Kentucky State Seal Office of the Fayette Commonwealth's Attorney

Outrage Of The Month


Outrage of the Month

April, 2007

Montana Meth Project
 Click here
To see the powerful Montana Meth television ads

The Ravages of Meth Use
Graphically Portrayed by the Montana Meth Project

Parents - Check This Out

The Montana Meth Project is a very effective research based campaign which graphically portrays the ravages of meth use through television, radio, billboards and internet ads.

The Montana Meth core message, “Not Even Once," speaks directly to the highly addictive nature of meth.
Outrage of the Month

October, 2006

Michelle Kosilek

Richard/Michelle

Should Massachusetts Taxpayers Have to Pay
for Operation for Convicted Murderer?

Richard Kosilek, 57 - who goes by Michelle, was convicted of strangling his wife in 1990.  Kosilek received a life sentence and is in prison.  Claiming that he has experienced a gender disorder since age 3, Kosilek is demanding that the state of Massachusetts provide him or her with a sex-change operation.  Psychotherapy, hormone treatments, and laser hair removal that the state has already provided are apparently not enough.  He is now demanding a sex-change surgery, which can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000.
Outrage of the Month

June, 2006

Richard Thompson

Richard W. Thompson

Nebraska Judge Rules Sex Offender is Too Short for Prison, Allows Him to Remain on the Street.

In Lincoln, Nebraska, a judge ruled that 5-foot-1 Richard Thompson, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a child, was too short to survive in prison.  District Judge Kristine Cecava instead probated him for 10 years and ordered him to get rid of his pornography
Outrage of the Month

March, 2006

Charles Michael Smith, Jr.

Charles Michael Smith, Jr.

CRIME PAYS

Repeat Offender is Probated

Charles Smith, Jr.  pled guilty to breaking a car window and stealing a purse at UK’s Arboretum. He had previously pled guilty to using a stolen credit card and damaging property at the Horse Park with his car. He also admitted involvement in 18 other Larceny from Autos. Prosecutors had recommended 7 years in prison; he was probated by the judge and is now back on our streets.
Outrage of the Month

December, 2005

Judge Edward Cashman

Edward Cashman

Vermont Judge Gives Bald Guys A Bad Name

Victims Shafted Again!

A Vermont Judge says he doesn't believe in punishment.  That Judge, Edward Cashman, sentenced a criminal who raped a little girl many, many times over a 4-year-period, starting when she was 7 years old, to only 60 days in jail.  Prosecutors were seeking a sentence of 8 to 20 years in prison.  Of course, the family of the victim was outraged.
Outrage of the Month

November, 2005

LaFonda Fay Foster

LaFonda Fay Foster
They Never Quit!
Killer of 5 seeks compassionate pen pals. Plans appeal when she "gets a second wind."
LaFonda Fay Foster, convicted of murdering 5 people by stabbing, shooting, running over with a car and burning, claims to be affectionate and is now looking for "compassionate souls willing to share their life" with her.
Check it all out at www.WriteAPrisoner.com
Outrage of the Month

September, 2005

Justice Ruth B. Ginsburg
Supreme Court Justice Ruth B. Ginsburg is Out of Line for Politicking for Next Supreme Court Nominee
"Justice Ginsburg recently told an audience that she doesn’t like the idea of being the only female justice on the U. S. Supreme Court, but that in replacing Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, ‘any woman will not do.’ There are ‘some women who might be appointed who would not advance human rights or women’s rights.’"

When she was counsel for the ACLU, Justice Ginsburg advocated that there was a constitutional right to prostitution and that the age of consent should be lowered to 12."
from Manual Miranda, article published in Opinion Journal.

Outrage of the Month

September, 2004

Unbalanced Scales of Justice
Too many judges are imposing their own personal views instead of interpreting the law as written.
 
Outrage of the Month

August, 2004

"This Man Murdered My Father"

Beau Greene

Beau Greene, currently on death row in Arizona for killing Roy Johnson, used the Web to look for "fun" women.

Jennifer Martinez

Jennifer Martinez was horrified when she saw Beau Greene's online personal ad.  And now there's a growing debate about whether prisoners have the right to use the Web to find pen pals, or even love.
Arizona death row inmate uses website (www.prisonpals.com) to look for "fun" women.

This killer abducted 58-year-old Roy Johnson, then robbed him and beat him to death with rocks.

The victim's daughter is appalled that death row killers are allowed to use a website at all.

"Why should he or other killers on death row get to post their pictures and messages asking people to write to them because they are lonely?"

Last year, while Jennifer Martinez was surfing the net, she found herself confronted by the face of Beau Greene.  There he was, offering himself up in a personal ad, looking for "fun" women.  In a digitized photo, he wore a black bike cap and T-shirt and cradled a long-haired cat.  He wrote invitingly of his affection for Frank Zappa and his once colorful life as a slackline logger in the Pacific Northwest, a fur trapper on the Mexican border and a Harley mechanic.  Then he noted that his activities had narrowed somewhat to "pacing, push-ups and music" and that he was "open minded and interested in learning about other cultures."

Martinez was shocked:  Beau Greene was not just another lonely divorce looking for friendship and maybe more.  Six years ago, he had killer her father, 58-year-old University of Arizona music professor Roy Johnson - abducting him, robbing him and beating him to death with rocks as he was about to drive home from a concert in Tucson.

As Greene noted in his ad (but only in passing), he was writing from death row in Arizona, where he has been since 1996.  Seeing the ad "reduced me to tears," says Martinez, a 39-year-old lawyer in Phoenix.  "This is the man who murdered my father, telling strangers that he's a nice guy!  He was a meth addict who had been on drugs for a week straight before he killed my dad.  Why should he and other inmates get to post their pictures and messages on the Web at all, telling people to write to them because they are lonely?"

Greene is just one of thousands of prisoners, some on death row, who are using the web to find companionship in the outside world.  While there are those who use computers in classes, no inmates anywhere in the U.S. have direct access to the web legally.  But sites that act as middlemen, posting prisoners' pictures, artwork and musings for a fee, have become very popular.  There are dozens of special-interest sites run by entrepreneurs, activists and even ministers, each containing hundreds or thousands of prisoner pages that connect prisoners with the general population.

Source:  By Alissa Quart, photography by Bryce Duffy, for On Magazine.

Outrage of the Month

October, 2003

Tony Romans, a repeat offender, was convicted of shooting a Lexington police officer.  He was sent to prison for 20 years.

Well, that's what we thought.

WRONG!

It wasn't long before the Kentucky Corrections Department sent Romans to a "minimum security" facility.

Romans just walked away.

SURPRISE!

It makes us wonder whose side the prison system is on.

Outrage of the Month

May, 2003

Former Illinios Governor George Ryan One-term, former Illinois Governor George Ryan commuted the sentences of all Illinois Death Row inmates regardless of the facts of their murders. In doing so, Ryan ignored, abused and mistreated families of homicide victims by turning them into political pawns in his unpopular crusade against capital punishment.
"I have nothing but contempt and disgust for a man (Ryan) who abused the powers that the state of Illinois granted him." Survivor of Illinois homicide victim

"Ryan’s moral grandstanding distressed the family of those murdered as well as disturbed those who believe in democratic government accountable to voters." John Sullivan

Outrage of the Month

April, 2003

More Prison Inmates Getting Out Early, Thanks To New Policy Of Kentucky Parole Board

First, the Governor released nearly 900 prisoners early.  Several were rearrested on charges including rape and bank robbery.  Now the Parole Board is paroling nearly half of the inmates.  The parole rate has risen from 34% to 47%, thanks to the new "Get Out Of Jail Free" policy.
Police investigate, prosecutors try the cases, juries determine guilt and fix the punishment, and judges sentence criminals to prison.  NOW the political appointees on the Parole Board are showing disrespect to police, prosecutors, juries and judges and shortening those sentences.

It's time to abolish the Parole Board.

Outrage of the Month

December, 2002

Governor Issues "Get Out Of Jail Free" Cards To 567 Felons - Unfortunately, the safety of the public is not a game!

Gov. Paul Patton

Illinois tried the same thing in the 1980's.  Before releasing these prisoners early, maybe we ought to look at Illinois' disastrous experiment, as reported by Thomas Sowell in The Washington Times, during January, 1996.
Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell

"Illinois back in the early 1980's saved $60 million by releasing prisoners three months earlier than they would normally have been released.  However, the people of Illinois lost more than five times as much - an estimated $304 million - in direct and indirect costs of the crimes committed by those released during the 90 days they would have otherwise have been behind bars."

"That was not all of the costs, nor the most important part.  Twenty-three persons lost their lives at the hands of those same released prisoners during those same three months.  In addition, those turned loose early committed 32 rapes, 262 acts of arson, hundreds of robberies and thousands of burglaries - all just during the three months they were originally supposed to be behind bars."

"So much for the $60 million "saved" by turning prisoners loose early."

Outrage of the Month

October, 2002

Public Defender Ernie Lewis Blasts State Senator Robert Stivers Just Because Stivers Disagreed With Public Defender-Funded Poll On Death Penalty
Public Defender Ernie Lewis Senator Robert Stivers
Public Defender Ernie Lewis Senator Robert Stivers

Public Defender Ernie Lewis claims Senator Robert Stivers is "out of step with the people of Kentucky."  If Lewis has so much confidence in his public defender funded poll, maybe he ought to run for the Senate on the issue of abolishing the death penalty.  Let the public decide!

Senator Robert Stivers, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated in response to the public defender-funded poll, "Polls are done in a vacuum, but when people hear about the things these people have done, it would be interesting to see how their opinions change."

Source:  Louisville Courier-Journal, 10/25/02.

Outrage of the Month

August, 2002

Outrage #1:

Texas May Release Multiple Killer Early
To Relieve Prison Overcrowding
Man who savaged at least 13 women gets legal break

Killer admitted murdering 13 women by stabbing, strangling and drowning them.  He told police: "You know if I get out, I'm going to do it again."

Coral Eugene Watts

Coral Eugene Watts

Houston - The murders were as random as they were vicious; stabbings, hangings, stranglings, drownings. The women didn’t know each other or the hooded man who, according to one survivor, enjoyed the killings so much he was "clapping and dancing."

Police eventually caught Coral Eugene Watts but couldn’t connect him to the savage crimes in Texas and Michigan.

Desperate to close the cases, prosecutors agreed to a plea bargain. In 1982, Watts admitted he killed 13 women, but he went to prison for burglary with intent to commit murder.

He was sentenced to 60 years, and prosecutors, police and the judge thought that was enough.

Now, a quirk in the Texas legal system may short-circuit their intentions. Mandatory release laws aimed at relieving prison crowding require that Watts be discharged on May 8, 2006, unless he loses good behavior credits. The law was approved in 1977 and rescinded in 1996, but prisoners sentenced between those dates still qualify for early release. Watts would be 52 when he gets out.

Watts is believed to have killed dozens of women, and authorities in Texas and Michigan are scouring old files, archives and evidence folders for any shred that might tie him to an open case for which he didn’t receive immunity in the plea.

"Everybody knows he is going to kill again," said Houston police Sgt. Tom Ladd, who interrogated Watts after his arrest in 1982. "His last statement to me was: ‘You know, Tom, if I get out, I’m going to do it again.’"

Watts declined an interview request from the Associated Press. His defense attorney in 1982, Zinetta Burney, did not return calls.

Finding new evidence will be tough, Ladd said. DNA testing wasn’t done in the 1980's, and evidence collection was handled differently.

And with Watts’ attacks lasting just moments, he left little behind, the homicide detective said.

"He was a stalker, a predator," Ladd said. "He would get in his car at night and he would see a female, and he would follow that female, and he would kill that female, and he would get back in his car. He might look for another one, he might go home."

Watts first came to the attention of authorities in Michigan in 1974 when he was accused of choking and beating a woman in Kalamazoo. He was convicted of aggravated assault in 1975 and spent a year in jail.

He then moved to Ann Arbor, where police kept an eye on him but never caught him committing a crime.

"There was no DNA, and lacking eyewitnesses, lacking a smoking gun, it is very hard to prove a case," retired Ann Arbor police Detective Paul Bunten said.

Michigan authorities eventually suspected Watts of attacking at least 14 women and killing eight in Ann Arbor, Detroit and the neighboring Canadian town of Windsor between October 1979 and November 1980, according to the Houston Chronicle.

But they could do little more than relay their suspicions to Houston authorities after he moved south in 1981.

Twelve Texas women died before Watts crossed paths with police again.

On May 23, 1982, Watts strangled Michelle Maday, 20.

Two hours later, he choked and beat Lori Lister in a parking lot outside her home, then dragged her limp body up to her apartment.

Lister’s roommate, Melinda Aguilar, awoke and found Watts staring her in the face.

"He grabbed me, pulled my hair back and started choking me," Aguilar said. "I pretended like I was passed out."

Watts bound both women’s hands with wire hangers.

"I knew he was there to kill just by the excitement he had," Aguilar said. "He enjoyed what he was doing. I remember him jumping and clapping and being excited about what he was doing."

While Watts filled the bathtub, Aguilar slipped out and called police, who arrived in time to grab Watts as he ran out the front door.

"It is a miracle I’m alive," said Lister, who was rescued from the bathtub and resuscitated. "I was told and promised that he would serve his full 60 years. It took me years to get over a lot of fears. It would be a constant threat to me for him to be out."

Bryan Collier, director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s parole division, said that if Watts gets out in 2006 he will watch closely from his release until his 60-year sentence expires in 2042.

Harriett Semander, whose 20-year-old daughter Elena Semander was strangled, isn’t convinced that will be enough.

"There’s no doubt in my mind that he has been sitting in prison for the last 20 years planning his next murder," she said.

Source:  Pam Easton, Associated Press

Outrage #2:

National Teacher's Union Wants To Blame America For 9/11

National Education Association

National Education Association wants America's teachers to teach lessons that blame America for 9/11.  NEA suggests that teachers "discuss historical instances of American intolerance, so that the American public avoids repeating terrible mistakes.

New York - Students headed back to school will get one of the biggest history lessons of their lives on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, but many parents are wondering which interpretation of events their children are going to get.

The National Education Association is compiling ideas for ways to teach Sept. 11 and some of them are coming under fire.

The program is called "Remember Sept. 11" and the classroom lessons are available to millions of teachers. It's even accessible on the Web. In the program, the NEA suggests kids think about tolerance and diversity and not blame all Arabs for the actions of a few.

"We have over 100 linked sites that I'm hoping will have lots and lots and lots of diverse opinions because public schools should be about teaching kids to analyze to think, to be critical thinkers, to not believe everything they read or everything they hear on the radio or TV," said Jerald Newberry of the National Education Association.

But critics of the teachers union say some of the lesson plans place the blame on America, and suggest diversity and tolerance will overcome terrorism.

"They're putting it out there and it's got their political spin all over it. The sentiment is what is wrong with America, and that's what I object to," said Jan La Rue of Concerned Women of America.

Among the messages on the Web site is advice from the Red Cross: "You will not be effective if you purposely or inadvertently take one side over another."

Another snippet: "Model respect for and tolerance of all the views and feelings that your students share."

One plan previously on the site suggested that the teachers discuss "historical instances of American intolerance" and cites the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II as an example.

After many objections, the NEA said it removed that link, but there are dozens of other lesson plans available to teachers.

The NEA said teachers will ultimately decide how to teach their students about Sept. 11. They say their Web site is only a clearinghouse for the lessons and they are not actually being written by the union. They say it will be up to the teachers to decide what lessons are best.

Source:  Fox News, August 21, 2002

Outrage of the Month

July, 2002

Pledge of Allegiance


When federal Court of Appeals Judges exceed their Constitutional Authority to interpret law and instead read their personal views into the Constitution, the least democratic branch of government becomes the most powerful.

Maybe it's time to consider electing federal judges.

Outrage of the Month

June, 2002

Criminal justice policy makers still think burglary is a non-violent property offense.  Maybe they should ask a burglary victim!
Outrage of the Month

May, 2002

Update:  Update To Convicted Murderer Seeking State Financed Sex Change Operation

How much does a sex change operation cost?

A search of the internet revealed a California doctor who will perform a sex change operation either way (male to female or female to male) for $22,500.  Unfortunately, the candidate needs to provide for his/her own transportation to California.  In addition, we're not certain whether that price includes the hospital charges.

Outrage of the Month

April, 2002

Just When You Thought You'd Heard It All

Massachusetts Murderer Sues State To Pay For Sex Change Operation

Boston, MA - Nine years ago, Robert Kosilek was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering his wife by wrapping a wire around her neck and strangling her.

Kosilek filed suit in federal court asking the Massachusetts Department of Corrections to pay for a sex-change operation and hormone therapy to allow him to live as a woman.

Robert Kosilek Michelle Kosilek

Robert Kosilek

Michelle Kosilek

Photos:  Attleboro Sun Chronicle

Kosilek, who uses the name Michelle, describes his condition as "biological claustrophobia." He claims in his lawsuit that the department is violating his civil rights and subjecting him to cruel and unusual punishment by refusing to provide treatment for his gender-identity disorder.

Source:  www.boston.com, 2/4/02.

Outrage of the Month

March, 2002

Judge Ernest B. Murphy

Judge Ernest B. Murphy
Reprinted with permission of the Boston Herald

Confessed rapist probated by Massachusetts Judge Ernest B. Murphy. About the 14-year-old rape victim,
the Judge said:

 

"Listen, she got raped, she's 14, she's got to get on with her life.  She's got to get over it."
Source:  www.bostonherald.com.

 

District Attorney Paul Walsh

District Attorney
Paul Walsh

Judge Murphy should not be allowed to handle criminal cases, says District Attorney Paul Walsh.
Source: www.boston.com.

 

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly editorial doesn’t think prosecutor’s criticism of judge’s decisions is appropriate.  See response below.

According to BostonHerald.com, Bristol County, Massachusetts District Attorney Paul Walsh asked New Bedford, Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Ernest B. Murphy to impose a sentence of 7 to 10 years in prison on a defendant who confessed to raping a 14-year-old girl.

Instead, thanks to Judge Murphy, the rapist was probated and walked out of the courtroom a free man, leaving the 14-year-old victim to try to understand why the person who committed the crime didn’t suffer any consequences, while she is left to try to cope with the trauma of a rape.

If probating the rapist wasn’t enough, Murphy said to the prosecutor about the victim, "Listen she got raped, she’s 14, she’s got to get on with her life. She’s got to get over it."

Walsh said Murphy, who, in 2000, was appointed to a life-time term as Superior Court Judge, should not be allowed to handle criminal cases. He wants him re-assigned to civil courts. Walsh said he took the unusual step of publicly criticizing Murphy only after a string of lenient sentences and rulings.

Other decisions by Judge Murphy, according to the www.bostonherald.com and www.boston.com:

Judge Murphy probated three defendants who confessed to holding a knife to the throat of a 16-year-old gas station attendant during a robbery attempt.

Judge Murphy released to home-incarceration a teenager accused of orchestrating a plan for a Columbine-style rampage at the high school in New Bedford. His previous house arrest was revoked by a District Court Judge after he had violated the terms of that house arrest.

Judge Murphy sentenced a convicted armed robber to 5 years probation after he had assaulted a 72-year-old sausage vendor and stole $1,100.

Judge Murphy probated another defendant for 5 years after he pleaded guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and armed robbery. 

The Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly editorial is critical of the prosecutors who publicly complained about Superior Court Judge Murphy’s lenient sentencing decisions.

Editor’s comment: The Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (March 4, 2002 edition) in an editorial citing the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, wondered why the prosecutors in a recent rape case were talking about a judge’s comments in the first place. (The editorial writer ignores the fact that the case was completed, and not pending).

They further opined that the debate over Murphy’s rulings should re-invigorate discussion over the proposed sentencing guidelines. Maybe that discussion should be more fundamental than sentencing guidelines. Like, whether citizens should have a right to vote for judicial candidates.

Unfortunately, the editorial writers ignore the voices of crime victims and, for that matter, the rest of the citizens of Massachusetts. Apparently in Massachusetts, Superior Court Judges are appointed for life by the Governor.

It’s just a wild guess, but I suspect that if the voters of Massachusetts were given the ability to vote for their judges, neither Judge Murphy nor his sentencing decisions would ever be the center of any controversy.

Outrage of the Month

February, 2002

Great!  Just What We Need - FOOD POLICE!

Now they want to blame obesity on restaurants and advertisers.
What ever happened to personal responsibility?

Outrage of the Month

January, 2002

Update:  Of Course, Sen. Patrick Leahy Is Playing Partisan Politics With America's Justice System
The vacancies in the federal Judiciary have become a crisis, while Leahy fiddles his political tune.  That seems to be the national consensus.  Just look at the following editorial comments:

From The Wall Street Journal:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/?id=95001677

"The record shows that (Leahy) the Vermont Democrat has perfected the art of the big stall, refusing to even schedule so much as a hearing for many of Mr. Bush’s nominees."

"Leahy has yet to grant a single hearing for a Sixth Circuit nominee."

"Leahy’s "Senate politics trumps the urgent need for a fully staffed federal judiciary."

From the Washington Times: 
http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20020124-580600.htm

"The shameful fact is that no human rights group cares enough to speak out for the newest lot of detainees – judicial detainees – and Leahy’s limbo of neglect and stagnation..."

"Whose side are the Democrats on? By refusing to move forward on dozens of federal judicial nominees urgently needed to fill the 11% (and growing) vacancy rate in the federal judiciary."

"The Senate Democrats cannot be fighting for the American people. They are fighting for themselves."

Outrage of the Month

December, 2001

Sen. Patrick Leahy Appears To Be Playing Partisan Politics With America's Justice System
His partisan politics is being played at the expense of America's Justice System, and Leahy is adversely affecting the very people he is supposed to be representing, the American people.
Source:  Washington Times, November 21, 2001.

Today there are 101 vacancies on the federal bench. That’s 11.8 percent of the federal judgeships in the United States.  20 of these vacancies are considered "judicial emergencies."

46 men and women have been nominated by President Bush to fill some of those vacancies. Only 10 have been confirmed . Consideration of the nominations of the remainder languish before the Senate Judiciary Committee because the Chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, appears to be playing politics. Unfortunately, his partisan politics is being played at the expense of America’s Justice System, and he is adversely affecting the very people he is supposed to be representing, the American people.

How does Leahy’s record in considering the nominees of President George W. Bush compare with other recent Presidents? By the end of their first year in office:

Ronald Reagan nominees 100% confirmed by Senate
George Bush, Sr. nominees 89% confirmed by Senate
Bill Clinton nominees 88% confirmed by Senate
George W. Bush nominees 28% confirmed by Senate

In 1998, when the federal judicial vacancy rate was much smaller, and when Leahy was not the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he said, "Any week in which the Senate does not confirm three judges, is a week in which the senate is failing to address the vacancy crisis."

In light of Leahy’s prior statement, his present refusal to permit the Judiciary Committee to vote on President Bush’s nominations appears hypocritical.

No wonder many politicians rank so low in the opinion of the public.

Source:  Washington Times, November 21, 2001.

Outrage of the Month

November, 2001

"Some American Journalists Appear 
To Be Allergic To
Red, White & Blue"

 

It's ironic that American soldiers are going off to defend the very freedoms that permit some journalists to assume their "holier-than-thou" tone.

Michelle Malkin, syndicated columnist, says,

"The media snobs are at it again. The media backlash against displays of patriotism reveals a lot about American journalism's true colors. . . . and the hypocrisy is nauseating."

In the midst of the terrorist attack on America, many citizens just didn't understand why some American journalists seemed so opposed to patriotism.

We didn't understand when ABC News, among others, issued a directive against on-air personnel displaying American flag lapel pins. "We cannot signal how we feel about a cause, even a justified and just cause, through some sort of outward symbol," said ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider. Or when Seattle Times executive editor, Mike Francher said, "We serve public best by clothing ourselves in neutrality, not pins."

Average Americans just didn't understand. However, some other journalists explained the situation to the rest of us. The following is what they say about the state of American journalism today.

Wesley Pruden, Editor, Washington Times:
Wesley Pruden "We've developed a distinctly holier-than-thou tone in our voices, painting the very people we're trying to persuade to read our newspapers as irredeemable racists, depicting our businessmen as crooks, our religious heritage as bigotry, and the culture of the democratic west as evil."
Then there is syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin:
Michelle Malkin "Many of today's journalists are simply embarrassed to identify with the average citizen. They view flag-waving as a maudlin exercise; gun ownership as fanatical; national pride as politically incorrect arrogance; and the military as an outdated, racist, sexist, homophobic and imperialist institution."
John Leo of U.S. News and World Report wrote:
John Leo

"The gap between reporters and the general public is huge.  Compared with other Americans, journalists are less likely to go to church, do volunteer work, or put down roots in a community. They're more likely to rent foreign movies than High Noon, drink Chablis than beer or whiskey, and read Architectural Digest than Reader's Digest."

"They have the same disconnect in social attitudes too. Journalists are far more likely to approve of abortion, to be contemptuous of rural areas and to identify strongly with people who see themselves as victims of society."

"They simply do not share political, religious or monetary values with the general population."

All that having been said, the lack of patriotism of some journalists should not surprise any of us. It does seem a bit ironic however, that our soldiers are going off to defend the very freedoms that permit those journalists to assume their "holier-than-thou tone?"

Fox News' Brit Hume, got it right, and stands out.

In response to the journalistic refusal to "take sides," on the attack on America by terrorists by not wearing ribbons or lapel pins, Brit Hume, Washington Managing Editor of The Fox News Channel, said:

"Our flag is not the symbol of the Bush administration, and Fox News is not located in Switzerland."

Editor's Comment:  Any wonder why Fox News is gaining viewers and the others aren't?

Outrage of the Month

October, 2001

 Just What We Need --
Support Groups For Killers

Syndicated columnist Linda Chavez said:  "The National Organization for Women has gone off the deep end by embracing Andrea Yates, the Texas woman who drowned her five children a few months ago.  It's a little like making Jeffrey Dahmer the national poster boy to draw attention to eating disorders."   Click here to read article.

Outrage of the Month

August, 2001

Many Prisoners, Some Defense Attorneys
And Now The
Minneapolis StarTribune Claim:
Innocent Prisoners Fill Our Prisons. 
Yeah, Right!

As usual, they blame everybody but the criminals.  Check out the August 6, 2001, Minneapolis StarTribune editorial.

The Minneapolis StarTribune claimed in it's August 6, 2001 editorial that "innocent people end up behind bars all the time. . . . they linger behind bars by the thousand (sic)."

The Minneapolis StarTribune has obviously swallowed, hook, line and sinker, the claims of America's prison inmates and self-promoting defense attorneys who blame the incarceration of practically all of America's criminals on "crooked cops, mistaken eyewitnesses, fraudulent labs, sneaky prosecutors, sloppy defense lawyers and clueless judges."

Fortunately, average Americans who make up the juries across the country and who hear and see the evidence realized that these criminals put themselves in prison.  They listen to and read the rantings of the StarTribunes of America and shake their heads in disbelief.  Their response, according to recent surveys of newspaper readership, has been to simply stop reading newspapers.

If these trends continue, editorial writers will soon only have each other to communicate with.  Then they can meet and try to convince one another that not only is everyone in prison innocent, but that the crime was really never committed in the first place.

In the meantime, we "sneaky prosecutors and crooked cops" will continue to prosecute those criminals who have chosen to violate our laws.  We will continue to do our best to protect the public by asking "clueless judges" to send law-breakers to prison.

Outrage of the Month

May, 2001

Our criminal justice system gambles with the safety of the public by the early release of so many prisoners.  The price of this "wholesale probation and parole" is too high.  The safety of the public must come first.

For complete story, see www.lexingtonprosecutor.com/newsandviews.htm#Public Safety.

Outrage of the Month

April, 2001

Northern Kentucky University professor under fire for statements he made at a student forum, calling for the family of Timothy Thomas to stalk a Cincinnati police officer and "take him out.'"  The Cincinnati Enquirer

For complete story, see enquirer.com/editions/2001/04/27/loc_remarks_on_shooting.html.

Outrage of the Month

March, 2001

Condemned Killers Seek Sympathy Again
As usual, they never even mention their dead victims.

Cyberspace-Inmates.com seeks pen-pals for prison inmates.  They say, "Rehabilitation Through Correspondence.  Mail is important to them; remember everyone makes mistakes."

Three of Kentucky's death row inmates are on the web-site.  Not surprisingly, none of them even mention the victims of their acts that caused them to be on death row in the first place.

LexingtonProsecutor.com Death Row Article:

Murderer

Reasons for Death Sentence

Victim(s)

Ralph Baze

Ralph Baze
36 at the time
Male, White

This killer used an assault-type rifle to ambush two police officers in Powell County in January, 1992. Each officer was shot three times in the back. One officer was executed with a shot to the back of his head as he tried to crawl away. Sheriff Steve Bennett
Deputy Arthur Briscoe

 

Cyberspace-Inmates.com Article:

Ralph Baze 
# 032863
Hi my name is Ralph and I am a Death Row inmate. I am looking for a few pen pals that like to write and maybe help get some of my paper work transferred to computer disk. Trying to work with and through the system is not getting me anywhere so I need to be able to find a voice on the outside of these walls to help me get my story out. Hopefully finding a friend or 2 along the way too.

Personal Info: I'm 45 years old, 6' 1", 250 lbs., Lt. brown hair and Blue eyed. I like older rock, Doo Wop and Christian Praise & Worship music. Just started learning guitar. Like reading Sci-Fi, nature books, photography, and learning to read Russian. My Russian pen pal says I can almost write a readable letter. I work out off and on and enjoy most anything outside. I am not a sports fan. (B-Ball, Baseball, Football).

Would like a relationship with the right lady that could be more then Pen pals. Times get lonely in here. I've been married most of my adult life and miss having that special relationship. Becky my wife died of cancer 6 years ago. It's left an empty spot within that Pen Pals just don't fill even though it's a joy to have someone to talk to. Write direct or through Rene. I will answer all letters.

Ralph Baze # 032863
KSP P.O. Box 128-6J4
Eddyville, KY 42038

Or e-mail me here please put my name in your letter I share this box with several others.

LexingtonProsecutor.com Death Row Article:

Murderer

Reasons for Death Sentence

Victim(s)

Furnish,fred.jpg (14378 bytes)
Fred Furnish
30 at the time
Male, White
This killer murdered a 66-year-old woman in Kenton County in 1998 by strangling the victim.  The victim was found by her housekeeper immersed in the water in her bathtub.  Furnish stole her bank account number and debit cards and then used them to withdraw money to throw a party for his friends. Ramona Jean Williamson
Cyberspace-Inmates.com Article:

Fred Furnish 
# 127518
Hi my name is Fred Furnish. I’m a single white male, 32 years old. On death row at the Kentucky State Penitentiary. I’ve been on death row almost a year now, and I’ve never felt so lonely and lost in my life.

I’m looking to build a friendship with someone who is honest, open minded, compassionate and supportive and that’s a mutual thing, because you’ll get that same respect, and honesty from me.

Most of my interests are connected with nature and the outdoors. I enjoy going camping, hiking, rock climbing, repelling off of cliffs, canoeing, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, and etc. I enjoy playing and watching most sports. I love traveling, and seeing new places. I love the ocean, going to the beaches, snorkeling, scuba diving etc. I enjoy many different types of music. But my two favorite types are Country and Rock. Sometimes I just enjoy reading a good book. I have many different interests, but those are just a few of them.

Hopefully someone will bring a little joy to my life, and give me hope and strength and help me feel worthy again. If you’re interested in writing and building a friendship. You can write me at this address.

Fred Furnish # 127518
KSP P.O. Box 5128
Eddyville, KY 42038

Or e-mail me here please put my name in your letter I share this box with several others.

LexingtonProsecutor.com Death Row Article:

Murderer

Reasons for Death Sentence

Victim(s)

Young,Gerald.jpg (13746 bytes)

Gerald Young
24 at the time
Male, Black

This killer hired someone to kill Osama Shalash because he thought Shalash had stolen money from him during a previous drug deal.  Shalash was executed by the person hired by Young as Shalash entered a crowded Fayette County restaurant in 1997 with his fiancée. Osama Shalash
Cyberspace-Inmates.com Article: