Here is the final installment of the Ragusa fiasco (10 years prison + 15 years probation).   What a mess. 

I listened to the sentencing pronouncement on BayNews9 this morning.  I think that if Judge Tharpe could have given her more time, he would have.  His comments were elegant and very well thought out, but tingend with the anger of the community.  His main point was her arrogance at her own betrayal of the teaching profession.

If you want to check it out, click here: Ragusa Sentencing video.

Ex-teacher given max in sex case

This is a phenomenal article.  It describes how easy it was to cash in on defendant’s strange mix of greed and fear.

The targets?  Defendants with violation of parole warrants.  The gimmick?  Coppers used a website, an e-mail account, and appointed an agent to the fictitious post of “amnesty program director.  They sent 2,700 letters to relatives of parolees-at-large advertising the reward and fake amnesty program.  The promise was that the people with warrants would get amnesty and $200 if they turned themselves in to authorities.

How dumb do you have to be to (1) jump parole in the first place, and (2) think that law enforcement is going to give you a break when you have violated the law.  It never ceases to amaze me that people think that they can do whatever they want and pay no consequences for it. 

Here is the link:  Calif. agents use award ruse to reel in fugitives – KansasCity.com.

Yes, you read it correctly.  It appears that some of the local DUI cops are now running stops in Europe.  This tops the DUI lawnmower cases I used to see in Pasco County.  Thanks to lawyer-radiogogue and former WFLA funnyman LIONEL for this one (he is NOT the one in the above photo).

Here’s the link (yes, the British spell things funny):  Man loses licence after drink-driving in toy Barbie car – Telegraph

These oldsters were buying jello pudding, keeping the mix and filling the box with sand, and returning the boxes for $1.40 per box refund. The cops apparently felt that arresting them was appropriate (really, guys?).

At least they’re not eating dogfood. Bill Cosby’s representative, Ol’ Weird Harold, had no comment.

The moral of this story: if you steal jello pudding, you’ll be arrested and given your just desserts.

Check the story at http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-news-jello-arrest,0,7710208.story.

Numerous fine people have called to report the trashing of me that is going on via the website Craigslist.  I saw it – pretty funny.  It’s anonymous (coward) but contains the following challenge to me:

Joe you know who I am. you cost me 18 months in FSP. all things come full circle

Of course I know who you are!  You’re so funny, being all cryptic and sly.  You have no problems telling the world about our troubles, so why shouldn’t I?

Why I shouldn’t I go though your numerous arrests over the last ten years, for driving under the influence and possession of controlled substances? 

Why shouldn’t I post the video of you falling over during field sobriety exercises – to the point of almost passing out while standing and keeling over (yes, I kept it because it is SO UNBELIEVABLY BAD)?  Why not post the record of the case I represented you on, where your first attorney pled you to JAIL and I HAD THAT PLEA WITHDRAWN?  Maybe I should post the history of that DUI and possession case, where I went to court for well over a year and a half (probably dozens of times), took depositions, retained an expert, fought tooth and nail in a suppression motion, and even WENT TO TRIAL for you when YOU REJECTED the State’s offer of a reckless driving (despite the comical poorness of your DUI video)?  Why dont I tell the world what a reasonable price I charged you, and never asked for another dime despite losing money on you and your case? 

If we did that, then we would have to put all the trial testimony out there, which included hours of testimony of YOUR treating psychiatrist, and all the gory details that go along with that.  Of course, we could also talk about what the State’s expert said about you, too.  Maybe that would be fair for the world’s consideration, eh?

In fact, why not have the prosecutor and judge from your case weigh in, to talk about how much effort I put into defending you? 

Apparently you liked me enough to handle your appeal.  Again, I charged you a reasonable fee because I felt bad for you – why not tell everyone how little I charged you?  And then show them the incredible brief I wrote, and your letters telling them how good it was and how much you liked it?

Now, part of this is that while you were on PROBATION (not in prison after a losing at a jury trial like most people are – no, I got you a probation sentence), you were caught on film drinking beer at a party out of county.  When the people who took the photos of you went to your probation officer and you were violated . . . tell everyone who you called . . .  that’s right, JOE BODIFORD.  Unfortunately for you, the judge really didn’t care too much for what YOU did and sentenced you to 18 months.  That had nothing to do with me, my friend.  That was all on you – the judge offered it, and you took it.

Florida Department of Corrections tells everyone that you were released in July 2007.  Now, almost three years later, you decide to trash me on some website that apparently is used mostly for selling used golf clubs and hiring call girls?  Please!  Too funny!

So, I say let’s let it ALL hang out – in public, in full view, and let the ENTIRE truth be known.  See, I wasnt there when you were arrested, and I wasnt there when you violated your probation.  But I was there for you during the lengthy fight, and you hired me over and over.  But to you it’s all my fault, and you to blame me by hiding behind the computer screen, hoping that people will actually believe your little posts.  Do you know why I know about them?  Because nice people who DON’T EVEN KNOW ME called my office to let me know – I can prove it, because I have them on an answering service recording.

So, if you are up to the challenge, reply to this blog post.  There will be no parameters other than the entire truth comes out.  Then the world will know the truth and they can make their decision about me based on fact, not your cowardly tirade from the dark recesses of whatever closet you are hiding in with your laptop. 

My friends, please see this knucklehead’s post for yourself:  http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/rnr/1682128801.html.  See, I’m not afraid!  Why are you?