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11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 8:54 am
by tugon (imported)
Last year a young woman and her boyfriend were living in my apartment building. Their apartment was on the second floor and they were creating a lot of traffic and comotion. We began to suspect them of drug dealing. Several of us in the building had become a bit paranoid and did not venture out much.
Well one day while listening to the stereo and visiting the Archive I heard a loud comotion outside my door. I was fed up with everything so I walked to the door and opened it to see what the hell was happening this time. Right in front of my door was a young woman on her back in the hallway. On top of her was her boyfriend with his hands around her throat choking her. I shouted to get off of her and I was calling the police. I went back in to get my phone. As I was dialing I went back out and he had left. I gave my statement to the police and now 11 months later it is finished.
The first time to court he must not have thought she would press charges. He asked for a court appointed attorney and we had our first continuance. The second subpoena arrived and I went to court and the victim did not show up. The prosecuter refiled the case as assault instead of domestic violence because he knew I would show up to testify. Received the third subpoena and went to court and he was in a different court for a drug charge. Since I showed up they could keep the case alive. Today we actually had court and the victim and I gave our testimonies. I was a little nervous. He was found guilty and received a sentence of 90 days. Seeing his anger and ferocity of his actions I feel her life was at risk. 90 days seems like a light sentence but the young woman seemed glad it was over and I will be receiving no more subpoenas. My luck I would have received another for the dates I plan on being at a MOM.
Re: 11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 9:16 am
by Blaise (imported)
tugon (imported) wrote: Fri May 04, 2007 8:54 am
Last year a young woman and her boyfriend were living in my apartment building. Their apartment was on the second floor and they were creating a lot of traffic and comotion. We began to suspect them of drug dealing. Several of us in the building had become a bit paranoid and did not venture out much.
Well one day while listening to the stereo and visiting the Archive I heard a loud comotion outside my door. I was fed up with everything so I walked to the door and opened it to see what the hell was happening this time. Right in front of my door was a young woman on her back in the hallway. On top of her was her boyfriend with his hands around her throat choking her. I shouted to get off of her and I was calling the police. I went back in to get my phone. As I was dialing I went back out and he had left. I gave my statement to the police and now 11 months later it is finished.
The first time to court he must not have thought she would press charges. He asked for a court appointed attorney and we had our first continuance. The second subpoena arrived and I went to court and the victim did not show up. The prosecuter refiled the case as assault instead of domestic violence because he knew I would show up to testify. Received the third subpoena and went to court and he was in a different court for a drug charge. Since I showed up they could keep the case alive. Today we actually had court and the victim and I gave our testimonies. I was a little nervous. He was found guilty and received a sentence of 90 days. Seeing his anger and ferocity of his actions I feel her life was at risk. 90 days seems like a light sentence but the young woman seemed glad it was over and I will be receiving no more subpoenas. My luck I would have received another for the dates I plan on being at a MOM.
For twenty-five years, I was a probation officer for misdemeanor courts. Your experience of domestic violence cases is typical. You did the right thing. Many clinicians who work with the perpetrators of domestic violence find them juvenile. They are like three-year-olds who cannot control their rage. Thank you for doing what needed to be done.
It always seemed strange to me that many domestic violence cases were misdemeanor cases. However, that is the way we often prosecute them.
Re: 11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 7:02 am
by Kangan (imported)
I don't mean to be paranoid, but I'd be a bit concerned that after his 90-day sentence is up, that he might come looking for revenge.
Re: 11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 8:21 pm
by kristoff
Kangan (imported) wrote: Sat May 05, 2007 7:02 am
I don't mean to be paranoid, but I'd be a bit concerned that after his 90-day sentence is up, that he might come looking for revenge.
That is actually not a very common occurence. It does happen, but is unlikely. Many cons cant even remember what their victims look like after 90 days, if that - they're just a victim, nada to them... The mor domestic situations, I cant speak to specifically, but i wouldnt be overly concerned.
Re: 11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 9:46 pm
by Blaise (imported)
Kangan (imported) wrote: Sat May 05, 2007 7:02 am
I don't mean to be paranoid, but I'd be a bit concerned that after his 90-day sentence is up, that he might come looking for revenge.
Yes, that is a possibility. I just revised this note to leave out the adjective "good." I agree with Kristoff. See below.
Re: 11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 10:53 pm
by Blaise (imported)
For a change I have to agree with Kristoff. Criminals are mostly preocuppied with so many problems that they are unlikely to remember or have time to worry about witnesses..but then there is the Mafia.H.;)The target if the victim, but I have heard of cases where the abuser goes after other people, but I never felt that I was a target when I did reports and recommended jail.
Re: 11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 4:29 am
by Kangan (imported)
Most common criminals just move on and don't go looking for revenge. Domestic violence cases are another situation entirely since the motivation of the offender is control, and revenge is very similar in nature.
Re: 11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 4:58 am
by Blaise (imported)
I do not recall ever being threatened. However, I avoid some neighborhoods and any part time job that might make me a target.
Re: 11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 6:49 am
by tugon (imported)
I am not concerned about him. Oddly he was always very respectful to myself and the other people in the building. I did not like his business enterprise and am glad he and his friends moved elsewhere. The young lady is a very troubled person who if I had a degree in psychology I might diagnose her as borderline personality disorder. She could not tell the truth if she was reading it off a card, created a lot of chaos and loved high drama. She was probably sexually promiscuous but luckily I do not have first hand knowledge. If he was not home another young man was keeping her company. Not to justify what he did but I am sure she and the drug use might have been messing with his mind. I hope they stay apart from each other. The young lady did announce she was pregnant.
What was odd to me was neither family was in court to support them. They both were alone. I can not imagine my family not being at my side. The family she comes from is one of my city's most notorious family. As a matter of fact her uncle is the man who abused me for all those years. My nervousness stemmed from the idea he might show up. When you have to state your name and address for the court I would have hated for him to have learned my whereabouts. As far as his family I have never met any of them but the court warned us to call the police if they try to make contact or if threatened and property damaged.
Since 11 months passed and there were no problems I do not expect any now.
Re: 11 months and 4 subpoenas later!
Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 2:54 pm
by Kangan (imported)
Glad to hear that there has been no further trouble. I guess I'm just paranoid.
Hey, even paranoids have enemies!