Posted on 03/02/2002 11:37:17 AM PST by RGSpincich
CTIpresents a
Press Release from E. Steele attorney at law
An Update
January 7, 2002
Fast forward to:
Re: Brian and Ruth Christine & Oregon's Legalized Child Theft Ring -
Brian and Ruth still sit in jail in Oregon, held on what I consider to be exorbitantly unconstitutional bail in excess of half million dollars each. They just keep adding to the criminal charges, thus the statutory bail just keeps rising, due to each charge. This is what is known as "throwing the book at them."
The criminal actions have now been deferred into mid-2002, and are being consolidated. This is for the alleged kidnapping (I refuse to dignify the taking of one's own children as true kidnapping) at gunpoint. The gun is the real problem. Oregon's Measure Eleven minimum sentencing requirements really mandate an exceptionally stiff penalty against both parents. This is the result of so-called "tough on crime" initiatives - they set too wide a net and ensnare those, like Brian and Ruth, who should be dealt with in understanding and with leniency.
The termination-of-parental-rights trial (about the three oldest girls) is set for late next month and looks bad. The only bright spot is that Ruth's parents almost certainly will be the ones getting the three girls. They will then take them back home to England, of course.(Note-The Christines agreed to relinqish their parental rights in mid January. The necessary papers have been signed and the three oldest girls are expected to be adopted by Ruth's parents.)
Brian's public defender made an unfortunate statement to the press about cutting a deal and precipitated a flood of vituperation from the people in Grants Pass who were advising the Christines all along. They loudly accused all the Christine lawyers, including myself, of selling Brian and Ruth down the river in typical lawyer fashion. Sigh. But for those people advising this young couple, they wouldn't be in jail today, with their children living in two different states. They would be an intact family unit somewhere.
I agree that the legal system, especially in Oregon, is abysmal and needs a radical overhaul. However, I am not willing to sacrifice Brian and Ruth to that objective, particularly since it would be a futile sacrifice. Those people in Grants Pass really need to figure out that they are a part of the problem in some of these cases down there; an example of creating your own opposition.
About that "deal." Brian's case is so over-the-top that a deal seems pretty unlikely; he likely will be better off taking his chances with a jury. Ruth is a somewhat different story, since she did not actually wield any weapons and was not present when that happened, though conspiracy law sees her charged with the same offenses as Brian. A deal for her might be the best approach. Time will tell. A deal about the termination issue, especially since that is heard by a judge without a jury, seems the most likely and is viable only because of Ruth's parents being likely foster parents for the girls.
I'll keep you posted on this case, too, but as I said before: this is a really tough case to get a good result in, from here on out. We did well in getting the two youngest girls into the hands of Brian's mother, but that was because we were able to work within courts in other jurisdictions (Indiana and Montana). Oregon is furious over those two defeats and has pulled out all the stops on the remaining Christine cases, which are all solely within its own jurisdiction.
The contributions from many of the good people on this list (bless you, you know who you are) enabled us to pay for attorney fees and court costs in both Montana and Indiana, including hiring an Indiana law firm to finish the guardianship of Abbey Rose there. We fell a little short, but I made that up out of my own pocket and am confident that we will still see donations that will cover everything before we are done.
As of 3/5/02 9:49 PM Central we have $3,672.45 in donations from Never Never Land. Starting tomorrow, March 6, 2002, from 6:00 PM Central, to March 7, 2002, 11:59 PM Central,
(I have to keep track, so I get to choose the time zone)
the state which contributes the most to Free Republic during this time period will get to add Never Never Land's total to their own state.
What the state of oregon has done to this family--parents--their children...maybe murder would have been more merciful.
This is a holocaust.
Do you know what this country was founded upon?
I'll bet they did!
LOL! I should've said "we convoyed." I wasn't as fluent in Spanish as I am now, and he was quite conversant in Spanish (as well English and at least four other languages besides Swedish), and one heck of a haggler in the mercados. He could also put away more tequila than I thought humanly possible. Great people.
so it's not just a matter of them taking THEIR kids...back!
You said it friend. Case closed, no more need for discussion.
E. Steele - "But for those people advising this young couple, they wouldn't be in jail today, with their children living in two different states. They would be an intact family unit somewhere."
In his attempt to manipulate the system, Steele stumbled onto the truth.
Just wondering--Oregon?
Just wondering--Oregon?
I read every story of the Oregon trail--the only thoing worse was the Klondike stampede.
These people were herded like cows!
The rainy season--seclusion perpetuates insanity!
Especially if your stuck in a converted bus.
THE ANDREA YATES STORY is the child protection racket--ring drowning this family in a toilet--outhouse--backed up sewer--rats--OREGON!
Too much weed---cabin fever in dogpatch oregon state---social rabies from jet stream currents from s calif.!
Too many drifters---need some shrunken heads to scare off the vagabonds--gypsies!
The bus has wheels!
The Associated Press
3/6/02 9:22 PM
ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) -- A judge reduced bail Wednesday for Ruth Christine, but not her husband, as they await trial on charges they kidnapped their children at gunpoint from state social workers.
Ruth and Brian Christine had been held on $500,000 bail each since their arrest last August in Montana, where they allegedly fled following the kidnapping at an Interstate 5 rest stop.
Without explanation, Douglas County Circuit Judge William Lasswell reduced bail to $50,000 for Ruth Christine, but left it at $500,000 for Brian Christine, who is accused of being the one who threatened the social workers with a pistol.
Defense lawyer Edgar Steele argued that there was no longer any danger of the couple trying to flee before their trial now that they had turned the three girls over to Ruth Christine's parents for adoption.
"They weren't running away from the charges," Steele said in an interview after the hearing. "They had rescued their children from a rogue state agency. That's what they were doing, defending their children. That's no longer at play, since the children were given up for adoption."
Prosecutor Rick Wesenberg argued that the risk remained that the couple would flee if they are released from jail after posting bail.
It was not clear if Ruth Christine would be able to raise the $5,000 necessary to secure her release, or be freed if she could, Steele said. Josephine County still has a hold on her for separate charges that she and her husband mistreated the children before the alleged kidnapping.
The kidnapping trial is scheduled for April 30. The mistreatment trial is scheduled for July 9.
The lowlifes who lead her into this plight won't come forward with a lousy $5,000? Shame on them.
You probably work two jobs in an abortion shop!
Like the false friends who filled Brian's ears with their poison?
The lowlifes won't even raise a measly $5,000.
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