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Ronin
ComStar
Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 908
Location: United States
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 Posted: 20-Apr-2002 00:12 Post subject: Where is Ice-Man (PG-13 at least) |
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Over the past year or so, some of you have asked "Where is Ice-Man? He used to be here fairly regular. What happened to him?"
And I would invariably answer for him that he was unable to get on the net because of computer problems, etc.
I regret that I had to do it, but I wasn't exactly honest with you folks when I said that. But now I can set the record straight.
For some of you, it may be better if you hit the back button on your browser about now. What I am about to say isn't at all pleasant, and may possibly offend the sensibilities of people. The youngsters here should probably play it safe and go read another post. I'm leaving some empty space in this post so that you can go back without accidentally scanning to far ahead.
I'm not kidding folks.
Still with me? OK, but don't say I didn't warn you...
Since March of last year, the man behind the Ice-Man persona has been in jail awaiting trial for capital murder for a particularly heinous crime: a murder/rape incident. The death penalty was a definite possibility.
The man I had known for over 12 years and considered to be a brother was on his way up to visit me for a weekend of Battletech when it happened. This meant that my family was involved in the investigation, particularly myself and another close friend. We gave depositions to the Texas Rangers, met with the District Attorney a number of times, and faced the distinct possibility of having to testify in court. Since the victim was about to graduate from the main campus of the University I was attending, I ended up dropping my graduate studies there (I had planned on transferring the classes to another, better grad school the next semester). I did not want to find myself in a crossfire, since the case was surely to be mentioned (especially in my criminology classes), and the fact that I would have to politely refuse to participate in any such discussions until the case was over would have only made the situation worse.
Folks, by no means was this pleasant for anyone. The only thing my education in Criminology was good for at this point was to let me know just exactly how serious this case was, and what kind of picture was painted by the evidence available to me. Kind of like being an oncologist and finding out that a loved one had untreatable cancer. You know just how bad things are going to be every step of the way, yet there is not a damned thing you can do about it. Even worse, you get to be part of the process. This is one of many reasons why I nominated 2001 for Suckiest Year Ever.
By no means do I intend to sound as if I was the only one that had a hard time with all of this; I can only report things from my viewpoint as a friend, a brother, and a criminologist.
Why am I just now saying something? Because it is only just now that I can.
The pre-trial for the case was last Thursday. The case ended before it really started with a plea bargain: a guilty plea for two consecutive life sentences. He will be in prison for at least 60 years before parole is even an option, and if I understand the terms properly, time of for good behavior is not available.
For now, it is over. I can move on with my life. I lost a slot in a good graduate school because leaving the area was not a good idea, since we had no idea when the trial would start and how long I would be needed for it.
But I personally doubt that it will remain as such. Already there is talk of an appeal. The victim's family has stated that they intend to lobby the state legislature; wether they truly meant it or were just caught up in the emotions that come from such a tragedy that they suffered remains to be seen.
Is the man we knew as Ice-Man guilty? Yes, it is a fact that he confessed. Yes, it is a fact that he plead guilty during a plea bargain. However, it is also a fact that the case never went to trial before a jury, and there is possibly strong evidence that could mitigate the circumstances of this case through culpable mental state.
Regardless of what may or may not have occured, I still consider Ice-Man a friend and brother, strange as it may sound. He is the one who introduced me to Crimiinology, and I am the one who taught him to play Battetech. We have saved each others lives numerous times over. He has always been there for me during my darkest hours, and I have done all that I could for him during his. Some of you may justifiably believe that I should now turn my back on him, and will likely do the same yourselves. That is your perogative. I had to face that difficult decision from the moment I found out that he had been arrested, since almost every job available in my field has this question on the applications "Do you associate with known felons?"
That is not as easy question a question to answer as it may seem. My mentor tells me I am just fine if I continue to communicate with my friend. I now leave that decision to those here who once called Ice-Man a friend.
If anyone is interested in contacting Ice-Man, whether through mail or messages passed via myself, contact me at my hotmail address. Ice-Man has frequently asked about how things are going for everyone here. I have told him about our highs and lows. He has rejoiced in our triumphs and grieved with our losses. He has sent Mech designs for me to post, and has constantly asked "How goes the FedCom Civil War?"
I apologize if this post seems jumbled or whatever, since I am still sorting out my thoughts and emotions on this whole situation
Ronin
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ICER
Clan Hell's Horses
Galaxy Commander
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1663
Location: United States
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| Posted: 20-Apr-2002 02:46 Post subject: Where is Ice-Man (PG-13 at least) |
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Hang in there, The fact you stayed by his side after all this says alot of yourself. And I have no issues with a person who comments a crime. And pays the price for it.
He is always welcomed over at my site if for some reason (And this not very likly) Mordel has an issue with him here.
And thanks for the update. If you need anything, To talk,To vent,whatever. PM me. K!!
The best advise I can give was the avise my father gave me when I was down in the pits (2001 was a really sucky year. It got so bad I changed my board to Frostbyte. Because I just did not feel like myself. But as you can see ICER is back and here to stay)
"You are just going through a storm in your life right now, And no storm lasts forever. And no ship with a heart and soul as good as yours will NOT falter in any storm. Just as you will not. You may take on some water. But it will be nothing you cannot handle"
It is good advise. Hope it helps you and Ice-Man as much as it has helped me.
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
Master Bartender
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 8072
Location: United States
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| Posted: 20-Apr-2002 07:07 Post subject: Where is Ice-Man (PG-13 at least) |
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First off I want to thank Ronin for coming to Mordel and I about whether he should post that or not.
This thread will not turn into a discussion of the "facts" of the case or a place to slam Ice-Man or his actions. There's nothing gained for us to do that here, and posts that discuss such things will be removed.
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www.210sportsblog.com
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Cadet
ComStar
Lieutenant, SG
Joined: 17-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 495
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| Posted: 20-Apr-2002 20:41 Post subject: Where is Ice-Man (PG-13 at least) |
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That's a bummer dude. Just remember if you need to bitch or yell or vent or whatever, we're here for you.
My little brother's best friend, and a friend of mine, and a friend of mine in his own right, is in prison for life for killing a kid. I told him not to take care of this kid while the parent's were working on the cruise line, but he wouldn't listen. So the kid pisses him off and he shoves the kid's head through a wall. He goes to court, blames people including the kils brother and he's convicted, life in prison, no chance for parole.
So I'm kind of torn about how to deal with him. Do I write him and if I do, what do I say? Do I tell him about the sucesses and failures of my life which can only remind him how he fucked up, or do I turn my back on him?
I still don't know. And I still think he should hang for his crime.
_________________
I'm not family friendly. That's why I don't post here.
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 20-Apr-2002 20:57 Post subject: Where is Ice-Man (PG-13 at least) |
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That's what we are here for. Go ahaed and Bitch, Rant, complain, whine.... whatever....
Sir Henry
_________________
Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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Gunslinger Patch
Royal Black Watch Regiment
Major
Joined: 04-Mar-2002 00:00
Posts: 1611
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| Posted: 21-Apr-2002 04:02 Post subject: Where is Ice-Man (PG-13 at least) |
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I really know what you mean about wondering how to deal with it.
Back in college I lived in the dorms, in a 3 room deal, living room, and bathroom set-up for 4 years. My friend James and I pretty much owned that room, since the dorms were never full at that time. But for a year and a half we had a 3rd roomie named Bill.
Bill was over 6 foot and studying to teach kindergarden of all things. He was pudgy like the Pilsbury doughboy and always spoke in a soft voice and he was a huge fan of Barney. He had a spare time job looking after an autistic boy and spent time with another little boy as part of his classwork.
Well, it came out near the end of that year and a half that Bill was telling a whole lot of lies about certain things (long and complicated story) which led to his arrest and conviction for sexual molestation of both of those little boys and two adoloescent ones while he was a summer camp counselor too. He got the two adolescent kids to pose for pictures and it seems Bill thought there would be no problem with getting his film developed at the photomat. Big mistake, you might say.
The last I heard, about six years back, was that he was sentenced to 3 consecutive 10 year terms in a prison unit that I now drive past every day on my way to work.
When all of this came out it was a real stunner to me and James (and his fiance) and the whole rest of our campus circle of friends, which Bill had been very much a part of.
You know, it is just plain wierd to know someone like this (to think you know them) who has done something truly evil. It has been pretty much proven that once a child molester-always a child molester, so I can see no other useful thing to do with Bill but take him out back of the Stiles Unit, dig a hole, and shoot him.
But while he was my roommate, we laughed at a lot of jokes together. And to this day I wonder at what I was thinking the time I let him buy me lunch one day not long after we all knew what was up and what sort of creature Bill really was. According to my own ideals I should never have said a word to him after the truth was known. But for some reason I still find myself unable to hate the guy. Sure, he should be shot to make sure he never does that to another little boy again. But I never could bring myself to hate him for it.
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"Those who beat their guns into plows will plow for those with guns..." -Thomas Jefferson
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Ronin
ComStar
Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 908
Location: United States
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| Posted: 21-Apr-2002 14:25 Post subject: Where is Ice-Man (PG-13 at least) |
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Thanks, guys. I've always known that this place was a "safe haven" of sorts where we could vent our troubles and the others would provide whatever support they could. I think we have all had at least one opportunity to support and be supported by the community here.
Thanks to Mordel and chihawk for allowing me to post the news report here that could very easily have gotten ugly.
Thanks to the members here who have been mature enough to not turn this news report ugly. There is enough ugliness associated with this case. It is time to start healing. Your maturity in this matter has been a positive step in that direction.
This will be the last that I post on this matter. Mordel has been kind enough in allowing this in the first place; I do not wish to abuse his trust.
Any questions or comments about this from here on should be directed to my hotmail accout shown in the members list. That way no more bandwidth here is taken up, and we can all return to semblance of the (dis?)orderly lives that we normally have here.
Thanks,
Ronin
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 21-Apr-2002 20:09 Post subject: Where is Ice-Man (PG-13 at least) |
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Some uf us have had pain and suffering to be indured, and we used this place as a start and ongoing path of Healing. I want to thank everyone here for doing this...
Sir Henry
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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