Oral sex distracts cop!

[Raiders Army]

Prostitute nabs crooked cop with his own badge
Woman forced to perform oral sex on off-duty Boston cop pulls a fast one

BOSTON - A prostitute forced repeatedly into having sex with a Boston policeman said she feared the abuse would never stop -- until she stole his badge.

When the officer, Michael LoPriore, telephoned her to get it back, the FBI was tuning in to their conversation, the 19-year-old’s lawyer, John Swomley, said on Wednesday.

LoPriore, 37, was charged in federal court on Tuesday with depriving the woman of her rights by using his position as a police officer to force her to perform sex in his car in September 2004.

Under a plea agreement, the 12-year veteran of Boston’s police force will plead guilty, resign and never seek another job as a police officer in Massachusetts. Prosecutors are recommending that he serve a year in prison.

Swomley said LoPriore had stopped the teenager in a downtown red-light district known as the “Combat Zone” while he was off duty and in his personal car.

After showing her his badge, he ordered her into the car and drove to several locations where he forced her to perform oral sex, he added.

“She told me the badge was stuffed in a little cubby in the front console. His head was back and he wasn’t really paying attention to where her hands were,” he said.

Again, since I don't access FOFC at work anymore, I'm surprised someone else didn't post this...must be the angst.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15034414/

[bulletsponge]

serves him right. too damn cheap to pay

[albionmoonlight]

A year in jail sounds like too light a punishment for what is, in effect, using your position as a police officer to rape someone.

I don't know if I find that more or less abhorrent than just pulling out a gun and telling a woman to go down on you or you will shoot her.

Actually, I do. I find it more abhorrent. The people of Mass. each gave up a portion of their freedom and sovereignty1 to the State for the greater good of the society. In this case, to give the state certain police powers deemed necessary to maintain order. This officer abused that sovereignty in order to force a woman to suck his dick.

It's disgusting. It's a gross abuse of the public trust and makes a mockery of the individual freedoms and rights that we choose to give to the State. It's like he took a crap on every citizen of Mass. just so he could get his rocks off. Considering the steroid infused criminal sentences emblematic of contemporary criminal law, giving this guy a year in jail indicates, to me, that using the power of the public trust to rape someone is not really seen as that bad in the eyes of the law.

It should be.

1This freedom and sovereignty comes, of course, from God (if you are inclined in that direction) or from our natural state as sentient beings (if you are inclined in that direction). Either way, it is pretty fundamental to who we are. Indeed, I would argue that our freedom (either as creatures of God or as sentient beings) is THE THING that makes us who we are. It is, not to put too fine a point on it, the power from which self derives.

[WSUCougar]

Weird legal side-question to this story (and I am asking in all seriousness, although the potential for snide responses is admittedly huge):

Since a prostitute makes her living out of performing sexual services, couldn't this be ruled as extortion rather than rape? Or both?

[flere-imsaho]

Just had a case similar to this in Chicago. In Chicago's case, several vice squad officers apparently repeatedly shook down a group of drug dealers for money, drugs, etc.... They were caught and disciplined (court case may still be pending, can't remember) for, basically, "abusing their position".

I'm not a lawyer, but I wonder if in both cases the reason it's not a more "normal" charge (rape, burglary) is that the plaintiff is otherwise engaged in an illegal activity?

[Samdari]

Weird legal side-question to this story (and I am asking in all seriousness, although the potential for snide responses is admittedly huge):

Since a prostitute makes her living out of performing sexual services, couldn't this be ruled as extortion rather than rape? Or both?

The court cannot legitimize prostitution by making this a mere theft of services by use of force (or abuse of power). Comparing this to extorting someone for free meals is making prostitution as legitimate a business as a donut shop. The courts cannot do that.

Since the clearly established (and often ignored) legal principle is that sexual history does not mean a woman loses the right to say no, the fact that she sold blow jobs 5 minutes before the cop shows up does not mean she cannot be raped. It's rape, no ifs ands or buts.

And albion - I agree that a year seems light, but that ignores the other punishment. Being stripped of all means with which to pursue your chosen profession (this guy would have a tough time getting work as a security guard) is pretty hefty punishment. He has had the rest of his life ruined, deservedly so.

[Mr. Wednesday]

I think the question of rape may get into the whole "is oral sex really sex?" thing. Since I'm not a lawyer (particularly not one practicing in MA) and haven't read the state statutes, I don't know how they treat forced oral sex vis-a-vis forced intercourse.

[albionmoonlight]

I think the question of rape may get into the whole "is oral sex really sex?" thing. Since I'm not a lawyer (particularly not one practicing in MA) and haven't read the state statutes, I don't know how they treat forced oral sex vis-a-vis forced intercourse.

Most states (I am not sure about Mass.) have laws against "sexual assault" that have penalties identical to rape. Those laws, in effect, cover forced oral and anal sex.

Though I am sure with all of the states out there and all of the variations of horrible things you can do to someone sexually, there are quirky examples of penalties that tend not to make sense.

Sometimes, these laws evolve over time and end up not really being consistent until someone comes in and cleans them up.

[Desnudo]

Corrupt Boston policemen using their position for personal gain? Next you'll tell me that Catholic priests are molesting young boys.

[Noble_Platypus]

The court cannot legitimize prostitution by making this a mere theft of services by use of force (or abuse of power). Comparing this to extorting someone for free meals is making prostitution as legitimate a business as a donut shop. The courts cannot do that.

Since the clearly established (and often ignored) legal principle is that sexual history does not mean a woman loses the right to say no, the fact that she sold blow jobs 5 minutes before the cop shows up does not mean she cannot be raped. It's rape, no ifs ands or buts.

And albion - I agree that a year seems light, but that ignores the other punishment. Being stripped of all means with which to pursue your chosen profession (this guy would have a tough time getting work as a security guard) is pretty hefty punishment. He has had the rest of his life ruined, deservedly so.

SO because he was a cop and not a fry guy at Burger King losing his job means its okay to give him a lighter jail sentance than if he had done just about any othe profession and been in this situation?

[Samdari]

SO because he was a cop and not a fry guy at Burger King losing his job means its okay to give him a lighter jail sentance than if he had done just about any othe profession and been in this situation?

Well, the fry guy is not in a position to arrest her. You cannot compare this to someone in any other profession having done it. A cop is in a unique position to threaten her.

Also, I have never read about part of a plea bargain being that someone would agree never to make fries in a given state. That guy would not have been in a position to commit this crime, and denying him the fry basket would not be denying him the opportunity to commit it again.

I am not trying to argue that the sentence was fair. I am just saying when you are trying to evaluate whether or not the punishment was appropriate, just that when evaluating that, you have to consider the whole punishment, not just the year in jail. Feel free to feel that's not enough, just don't call it "all he got was a year in jail."

[Raiders Army]

Gimme a blowjob or I spit in your burger!

[Noble_Platypus]

Well, the fry guy is not in a position to arrest her. You cannot compare this to someone in any other profession having done it. A cop is in a unique position to threaten her.

Also, I have never read about part of a plea bargain being that someone would agree never to make fries in a given state. That guy would not have been in a position to commit this crime, and denying him the fry basket would not be denying him the opportunity to commit it again.

I am not trying to argue that the sentence was fair. I am just saying when you are trying to evaluate whether or not the punishment was appropriate, just that when evaluating that, you have to consider the whole punishment, not just the year in jail. Feel free to feel that's not enough, just don't call it "all he got was a year in jail."

I guess you need better comparisons because you took the fry guy one too literally. What I am saying is that if the guy gets fired from his job as a cop he shouldnt be given a lesser sentance than anybody else who would force a girl into a BJ. He cant be a cop again, so its okay to give him fewer years in jail than the Bank manager who forces his secretary to give him a hummer at lunch everyday? Its a bigger deal that the cop cant perform the profession of his choice more so than the guy who cant manage banks in that state anymore? Use whatever example you want, the guy shouldnt get fewer years in jail because he was a cop than anybody else doing any other job would.

[dawgfan]

I am not trying to argue that the sentence was fair. I am just saying when you are trying to evaluate whether or not the punishment was appropriate, just that when evaluating that, you have to consider the whole punishment, not just the year in jail. Feel free to feel that's not enough, just don't call it "all he got was a year in jail."
Put me in the camp of people that feels that losing his profession and spending 1 year in jail is still not sufficient punishment for what he did. As albion points out, not only was he committing sexual assault on this woman, he was abusing the trust of his position as a public servant. I find it worse when a cop breaks the law as compared to any other person given the nature of their job.

[Noble_Platypus]

Put me in the camp of people that feels that losing his profession and spending 1 year in jail is still not sufficient punishment for what he did. As albion points out, not only was he committing sexual assault on this woman, he was abusing the trust of his position as a public servant. I find it worse when a cop breaks the law as compared to any other person given the nature of their job.

Agreed. What if the guy was a judge? He gave the girl suspended sentances in exchange for BJs, so when he gets busted and cant be a judge anymore he should only get 6 months? Thats effectivly what you are saying when you condone a lesser jail term based on the profession of the guy committing the crime

[Mr. Wednesday]

If I were going to guess, I would guess that the lighter sentence is basically because the victim is a prostitute -- the DA knows that if the case went to trial, the defense would destroy her.

[Samdari]

its okay to give him fewer years in jail than the Bank manager who forces his secretary to give him a hummer at lunch everyday?

/Sigh noone listens.

I made no argument whatsoever that the punishment was appropriate. I just think people should consider the totality of the punishment when debating that. A year in jail is not the only punishment this guy faced.

You may think that I took the fry guy comparison too literally, but I would have, and will continue to, shoot down comparing any job with cop who can throw someone in jail. I was trying to illustrate that cops are in a unique position than any other job, and no comparison will suffice.

But, the bank manager you suggest who coerces subordinates into compromising positions by threatening non violent negative consequences, I don't think he gets charged with rape and goes to prison. His company settles a sexual harrassment suit, he gets fired and also has trouble getting a job from there on out, but he's not doing hard time unless there is some threat of physical force.

[Noble_Platypus]

/Sigh noone listens.

I made no argument whatsoever that the punishment was appropriate. I just think people should consider the totality of the punishment when debating that. A year in jail is not the only punishment this guy faced.

You may think that I took the fry guy comparison too literally, but I would have, and will continue to, shoot down comparing any job with cop who can throw someone in jail. I was trying to illustrate that cops are in a unique position than any other job, and no comparison will suffice.

But, the bank manager you suggest who coerces subordinates into compromising positions by threatening non violent negative consequences, I don't think he gets charged with rape and goes to prison. His company settles a sexual harrassment suit, he gets fired and also has trouble getting a job from there on out, but he's not doing hard time unless there is some threat of physical force.

YOu are correct, cops are in a unique position. I still contend that whether it was 1 year or 100 years, he should get the same length of jail time as anybody else. His not being able to be a cop anymore shouldnt reduce the time he gets in jail. Thats idiotic.

[JonInMiddleGA]

... he should get the same length of jail time as anybody else.

You do realize that, depending upon how it played out in court, you might be arguing that he shouldn't have done any jail time at all.

Mr. Wednesday hit on a key point: the complaintant would almost certainly have been ripped to shreds by the defense. If so, you might be looking at a hung jury at best, an outright acquital at worst.

Looks to me like prosecutors got him a year more than he might have gotten otherwise.

[Noble_Platypus]

You do realize that, depending upon how it played out in court, you might be arguing that he shouldn't have done any jail time at all.

Mr. Wednesday hit on a key point: the complaintant would almost certainly have been ripped to shreds by the defense. If so, you might be looking at a hung jury at best, an outright acquital at worst.

Looks to me like prosecutors got him a year more than he might have gotten otherwise.

I do realize that. If the court decides she was a prositute and decides to not give him jail time, that is their decision. All I am saying is that whatever the jail time, 0-100 years, it should be the same sentance handed down, regardless of whether the guy was a cop or not.

[Glengoyne]

Rape? It's not like he threatened her with force. He just threatened to arrest her, unless she took care of him.



/Note: Since we don't have a sarcasm smiley, and even if we did, people still wouldn't pick up on it, I will elaborate.

I think what he did was clearly a misuse of his position as an officer, and clearly it was coersion, but I don't think it would live up to the level of a felony rape. In CA the prosecution has to prove physical force was used by the perpetrator, and possibly even resistance by the victim. I'm thinking that the plea bargain they negotiated with the guy was a pretty reasonable solution.

[JonInMiddleGA]

... it should be the same sentance handed down, regardless of whether the guy was a cop or not.

Having re-read the original article a couple of times now, I think that may actually be the case.

Maybe I'm misreading the story (which is quite possible) but I think the one year is for a federal violation-of-civil-rights charge. I don't read it as him being charged with a sex crime at all; i.e., there were no state charges, just the federal one(s). And I imagine one year behind bars is actually more than the average on the same federal c.r. charges, which strike me as being more usually handled with a fine.

And if he weren't a cop, there wouldn't likely have even been a charge filed (since his position of authority appears to be what created the civil rights violation in the first place).

[dawgfan]

I think what he did was clearly a misuse of his position as an officer, and clearly it was coersion, but I don't think it would live up to the level of a felony rape. In CA the prosecution has to prove physical force was used by the perpetrator, and possibly even resistance by the victim. I'm thinking that the plea bargain they negotiated with the guy was a pretty reasonable solution.
Yeah, I guess I can see that point - her choice was (presumably) perform or go to jail, as opposed to perform or be physically assaulted or killed. However, I'm sure the hooker may have thought that physical abuse was still a possibility if she refused - I mean, if the cop was crooked enough to extort her for sex, who's to say he wouldn't also beat her in the process of taking her in to be arrested?

I'm not sure what levels of charges there are concerning rape, but I can see where this type of incident might not rate the same level of seriousness as a rape by threat of force or death.

[albionmoonlight]

This may all be true. Perhaps a state prosecution is forthcoming.

Now that I think about it, federal rape charges that don't involve rape on federal land are pretty rare. I doubt that they even have jurisdiction to prosecute this as a rape . . .

I think that in my haste to sound smart, I came off as dumb.

[insert lawyer joke here]

[JonInMiddleGA]

A little looking around & I don't get the impression that there's additional charges forthcoming. " “It is a misdemeanor,” said Lopriore’s attorney, Thomas Drechsler. “I’m hoping the matter will be resolved quickly.” "

He does, however, still have an unrelated larceny charge hanging over his head (was charged but never indicted).
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=159462

And here's the original story on that larceny charge which involved forged timesheets.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/02/24/hub_officer_charged_in_detail_pay_scheme/

And in a rather odd bit of Googling, this might be an article from 2004 about the same guy & his role in revitalizing youth hockey in Boston.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/02/01/ice_back_a_hockey_program_seeks_to_regain_its_footing/

[BishopMVP]

Now that I think about it, federal rape charges that don't involve rape on federal land are pretty rare. I doubt that they even have jurisdiction to prosecute this as a rape . . .Since there's no federal lands or crossing of state lines, I doubt it.
This may all be true. Perhaps a state prosecution is forthcoming.Hahhahahha.If I were going to guess, I would guess that the lighter sentence is basically because the victim is a prostitute -- the DA knows that if the case went to trial, the defense would destroy her.No, it's because he's a police officer. There's a blatant double standard in our criminal justice system in favor of those on the inside of the justice system (cops, DA's, judges, politicians, heck even the relatives of cops - I have friends who can get out of DUI's/arrests for misdemeanors just because their dad is a cop.) The only reason this stopped was because this woman stole the badge and got the feds involved. If she went to any Boston area precinct and tried to report the crime, even with the badge, she would have been laughed at at best, jailed for being a hooker at worst. You think there's any way she would have won when it was her word vs. the cops? Come on.

Meanwhile, Boston also just had 3 officers arrested by the FBI for providing protection to cocaine traffickers. Cops are the biggest gang out there, anyone who's ever dealt with them as a plaintiff knows this, thus no one trusts them. Meanwhile the murder rate in Boston is soaring (doubling in the past year/two alone.) Don't think the two aren't connected.

[Ben E Lou]

[Dr.Dre]
Right about now, NWA court is in full effect.
Judge Dre presiding in the case of NWA versus the police department.
Prosecuting attorneys are MC Ren, Ice Cube, and Eazy mother fucking E.
Order, order, order. Ice Cube, take the mother fucking stand.
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth so help your black ass?
[Ice Cube]
You're goddamn right!
[Dr.Dre]
Why don't you tell everybody what the fuck you gotta say?

[Ice Cube]
Fuck the police
Comin’ straight from the underground
Young nigga got it bad cause I'm brown
And not the other color so police think
They have the authority to kill a minority
Fuck that shit, cause I ain't the one
For a punk mother fucker with a badge and a gun
To be beatin’ on, and throw in jail
We could go toe to toe in the middle of a cell
Fuckin with me cause I'm a teenager
With a little bit of gold and a pager
Searching my car, looking for the product
Thinking every nigga is selling narcotics
You'd rather see me in the pen
Then me and Lorenzo rolling in the Benzo
Beat the police outta shape
And when I'm finished, bring the yellow tape
To tape off the scene of the slaughter
Still can't swallow bread and water
I don't know if they fags or what
Search a nigga down and grabbing his nuts
And on the other hand, without a gun they can't get none
But don't let it be a black and a white one
Cause they slam ya down to the street top
Black police showing out for the white cop
Ice Cube will swarm
On any mother fucker in a blue uniform
Just cause I'm from the CPT, punk police are afraid of me
A young nigga on a war path
And when I'm finished, it's gonna be a bloodbath
Of cops, dying in LA
Yo Dre, I got something to say

[Eazy-E]
Fuck the police (4X)

[Dr.Dre]
Example of scene one:
Pull your goddamn ass over right now
[MC Ren]
Ah shit, what the fuck you pulling me over for?
[Dr.Dre]
Cause I feel like it, Just sit your ass on the curb and shut the fuck up
[MC Ren]
Man, fuck this shit
[Dr.Dre]
Alright smartass, I'm taking your black ass to jail
M. C. Ren, will you please give your testimony to the jury about this fucked up
incident.




[MC Ren]
Fuck the police and Ren said it with authority
because the niggaz on the street is a majority.
A gang, is with whoever I'm stepping
and the mother fucking weapon
is kept in a stash box, for the so-called law
wishing Ren was a nigga that they never saw
Lights start flashing behind me
But they're scared of a nigga so they mace me to blind me
But that shit don't work, I just laugh
Because it gives em a hint not to step in my path
To the police I'm saying fuck you punk
Reading my rights and shit, it's all junk
Pulling out a silly club, so you stand
With a fake assed badge and a gun in your hand
But take off the gun so you can see what's up
And we'll go at it punk, I'ma fuck you up
Make ya think I'm a kick your ass
But drop your gat, and Ren's gonna blast
I'm sneaky as fuck when it comes to crime
But I'm a smoke em now, and not next time
Smoke any mother fucker that sweats me
Or any ass hole that threatens me
I'm a sniper with a hell of a scope
Takin out a cop or two, they can't cope with me
The mother fucking villain that's mad
With potential to get bad as fuck
So I'm a turn it around
Put in my clip, yo, and this is the sound [Bang, Bang]
Ya, something like that, but it all depends on the size of the gat
Taking out a police would make my day
But a nigga like Ren don't give a fuck to say

[Eazy-E]
Fuck the police (4X)

[Eazy-E]
Yo, man, what you need?
[Dr.Dre]
Police, open now. We have a warrant for Eazy-E's arrest
Get down and put your hands up where I can see em
Just shut the fuck up and get your muthafuckin ass on the floor [Huh]
Yo Eazy-E, why don't you step up to the stand
and tell the jury how you feel about this bullshit

[Eazy-E]
I'm tired of the mother fucking jacking
Sweating my gang while I'm chilling in the shacking
Shining the light in my face, and for what
Maybe it's because I kick so much butt
I kick ass, or maybe cause I blast
On a stupid assed nigga when I'm playing with the trigger
Of any Uzi or an AK Cause the police always got something stupid to say
They put up my picture with silence
Cause my identity by itself causes violence
The E with the criminal behavior
Yeah, I'm a gangsta, but still I got flavor
Without a gun and a badge, what do ya got?
A sucker in a uniform waiting to get shot,
By me, or another nigga.
and with a gat it don't matter if he's smarter or bigger
[MC Ren: Size don't mean shit, he's from the old school, fool]
And as you all know, E's here to rule
Whenever I'm rolling, keep looking in the mirror
And there's no cue, yo, so I can hear a
Dumb mother fucker with a gun
And if I'm rolling off the 8, he'll be the one
That I take out, and then get away
And while I'm driving off laughing
This is what I'll say

[Eazy-E]
Fuck the police (4X)

[Dr.Dre]
The verdict
The jury has found you guilty of being a redneck,
white bread, chicken shit mother fucker
Wait, that's a lie. That's a goddamn lie
I want justice! I want justice!
Fuck you, you black mother fucker

[Eazy-E]
Fuck the police (3X)


Fixed.

[BishopMVP]

Yeah, Straight Outta Concord, yo!

[molson]

Since there's no federal lands or crossing of state lines, I doubt it.
Hahhahahha.No, it's because he's a police officer. There's a blatant double standard in our criminal justice system in favor of those on the inside of the justice system (cops, DA's, judges, politicians, heck even the relatives of cops - I have friends who can get out of DUI's/arrests for misdemeanors just because their dad is a cop.)

I don't know if you had a bad experience fighting a traffic ticket or something, but you sound a little paranoid. There is NO WAY cops or prosecutors are trying to help this guy. This kind of thing makes their jobs incredibly more difficult.

It's true that cops can get out of speeding tickets, but that line for looking the other way is much, much lower than you're implying. I think a lot of times, charges are dismissed, and when people don't know or understand the reason, they think there's corrruption. It's not fair to people in law enforcement.

I guess it's possible Boston cops are a special case. Generally though, cops don't have a whole lot of power. Some prosecutors tend to placate their wishes in terms what gets charged, but I think that's more of a social/wanting to be liked kind of thing.

[BishopMVP]

I don't know if you had a bad experience fighting a traffic ticket or something, but you sound a little paranoid.A little paranoid, maybe (probably?). As for traffic court, I've actually had a lovely time there, because as long as you show any inclination to fight the ticket, they'll roll over and say it's not worth it.There is NO WAY cops or prosecutors are trying to help this guy. This kind of thing makes their jobs incredibly more difficult.Prosecutors, no. Other police officers? Sure. It's a good ol' boy network. Haven't you ever heard of not selling out a fellow officer? If the girl hadn't gotten the feds involved and tried to file a police report for him raping her, she would likely have been arrested for prostitution and targeted in the future, the cop would have denied everything and it's unlikely a grand jury would even send the case to trial. Hell, they would have been laughing behind closed doors and asking him how good she was.It's true that cops can get out of speeding tickets, but that line for looking the other way is much, much lower than you're implying. I think a lot of times, charges are dismissed, and when people don't know or understand the reason, they think there's corruption. It's not fair to people in law enforcement.Shurg, all I know is I've gone and picked up 2 friends out here who got pulled over for DUI (and both were stumbling drunk, not barely over .08) but because they told the officer their dad was a cop, he said you better not be lying to me, checked up on it and then told them they were lucky and to leave their car there until morning, call a friend and get picked up at the scene (because they were too drunk to drive) without arrest. I've also helped bail other kids out of jail who weren't related to policemen for the same offense. And both those other kids dads were cops back in EMass, 2 hours away from campus.

Take what you will from what I've seen, but I can discern a pattern. (Although it's not what happened, but how. They told me when they got pulled over and the cop saw they were hammered they basically slurred out "Wait, my dad's a cop" like it's supposed to make it right. And lo and behold, it did.)I guess it's possible Boston cops are a special case.Quite possible, although more of a northeast thing, since Providence, Springfield are no better. ;) Generally though, cops don't have a whole lot of power.They do at the scene. Some prosecutors tend to placate their wishes in terms what gets charged, but I think that's more of a social/wanting to be liked kind of thing.Or a quid pro quo thing. Or a bit of both.

[molson]

They do at the scene.

OK, that might be. I guess I was thinking more about crimes that have been charged, and your general inditments of the criminal justice system as a whole. Going back to the original post, I can see your point.