Re: Very Sad..., Clearing up some facts

[gfavelle@muug.mb.ca (Gord Favelle)]

In <1994Apr14.210503.21651@gallant.apple.com> David A Lyons <dlyons@apple.com> writes:

	[stuff deleted]

>(1) Only ONE minor was involved.  Let's NOT start carelessly saying
>"kids" and "children".

Although the current charges involve only 1 child I would *speculate* 
that this has happened before.  I know, I know, I'm speculating, but this 
is my guess based on my clinical knowledge of having worked with both 
victim and perpetrators in the past.

>(2) No assault charges are involved; no charges or allegations imply
>that any force was used (and Matt states that none was).

In my mind the use of handcuffs and the shaving of the genital area (if 
these statements are true) *imply* a level of "force" when involved with 
a 14 year old adolescent.  That is specifically why the laws to protect 
children exist, through coercion, whether subtle or direct, it is the 
adult who has the responsibility to NOT engage in these (or any) sexual 
activities with someone who is a minor.

>(3) Matt entered a "no contest" plea on April 6, which was immediately
>followed by a "guilty" judgement.  Sentencing is scheduled for May 3,
>and information is coming soon on how you can write letters expressing
>your opinion of Matt's character, which may have a large bearing on
>the sentencing.  The -maximum- sentence is 4 years 4 months; it could
>be much less.

I'm not sure how many of us can comment on his character if the only 
medium from which we have "contact" with him is via e-mail and 
newsgroups.  He may have been very helpful to many people on the net and 
elsewhere in regards to apple computers, etc. BUT this does NOT 
necessarily mean that he is a "good guy" in relation to his conduct with 
minors.

>(4) I don't see any reason to consider Matt "lost" from the computing
>world.  He will likely be absent for a time, but I assume that after
>he has paid his debt to society, almost everyone will have enough
>respect for the justice system to let him get on with his life and
>career.

I would hope that after he has paid his debt to society (and the 
adolescent and his family too I hope) I would be more than willing to 
forgive him and his error in judgement IF this is all that it was.  IF he 
has other problems in addition to this error in judgement (pedophile for 
example) then punishment is not the solution to his problem, therapy is.

>Dave Lyons, dlyons@apple.com
>Mr Tangent

>My opinions are my own, not Apple's.
-- 
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