let me begin with this first: I do not know Kobe or the young lady that is making these charges. I was not there with them so I do not know what happened. however, I am involved in a criminal case that started out the same way. I want to share this with everyone for a few reasons. (1) let this be a warning 2 everyone. both male N female. (2) maybe writing about this can be my therapy
(3) I am curious what other people have to say about this.

so here is my story: back in january of this year I was shaving in my bathroom around 10 in the morning. while I was finishing up I heard my door bell ringing. my front door was left opened, however I have a security,iron door that prevents people from entering while it is locked. on the other side was a young lady selling strawberries. I unlocked my iron door N stuck my head out so I can get a better look and chose my strawberries. I picked 2 individual baskets of strawberries. I told her that I need to get my wallet. (which were in another pair of shorts). I went to my bedroom looking for my shorts so I can get my wallet to pay her. when I walked back towards my living room to look for my wallet in the living room, the young lady was standing in the middle of my living room holding 2 crates of strawberries. not 2 individual baskets of strawberries. she did not look threatening nor was I upset. I thought it was just a bad attempt to try to get me to buy more strawberries than I originally requested. this is what I said to her, "ah, don't be trying to get me to buy all your shit now!! what the fuck you want me to buy them all now?!" (now am paraphrasing). when I said this I was not upset. it is just the way I talk sometimes. while I was saying this she kinda shrugged her shoulders like she did'nt understand. she spoke another language. english is not her first language. obviously at this point. many people think I speak this language because of my enthnic look. but I only speak english. at this point I still did'nt have my wallet. I looked at the strawberries she had in the crates and I picked 2 different individual baskets of strawberries this time. they just looked better than the others I originally saw. she walked back outside to take the crates back. while I was in the living room I found my shorts and my wallet. I had taken them off there the night before. she walked back into my house. she walked through my living room into my kitchen and set the 2 individual baskets on top of the kitchen counter. I walked into the kitchen behind her. now I only had a 100 dollar bill, a 50 dollar bill, 2 20 dollar bills and 4 one dollar bills. I gave her the 100 dollar bill and she said something in spanish that I did'nt understand, but I got the impression that she could'nt make change. so, I showed her the 50 dollar bill and the same thing happened. so, I showed her one of the 20 dollar bills and again, the same thing. so I made a comment to her, in english. I said something like, "what you can't make change? you go door to door selling strawberries and you cannot make change? what's up with that? You think I am going to give you all this and not get change? you have to do alot more than sell strawberries." now the last comment is/was inappropiate. I agree. however, I was being funny and sarcastic at the same time. I figured she could'nt understand english anyways. so, I walked out to the kitchen and went to my computer desk, which is back in my living room. she just stood there in my kitchen. I turned and looked back at her and waved bye-bye to her. I told her to leave. I also told her to leave the strawberries. this is what I said, "it is not my fault you cannot make change. just leave the strawberries there. thank you. bye, have a nice day." she started leaving. when she got to the front door I called her back, I showed her the 4 single dollar bills that I had and she came back where I was sitting at my computer desk and I gave her the money. on her way back out she called me stupid in spanish. this much I know. she walked down my driveway with her strawberries on a mini luggage carrerier with the crates of strawberries on them. so, I finished getting dressed and left my house to return to work. probably 15 or 20 minutes after she had left my house. now, here is where the legal system gets involved. a little over a week from her selling the strawberries to me. my door bell was ringing at 6 in the morning. but it was like a frantic ring. it just kept ringing and ringing. at first I thought it was a relative that lived close by. than I thought it was the repairmen to fix my garage door. because 2 weeks before this my garage door had fallen off it's track. when I looked out the windows of my front door I noticed 3 shadow figures standing outside. when I opened the door I noticed 2 men and a woman. the men had on dress slacks, dress shirts with ties and jackets with letters that said SHERIFF. the woman was wearing jeans, shirt and the same jacket as the other 2. they asked me my name, I told them, they asked if I was alone, I said "no, my wife is getting dressed", they asked if I can come outside 4 a moment. they said, "we want to talk to you about something that is kind of embarrassing and we don't want your wife to hear about it." I told them that I need to put on some shorts because I was only wearing a pair of undershorts and undershirt. as I was putting on my shorts I called my wife because I did'nt feel comfortable going outside by myself. I wanted my wife to be there, kind of like a witness. incase they pull a Rodney King or something. my wife came 2 the door, I stepped outside. the detectives asked me if somebody was at my house last week selling strawberries. I said "yes". than the detectives asked if I solicitated sex from her? I said "no, not at all". they asked what happened? I told them the whole story and then they said that is enough to arrest me. they arrested me there right in front of my wife. she was beginning to cry. I told her not to cry. I told her everything will be alright, this will be over soon. I also said, "it's her word against mine." my wife asked what they were arresting me for? they told her "for soliciting sex." so they drive me down to the SHERIFF's STATION. on the way down there I am sitting in the backseat handcuffed and I made a comment because I was angry,scared, confused. I said, "fucking dirty wet-back girl". we get to the SHERIFF's STATION and they put me in an interviewing room. the arresting detective comes in by himself and reads me my MIRANDA RIGHTS. you know, "you have the right to remain silent, you have the right to consult with an attorney...etc. etc. he explains to me that they are going to book me on 2 felony counts of attempted rape with the intent to committ sodomy and oral copulation. and I can post bail once my bail is set. I tell him that I can't believe I am getting arrested because of what somebody says. I ask him if he has any witnesses? is there any physical evidence? he says that is not for him to decide. it is up to the DISTRICT ATTORNEY. then I make a comment. I tell him, "look at me. I am 6 foot 1 inch. I weigh over 400 pounds. don't you think if I wanted to rape her I could. don't you think there will be some evidence? do U think if I grabbed her that she could not get away? the detective says, "so, you grabbed her?" and I start to tell him "no, don't be twisting my words." I am only asking you to investigate this some more. don't just rush into this. so, they fingerprint, photograph me and put me in a holding cell with other inmates. 6 hours later I make bail. I had 2 put up $5,000.00 for a $50,000.00 bail bond. 2 weeks later I go to court with the attitude it would be thrown out of court. family, friends are all saying that there is no evidence, no witnesses. just her word against mine. they know that I am not the type of person that would do this. the judge will just dismiss the case. when I show up to court the judge tells me to get a lawyer. so, in disbelief and $7,500.00 later I have been in and out of court 4 over 5 months. the first judge finally heard the girl's testimony and said there was never any attempt on rape. because in her statement under oath she claims that I offered her money for sex. now on the original police report she claims that I pulled down my shorts and showed her my penis. she also said that I was grabbing her and kissing her neck. on the witness stand my lawyer aksed her if she saw my penis. she said no. she told my lawyer in front of the judge that she ran out of my house because I was busy taking off my shorts. she also said she left her strawberries and her cart on my front porch. before she entered my house she said, under oath, that I was sitting on my couch and told her in spanish that I am disabled and I cannot walk. please bring in the strawberries. (anyone and everyone that knows me knows I do not know how to speak spanish). than my lawyer asked her if she ever retrived her cart and strawberries? she said yes. my lawyer asked her where was I. she said I was standing there by the front window looking at her laughing. my lawyer asked her if she was afraid of me. she said yes. my lawyer than said but you went back while he was there, knowing he is looking at you and you got your strawberries. than she did'nt say anything 'til my lawyer asked for her answer. she said yes. so, the first judge drops the case. however the DISTRICT ATTORNEY refiles at another courthouse in the same county. he is allowed 2 trys at this under the same charge(s). and he also files a new charge of SEXUAL ASSAULT but a lesser penalty. here is what the DISTRICT ATTORNEY was trying to get me convicted on. he wanted me to go to a STATE PRISON for up to 8 years. becomee a SEX OFFENDER and register every year on my birthday for the rest of my life. and 5 year probation after I am released from prison. now, this is his second proposal. 1 year of jail time in a county jail. 5 months living in a rehab facility to evaluate me. 5 years of probation, register as a sex offender every year on my birthday for the rest of my life. now my lawyer tells me that he never saw the DISTRICT ATTORNEY behave this way. my lawyer explains that he kind of knows the DISTRICT ATTORNEY from working there in the courthouse for many years. my lawyer also makes the comment that the DISTRICT ATTORNEY really does not like me because of the comment I made in the SHERIFF's car, "fucking dirty wet-back girl." now when I made that comment I was upset. I called her dirty with the meaning of "dishonest. a liar." it did not have any sexual meaning tied to it. also the DISTRICT ATTORNEY is the same ethnicity as the young girl...and as me. now here is the latest proposal from the DISTRICT ATTORNEY: the 6 hours of being jailed will b credited. agree to a felony charge of FALSE IMPRISONMENT, 3 years of probation. if I do good on the 3 years of probation they will drop the felony conviction to a misdemeanor and I can pay another $1,000.00 to have it Xsponged off my record. and pay the young girl a cashier's check for $1,000.00but check this out. when I pay her the money the DISTRICT ATTORNEY wants me to hand it to her outside the courthouse so that there is "no record" of it.[/b] my lawyer feels it is a WIN for us because all the original felony charges are going to be dropped and the SEXUAL OFFENDER registration will not ever happened. if I don't agree to this then my lawyer said we will go to trial and the DISTRICT ATTORNEY will try to get the most he can on a conviction. so, this is where I am at with the LEGAL SYSTEM. I originally was arrested outside my house for SOLICITING SEX(also I was told later that I did not have to go outside of my house. the only reason the detectives wanted me outside so they can arrest. there was never a warrant for my arrest.) then booked on 2 felony counts of ATTEMPTED RAPE with the INTENT to COMMIT SODOMY and ORAL COPULATION and now it is down 2 FALSE IMPRISONMENT and pay her $1,000.00. I can accept the offer or take my chance on a jury of 12 women N men.

now the whole time this was going on I have always said this, "it is a racket. I live in a State that is on the verge of bankruptcy. the only state department that makes a profit here is the PRISON SYSTEM and the JAILS. whether you are in jail for a few hours or a few years. you become a number in their system. in their next budget for their next fiscal year. and all the DISTRICT ATTORNEY wants is a "WIN" in his "COLUMN". so, when it comes time to evaluate him for a pay increase or a promotion all his cases are looked at. so, I have been in prayer and reading the BIBLE alot. talking to my pastor, friends and family. I even had to see a counselor because I broke down at work a couple of times. it has been very difficult and very trying. my wife and family and friends have stood by my side the whole time. if any positive thing that came out of this is my TRUST in God and becoming closer to my family and friends. appreciating them more and telling them more.

so, whether Kobe is guilty or innocent these R things that go on. don't believe everything you hear or see. one thing that my lawyer said from the begining, "when a woman or a child makes a charge of violence, sexual misconduct or abuse, the police pretty much believe them." even before investigating it. again, don't believe people are guilty just because they are the ones handcuffed and appear on the FRONT PAGE. dare to be the one to pull the WIZARD OF OZ's curtain. sometimes you will find a scared little man that does not have any "juice" at all. kind of like the devil...

and if we really are "innocent 'til proven guilty" then why do we have to pay for bail, lawyer fees etc. etc. I love my country, AMERICA. I still believe it is the best and that we have the best judicial system.


PEACE 2 EVERONE
[This message was edited Tue Jul 8 13:02:11 PDT 2003 by 2toratora]

This is a very interesting and tragic story, and I'm sorry it happened to you, but I would like to say that you should really lay off the prince-bonics, if you want it to be understood.

regards,
sav

WoW!! welcome 2 amerika. 2 the non-english speaking girl.


PEACE N B WiLD!!!

2toratora you could have just written the greatest commentary in the history of America and I won't read it until you lose the Princebonics and learn what a sentence and a paragraph are.


.
[This message was edited Tue Jul 8 12:18:36 PDT 2003 by lovemachine]

I would just like 2 say that i am supporting u in prayer & thoughts. I beleive u. so good luck & God Bless!!

lovemachine said:

sorry about that. I did this in a hurry. I had 2 go make a payment 2 my bailbondsman at a certain time. the Princebonics just comes automatic here at the forum.

ThaHumanBody said:

thank U very much.