Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Mark Turner Russell Edgar: Turners Bar Complaint Response Back to Edgars Comments

There has been a lot of conversation here at Maggie's Notebook about Mark Turner, a man living in the Pensacola, Florida area. At the bottom of this post, you will find links to the background of Mark Turner's case.

Today, I want to focus on complaints Mr. Turner made to the Florida Bar. When a citizen feels they have been unjustly treated by the justice system, they can file a "Bar Complaint" with the State's Bar - the organization that generally registers and tracks lawyers in the area. I received the documents in this article directly from the Florida Bar. The letter below is the third in a series:

First was Mark Turner's complaint to the bar about Florida Special Prosecutor Russell Edgar, the second is Russell Edgar's response back to Mark Turner's complaint, and the third is the letter shown below - Mark Turner's response back to William Wilhelm, counsel for the Florida Bar. So this is only the third letter. Turner is attempting to show what went wrong with his trial. I have copied these documents accurately - with two changes. I made paragraphs smaller to be more easily read, and added some font colors, bolding and italics for emphasis. When you see brackets, like these [ ] with text in red, those are my comments and explanations. With the purple text, I attempted to show Mark's bottom-line thought as he addressed each of Edgar's responses.

If you are "skimming," when you see the purple, you might want to read what is before it or after to get the point. The green text is just to keep the focus in the midst of the purple. Normally, differing font colors are not a good idea, but your eyes will glaze over if you try to read every word. I hope I'm directing you to the flavor of the comment. Also, using all capital letters is not a good idea on the Internet, but this is directly from the letter the Bar sent to me.

Again, Mark Turner needs the help of an attorney who is not afraid of the prosecutors who do what appears to have been done below. Please pass this on. Mark Turner can be contacted directly here. Again, I am not an attorney. I'm just working from public records and presenting Mark Turner's side. I believe he definitely has a "side" to present.

Please note that Mark Turner has filed charges against Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr., the man accused of killing Byrd and Melanie Billings in Beulah, Florida. The Billings were also in the auto/used car business. See the link to background at bottom article.

*****
[from] Mark Turner
(redacted address)
Gulf Breeze, FL (zip redacted)
(phone number redacted)

[to] William W. Wilhelm, Esquire
Florida Bar Counsel
651East Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300

RE: Russell Edgar, The Florida Bar File No.: 2009,00,884(1A)

June 23, 2009

Dear Mr. Wilhelm,

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Russ Edgar's rebuttal. Russ Edgar claims I was charged in July 2006 (Case No. 2006 CF 003365 A) with "racketeering and money laundering offenses". Not True. See Exhibit A: Arrest Report. Charges were 2 Counts Grand Theft of over $100,000 from alleged victims David Turner and Lisa Levin-Zolnoski.

Russ Edgar claims my charges "stemmed from... several thousand dollars of proceeds of the sale of 'consigned or floor planned' used cars". Not True. See Exhibit A: Arrest Report. The charges I was arrested for did not involve consigned or floor planned cars.

Russ Edgar claims that he "was assigned the case by the State Attorney in May 2007"and that he "first appeared...one year after the case was filed." He chooses his words carefully. The point is that Edgar was INVOLVED prior to 2007. In response to his paragraphs Al-3. Not True. I have video (I can provide URL upon the Bar's request) where you can hear Russ Edgar speaking with Greg Smith [attorney], Rick Hamilton [General Manager of Pete Moore Chevrolet] and Anthony Ramsey [prior employee of Mark Turner and then-current employee of Pete Moore, and David Turner's son-in-law] in 2006. Russ Edgar was INVOLVED.

Edgar also carefully chooses his witnesses just as he chooses his words. The absence of recorded statements from Charles Pelezo and Chris Bailey speaks volumes. Neither is still employed with Pete Moore. Edgar purposely chose to interview Rick Hamilton who shares liability in my civil lawsuit against Pete Moore/PMC. Edgar purposely chose to interview Anthony Ramsey who admits in Sworn Deposition that he received a $5,000 payoff and an SUV for his participation in this case.

Russ Edgar claims that I was arrested by a deputy of the Escambia County Sheriffs Office "after a finding of probable cause". Not True. This case was started in December 2003. I was arrested only after the evidence in the Sheriffs custody was provided to the civil attorney's representing Pete Moore/PMC and their Memorandum was the "probable cause" that resulted in my arrest 3 years later. NOTE: MEMORANDUM DATE WAS MARCH 28.2006. BY JUNE 20th A WARRANT WAS SIGNED FOR 812.014.2 LARCENY S20.000 TO UNDER $100.000 AND BY JULY 6™ 2006 I WAS ARRESTED. See Exhibit B: Warrant signed by Judge. The record shows, in 2004, Investigator Busbee states on videotape that the "State Attorney's Office wants me to investigate this matter...this cases is instigated against you...they want me to prepare a case against you...the finger is pointed at you". See Exhibit C: Deposition of Charles Monroe Busbee September 2006, Page 5, Lines 6-14. Investigator Busbee admits the investigation was started by the State Attorney's Office "about three years ago". Why did it take 3 years to attain "probable cause"? Answer: because this was a civil matter until Edgar got involved.

David Turner claimed to be a victim in December 2003 but "probable cause" was non-existent until I refused to drop my civil case against Pete Moore/PMC. See Exhibit D: Cancelled check from alleged victim David Turner to Anthony Ramsey, former AGOP manager and currently PMC employee, shows their collusion in their attempt to rob me. David Turner claimed to be the victim but do victims give away $5,000 checks and SUV's? Please don't disregard the check for $30,000 that David Turner wrote to his mistress Linda Kehoe on the same day. This money was stolen from my company AGOP. Edgar knew this prior to the trial but ignored David Turner's theft and money laundering from his personal account to that of his mistress.

 It should be noted that during this time of dispute between me and my brother, any funds received by me were placed in my attorney's Trust Account until all of the cars and complaints were satisfied and Pete Moore had taken over my business, as agreed in the Merger. In Section A4: Edgar states that when I was "caught" , I misappropriated the funds. Russ Edgar continues to skew what really happened before, during and now even after the trial.

The record shows: In sworn testimony, the DMV officer Hope Lunsford admits the license for the business was incorporated during the time in question; this means the business did not belong to David Turner. In Kevin Hausfeld's Memo to the Sheriffs Department, he states the funds of AGOP belonged to the corporation. The Bank of Pensacola's attorney Phillip Bates states the funds of AGOP belonged to the corporation. The Federal Income Tax Returns for AGOP proved that I was the only shareholder. David Turner's CPA Randall Sansom, stated in Court Testimony, that David Turner never claimed any involvement with AGOP nor did he ever pay taxes on any revenue arrived from AGOP. David Turner admits to Investigator Busbee in the Sheriffs Department videotape that he ordered Stock Certificates in 2004 and backdated them to 1998. He did this in an effort to steal all the funds from the AGOP corporate account.

In Sheriffs Department videotape in 2004, Investigator Busbee claims this dispute "sounds civil" and fails to make an arrest until after receiving the Hausfeld Memorandum in 2006. In later Sheriffs Department video tape, my civil attorney Jim Chase and I were unaware that we were being recorded. It was brought to my attention that this is a violation of my attorney-client privilege. Investigator Busbee states that he informed David Turner that he had "serious tax problems" if he was claiming ownership of AGOP. David Turner had to believe that he would be compensated if he could prove AGOP was his. This was not the case in the criminal trial. So if the money from AGOP belonged to anyone other than the corporation, where is the documentation supporting Edgar's claim.  

The Court Record shows that David Turner's allegations of fraudulent behavior on my part were dismissed.Where are the letters written to Jim Chase from anyone claiming that the corporate funds belonged to them? There were no claims, no letters. I would like the record to show that AFC produced documentation shown in Edgar's "Exhibit P" to the contrary of Edgars claim. David Turner and AGOP Inc were responsible for the debt owed to AFC. Nowhere in the letter to AFC from Jim Chase, does it say that David Turner is the "Owner". See Exhibit E: Letter from Jim Chase to Barry Beroset proving AFC is not a victim with attached email from AFC to Jim Chase stating "Mark Turner does not owe any money to AFC."

David Turner was associated with some documents pertaining to AGOP but that did not make him the owner and The Courts agreed so his allegations were dismissed. IF I, MARK TURNER, WAS NOT PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR AFC OUTSTANDING DEBT, THEN WHY DID EDGAR MAINTAIN THAT CHARGE? IF THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE SUPPORTING DAVID TURNER AND LEVIN-ZOLNOSKI ALLEGATIONS, THEN WHY DID EDGAR MAINTAIN THOSE CHARGES? IF THERE WAS A CANCELLED CHECK FROM MYSELF AND THE BOND COMPANY TO CHRISTENSEN, THEN WHY DID EDGAR MAINTAIN THOSE CHARGES? EDGAR PURPOSELY MAINTAINED ALL THE CHARGES TO CONFUSE THE JURY. IN FACT, AT THE BENCH, EDGAR REFERRED TO MR. CHRISTENSEN AS "ROBIN HOOD". IN RUSS EDGAR'S CLOSING ARGUMENT AT TRIAL, HE REPEATEDLY ASKED THE JURY TO "PICK OUT JUST ANY TWO CARS AND THE JUDGE WILL TELL YOU THAT HE'S GUILTY OF ALL THE CHARGES". Edgar knew the Judge would never make such a biased statement to the Jury but hearing this proclamation over and over again was an attempt by Edgar to convince the Jury that the Judge somehow agreed with his statements.

As to Bl, it is meaningless whether the prosecution was "instituted in good faith" by a different ASA. Edgar is supposed to be responsible for every step until the end of the case but he did not prosecute in good faith. B3 and B4, Edgar misses the point. It is not at issue how the civil case could assist the prosecution. The accusation of wrongdoing flows the other way: that the prosecution was to assist the civil case specifically, to force me to drop it.  

Abandoning the civil case would have resolved the prosecution, to "assist" Edgar in proving the case. The letter from the Berosets established that the connection between the civil and criminal case was discussed with Edgar. He [Edgar] does not respond to my accusation of his abuse of power and does not deny the relationship; he just attacks the merit of my civil case, which does not speak to the criminal case or the strategy to use the prosecution to force me to drop my civil case.

Edgar claims that I have not pursued my civil case. Not True. Within 2 days after my criminal trial, Honorable Judge Geeker ruled in my favor. Last week he informed counsel and me that this civil case will now be accelerated. As to C: The SAO and the Sheriff work together in bringing an arrest and prosecuting it. Edgar cannot deny that his office continued to prosecute an arrest, valid or not. As to D: Curtis Golden, former State Attorney, was still active in office in 2003 when David Turner made the allegations against me. In fact, other Golden family members still work in the State Attorney's Office with Edgar to this date. Curtis Golden is the Uncle to Mrs. David Turner and the Great Uncle to Mrs. Anthony Ramsey. I did not know it was up to me to make any demands on the State. I relied on my attorneys John and Barry Beroset to inform me of any rights I was privileged to. Edgar's move in limine to prevent raising this point to the jury is exactly this bias. This restricted my right to put forth a defense, on a critical issue of the motive of the SAO to prosecute and for the arrest. Mr. Wilhelm. Paragraphs E and F were missing on my copy from Edgar's Response to the Bar.

However, this does not surprise me because I believe Edgar did not write all the sections of this response to you. There is no way that anyone with as much involvement as Edgar has with my life and this case would make such erroneous statements about the Court proceedings. I will offer further examples later. I would like the opportunity to read and respond to Edgar's submission of Paragraphs E and F to the Bar. As to G: Once again a play on words. I believe that I am not the only one who thinks it is misconduct to outright lie to a defendant's spouse in a Sworn Deposition. Please refer to the very attachment that Edgar included in his response. See Exhibit F: Deposition of Nancy Turner, is "factual" basis. The quote is "I played you a tape of your husband and some other people."

This is misconduct and a lie. The statement was made, he admits he made it, it was inappropriate and reflects his lack of Ethics. Edgar, just like he did throughout my criminal trial, mixes everything together to confuse and mislead. In fact, See Exhibit G: A statement from the Trial Transcript Volume 12 page 2199 lines 5-17 where Honorable Judge Jones reprimands Edgar for taking sole personal responsibility when he so boldly proclaimed to the Jury and the entire audience, "I BROUGHT THIS CASE AGAINST MARK TURNER". Although I appreciate The Courts reprimand of Edgar and his instruction to the Jury to disregard the claim, the damage was already engrained. You can't un-ring a bell. He rang the bell like he does whenever he wants regardless of the consequence. As to Section H: Edgar claims that he is entitled to amend charges. I never said he wasn't. It is the number of amendments that I feel illustrates his agenda. It doesn't matter that he was not the first ASA to file the complaint. The point is he improperly amended charges despite evidence and information that negated the amendments.

Edgar amended my charges over 20 times and it wasn't' just the number of amendments, it was also the timing of those amendments which suggests something other than "legal" or appropriate motives. Edgar's citation of State Cases are very important and I am glad he has brought these up. It might behoove you, Mr. Wilhelm to investigate these cases further. Edgar admits he used the same pattern. They may contain similar facts that I have complained about. The previous prosecutor on the State vs. Dana Adkinson case informed me and my wife that there was no evidence the State had against Dana Adkinson to pursue her prosecution. He said the "evidence was fabricated by Russ Edgar". I purposely do not mention the prosecutor's name because this is a small town, but I am sure that the truth will surface.

Regarding Russ Edgar's extensive Footnote #6 cited in H3: On the contrary, the record shows that NO PROOF was presented at trial that supported any of the comments in this footnote. The record shows otherwise and this is another example justifying my belief that Edgar was not the only author of his response to the Florida Bar. Edgar states in Section H4 that he objected to my defense's request to delay prosecution. What he fails to acknowledge is that Edgar amended the charges the night before the hearing and that my attorney had not been privileged to this new amendment, in fact, at the hearing, Barry Beroset asked Drew Pinkerton, my wife's criminal attorney, his advice about the overnight changes and they both agreed that without a request to postpone, Barry Beroset could be sued by me. Of what I do not know but it is what my wife and I both heard.

The lack of a request for speedy trial does not automatically suggest that the defense accepted the continuously amended charges or agreed that they were valid amendments. He wanted me to drop my civil case outright or use the Pleas to render my civil case moot. Edgar did not expect or want the case to go to trial.He only went to trial when I refused to take the Plea, when I refused to be bullied by escalating amended charges, when I refused after my wife's arrest, and when I refused to drop my civil case against Pete Moore.

Edgar boldly claims in Section H6 that "There is no legal "nexus" between Mark Turner's criminal case and his civil suit against PM and PMC." Again Edgar misses the point. The differences in subject are irrelevant. The issue is not how the conviction would be relevant evidence in the civil case. The prosecution was leverage that they all counted on to force me to drop the civil case. No one claimed that it would be "evidence" to embrace or be avoided. The "nexus" was that leverage. The "nexus" is that my civil trial had to be postponed at the recommendation of my criminal attorney because my criminal charges "took precedence". A successful conviction and incarceration would impede my pursuit of the civil case, as Edgar attempts to claim in this very Bar Response.

Whether he admits it or not, it is evident to anyone that the two are interrelated. Section H7: Larry Matthews, civil attorney for PM/PMC told Kevin Hausfeld to prepare the Memo [memorandum suggesting charges to be brought against Turner]. Together their firm did so as shown in prior documentation. The threat came from Larry Matthews not Kevin Hausfeld. The charges are threat enough; they didn't need to come from Russ Edgar in person.

As to I: Edgar states the check for $205,000 is "irrelevant" [Turner's payment to Pete Moore that was never recorded and that Pete Moore's comptroller knew nothing about]. It was relevant because Edgar had to prove value to support the larcenies and thereby support the racketeering that was comprised of the larcenies (had to be in excess of $ 100,000). If the value was reduced by any amount, Edgar could not charge what he charged [racketeering and money laundering], nor could the Jury convict me. 

Edgar trumped the values up intentionally to overcharge, so as to again use the leverage against me to drop my civil case out of fear of the number of potential years of incarceration with each higher count, and to confuse the Jury. He ignored the other counts in the charge. It was not just the money laundering. The $205,000 went to the grand larceny counts that supported the racketeering, so it is not a defense by Edgar to defend the $205,000 in the context solely of the money laundering. As shown in the restitution hearing, Pete Moore's debts and AFC's debts combined only totaled $83,000+. Edgar fails to mention the Verdict Sheet which did not specify what I was found guilty of [*****]

After the Restitution Hearing, Judge Jones, Russ Edgar and Barry Beroset discovered no one had done the math and properly added up the dollar amounts of the charged vehicles. This puts the 6 vehicles in which I was charged with Theft only totaling $45,300. This left a balance of $38,343.73 to be owed to AFC, however please refer to Exhibit E again which would have eliminated the AFC charge. Referencing Edgar's footnote #6, he cites Florida Law pertaining to delivering of titles. He does not properly cite the law. There is no law that mandates Pete Moore had to deliver anything nor does it mandate that Pete Moore is to pay off my debt. Pete Moore did these acts in accordance to our Business Merger Agreement.

Also in this same footnote, Edgar continues to misuse the wrong dollar amounts even after the Restitution Hearing. Once again, Edgar could not have authored this Section of the Bar Response. He was at the Restitution Hearing and the combined charges were found to be $83,000. This is also where the cancelled check for $205.000 is relevant. I overpaid Pete Moore. If I overpaid Pete Moore with the $205,000 check then the money in the corporate account did not belong to Pete Moore so Edgar's charge of money laundering does not hold water. If the money was mine to move from the corporate account to the Trust Account then to another business for capital, then Edgar's charge of racketeering does not hold water.

Edgar claims that I moved the money 4 times so that equated to 4 times the amount of money. During the Restitution Hearing, Edgar claims that a person moving $26,000 four times is guilty of money laundering $104,000 and RICO because it was done 2 or more times. Edgar references a "Bust Out" Theory and continues to make claims about my brother's ownership of the company when it was clearly stated hi The Courts that the accusations made by my brother were unfounded and thereby dropped. Yet again, Russ Edgar continues to reword this proclamation as if it means something.

 IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT EDGAR'S MOTIONS IN LIMINE PROHIBITED ME FROM BRINGING IN ALL THE CIVIL FACTS IN THIS CASE. Edgar blocked my defense. See Exhibit H: State's Sixth Motion In Limine. Edgar knew he could not win this case unless he blocked the fact that this issue was civil. His Motions of Limine were focused on allowing the Jury and the Judge to only see part of the facts, not the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

As to J: The recovery from a third party went again to value. Like Section 12, Edgar trumped up charges to overcharge, for greater threat to me (to encourage a plea because he calculated that if I were facing more jail time, surely I would be persuaded to Plea), and to confuse the jury. If a prosecutor charges someone with theft of money, it is very relevant what money was actually owed.

As to Section K: Assistance of Counsel, effective or ineffective, in motion practice is the subject of other legal matters, and are not a part of my Bar complaint. The absence of a motion to dismiss the RICO charge does not defend that Edgar did overcharge, rather, that is a legal response that is typically raised on appeal if the defense counsel did not preserve the issue for appeal. This is not a legal appeal. This is my complaint to the Florida Bar and there is no legal requirement that anything in a bar complaint has to be "preserved" by objection

As to Section L: I know that I am entitled to a public trial and it makes no difference if 3,4, or 5 friends or family members could attend. The constitutional right is violated if one person is denied his or her right to attend a public trial. The right flows also to the public who might be denied access to a public trial. Edgar's footnote #12 is misleading because it suggests that my wife and my mother were allowed to sit in on "proceedings" after testimony. My mother was not allowed to remain after she testified, at the request of Edgar and my wife was not permitted in until both sides rested, and they proceeded to closing arguments.

As to Section M: There were no charges filed against my civil attorney James Chase for money laundering, so there are no facts to support that. M4 is Not False. Edgar assumes that I meant he raised the matter in front of the jury. Instead, I am saying Edgar claims he would have to advise Mr. Chase of his rights in front of the jury, meaning when Mr. Chase took the stand, Edgar would suggest to the jury that Mr. Chase was guilty of something and not credible as a witness. Bottom line, Edgar denied me of my opportunity to present a defense.

If he wasn't trying to prevent Mr. Chase from testifying, if Edgar didn't want to scare Mr. Chase off, then why would Edgar say that he would have to advise Jim of his right "in front of the jury", rather than advise him outside the presence of the jury and give him the choice whether to proceed. This would taint the jury into concluding that my civil attorney must not be credible. It is not Edgar's call to make on what value the jury would have found in Mr. Chase's testimony and it is not a defense to my claim in the Bar Complaint. I had a right to present a defense, and the jury had the right to evaluate the facts, the credibility of the witnesses etc. Mr. Chase would have directly negated the money laundering charges, so his testimony was of great value to one of the major counts in the charge. If the charge suggested that I took ill gotten gains and used it illegally to start a new car business, then the testimony of Mr. Chase, who created the Trust Account to hold the money at issue until it was evident there were no claims against it, was directly relevant to whether I engaged in illegal financial transactions with that money. Bottom line is that Mr. Chase hurt Edgar's case so Edgar did not want him to testify. It had nothing to do with whether Mr. Chase would be of any value to the Jury or to me. The value to me was clear enough to Edgar that he did not want the testimony. The conflict in written statements on AFC only went to AFC and the trumped up larceny charges. That does not speak to the value of Mr. Chase's testimony on the money laundering count. Edgar is mixing up the counts so as to also confuse you Mr. Wilhelm. Edgar is counting on confusing you Mr. Wilhehn by complicating an uncomplicated matter. M6: Mr. Chase being advised by counsel does not negate Edgar's impropriety. Counsel or not, with a prosecutor improperly strong-arming you with prosecution that he never intends to make good on, that prosecutor is controlling the advice of counsel. If Edgar had never raised the issue of warning Mr. Chase of his rights, Mr. Chase would never have sought the advice of counsel.

Edgar did have 18 months to take Mr. Chases' deposition but never did.

Mr. Wilhelm, in conclusion, I have been told by my attorney friends that a lot of lawyers are mainly interested in settling cases out of court to avoid trial. Like car dealers, those attorneys are interested in making the deal. Both believe that a good deal is when everybody is happy, regardless of the money that was made or lost. These attorneys, like car dealers, can make you a deal you can't refuse. But if you're not in the market for a car, you won't buy no matter how good that deal is. I was not in the market for a Plea and although 10-months might have sounded enticing to anyone else to stop the pain versus 90-years which is equivalent to 3 life sentences, I had already lived through this same tactic Russ Edgar used on me in 1993. I also carried the burden of everyone else he misused RICO on. I stopped taking the Pensacola News Journal and prayed I would never have to face him again but the circumstances and the evidence speak for themselves. I was not in the market for what Russ Edgar was selling.

But you see, this was all about the deal only his deal is about power. Russ Edgar has the power to charge me with RICO and a 90 year sentence to literally destroy my life or give me as little as 10 months. But all I have to do is "confess" to something I didn't do and drop the civil case.

Please see Exhibit I: Plea offer. We all know that a man tortured will say whatever it takes to make the pain stop. My pain never stopped. My pain continues. In 1993 Russ Edgar tortured me. Since that time, I did everything I could do. I dotted every "i" and crossed every "t". I had my rights restored and he had to give me permission to do this. He released me from probation early and told me he would never torture me again but I continued to look over my shoulder because a bully picks on the innocent, picks on the helpless. Every newspaper article, every case haunted me because I did not do the right thing the first time. I did not stand up and fight Russ Edgar.

Excessive Prosecution has become routine for Russ Edgar and like the serial killer, he has become desensitized to his heinous actions. I hope you understand what I am saying. In the car business, when someone writes you a bad check for a car, you don't have a stolen car. You have a bad check problem, in the car business, if someone does not return your rental car on time, it is called conversion theft because you gave them the keys. In both of these circumstances, you have a written contract.

Russ Edgar built his case on pure fabrication and admits it in his closing argument. He built it against me. My Contract with Pete Moore is enclosed as Exhibit J: Line Of Credit. Imagine being criminally prosecuted for not paying your credit card off at the end of the month when you had an ongoing revolving balance for 20+years. Does your Mortgage Amortization Sheet show pluses and minuses like my Line of Credit with Pete Moore does. This was a civil case. Everyone, everyone realized this case was civil except Russ Edgar. How I got prosecuted for matters regarding a line-of-credit is beyond me.

Anytime a person stands behind a badge, he takes a higher oath and responsibility to the State. Russ Edgar, if truly was looking out for the well being of the State, he should not have been allowed to offer me 10 months if in fact I was so much of a threat that I deserved 90 years. Russ Edgar goes beyond his authority to use "Substantial Truth" in attempting to elicit a confession or obtain information that can be used against the defendant. He is willfully malevolent and outright untruthful, as exhibited by his behavior documented in Trial Transcripts, closing argument and deposition of my wife. He is neglectful in his misstatements in his response to the Florida Bar. He obviously disregarded the parameters set forth by the Florida Bar about the limit of 25 pages. Once again, he deems himself as immune to anyone above him. Yes, this may be a minute detail but very telling.

Mr. Wilhelm, I am not trained in mincing words and over-complicating communication so that the truth can be lost in translation. I am dyslexic but I am not stupid. Respectfully Submitted, Mark Turner PS. I have included the many signatures of Russ Edgar. I think this supports my theory that there were many authors to Russ Edgar's Response to the Bar. When you sign your name to a check, you swear the funds are in the account. When you sign your name to a document, you've read it and it's your statement. Edgar allowing someone to sign his name is like renting his license out. Edgar would give a life sentence to a Doctor that allowed his nurse to sign his name to prescriptions. The attached are Edgar's signatures on the very documents he used to prosecute me.

Background and related:
Mark Turner's Bar Complaint Against Prosecutor Russ Edgar

Mark Turner Leonard Patrick Gonzalez: Mark Turner New Gonzalez Charges

Mark Turner Pensacola Injustice: Mark Turner Patrick Gonzalez?

Mark Turner Framed? Pensacolan Russ Edgar, Pete Moore Motive for Framing Mark Turner?

 Mark Turner, Pete Moore, Russ Edgar: Framing Mark Turner in Pensacola? 

  Sheriff Morgan, Patrick Gonzalez Contract Murders: Local Business Rivals Implicated?

Byrd "Bud" Billings Business: Mark Turner Bud Billings Connection

Mark Turner Pete Moore Lawsuit: Bud Billings Pete Moore Connection

Byrd Billings, Melanie Billings Murdered: Billings Parents of 16 Children

John Couey Dies: Jessica Lunsford Killer Dies: Jessica Marie Lunsford Murderer John Couey Dead

One of the most despicable killers of all time died in prison today. John Couey, who murdered little Jessica Lunsford, met is maker in a Jacksonville, Florida hospital.

John Evander Couey

Three child murders are always fresh in my mind: The Girl Scout murders, killing three in Oklahoma in 1977, the murder of Adam Walsh, the son of John Walsh, the host of America's Most Wanted, and his then-wife Reve, in 1981, and Jessica Lunsford's death at the hands John Couey in 2005. Couey died of natural causes - cancer, and had been in hospital for treatment since August 12th.

In contrast, Jessica was kidnapped from her bedroom by Couey on February 24, 2005. She was taken across the street to a filthy mobile home, in the midst of filthy people. Couey raped her, further tortured her, and buried her alive with her stuffed purple dolphin. John Evander Couey was 46 when he took Jessica. He had a long, long rap sheet, including: indecent exposure, carrying a concealed weapon, burglary, larceny and "fondling a child." He was a registered sex offender. When Couey was arrested he was an emaciated druggie weighing just 125 pounds.

By the time the trial was over, Couey was well-porked in jail. I don't know what he weighed at that time, but it was obvious he was eating well. Jessie Lunsford was dead, and buried a second time. As the search for Jessica continued, Couey's step-sister bought him a bus ticket out-of-town. An Augusta, Georgia Salvation Army was hosting him as the mourning for Jessica began even before her body was found.

It was also the Salvation Army who recognized him and called authorities. Couey confessed to the murder during an FBI polygraph. He said he kept Jessica alive for 3 days in a closet in the trailer. He told them he buried the little girl alive in a grave on the property. He put her in plastic garbage bags, which she managed to poke her fingers through before she died. Reports say she suffocated and died with 3 to 5 minutes. Pathologists believe she was sexually assaulted within 6 hours of dying. This man had starved her before she died. Her body was found on March 19th, 25 days after she was kidnapped.

Couey was sentenced to death and has been clothed and fed by taxpayers at the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida.

Jessica's father, Mark Lunsford, was at times thought to be guilty of his daughter's disappearance - there was chat and whispers. He stoically persevered. In the end, Mr. Lunsford became a voice for his daughter in death, and a fierce advocate for child victims of sexual predators. "Jessica's Law" has been passed by approximately 26 states.

See a map of those states which have passed the Jessica Lunsford Act, and which states have not. The Act was introduced in Congress, but of course, has not been enacted into law. The site linked above says that Mark Lunsford now has a baby boy, born on what would have been Jessic's 12th birthday. Mr. Lunsford says his son's birth is a miracle.


You can read more about Couey's crime against Jessica Lunsford here.

Indonesia Earthquake September 2009: Ring of Fire Indonesian Quake

Following just hours after the Tonga earthquake and tsunami, Indonesia was hit with a 7.6 earthquake centered 32 miles north-west of Sumatra. A 6.2 aftershock followed. The intitial quake happened at 5:15 a.m. CDT. The quake was felt in Singapore and Malaysia. Ongoing updates as available. See video below. See Update 10-1-09 below.

Indonesia Earthquake - September 2009

This story says 75 are reported dead with more fatalities expected. Buildings are down, including hotels, bridges and Jamil hospital. A health ministry spokesman says "thousands of people are trapped in the rubble of buildings."
A number of hotels in Padang have been destroyed," Rahmat Triyono, of the Indonesian geophysics and meteorology agency was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Post. "Up to now we haven't been able to reach Padang. Communications have been cut."
Tsunami warnings were issued but cancelled. The faultline is known as the "Ring of Fire," the same fault that hosted the devastating 2004 quake and tsunami that killed close to 250,000.

Indonesia Earthquake September 2009 (video) 
 

Update 10-1-09:
A report just hours old says the death toll in Sumatra has reached 1100. "Hundred are injured." Many are said to remain trapped under rubble. In Padang, a city of 1 million, a Padang school building collapsed. Five children died and last reports are that 40-50 children are still trapped. Large areas of the city have been destroyed. Emergency workers fought driving rains. Power and communications are out in Padang. All three of the city's hospitals were "severely" damaged. Doctors are treating patients in tents. There is an extreme shortage of medical personnel.
Padang itself, a port city encircled by mountains, is built on one of the world's most active fault lines: the same one that sparked the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Nonetheless, locals were shocked by the quake's ferocity. "I saw the road move up and down like a wave," said Anas Taylor, 54. "The ground was not just shaking, but actually jumping up and down. It's by far the worst I've ever seen."
Fuel is scarce and looting is reported. Road are blocked so exiting the city is impossible. Professor John McCloskey, a geophyscicist at the University of Ulster says it is not likely that the Indonesia Ring of Fire earthquake and the Tonga-Somao earthquakes are related. The distance between the quakes — 10,000km (6,200 miles) —and the orientation of the tectonic plates made a causal link physically implausible, he said.
Early estimates suggest that the Sumatra quake occurred about 50 miles beneath the Earth’s crust, so deep that there was little or no movement on the ocean floor, and no resultant tsunami. A key concern is that the quake could have led to an increase in pressure at other points along the fault line, which could trigger a second tremor closer to the surface. “The real danger in the coming days is that a second larger quake with a magnitude of around 8.5 could occur just off the coast of Padang,” Professor McCloskey said. That could result in a huge tsunami submerging the town and surrounding coastline, which has a population of about 1.5 million.
McCloskey said warnings do not reach the people so residents have been instructed to move to higher ground "if they felt a tremor lasting more than 30 seconds." For information about the Somoa-American Samoa earthquake on September 29th, see this.


Hardin Montana Military Presence? Two Rivers Prisoners? American Police Force - Who are they? (Video)

In the video below, Al Peterson, spokesman for the Two Rivers Detention in Hardin, Montana is quoted saying: "we are excited to have a military presence in a town without a police force." What does that mean? Who is American Police Force? Why would a Two Rivers spokesman refer to them as "military?" Who will be prisoners in the Two Rivers Detention facility? What do residents of Hardin, Montana think about American Police force? See Update 10-2-09 after video below.

Hardin, Montana - American Police Force Mercedes Vehicle Logo

Barbara Sowell at FaultlineUSA started the search for information about the situation in Hardin, Montana and posted her findings here at Maggie's Notebook. Dean Bremkamp blogging at Do the Right Thing first brought this to our attention. This post will build on FaultlineUSA's information and will be updated as new information is available and sources are found.

There are three pertinent questions for starters:

1) Is a corporation, American Police Force locating its operation in Hardin, Montana - planning to operate a training center?

2) Is a corporation contracting with the city to use or purchase the city's jail facilities to house prisoners, and if so, who will the prisoners be?

3) Will American Police Force actually be the police force in Hardin, Montana.

To begin, Kevin Flaherty, blogging in New Zealand at Cryptongon.com blogs on private military contractors. He says he "routinely" follows stories about "mercenaries." Crypton.com's [Flaherty] research about APFC is quoted in the Billings Gazette (linked below). The following will give you some food for thought:

Separate research efforts by The Billings Gazette and others turned up connections and similarities between the APF Web site and sites for other little-known defense procurement companies.
All of the Web sites share similarities in design, and some include exactly the same phrases, a red flag to Kevin Flaherty, an American blogger living in New Zealand who writes about private military contractors.


Public records show that the APF Web site, Americanpolicegroup.com, was first registered on May 15, about two weeks after an effort by the Two Rivers Authority to pursue prisoners from Guantanamo Bay made national headlines.
A section of text on the APF site refers to the company’s “U.S. Training Center,” and matches word for word text from the Web site for Xe, formerly Blackwater. That company’s U.S. Training Center is touted as the largest facility of its kind.
APF representatives have said that their company is a subsidiary of an undisclosed parent corporation founded in 1984. Blackwater was started in 1997.
Public Internet records show that the APF Web site is one of six hosted on a single Web server, including a site for Defense Product Solutions.
Both share the same double-eagle logo, and the same company, Purepoint Design, developed both Web sites. No one answered a call to Purepoint’s office in Newport Beach, Calif.
A section of text on the Defense Product Solutions Web site matches word for word text found on Web sites for Allied Defense Systems and Defense Logistic Services, all promising a similarly exhaustive range of military products and services.
Public records for those companies and others with similar Web sites – including Defense Contracting and Consulting, and Worldwide Military Exchange – all show connections to Edward Angelino, a government contractor in Huntington Beach, Calif.

There is this from an original Cryptogon.com post from Flaherty on September 14th [snippets, not continguous]:

An attorney for American Police Force, Maziar Mafi, describes the Santa Ana, Calif., company as a fledgling spin-off of a major security firm founded in 1984. But Mafi declined to name the parent firm or provide details on how the company will finance its jail operations.

On its elaborate Web site and in interviews with company representatives, American Police Force claims to sell assault rifles and other weapons in Afghanistan on behalf of the U.S. military while providing security, investigative work and other services to clients “in all 50 states and most countries.”

However, an Associated Press search of two comprehensive federal government contractor databases turned up no record of American Police Force.

American Police Force also is promising to invest $30 million in new projects for the city, including a military and law enforcement training center with a 250-bed dormitory and an expansion of the jail to 2,000 beds. The company says it will build a homeless shelter, offer free health care for city residents and even deliver meals to the needy.
The same report adds this intriguing detail. An AP reporter visited the offices of APF in Santa Ana, CA, and found "Captain Michael behind a desk there:

The man said his boss is a retired U.S. Army colonel named Richard Culver who is currently overseas. Culver’s role with the company could not be immediately verified.
The company claim of a headquarters address is just up the street from the White House.
The K Street building houses “virtual offices,” where clients pay to use the prestigious Pennsylvania Avenue address and gain access to onsite conference rooms but have no permanent presence. [APFC has an application pending]


Follow the developing story at Cryptongon.com. We all need to get into Flaherty's reporting on this.

*****

Research about The American Police Force (APF):

*) This is their website. The url reads www.americanpolicegroup.com. They do not refer to themselves as a corporation, but an "organization." Apparently, the website, since this hit the news, is not always available. AFC says this:
As part of our mission, APF plays a critical role in helping the U.S. government meet vital homeland security and national defense needs. Within the last 5 years the United States has been far and away our #1 client.
*) The American Police Force was incorporated in California in March 2009
Says they specialize in "training military and security forces oversees. Michael Hilton seems to be the spokesman for the company.

*) APF has black SUV's with a never-used Hardin logo which says "City of Hardin Police Force."

APF's Michael Hilton says they are looking for ground for "a planned tactical military training ground." They need 5000-10,000 acres.

*) Some APF representatives are staying at a bed-and-breakfast in Hardin.

*) APF plans to hire 200 locally. They have hired the company's first local employee:
On Friday, American Police Force announced its first local hire: a reporter for the Billings Gazette, Becky Shay, who has covered events surrounding the jail since its construction. She will be the company's spokeswoman for $60,000 a year.

Shay said she intended to bring new transparency to the process, but declined to directly answer the first question posed to her: Where is American Police Force getting the money to operate the jail and build the training center?

“I know enough about where the money is coming from to be confident signing on with them,” she said.
*) CBS Crimesider reports "significant obstacles" for APFC, including no signed contracts to bring in prisoners from outside Montana.

*) Hilton is reported to say that the company will begin payments to Hardin on February 1, 2010, and said their agreement with the city is worth at least $2.6 million annually.

*****
Information about Hardin, Montana and the city's interaction with APFC:

**) Hardin, Montana has a never used "detention" facility known as Two Rivers. Two Rivers Detention Center cost $27 million and the bonds have been in default since May 2008. It has never been used - no prisoners ever. Two Rivers can accommodate 464 prisoners.

**) Hardin has not had a police force in the last 30 years. The Sheriff of Big Horn Countyserves the town.

**) The city of Hardin offered the facility to house prisoners from Guantanamo Bay. Montana Governor, Brian Schweitzer, has opposed bringing in prisoners from outside the state. In 2007, the Montana Attorney General said it was illegal to bring in prisoners from outside Montana. Hardin sued the State and won.

**) The city announced an agreement with APF two weeks ago, but there appears to be no signed agreement.

*****
Information on the "logo" or decal depicted above: It appears the decals have now been removed from the Mercedes SUV's. Here are some thoughts from PrisonPlanet. Follow PrisonPlanet here:
An image on KULR’s Web site shows the insignia on the APF vehicles, which has caused some concern on the Internet as being of conspiratorial origin.
APF’s coat of arms, a clearer version of which appeared on the group’s Web site (which had been taken down at time of this writing but is viewable here), shows a double-headed eagle with a red shield and white cross borne on its breast.
The coat appears very similar to the insignia attributed to one Prince Aleksandar Karageorgevich, based on RAW STORY’s analysis of images hosted by Burke’s Peerage & Gentry International Register of Arms. The site notes the coat as hailing from the Royal crown of Serbia.
However, the significance or implied nationality of the insignia’s crown could not immediately be identified.
The double-headed eagle itself has been used repeatedly throughout history by many cultures as a symbol of empire, dominance and power.
Ending thought: Can we follow the money? Updates when available.







Hardin Montana Military presence? (video)




Logo image courtesy KULR8.com

Update 10-1-09:
The good people of Hardin, Montana have a criminal in their midst, and some there seem ready to hand over their new detention facility to him. Who in Hardin vetted Michael Hilton and his creepy American Police Force?

Hilton says he is a naturalized citizen, born in Montenegro, which is located on the border of Serbia. He speak with "heavily-accented English.

Hilton has spent some time in prison in California. He was convicted of Grand Theft in Orange County, California and other related charges. Reports vary on the number of years he served in a California prison, but range from 2 to 6 years.
Hilton pleaded guilty in March 1993 to 14 felonies, including 10 counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and three counts of diversion of construction funds, according to Orange County court records. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but it is unclear how much time he served.
Orange County has been a frequent nuisance to Hilton. The jail must know him well there. Civil charges have ranged from fraud, larceny, breach of warranty, breach of contract and false pretense. He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol. Perhaps Hilton's oddest scam is this:
The complaint alleges that Hilton and others falsely told the plaintiff that the money would be used for the design and manufacture of the coins, and to pay for a National Football League license to produce them.
Hilton is not always "Hilton." His alias' include Miodrag Dokovich, Miodrag Djokich, Miodrag Djokovich, Michael Hamilton, Anthony M. Hilton, Michael A. Hilton, Michael Milton and Hristian Djokich

More details on his frequent arrest record from TMP - American Police Force Leader's Long Criminal Record:

Update 10-2-09:
Montana's Attorney General, Steve Bullock, is investigating the arrival of the American Police Force in Hardin:
In a nine-page letter sent late yesterday afternoon to Becky Shay -- the former Gazette reporter who recently signed on as APF's public relations director -- Bullock said he's probing whether APF may be violating Montana's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.
Bullock reportedly asked for copies of any contracts between the City of Hardin and APF and any lawsuits filed against the corporation or Michael Hilton.

Update 10-9-09:

According to this report at TMP, American Police Force took down their "Weapons" page on their website.

Sarkozy on Obama Ego Naivety? (Video)

Jack Kelly's assertions about his sources, and what they say French president, Nicolas Sarkozy said, may or may not be accurate, but I believe the assessment is spot-on, no matter who said it or didn't say it. What do you think? Is this Sarkozy's opinion: Obama is incredibly naive and grossly egotistical? More after the video.

Nicolas Sarkozy
Here are some snippets of Jack Kelly [featured in the video] writing at RealClearPolitics on Sarkozy's Contempt for Obama:
Nicolas Sarkozy was furious with Barack Obama for his adolescent warbling about a world without nuclear weapons at a meeting Mr. Obama chaired of the United Nations Security Council last Thursday (9/24). We must never stop until we see the day when nuclear arms have been banished from the face of the earth," President Obama said.

What infuriated President Sarkozy was that at the time Mr. Obama said those words, Mr. Obama knew the mullahs in Iran had a secret nuclear weapons development site, and he didn't call them on it.

‘President Obama dreams of a world without weapons...but right in front of us two countries are doing the exact opposite," Mr. Sarkozy said.

What good has proposals for dialogue brought the international community?" he [Sarkozy] asked rhetorically. "More uranium enrichment and declarations by the leaders of Iran to wipe out a UN member state off the map."

Whether Sarkozy tagged Obama with "incredibly naive and grossly egotistical," or not, we can clearly see some statements we know he said. How incredible is it that France sees Iran more dangerous than does the U.S.? How unbelievable is it that France calls for immediate action - strong and meaningful action - and the U.S. does not? Maybe it is time to put all those French cartoons away for awhile.

Police State in Hardin, Montana

Story appears to be true. See all the news links below. Here are excerpts from an e-mail I received today. I have not verified all of the allegations made in this e-mail:

" . . .We have found out that our little town of Hardin is the 'test town' for President Obama’s new law to privatize the police force of local communities. Last night, the city council voted to disband our sheriff’s department and to bring in a private security company to police the town. . .
. . .Yesterday, a convoy of twelve 'blacked out' Mercedes Benz SUV’s were brought into town. They were already painted with Hardin’s colors and ‘Hardin Police Force’ was already painted on them! Hardin’s sheriff’s department will no longer be in operation after the month of October. During October, the Sheriff’s Department is to train this new security force in all the logistics of running the town of Hardin. . .
. . .Earlier this month, in an interview in regards to this Hardin prison and the training center that they are planning to build, we were told that seventy five percent of the security officers that were to be trained would be ‘international’. . .
This private security force is already patrolling the town. They had several people stopped yesterday. Also, it appears that they are building some type of heavy duty gate at the entrances of our town.
In an interview, the American Police Force security has stated that they will stay here one month to assess the population and then they will make their permanent base here. They said they are scouting out thirty towns in the U.S. but that Hardin is the first. Also, President Obama has authorized and signed a bill for full government funding of the privatization of the police departments throughout the U.S. By the end of October, it is their plan to have all major cities locked down!
In an interview with one of the city council members, he stated that this new H1N1 shot which has not been tested will be mandatory and if a resident of our town refuses, they will be taken to our prison where they will be quarantined. A federal law has been passed that makes it mandatory that all health care workers have to take this new shot. If they do not, they will automatically loose their jobs. . .
I  (name withheld by this editor) am also told by a reliable source that today one of the managers at a local business in Hardin was visited by this new private security force which is now the new Hardin Police Department. He is an avid hunter and they came to inform him that they had a list of all fire arms that he owned; this includes all the residents of our town, and that he would need to take his guns down to have them put a marking device on them.
Also, today, one of the main streets in Hardin was completely blocked off and they have been setting up information booths where they are passing out pamphlets with information on this new H1N1 shot.
. . .I am not making up any of this information!  You can go on the internet and verify most of this information from KULR 8, MSNBC or Fox news. Things have changed so quickly in the last 24 hours! Things are not and will never be the same. . ."


American Police Force hits Hardin, Montana

Montana with Kids - Bob van der Valk - ‎2 hours ago‎

Shirley Adams is the wife of Ron Adams, the mayor of Hardin, Montana and answered questions for this article about the privatizing of the Hardin police. ...

American Police Force Examiner.com

Paramilitary Force To Boss Internment Camp In Montana Prison Planet.com

Montana's "American Police Force," The Nation's Next Great Militia?
Gawker Raw Story - San Jose Mercury News all 44 news articles »

Mont. lawmakers want info on secretive CA company

San Jose Mercury News - Matthew Brown - ‎4 hours ago


BILLINGS, Mont.—Montana legislators said Tuesday they want to know more about a secretive California company that wants to take ...

American Police Force Corporation Takes Over Small Town Police ...

CBS News - Neil Katz - ‎7 hours ago‎
HARDIN, Mont. (CBS/AP) This is the strange story of how American Police Force, a little known company which claims to specialize in training military and ...

Montana's "American Police Force," The Nation's Next Great Militia?

Gawker - Andrew Belonsky - ‎1 hour ago‎
By Andrew Belonsky , 11:08 PM on Tue Sep 29 2009, 1461 views Think things in America can't get any more unsettling? Well, you're wrong. ...

American Police Force hits Hardin, Montana

Montana with Kids - Bob van der Valk - ‎2 hours ago‎
Shirley Adams is the wife of Ron Adams, the mayor of Hardin, Montana and answered questions for this article about the privatizing of the Hardin police. ...

APF's Newest Employee

KULR-TV - Sarah Gravlee - ‎4 hours ago‎
HARDIN - The California-based security company planning to take over the Hardin jail promises to hire dozens of local employees. ...
All 12 related articles »

United States

Hired security guards descend upon city in phony patrol cars

WND.com - Drew Zahn - ‎5 hours ago‎
Recent stories of a private security force descending upon a Montana town in black Mercedes SUVs with police department insignias emblazoned on ...

Reports: Mysterious, unregistered security firm policing Montana town

Raw Story - ‎7 hours ago‎
A mysterious, reportedly unregistered and almost entirely unknown private security firm by the name "American Police Force" is causing a stir in a small ...

Paramilitary Force To Boss Internment Camp In Montana

Prison Planet.com - ‎8 hours ago‎
Following our earlier report about a paramilitary security force occupying a town in Montana, it has now become clear that the purpose of American Police ...
All 12 related articles from United States »

APF Reveals Some Information

KULR-TV - Nick Lough, Katie Ussin - ‎Sep 28, 2009‎
By Nick Lough & Katie Ussin BILLINGS - Confusion and secrecy about American Police Force has grown during the last few weeks. ...

Lawmakers want details on California firm

Helena Independent Record - Matthew Brown - ‎8 minutes ago‎
BILLINGS - Montana legislators said Tuesday they want to know more about ...

Lawmakers seek information on American Police Force

Great Falls Tribune - ‎6 hours ago‎
AP • September 29, 2009 BILLINGS (AP) — Montana legislators are seeking more information on a California company that says it wants to take over an empty ...
All 6 related articles from Montana »

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Tonga Samoa Earthquake Tsunami: Samoa American Somoa Earthquake

A 7.6-8.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Tonga Region affecting Samoa and American Samoa at 6:48 a.m. Samoa time today. Tsunami warnings issued for Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Niue, Kermadec Islands, and American Samoa have been cancelled. Update 9-30-09 10-1-09 10-4-09 - New Video
.

People were swept out to sea, boats washed ashore and people survived by fleeing to higher ground. There is an incredible Getty photo that may or may not depict activity during this event. You can take a look here, and then let me know if you think someone actually snapped this shot during the the earthquake.

This report from the National Parks Traveler, written by Kurt Repanshek, said "nearly three dozen islanders were killed and the tsunami demolished the headquarters and visitor center of the Park. Mr. Repanshek said reports indicate that "five waves [one as high as 30 feet] battered the park's building in the capital of Pago Pago:

Our park superintendent (Mike Reynolds) was in the building when the first wave hit. That was early in the morning. He and this other staffer, (Ranger) Sarah Bone, ran out of the building and up hill, and made a call to our Honolulu office," Holly Bundock, assistant regional director for communications in the Park Service's Pacific West office, said Tuesday afternoon. “The last report was five waves and one as high as 30 feet.”
So reports differ about damage and casualities. Here's what I've found: *) Island of Niuatoputatu (bordering Somoa) - 10 confirmed dead *) Samoa and American Samoa - at least 14 people reported dead, and he death toll is expected to rise. *) Villages destroyed on Samoa and American Samoa - 36, at least.
One witness said the wall of water was up to 30 feet (nine metres) high, and a local journalist told AFP entire villages had been wiped out on Samoa's south and southwest coasts where thousands of people live.
For a fascinating tsunami story, here's snippet from National Geographic News:
Scientists have found traces of an asteroid-collision event that they say would have created a giant tsunami that swept around the Earth several times, inundating everything except the tallest mountains 3.5 billion years ago. The coastline of the continents was changed drastically and almost all life on land was exterminated. (Read the story.)
This report says that the quake was a "shallow earthquake," and that there were "no immediate reports of damage or death," which conflicts with the report from the National Park Traveler and others. In the video below you'll see an explanation of why a "shallow earthquake" is usually more dangerous than a deep earthquake. I will have updates here of the Tonga and Somoa Earthquake and Tsunamis.


 
Earthquake Tsunami (video)
 
 
Tonga Samoa Tsunami - New video
 
Update 9-30-09:
The second video is new. Interesting tidbit. "Survivor" was filed on Somoa this summer. While the recent earthquake and tsunami did not effect the cast or crew, as production has ended, this is an interesting read. The death toll is believed to be 99. Additional dead are expected. Many are reported still missing.

A "river of mud" carried trees, cars, buses and boats past his building, which is practically at sea level, Cummings told the BBC.
Some people searched for trapped survivors, he said, but others looted stores. Bodies were stacked in the back of pickup trucks, he added.
*****
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said three Australians were among the dead. The British Foreign Office said one Briton was missing and presumed dead. New Zealander Graeme Ansell said the Samoan beach village of Sau Sau Beach Fale was leveled. "It was very quick. The whole village has been wiped out," Ansell told New Zealand's National Radio from a hill near Apia. "There's not a building standing. We've all clambered up hills, and one of our party has a broken leg. There will be people in a great lot of need 'round here."
Update 10-1-09:
The U.S. Geological Service reports ANOTHER earthquake in the Samoa area today, October 1, 2009, at a magnitude of 6.3 quake and a depth of 6.2 miles off Tonga. The good news is that there were no "immediate" reports of damage. This report comes at 8:39 CDT. According to this report, the death toll in Somoa has reached 115, (AP reports 120 just minutes ago) with more expected. Estimates are that 32,000 persons in Samoa have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami in some way. The Prime Minister of Samoa, who lost two of his own family members when their "vehicle was washed away by the big waves," said the following on the 29th:
“Much debris had covered some of the bodies and also some had been carried away for distances to be thrown back into coast or bushes. Some of the villages had complete destruction, all the houses had been destroyed.”
In the village of Saleapaga approximately 30 people died from crashing waves. About 10 minutes elapsed between the earthquake and the tsunami. This little village had no warning of the coming waters. This from a school teacher in Samoa:

New Zealand school teacher Charlie Pearse choked back tears as she spoke to New Zealand's TV One News from an Apia hospital bed in Samoa, recalling how she was trapped underwater and thought she was going to die.
She was in the back of a truck trying to outrun the tsunami with about 20 children when a wave tossed the truck and it landed on top of them. "We all went under the water and I think a number of the children died instantly," Pearse said
A "government minister" believes mass burials must be carried out and he has approached families for permission.

This report says the death toll in American Samoa is expected to reach fifty as rescue efforts are still under way. The AP report linked above says 31 are known dead. America Samoa is said to have 169 injured, some in serious condition and hospitalized. 1900 people are said to be residing in 8 government-run shelters. Rumors are that other tsunamis might be on the way. Some are staying on higher ground - still too afraid to try to go back to their homes. A census is being taken in an effort to account for citizens and aid efforts to locate the missing. A spokesman for an area hospital says American Samoa does not have a warning siren system.

In this area, the tsunami arrived about 45 minutes after the earthquake. Many did not flee to higher ground. At this time, parts of the Eastern island remain without power or water and emergency workers are on the scene. The power plant for Eastern American Samoa on Tutuila may not be operation for "at least a month." Fuel facilities in American Samoa were not damaged. The petroleum officer for American Samoa said some areas on Tutuila "look like a war zone."
Some villages are gone, I mean, you talk about villages that had elementary schools, and early childhood development schools, they’re gone. Either the fish [are] enjoying the luxury of the facilities or the structures are no longer fit for people to live in.”
American Samoa

He reports looting of retail establishments:
A retailer in American Samoa has condemned as disgusting the rampant looting that followed the tsunami. A retailer in American Samoa has condemned as disgusting the rampant looting that followed the tsunami.
In the Tongan area, 9 persons died on the island of Niuatoputapu when the tsunami hit. The island is said to be "devastated." The island population ranges from 1300-1600.
“The priority now is the bedding and clothing, and water will be the next one, but as I said with the report from there, not the fresh coconut only but the next village the water supply is alright.”
At this time, Niuatoputapu has "food, shelter and medicine." For information on other islands in the Tongan area, see here. Professor John McCloskey, a geophyscicist at the University of Ulster says it is not likely that the Indonesia Ring of Fire earthquake and the Tonga-Somao earthquakes are related.
The distance between the quakes — 10,000km (6,200 miles) —and the orientation of the tectonic plates made a causal link physically implausible, he said. Early estimates suggest that the Sumatra quake occurred about 50 miles beneath the Earth’s crust, so deep that there was little or no movement on the ocean floor, and no resultant tsunami.
For information on the Indonesia Earthquake September 2009: Ring of Fire Indonesian Quake September 30th, 2009 see here. Update 10-4-09: Five days after Tsunami waves hit Samoa, some residents are still sheltered on higher ground and refuse to return to their homes. In Samoa 135 are reported dead, and 8 missing. The death toll for Somoa, American Samoa and Tonga is now 176 with 12-total still missing and feared dead.
"In a few weeks, we will see many people sick with gastroenteritis and diarrhoea. That will affect the young and the elderly. Deaths are inevitable," he told reporters.
"There are concerns with sanitation, and clean water is much needed," she told AFP. "We are already hearing some news of gastroenteritis and diarrhoea outbreaks, and there is a high potential likelihood of emerging diseases."
Mauala estimated up to 3,000 people lost their homes in the tsunami, with most now living with family and friends, many overcrowding existing houses.
Others are camping out in school buildings or living in crude homes under tarpaulins or tents in plantations and refusing to return to their traditional coastal settlements, Rosemarie North of the Samoa Red Cross said.
Relief workers cite problems getting emergency supplies to residents who have moved inland to shelters - some saying they will not move back to the coast.
Paneta Sagale Lauiliu, who lost his mother in the tragedy, said his family would abandon its seaside home in favour of higher ground. "We have no intention of moving back down," he told AFP from a camp an hour's walk from the coast. "There's no way we're going back to the beach and I don't think anyone else in our village will do that." Lauiliu, whose four-year-old son Sepi was swept up by the tsunami and survived by clinging to a banana tree, said his family was considering abandoning its beach hut rental business.

Health Care Workers Protest Vaccine: Health Care Workers Job Threat

New York State is mandating that all health care workers receive the vaccine for the H1N1. Health Care workers have been threatened with job loss if they do not consent to receiving the vaccine. Get the shot or lose your job. Protests were held today in Hauppauge, New York: "No forced shots! they changed.

I don't even tend to the sick. I am in the nutrition field. They are telling me I must get the shot because I work in a health clinic setting," said Paula Small, a Women, Infants and Children health care worker. Small said she will refuse, worried the vaccine is untested and unproven, leaving her vulnerable. In 1976, there were some deaths associated with a swine flu vaccination.
A nurse, Frank Mannino said he is willing to lose his job. "I will not take, will not be forced. This is still America. Albany had "hundreds" in the streets demanding "freedom of choice." Stony Brook University Hospital said it is committed to "the mandate" to vaccinate personnel. State mandates? Federal mandates? Being "forced" to follow government orders is in our future. So I say to these protesters: Good for you. Now go to a Tea Party.

Whoopie Goldberg Roman Polanski: Polanski Geimer "not rape rape"

The ladies of The View discussed Roman Polanski and his rape of 13-year-old Samantha Geimer when Polanski was 45-years-old, about 31 years ago. Polanski has been self-exiled in France to escape prison since his guilty plea in 1977. Whoopie Goldberg led the charge in defense of Polanski. In this instance, Polanski's rape was not "rape rape." See video below.
See update 11-26-09 below - Polanski gets bail. See 1-23-10 update below.

Whoopi Goldberg

Goldberg says that Roman Polanski and 13-year-old Samantha Geimer were having sex before Polanski drugged the girl with a Quaalude, Champagne, and raped and sodomized her. Whoopie believes this is not statutory rape - because after all, they were having sex before the drugs and rape and sodomy. It was not "rape rape," Whoopie says. Whoopie focuses on the fact that Roman Polanski ONLY pled guilty to having sex with a minor. What she misses is that that sex with a minor is statutory rape, which is actually "rape rape." Whoopie mentions this:
We are a "different kind of society. We see things differently. The world sees 13-year-olds and 14-year-olds - in the rest of Europe, they're seen - often times...not everybody agrees with the way we see things. She asks, would I want my 14-year-old having sex with someone? Not necessarily, she says. [Notice she didn't mention being 13-years-old]
The ladies of The View take a few minutes to excoriate Samatha's mother, which is okay for conversation, but it has nothing to do with Roman Polanski's degree of guilt. An important note: I don't know that Samantha Geimer admitted to having sex with Polanski before this rape. Maybe she did and maybe she didn't. Whichever, it is still rape, because by law, a 13-year-old girl cannot consent to the unlawful act of sex with a minor.

If Whoopie doesn't "necessarily" want sex at age 14 for her daughter, she leaves the door open for that early sex to be okay, depending, I guess on the circumstances...maybe a rich and powerful older man? Maybe that would make it okay? If Goldberg wants to posture about "rape rape," I suggest she try to change the laws. Until then, please, spare us the rhetoric about Europe.

Is it now "sophisticated" among adults to know their young girls are having sex with rich and powerful men? God help us and please, help the girls.

We now have an Obama Safe School Czar, Kevin Jennings, who believes that 15-year-old boys should be cautioned, only, to use a condom with sex with an older man. Jennings was a teacher. He did not advise the boy to stop the relationship, or tell authorities about it. He only advised him to use a condom.

Sex with a 15-year-old boy is statutory rape. Do we ignore that early sex for underage children, both male and female, can be medically dangerous? I would love to see the women in Hollywood who are outraged about Roman Polanski's arrest, reborn and living in Saudi Arabia for about 17 years, after which they escape and are doomed to live in a Muslim community somewhere in Britain.

IN SUMMARY: I don't frequent the "Hollywood" sites other than an occasional visit to Rotten Tomatoes to get a quick film review, BUT I found a site that identifies itself as a "film site," and has a little red I.D.: Trade News. Dustin Rowles writes this piece and I am encouraged. Talking about some 110 film industry figures signing a petition in support of Polanski, Rowles says:
To that I say: F**k them. I don’t care how long ago it was, or how celebrated a filmmaker Polanski has become since: Dude drugged, raped, and sodomized an a 13-year-old girl. There’s a reason that the statute of limitations doesn’t run out on rape. Because it’s rape. It’s a vile, horrific crime, and for Polanski to suggest that he’s already been served his punishment is preposterous. He’s lived it up for three decades; he’s continued to be an honored filmmaker; and he’s made some great films that, perhaps, should’ve never been made.
Sing it all together now: HuRRAY for Holl-ey-wood. This is a good piece. I hope you'll read it all at Scathing Reviews. Bitchy People. [love that name, love it, love it].

Update 11-26-09:
Roman Polanski was granted bail in the Swiss courts after a $4.49 million bail deposit, full surrender of his passport and travel documents to the Zurich police, and the donning of an electronic ankle bracelet. Polanski will spend his time guessing whether or not the Swiss will send him packing back to the U.S. to receive his punishment for the assault on Samantha Geimer, all cozied up in a Swiss chalet known as the "Milky Way." He will be confined to house arrest inside the luxury $1.6 million Alpine abode:
Even without stepping outside, Polanski's life will improve from the small detention cell he had in Zurich with a sink, toilet, television and storage compartment.

Gstaad (pronounced guh-SHTAHD) offers a range of quality restaurants and hotels, and "people here can order food to their chalets any time," said Marlene Mueller of the local tourism agency.

From the gourmet shop Pernet Comestibles, fine food such as fresh oysters, Swiss cheeses and a range of whiskies and wine can be delivered.
And, even though Polanski may now be the world's most famous fugitive, most locals are likely to leave him alone.

Update 1-23-10:
See - Roman Polanski to US to Face Rape Charges


 
Whoopi Goldberg - No Rape Rape (video)
 
Related:

Roman Polanski to US to Face Rape Charges

Roman Polanski Denied Bail: Polanski High Flight Risk - The Swiss Get It!

Whoopie Goldberg Roman Polanski: Polanski Geimer "not rape rape"


Penelope Cruz Demands Polanski's Release

Samantha Geimer was Roman Polanski Rape Victim: Roman Polanski Swiss Arrest

Read Michelle Malkin: Who said: "Judges want to f___ young girls. Juries want to f___ young girls. Everyone wants to f___ young girls!"

©2007-2010copyrightMaggie M. Thornton