Town rallies around accused killer of molester

MSNBC ^ | updated 10:06 a.m. ET, Thurs., April 8, 2010 | By Mike Celizic

[Niuhuru]

Usually, when someone who’s been a mainstay of a community gets shot and killed in his own home, there’s a public outcry to bring his killer to justice. But not in the idyllic Pacific Coast town of Fort Bragg, Calif., where the citizenry has risen up in support of the man who pulled the trigger.

Aaron Vargas has been in jail ever since Feb. 8, 2009, when police say he shot and killed Darrell McNeill, the man he alleges sexually abused him when he was just 11 years old. After the shooting, 12 other men came forward to say that McNeill, a former Boy Scout leader and popular member of the community, had also abused them. Some had reported the abuse but law enforcement officials took no action.

When the truth came out, the town rallied behind the 32-year-old Vargas. Citizens held demonstrations demanding that he be freed from jail. T-shirts supporting his cause are being sold, with the proceeds going to his legal defense. Cars sport bumper stickers supporting him. Even McNeill’s widow is defending Vargas.

[wac3rd]

There is a lot of street justice happening with the armed citizenry, but in CA and TX, illegals and gangs have their own justice going on every day in the streets.

[TChris]

The best approach is for the intended victim to kill the perp before the crime is finalized. No chance of getting the wrong guy that way.

Agreed. It saves everyone else a lot of time and money too.

[Sherman Logan]

I certainly agree with you, and while I’m not in favor of vigilantism, I sure understand the emotions that would lead someone to such action.

If a perv gets killed this way, I won’t lose any sleep, and would prefer to see a reduced sentence for the killer. The perv hasn’t suffered any injustice.

But there’s always a chance he isn’t the right guy. Kids sometimes lie, for example.

[areukiddingme1]

One of my favorite Hank Williams Jr. songs is about a Father that “handles some unfinished business”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktq7JaXszqo

Enjoy!

[GraceG]

When so many common sense laws are not enforced, ie.. immigration laws, traffic laws, corruption laws against member of congress, buglery laws, illegals driving without proper car registration, etc...

The masses will start turning to vigiliantism.

[DB]

When street justice is gaining popularity it is because government is failing to do its constitutional duties. Or in other words, when it citizens lose faith in the system to provide justice the citizens take the law into their own hands. There is something to be said for due process.

Overall that is not a good thing.

[SuperLuminal]

"Vigilantism too often kills the wrong people. "

Data? Pct?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The father of the boy was at the airport and when the arresting officers walked the molester past the father of the boy, the father shot and killed him.

Wasn't there a video of this incident?

I recall seeing just such a thing years ago. The father was standing in a fairly narrow hallway, ostensibly talking on a payphone at the time...when the cops brought the perp in to the station house via that hallway...BANG! Brain bits all over the cameraman who was across the hall from the payphone.

[RC2]

Correct, it was all over the news.

[RC2]

Absolutely true. Accidents will happen but it can sure make people think from time to time.

[dirtymac]

You have to understand that married heterosexual relationships in Fort Bragg, CA are considered an alternate life style.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Usually, when someone who’s been a mainstay of a community gets shot and killed in his own home, there’s a public outcry to bring his killer to justice.

And such is the case here. Justice for the=is killer is absolute freedom, no conviction, no punishment, not even token punishment. And maybe a parade in his honor for helping clean up the community.

[Sherman Logan]

Since there's no trial, there's never any proof whether they got the right or the wrong guy.

Here's a case where there was a trial, including multiple appeals, and the vigilantes decided they didn't like the outcome. There is considerable doubt the lynchee was guilty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Frank#Jim_Conley

[sig226]

No, it was the father. He did it in the airport as the police were bring the pervert in from extradition. He shot the guy right in front of the news cameras, which were rolling. I can’t find the details in a quick search, but someone will remember the names.

[4yearlurker]

if I remember the story correctly the perv was a karate instructor. The father of the molested boy was acting like he was talking on a pay phone when he swung around and capped the perv in the head with a pistol. The father then dropped the gun and waited for the plain clothes cops to jump on him. Just before that the pervert was walking,handcuffed through the airport with a big smile on his face.

[Sherman Logan]

Also I’d like to point out that once if too often.

People are pretty often wrongly convicted in a trial. Without a trial it is reasonable to assume the chance of error increases.

[cake_crumb]

I can’t see this as a bad thing.

[Balding_Eagle]

I’ve read your posts, are you inferring that in this case the alleged pervert may be innocent?

[cake_crumb]

I’m originally from a suberb of Bristol PA, a few maple shaded apartments away from the railroad tracks, and I hopped my share like everyone else. There was a convicted shild molestor who was sent home to live with his parents after 10 years in the local mental institution, which was known as Byberry. Older folks from the Philly area may remember Byberry. It was a home for the criminally insane. The type of people that havbe ALREADY been a danger to others in a permanent way. He went missing within weeks. He was never found. It was generally considered that justice was served.

[boop]

I remember that video. The molesters head blew out the side. Never knew what happened to the dad.