Welcome to FR !
I can sense that some take great delight in seeing this woman indicted. As a former prosecutor, I can tell you that this is a pretty chickens#&t indictment.
Aside from the sums spent in the search effort -- please tell me who was harmed here? It's a victimless crime.
At a time when there are real crimes (e.g., rape, murder, robbery) being committed across the country, our collective focus needs to be placed on those quarters that deserve our attention.
The plague of sexual predators stalking our children is but one example.
In the end, this woman will likely make a plea -- and receive a misdemeanor. In the end, much ado about nothing.
Focus your attention on something that really matters.
On one of the news channels they said that they had "heard" that she would plead guilty and pay $14,000.
The grand jury was convening today. Did she need to be indicted before a plea bargain could be made?
Herein lies the problem in my mind. Tons of police man-hours were wasted needlessly that could have been used solving / preventing real crimes. Punishment must be meted out simply to discourage funloving copycats from repeating the offense.
Nam Vet
Agreed.
From Dictionary.com
vic·tim ( P ) Pronunciation Key (vktm) n.
1. One who is harmed or killed by another: a victim of a mugging.
2. A living creature slain and offered as a sacrifice during a religious rite.
3. One who is harmed by or made to suffer from an act, circumstance, agency, or condition: victims of war.
4. A person who suffers injury, loss, or death as a result of a voluntary undertaking: You are a victim of your own scheming.
5. A person who is tricked, swindled, or taken advantage of: the victim of a cruel hoax.
Glad you are a former procecutor. Many people were victimized by this woman's stunt and think she should be held accountable for her actions. Members of law enforcement have better things to do with their time than searching for someone who staged a phony abduction. Countless volunteers missed work and other events in order to help find her.
Your own words make the case that she should be punished:
At a time when there are real crimes (e.g., rape, murder, robbery) being committed across the country, our collective focus needs to be placed on those quarters that deserve our attention.
The plague of sexual predators stalking our children is but one example.
It's hard for law enforcement to fight crime when they're busy chasing their tails for someone who doesn't need or deserve their help.
Welcome to FR !
If we imprisoned everyone who lied to the police we would need about ten times more prisons.
'In the end, this woman will likely make a plea -- and receive a misdemeanor. In the end, much ado about nothing. '
The why the bleating? As a 'former prosecutor' you should have seen this type of activity quite often.
I know I'll sleep a lot better at night knowing this dangerous woman is behind bars for 5 years while Michael Jackson continues to read bedtime stories to little boys.
And precious resources that were consumed looking for her because she fabricated a tale could have been used instead for solving those real crimes you posted about.
Sometimes I think prosecutors need to charge a case because of the principle of it.
The person who prosecuted her is now defending her. That's not a real damning statement about what a bad person she is. I think she's just very mixed up.
Some men on this board don't like women very much though, and like to see them punished, beaten, raped, and killed. Those types will come out on this thread.
Since you have a law background, how can the GA LE folks charge her at all? Her "crime" happened in NM and the NM LE decided not to charge her. Thanks for any insight you can provide!