Comments on: Morningside reading mentor sentenced to life in prison for touching girl

By: phertz

phertz — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:30:17 +0000

I, a juror spent 5 days on this case. Her statements were made, on video, seen by me, on the first interview, not after discussion with anyone. There was much more testimony from many people, not mentioned in the article, including Tripoli himself that led to the verdict. Maybe people who are so quick to pass judgement should seek more facts (public record) rather than spout off at the mouth based on a short newspaper article. Go pay for his appeal, get facts or shut up. Thank you very much.

By: Meggan

Meggan — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:46:44 +0000

I am amazed at all these responses to my comment and to this article. How very, very sad and disappointing that there are this many ignorant people on earth when it comes to this subject. Hope if any of you have a daughter, this doesn’t happen to her. Then let’s see what you would be saying or “doing” about this. Fred and JoeC, I guarantee you that nothing but bad things will come your way for the things you said. So when they do, just think of me! Bye Bye!

By: Mel Cook

Mel Cook — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:52:53 +0000

I realy hope to see him rot in prison if he touched that babie.but if shes not being truthful about the incident then a man will spend the rest of his life in prison trying to help someone.it hard to not beleave that babie how can she be so detailed about something like that? kids are forced into a world of make believe all the time by hollywood.example HARRY POTTER,not saying that the kid is not being truthful we have to be careful not to be so trusting that what they say is the truth.my advise to the rest of you never one on one with no ones kids if its not your own!

By: fuggy

fuggy — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:51:26 +0000

We all hate crime.
But wouldn’t even 5 years locked away in jail be horrible for any of us?
Life is really short.

Also, who would leave an 8 year old girl alone with an adult male “volunteer at a school”? He may be a saint, sure, but just to be on the safe side, he works with two other volunteer women and they all tutor in the same room.

That protects all the volunteers from possible false kid allegations, the kid only has to watch Oprah to find inflammatory things to say.

And the volunteers are mixed, not always the same three together, so that a pedophile cannot groom the other women to help him in his crime…

By: SUSAN

SUSAN — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:48:37 +0000

Kids lie quite often.Where is the evidence? How could a jury convict without some kind of doctors report?There might be more to this case,then the paper has written!

By: Dig it Dave

Dig it Dave — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:40:17 +0000

There must be some hiccups in this guys legal history, because life for this has to be a result of several legalities over the years. I understand everyone who does not know him wishes to throw in under a rock, and wait for him to die, but if the judge truly did sentence this guy, with no previous record, on the statement of an 8 year old girl, then you can bet your bottom dollar that he will be free before he even sees the inside of a prison.

By: JoeC

JoeC — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:11:53 +0000

Well its a good thing this was a MAN that did this and Not a WOMAN. Beause if a female teacher did this she would have got about 3 years in prison.

If this man did indeed do it then I say let him rot in prison. More than likely he did do it BUT, lets not forget that prosecuters train the witnesses. So this little girls statement, “touched me in my wrong spot” was definately fed to her and it was thought to be the most damaging way for her to testify. The words were perfect for the prosecution.

Also. Meggan, quit touching yourself!

By: aka

aka — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:03:47 +0000

I don’t understand this at all. He must have had the worst lawyer in the world, did he admit this? Makes no sense that this guy goes away for life, and yet a drunk football player runs a guy down like a dog, kills him, and gets no jail at all.

By: Muck City

Muck City — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:55:46 +0000

In this day and age if you are working with children, there should be an extensive background check conducted. If that wasn’t done, then the people responsible should also be punished. I agree with Big Daddy, if he did it once, he’s done it before. So there should be some kind of history of it. However, I also agree that children of this age don’t use description like that unless taught by a parent or someone. So I would 100 percent agree that she is telling the truth.

By: Nickey

Nickey — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:32:59 +0000

I think this sentence is a bit too harsh based on the limited article. The article does not give enough to convince me but I am sure the jury felt that he was guilty.
And by the way, I have come across some 8 year olds that act like they are teens. These are not the good old days where our kids used to be innocent. Some of them are too old for their age and dress, speak & act innapropriately.
If he did this terrible act I think a sentence of 10 - 15 years is satisfactory with probation for the rest of his life and an ankle monitor to stay far away from children. Maybe castrate…who knows. : )
I once had a similar situation when I was young in school. Of course no one believed me except my parents but eventually years later the perv teacher was arrested.