Minn. Students Find 'Royal' a Sex Convict

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 1/16/06 | AP

[TFFKAMM]

Joshua Adam Gardner, 22, visited Stillwater Area High School three times in December and January, posing as "Caspian James Crichton-Stuart IV, the Fifth Duke of Cleveland" and telling students he was 17 and was interested in attending the school.

He also claimed to be 27th in line for the British throne.

"Becoming 'Caspian,' I was given respect," Gardner said in a jailhouse interview broadcast Monday on NBC's "Today.""And people ... don't look at you in that way that they would look at a sex offender."

"I didn't mean to hurt anybody," he said.

Reporters at the Stillwater school newspaper, the Pony Express, thought "Caspian's" story would be an interesting feature.

"He was demanding that we call him 'Your Grace,'" said Chantel Leonhart, one of the paper's managing editors. "He even demanded that the principal call him 'Your Grace.'"

The reporters' research turned up an entry for "Earl of Scooby" at the youth Web site , where "Caspian" said he was British and that his goal for the year was "To not make the front page of any paper."

However, his description of his British lineage didn't ring true to co-editor in chief Matt Murphy. Plus, he couldn't spell the name of the castle he claimed was his home, and the British consulate in Chicago told them there was no such title as the Duke of Cleveland...

[TFFKAMM]

This Jan. 9 photo provided by the Mower County Jail shows Joshua Adam Gardner. Gardner, 22, visited Stillwater Area High School three times in December and January, posing as "Caspian James Chrichton-Stuart IV, the Fifth Duke of Cleveland" and telling students he was 17. School newspaper reporters, thinking he might make a subject for a feature, instead found out he was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Winona County, in southeastern Minnesota, in 2003. Mower County Jail photo via Associated Press

[Palpatine]

However, his description of his British lineage didn't ring true to co-editor in chief Matt Murphy. Plus, he couldn't spell the name of the castle he claimed was his home, and the British consulate in Chicago told them there was no such title as the Duke of Cleveland...

and even if there was any such title, it wouldn't mean anything.

[SteveMcKing]

What is a 4th degree sex offender in that state? Sounds minor.

[GeoPie]

The kids offense occured when he was 18 and his girlfriend was 14.

[SteveMcKing]

The student reporters learned that Gardner was convicted in 2003 of criminal sexual conduct in Winona County, in southeastern Minnesota, for having sex with his underage girlfriend two years earlier. The girl was 14 and Gardner was 18.

Not cool, but common enough.

[dighton]

Discussion of Cleveland and Stuart here, with parental advisory.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Well, leave it to the MSM to take this criminals side. He was just looking for some respect, after all.

[atomicpossum]

I'm the Duke of Earl.

[fieldmarshaldj]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!

Now that blasted song will be playing in my head all night !!!

[atomicpossum]

Now that blasted song will be playing in my head all night !!!

Sorry...but whatever you do, DON'T think of the version the hooker sang in 'The Man With Two Brains.' Don't. Whatever you do, don't.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Fortunately, it has been better than a decade since I've seen that film, so I'm in the clear. ;-D

[weegee]

Duke of Oil?

[ZOOKER]

That's me on the left, next to Sly and the Fonz. We're royalty, ya see.

[Oztrich Boy]

and even if there was any such title, it wouldn't mean anything.

Descendents of Charles II bastard sons are excluded.

And even if they weren't: 27th in line? That just plays to the Amerocans King Ralph illusion that if you kill a dozen of so Brit Royals, some Joe Sizpack is in next in line.

Actually the Brit royal relatives have been breeding fairly enthusiasically over the past couple of decades - the top 11 in line are directly descented from the current Queen, the top 17 from her father Geoge VI, and the better part of a 100 from her Grandfather George V.
So those Royal families of other European nations, who whould have had a claim through Queen Victoria, before "King Ralph" when King Ralph was released are now so way down the list they are out of sight.

Try claiming to be ruler of Narnia, kid.

[Mr. Rational]

I guess no one should mention that ....

I'm Henery the Eighth I am ...

[Mr. Rational]

A movie for you would be "Kind Hearts and Coronets".

[fieldmarshaldj]

*twitching*

[csvset]

The geek has a Baby Huey sort of look about him. Caspian eh?

I say introduce Caspian to Oleoresin Capsium and tell him to keep away from the children.