August 22, 2007
Morning Roundup: Animal Criminality Edition
Good morning, Washington. Just one more day! By tomorrow we'll be free of this dreary, occasionally drizzly mess — or so CapitalWeather assures us. Here's hoping they're right. Although the cooler temperatures have been pleasant, we've had enough of this gray mid-winter preview.
MPD Officers' Trial Begins: The Post reports on the start of Milagros Morales' and Erick Brown's trial. The two police detectives are accused of manipulating witnesses into implicating Jerome Jones in the stabbing death of Terrence Brown at the defunct nightspot Club U. The detectives maintain that they acted properly.
Vick's Plea May Not Be His Last: As you've no doubt heard on Monday Michael Vick announced that he will plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges. But now the AP, via The Examiner, informs us that that plea may not put an end to the charges Vick faces. Apparently Virginia's specific anti-dogfighting laws mean that he may also face charges in that state. We should also mention today's fascinating, depressing and thorough look at underground dogfighting culture in the Post.
Even More Animal Abuse News: Michael Vick's case is far from the only animal-related story in the news. As of last night, the top three local stories on WTOP.com involved men accidentally killing bald eagles, men arrested for trying to ride ponies, and a woman pleading guilty to monkey ownership.
Briefly Noted: Steel beam injures two at downtown construction site... Four year-old accidentally left at Chuck E. Cheese's... Spotsylvania man accused of shooting daughters, one of whom died...
This Day In DCist: One year ago we visited Brown's Caribbean Bakery and looked at the lesser-known mayoral candidates. Two years ago we reviewed Chef's Kitchen and got ready for Urinetown.
Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user Samer Farha
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But ohh how my thirsty flowers and plants love this weather, they had a hard enough summer already....honestly I hope this weather continues, we need more water!
Naked, drunk, grown man from Ocean City trying to ride a wild pony? Isn't that a Springsteen lyric?
I agree with RJ. The rain is very welcome. I was just about ready to give up on my lawn for this season. It's perked up nicely the last couple days and a little bit of sunshine this weekend will give it a chance at a new life.
As someone who hates his lawn and was enjoying not mowing it this entire month, I have to say this rain is teh sux.
Back to raging on the heath like Lear.
Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!
You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks!
Mmmmm...drowned cocks.
Wait. I am about to make it very clear that I am no lawyer, but aren't you not supposed to face two trials in two jurisdictions for one crime?
Is VA hitting him for something specific like owning some kind of dog-fighting paraphernalia that the Feds did not? How are they getting around double jeopardy here?
WOV - I think Vick is facing multiple charges here; operating an illegal gambling ring as well as animal cruelty. Prosecutors could split charges among separate jurisdictions.
Reid - I believe you're referring to an obscure B-side off "Darkness on the Edge of Town." I had always assumed that Bruce's line about "Let's drive our Chevys to the river/And f**k in the dirt" was referring to the narrator's girlfriend, and not a pony. Quel suprise!
Oh that's right, for some reason I was thinking that it was from a bonus track off of a Japanese import of "Tunnel of Love." The track I was thinking about was actually about a naked drunk guy from Ocean City who tries to ride a pony on Chincoteague. The lack of wild ponies on Chincoteague is why that song is so incredibly poetic. And blue collar, of course.
WOV - according to yesterday's Post story on the plea deal, the federal plea is only for conspiracy. Virginia has a bunch of actual dogfighting charges, along with the gambling and cruelty charges monkeyrotica mentioned.
In addition, Virginia can pursue a conviction on the dogfighting because - and this is a condensed and possibly misstated double jeopardy standard from bar review courses - double jeopardy only applies to multiple criminal charges that require showing the same elements.
A charge of conspiracy to commit dogfighting - which Vick is pleading to - would only require showing that he and some other person(s) agreed to work together to train dogs to fight, or to stage dogfights.
A charge of actual dogfighting, as Virginia is threatening, would require showing that he actually did stage the fights (which is not necessary for conspiracy); and no one cares, in that case, if he agreed with others to do so or not.
But for actual repercussions on his NFL career, he should be a lot more concerned about an illegal gambling charge. That shit could bring on a lifetime ban.
Anybody who abuses an animal needs the shit kicked out of them. Sorry, I just feel that way.
Any clue who won the District 1 Board of Education seat in the special election last night?
What idiots think owning a monkey is animal cruelty?
This idiot guest #12. Primates are not meant to be domesticated.
ForTheShorties, if that's true, then why did god make it so funny for them to smoke cigars and act alongside Clint Eastwood?
Is any animal "meant" to be domesticated?
What idiots think owning a monkey is animal cruelty?
Montgomery County idiots. They're the ones who elected the idiots that passed the anti-wild-animal law.
ForTheShorties - I think there are quite a few paraplegics who would disagree with you. Not to mention those of us, ahem, who enjoy the romantic possibilities. Those lil guys can be taught anything, and (wink, wink) I do mean ANYTHING.
"to smoke cigars and act alongside Clint Eastwood"
Or to ride roller skates and wear boxing trunks?
The BoE seat went to Lord, who got 79% of the votes from the whopping 0.8% of voters who turned out.