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.
I am on the side of children--parents vs. the state---so far in this case!
I got prophecy in my resume!
Perhaps she could rejoin her children, safely removed from the influence of the crackpots.
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