LA District Attorney Jackie Lacey
The #Me Too movement started with the Harvey Weinstein investigation in New York City but it makes sense that the second phase is taking place in Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood, where it will be led by Jackie Lacey, the first woman and the first African American to hold the office of District Attorney since the position was created there in 1853.
Besides Weinstein, Lacey has been working to prosecute two other serial rapists: Ron Jeremy who is reputed to be the greatest porn star of all time, and Danny Masterson, whose case is complicated by its connection to the Church of Scientology.
All From Los Angeles
The attorney general for New York announced that there is a settlement of nearly $19m in the Harvey Weinstein case. Press the Read More button for The Deadlines article. It delineates 5 reasons why the settlement is a bad one.[read more]
“Attorneys Douglas Wigdor and Kevin Mintzer, who represent six other alleged Weinstein victims, some of whom are pursuing separate legal action against him, said they were aghast at the proposed settlement, calling it “a complete sellout of the Weinstein survivors.”
“While we do not begrudge any survivor who truly wants to participate in this deal, as we understand the proposed agreement, it is deeply unfair for many reasons. First, Harvey Weinstein accepts no responsibility for his actions. Second, Harvey Weinstein isn’t paying any money toward the settlement despite now having been found guilty in Manhattan criminal court. Third, the director defendants [directors and employes of the Weinstein Corporation], who we allege had knowledge of Weinstein’s behavior, will be receiving millions of dollars to reimburse their defense costs. Fourth, if this settlement were approved by the courts, survivors who do not wish to participate in the settlement but would prefer instead to hold Harvey Weinstein accountable, will be unable to pursue the multi-billion dollar insurance companies and the directors because they will receive legal releases. And Fifth, the class action lawyers will be seeking millions of dollars in fees for an objectively unsuccessful result. We are completely astounded that the Attorney General is taking a victory lap for this unfair and inequitable proposal, and on behalf of our clients, we will be vigorously objecting in court.”[/read]
On Friday, June 26, 2020, Ron Jeremy, aged 67, pleaded guilty to “three counts each of forcible rape and forcible penetration by a foreign object and one count each of forcible oral copulation and sexual battery.” [read more]
If convicted he could face 90 years. Ron Jeremy’s fame as a porn star has nothing to do with his looks. He makes the average guy feel handsome. A Rolling Stone article dated November 15, 2017 gives a good character study of his purported assets.
An interesting aside is that the porn industry is one place where “consent” is taken very seriously. Signed contracts monetize each sexual act and which body parts are used in those acts. Actors are paid accordingly.
The trouble started in June, 2016, when actress Ginger Banks, porn actress and advocate for fair treatment of porn industry workers, posted a video on YouTube that subsequently went viral. Ginger Banks called him out on rapes and sexual assaults on women, many of them fans. Jeremy never asked permission. His ego must be immense. Maybe 90 years in prison will sober his self-pride a little.[/read]
On June 17, 2020, Danny Masterson, an actor and avid member of the Church of Scientology, was charged with raping 3 women between 2001 and 2003. 4 women had filed police reports in the early 2000s but the cases were dropped when over 50 members of Scientology came forward to dispute that it happened. [read more]
Thomas Mesereau, Masterson’s attorney, commented in part, “The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false.” Heard that one before.
The allegations have resurfaced in part because Leah Remini, also an actor, has produced a series titled, Scientology and The Aftermath on A&E.
For some fascinating cloak and dagger perspective related to Masterson’s charges, read Tony Ortega’s 2017 article in The Underground Bunker which is devoted to investigating Scientology’s secrets and the paranoid cast of characters that lurk therein. [/read]
& More from California
Joseph DeAngelo Golden State Killer
According to the Washington Post, Joseph DeAngelo, aged 74, a US Navy Vietnam veteran and an ex-police officer, is being charged with 13 murders and 13 kidnappings spanning 6 California counties in the 1970s and 1980s. To avoid the death penalty, he will most likely admit to 62 rapes that have aged out. [read more]
To accommodate the crowd and to provide for social distancing requirements, the Sacramento State Ballroom will be pressed into service as a courtroom for his trial.
DeAngelo began his criminal career while he was policeman, but was fired after being caught shoplifting a hammer and dog repellent. His career of crime began with cat burglaries, then he progressed to rape, eventually raping 62 women. His last gig was kidnapping and murder. He stopped in 1986.
According to the Guardian, DNA evidence from a distant relative eventually led to his capture. Police were able to trace his DNA through a popular online database and although 23 And Me and Ancestry.com have both denied involvement, the police may have signed up as customers with fake identities. The involvement, willing or no, of online databases to trace criminals is of debatable legality, something that still needs to be worked out.
From his life, he seemed fairly normal. In 1973, he married Sharon Marie Huddle who became an attorney in 1982. Together they had 3 daughters. They separated in 1991 but didn’t divorce until last year. Although he is a college grad, DeAngelo worked as a truck mechanic for Save Mart Supermarkets for 27 years. He was living with his daughter and granddaughter when arrested. [/read]
David Guillod Producer
David Guillod, age 53, talent manager and producer has been charged with 11 felonies by the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office. See Santa Barbara Felony Complaint.
According to the New York Post, Guillod stepped down from his position of CEO for Primal Wave Entertainment in 2017 shortly after Jessica Barth publicly accused him of rape. [read more]
Potentially he could be convicted of 11 felony charges which include the crimes of rape, kidnapping for rape and rape of an unconscious victim. 4 women have come forward to charge him.
He is being held on $3m bail.
In an op-ed for The Wrap, Jessica Barth describes how she was drugged and raped by Guillod in detail. [/read]
The Continuing Epstein Saga
Jeffrey Epstein
Ghislaine Maxwell
Prince Andrew
Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide on August 10, 2019 and next month will be the year anniversary of his death. His estate, where it is and how to access it for the benefit of the claimants is an ongoing process.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s helper, helpmate, lover, madam in charge, she who facilitates the fulfillment of his sexual desires, possible bride-to-be, rich socialite, possible Daddy’s girl, and big sister/mother figure to needy teen-aged girls, has been caught hanging out in New Hampshire and arrested. [read more]
Ghislaine was arrested on July 2 and is to appear in court this week. According to the CNN, Maxwell has been indicted for conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to The Guardian, Friends of Ghislaine state that they doubt she would ever say anything against Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew, for his part, has continually said that he is willing to be interviewed by New York police. His lawyers continue to make announcements to that effect. Geoffrey Berman, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, accused Prince Andrew of attempting to “falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to co-operate.” He further states that Andrew repeatedly declines his invitations to talk. [/read]
Hepeating?
Hepeating and Rape Kits
You’ve most likely heard of mansplaining but have you heard hepeating? Allow me to womansplain. First, pretend you are a woman. For half of my readers, that’s not a stretch. You are in a meeting with your co-workers and boss, all are male. There’s a problem and you solve it. You tell them. They don’t appear to hear you. Then a male coworker repeats your idea, gets credit for it and maybe a promotion. You are freaking mad but it doesn’t matter. You can’t yell or lose your temper. If you do, they will think you have your period. You can’t speak out gently because it won’t help. This is called HEPEATING. [read more]
According to a New York Times opinion piece by Pagan Kennedy on June 17, 2020, the rape kit, that handy tool for collecting evidence, was first thought to have been discovered by a man named Louis R Vitullo, who became Chicago’s chief microanalyst. I wonder how influential the discovery of the rape kit was with his achieving that high station.
He didn’t have much to do with it other than recognizing a good thing when Marty Goddard, a victim’s advocate, showed it to him. He even shouted at her to get out of his face. But he knew a good thing when he saw it and within a week or so he had put together his own kit with all of her suggestions plus a few tweeks. Ah well, at least the job got done. That’s what I used to tell myself in similar situations. I’m sure many women have had such experiences. [/read]