Jay Maynor, Hero Shoots Man Who Molested His Daughter.” CrimeJail.com, June 14, 2014. http://crimejail.com/jay-maynor-hero-shoots-man-abused-daughter/

[x] Dr. Drew staff, “Father charged in shooting death of daughter's molester.” HLN, June 12, 2014. http://www.hlntv.com/video/2014/06/12/father-kills-daughter-sex-offender-decade-later

[xi] http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1406/12/ddhln.01.html

[xii] http://www.fmsfonline.org/

[xiii] Trent Moore, “Maynor’s attorney: ‘Trigger event’ caused shooting, seeking bail reduction.” June 12, 2014. http://www.cullmantimes.com/breakingnews/x998005628/Maynor-s-attorney-Trigger-event-caused-shooting-seeking-bail-reduction

[xiv] “Trigger warnings: What do they do?” BBC, Feb. 24, 2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-26295437

[xv] Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, “Why I don’t agree with trigger warnings.” New Statesman, Jan. 29, 2013. http://www.newstatesman.com/sci-tech/2013/01/why-i-dont-agree-trigger-warnings

[xvi] “Our Kids Want to be Nannied. We’re Screwed.” The Resident (Russia Today), May 27, 2014. http://www.theresident.net/our-kids-want-to-be-nannied-were-screwed/

[xvii] Trent Moore, “BREAKING: Bond reduction denied in Maynor murder case.” Cullman Times, June 19, 2014. http://www.cullmantimes.com/breakingnews/x1669975480/BREAKING-Bond-reduction-denied-in-Maynor-murder-case

[xviii] Jay Reeves, “ALABAMA MAN CHARGED IN SLAYING GAINS SUPPORT.” AP, June 10, 2014. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/alabama-man-charged-slaying-gains-support

[xix] Ibid.

[xx] Moore, “Breaking”

[xxi] “Killing Sex Offenders: The Apparent Hypocrisy of Crew 41.” Southern Poverty Law Center, July 29, 2013. http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2013/07/29/killing-sex-offenders-the-apparent-hypocrisy-of-crew-41-2/

[xxii] http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/07/justice/south-carolina-neo-nazis-murder-sex-offender/#comment-1378773440

[xxiii] Patt Morrison, “Opinion Does an angry parent killing a child molester ever serve justice?” LA Times, June 17, 2014. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-jay-maynor-ellie-nesler-child-molesters-justice-20140616-story.html

Sheriff Gordon Smith, A Black Eye on the Bradford County, Florida Sheriff's Department

Florida is not my favorite state. It is a cesspool of political/ police corruption and Predator Panic. But the Bradford County Sheriff's Office has taken the cake with its latest publicity stunt. The small-time Sheriff has placed road signs in front of the houses of registrants in hopes of chasing them out of town.

"So far, 18 signs have gone up in cement buried deep into the ground on public property near the homes of offenders settled in and around the town of Starke — causing one so-called sex predator to leave town and two others to consider taking off...Says Smith: “I have no sympathy for them (sexual predators), and if they don’t like their options of the sign, move!”

The trophy photos for the sheriff and the Abu Ghraib guys are eerily similar

Despite all this, Sheriff Gordon Smith claims he will protect those people targeted by those signs from vigilante violence, but I have my doubts.

I'd like to point out he has deleted criticism on his FB page. He simply needs to read some of the internet comments to see why this is a bad idea:

SheriffGordon Smith seems to have some kind of sign fetish. He was recently sued over a rather gaudy 10 Commandments display. I wonder if he really believes Jesus would approve of the Sheriff's signs?

What Sheriff Gordon Smith has done violates the Constitution. In State of Kansas v. Schad, the courts ruled the signs run counter to efforts at rehabilitation:

Similarly, in the present case, the signage conditions exact a very harsh censure against Schad. Although Schad had been convicted of a sexual offense, the imposed signage conditions would work against any rehabilitation while on probation because wherever Schad would be, he would be “branded.” The signage conditions would not be helpful in restoring Schad to the ranks of society’s productive citizens…

Under the facts of this case, the probation conditions requiring Schad to post signs around his house and on his car announcing his sex offender status were not reasonably related to the rehabilitative goal of probation or to the protection of the victim and society. In short, probation is not to shield guilty individuals from the consequences of their crimes, but it is an attempt to reform their attitudes about acting out in a criminal way. Here, the signage conditions made Schad an object of condemnation and ridicule. The signage conditions only confirmed society’s outrage against Schad. The signage conditions were simply a punitive measure not reasonably related to rehabilitation.

Even the Fark website, which is usually filled with pro-sex-offender-law types, has been blasting this publicity stunt:

I have been a long time activist, been studying these issues for well over a decade now, and if there was ever  a constant in my studies it is this --the ones who make the most noise about "sex offenders" tend to have the most to hide. The Bradford County Sheriff's Office has quite a series of embarrassing scandals in their own department. Maybe that's why they need this diversion:


http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/actionlocal/story/Reserve-Deputy-arrested-for-domestic-battery/qVnTI0e1CkmuNJtySesLPA.cspx

A Bradford County Reserve Deputy is in the Bradford County Jail for getting into a physical argument with his wife. According to the Bradford County Sheriff's Office, Ronald Gassaway's wife told their deputies at a gas station there that she was injured by Gassaway.

http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-02-22/story/former-prison-officer-bradford-most-wanted-list-arrested-puerto-rico

A 49-year-old former corrections officer and one of Bradford County Sheriff’s Office’s most-wanted has been found in Puerto Rico after an email tip led to him, according to authorities.

http://www.wcjb.com/local-news/2011/06/bradford-county-corrections-officer-arrested-attempted-murder

A Bradford county corrections officer is accused of trying to kill a co-worker after investigators said he shot her in the face. 

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120207/ARTICLES/120209599

A former Bradford County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on charges of having sex with a teenage girl while he was on duty as a high school resource officer at the girl’s school.

Maybe we should be posting signs in the yards of Bradford County Sheriff's deputies instead. They seem to be the ones we should be worried about.

 One last thing, I find it extremely creepy this harassment is posted right next to a call for the "National Day of Prayer."

Vigilantism, America's next spectator sport

Now that the Jerry Sandusky trial has wound down and America waits for the next high profile case to incite the masses, we can take a moment to look at the stupidity surrounding the Sandusky media swarm.

Someone dressed as the Internet meme known as "Pedobear" garnered media attention outside the courthouse as the trial was conducted inside.

A large number of illiterate internet trolls have spammed hate messages at the Twitter account of Baltimore Ravens broadcaster GERRY Sandusky (no relation). That is Gerry with a G, not a J.

At least Gerry Sandusky can take it in stride:

Speaking of confusion over the name, consider the woes of the resort town Sandusky, Ohio. The resort town has reported that tourism has declined as a result of the Jerry Sandusky Trial. In one instance, the social network site Twitter automatically hashtagged a tweet posted by a Sandusky area spa and redirected people to the Jerry Sandusky trial instead of to links to the resort town. One comedian even exacerbated the problem by creating a phony YouTube commercial using plays on words from the Jerry Sandusky case:

Other recent cases like the Casey Anthony trial had similar stories, like the Oklahoma woman attacked for looking like Casey Anthony. There are reports of white men being beaten by gangs of black men proclaiming they were getting "Justice for Trayvon Martin." But sex crime accusations hold a place of prominence in our culture.

High profile cases are on the news daily, and without a doubt, it is having a negative impact on our society. We live in a culture where vigilante attacks are applauded. Two recent stories have illustrated this point.

The Texas who who beat a man to death he claimed was molesting his daughter was heralded as a hero and not charged with murder. An overwhelming number of people called him a "hero" instead of a killer.

In Washington state, serial killer Patrick Drum is being held without bail after killing two registrants. The prosecutor expressed concerns over online comments approving the vigilante's actions. Later, Drum was allowed in general population, where he attacked a 19 year old in on a failure to register charge. The victim was only age 13 when he was added to the sex offender registry in 2006.

We have turned trials into spectator sports and canonized vigilantes as heroes. Every night, celebrities like Nancy Grace and John Walsh make their living riling up the public and exploiting these high profile cases. We have created the "abuse excuse," allowing people to kill so long as the killer claims abuse.

 How much further do we allow the solemnity of the criminal justice system to degrade into the realm of that other infamous "Jerry," Jerry Springer? Maybe we should just borrow another Roman idea and turn our courtrooms into arenas and replace prosecutors and defense attorneys with gladiators and exotic beasts. We could even hire Gerry Sandusky to do play by play, courtesy of HLN Sports.

Enough with the Bread and Circuses, the reality TV attitudes, and the misguided blind vigilante injustices. It is beyond time to place limits on the registry; the registry needs to be abolished.

ACTION ALERT: Please help Leslie Blanton lay her husband, and father of two sons, to rest

This is a cross-post from the ESCAPE website, none of this is my work, I'm merely re-posting for other people's benefit.

To learn how to donate, go here: http://www.endsexcrime.org/helptheblantons.html


Please help Leslie Blanton lay her husband, and father of two sons, to rest



Last week, 28-year-old Gary Blanton was gunned down in Port Angeles, Washington. He left behind a widow, Leslie, and two little boys, Skylar and Gary Junior.

Leslie is a young now single mother struggling to carry on; the funeral home has been very generous in allowing her extra time to come up with the funds to bury Gary and hold a service for him. However, she is still just over $3,000 short and out of options as of tomorrow.

Any amount you can contribute will be greatly appreciated and put towards funeral expenses for this dearly loved husband and father. Leslie and her loved ones thank you very much for your compassion!

Derek Logue is winning

"The only thing I'm addicted to right now is winning." --Charlie Sheen

Hated celebrity Charlie Sheen is not the only one out there "winning." Winning is a relative term at any rate, depends on what we are competing for and what is the ultimate goal.

In my case, my ultimate goal is being an online advocate for the reform of criminal laws, and particular sex offender laws, to emphasize the rehabilitative aspect of law and to promote healing for both offender and victim. Since I don't advocate the "kill all sex offenders" mantra that many of the common citizens do, and because I am a member of this group forced to disclose my private information for the public eye to scrutinize, that generally makes me the bad guy in the eyes of a lot of people. Most of these people make assumptions and draw on sites run by people who get their kicks from creating falsehoods about people and making three a.m. death threats over the phone. It goes with the territory.

I've been advocating changes to these laws since 2004, and since the end of 2007 I have become a highly visible (and hated) figure. It is amazing how we can make assumptions and hate without knowing anything about a person, just a label. Its almost laughable to see the accusations if only people did not believe it because of my label. I've never tried hiding the label. In fact, much like people who have "owned" the "N" word, I have overcome the label society places upon my. I am "winning."

So I'll play Charlie Sheen for a moment and dissect the arguments of one of my detractors, the idiotic Shoalanda Speaks.

hXXp://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/search/label/Derek%20Logue

First point: Troll-anda Spews, in addressing me and other activists who call for reform of sex offender laws, says this on April 4, 2011:

The garbage that these advocates preach concerning children is so sickening that we chose not to finish the blog

It is interesting that she considers treatment for both victim and offender "sickening." Lets look at a few of my "sickening comments:"


I believe sex crimes should be punished. If you want more jail time, fine by me. My problem is with the treatment of offenders after they have finished their sentences. If you commit a sex crime, you should serve time, whatever the state allots. But if (or when) a sex criminal is released, efforts must be made to successfully reintegrate the offender back into society to minimize risk of re-offending. Also, society lacks preventive measures and available counselors to deal with sexual issues before they become sex crimes. It is not about condoning behaviors, it is about minimizing risk.

So Shoalanda thinks punishing sex crimes and calling for rehabilitation programs to minimize recidivism is "sickening." As a matter of fact, I wrote an entire "sickening article entitled "Prevention 101:"


http://www.oncefallen.com/Prevention101.html

Principles of Prevention
Prevention means finding a way to keep sexual violence from occurring in the first case. I believe it IS
possible to find prevention strategies that work. But we have to approach this problem with an open mind.
There are two great websites with prevention as its focus (as you can see from these sites, its about being
“smart” rather than “tough”):

• www.stopitnow.org
  
• www.jwf.org (NOTE: recently the Jacob Wetterling Foundation has become the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, www.jwrc.org, and some of the below pages referenced are NOT AVAILABLE at this time

Holy Shiitakes! I'm promoting pro-sex offender sites! Its all downhill from there:

Prevention strategies exist today, but for some reason, we choose to neglect them in favor of punishment strategies
for former offenders, strategies which fail to address preventing strategies. The Jabob Wetterling Resource Center
and Stop It Now! are two fine examples of prevention and treatment oriented approaches which will prove effective
in reducing sex crimes. These strategies teach principles of responsibility, accountability, penance, honesty,
education, vigilance, and most of all, balance or moderation.
Regarding former offenders, there are prevention strategies available to keep former offenders from offending
again. Restorative justice (accountability and empathy training), identifying sexual assault cycles, and developing
relapse prevention plans are tried and true methods of reducing recidivism amongst former offenders. These
treatments have been shown to reduce both general and specific recidivism by at least half, and recognized to be
effective by leading researchers like Karl Hanson.
However, in order to effectively implement these prevention strategies, we must address and reform the many
obstacles in our society: The mass media, politicians, myths and misconceptions, our emphasis on retribution and
punishment, CAPTA mandatory reporting requirements, lack of professionals, and our contrary fear/ fascination of
sex. Only by approaching the subject openly and honestly can we have any hope of preventing sexual violence.

Imagine that, promoting empathy and accountability in those who have sexually offended is "sickening?" That's nothing, check out these two "pro-sex offender" books I promote on my "recommended media" page:


http://www.oncefallen.com/multimedia.html

HANDBOOK FOR SEXUAL ABUSER ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT (2001) BY: Mark S.
Carich, Ph. D., and Steven E. Mussack, Ph. D.
Description: (From the Safer Society Press) Safer Society is pleased to publish this long-awaited
compendium. With chapters from William Marshall, Robert McGrath, Emily Coleman, James
Haaven, Alvin Lewis, Laren Bays, William Murphy, Peter Loss, Jerry Thomas, and Gary Lowe, as
well as from the editors and others, this volume provides an essential basic outline of
comprehensive treatment--the perfect introduction and reference volume that should be on every
clinician's shelf.Ordering Info: CLICK HERE to order from Safer Society Press or CLICK HERE to order from
Amazon.com. No Kindle version available.COMMENTS: A collection of articles on treatment, victim empathy, evaluating and treating
offenders, and other issues related to treating offenders.

HELPING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE (2006) BY: Lynn Heitritter and Jeanette Vought
Description: (From the publisher) How do we minister to victims of sexual abuse? It's a difficult
problem for Christian communities. This solidly biblical and sensitive guide is packed full of helpful
information that provides a valuable perspective on how abuse affects children and the family
dynamics that play into its development. As well, readers will also discover practical tools that can
lead adult victims into full recovery in Christ. Required reading for everyone who wants to bring
meaningful ministry to those affected by sexual abuse.Ordering Info: CLICK HERE to order from Bethany House or CLICK HERE to order from Amazon.
com. Kindle Version Available!COMMENTS: This is a good book on helping victims of sexual abuse recover from the effects of
the abuse from a Christian perspective, and it deals with many issues dealing with forgiveness and
views of God following abuse.

Oh yeah, my front page disclaimer:

ONCE FALLEN DISCLAIMERS
The purpose of this site is to educate the public on the truth on sex offender
laws and to offer support and guidance to those accused or convicted of sex
crimes. This site does not promote, condone, or tolerate illegal activities
nor any "pro-pedophile" agenda or groups such as NAMBLA. This site
DOES believe in punishment for illicit sexual activity, so long as it is coupled
with treatment and Restorative Justice. This site promotes education and
prevention programs coupled with treatment and successful reintegration of
those who have served their sentences as the only effective method for the
successful reduction in sexual violence.
An example from this blog:

http://once-fallen.blogspot.com/2009/11/of-myths-and-monsters-plague-of-sex.html

Most importantly, we need to honor victims by helping victims of sex crimes overcome the crimes committed against them. These days, if a victim forgives his or her attacker, many people look at them like they are crazy. What good does keeping victims thinking about what happened to them and the guilt and anger they feel rather than dealing with those feelings? The result is many more lives remain broken rather than healed, making them lifelong victims rather than “Thrivers.”

Helping victims of sexual abuse overcome the negative effects of the abuse is also sickening? Somehow I don't think people see it that way. I am winning this round.

Here's an interesting comment Trollanda makes in the same post: He objected to our remark that all sex offenders should literally be branded as such.

Ironically enough, children have been targeted because of Trollanda's mentality. In fact, we've put children themselves (some as young as age 9) on the public registry:


http://www.solresearch.org/~SOLR/rprt/JSOs.htm

http://www.oncefallen.com/CriminalizingTeenSex.html

But we also forget that family members and even children of registrants are also attacked:

http://www.opd.ohio.gov/AWA_Information/AW_levenson_family_impact_study.pdf

Family members living with an RSO were more likely to experience threats and
harassment by neighbors. Children of RSOs reportedly experienced adverse consequences
including stigmatization and differential treatment by teachers and classmates. More than half
had experienced ridicule, teasing, depression, anxiety, fear, or anger. Unintended consequences
can impact family members’ ability to support RSOs in their efforts to avoid recidivism and
successfully reintegrate.

Has Trollanda not heard the expression "violence begets violence?"Has all the vigilante violence targeting those on the public registry impacted sex crime rates? The evidence states the opposite. (By the way, sign the "Stop Vigilante Violence Act HERE). Shoalanda Speaks out her tail end, apparently, while I continue to trump her arguments. Logue 2, Trollanda 0.

I guess I should tell her that calling me a "pedophile" is slander and makes her liable to being sued, seeing as how I not only have never been classified as such by Alabama, I have not had sex with a child nor have I been clinically diagnosed with pedophilia. Maybe Trollanda needs to get her facts from people OTHER than Pensacola sex offender Clay "Roar For Truth" Keys and Sheffield Prosecutor BT Gardner (I wonder is Shoalanda supports Gardner's defense of a man accused of rape. Hm). Logue 3, Trollanda 0.

Trollanda's obsession with me is so great, she comments on my move to Cincinnati for budget reasons. Yes, Sheffield, Alabama utilities exceed Cincinnati's by at least twice as much. But you see, I only moved to The Shoals because I was engaged. It fell through, so I saw no reason to stay in a place lacking public transportation and extremely isolated from the modern world. Sorry, Trollanda, not everyone finds your isolated community a nice place to live, especially the large numbers of young people leaving it for greener pastures. Only an idiot like Shoalanda can't do the math. Logue 4, Trollanda 0.

Another Trollanda rant: Logue would like us to believe that he and others like him are changed. What his writings actually do is portray such a twisted individual that we can't blame those who live nearby this Sheffield "activist" for wanting rid of him.

I don't care about being disliked by neighbors in that cesspool of depravity. There is a reason The Shoals is a dying, withering community. It is funny to suggest my writings make me twisted. If I am twisted for saying sex offender laws need reform, then what does that say about all those people (Shoalanda included) who advocate violence, mutilation, and murder? Shoalanda wants to brand people, after all. I have always found it ironic that the very people who advocate for the end of violence advocate violent actions to promote their cause. I'm winning again, 5-0.


Well, to Shoalanda Speaks's credit, she does make a couple of disclaimers:

Obviously, we hear and read much that can't be proved [sic], but we do usually manage to present the known facts to our readers. (Geez, it's "can't be proven," not "can't be proved." I guess those portable classrooms WERE detrimental to children's education in Alabama after all. But the English language has a word for it-- RUMORS. Rumors are what you pay for them-- nothing. I heard plenty of gossip in the Shoals. Like I heard BT Gardner is an alcoholic and has been chased out of prosecutor positions in other cities like Tuscumbia (a rumor told to me, ironically enough, from a couple of people who work with him), or the rumor that Elvis, Osama Bin Laden, and Tupac Shakur are on the same Caribbean island sipping a Corona and laughing at the death money rolling in. Only problem is, Trollanda and other wannabe crime bloggers love to throw rumors out there as issues of fact.

the rumor mill can't dissolve many facts:

FACT: I have been out of prison over eight years and have not been accused of any sex crimes.
FACT: I have been given a partial pardon from the State of Alabama since the state looks at my actually actions, not what online trolls like Shoalanda thinks of me.
FACT: Despite how Trollanda Spews her filth and makes implied threats, I can move back to The Shoals if I wanted to. However, I didn't like it any time BEFORE I was added to the public registry, feel free to ask my ex-wife/ fiancee BRANDI, who Shoalanda targeted in her blog last year. Shoalanda put a mother and child in harm's way without a thought. Careless? Yes. Stupid? Without a doubt. My beef with her stemmed from attacking Brandi, not her criticism of me. Now, I can care less. But unlike her, I'm not afraid of being public. Again, I am winning.


Shoalanda is not the first or last who will try to slander, discredit, or bully me into submission. I'm still here, and most of my detractors are gone (WASP Ohio, Wikisposure, and certain other random 3 am phone callers). Charlie Sheen is goofy, but I like some of his quotes. Love me or hate me, I continue to win.

PS: According to Alexa.com, I'm beating Trollanda there too:

Shoalanda Speaks: Rank #10,348,935
Once Fallen: Rank# 4,057,021
My anti-AZU blog: #5,095,681
This Once-Fallen blog: #4,611,504

Take that, Trollanda! Tell that to Karen.