TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Author: Trench Reynolds

  • Poker in the rear

    Poker in the rear

    Poker Game Leads to Butt Stabbing:

    Bob The Sports Writer (who is a righteous blogger in his own right at Digital Heartburn and The Fat Kid dot org) challenged my title of crime blogger by ignoring what he called “real crime” and sent me this story…

    A poker game took an unusual turn last week when one Navarre man turned a steak knife on another.

    Jace Moore, 22, confronted Dustin Danner, 23, about money he was owed from a recent poker match. When Danner did not pay up, the situation got ugly.

    Moore grabbed a steak knife and attempted to stab Danner in the chest. When his attempts failed, Moore took the knife below the belt. He proceeded to stab Danner four times in the buttocks.

    I guess that’s what happens when you get behind in poker. He really should have paid his arrears. Now he’ll be the butt of jokes from his friends. I’m really sorry for all these lame cracks.

    I’ll be here all week. Try your waitresses and tip the veal. Good night.

    (P.S. if you use the word “poker” in the comments, it will trip the spam filter)

  • Zarate returns to jail

    Zarate returns to jail

    Teen’s accused killer returns to Morris jail:

    This is an update on the story of Jonathan Zarate, the 18-year-old from New Jersey arrested for stabbing, bludgeoning, and dismembering 16-year-old Jennifer Parks.

    Yesterday, he was transferred back to the Morris County jail after spending two months at Ann Klein Forensic Center in Trenton for psychiatric observation. He was sent there after punching a few corrections officers and frequently urinating and defecating on his cell floor. If you’re going for an insanity defense, this is not the way to go about it, Sunshine.

    Morris County prosecutors still haven’t decided whether or not to pursue the death penalty. What’s to decide? Then again, this is New Jersey, and they haven’t executed anyone in 40 years.

  • Joe Nee’s trial date set

    Joe Nee’s trial date set

    Nee trial set to start in March:

    The last time I heard anything out of Marshfield it was the fact that Joe Nee’s attorney, the ever-humorous Thomas Drechsler, was trying to get a change of venue for his client. According to the article, that request was denied on January 3rd.

    Assistant District Attorney John McLaughlin dismissed the need for a change of venue, saying that the media is something that comes along with any court case.

    “I personally do not see a great prejudice here,” McLaughlin said. “The media is just something we have to deal with.”

    Dreschler argued that due to the local media coverage his client could not receive a fair trial.

    For those of you just joining us, here is the lowdown on Joe Nee…

    Nee was arrested Oct. 18, 2004, a month after fellow Marshfield High School student Tobin “Toby” Kerns was taken into custody and charged with promotion of anarchy, conspiracy to commit murder and threatened use of a deadly weapon after police learned of a Columbine-like attack the two allegedly planned at Marshfield High School.

    Dreschler also tried getting the promotion of anarchy dismissed. That request has been shot down as well.

    Dreschler also has a problem with the media’s focus on Joe Nee’s father Thomas Nee who happens to be head of the Boston Police union.

    Drechsler also said that the media has maintained too strong a focus on Thomas Nee, Joseph’s father who is president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association. He said Nee has been frequently referred to as “the son of a powerful police patrolman.”

    “He’s (Nee) an extremely visual person for reasons completely unrelated to this case,” Drechsler said. “He has no relation to this case other than that of a concerned parent.”

    Concerned parent, my ass. For once, I agree with the media and Thomas Nee should be looked at. Joe Nee was the one who went to police to implicate Toby Kerns. Joe Nee wasn’t arrested until a month later. I think it needs to be known if Joe Nee received any special treatment or if there was any impropriety because of his dad’s position.

    Dreschler, as usual, has a problem with Toby Kerns’ dad, Ben Kerns, going to the media. If my son was arrested but innocent, I would be telling anybody who listened. It almost seems like that someone is afraid of the truth.

    Anyway, the trail has been set for a March 23rd start date. I hope a jury can see through Mr. Dreschler’s chicanery.

  • Bartley Hearing Postponed

    Bartley Hearing Postponed

    Court appearance for school shooting suspect postponed:

    The hearing for Kenny Bartley, the Campbell County, Tenn. teen charged with shooting three school administrators and killing one, which could have determined if he would be tried as an adult or not, has been postponed.

    According to the article, the hearing was postponed because Bartley’s psychological profile was not complete. The new hearing will begin March 30th.

  • Red Lake families meet with U.S. Attorney

    Red Lake families meet with U.S. Attorney

    Prosecutor: Dozens knew school shooter’s plans:

    Family members of the victims of the Red Lake shooting met with U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger today, and some interesting things came to light…

    Nearly 40 people knew that 16-year-old Jeff Weise had planned some sort of violence at Red Lake High School before he went on a rampage, according to family members who met with U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger on Monday.

    Heffelfinger met behind closed doors with those who lost loved ones in the March 21 shooting, when Weise killed nine people before killing himself.

    “It’s horrid. I just got a headache,” said Barbara Brun, who lost her son, Derrick, a security guard, in the shooting. “I wasn’t this angry before I came. I haven’t been this angry since March 21st.”

    Brun said Heffelfinger told those gathered at a hotel here that 39 people knew Weise planned a shooting at the high school, and of those, four or five had direct knowledge. Brun said that Heffelfinger told the group Weise had been talking about the shooting since 2003.

    “Why didn’t someone take him seriously?” she asked.

    39 people knew, and not one person said anything. And some people say that as a society, we’re overreacting to perceived threats of school violence. I’d rather there be an overreaction and save lives than there be no reaction with scores dead.

  • Bartley hearing tomorrow

    Bartley hearing tomorrow

    Bartley transfer hearing on Tuesday:

    Kenny Bartley, the teen accused of shooting three administrators and killing one at Campbell County High School, will be in court tomorrow, which could determine if he will be tried as an adult or not.

    “Under Tennessee law there are certain crimes where a juvenile can be transferred, or placed in the adult justice system. Obviously, homicide or attempted murder would be one of those. A juvenile judge has to look at certain criteria such as the seriousness of the offense.”

    Does it get much more serious than murder? If he is tried as a juvenile, then there will be no justice for the victims.

  • Jonathan Zarate’s brother to undergo psych test

    Jonathan Zarate’s brother to undergo psych test

    New psychiatric test set for boy, 15, in slaying:

    This is an update on the murder of Jennifer Parks. She was bludgeoned, stabbed, and dismembered by her 18-year-old neighbor Jonathan Zarate. His younger brother, known only as “J.Z.” has also been charged with her murder. Prosecutors are looking to have the younger brother tried as an adult, but first, he must undergo a psychiatric evaluation…

    J.Z.’s attorney, Joseph Ferrante, submitted a psychiatric evaluation to Dangler on Friday that said the boy was a good candidate for rehabilitation. But Morris County Prosecutor Ralph Amirata asked the judge to allow him to seek a second opinion. Dangler granted the request, and gave the Prosecutor’s Office a month to have J.Z. evaluated by its psychiatrist.

    A good candidate for rehabilitation? You have got to be kidding me. He assisted in stabbing, bludgeoning and dismembering Jennifer Parks’ body and helped try to dispose of the body in the Passaic River. No, he is not a good candidate for rehabilitation. The only thing he’s a candidate for is a date with the needle.

  • The Actual Victim II

    The Actual Victim II

    Fighting Power Helps Red Lake Shooting Victim:

    I’ve done entries before about Steven Cobenais. He is one of the surviving victims of the Red Lake shootings. Gunman Jeff Weise asked Steven Cobenais if he believed in God. When Cobenais said yes, Weise shot him in the face. Steven Cobenais ended up losing an eye and having a severe brain injury.

    Last summer, Cobenais suffered a major seizure. For a while, he wore a helmet to protect him from falls. He is back at Red Lake High School now, where he struggles with short-term memory loss.

    During his recovery, his father, Llewellyn Thunder, spent weeks at his son’s bedside and lost his job because of it. During that time, their home was vandalized and robbed, leaving it uninhabitable. Now they live in subsidized housing that is only guaranteed through next month.

    And again I say, how can anyone in their right mind call Jeff Weise a victim?

    The Thunders said they were grateful to people who contributed to a community fund set up in their son’s name.

    Donations are accepted at the Steven Cobenais Fund, Deerwood Bank, P.O. Box 1278, Bemidji, MN 56601.

  • Campbell County Victims Update II

    Campbell County Victims Update II

    School shooting victim was burglary victim on the same day:

    Back in November, I posted an entry about Campbell County High shooting survivor Jim Pierce and how his house was robbed on the day he was shot by Ken Bartley. An ATV, a rifle, an air compressor, and several tools were stolen. Yesterday the ATV was found, but no arrests have been made.

    The article also states that Ken Bartley is due back in court at the end of the month, and that Pierce and Principal Gary Seale went back to work last week.

  • Michelle Dohm’s trial date

    Michelle Dohm’s trial date

    Teacher Accused of Making Bomb Threats to be Tried by June 21:

    Michelle Dohm, the Thurmont Middle School teacher in Maryland who is accused of threatening and stalking some of her students, will have her trial begin by June 21st under Maryland’s speedy trial law.

    That’s speedy?