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.
Well, actually the Bible doesn't mention parents; it limits this admonishment to CHILDREN. And if parents abuse children, THEY are in for it. So don't come spouting about these "innocent" parents who injured their children and caused them to go without food or water for days at a time.
But I've noticed the more "fundamentalist" the Bible-thumper (present company included), the more they insist on bibilical inerrancy, the more they wrest the scriptures to include things it never said.
Irony.
Note to Brian : Do not opt for a bench trial.
Don't you think this will be on frontline---60 minutes...only if they were lesbians!
"faux" would be my guess...
f is Fletcher and you are going overboard(davey jones locker)with the rest of the scum of the earth!
You have made a false statement here. Please retract it.
f is Fletcher and you are going overboard(davey jones locker)with the rest of the scum of the earth!
That sounds like you are threatening me, sonny-boy.
Don't even think about trying it.
How about Osama bin Laden? No difference.
Looks possible now from the Douglas County prosecution's standpoint with the judge tipping his hand and greatly reducing her bail. It would make sense to let her plead to a misdemeanor and give her time served. If and only if Brian pleads to a "measure 11" felony and gets 7.5 years. The child abuse charges in Josephine County would have to be addressed also.
Such morons would rather see their children dead than alive and protected by the State. My first guess as to the meaning of the f. is way more appropriate.
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