Marcus Dixon's conviction overturned

[cuervo72]

Man, I came back from basketball games in HS as part of the cheerleading squad and never experienced that phenomenon...

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Man, I came back from basketball games in HS as part of the cheerleading squad and never experienced that phenomenon...

As the culture continues to become more sexual, it is getting increasingly difficult to prevent/catch. It used to be that it was a private thing, after they thought everyone was asleep, because the girl wouldn't have wanted anyone else to know, but another student would notice what was going on and discretely tell on them. These days, I'm almost certain that they tell a friend to keep watch for any adults. Too many times I've been walking down the aisle of a dark bus when a kid who I just talked to 20 minutes ago says, "Hey Ben, what's up?" or something like that. I'm fairly certain it is them giving "the signal" to their fellating friends that ol' SkyDog is nearby.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

2. On our whitewater rafting trip this past fall, I was in a 6-person raft. I was in the middle right seat, and I noticed the girl in the front left seat looking back behind me. I turned around, and found that the reason she was looking behind me was that the guy directly behind me was exposing himself (actually masturbating) while looking directly at her. She didn't appear to disapprove.

I just can't fathom this. I mean it's not like I'm old (28), but I really can't understand how a kid can think this is behavior they will be allowed to get away with. It's just plain sick. Not to mention that the girl dshaidn't say anything about it.

*shakes head*

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

1. Well, I didn't want to get any more graphic, but I'll explain. I don't think he was "going for it" as you put it (wasn't fervent enough...). My impresssion was that he was just trying to rub it enough to show her his erection.
3. Interesting about finding it hard to believe. That incident wasn't the worst I've had to deal with myself. At times, I've gone with same-sex-only seating after dark when on long bus seats because of the "bus trip blowjob" phenomenon...

Guess I should have gone on more trips to find Jesus while in HS. Seriously, it makes more sense this way than how I interpreted it. The bus thing I can easily believe, it was just the guy doing it in a raft with the chaperone/adult 3 feet away that shocks me.

PS - I guess this isn't the place for a "Dat girl paddle so good..." joke

[Noop]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

3. Interesting about finding it hard to believe. That incident wasn't the worst I've had to deal with myself. At times, I've gone with same-sex-only seating after dark when on long bus seats because of the "bus trip blowjob" phenomenon...

Can I come.... on one of the camp's trips?

Also believe it or not in JV we use to have that service provided by the cheerleaders and the flag girls from band. I can't wait till football season again...*wishes he ran track* Oh the stories I could tell...

[Samdari]

Jon,

I wonder if you letting your distaste for this young man and in general for athletes allowed to run roughshod over the law cloud your vision. This decision was not really about whether or not this kid is a good guy. The court basically said that an 18 year old having consensual sex with a 15 year old (which is what he was convicted of doing) is not a crime worth 10 years in prison. Do you think it is, or do you want Dixon to remain inprison because he is a scumbag? You cannot want him to remain there because you think this act might not have been consensual since legally it has already been found to be so.

You say he is athlete getting away with something because he is an athlete. What do you think he got away with? If its rape, well, he will have gotten away with it not because he is an athlete, but because for the same reasons many non-athletes (sadly) get away with it: there is simply no evidence this was non-consensual. If you think he got away with having sex with a 15 year old, he has not done so yet, he can still be tried (and punished) under the appropriate charge for committing that act.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

1. Well, I didn't want to get any more graphic, but I'll explain. I don't think he was "going for it" as you put it (wasn't fervent enough...). My impresssion was that he was just trying to rub it enough to show her his erection.

2. No, I was *not* a happy camper, and neither was he for the rest of the trip. I don't think he particularly enjoyed walking the rest of the way down the river bank, rather than riding in a raft.

3. Interesting about finding it hard to believe. That incident wasn't the worst I've had to deal with myself. At times, I've gone with same-sex-only seating after dark when on long bus seats because of the "bus trip blowjob" phenomenon...

I'll never forget the first time I witnessed a bus blowjob in 7th grade. It's interesting to see the variety of people's reactions to these various expressions of sexuality during puberty. I'm not condoning or condemning these expressions, I'm just fascinated by the reactions.

[GrantDawg]

You all must remember (as I am learning) that Tucker, Ga. makes The O.C. look like Mayberry.

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

3. Interesting about finding it hard to believe. That incident wasn't the worst I've had to deal with myself. At times, I've gone with same-sex-only seating after dark when on long bus seats because of the "bus trip blowjob" phenomenon...

What's the point of having a girl's soccer team if you can't get a little something in the back of the bus after a game? Not that I would partake in something like that...

[TargetPractice6]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

What's the point of having a girl's soccer team if you can't get a little something in the back of the bus after a game? Not that I would partake in something like that...

And you kicked them out of the theater?

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by TargetPractice6

And you kicked them out of the theater?

Hey, the Bus and a Movie theater are different. In one, people are sleeping, in the other people are watching SWAT... ok, so its not so different. But hey participating is different from watching.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

You all must remember (as I am learning) that Tucker, Ga. makes The O.C. look like Mayberry.

Five Words: Lost Children Of Rockdale County.

Thanks for playing.

[The Afoci]

SkyDog, would you be defending this kid if he had his 'two priors' but was a drop out who was a hell of a checkers player? I am starting to wonder. Everyone that defends him keeps bringing up his grades and the completely unfounded "Racist DA" theory?

Edit: How about if this was white athlete and black girl?

Smart people commit crimes. A really bright kid in Wisconsin killed a guy just to see if he could get a way with it.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by The Afoci

SkyDog, would you be defending this kid if he had his 'two priors' but was a drop out who was a hell of a checkers player? I am starting to wonder. Everyone that defends him keeps bringing up his grades and the completely unfounded "Racist DA" theory?

Smart people commit crimes. A really bright kid in Wisconsin killed a guy just to see if he could get a way with it.

Where was I defending the kid? I have mentioned several possible alternative explanations for what happened. For all I know, he's the monster that Jon seems to think he is. I don't know this kid. The thing that disturbed me from the first time I heard about this case was the 10-year prison sentence. Here are the only unarguable facts that I can think of in the case:

1. The jury determined that it was consensual sex.
2. According to the Georgia Supreme Court, the D.A. overstepped his bounds with the charges he pursued.

As far as I can tell, the only crime he committed was statutory rape. I happen to believe (although I 100% believe that premarital sex is wrong) that consensual sex between two high school students should be exempt from being defined as statutory rape, but the law is the law. He broke it in that case. However, breaking that law no more makes him a monster than making a 1200+ on the SAT makes him incapable of committing a crime.

As far as #2, I don't think I ever said that I believe that the DA was racist. Again, I have no clue. What I DO believe is that he saw an easy, chance to demagogue the situation by appearing "tough on crime" to advance a potential future political career. If he gets a conviction on all charges, he's guaranteed that a portion of the population of Floyd County, GA will always support him because "he's the guy that put that uppity nigger that raped that little white girl in jail fer life."

[Ben E Lou]

Just read the edit. The two facts I posted stand if it is a white athlete and a black girl. I'd bet that the D.A. would be less likely to overstep his bounds with the charges in such a case, though, because he'd have less to gain politically.

Just to be clear, I doubt it had much to do with a racist D.A., but with a politically savvy D.A. who knows the local constituency.

[Axxon]

Originally Posted by The Afoci

SkyDog, would you be defending this kid if he had his 'two priors' but was a drop out who was a hell of a checkers player? I am starting to wonder. Everyone that defends him keeps bringing up his grades and the completely unfounded "Racist DA" theory?

Edit: How about if this was white athlete and black girl?

Smart people commit crimes. A really bright kid in Wisconsin killed a guy just to see if he could get a way with it.

I said none of these things but I defended the kid. WTF?? I am feeling more like Ellisons invisible man every day. Ignore me? Why not. At least have the decency to say "almost" before the everybody. Shit.

I ddin't do any of the things you've mentioned but did question this case and now I'm pigeonholed. Damn.

[Axxon]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Where was I defending the kid? I have mentioned several possible alternative explanations for what happened. For all I know, he's the monster that Jon seems to think he is. I don't know this kid. The thing that disturbed me from the first time I heard about this case was the 10-year prison sentence. Here are the only unarguable facts that I can think of in the case:

1. The jury determined that it was consensual sex.
2. According to the Georgia Supreme Court, the D.A. overstepped his bounds with the charges he pursued.

As far as I can tell, the only crime he committed was statutory rape. I happen to believe (although I 100% believe that premarital sex is wrong) that consensual sex between two high school students should be exempt from being defined as statutory rape, but the law is the law. He broke it in that case. However, breaking that law no more makes him a monster than making a 1200+ on the SAT makes him incapable of committing a crime.

As far as #2, I don't think I ever said that I believe that the DA was racist. Again, I have no clue. What I DO believe is that he saw an easy, chance to demagogue the situation by appearing "tough on crime" to advance a potential future political career. If he gets a conviction on all charges, he's guaranteed that a portion of the population of Floyd County, GA will always support him because "he's the guy that put that uppity nigger that raped that little white girl in jail fer life."

Thanks for stating my point better than I had or could have in this case. We disagree politically and most likely in a lot of other things but you hit my stance 100% and I thank you for so eloquently stating it.

[JonInMiddleGA]

As you might suspect, we are certainly not alone in this discussion.

Here's AJC Columnist Jim Wooten's take, which I believe raises some very good points. (Fair Warning: Wooten is the AJC's "token Republican" columnist, who often writes under the title "Thinking Right". He's generally good for raising a liberal's BP a point or two, so read it at your own risk.)

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/o...ten/index.html

[Ben E Lou]

Just looked some info on the D.A. Actually, it is a female D.A., and a fairly young one (39). Think these numbers in the last election MIGHT have swayed her decision???

DISTRICT ATTORNEY - ROME JUDICIAL CIRCUIT



100 % of precincts reportingLEIGH PATTERSON (D) 11,155 52.3 %DOUG SLADE (R) 10,192 47.7 %

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Just looked some info on the D.A. Actually, it is a female D.A., and a fairly young one (39). Think these numbers in the last election MIGHT have swayed her decision???

DISTRICT ATTORNEY - ROME JUDICIAL CIRCUIT



100 % of precincts reportingLEIGH PATTERSON (D) 11,155 52.3 %DOUG SLADE (R) 10,192 47.7 %

Interesting, but also worth noting that she is currently unopposed for re-election. That could be interpreted several ways, but I think it's worth mentioning regardless.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Interesting, but also worth noting that she is currently unopposed for re-election. That could be interpreted several ways, but I think it's worth mentioning regardless.

That is quite interesting, considering she only won the democratic primary in '02 by 55%-45%. One would assume that another dem would see her as vulnerable right now, because surely some black votes that she got back then would go to her opponent in the primary. Odd.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And while SD reminded me to double-check, only one of the state Supremes is up for re-election this year.

from Jim Wooten's column linked above:
"Fletcher was joined then as now by Justices Carol W. Hunstein, Robert Benham and Leah Ward Sears."

The one that's up for re-election? Leah Ward Sears, who is expected to face a challenge from Atlanta attorney Grant Brantley.

Judicial elections in Georgia are, superficially, non-partisan, but this one ought to be interesting from a Left-vs-Right perspective. A recent AJC column mentioned that the race could see upwards of a million dollars in combined fund-raising and here's a bit of what they had to say about Brantley.
"I guess you could say I'm a nonpartisan Republican," said Brantley, 63, of Marietta. "I've had a lot of lawyers talk to me. They want a change from the incumbent. I am acutely aware in my own mind that appellate judges ought to interpret the law, not legislate. I don't think there's enough of that going on."

"I'm not running against her; I'm running for the seat," Brantley said. But when pressed, he said, "I'm probably more conservative than she is."

Brantley was the first Republican judge elected in Cobb County, in 1980, and served three terms. His 1992 nomination to the federal bench died when the first President Bush lost his re-election bid."


http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/met...4a/042804.html

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

although I 100% believe that premarital sex is wrong

I gotta ask....

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Wow. That is a stunningly poor lead, bordering on intentionally inflammatory.

I agree.

[The Afoci]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Calis:

The missing facts that got this case national attention were that Dixon was a 1200-SAT, 3.8+ GPA who was headed to Vandy to play football, and he was black, while the girl was white. According to Dixon (who the jury apparently believed) the girl told him that "my father would kill me if he found out." The obvious suspicion is that daddy found out, the girl cried rape, and then the small-town Georgia DA saw a good chance to look "tough on crime" and was overzealous with the proper charges.

I misread the bold portion and thought you came to the conclusion that her racist father started the whole thing. My point was that Noop's assumption of Kobe's accuser being a liar was soundly ripped, but saying a white father in the south whose girl had sex with a black kid was racist was left alone. But then you didn't say that so, I guess I was wrong. My bad.

[Noop]

I don't have a degree.... So that makes them right and me wrong.

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/met...4/13dixon.html Prosecutors are appealing today the Georgia Supreme Court's decision to clear a star high school football player of sexual assault charges that would have kept him imprisoned for 10 years.

Floyd County District Attorney Leigh Patterson claims the court's 4-to-3 May 3 ruling was in error when it said Marcus Dixon should have only been charged with misdemeanor statutory rape, not aggravated child molestation, one of Georgia's "seven deadly sins" crimes.