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Live tweets from 1st Twin Peaks shootout trial
WacoTrib ^ | 10/11/2017

Posted on 10/11/2017 9:51:09 AM PDT by Elderberry

Tribune-Herald staff writer Tommy Witherspoon is live-tweeting from inside the courtroom in the trial of Jacob Carrizal, the first biker to be prosecuted for his alleged role in the May 17, 2015, Twin Peaks shootout.

Jury selection is underway, and opening statements are expected to be given this afternoon.

Nine people were killed and dozens injured in the melee between rival biker groups the Bandidos and Cossacks.

The judge and attorneys are talking to prospective jurors individually now. These are the ones who asked not to speak publicly about issues.

The judge is talking to the parties in chambers. They might begin calling in potential jurors who didn't want to talk about issues in public

Her last question: "Will each of you promise to give Jake Carrizal the fair trial he deserves and has been waiting so long to get?"

Gotro is asking each of the 145 or so on the panel if they will follow the law.

Gotro said a jury is allowed to disregard evidence if it finds the evidence was illegally obtained.

Gotro is asking the panel about items searched and seized without probable cause.

The gun discussion is ongoing. Gotro has really got the panel talking now, with comments on all sides of the issue.

Many say there are too many guns but they aren't comfortable with the government seizing guns from lawful owners.

Now she's got the panel in a 2nd Amendment discussion, asking if there are too many guns and if they fear the government will take them.

Gotro is saying that "technicalities" that people often chide defense attorneys for exploiting are actually important constitutional rights.

Gotro asked why someone would lie to a police officer.

Gotro is talking about the unreliability of eyewitness testimony and reasons why it can be flawed. One juror said Twin Peaks served alcohol.

Gotro is warning jurors against what she called confirmation bias, having formed an opinion and only listening to evidence that supports it.

She is asking if witnesses, including police officers, always tell the truth. One juror said it is unlikely a police officer would lie

Gotro is picking up her voir dire where she left off Tuesday evening. She is asking why defendants might not take the stand.

The parties have agreed to proceed without the missing juror, but the judge ordered deputies to continue looking for him to execute the writ

The judge told the panel that we can't proceed at this time and recessed the proceedings actually before they started.

The judge issued a writ of attachment for a no-show juror and the judge is recessing the panel until he is located.

Stay tuned. There is never a dull moment around here and you never know what is going to happen next. But you can bet it won't be ordinary.

The jury panel is coming in now and defense attorney Casie Gotro will continue her voir dire examination of the panel.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: biker; twinpeaks; waco
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To: Elderberry

found it


121 posted on 11/07/2017 9:04:26 AM PST by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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Dale is done. The next witness is the defendant, Jacob Carrizal. 1:24 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He works for a freight railroad company in Dallas. He grew up in El Paso. 1:24 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He is the oldest of 3 brothers, who also are Bandidos. He moved to Dallas after high school to find work at the railroad. 1:26 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He is a locomotive engineer. He rode is first motorcycle when he was 15. 1:26 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He has been a member of the Bandidos for just over 5 years. Before that, he was in a support club named Roca that he helped form. 1:28 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said it was the first Bandidos support club in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 1:29 PM - 7 Nov 2017

They designed their own patch and named the group after a friend who died. He said they didn't have to get the Bandidos permission for patch 1:30 PM - 7 Nov 2017

122 posted on 11/07/2017 11:31:01 AM PST by Elderberry
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He said he rode a long time before he joined a club, but he met friends who loved to ride as much as he did and they formed a club. 1:32 PM - 7 Nov 2017

His vest had a Bandidos support patch on it. 1:32 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said his brother in his club are like his real brothers and he would do anything for them. Gotro said it scares her for him to stay that. 1:34 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He clarified that he means anything within the law. 1:35 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he had heard the same stories about the Bandidos being a bunch of guys you don't want to mess with. 1:36 PM - 7 Nov 2017

But he said after he met them, they weren't the bad guys people had told him about and they were a good group of guys. They met at a COC. 1:38 PM - 7 Nov 2017

After that, they hung out more with the Bandidos. He said he has two sons. 1:39 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He married in 2005. He is divorced now, with joint custody of sons. 1:41 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said his family was why he didn't commit to the Bandidos because it was too time consuming. 1:42 PM - 7 Nov 2017

After his younger son got older, it freed him up to ride more, he said. He got out of Roca for a couple of years. 1:44 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Later,he hung out with Bandidos and became a prospect with the Bandidos. He said the Bandidos are secretive but not in a criminal way. 1:46 PM - 7 Nov 2017

His uncle, David Martinez, was president of the Bandidos Dallas chapter at the time. He said his Dad, Julian, prospected with him. 1:48 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said his father formerly was a Bandido and left them. He didn't have to pledge his bike or give them his bike as previous witnesses said. 1:49 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Before Twin Peaks, his father drove a sanitation truck in Garland. He became a Bandido on March 12, 2012. 1:50 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Gotro said he remembered that date quicker than he remembered his kids' birthdates. 1:51 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he worked hard for that patch and he teared up when they gave it to him. 1:52 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said being a Bandido is to be a man, be honest, be a man of your word. You can be rich or you can be poor, but if you are a Bandido, you are a Bandido, he said. 1:53 PM - 7 Nov 2017

They call their meetings church and they talk about upcoming events, he said. 1:54 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Since his arrest, he hasn't had to pay his $100 dues, he said. 1:55 PM - 7 Nov 2017

123 posted on 11/07/2017 11:57:01 AM PST by Elderberry
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When they go on runs across country to see other Bandidos, they usually have a vehicle follow them for emergencies and to carry gear. 1:57 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he has gone to COC meetings all over the state, not just in their region. 1:58 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said before Twin Peaks, he has not been to a COC meeting in Waco or really been to Waco at all. 1:59 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said the first time he heard of the Cossacks was in 2006. He said he had seen them around but never had any dealings with them. 2:02 PM - 7 Nov 2017

In March 2015, he said he knew Rolando Garcia, a San Antonio area Bandido. Garcia got beat up in Lorena. 2:04 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said "dumb stuff," getting drunk and fighting, drugs, crime, was not tolerated by the Dallas chapter under his uncle. 2:06 PM - 7 Nov 2017

They were professionals and knuckleheads get weeded out, he said. They did not tolerate foolish behavior, he said. 2:08 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He got an Expect No Mercy patch after Twin Peaks. He said he is judged by everyone for being a Bandido and he expects no mercy from anyone. 2:09 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he is not a criminal, has never been in trouble and he has never been asked to do anything criminal while in that chapter. 2:10 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Gotro asked if he expected to be asked to do just a little bit criminal when he joined the Bandidos. He said no. 2:11 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he was the one with the yellow helmet at the center of the fight that day. He said he didn't take off his helmet because he didn't have a chance to take it off. 2:13 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He was in jail almost a month and then wore an ankle monitor after that. He said he is drug tested at work and does not use drugs. 2:14 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Gotro is showing text messages from Carrizal to other members, warning them to be careful about Cossacks riding around. 2:15 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said they like to know if other biker groups that they are not familiar with are riding in the area where they live. 2:18 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said 1 percenter does not mean they are a bad element. It means they are a small group who are committed to their brothers and family 2:20 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He used a derogatory term in an email to refer to a law enforcement motorcycle group. 2:22 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He explained that group wants to be police but they also want to act like outlaws. 2:23 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Gotro is asking Carrizal about the eagle tattoo on the back of his hand and his long beard. "You don't look mainstream, Jake," Gotro said. 2:25 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal chuckled and agreed but said that doesn't mean he is a bad guy. 2:25 PM - 7 Nov 2017

124 posted on 11/07/2017 12:29:02 PM PST by Elderberry
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A text he sent warned Bandidos that the Winos, who were running with the Cossacks, were in the Fort Worth area. 2:32 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal explained a text he sent that showed a picture of his boot print in blood with the words "Talk shit, get hit." 2:35 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said a neighbor touched his fiancé inappropriately and he hit him. He said he would do it again. The man later apologized, he said. 2:36 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Time for recess. 2:41 PM - 7 Nov 2017

125 posted on 11/07/2017 12:45:02 PM PST by Elderberry
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Carrizal said other groups ask them about patch designs out of respect for the Bandidos and their judgment, not to get their permission. 3:01 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Gotro is asking about bike stickers. One says motorcycle clubs are not street gangs. Carrizal says he doesn't know its origin but agrees 3:02 PM - 7 Nov 2017

When he told chapter and support clubs to bring their tools, he meant bring their guns. He said they were being targeted on the road. 3:03 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he didn't expect there to be that many Cossacks at Twin Peaks and said they didn't go there expecting trouble. 3:05 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said they came to the Waco meeting because they had not had one in Waco and they wanted to show support for the group and its meeting. 3:06 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said the Bandidos have not had trouble with other biker groups, even other 1 percenter groups across the country. 3:07 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He got promoted to president of the Dallas chapter in 2016. 3:09 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Gotro said Carrizal broke the conditions of his bond by associating with the Bandidos, communicating with potential witnesses in his chapter 3:12 PM - 7 Nov 2017

She handed him the order and asked what rule on there he didn't break. He said he didn't use drugs or possess a firearm. 3:13 PM - 7 Nov 2017

"Is the club that important to you? Do you know they can lock you up in jail for violating these conditions?" She asked. 3:15 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he will always be a Bandido. He said he can be a good father, a good spouse, a good citizen and a good Bandido at the same time. 3:17 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he can be a Bandido and not commit crimes. He said he knows many don't believe that, but it is possible. 3:18 PM - 7 Nov 2017

On May 17, 2015, his chapter met up with support groups on I-35 and rode to Waco together. 3:20 PM - 7 Nov 2017

There was a group of 20 or so Bandidos and supporters riding in and he stopped in the middle, looking around for places to park. 3:23 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Cossacks came streaming off the patio as he turned to back into a spot. He was surrounded by Cossacks. He put his kick stand down, got off. 3:25 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He doesn't remember how his bike got on its side. Cossacks said he could not park there. 3:27 PM - 7 Nov 2017

"That's all I saw was Cossacks. I was surrounded. Not just a few, but dozens," he said. He said he was surprised to see them there. 3:28 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He was on the right side of his bike and he knew he had to get over to where the rest of his group were. They were surrounded also 3:29 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He got over to where his brothers were. It was just a sea of Cossacks, he said. There were 7 Bandidos. Owen Reeves and Martinez were arguing 3:31 PM - 7 Nov 2017

The Cossacks yelled that the Bandidos were blocking the in. They said they were not. Cossacks said they could not park there. 3:32 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He asked one Cossack his name and told him to be cool, be cool. Martinez told them to get back on the porch and the Cossacks cursed him. 3:33 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Somebody told him not to talk to my president like that and one Cossack said don't talk to my Nomad that way. 3:35 PM - 7 Nov 2017

A Cossack hit Wrecker and as soon as he hit Wrecker, the guy in front of Carrizal hit him and he hit him back. He was swarmed after that. 3:36 PM - 7 Nov 2017

126 posted on 11/07/2017 1:37:26 PM PST by Elderberry
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"I was fighting and kicking and trying to get away and they ripped off my face shield and tried to hit inside my helmet with brass knuckles. 3:37 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he heard gunshots and tried to reach for a knife in his pocket but he couldn't get to it. He said he waited to get stabbed or shot. 3:38 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal said he had a two-shot Derringer in his back pocket. His dad gave it to him because they were being targeted. 3:41 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he didn't even think to pull out his gun that day. 3:41 PM - 7 Nov 2017

As the fight continued, he saw a gun pointed at him while he was on the ground. He pulled his Derringer out and fired it at Jacob Lee Rhynes 3:42 PM - 7 Nov 2017

127 posted on 11/07/2017 1:43:03 PM PST by Elderberry
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To: TexasGator
He tried to reload but he couldn't. He took cover behind a light pole and was hollering for his dad, his voice breaks a bit. 3:44 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He saw one in his group lying dead and another bleeding from his head. He crawled under a truck and under another one. 3:45 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He saw his uncle and he was yelling for his dad. He is crying now. He said he wanted to find his dad. 3:46 PM - 7 Nov 2017

They asked for help moving the wounded. He still had his helmet on. They helped a friend to the side of Don Carlos. 3:47 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He finally saw two officers helping his dad get to medical attention. He was shot in the shoulder, covered in blood. 3:48 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He put his head in his lap and he told him to take care of his mother, his brothers and his boys. He said he told his dad to shut up. 3:50 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He lied to police about having a gun that day because he said he was scared. He said he had never been in trouble before. 3:51 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said the officers saved lives that day, adding they saved his life at least twice that day. 3:51 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said even if he could have run away, he wouldn't have because that was his family in harm's way and he would not leave them. 3:52 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said he did not go to Waco to pick a fight. He said he is not a criminal and he is not guilty of the charges. 3:54 PM - 7 Nov 2017

128 posted on 11/07/2017 1:54:53 PM PST by Elderberry
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The attorneys are meeting at the bench with the judge after Gotro passed the witness.
3:55 PM - 7 Nov 2017


129 posted on 11/07/2017 1:55:55 PM PST by Elderberry
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Jarrett is cross-examining Carrizal. Carrizal said he cannot agree that the Cossacks are a gang. 3:57 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Jarrett is asking about patches. Carrizal said any group can wear a patch to support the Bandidos. 4:01 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal said police officers are excluded from being a Bandido. He said police are hard to trust because of how they profile bikers. 4:03 PM - 7 Nov 2017

130 posted on 11/07/2017 2:03:23 PM PST by Elderberry
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He said he got out of Rocha because he became too involved in the activities of the group. He said he had to take a break. 4:04 PM - 7 Nov 2017

When he became a Bandido, he was just as active as before but he was ready for the commitment at that time. 4:06 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Jarrett asked about the term out bad, meaning to leave the group on bad terms. 4:08 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal said the term is not used that much anymore, saying if someone leaves the Bandidos they are just out, not good or bad necessarily. 4:09 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said there are reasons why it is good to be a Bandido, including being part of a family and being around people who care about you. 4:11 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said the Bandidos reputation has kept them out of trouble strictly because of that reputation. 4:12 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Jarrett said outlaw groups have toy runs to mask the other bad acts they do. 4:13 PM - 7 Nov 2017

"How many toy runs does it take to make up for the deaths of nine people?" Jarrett asked.4:14 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal said he doesn't blame Bandidos or cops for Twin Peaks. He blames the Cossacks. 4:15 PM - 7 Nov 2017

He said the Cossacks were not there to attend the COC meeting. His group was and if the Cossacks had not been there, they would have just had a meeting and gone home. 4:16 PM - 7 Nov 2017

131 posted on 11/07/2017 2:18:48 PM PST by Elderberry
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Jarrett asked if Carrizal was aware of an incident in Fort Worth in which a Bandido was convicted in the death of a Wino there with Cossacks 4:21 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal said he was aware of the incident but his chapter didn't talk about it. 4:22 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Jarrett is showing a shirt from a run to Tyler in 2015 where a Bandido is standing on a Cossacks symbol. 4:25 PM - 7 Nov 2017

"And just a few short months later, there are seven dead Cossacks in Waco, Texas, and you expect us to believe there wasn't bad blood between the Cossacks and Bandidos?" Jarrett asked. Carrizal said he never said that. He said the Cossacks were doing dumb things. 4:28 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal said he knows the Cossacks were targeting Bandidos and if they hurt one of their brothers they will stand beside him. 4:30 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal said other clubs don't need Bandidos permission to ride in Texas or wear patches of their choice. 4:32 PM - 7 Nov 2017

However, they often seek advice about those things out of respect to the Bandidos, he said. 4:32 PM - 7 Nov 2017

An email from an Iron Guardian asked for Bandidos "blessing" to form another group. Jarrett asked why that was necessary. 4:34 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal said it was just a respectful gesture on his part, not that they needed Bandidos permission. 4:35 PM - 7 Nov 2017

Carrizal said the Bandidos have been together for more than 50 years and that consistency is respected in their culture. 4:37 PM - 7 Nov 2017

132 posted on 11/07/2017 2:41:03 PM PST by Elderberry
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To: Elderberry
Two Texas Department of Public Safety agents, Cory Ledbetter and Justin Overcast were dressed as Cossacks and inside the Twin Peaks restaurant before, during and after the mass murder. The agents’ presence was known to the Cossacks and was taken by Cossacks to mean the attack that was to come was sanctioned by police. One of the agents would later describe the mass murder as a “turkey shoot.” Aging Rebel

Which one of them is "red boots"?

133 posted on 11/07/2017 3:49:51 PM PST by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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To: MileHi
Which one of them is "red boots"?

https://www.onenationunderarrest.com/police/officer-court-sgt-cory-j-ledbetter-aka-red-boots/

134 posted on 11/07/2017 4:21:02 PM PST by Elderberry
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To: Elderberry

That website is a PITA but point made. Yet some loathsome lizard has assured me that the “red boots” story was totally debunked. LOL


135 posted on 11/07/2017 6:15:58 PM PST by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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To: Elderberry

I think it has been pretty obvious Red Boots and his buddies were pretty satisfied the way the whole thing went down. My personal opinion and stand by it after following this Story for past couple of years.


136 posted on 11/07/2017 11:49:49 PM PST by easternsky
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Carrizal is done. Defense rests. The state has two rebuttal witnesses. The first is Keith Stepka.11:42 AM - 8 Nov 2017


137 posted on 11/08/2017 9:43:22 AM PST by Elderberry
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Actually, it's Keith Stefka. He works for McLennan County Precinct 1 road crew. He was at Don Carlos on the day outside the restaurant. 11:44 AM - 8 Nov 2017

He was there for a birthday party and he made no secret gestures to anyone that day. He ran when the shooting started. 11:45 AM - 8 Nov 2017

The defense suggested he tapped his head three times on a video in an apparent signal to someone. He was not there as law enforcement. 11:46 AM - 8 Nov 2017

138 posted on 11/08/2017 9:50:57 AM PST by Elderberry
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To: TexasGator
Unfortunately there are some here that defend the gangsters.

And then there are those who consider some in "law enforcement" to be just another gang.

139 posted on 11/08/2017 9:56:52 AM PST by PapaBear3625 (Big governent is attractive to those who think that THEY will be in control of it.)
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We are back from lunch. The state's next rebuttal witness is a video of Jack Smith, recorded last week. 1:19 PM - 8 Nov 2017

He is president of the Bandidos Tyler chapter. He was called as a defense witness last week but the defense did not play it for jury. 1:22 PM - 8 Nov 2017

The state is playing it for the jury as rebuttal testimony. 1:23 PM - 8 Nov 2017

He sent two members of his chapter to Twin Peaks to get legislative updates and bring back the information to the group. 1:25 PM - 8 Nov 2017

He was aware of threats to the Bandidos from the Cossacks. He said his chapter doesn't allow lawbreakers in their group. 1:26 PM - 8 Nov 2017

His son, a Marine veteran, is in the Bandidos, too. 1:27 PM - 8 Nov 2017

He repossesses planes for a living and has had to get security clearance for airports. 1:31 PM - 8 Nov 2017

He said he has had no security problems or issues not getting clearance because he is a Bandido. 1:32 PM - 8 Nov 2017

He said Bandidos don't back down, but they also are not going to be going out looking for trouble, either. 1:36 PM - 8 Nov 20170

His chapter had a party in March 2015 and had T shirts made up to celebrate the Bandidos 49th anniversary. 1:38 PM - 8 Nov 2017

On the shirt, the Fat Mexican is standing on a black and gold Cossacks flag. Smith was reluctant to say what the shirt symbolized. 1:41 PM - 8 Nov 2017

Finally, he said Tyler is home of the first Cossacks chapter and the shirt was supposed to say, "We're here," he said. 1:42 PM - 8 Nov 2017

Jarrett asked if the shirt is consistent with the bad blood between the Bandidos and Cossacks. He said not necessarily. 1:44 PM - 8 Nov 2017

He said it is outside the norm but not criminal. 1:48 PM - 8 Nov 2017

He said the Bandidos are an outlaw motorcycle club but not criminal. He said it is like outlaw country music. 1:48 PM - 8 Nov 2017

The state and the defense close their cases. The judge recessed the jury until 9 a.m. Thursday so the parties can work on the court charge. 1:51 PM - 8 Nov 2017

140 posted on 11/08/2017 11:51:50 AM PST by Elderberry
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