Castle Shima

Amy wouldnt be an organ donor. That's because if she had a hangnail, her husband would be screaming "For God's sake, dont let her suffer! Pull the plug! Pull the plug!"
-- Robbie during a conversation at work

::: Tower View :::
State Side Of Things
Now the case in question is a civil one. If we believed that the respondent, Ronnie, would most likely offend again, then he would be forced back to a civil committment center for treatment. This would be a medium security facility where he stay until he finished his mandatory treatment.

As a jury, we were not to determine the course of treatment or how long he would stay. Only that we thought he would do it again.

So the State Attorneys brought out everyone and everything that would push that agenda. There were the police officers in Ronnie's various arrests. There was parole officer that had Ronnie sent back. The doctors that identified the pictures of the battered and beaten victims as well as defined their injuries.

In my sick sense of humour, I found two sets of witnesses the funniest ones for the State's side of the case. These were the female victims and the three psychologists brought in.

Dont get me wrong. There isnt anything funny about sexual abuse or battery, but these particular women made things a riot.

Two new women had come foreward to testify that before the assault on Sheila, Ronnie had hit them. At one point in time, he even tore the clothes off of one girl and would have ravished in his truck except that she had run into a local convienance store. Ronnie would drag her out by the hair, toss her back into the truck, and take her back home.

Neither girl brought up charges against him because as they had both put it in a similiar fashion: "Oh he is a good old boy and dat is how it is around where I am from."

When the Respondant's lawyer, Fleschmann, asked one woman how she came to testify at this case, she stated "Well, I done married Ronnie's cousin. When I mentioned the attack when we was younger, my husband insisted that I give my statement."

Then there was Shiela, who cried through most of her testimony. Granted she was the one beaten and assaulted, but with the strong Southern drawl, it was really hard to keep a straight face. Especially when she made comments like "Yeah, I wanted him to f**k me, but I didnt want him to beat me. We done it every way we could and put it in everywhere. How else could I keep him happy?"

When Ronnie was in jail, she would write and visit him. Her letters were entered as evidence by Fleschmann, stating how Sheila was totally devoted to Ronnie, that she would leave whoever she was with for him.

And in the back of mind I kept hearing Coocoo! Coocoo! I'm crazy for Coco Puffs!

Denise refused to testify at the 1998 trial as well as this one. Instead, it came out how she had received a sum of cash from Ronnie's grandmother before her statement could be taken...

And in the back of mind I kept hearing Coocoo! Coocoo! I'm crazy for Coco Puffs!

What was worse that in my strange, crazy mind, the first few thoughts when I saw the women was "Hm, she is pretty hot. I can see why he wanted to do her..."

Which is a good lead-in to the psychologists.

All three of them went into their various educations, job experiences, and fees. One was even pushing his book as the reference point for committing Ronnie back to treatment. Then there was the one that so monotone that I kept hearing Ben Stein saying "Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?"

During one lunch break, a few of jury were debating about taking the doctors out back and beating them to death.

Then there were both set of attorneys jabbing at the doctors to get what they wanted to be said. Both sets were getting so out of line so many times, that the judge had to constantly rein them in. Then when he wanted to admonish them, he sent us to the jury room.

It didnt help that the doctors would debate with Ronnie's lawyers when he tried to discredit them. Then the judge would chew them out for doing it. In his words "You are here to answer the questions, not ask them!"

At one point, me and another juror had different bets going:
1) How often Fleschmann would get overturned
2) How often the State attorneys would get chewed out for asking inappropriate queestions
3) How often the doctors would get yelled at
4) How often we would be sent to the jury room so the judge could yell at everyone.

So after suffering thru a few days of the slow monotone pace, the constant bickering, and humorous drawls, the Respondant got present their case.

And things went downhill from there...

To Be Continued
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::: Out In The Yard :::
Japanese dirctor says that Hollywood is out of ideas. Well no, shite. How the else can you explain Scary Movie 4?
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::: Background Noise :::
Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me by TISM

Everyone else has had more sex than me
Does anyone else get that feeling?
Teenagers, naked, couples in threes...
Grandparents swing from the ceiling...

Geez everything about this song is addicting, even the video...

*******************************************************
* But I'm a creep
* I'm a weirdo
* What the hell am I doing here?
* I dont belong here
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Stupid is as stupid does...
-- from the movie Forrest Gump

::: Tower View :::
Have We Got A Case For You...
The case was a civil commitment trial brought on by the state to determine if the Respondant, whom we'll call Ronnie, should be classified as violent sexual offender and would most likely offend again. The state attorney's gave a description of this case as part of their opening arguements.

In 1992, Ronnie was charged for sexual battery on his then girlfriend, Sheila. He was 22 while she was 18.

One night they had gone out drinking, smoked abit of pot, and driven out to a secluded area of town where there was nothing but woods and sand dunes. They had sex in the back seat of his Ford Explorer, on the hood, and in the cab. During this event, Ronnie ripped off her clothes, slapped her around, struck her face, and bit several parts of her body. He also proceeded to use a police-style baton to beat Sheila as well as penetrate her with it. After using the baton on her lower region, they would have more sex.

After the ordeal, he dropped her home, then back to his parents' home. The next day, she charged him with the assault.

Sheila had gone to the ER where the police took several photos. They took several photos of the crime scene, finding bits of her clothing, beer bottles, and a wooden baton. In the meantime, they had put out a warrant for Ronnie's arrest.

After "coaxing" his family to work them, the police found Ronnie in his truck, hanging out down at a neighbor's house. He was he was arrested, arraigned, and released on bond. While out on bail, Ronnie was not to have any contact to Sheila.

A few nights later, Sheila went to Ronnie's home looking for him, wanting to go out, and to apologize for having him charged. Earlier that day she had attempted to get the charges dropped against Ronnie by stating that she had lied about the entire incident. Since the police collected the evidence, they knew a crime had been commmitted and would proceed with the case.

So that night, Ronnie and Sheila drove out to the woods in his truck to do some drinking, smoke some pot, and proceed to have sex. They would have sex in the back seat, in the cab, and even behind the truck. Ronnie proceeded to rip her clothes, slap her around, and beat Sheila with a hammer handle, even penetrating her with it.

They drove out to a nearby motel to have more sex where he would slap her around again. Ronnie gave a new meaning to phone sex as he used the phone receiever as a toy on her.

After several hours of this, he drove them home.

The next day, Sheila called the police on him again. Ronnie's bail was revoked, a warrant put out on him and was promptly re-arrested at his parents' home. He would be charged for the second assault as well as breaking the terms of the original bond and immediately incarcerated.

Ronnie would plead no-contest to two charges of sexual battery and was sentenced to prison for 10 years and to 5 years probation.

In 1997, Ronnie was released into probation on good behavior. He would continue to date Sheila, who had been visiting and writing him during his prison term.

In 1998, Six months after his release, Ronnie would be arrested for statutory rape of a 16 year old girl, Denise. Although, Ronnie was 28 at the time, charges were dropped because he had picked Denise up in a bar and could assume she was above the legal age of consent.

A few weeks later, Ronnie and Denise drove out to the woods in his truck in order to drink, smoke crack, and have sex. During this incident, Ronnie tore off Denise's clothes, screaming that she was working with the police to get his parole revoked.

He was determined to find the wire they had planted on her. Finding none, Ronnie proceeded to beat Denise in the face and back as well as biting her in several locations. He also used a police-style baton to beat the teen as well as to penetrate her several times before having more sex with her.

Afterwards, he began to drive her home, having Denise wear his t-shirt.

As they drove along, Ronnie held a knife to her throat, stating that he was going to cut her up and leave the pieces all over town so that no one could find her. It was at that moment, the truck stalled, forcing Ronnie to pull over.

By some chance luck, a police cruiser pulled up behind them, lights flashing.

Ronnie threatened Denise, saying that if she told anyone the truth that he would kill her. She was to tell the officers that her boyfriend "Reggie" had beat her up and that her cousin, Ronnie, saved Denise. He even cut his leg to make the story believeable.

The police officer who found them took Denise to the ER to be checked out while Ronnie refused medical treatment and was given a lift home. Denise gave the story that Ronnie told her to say. Then before an exam could be given, she went home against medical advice.

The Sex Crimes Unit investigated the false story that the teenager had given. By this time, her mother had seen the damage inflicted upon the girl and took several photos to document her injuries. Then they both went to Ronnie's parole office to file a complaint.

This time a special unit of SWAT was dispatched after Ronnie.

When they entered his home, his mother and sister were insistant that he wasnt home. A search of the garage found classic car that had been restored, but the doors and trunk locked. When the SWAT officers requested the keys for the vehicle, both females stated that they had no idea where the keys where located. But when the officers noted that they would use explosives to open the car, the mother "remembered" where the keys were and surrendered them.

They promptly found Ronnie hiding in the trunk of the car.

The state couldnt charge Ronnie for the assault on Denise because they had not collected the evidence and the victim refused to cooperate. It became a case of He Said - Mom Says Otherwise.

Despite the fact they couldnt charge him with this crime, his parole was revoked for statuatory as well as having contact with Sheila, which was against the terms of his parole. Ronnie was sentenced to finish the 4 years from his original sentence as well as an additional 5 years for the statuatory rape. His sentence would be served at the minimum security prison, the Civil Commitment Center, where sexual offenders are placed.

During this term, Ronnie began started dating his nurse, Irene, who worked at the facility. She would lose her job and her license states she is no longer allowed to treat male patients, but they are currently engaged. Ronnie has also refused any kind of sexual offender's treatment and awaits his release in the summer of 2007.

This civil case was to not only force Ronnie remain as a guest of the state, but would also force him take some kind of treatment program.

The respondant's case was that although Ronnie had done some bad things in the past, he would complete his jail time as expected and that the State was trying to incarcerate him under a law that didnt apply. There was no way that we could predict whether or not this man would truly offend once again.

Then the fun really began...

To Be Continued
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::: Out In The Yard :::
The list of the world's least sexiest men. Frig, how did I end up at #69?!
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::: Background Noise :::
Boulevard of Broken Dreams (remix) by Green Day, Oasis, and Aerosmith

I walk a lonely road
the only one I have ever known
Dont know where it goes
But its only me
And I walk alone

Today is the going to be the day
That they are going to throw it back to you

I walk this empty street
On the boulevard of broken dreams
And the city sleeps
And I'm the only one
And I walk alone

By now, you should have somehow,
Realized what you gotta do

And I walk alone, I walk alone

I dont believe that anybody
Feels the way I do

And I walk alone

*******************************************************
* But I'm a creep
* I'm a weirdo
* What the hell am I doing here?
* I dont belong here
*******************************************************

Shut Up, Hippy!
-- seen on a bumper sticker

::: Tower View :::
Terms Of Service
Geez, I've really been gone for awhile. So to make up for it, I can finally divulge the details of my jury duty. This will take a couple of days because it could practically be a book.

You've been warned.
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Voir Dire
As much as people dispise this obligation, I will be the first to admit that this had to be one of the best experiences I've had. Mainly because the damn thing was funny from beginning to end which is why this is going to take some time.

I reported to the courthouse on the Monday morning as requested. The city does a pretty good job in that there is one central location for all potenital jurorists to park and the city pays for a shuttle to bring people back and forth. Normally, a juror goes thru one case and finds out if they are chosen. If they are chosen, then they are told to come back later in the week to serve.

Those that arent chosen are sent home. Job done.

After filling all the necessary paperwork and watching the silly video on jury duty, The first group is called together. I'm number two on the list. The first thought on my mind was "Frig! I'm royally screwed now!"

There are 18 of us called into a courtroom and the one sitting next to me was a younger guy who obviously was just too busy to be inconvienced. I think it was the comment of "Man, if I gotta lie to get out of this bullshit, then I'll do it!"

He really must be a really busy type of guy. After all, he couldnt have been bothered to have tucked in the dingy white tshirt under his wrinkled animal print shirt.

The first step any jury is to do called Voir Dire. This is when both sets of the lawyers ask the jurors questions in order to determine who they want or dont want to stay. I was quite proud to state my name, occupation, and how long I had lived here. After all, I'm a semi-respectable citizen of the community. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

The busy body next declared that this name was Redman and that he was a manager at Hardees. I now refuse to eat there for any reason.

After everyone tells who they are, the potential jury is told that this a civil case brought on by the state and the defendant was actually to be called the Respondant. The questions may be abit more adult oriented and may come upon touchy subjects such as sex and violence.

Thats when the though hits me: Sex?! Perk!! What is this all about?! Woohoo! Apparently, I've been watching Law And Order: Special Victims Unit abit too much.

There are two female lawyers for the State and they go thru there progression of questions for everyone. There are questions about how we feel about sexual offenders, sexual violence, and molestors. A few make it known that they cant be too objective as either they were victims or knew someone who was a victim.

One question asked was Would you have a problem deciding if someone should go to jail? to which Redman shot his hand up and yelped "Yes, I do!" When the State attorney asked him why, he replied "I've got alot of relatives in jail already!"

He began whispering to me "Yes! I'm going home! I'm going home!".

When the Respondant's lawyer began asking questions, Redman's hand continuously shot up.

"Have you or anyone close you ever been charged with a sexual offense?"
"Yep! My uncle! He done got seven years!"
"Have you or anyone close you ever been charged with a drug abuse?"
"Yep! My mom!"

After awhile, the Respondant's lawyer, Mr. Flechman, would just say "Thank you, Mr. Redman. I think we got you."

So every few mins, Redman would again whisper gleefully "Yes! I'm going home! I'm going home!".

At one point, the Flechman asked if anyone knew what actuarial tables were. I responded that I knew what they were and had worked with due to my employment as a computer programmer with an insurance company. Then Red would whisper Ooo! You're going home! You're going home!

It was like this for the entire 2 hour process except for when Redman had fallen asleep and began snoring. Loud. Then snorted himself awake which even made me giggle softly. I was amazed that the judge didnt toss him out for contempt.

With every question concerning the thoughts about sex, incarceration, violence, and drugs, my interest was actually piqued. I really wanted to be on this one.

The State lawyer even asked "Do you have any issue with harsh language? Do you have a problem with someone telling you, pardon my language, that they are going f*ck you?" I almost blurted out Are you kidding?! I practically beg women to tell me that!

Around 10:30am, all of the jurors were released for a 15 minute break in order for the lawyers and judge to discuss who would stay and who would go. All the way out the door, Redman continued his chant "I'm going home! I'm going home!". He practically did the Happy Dance going out the courtroom. Then again, he was doing the Happy Dance when we back came in.

After being seated, the judge spoke to us, stating that while some of us will be picked for this trial, the ones that were not picked shouldnt be offended because they could be a good juror for another trial. So those who were called would remain while those left over would return to the main hall in order to be picked for a different trial.

Redman's jaw dropped for a moment while I stiffled a snicker, my mind thinking "You arent going home! You arent going home!" Hehehe...

My name was called and I was in.

Redman collected himself and mumbled "That's ok. I'll lie to them too. I dont need this shit." Then off he went. Obviously, Hardee's needs him back in a hurry because I sure as hell wouldnt want him to be in jury with me.

With the others gone, we were down to 7 jurors and we found out when the trial would begin.

Right then and there...

To Be Continued
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::: Out In The Yard :::
Barter your paper clip for a house. Now I could afford that kind of mortgage.
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Goths prone to suicide. Ugh, such depressing news... everything is so black...
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::: Background Noise :::
Party Up by DMX

Listen
Your ass is about to be missing!
You know who gonna find you?
Who?
Some old man fishing!
Grandma wishing your soul's at rest,
But its hard to digest
With the size of the hole in your chest

*******************************************************
* But I'm a creep
* I'm a weirdo
* What the hell am I doing here?
* I dont belong here
*******************************************************