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Man arrested for leaving flowers on fiancee’s grave found guilty of littering
Washington Post ^ | June 11, 2022 | Timothy Bella

Posted on 06/13/2022 7:53:40 AM PDT by grundle

An Alabama man who planted flowers on the gravesite of his fiancee and was arrested at the direction of the woman’s disapproving father was found guilty of littering this week.

About a month after Winston “Winchester” Hagans got engaged, his fiancee, Hannah Ford, was killed in a three-car crash in January 2021 that shattered what was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives. To honor the 27-year-old, Hagans placed a planter box full of fresh flowers and photos of the two of them on her grave in Auburn, Ala.

But earlier this year, Hagans was arrested on a charge of criminal littering. City officials had reassured him that he could put the planter at Ford’s gravesite unless there was a complaint. Then he discovered that a complaint had been filed — by the Rev. Tom Ford, his fiancee’s father.

“The police don’t enforce the law unless the owner of the plot tries to do something about it,” Hagans told The Washington Post earlier this year, adding that his late fiancee’s father did not approve of their relationship.

Hagans was convicted Thursday on one count of criminal littering and ordered to pay about $300 in fines and court costs, the Opelika-Auburn News reported. The 32-year-old man was also given a suspended jail sentence of 30 days that will remain suspended as long as Hagans does not place any more flowers or planter boxes on his fiancee’s grave.

(Excerpt) Read more at webcache.googleusercontent.com ...


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: 78minutes; chat; gonnaneedbiggerdonut; localnews
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To: Albion Wilde
I think many of us here on this thread that you have stunk up with your high-minded criticisms of people you don't know in a jurisdiction you don't know about an incident only partially reported can certainly agree with you on that.

You are on message 175? :)

I think you will get even angrier before you reach the end.

361 posted on 06/13/2022 4:03:08 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

” but reality doesn’t change simply because you wish it so.”

True, but only people understood you, they would all agree with you regardless of reality.


362 posted on 06/13/2022 4:03:55 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: Albion Wilde

My experience is that selfish, self centered people make for short failed marriages. This guy with his “It’s all about me, my feelings, what I want trumps all, screw everyone else” would most likely had been a disaster if he had married the girl. Probably the father picked that up.


363 posted on 06/13/2022 4:04:37 PM PDT by BiglyCommentary
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To: TexasGator
Irrelevant. The owner of the plot where his daughter was buried had to clean it up.

I think in this context, you and I have a different understanding of the meaning of the word "had".

No he didn't. If he had just left it there, nothing would have happened.

Nobody held a gun to his head, he chose to clean it up.

He could have left it for the cemetery crew and they would have eventually cleaned it up.

364 posted on 06/13/2022 4:06:16 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: mdmathis6; BiglyCommentary
..why is this a national Washington Post Story about a dust up in some town in Alabama?

Because WAPO wants to make the Christian look bad because feeeeeelings; and a daughter choosing to live in sin with a dodgy guy in the same town where her father is a pastor, which also fits the Sex, Drugs 'n' RocknRoll, "f the rules" narrative. And a lot of people on this conservative site are falling for it.

365 posted on 06/13/2022 4:09:41 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (“Government is the problem.” --Milton Friedman)
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To: DiogenesLamp

“I think in this context, you and I have a different understanding of the meaning of the word “had”.

No he didn’t. If he had just left it there, nothing would have happened.”

My context was that as a father he felt an obligation to respect his daughter and her gravesite. Sorry you don’t feel this way.


366 posted on 06/13/2022 4:09:44 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator
You could find no fault with the part I quoted so now you want me to post the entire Alabama code!

It’s easily found online.

Oh, I expect I can find it, but i've read through state statutes, and it's a pain in the butt to locate exactly what you want.

You, having seemingly already done this, could simply post the link, but you are acting like that guy with the flower display.

And no, I don't want the entire Alabama code. That is the point of asking you for a link to the correct statute.

Also, I have stated over and over again, regardless of whatever the law is on this, this does not make these actions moral or appropriate.

The Reverend should have worked this out and made peace with this man.

It's sort of in the Job Description.

367 posted on 06/13/2022 4:11:33 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Albion Wilde; DiogenesLamp

“Because WAPO wants to make the Christian look bad ...”

Exactly. And Lamp fell for it hook, line and sinker.


368 posted on 06/13/2022 4:12:38 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator
You didn’t do due diligence on this slanted article by the librral media doing a hit job on a Southern preacher ...

I think the Washington Post is garbage, but I'm not sure that I would go so far as to say this was a deliberate "hit job" because this was a Southern preacher.

I can't reach into people's hearts and see what they are thinking, and I envy your ability to do that.

But while we are on the topic, what was your position on Judge Roy Moore in Alabama?

369 posted on 06/13/2022 4:14:23 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

” That is the point of asking you for a link to the correct statute.”

https://www.bing.com/search?q=how+to+google&cvid=819c3f57e56a487e8e977bfc53e6db7c&aqs=edge.0.0l9.10856j0j1&pglt=171&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=U531


370 posted on 06/13/2022 4:14:43 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: DiogenesLamp

“I think the Washington Post is garbage, but I’m not sure that I would go so far as to say this was a deliberate “hit job” because this was a Southern preacher.”

I would. It was slanted and left out key details.


371 posted on 06/13/2022 4:16:54 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: DiogenesLamp

“But while we are on the topic, what was your position on Judge Roy Moore in Alabama?”

Another attempt at thread hijacking!


372 posted on 06/13/2022 4:18:09 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator
True, but only people understood you, they would all agree with you regardless of reality.

Again, you try to make it about me. I want people to be objective and to not simply accept something because someone told it to them.

People would not agree with me regardless of reality, they would simply acknowledge the same reality that we can all see if we just look at it.

It has nothing to do with me.

If I thought men could turn into women, I would be wrong. I don't believe that, and neither should anyone else.

And for the same reason, I don't think a grave display can be "rubbish" on one grave, but not on another. I believe there is an objective standard for all things that we see, and if it requires a subjective perspective to get the "right" answer, it's just wrong.

373 posted on 06/13/2022 4:19:12 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: BiglyCommentary; TexasGator
My experience is that selfish, self centered people make for short failed marriages. This guy with his “It’s all about me, my feelings, what I want trumps all, screw everyone else” would most likely had been a disaster if he had married the girl. Probably the father picked that up.

See Texas Gator? This guy can also see into other people's hearts.

I wish I had that talent! Also that level of certainty!

374 posted on 06/13/2022 4:20:54 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

“Oh, I expect I can find it, but i’ve read through state statutes, and it’s a pain in the butt to locate exactly what you want.”

Interesting. I guess you will have to read the entire code to see if I omitted any relevant part. Have fun.


375 posted on 06/13/2022 4:21:10 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Rickles!

You’re alive!


376 posted on 06/13/2022 4:24:06 PM PDT by wardaddy (Where did all the sane posters go......they cannot have all died ....could they ?)
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To: DiogenesLamp

“Again, you try to make it about me.”

Because you made it about you!

” I want people to be objective and to not simply accept something because someone told it to them.””

You want! You want! If only they understood you they would all agree with you.

Yet you do not see this slanted article objectively as it is. A liberal media ht piece on a Southern preacher.


377 posted on 06/13/2022 4:25:30 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: DiogenesLamp

“See Texas Gator? This guy can also see into other people’s hearts. I wish I had that talent! Also that level of certainty!”

Well, you certainly have a high level of certainty about what is in the hearts of Winston and the preacher!


378 posted on 06/13/2022 4:27:42 PM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator
My context was that as a father he felt an obligation to respect his daughter and her gravesite. Sorry you don’t feel this way.

I'm sorry his daughter died, and nothing else matters.

I have a friend who's only son shot himself with a gun his father gave him as a gift. A friend and I went to see him sometimes afterward and he lived halfway across the country.

When we were talking about it, I told him there was nothing I could do to ease his pain.

He said "That is the best answer you could have given."

His wife died a month after we left. He now has nobody in his home and I feel horrible for him, but I cannot provide any comfort beyond telling him I hurt with him.

And people want to have a fit about grave decorations?

Some people need a more serious perspective in their life.

Of all the people whom I would expect to have the best perspective on how transitory life is, it would be a Preacher.

379 posted on 06/13/2022 4:28:00 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

“Calling it “litter” is just stupid.”

You take a million people and run them past that grave, and if you ask them “Is that litter?” They will say “no.”

I didn’t call it that, the law did. I just posted it.

“Your “definition” would require “Jury Instructions” in order to reach the notion that it is “litter”.

I posted the source, argue with them. I don’t write the laws.

Why question me? I gave you what the law said, what was done, and why the judge determined it that way. If you don’t like it, call your congressman if it’s your state. I’m not from Alabama, and I have absolutely no remorse for the guy’s problem as he was warned and still did it knowing it was illegal. The law said what it was, and took action based upon how they interpret the law in the state. Neither you nor I have a pony in the race. I only thought it was interesting. It’s now getting ridiculous.

I don’t care what all those people you’d try to find to make a judgement whether it’s litter or not have to say. That means nothing. The only one that counts is the law until the law is changed. And if they want, to go up channel until it makes the Supreme Court and they won’t entertain it because it is so cut and dry, it’s a waste of money and time. Mine, too. Have a good day.

wy69


380 posted on 06/13/2022 4:28:05 PM PDT by whitney69
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