In Praise of Sandy Hook Educators Who Gave Their Lives Protectng Children

modernmom.com

Sixteen days ago, a mass murderer shot and killed six women at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, as they tried to protect the children in their charge.  Dawn Hochsprung, the school principal, and Mary Sherlach, the school psychologist rushed to stop the intruder when they realized he had breached the security system by shooting his way into the school using a weapon intended for battle. They were the first to lose their lives.  Victoria Soto died trying to shield her students, but only six of them escaped execution.  Lauren Rousseau, a sub who was waiting for a permanent position, also perished in an attempt to save her students.  Rachel Davino, a behavioral therapist, used her body to protect students from the barrage of bullets fired, and Anne Marie Murphy, a special ed teacher, died holding a student in her arms.

Ham on Wry shares this post as a reaction to an opinion column written by Bill Maxwell in the Tampa Bay Times December 23.  Why the delay?  I spent part of the holidays with my family in another stated.  An irate reader wrote letter to the local paper in Newtown as a response to a teacher who opposed cutting Sandy Hook's library and music programs.  As a former teacher, the part of his letter that infuriated me the most stated, "You, as a public sector employee don't generate ANY revenue.  Every penny of the budget of your public sector enterprise is TAKEN from producers.  It's other people's money versus money your organization earned."  Wow!  What an enlightened individual this disgruntled man is and how woefully uninformed about how schools receive funding.

Obviously, this person doesn't understand the intrinsic value of educating children, which pays dividends after they graduate, get a job, and make contributions to the society. Perhaps he should take a refresher course in school funding.  States use a variety of means to determine the amount of money allocated to education at all levels, but, at least part of that money usually comes from taxes based on real estate values.  This idiot doesn't seem to realize that educators do contribute to their own salaries because they pay the same direct taxes that any homeowner does ,or they pay it indirectly if they rent. 

I wonder how many times Mr. Big Stuff has been called upon to lay down his life for fellow employees.  This man is the poster child for what is wrong with our culture today.  More value is placed on how much money one earns than what lasting contributions one makes during a lifetime.  This guy needs a lesson in humility and should spend a week each in an elementary school, a middle or junior high school, and a high school before he pontificates from his soap box.  That should give him a dose of reality.  He should honor those who choose to educate children rather than excoriating them.  Maybe his last name is Scrooge.

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Joe Paterno Fired--Not Allowed to Resign

Gene J. Puskar, AP

Ham on Wry is posting an update to yesterday's blog about Joe Paterno's retirement.  Last night, the Penn State Board of Trustees unanimously voted to fire Joe Paterno, along with the expected ouster of Graham Spanier.  Paterno is pictured above with his wife Susan after receiving a call that delivered the news of his firing. The expression on their faces tells an emotional story.  They thanked well wishers and encouraged the football team to win the upcoming game against Nebraska.

After the announcement, thousands of students expressed their anger at the news that Paterno would not be allowed to finish the season.  They congregated at the administration building shouting that they wanted Joe back and then headed for Beaver Stadium, where some pushed over a news van and threw rocks to illustrate their frustration at the decision.

Some questions remain for the Board of Trustees in their handling of the sex scandal.  Despite the fact that Athletic Director Tim Curley and Vice President for Finance Gary Shultz were charged Tuesday for their mishandling of the situation by not reporting Jerry Sandusky's sexual misconduct and lying to a Grand Jury, they remain on the payroll at Penn State.  The university has expressed its support of the two, which not only defies logic, it also reveals a university in chaos.  Fire one, fire them all.

The Penn State sex scandal happened on a much smaller scale than the abomination which occurred in the Catholic Church's cover-up of priests sexually abusing children in their parish.  I thought that horrendous affair would serve as a lesson to others who are in positions of trust.  Jerry Sandusky obviously missed that point and has wreaked havoc on many people's lives.  Ham on Wry reminds readers that the real victims in this scandal are the children who suffered abuse and their families.  All others had choices about their actions.

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Raj Rajaratnam Gets 11 Years for Insider Trading

Galleon Group, LLC co-founder Raj Rajaratnam was sentenced to 11 years in prison today, the longest prison term doled out for insider trading thus far.  He could have received up to 24 years, but his attorneys argued that he was suffering poor health, which helped to migitate his sentence.  His severe diabetes is leading to renal failure.

The 54-year-old, disgraced former leader of the Galleon Group Hedge fund must forfeit $53.8 million, an amount equal to his gains from insider trading.  Judge Richard Howell also fined him $10 million.  How many readers have ever seen that kind of money?  Rajaratnam symbolizes part of the reason "Occupy Wall Street" has gained so much ground, although his crime did not steal money from investors, like that of Bernie Madoff, who bilked investors of over $50 billion.

Judge Howell declared, "His crimes and the scope of his crimes reflect a virus in our business culture that needs to be eradicated."   Ham on Wry agrees and believes that Howell's statement describes the essence of the malaise that afflicts current operating models of many businesses in America.  It seems many executives receive their rewards without the risk of loss from negative outcomes. 

Preet S. Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan  has championed government crackdowns on insider trading.  The sweeping insider trading probe, begun in 2009, has charged 49 people, with most being convicted.  He also played a significant role in bringing charges yesterday against Manssor Arbabsiar, one of the alleged masterminds of an Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the United States. 

Ham on Wry wishes that the successes of government attorneys could spill over into the chambers of the United States Congress, where it's all talk and no action. 



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Amanda Knox Leaves Itay Bound for Seattle

Amanda Knox proceeds to her flight from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport in the picture above.  She flew to London, where she and her family waited in the Windsor Suite at Heathrow Airport for their flight to Seattle.  That suite normally houses members of the Royal Family or celebrities.  She finally allows a smile after a subdued journey from Rome.

Once on board the British Airways flight, the family occupied the upper deck, and no reporters were allowed access to them.   A Knox family spokesperson informed reporters that they will hold a news conference at about 5:45 pm PDT at the South Ground Transportation lot at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  Knox's parents and their legal adviser will speak to reporters.  At this time, it is unknown whether Knox will address the media during the news conference.

While Ham on Wry knows Knox must feel immense relief that her appeal freed her from prison and allowed her to return home, she must also be thinking about how to recoup her former life and reclaim her "girl-next-door" image.  The Italian media and the prosecution skewered her and portrayed her as "a sex-crazed she devil."  As mere observers to a trial, no one can know with certainty whether Knox is innocent or guilty of participating in the murder of Meredith Kercher, but many still believe she is guilty.  As is true in the United States, media coverage greatly influences public opinion.  Ham on Wry has a lingering question with which that the Italian justice system must struggle.  Who assisted Rudy Guede in Kercher's murder?

Guede was originally sentenced to 30 years, a life sentence in Italy, which was reduced to 16 years on appeal.  It appears that police believe he had help in the murder; therefore, it seems logical that another thorough investigation should occur to answer the question of who assisted Guede.  The court proceedings in this case were often reminiscent of a soap opera, and I'm certain we have not heard the last of it. 

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Amanda Knox Freed



When she heard the verdict that the Italian Appeals Court handed down overturning her 2009 conviction of murdering her roommate earlier today, Amanda Knox sobbed openly in relief.  Near collapse, her legs buckling, Knox was aided by court officers as she left the courthouse.  Amidst the cheering of her supporters, she was whisked away to Capanne Prison where she has spent the last four years as a model prisoner.  Her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, also convicted of Meredith Kercher's murder, was acquitted today as well.



Raffaele Solecito at Appeals Trial



Although the jury upheld her conviction for slander against a local bar owner, Knox has already served four years for a crime that carried a three-year sentence.  So, after briefly returning to prison for a formal discharge, Knox entered one of the black cars in a convoy and left the prison.  She plans to return to Seattle tomorrow and resume a "normal" life again.

When Knox addressed the court before the verdict, she said in fluent Italian, "I lost a friend, in the most brutal and inexplicable way possible.  My absolute faith in the police authorities was betrayed, I've had to face absolutely unfair ... and baseless accusations. I am paying with my life for things I did not commit." 

Ham on Wry wishes Amanda Knox a safe journey and hopes she is offered a first class seat on the plane, after the ordeal she has faced.  It will probably be the most memorable flight she has ever taken. 

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Prosecutors in Michael Jackson's Death Trial Present Stunning Evidence on Opening Day

Dr. Conrad Murray on the Opening Day of His Trial

Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician, faces involuntary manslaughter charges in Jackson's death June 25, 2009. We live in a country where defendants are innocent until proven guilty, and the defense team has suggested that Jackson injected himself with the fatal dose of propofol when Murray left the room. Ham on Wry asks readers to study his face in the picture above and see what the jurors saw yesterday as the trial began.

The prosecution displayed a picture of Michael Jackson on a hospital gurney already dead in their opening statement. Even more startling, they played a recording of Michael Jackson Murray had recorded on his cell phone, his words slurred and almost unintelligible. Prosecutors placed his words on a screen while the recording played so that juros could understand what Jackson was saying. It sounded as though his tongue was so swollen that he couldn't articulate his words, and he spoke as though his mouth were moving in slow motions. Ham on Wry suggests that readers use a search engine or access video sites to hear it for themselves, because no written translation can convey how he sounded.

On the second day of the trial, Attorney Kathy Jorrie testified about her role in negotiating Murray's contract, which neither Jackson nor his promoters ever signed. Drafted just days before Jackson's death, Murray signed it the day before Jackson died. Jorrie said that she asked Murray why he would need the CPR machine he requested because the O2 Arena where Jackson would perform his "This is It" tour likely had one. Murray replied that he didn't want to take any chances and repeatedly told her that Jackson was in excellent health.

Paul Gongaware, an AEG Live promoter who helped sponsor "This is It" testified that Jackson had insisted on hiring Murray as his personal physician, although the promoters stated their preference for an English doctor, since the concert venue was in London.  Murray initially demanded $5 million, which the promoters summarily rejected.  Murray was set to decline the next offer of $150,000 a month, until he was informed that Jackson had dictated that amount.  Not bad for someone who had never earned that kind of money before.  Gongaware also presented testimony that he had seen Jackson a little slow with slurred speech in the early stages of rehearsing for the tour.

This photo is purported to be the last one of Michael Jackson alive.  Ham on Wry will not include the death photo in this post because it could alarm some readers.  Those who want to view it can use any search engine to find it because it proliferates on the internet.  The photo below shows Jackson in rehearsal for his tour, a fitting way to end today's post.



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Amanda Knox Appeal Shows Signs of Hope

Amanda Knox at her Appeal September 7,  2011

Amanda Knox, detained at the maximum-security Casa Circondariale Capanne prison compound just outside the Umbrian capital of Perugia since November 6, 2007, has finally seen some progress in her appeal for the murder of her then roommate, Meredith Kercher, a British citizen.  Knox's ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, was also convicted of the crime, and a third person, Ivory Coast national Rudy Guede, was already found guilty when Knox and Sollecito went on trial.  Guede had a streamlined trial that proceeded quickly and led to a 30-year sentence. 
When an appeals court rejected the prosecutor's request Wednesday for additional DNA testing, it signaled that the independent  review of DNA testing would stand, good news for Knox because the report favored her denial of participating in the crime.  The U.K. Telegraph reports that "court appointed experts have criticised the way the original forensic investigation was carried out by police." 

Judge Claudio Pratillo Hellmann/s ruling against the prosecutors allows for closing arguments to proceed Sept. 23.  The prosecution will present their arguments first, followed by those of civil plaintiffs and the defense.  Knox's lawyer Luciano Ghirga cautioned against assuming that the court's rejection of new DNA testing would automatically lead to Amanda Knox's release.  It does, however, give Knox and her family some reason to hope for a positive outcome.

Ham on Wry's author has followed this case since its inception.  Online articles have remained popular and always spike when media stories appear.  No one will ever know exactly what happened in 2007, except the person or people who killed Meredith Kercher, but perhaps now the accused and all of the families involved will have closure.  After learning about the Italian court system in following this case, Ham on Wry suggests that travelers from other countries avoid legal problems in Italy. 

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Ham on Wry Award--Delgado Sisters Thwart Hit-and-Run Driver's Escape

Brienna Delgado Pictured on You Tube

A hit-and-run driver who collided with the car in which Brienna and Brittany Delgado were traveling made the mistake of his life last Saturday night.  After the accident, the sisters were tending to their grandmother, who was driving, when the other driver attempted to flee on foot.  Brienna, pictured above, pursued and tackled him, forcing both of his arms behind him with the Chicken Wing, one of the wrestling moves she has mastered as a talented wrestler.  "When I was chasing him I was still yelling, 'You need to come back". I wasn't wearing the proper footwear. I got a little road rash when I tackled him," Brienna explained.




Brittany Delgado in an Oklahoma University Photo

Brittany followed close behind in the chase and helped her sister to bring the man to his feet and keep him standing there until the police arrived on the scene.  A senior at Oklahoma City University, Brittany has won two national championships in the Women's College Wrestling Association.  "My sister and I are very proficient wrestlers and also played football in high school, so we know about tackling," Brittany told the Oklahoman.

While the sisters and their grandmother suffered bumps and bruises, the driver of the other car was briefly hospitalized and then released into police custody.
Both siblings have aspirations of making the United States women's Olympic wrestling team.  Although Brienna entered the university as a freshman this year, she has already demonstrated her wrestling prowess in the real world.  Ham on Wry offers Brienna and Brittany its congratulations on nabbing the suspect. 

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Arizona Father Saves 6-year-old Girl From Would-be Adductor

24-year-old Antonio Diaz Chacon, Now a Hero

Antonio Diaz Chacon left work early Monday afternoon in Albuquerque, NM, so that he could spend time with his family and emerged a hero for his quick action in thwarting the kidnapping of a 6-year-old girl. Diaz Chacon and his family were doing laundry at a relative's home when he heard a commotion and saw a man throw a young girl in a van and speed away. He gave chase to the van, following it on a winding path through area neighborhoods and finally catching it when the driver crashed into a pole and fled the scene.

Chacon rescued the girl and returned her to the mobile home park where it all started.  As he chased the kidnapper, his wife and one of the girl's siblings called 911 and reported the crime.  The little girl had gone to the house where she was abducted to pick up a package of tostadas, later found in the van.  Police also found  packing tape and a tie-down strap hidden under a rock just 25 feet from the van.

"This little girl was very lucky," police Sgt. Tricia Hoffman said. "We can only guess what would have happened to this child.  Throughout the county we see situations like this and they do not end typically well," 



Phillip Garcia Arrested in Abduction (picture from KRQE in NM)

Police arrested Phillip Garcia, 29, after he returned to the van and tried to escape.  He got stuck on a mesa where he was apprehended.  Garcia was charged with kidnapping, child abuse and tampering with evidence.  He refused to make a statement and called a lawyer.

The victim's parents thanked Diaz Chacon and his wife for saving their daughter, saying they would never forget their instant response to an emergency.  That little girl might not have been saved if Chacon hadn't left work early.



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Ham on Wry Award-Jaycee Dugard's Book, A Stolen Life

Jaycee Dugard, held hostage for 18 years, released  her memoir, A Stolen Life, July 12th, in order to reveal the life she led in squalid surroundings, with only a bucket as a toilet, as Phillip and Nancy Garrido's prisoner.  One hundred seventy-five thousand copies were sold the first day, and Simon and Shuster announced that 475,000 copies have been printed thus far. 

In an interview with Diane Sawyer, Ms. Dugard recounted exactly what happened on the day the Garridos kidnapped her.  While walking to her school bus the morning of June 10, 1991, she approached their car, thinking they needed directions.  Feeling a sudden, sharp sensation, she lost control of her body and fell to the ground, unable to move.  Phillip Garrido had shot her with a stun gun, so that she couldn't resist when he and his wife abducted her.  Jaycee dozed on and off until they reached the Garrido house in Antioch, California.  There, Garrido handcuffed her and placed her where she couldn't see anything.  He repeatedly raped her and impregnated her twice.  She gave birth in the tent where she lived throughout her capture.

Nancy Garrido scouted for a victim and chose Ms. Dugard, knowing full well what her husband's intentions were.  She received a sentence of 35 years to life, while he received 431 years.  Somehow, her sentence strikes me as less than her crime deserved.  Because Phillip Garrido was on parole for a previous rape, authorities checked numerous times, but never discovered the tent city in his back yard.  They must have made only cursory contact with him, because in 18 years, someone should have suspected strongly enough that something was amiss to investigate more thoroughly.

The failure of parole officers or neighbors in this case stands out as one of the worst parts of this crime.  Ms. Dugard received a settlement from the state of California for $20 million last year, and I hope she makes a bundle from her book.  She deserves our admiration for handling the aftermath of such horror with dignity.  Her children have also suffered from living under such strange circumstances.  Perhaps they will all have a degree of catharsis now that the trial has ended, and they can forge a new direction. 

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The Weird World of Casey Anthony

Casey Anthony at Sentencing Hearing

Like the Energizer Bunny, the Casey Anthony story just keeps going and going and going.  This morning, Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Anthony to four years, the maximum allowable under Florida Law, for her conviction on four counts of lying to detectives in 2008.  Judge Perry listened to defense arguments that the four counts of lying occurred during one day in July, so the crimes should be considered as an aggregate offense with one year as the maximum penalty.  The prosecution countered that claim saying that the lies occurred over a twelve-hour period, giving Anthony ample time to reflect and conceive additional lies; thus, they occurred as separate crimes  Judge Perry agreed with the prosecution.

Determining how much jail time Anthony will serve involves much more complexity than one would assume.  First, the judge must consider time already served.  This might seem a simple task, but Casey Anthony pled guilty to check fraud on January 25, 2010 and was sentenced to time already served.  Does that mean that only the time from that day forward will be considered as time served for the four counts of lying?  I believe so, but I am not the presiding judge.  Then, the judge must receive information from the jail that will account for factors they consider in mitigating the sentence based on behavior and other considerations.  Absolutely nothing about this case has proven simple.

As Star Jones noted on  the Today Show, Anthony appeared ready to go home today in court.  She had literally, "let down her hair," and wore casual clothes during the hearing.  As the defense and prosecution presented opinions, she sat stone-faced listening to them, once again affecting an emotionless demeanor.  Outside the courtroom, a large group of protesters displayed signs and shouted opinions to the media covering the event.   Will we ever see the end of this case?

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Casey Anthony's Strange Choice of Attorney

A strange case gets even stranger when details about Jose Baez reveal that he sold bikinis during his hiatus from the law profession.  No, he didn't choose to stop practicing law intentionally.  He failed to pay child support and provide insurance for his children; thus, he was barred from practicing law for eight years.  Prior to the Casey Anthony trial, he had no noteworthy accomplishments as an attorney.  Anthony's selection of Baez is more bizarre than his lack of outstanding credentials.  Despite her family's advice against hiring him, Anthony gave greater weight to prison buzz about him and selected him as her attorney.  That created a win/win situation for both of them, at least in reference to the not guilty verdict and worldwide notoriety.  Baez will never have to declare bankruptcy or default on loans again.  I see books, movie deals, etc. in his future.

The downside to all of his new-found fame places him in harm's way.  People have tweeted death threats about Baez and the entire Anthony family.  George and Cindy Anthony are in hiding and Casey will learn tomorrow when she will released from prison.  If I were her, I might elect to stay there for a while longer until media coverage subsides.  Many people in this country believe that she should have received the death penalty and are evidently ready to carry out the sentence themselves.

Was Baez's success in this case attributable to his well-hidden brilliance as a lawyer?  It seems more like luck to me.  He is a master of the red herring, which served to throw the jury off track.  At least he's good at something. 

Beware future clients!  Don't expect Baez to win your case.  He has an underwhelming track record in the courts.  According to the International Business Times, "he had defended a man accused of killing the granddaughter of a boxer. Unfortunately, the accused was convicted of manslaughter, following which, a motion was initiated against Baez, accusing him of inefficiency that led to the conviction of his client."   In the same article, the reporter noted, "In a damming [sic] comment the Florida Supreme Court had said that Baez had 'a lack of respect for the rights of others and a total lack of respect for the legal system, which is absolutely inconsistent with the character and fitness qualities required of those seeking to be afforded the highest position of trust and confidence recognized by our system of law'."  Despite all his past problems, Baez emerged victorious yesterday--at least for now. 



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Casey Anthony Acquitted of First Degree Murder

Casey Anthony Awaits Verdict

Jurors in the Casey Anthony murder trial found her not guilty in the first-degree murder of her daughter Caylee earlier this afternoon, after deliberating for just under 11 hours. The jury also declared her innocent of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse.  They did find her guilty on four counts of giving false information to law enforement officers.  She could receive up to one year of additonal prison time for each count, but pundits doubt that will happen.

For almost six weeks, jurors, who had been selected from a pool of Clearwater, Florida residents, were sequestered in Orlando while they heard evidence in the case.  The prosecution portrayed Anthony as a mother who no longer wanted the responsibility of a child and preferred, instead, to lead the life of a party girl.  They believed that she murdererd her child by using chloroform to render Caylee unconscious and then suffocated her with duct tape.  The defense focused on the lack of physical evidence and presented an alternative theory of accidental drowning as Caylee Anthony's cause of death.  Both sides agreed on one thing:  Casey Anthony was a consummate liar.

She told her parents that Caylee was with a nanny named Zanny, a non-existent woman, as an explanation for her absence; that she and her daughter were with a rich boyfriend who doesn't exist; and that Zanny had been hospitalized after an out-of-town traffic crash, and that they visiting her.  None of it was true.  Why did Casey Anthony wait for a month to report Caylee missing?  That question will probably remain a mystery.  She also claimed that her father had sexually abused her starting at the age of eight, although no proof was offered to substantiate it.

One of the oddest parts of the prosecution's case came when Jeff Ashton showed a video of Casey playing with her daughter on the floor and holding her in the air.  Both had broad smiles and appeared to be thoroughly enjoying one another.  He then showed Casey Anthony living it up at a bar.  That tactic might have had the opposite of the intended effect.  It occurred late in the trial and could have left a lasting impression with some jurors that Casey obviously loved her daughter, despite the number of lies she told.

In the aftermath of the media circus, it will be interesting to see how the Anthony family handles life going forward.  George Anthony already tried to commit suicide in 2009,   Cindy lied on the stand about the internet searches involving chloroform, saying that she had done the searches, not Casey.  Casey's brother Lee was distraught during his testimony and visibly emotional when observing other testimony.  His relationship with his parents and Casey seems unclear.  I can already envision their hounding by the media and paparazzi continuing, despite the fact that the trial has ended.  I also predict we'll be seeing investigations on various true crime shows presenting their versions of what really happened.  Casey knows the true story, but I doubt that we ever will. 



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Defense Rests in Casey Anthony Trial

Casey Anthony confirmed her decision not to testify when Judge Belvin Perry inquired if that was her decision, adding that she had made the decision freely and voluntarily.   Prosecutors will now call rebuttal witnesses to the stand.  Despite the hype and drama surrounding this trial, the prosecution could only offer circumstantial evidence to prove its case against Anthony.

The defense strategy consisted mainly in casting doubt on the prosecution's claim that Anthony killed her daughter using duct tape to block her breathing  Anthony's attorney emphasized that the state had no witnesses who observed the killing, and no irrefutable proof that the child suffocated.  The defense claimed that Caylee had drowned accidentally in the swimming pool at Anthony's parents' home and that Casey's father had helped her dispose of the body, which he resolutely denied.  However, the biggest shocker came early in the case when the defense told the jury that Casey had behaved so irreverently after Caylee's death because George Anthony had sexually abused her, thus creating an emotional problem.  This case had more twists and turns than a race course.

For those readers who have consistently followed this case, other strange details held their interest, such as the final defense witness, Krystal Holloway, stating the she and George Anthony had an affair or the prosecution displaying a bag with "the smell of death" from the car.  The courtroom drama hooked many viewers, who will miss their daily dose of opposing lawyers arguing with one another and an exasperated judge hauling them into his chambers.  Jurors must now sift through all of the evidence and determine the fate of Casey Anthony.  No matter what verdict they render, this case will most likely wind up on the big screen.  After all, someone has to make money on this tragedy.

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Ham on Wry Award-Revisited

Phillip and Nancy Garrido-Jaycee Dugard's Abductors

Due to some difficulties with Friday's post, this blog didn't appear on Facebook.  Bear with me readers.  These two received exactly what they deserved within the limits of the law despite Nancy Garrido's defense attorney stating that she really thought of Jaycee and her two daughters as family.  No matter what Garrido's feelings, she failed to protect an innocent 11-year-old from sexual assault and 18 years of captivity.  Phillip Garrido can offer no valid defense for his reprehensible act.  Read the orginal post that follows.

Ham on Wry proudly presents this week's award to Jaycee Dugard for her courage and conviction during her eighteen-year hell in captivity. Yesterday, the judge sentenced Phillip Garrido to 431 years to life, the maximum sentence allowed, and Nancy Garrido to 36 years to life for her role in the kidnapping and repeated rape of Jaycee during her imprisonment in the backyard of their home in Antioch, CA. Ms. Dugard refused to attend the hearing, writing in a statement read by her mother, ""I chose not to be here today because I refuse to waste another second of my life in your presence." In saying that her abductors had stolen her life, she expressed her feelings about spending18 years of her life held against her will.

No amount of time in prison can possibly restore what Jaycee lost when she was kidnapped at the age of 11. No graduations, proms, parties, family picnics and vactions, or holiday celebrations occurred with her birth family there for support. Instead, she bore two children fathered by her rapist. The first came when Jaycee was just 14 and the second 4 years later. The worst part of this crime was revealed during the trial. It could have been prevented because Garrido was on parole for kidnapping and rape when he abducted Dugard. According to the district attorney, Garrido should never has been released from prison.

No room for humor exists in writing aboutt this heinous crime, so readers will notice the absence of wryness in the post. Although Nancy Garrido did not sexually assault Jaycee Dugard, she aided and abetted her husband. He even left for a month, giving her ample opportunity to summon help for Jaycee, but she didn't. Some readers might wonder why Jaycee didn't try to escape as she got older. By then, she was so thoroughly controlled emotionally that she saw no way out, and, once she had children, she worried about their welfare. Now that the trial has ended, may Ms. Dugard thrive in her freedom from terror. I wonder how Phillip Garrido will fare in prison. He'll have many years of his own hell on earth, of that I'm certain.

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Ham on Wry Award--Jaycee Dugard

Phillip and Nancy Garrido--Jaycee's captors

Ham on Wry proudly presents this week's award to Jaycee Dugan for her courage and convicetion during her eighteen-year hell in captivity.  Yesterday, the judge sentenced Phillip Garrido to 431 years to life, the maximum sentence allowed, and  Nancy Garrido to 36 years to life for her role in the kidnapping and repeated rape of Jaycee during her imprisonment in the backyard of their home in Antioch, CA.  Ms. Dugard refused to attend the hearing, writing in a statement read by her mother, ""I chose not to be here today because I refuse to waste another second of my life in your presence."   In saying that her abductors had stolen her life, she expressed her feelings about spending18 years of her life held against her will.

No amount of time in prison can possibly restore what Jaycee lost when she was kidnapped at the age of 11.  No graduations, proms, parties, family picnics and vactions, or holiday celebrations occurred with her birth family there for support.  Instead, she bore two children fathered by her rapist.  The first came when Jaycee was just 14 and the second 4 years later.  The worst part of this crime was revealed during the trial.  It could have been prevented because Garrido was on parole for kidnapping and rape when he abducted Dugard.  According to the district attorney, Garrido should never has been released from prison.

No room for humor exists in writing aboutt this heinous crime, so readers will notice the absence of wryness in the post.  Although Nancy Garrido did not sexually assault Jaycee Dugard, she aided and abetted her husband.  He even left for a month, giving her ample opportunity to summon help for Jaycee, but she didn't.  Some readers might wonder why Jaycee didn't try to escape as she got older.  By then, she was so thoroughly controlled emotionally that she saw no way out, and, once she had children, she worried about their welfare.  Now that the trial has ended, may Ms. Dugard thrive in her freedom from terror.  I wonder how Phillip Garrido will fare in prison.  He'll have many years of his own hell on earth, of that I'm certain.

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Stealing from Babies

Identity thieves in this country have hit a new low:  stealing social security numbers from babies and young children.  How can that be, you might ask?  Social security numbers are generated using a certain logic where the first three number identify the state and the last four can be easily predicted using a software that has been marketed for many years.  Thus, these criminals prey on victims and commit crimes that go undiscovered for years.

This morning, the Today Show aired a segment that investigated three specific cases with an emphasis on that of a teenager whose identity was stolen when she was three and now has a $750,000 debt in her name.  Outrageous?  You bet, but what's even more disturbing is that the reporter found two of the people who have been using her number to take out mortgages and auto loans.  He confronted both of them with the evidence, and, at first, they acted as though they didn't know what he was talking about.  When an interpreter stepped in, they avoided further discussion.  Jeff (whose last name I didn't get), the reporter, found one of the men in just two days.  Why didn't the police arrest these criminals?  Good question.  I guess they're a little too busy.

In another case, a two-year-old boy had to declare bankruptcy after criminals accrued thousands of dollars of debt in his name.  A nine-year-old girl's social security number was stolen 11 years before she was born.  Get this, the banks that approved the auto and mortgage loans are not required to ensure that the number and the person's name match.  They would have to pay a fee to do that.  Heaven forbid that they would protect the consumer.  Here's yet another reason to distrust financial institutions.  I can't say I'm crazy about the huge gap in security at Social Security either.  According to the reporter, they will change their number assignment system to one using random order so thieves can't beat the system--at least for awhile.

If you have young children, check their credit reports.  While the reporter discussed three cases, thousands exist.  To check out the video from the Today Show, go to http://todayshow.com.

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