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Subject: v+*+*+*+ Solomon's Private File #316 "Thumbtacks!" +*+*+*+
Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2017 21:22:17 -0500
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Solomon's Private File #316
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 30 in this story, in the Spring of 2056.
Solomon's Private File #316 "Thumbtacks!"
START Page
I asked the Bar Association of California to enable me to take an
emergency Bar Exam. They agreed, and I passed. I said to the lawyer,
his Public Defender, "I want on the team." He said, "Wow!" I said,
"It's important. There is child abuse involved. No, not from your
client, but by the ADA." He was confused, so I explained it to him. He
had another wow for it. He said, "Recommendations for current
processes?" I said, "If he agrees, a plea of Not Guilty. Then move to
have the charges dismissed based on abuse and coercion of the
witnesses. And seek a criminal complaint. Or plea after all that. Your
choice." We met with the defendant in prison, and he had a lot of wows
to express, and some tears.
We asked for a change of plea hearing. I was there, and stood with
him, and that drew a LOT of attention. The Judge said, "You requested a
change of plea." PD said, "A serious crime has been committed, but not
by my client. He requests that all charges be dropped." Judge said, "On
what grounds?" He said, "Prosecutorial misconduct. He extorted the
alleged victim." I said, "THAT is the child abuse!" Judge said, "This
is a serious charge. Is there evidence?" I said, "Time recordings, and
some police recordings. And witnesses will testify, now that they know
they won't be harmed by that." ADA said, "I object!" I muttered as if
to nobody, "Who didn't expect that?" Some chuckles.
The Judge said, "I am unable to dismiss the charges in this plea
hearing, but I am ordering an investigation. Solomon, if the office of
the District Attorney doesn't cooperate in that, I request that you ask
the FBI to investigate." The ADA's mouth dropped open in surprise. I
said to him, "Better close your mouth, before your foot jumps into it."
It snapped shut, amid some good chuckles. PD said to me, "Is that a new
one?" I said, "Yes, actually." He said, "Good one." I said, "Thanks."
The Judge struggled to not smile at that. He said, "What is your new
plea?" The defendant said, "I committed no crime, so I'm not guilty."
Judge said, "Your plea is herby changed from no contest, to not guilty.
You are released on your own recognizance. Further hearings will be
scheduled if necessary, pending the outcome of the pending
investigation. This session is ended. All involved, please see me in my
chambers."
We went to his office. He said, "Solomon, your interest is in the
welfare of the child?" I said, "That, and proper justice. Passed the
Bar here just for that." He nodded, and said, "By what means, if the
justice system fails you?" I said, "By informing the public.
Graphically, which may include pattern of conduct in support. This
happens more than you might think in this country, and not just to
children. A lot of false confessions and testimony, and similar abuses.
Lying is bad enough, and a sin, but forcing another to lie, is worse!
And doing that to unjustly harm another, is outrageous!"
He said to the ADA, "Solomon has a reputation for being right, and
more than just that. This is only a suggestion, but you might consider
working to save as much of your own skin as you can, with full
cooperation." He sighed, and said, "Yes, Your Honor. I need to talk to
the DA. Would the defendant agree to not pursue this if all charges
were dropped?" I shook my head. Defendant said, "There are other
victims in this. I can't speak for them. But for me, there is severe
damage to my reputation, and I have lost my job, and may never have one
again. And I was assaulted in prison, that I should never have been in.
What would YOU do in my place? Please answer my question." ADA said, "I
can't at this time." He said, "For all who have been or will be in my
position, I should use this to make the public aware of these things."
I said, "DA is likely to feel he's sitting on a chair full of
thumbtacks, before we're finished. He won't want to throw his weight
around." They had started chuckling, and laughed with my added comment.
I said, "That sent Hawk over." More chuckles. The ADA said, "I have to
admit that was a good one. Unique. So apropos." I said, "Thanks. A
start." Judge said, "Solomon, you have my permission to show a
recording of this to the District Attorney." I said, "Thank you, Your
Honor."
We all had a meeting with the DA, who's office was in the same
building. I projected the court session, and the meeting after. He said
to me, "May I see the evidence?" I said, "You know I'm a lawyer,
right?" He tried not to react. PD grinned. I said, "In grand jury or
discovery, as required." He said, "I understand." I said, "But I will
say this. Your man terrorized the child over a protracted period. Among
other things, he threatened to put his mother in prison, and him in an
orphanage, well, he has no male custodial parent, if he didn't testify
as was wanted." DA said to his assistant, "Did you do that?" The VERY
uncomfortable man said, "I have to refuse to answer without my own
legal representative's advice." DA looked at me, and said, "That tack
feeling. Well said."
I said to the ADA, "I understand how difficult it is to convince the
victims to testify in sexual abuse cases. I've worked some. But there
is a line you shouldn't cross in dong that. With this, you left that
line far behind you, and for something that isn't actually a crime.
Zeal is one thing, but fanatical abuse, that just isn't right. Winning
at all costs, can cost you. Moderation may not push your career as far
and as fast as you like, but you could at least have one. Better look
into private practice, depending on what Ethics will do about this." He
said, "Solomon, thank you. I know you aren't doing this to me for
said, "I understand. We are not true enemies here, just legal
combatants. Because of that, I can't be your spiritual counselor.
You're Catholic. Confession will help you. You may tell the Priest I
recommended it." He said, "I think I will. Thank you."
DA said, "I'm in a difficult position. And yes, painful. To drop the
charges would be to admit fault before that judgement is made official,
which it may not be, but could help cause it. But I have a moral
obligation to at least minimize an injustice as soon as feasible." I
said to the ADA, "If I show something of what happened, you will be
VERY uncomfortable. You might want to wait outside." He said, "Thank
you. I think I should." He left. I said, "He's not running. I should
say this. He didn't allow himself to think about the damage he was
doing. His mind was fixed on the case. Part of the cause of that rests
with the top, in the created atmosphere that encouraged it." DA said,
"I understand." I showed a short recording. Defendant cried. DA was
outraged. I said, "Richard was the boy's only father figure, and acted
with that duty, with the mother's full loving consent. He wasn't forced
to lie about a stranger, but about a man who was like a father to him.
An honorable and caring man." The DA was angry.
I said, "What is done is done. Now is the time to act and heal with
love, not anger." He calmed himself, and said, "Thank you, Solomon, for
this, and all you do for us. I'm not clear about what actually happened
to cause all this." I said to Richard, "With your permission?" He said,
"The best story teller? Absolutely! I trust you." I said, "The boy came
to Richard with a problem, on the advice of his mother. He had a little
scrape in a delicate area. Richard put medicated ointment on it. The
application of it caused the boy to exclaim how good that felt. They
discussed what caused the abrasion, and how to masturbate without
causing that again. The boy went home happy. He told some friends about
it, and it snowballed from there." DA said, "Oh, I see. A delicate
issue. Oh, did I steal your line? Unintentional." I said, "Still,
fitting." Nods. He said, "Charges will be dropped. ADA will be
dismissed. I assume some charges will be filed. I'll assign an ADA to
proceed as you request. I expect some suits for damages. City handles
that. We won't fight it. We wronged you. We have a responsibility to
make it right." I said, "I'll continue to be involved. All must be
fair, on all sides." Nods of acceptance.
We left, and worked on the plans. While all that was happening, I met
with the mother and son. I said, "The ADA acted illegally, and with
abuse. Charges are being dropped, and the ADA is in big trouble.
Richard is out of jail, and can go home. I put some new food in it.
Well, prison food isn't the nicest. No, Tommy, he's not mad at you at
all. He knows you had to do it. He still loves you both." They cried,
and I hugged them. I said, "He was hurt in jail, but he's better now.
He's probably going to sue the city. It could take a few years before
that's settled. He lost his job, and has no money. A charity is going
to help him. He has a little problem. He's angry with what they did to
you. He wants to make them REALLY not want to do that to other people.
And I'm helping him. It's the right thing to do. That won't work well,
if you don't tell people what really happened with what the ADA and
police did to you."
She said, "I just want to forget it, but for him, and to show Tommy
that people should NOT abuse the law, I think we should do what we can
to help." He was nodding. I said, "I knew you would." We hugged some
more. We testified before a grand jury. ADA was charged with
misdemeanor child abuse, and misuse of power by a public official, and
convicted in a plea bargain, and received only probation. It was too
difficult to prove he suborned perjury. He lost his job, and was
severely censured by the Bar Association, but because he wasn't
convicted of a felony, he was allowed to keep his license. He's being
sued by all three victims, and so is the city. City is trying to delay.
I expressed my displeasure at that. I suggested they settle. They asked
for confidentiality. We said absolutely not. I said to them, "What
happened to them is public, by a public official. You succeed in making
the settlement confidential, the public will want to know what you're
hiding. And I expect they'll have help with that." City Attorney said,
"You would violate the agreement?" I said, "I won't, but I have friends
who know how I feel about this. Loving friends, who can see anything
they want to." He said, "This is extortion!" I said, "You know it
isn't. Just reality. A lot of the work I've been doing, is now being
done by others as soon as I mention it. I think they have some kind of
competition going." He tried not to smile. He said, "I understand. I
apologize." I said, "That guns into sugar idea? I asked the person who
thought that up to think of something else, so I could propose it. But
it was too late." He did smile. We hugged. They settled fast, and had
to pay millions.
The victims were invited to do some TV shows. They wanted me and
their other lawyer with them. I said, "I'll only do CNN. They won't
edit anything I'm involved in, and will defend that when others try
to." He said, "They'll do a show?" I said, "If I tell them, yes. Big
ratings boost." Grins. Greg introduced us, and gave a summery of the
issue. He said, "The awards were disclosed. And there was no
confidentiality requirement." I said, "They wanted that, but it
wouldn't have worked. It was too large to hide in accounting.
Journalists would have figured it out, and they would be embarrassed. I
saved them from that by convincing them to not hide it, by telling them
I wouldn't like that, and my associates usually act in those cases.
Easier than explaining to a lawyer how the financial coverup wouldn't
work." Grins.
Victims were asked to tell their story. I said, "Better if I show you
what happened in the DA's office, first. Making that public was part of
the plea bargain deal." He said, "Feed is ready." I showed it. We could
see it on the monitor. Greg said, "Thumbtacks!" Tommy said, "I like
that!" I said, "Thanks. He got the point." Groans. We went to break. I
said to Greg, "Save your main question for me, for last." He grinned,
and said, "Got it." He said to the others, "When the most intelligent
man in existence wants to run the show, we want him to! Can't fail."
Grins. The family shared their story, and so did Richard, and their
Public defender. Greg asked the mother, "Why didn't you take your son
to the doctor?" She said, "He was embarrassed, and it wasn't a serious
thing, and Richard is a volunteer firefighter and EMT, and Tommy was
comfortable with him. And we didn't have the money." We went to break.
Back from break, Greg asked me, "Solomon, why did you get involved in
this case, of a great many other cases?" I said, "I actually do get
involved in a great many other causes, but not so out in the open. This
was an emergency. Richard was in danger of being killed in prison, and
was innocent. Tommy was hurt psychologically, and needed such help that
could only be achieved by setting things right. The ADA was going to do
more like this, if he wasn't stopped. And the community was harmed by
being led to believe a falsehood, which could trap other people in
similar situations. My public involvement could help to correct all
those things, and could also help the nation, in bringing this kind of
case to the attention of the public. So I have, and more, with your
help, and the help of the courageous people with me." I named them, and
then he closed the show.
Greg, said, "Well done!" The PD said, "I have to agree. I've seen
these shows of course, but being in one, and seeing it work, is a big
education!" Richard said, "I have to agree." Mother said, "I like that
we can help people with this." Tommy said, "It's fun!" Greg said to me,
"Some DAs are going to be talking to their staff about this." I said,
"That's the purpose of this. Their jobs are VERY important. Too
important to let a few bad ones do bad things. Checks and balances. We
made ourselves a part of that, as citizens of this country have a right
and a duty to do." He said, "Can we use that?" I looked at the others,
and they agreed. I said, "Yes. Here's a video." I said to the others,
"I can see the past, so I can record anything I want to. Very
convenient." Grins
That last recording went out, and that was treated by the public
better in their comments than any other thing that day. The DA was
asked to comment on what I said, and he said, "Solomon is right. He did
the right thing, and I appreciate that. I'm glad he did." I sent him a
phantom thumb's up, and he grinned.
END Page
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Grant
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