The protected predator class

In Utah, as elsewhere in the Soyuz, “battering” a police officer is considered an especially grievous crime. Until earlier this year, this offense was treated as a Class A misdemeanor. Under SB 131, a measure enacted earlier this year by the state legislature, it is now a class C felony.

Any incidental contact between a Mundane and the sanctified personage of a police officer – including the act of breathing on an officer – can be prosecuted as “battery.” This would apply to cases in which a woman is desperately trying to prevent an officer from violating her sexually: A victim who puts up resistance in such circumstances can expect to be violently subdued, arrested, and charged with “assaulting an officer.”

In Utah, a victim of a sexual assault by a police officer could easily find herself convicted of a felony unless she submits with docility to whatever the armed predator is willing to inflict on her. On the other hand, if the officer is exposed as a sex offender, it’s quite likely that he would face misdemeanor charges. This is illustrated by the case of former Box Elder County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Womack, who is facing multiple lawsuits and criminal charges involving illegal strip-searches of young women conducted during traffic stops over a period of about two years.

In February, Womack pleaded no contest to three counts of attempted custodial misconduct – which is a misdemeanor offense. In exchange for Womack’s plea, county prosecutors dropped nine additional charges – all of them misdemeanors, as well.

Under the plea bargain agreement, Womack’s name would not be permanently inscribed in the sex offender registry – despite the fact that his acts are, by definition, those of a violent sex offender. Since the charges against him are misdemeanors, Womack would eventually be eligible for the restoration of his peace officer certification. Womack does face federal criminal charges and federal lawsuits filed by three of his victims, but it’s likely that most, if not all, of the trouble he faces would be made to disappear once the first state case against him is closed.

After he was arraigned, Womack was compelled to surrender his passport and to avoid contact with the victims. However, he has been free during the legal proceedings. During a court hearing in early May, Womack – surrounded by family and other supportive spectators – “waited for the judge to call his case sitting in a back room of the court, shrouded by blinds that court workers said [are] typically reserved for victims who do not want to be seen by defendants,” reported the Salt Lake Tribune.

In other words, the impenitent predator was dealt with as if he were the victim, cosseted and sheltered and treated with gentle deference.

Of course, we're not a police state, so whatever.

http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-protected-predator-class.html
 
http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/386100/3/Former-St-Louis-officer-cleared-of-assault-charges

A former St. Louis police officer has been cleared of assault charges and wants his job back.

Rory Bruce was accused of punching a handcuffed teenage suspect in the face in February 2012. Prosecutors say the assault was caught on video.

A judge found Bruce not guilty last Thursday.

Now, the St. Louis Police Officer Association is asking the chief to reinstate Bruce.

Tuesday, after a Freedom of Information Act request by KSDK, St. Louis Police released video from a police vehicle of the incident in question.

Prosecutors say the video shows Bruce abusing his power, but they say Associate Circuit Judge Theresa Burke never watched the video before acquitting the officer of assault charges.

Prosecutors say the video shows the former officer on a stop in February of 2012. They also say he crossed the line in the video when he punched a handcuffed 16 year old. The St. Louis Police Officers Association says it was a defense tactic.

Bruce was fired for his actions but last week a judge cleared him of 3rd degree assault. But the video was not allowed as evidence in the bench trial.

In a statement, Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce says, "We are disappointed that Judge Burke did not view the videotape footage... which we believe clearly shows Rory Bruce beating a handcuffed teenager."

"Police officers have to make split second decisions in life and death situations and I don't think that folks over at the Circuit Attorney's office or folks up in Internal Affairs should second guess them based on their brief impression of a video tape," says Jeff Roorda with the SLPOA. "It doesn't tell the whole story," he says.

NewsChannel 5 is still trying to answer the question "why wasn't the video allowed at trial?"

In the meantime, the union wants Bruce reinstated as a police officer. The Department declined to comment saying it is a personnel matter.
 
another display of 'I am the law', thinking that they are exempt from it.


note that if YOU were observed doing this, you'd be arrested and in some states, even be forced to register as a sex offender.
 
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