Man cleared of charges tries to rebuild his life

Tribune Review ^ | 1/31

[ambrose]

Man cleared of charges tries to rebuild his life

By Sam Kusic

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Monday, January 31, 2005

In the quiet of a September night, sometime after the nightly news had ended, fear and ruin came looking for John A. Kopczak.

It found him asleep at his Bullskin Township home.

Two Scottdale police officers rang the doorbell. "We have to take you in, John," one said.

"For what?" he asked. "I didn't do anything."

He hadn't -- but the justice system alleged otherwise.

On Sept. 27, John Kopczak, 60 -- a well-known and well-liked man who never before had been accused of a crime -- was arrested and charged with trying to persuade three young girls to climb into his van.

He spent more than a month in jail before the youngest girls admitted they'd made up the story.

Now, Kopczak's life is in tatters. He has lost dignity, respect and friendships. He is in danger of losing his house.

He lost his wife, too.

And he can't find work, so he can't pay for surgery to fix an injury he sustained in jail.

Kopczak can barely find words to express how he feels.

"This is wild," is all he can say.

Kopczak's troubles began this summer, as July melted into August.

That's when three Scottdale girls, ages 8, 11 and 15, said he tried to lure them into his van. A fourth girl, a 12-year-old, said she was with the 11-year-old during one of the alleged incidents.

On three occasions, they told police, Kopczak pulled up beside them and asked if they wanted a ride.

They described an older, mustachioed man with large eyeglasses and crooked teeth. They said he was driving a light-blue minivan with rust on the bottom and a ladder on top.

[k2blader]

What will happen to the lying girls?

[ambrose]

Why should anything happen to them? They should make a fine career in politics as Feminazi Democrats.

[Dont Mention the War]

Sue, sue, sue, sue, sue.

[xJones]

Last week, police filed charges of making false reports against the 8-, 11- and 12-year-old girls. Those juvenile records are sealed.

"Apparently, the incident with the 8-year-old was a complete fabrication, Elcock said. The 12-year-old has changed her story and says she never was there. And Kopczak may have talked with the 11-year-old, but only to see if he could help her with a broken scooter chain.

Elcock said he can't get a straight answer; he doesn't know why the girls said what they did.

But the 15-year-old still maintains the incident took place. Because of that, Elcock said, she can't be charged."

The 15 year-old gets off scott-free, but the 8, 11, and 12 year girls are charged.

[k2blader]

Thanks.

Being charged isn't enough, IMNSHO...

[MRMEAN]

Wow. There are quite a few Freepers who want every man behind bars to be treated harshly, and take away every small privilege (based on postings in earlier threads); and would want to slam the bars on someone accused of wanting to harm "the children." The fact is that police and prosecutors are government employees, not a few are essentially corrupt, lazy, incompetent, uncaring, or concerned only about winning.

Kopczak... had an iron-clad alibi -- he was at work when the incidents were to have taken place.
There are time sheets to prove it, Sweeney said. "The evidence to exculpate John was right there all the time."
But Scottdale Patrolman Dennis Elcock insists that his work was solid...
"We erred on the side of caution," Elcock said. "Hopefully, it's the right choice. I think it is."

[xJones]

Wow. There are quite a few Freepers who want every man behind bars to be treated harshly, and take away every small privilege (based on postings in earlier threads); and would want to slam the bars on someone accused of wanting to harm "the children."

It is amazing and disappointing how many Freepers don't "get" irony, sarcasm, and humor; when a parody is posted sometimes half the responses are clueless angry responses; even when there are earlier posts that do "get it." 11 posted on 01/31/2005 12:37:53 AM CST by MRMEAN

Wow. So why are you still blessing FR with your presence since the forum is not up to your exalted standards? It would be nice if you could post anything of merit, but that doesn't seem to be in your capability.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

But Scottdale Patrolman Dennis Elcock insists that his work was solid. Police had the girls' description of the man and the vehicle. There was no reason to think they were lying.

Sounds like he drew a hasty conclusion. He never tested the idea that they were lying when Kopszak provided a convincing alibi? I would like to see cops like this fired and lose their pensions. The man could have spent 18 years in jail because of lies and the cops ambition to conviction.

Public servants like Elcock are petty despots who should be continually purged from government.

[cake_crumb]

There are time sheets to prove it, Sweeney said. "The evidence to exculpate John was right there all the time." But Scottdale Patrolman Dennis Elcock insists that his work was solid...

"We erred on the side of caution," Elcock said. "Hopefully, it's the right choice. I think it is."

This forcibly reminds me of something Dan Rather recenty said about some forged memos he worked on for 5 years.

SUE

[cake_crumb]

" The fact is that police and prosecutors are government employees, not a few are essentially corrupt, lazy, incompetent, uncaring, or concerned only about winning."

Oh, cut me a break. You sound exactly like the police you condemn. You sound like the type of person who'd believe all Viet Nam veterans are baby killers because John Kerry said they are.

I'll see if there's anything I can do to help Mr. Kopczak, though sympathy for him obviously wasn't your aim on this thread. A hatefest of DA MAN is.

You've guaranteed that as few FReepers as possible ever know about his plight, while turning your paranoid fantasies into a self fulfilling prophecy just to please your bitter, twisted soul. You must be proud

[MRMEAN]

This article posted by ambrose is in my opinion of interest and horrific ("of merit")--and I've seen threads (and participated in one or two) where many posters make the assumption is that anyone behehind bars deserves the worst. I hope that anyone reading this article might remember in the future that not everyone accused (or even convicted, it is not due to the quality of the justice system that Kopczak is not behind bars right now) of a crime necessaryly belongs there, or deserves harsh treatment. The fact that I do disagree with what others have posted (even though not on this thread) makes it worthwhile for me to post.

[ambrose]

You are right. There is a "cops are always right" contingent around here... but not everyone subscribes to that belief. Heck, I'd say that most do not.

[ambrose]

change of pace

[xJones]

After dredging my way through your mud-like post, I only wonder how much time you've spent behind bars - and for what reasons.

You are managing to disrupt a thread on which no one has had anything but sympathy for Mr. Kopczak.

Your main issue is your false claim that "there are quite a few Freepers who want every man behind bars to be treated harshly, and take away every small privilege".

If you have issues with Freepers, they don't belong on this thread at all because nobody has said anything like you're claiming.

Tell me, are you really stupid, or just a DUmmie?

[MRMEAN]

Oh, cut me a break. You sound exactly like the police you condemn. You sound like the type of person who'd believe all Viet Nam veterans are baby killers because John Kerry said they are.

Ummmm...I didn't suggest that the Scottsdale police were baby killers...but the fact that they jailed, charged, and ruined the life of an older gentlemen of impeccable character on flimsy evidence, when there was strong exculpatory evidence available, and basically said, well we didn't do anything wrong; at least means my characterization is correct in this case. (Oh, and back in the day, I didn't believe John Kerry and his ilk.) I've seen a number of newspaper stories, and heard personal anecdotes that support my generalizations. A very recent, and very minor case: On a recent night my wife was given a ticket for failure to stop at a turn; she saw the cop (who was sitting at the corner) and would have stopped anyway before turning; she did stop, but the cop stopped her (and she had no idea why) and lied to her face saying she did not make the stop; and gave her a ticket. She included an outraged note with the ticket (against my advice) and will go to court, but will no doubt lose because, "the police don't lie." This city more or less runs a night-time speed-trap, maybe the cop hadn't met his quota. You will probably say that she or I am lying.BTW, Discovery Channel ran several episodes of "Reasonable Doubt," Saturday, if you see it scheduled I suggest you watch it, you might change you opinion.

I do know that that many cops have to deal with the scum of the Earth, are conscientious, doing a necessary job that we wouldn't want, and have to suffer abuse themselves, including false accusations.

I'll see if there's anything I can do to help Mr. Kopczak, though sympathy for him obviously wasn't your aim on this thread.
If you are going to do something to practically help Mr. Kopczak, then I applaud you. If you do, I hope that you make a posting on FR.

You've guaranteed that as few FReepers as possible ever know about his plight, while turning your paranoid fantasies into a self fulfilling prophecy just to please your bitter, twisted soul. You must be proud

My post, no matter how ill-informed or in your opinion heinous, will have no practical effect on the number of FReepers who read this article...and my opinion that some law-enforcement officers and prosecutors are not competent, or are lazy, or are uncaring, or just want to win, does not strike me as "paranoid fantasies," or even that controversial, but obviously you feel very strongly about this; perhaps you'd like to say why.

[MRMEAN]

I only wonder how much time you've spent behind bars

Neither I nor any person close to me has been in that situation, but any of us, yes even the virtuous xJones, could face that possibility, see the Cato Institute's bookGo Directly to Jail: The Criminalization of Almost Everything.

I am concerned that there are people in prison who don't belong there; and that people there may be abused. It is a concern that I believe should be shared by all citizens of a "free republic."

Your main issue is your false claim that "there are quite a few Freepers who want every man behind bars to be treated harshly, and take away every small privilege".

If you check out earlier "prison" threads you will see I am correct. You will even find delight at the thought of prison rape, a recent poster of an article on prison rape commented: "Oh well, do the crime do the time. Maybe the paroled inmates will remember this before committing another crime (that is, unless they enjoy forced homosexual encounters)." There were similar wishes for Martha Stewart way back.