Bad Boys

Bad Boys
Article: Bad Boys
Chapter from Research before Romance (Bad Boys)

Research before Romance-Bad Boys by: T. L. Moss

In the day, I was what is now called a thug magnet. Bad boys, I loved the excitement. It never occurred to me the dangers and risks I was subjecting myself too. I just didn't know any better.

It wasn't until I found myself in situations that could have cost me my freedom, that I started to be more aware of the company I was keeping. I didn't run around doing background checks on people, but I took note of who was who, and what there habits were.

I was naive, but I wasn't stupid.

I knew I didn't want to be associated with individuals who were known for being disrespectful. Which reminds me of a story of a youngster, and his 3 friends. They were partying in West Virginia, after the young man had returned from Michigan where he had committed a crime he thought he had gotten away with. They were all murdered that day, apparently the individuals he had robbed in Michigan had found him, and got revenge. Sadly, his 3 friends were in the wrong place at the wrong time, which is one of the drawbacks about being associated with bad boys/girls. Somebody could be seeking revenge for something they've done, and you don't know anything about.

I often remember what my mother told me growing up, and I respect it more now as a responsible adult.
"Be careful about the company, you keep".

The article in the California newspaper was focusing on the parents of a honor student killed by a police officer. First question, oh my goodness, how did that happen? Well, what's a honor student doing riding shot gun with a drug dealer with a warrant for his arrest? Oh, it shouldn't matter that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person. The police asked him to stop the car, he pulled off, and refused to stop, the officer fired and the young girl was struck. We'd hope at this point the young man would pull over out of respect for his friend girl, but he didn't. I don't remember how they finally stopped the car, but he didn't pull over voluntarily.

The second story, young mother of 3, meets man who convinces her to accompany him on a bank robbery.
Not an invitation to join him in attending a safe outing, a movie, concert, or a walk at the park, that should have been the first red flag, but we'll never know why a young mother would make such a choice.

During the get away, her 'boyfriend' pushed her out of the getaway car as they are going 80 mph.
Why this man decided to kill this young mother, the motive wasn't clear, could it have been that he wanted her share of the money? or that it would stop the chase?

There was yet a third story, this one, tells all about how some women sacrifice everything to be with men who really have no respect for them. A man is killed in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Authorities said the man was shot point blank over 40 times. Yes more than 3x. A resident of the complex, later confessed to being the shooter. That night she left her home and all her belongings, and went on the run with the killer. When he was caught on a separate issue ( a parole violation) he talked to police who asked about this woman. He was quoted as saying she was just someone he knew, "a friend" and he didn't know why she had shot the victim.

Detectives recorded his comments and shared them with the woman. Forunately the prosecuting attorney knew the woman wasn't the killer. When the woman heard the recorded interview, you could literally see her melt right before your eyes. She had heard him say what she probably already knew, he didn't love her at all.

She had given everything to be with this man while he was on the run, had left her life behind, and worst yet was willing to go to jail for something she didn't do, for a man who had not only accused her, but considered her nothing more than a "friend".

Not alot of women who love bad boys are ever rewarded. These men need somewhere to hideout, and they don't care that the woman has children that may be taken away by the state or accidentally killed in an altercation, created because of their irresponsible/disrespectful behavior.

Selling drugs out of your house, which could be raided by the police. As in the case of the young mother of 6 who's bad boy said he shouldn't be blamed for the raid on his child's mothers home. He wasn't concerned that his child was shot out of the young woman's arms, or that she was killed. Yes they found drugs in the house, and money, but he claimed he never sold drugs from the home.

Bad boys are fascinating, and being with them is exciting. But there's a down side, and it usually can cost you your freedom, money, children, or worse, your life.

Know the company your keeping. Bad boys are often irrestiable, but not someone you can bring home to meet your family. And usually, the world has to revolve around what they want, and it has nothing to do with you.

And sadly, those bad boys who decide to get out of the life, and do the family thing, and try to make a living, they are living everyday looking over their shoulder. Again, it's not always safe for the people they
love, because you don't always know who's after him/her, or for what.

Make your choices good ones, the first time.

Research before Romance-Bad Boys
Legal Question & Answer
Little Boy Found Safe
Laugh!
Will she Wait?
She's still in Love
6 Years for Faking Boyfriend's Death
Newspaper Headlines
Prison Pen Pals
Drug Dealers Girlfriend Killed
Driveby Kills Innocent Child
Wife was Getaway Driver
Inmate Rape
Release Inmate Scared of the Outside World
Prisoner Lonely
Ex Inmate still Shaken By Experience
Mom Aids Fleeing Son
Get Away Driver Killed
Second Chance
Costly Options
Bad Choices


Q:Is an accomplice the same as an accessory?

A:An accessory is a type of accomplice. An accomplice is a person who helps or encourages someone in a criminal act-for example, the lookout in a burglary. Accomplices can be divided into two categories: the aiders and abettors, who are present when the crime is committed, and the accessories, who are not present.

There are also two types of accessories. An accessory before the fact is anyone who provokes, incites, counsels, or otherwise encourages another person to commit a crime, but who is not present at the scene of the crime and does not take part in committing it. An accessory after the fact is someone who knows that a crime has been committed and helps the criminal to avoid capture or arrest, or to escape from custody.

Q:I have just learned that my son-in-law has been using my daughter as a lookout while he sells illegal firearms. Can she be arrested for doing this?

A:Yes. If your daughter is servings as a lookout, she is actively participating in committing a crime. This makes her an accomplice in the crime. Even though your son-in-law is the person who is actually selling the firearms, your daughter could be charged with the same offense.

Q:Is bail the same as bond?

A:Yes. Both terms refer to the sum of money given to a court to release a person who has been arrested and to help ensure that he appears at his trial. When the accused shows up for the trial, the bail money is returned; if the accused does not, the bond is forfeited.

Q:Marshall, who has a long criminal record, was denied bail after his last arrest. Can the judge do that?

A:Yes. In deciding whether to allow bail, a judge has the right to consider a person's past record as well as the strength of the evidence against him in the case that is currently before the court. The judge can deny Marshall bail if 1) he decides that Marshall is more likely to flee than face trial, 2) Marshall's record indicates that his release might threaten the safety of the members of the community, or 3) Marshall is charged with a crime punishable by death or ---if his state has no death penalty---with first degree murder or any other crime punishable by life imprisonment

Little Boy Found
Kidnapped by suspected Mexican drug traffickers, 6 year old Cole Puffinburger is back home safe.
But that still left the mystery, of why Cole had been snatched in the first place. The two abductors, who posed as police officiers, had tied up the boy's mother and her boyfriend and ransacked the modest ranch-style home of her father, Charles Tinnemeyer.

According to authorities, the kidnapping may have been a form of retailiation against Tinnemeyer, whom investigators suspected of involvement in the drug trade. Capt. Vincent Cannito of the Las Vegas Police Department said that Tinnemeyer may have "stolen a large sum of money" perhaps millions of dollars, according to another official from a Mexican gang.

Laugh!
A teenager brings her new boyfriend home to meet her parents. They're appalled by his haircut, his tattoos, his piercings.

Later, the girl's mom says, "Dear, he doesn't seem to be a very nice boy." "Oh please, Mom!" says the daughter. "If he wasn't nice, would he be doing 500 hours of community service?" Maria Salmon

Dear Gwendolyn:
I am 30 years old and I have a major problem in my life. I have been with my girlfriend for 13 years and we have two boys together.

I recently got into some trouble and was given 18 years in prison. I love my woman and I know I will someday go home, but 18 years can be a long time for a woman to wait.

We often talk about raising our grandchildren and growing old together. However, I feel like I am putting her life on hold. Should I tell her to leave or do I tell her to stay? What do I do? John

Dear John:
I agree. Eighteen years will seem like a lifetime, but it is to be her call----not yours. You state that you feel you are putting her life on hold. No, she will be putting her own life on hold.

You also ask should you tell her to leave or tell her to stay. Again, that's her call.

Let me tell you this: For this seemingly booming relationship to continue, it will depend on many things and love may have nothing to do with it. If your girlfriend decides to remain in your life until you are released, then she would still need to go on with her life. This I mean----become educated so she would be able to provide for the children since you can't. You are young now, but later you will realize that years move quickly.

John, whatever she tells you, accept it. If she doesn't want to wait, then so be it. Women are warm and have tender hearts. To have a man locked up for 18 years would not be easy. Think about it. In the darkness of the night, after the end of a long day, you wouldn't be able to give her a kiss or a hug.

While prosecuting a robbery case, I conducted an interview with the arresting officer. My first question: "Did you see the defendant at the scene?"

"Yes, from a block away," the officer answered.

"Was the area well lit?"

"No. It was pretty dark."

"Then how could you identify the defendant?" I asked, concerned.

Looking at me as if I were nuts, he answered, " I'd recognize my cousin anywhere," Morrison Lewis Jr.

$8 Million Heist
Woman Gets Prison but says She Still Loves Cohort
July 24, 2008 The Blade
A woman sentenced to five years in prison yesterday for helping her boyfriend steal about $8 million from an armored car company said she's still in love with him.

Nicole Boyd, 25, of Youngstown told investigators she stole the money with Roger Dillon to escape financial hardship.

Boyd and Dillion,also of Youngstown, pleaded guilty in March to bank larceny and other charges in what federal prosecutors said was one of the largest thefts ever in Northern Ohio.

Boyd told the judge in a quiet voice that she was sorry. "While I regret what I did, I'm very thankful for what I obtained from it and it's going to help me be a better person in the end," Boyd said.

She had faced a maximum of 25 years in prison. In giving Boyd a lesser sentence, U.S. District Court Judge John Adams said she had accepted responsibility, had no criminal record, and wasn't the plot's mastermind. He also noted that while out on bond she had remained employed, been active in church, and has re-established ties with her son, 5, from a former marriage.

But the judge wanted to know what her relationship was with Dillon, saying it concernd him.

"I still love Roger, but I need to focus on me and I don't know what's going to happen down the road," she said. "I haven't seen him in eight months and I'm OK with that."

Dillon, 23, faces a maximum term of 25 years. He was to be sentenced today, along with his mother, Sharon Lee Gregory, 49.

Man, Wife get 6 Years for Faking His Death
July 24, 2008 The Blade
A British judge sentenced both a husband and wife to more than six years in jail yesterday for faking the man's drowning death in a $500,000 insurance scam.

Anne Darwin, 56, was jailed for 6 1/2 years after a jury found her guilty of six counts of fraud and nine counts of money laundering. Her husband John Darwin, 57, received six years and three months---a slightly lesser sentence because he pleaded guilty.

Woman Fashions Bizarre Scheme to Keep Spouse Out of Prison
Daniels 22 insisted the plan was not motivated by greed, but was a desperate attempt to keep her husband out of prison, stemming from a sexual assault charge.

Woman to Serve 15 years for Role in Kidnap Plot
Authorities said Natalya Solovyeva lured one of the victims to a Los Angeles bar, where he was abducted and then forced to contact another man who was also kidnapped.

The five wealthy Russian immigrants were killed and their bodies dumped in a reservoir near Yosemite National Park.

Crack Hidden in Girl's Hair
September 19, 2002 Detroit Free Press
Authorities found 28 rocks of crack cocaine tucked into the braided hair of a 16 year old girl at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

One woman became pen pals with a prison inmate. They corresponded until the woman found out that her pen pal had been imprisoned for murdering his fiancee, and then she broke off the relationship.

The prison inmate accompanied by two guards to the doctors office outside the prison escaped with the help of an accomplice. He immediately went to his former pen pals home with his accomplice, and took her and her two small children hostage. After two days of negotiation the police felt the situation was deteriorating when the hostage takers began repeatedly telling the negotiators that they were going to kill one of the children. The police took a bold move, stormed the house, killed the convict, arrested his accomplice, and freed the hostages unharmed.

An ad in the (Rock Hill, South Carolina) Herald: "A-1 Adams Bail Agency. When you have more fun than the law allows." Martha Andersen

Who's responsible?
Others have blamed Wilson for allowing a drug dealer to be in her home with her children. Terry denied any responsibility. "No, I don't feel responsible," he said. "I think the police should be responsible for his actions, and I think he should be charged with that."

He said Wilson and her children were innocent parties. "I don't feel that she put herself in a position like that. I didn't sell drugs around her or her kids," Terry said.

Man arrested in death of boy doing homework
October 10, 2008 The Blade
Authorities arrested a suspect yesterday in the death of a 12 year old Illinois boy who investigators said was shot in his home as he did schoolwork.

Prosecutors charges Marcus Powell with first degree murder in the drive by shooting death of Delarrian Davis. Authorities said he had a feud with a man who lived in the home with Delarrian.

Authorities said they believe Mr. Powell, 27, intended to hit Kevin Campbell, who was living with Delarrian's mother.

O'Neil Guilty for her Role in Incident That Led to Killing
Janelle O'Neil admitted to Toledo police just days after the Sept 9, 2005, shooting death of a man in the Port Lawrence Homes that she “knew something was up” when her husband asked her to drive to the complex, a Lucas County assistant prosecutor said yesterday.

Mr. Lingo said yesterday she stayed in the vehicle and later admitted she acted as a “lookout”.

Dear Deanna!
I was jailed for the past 15 years. I am free now and having a hard time adjusting. So many things have changed and I feel lost in a world that is so fast.

I cannot use a computer, the cell phones are intimidating and everything costs so much. It is a challenge trying to survive and make it working minimum wage.

I never want to go back to jail but drug dealing made my life so easy. What can I do to keep from giving in the urge to deal drugs again? Sam P.

Dear Sam:
Pray hard and remember the life you lost in jail. Think about the confinement, prison food, and neglect you suffered.

If that is not enough, think of the people you destroy while selling them drugs. If you are doing well on your minimum wage job, then go to the next level and get a second job. Once you get that going, max yourself out with college courses.

You will be so busy making honest money and improving yourself that you will not think about drug dealing.

Dear Deanna!
I am in prison responding to advice you gave a lonely inmate. With a few years left on his sentence, you told him to focus on getting a degree instead of worrying about a woman on the outside.

I feel you are wrong. You also did not tell him what kind of degree he needs. He needs a woman because it is lonely in prison and companionship will help his time pass faster and keep him mentally stable.
Anonymous Inmate

Dear Inmate:
He had the chance to build a relationship and grow a family when he was free but lost that chance when he committed a crime. Regardless of the major, an educated ex-con will find employment faster than one with no books on the brain.

A woman will love you like Luther Vandross behind the ink pen but when it gets serious, she will start singing no romance without finance and gotta have a J-O-B to be with me.

Mom Accused of Aiding Fugitive Son in Florida
May 16, 2008 The Blade
A man trying to flee from Florida sheriff's deputies phoned his mother for help and she obligingly rushed
to the scene and rammed two lawmen with her sport utility vehicle, deputies said yesterday.

Mother and son were arrested after the confrontation on Wednesday night in Pompano Beach, the Broward County sheriff's office said.

Detectives said they tried to stop Joe Morgan 25, on a traffic offense but he fled, phoning his mother as he drove away. They said that as the deputies surrounded him and tried to remove him from his vehicle, his mother, Carman Thompson-Wilson, arrived and hit the two deputies with her SUV.

Lima man gets 4 years for role in fatal robbery
September 13, 2008 The Blade
Irons and Durelle Grant 19, of Lima were charged with robbing a purported drug dealer who police say, in turn, shot at Mr. grant as he was riding in a Jeep Cherokee driven by Wendy Westergaard, 38. Ms. Westergaard was shot instead, and her Jeep crashed into a tree. She was pronounced dead at St. Rita's Mercy Medical Center.

Relative with Felony on his Record May Have Second Chance
Dear Dale:
A family member was incarcerated for almost five years. At first he had a hard time trying to get someone to hire him, but then someone gave him a break. He's been in college for a few years, but wil he still have a hard time because he was a felon? It doesn't seem fair as he is trying to better himself.

Answer: Having a felong on your record can make life tough, as your family member is finding out. It's great that he's going to to college, and that might cause prospective employers to overlook his felony, but it's probably always going to be a major hurdle for him as long as it's on his record.

Your family member should look into getting his record sealed. This extremely powerful procedure causes all public records about the conviction to be closed forever except to various law enforcement entities and the courts. The idea is to give people a second chance so one mistake doesn't disrupt the rest of their lives.

There's a big hitch, though. The law allowing one's criminal record to be sealed is very restrictive. Most people are knocked out of contention because the law only allows first offenders to be eligible. In other words, the person can't have been convicted of any other crimes before or after the conviction he's trying to seal. An exception to that rule would be if the person has multiple convictions stemming from the same indictment, guilty plea, or related criminal acts within a limited time period.

The law also bars people convicted of certain types of crimes from getting their records sealed. Sex offenses, drunk driving, and certain crimes of violence are examples of violations that can't be sealed.

People seeking to have their records sealed must file a motion with the court. Clerks' offices typically have forms people can fill out on their own or they can consult an attorney who handles criminal matters. Felons must wait for three years after the final resolution of their case, which includes any probation or parole, while those convicted of a misdemeanor must wait one year.

The prosecutor's office must receive a copy of the motion so the state can have input. The judge will set the matter for a hearing and have a record check completed to see if the person is eligible. At the hearing, the judge will rule after hearing from the person seeking to have the record sealed as well as the prosecutor.

One other possibility exists for people who aren't eligible to have their records sealed, but it's a long shot. People with criminal records can petition the governor for a pardon ---or executive clemency. Those seeking a pardon must apply through the state's parole board, which examines the facts and makes a recommendation to the governor. The granting of a pardon is a rarity, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections Web site. But if the person has a compelling case and all other avenues are closed, I suppose it would be worth a shot.

Dale Emch practices law at the Charles E. Boyk Law Offices, LLC in Toledo. In his column, he will discuss general legal principles and answer readers' questions. Neither Mr. Emch nor The Blade present or intend his column to be taken as legal advice. Readers seeking legal advice should consult with an attorney. Readers should send their questions to Mr. Emch at demch@charlesboyk-law.com or Dale Emch, 405 Madison Ave., Suite 1200 Toledo, Ohio 43604

Relative Has Options But They Will Be Costly
Dear Dale:
A relative of mine is facing criminal charges. The judge has set a bond of $50,000 and said something about "no 10 percent allowed." Does this mean my relative has to pay the entire $50,000 in order to get out of jail before his trial, or does he have other options?

Answer: Your relative has some options, but exercising them won't be cheap. To understand the situation, it might be helpful for you to have a little background about bail and how it works.

Judges set bail in order to give someone a financial incentive to come to trial and the preliminary court proceedings. If the defendant doesn't show up, the person can lose the amount of the bond he or she posted in order to be released from jail.

In nearly all circumstances, a judge or magistrate must set bond for someone facing a criminal charge. In rare situations such as when the defendant is facing the death penalty, a judge can order someone to be held without bond. In nearly all cases, defendants have a constitutional right to have a bond set.

Judges have a tremendous amount of discretion when it comes to setting bond. Despite that discretion, the amount must be reasonable and not excessive. That's a bit of a fuzzy concept, but factors considered include the seriousness of the charge, whether the defendant is a flight risk, the defendant's record, the defendant's ties to the community, and whether the defendant has failed to appear for court in other circumstances. The wild card beyond those factors is that each judge has his or her own view of what's reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances.

People often wonder why defendants are allowed out of jail prior to a trial, especially if the alleged crime is serious. The main reason is that defendants are presumed innocent in our system until proven guilty. Our federal and state constitutions require that courts don't set excessive bonds so defendants can be free until they get their day in court. But, as a practical matter, there simply isn't enough jail space available to hold defendants even if judges were allowed. Keeping people in jail is an expensive proposition. Judges and various government officials wrestle every day with weighing the balance of protecting the community and ensuring people show up for trial with how to pay for it all. That's a tough equation to calculate.

So, with that background, let's take a look at your relative's situation. The judge determined that the risk of losing $50,000 would encourage him to come back to court as required. The judge could have allowed your relative to remain free on his own recognizance, which means he wouldn't have to post any bond at all and the judge was trusting him to come back.

The judge also could have allowed your relative to post 10 percent of the bond through the court. That means your relative could have paid $5,000 through the clerk's office and would have received the vast majority of the $5,000 back at the conclusion of the case had he come to court when required.

That didn't happen in the situation you've described. The judge in your relative's case specifically ruled that 10 percent could not be posted through the court. That means that your relative would have to put up all $50,000 with the clerk's office to get out of jail while the case is pending.

Most people can't come up with that kind of money, which is where a bail bondsman enters the picture. A bail bondsman typically charges 10 percent of the bond set by the court. The defendant never gets that 10 percent back because that's how the bondsman makes his living. That's the difference between being allowed to post 10 percent through the court or having to go through a bondsman. The bondsman keeps the 10 percent you pay, while the court returns most of it.

When the judge doesn't allow 10 percent to be posted, he or she either assumes the defendant won't be able to post or puts the bondsman in the position of ensuring to the extent possible that the defendant will continue to appear in court.

In your relative's case, he'll have to come up with $5,000 to pay a bondsman, who will then put up the $50,000 bond with the court. Your relative won't get that $5,000 back. It won't be cheap, but it may be worth it if your relative wants to work while the case is pending or if it's just worth it to him to secure his freedom until the trial.

Dale Emch practices law at the Charles E. Boyk Law Offices, LLC in Toledo. In his column, he will discuss general legal principles and answer readers' questions. Neither Mr. Emch nor The Blade present or intend his column to be taken as legal advice. Readers seeking legal advice should consult with an attorney. Readers should send their questions to Mr. Emch at demch@charlesboyk-law.com or Dale Emch, 405 Madison Ave., Suite 1200 Toledo, Ohio 43604

Q: Which Miss America was involved in a murder? Wes Pierce

A: You may be referring to Venezuela's Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe, not Miss America. She was accused 10 years ago of being an accomplice to an alleged attempted murder by her then boyfriend. She was not found guilty of any crime.

Reference Materials-Research Before Romance
Ann Arbor News
A Rose for her Grave Ann Rule
Book of Modern Manners Charlotte Ford
Bride to Bride Pamela A. Piljac
Cosmopolitan
Detroit Free Press
Detroit News
Emily Post's Etiquette Peggy Post
Globe Magazine
He's just not that into you Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo
Having It All Helen Gurly Brown
How to do Everything Courtney Rosen & the eHow Editors
Heart and Soul Magazine
I'm Getting Married Now What?! Andrea Rotondo
Legal Questions and Answers-Reader's Digest
Love Adds a Little Chocolate Medard Laz
Miss Manners of Painfully Proper Weddings Judith Martin
National Examiner
San Francisco Chronicle
The Blade
Toledo Blade
The New Etiquette Marjabella Stewart Young
Tell me All about It Jeffrey Zaslow
USA Today

Advice Columnist:
anniesmailbox@comcast.net or Annie's Mailbox P.O. Box 118190 Chicago, IL 60611

Carolyn Hax tellme@washpost.com