Justice

[Lone Wolf]

http://www.swvatoday.com/news/article/county_men_charged_in_beating/8434/

[sidebackside]

What the heck is wrong with people??? Thanks for sharing by the way.

[couscous]

Thanks for the post. That answers a lot of questions.

[Lone Wolf]

i'll be going to court on 1 Dec to get a visual on one of the 3 Aholes. i know 2 of them. karma

[Old Hiker]

Yet nothing would have happened if the LEOs hadn't have found the incriminating evidence on an unrelated search.

[Elder]

Apparently the brothers did not report the attack.
Lone Wolf, that why you spend so much time on the Creeper?
Are you hoping some fool(s) will try this?
Good Hunting!
Remember, tool use protects hands..use a club.

[drastic_quench]

I hope they don't cut a deal on the more severe charges. There's no reason to with video evidence.

Also, with all the people on Whiteblaze who openly state that they carry handguns on the AT, how lucky were these punks that they weren't shot to death?

[Doc Mike]

3 punks 6 bullets plenty of taxpayer money saved and problem solved. The national publicity from the shooting would have done more to discourage this behavior than 10 such trials that make only the local papers.

Just my 2 cents
Doc Mike

[Trailbender]

I hope they don't cut a deal on the more severe charges. There's no reason to with video evidence.

Also, with all the people on Whiteblaze who openly state that they carry handguns on the AT, how lucky were these punks that they weren't shot to death?

Exactly. I would have shot all 3 of them dead, several people beating on you, even unarmed, is lethal force.

[Luddite]

Hiker bashing? Morons. I hope they serve time.

[SassyWindsor]

This makes for a good reminder of WHY I carry a handgun when hiking. Bet a lot of locals would be outraged and ready to lynch the two hikers had they been armed and killed these punks. Too bad they weren't.

[Lone Wolf]

Bet a lot of locals would be outraged and ready to lynch the two hikers had they been armed and killed these punks.

oh no. they woulda been applauded. 2 of the 3 have long records

[Tilly]

I wonder why the 2 brothers didn't report the incident to law enforcement sooner.

I hope they serve time. They deserve it.

[SassyWindsor]

oh no. they woulda been applauded. 2 of the 3 have long records


Then maybe these punks will get a long sentence for their deeds. Maybe their trial will show up on You-tube for all to witness. Post their mugshots if possible and keep the forum informed on these punks prosecution. Thanks.

[Wise Old Owl]

Thanks for the find of the article LW.

[canoehead]

Sounds like the bashers need a good azzz kick'n

[Lone Wolf]

I wonder why the 2 brothers didn't report the incident to law enforcement sooner.


they didn't report it at all.

[Luddite]

Sounds like the bashers need a good azzz kick'n

Its hiker basher bashing time!

[Old Hiker]

Its hiker basher bashing time!

Can't we all just get along?

A long club to beat the beaters with!!!!

Or should that be bash the bashers with?

[Tinker]

oh no. they woulda been applauded. 2 of the 3 have long records

It's very rare that the crime of assault is the first thing that an individual commits. Unfortunately, a simple assault can turn into a murder.

I consider these three stooges lucky, even if they get the full sentence for the charges filed against them.

God, being the ultimate Judge, will judge correctly. It's not too late for these clowns to turn their lives around.

One can only hope :|.

[kayak karl]

Exactly. I would have shot all 3 of them dead, several people beating on you, even unarmed, is lethal force.
OK Rambo, LOL let's just keep these idiots in jail.

[Luddite]

Can't we all just get along?

A long club to beat the beaters with!!!!

Or should that be bash the bashers with?

I was just kidding. ;)

[TOW]

i'll be going to court on 1 Dec to get a visual on one of the 3 Aholes. i know 2 of them. karma
and i know all three of them but it really trips me out that thomas reedy was involved with this assault......

[Lone Wolf]

and i know all three of them but it really trips me out that thomas reedy was involved with this assault......

yeah. he's the only one that can turn his life around at this point. the other 2 have some bad karma comin' their way

[greenmtnboy]

The judge will be looking to send a strong message to others who would dare to engage in such hooliganism in the future. Maybe they could get them on federal charges as well.

[Lone Wolf]

Maybe they could get them on federal charges as well.

the assault occured on the creeper trail bridge which is USFS property

[northernstorm]

it sucks that people are like that. tis another reason i camp away from people. its not the wildlife i worry about. its stupid people.

[Cookerhiker]

Kudos to the Damascus Police Department for pursuing this after they discovered the video.

[jesse]

That 20 year max sentence sounds good. Hopefully they will be somebody's girlfriend in prison.

[Toolshed]

Someone needs to watch these JO's when they get out. I think they will be at it again. Just sayin' :datz

[karo]

That 20 year max sentence sounds good. Hopefully they will be somebody's girlfriend in prison.
Yeah they will get justice in jail for sure, getting raped in jail is def. in their future.

[mweinstone]

within inches of the atack , crimes against humanity went unoticed. both the attacked and the attackers wore articals of clothing produced on the backs of slave worker forces. both either broke the law or baltently refused to protect future victims .infectious waste in the form of blood was left who knows where.and the number one crime against humanity that took place that fatefull evening inches from the attack? the bikes used had no lights or reflectors putting everyone driving about at risk.oh. and lwolfs beard is a crime too.

[Trailbender]

OK Rambo, LOL let's just keep these idiots in jail.

Not Rambo at all. The only rational response to lethal force is to defend yourself using lethal force. If anyone attacks with a knife, bat, gun, superior numbers, ect, I would expect the response to be the appropriate level of force.

A group of people attacking, even unarmed, is dangerous.

[Doc Mike]

I'm not a lawyer but it seems this would fall under the federal hate crimes act. Since it was based on the lifestyle of the victims (they were hikers) and the stated goal of the accused was to attack a hiker. Can get serious time with this and the good thing about federal prison is no early outs.

[Luddite]

within inches of the atack , crimes against humanity went unoticed. both the attacked and the attackers wore articals of clothing produced on the backs of slave worker forces. both either broke the law or baltently refused to protect future victims .infectious waste in the form of blood was left who knows where.and the number one crime against humanity that took place that fatefull evening inches from the attack? the bikes used had no lights or reflectors putting everyone driving about at risk.oh. and lwolfs beard is a crime too.

Good point...:-?

[SassyWindsor]

definitely a "HIKE CRIME"

[vamelungeon]

This is one of the reasons I'm always armed. BTW most of the people in SWVA aren't like the animals that did this. I hope they get what's coming to them.

[rickb]

Thanks for posting. Is this the same incident that law enforcement was looking for info on here http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=64295?

Kudos on your local law enforcement for following up on this.

Please keep us up to date on this and the sexual assault trial as well.

[CaseyB]

Hate crime. No kidding, they should push this as a hate crime. These idiots need to go away.

Hate crimes (also known as bias-motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_group), usually defined by racial group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_%28classification_of_human_beings%29), religion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion), sexual orientation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation), disability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability), class (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_class), ethnicity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicity), nationality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationality), age (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageing), gender (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender), gender identity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_identity), or political affiliation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_affiliation).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_crime#cite_note-williams-0)

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks for posting. Is this the same incident that law enforcement was looking for info on here http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=64295?

Kudos on your local law enforcement for following up on this.

Please keep us up to date on this and the sexual assault trial as well.

yeah, same incident. our chief and the officers he serves with are the finest this town has had in a very long time. i will keep y'all informed. like i said, i'm going to court to see how this pans out.

[Gramps]

I say bury 'em on the Creeper with just their heads sticking out and let all them kiddies run over them a couple of hundred times.:banana

[IronGutsTommy]

hate to hear stories like this. if you dont pack a gun at least carry a knife. the beating Ponyboy Curtis was taking in "The Outsiders" seemed to stop pretty quickly after one of the guys got stabbed. Since it was a two on two they may have come out the winners even with simple fisticuffs, although the short time frame and surprise attack Im sure caught them off guard with little or no time to react. whenever I hike thats what I am sketchiest about, animals of the two legged variety. Lets hope they push for a hate crime and throw the book at them. They should charge the cameraman with all the smae charges as he was an accomplice before during and after the fact. when a murder occurs during a robbery even the getaway driver is charged with murder (or can be) as it happened during a crime they were a part of.

[TrailSquirrel]

http://www.swvatoday.com/news/article/county_men_charged_in_beating/8434/


Kudos to the police for putting the effort into putting the criminals behind bars

[SMSP]

Sounds like a modern day scene of "Deliverance".

Let's hope Justice prevails.

SMSP

[Hoop]

I called the police dept tonite to thank them - spoke to one of the guys who did the leg work, he was cool. Told him a lot of people appreciate what they did.

[TrailSquirrel]

Yeah they will get justice in jail for sure, getting raped in jail is def. in their future.

Fight crime with crime?

[Red Hat]

I hiked with Jamie and Zach and really enjoyed them. I heard in Damascus that they had gone home after an incident, but didn't realize they hadn't reported it. I have tried to get in tough with them via their TJ, but haven't had any success. They are such great guys and I'm glad that the police caught the bad guys.

[Lone Wolf]

I called the police dept tonite to thank them - spoke to one of the guys who did the leg work, he was cool. Told him a lot of people appreciate what they did.

Kermit Turner. LEO, former volunteer fireman and EMT. friend of hikers. this town is blessed to have him

[Wrangler88]

I just can't imagine how something like this is thought up.
The things going through some people's mind ...


I'm not going to start carrying a gun or anything because of this but it definitely will make me more aware of the people around me while I'm out hiking.




Wow ... hard to believe this happened.
I'm naive I guess.

[GracefulRoll]

This is one of the reasons I'm always armed. BTW most of the people in SWVA aren't like the animals that did this. I hope they get what's coming to them.

I would say that most people in general aren't like that. There are those bad apples, though.

[Trailweaver]

Many people hesitate to report a crime like this one. . . they figure "what's the point? - unlikely the police will catch the perps." It is important to report though, because it might not have been the first time this happened (although in this case, it maybe was), and if the police can establish a "pattern" to the crime, they are more likely to be able to catch the perps.

The police and the District Attorney's office are likely to be more sympathetic to the victims than you realize. It's their "job description" folks: listen to the victim, then help the victim come to terms with the crime, and hopefully put the defendants in prison. Plus, many people don't know that in most states now there is a Victim's Witness Assistance (or some similar name) office. It's usually run through the DA's office. The fines paid by the defendants (in this state, at least) go into that office, and victims are able to get money to pay for medical bills, replace property lost, pay for therapy, etc. I certainly hope the victims in this case are able to receive restitution for their medical bills, trip home, wrecked dream of hiking thru, etc.

So. . . if you have a problem in any state while on the trail, my advice is to trust the law enforcement in the area (they live there, they don't like crime any more than you do, and they're likely to know something about it), report the crime, and make yourself available when court time comes.

[lamarr]

Many people hesitate to report a crime like this one. . . they figure "what's the point? - unlikely the police will catch the perps." It is important to report though, because it might not have been the first time this happened (although in this case, it maybe was), and if the police can establish a "pattern" to the crime, they are more likely to be able to catch the perps.

The police and the District Attorney's office are likely to be more sympathetic to the victims than you realize. It's their "job description" folks: listen to the victim, then help the victim come to terms with the crime, and hopefully put the defendants in prison. Plus, many people don't know that in most states now there is a Victim's Witness Assistance (or some similar name) office. It's usually run through the DA's office. The fines paid by the defendants (in this state, at least) go into that office, and victims are able to get money to pay for medical bills, replace property lost, pay for therapy, etc. I certainly hope the victims in this case are able to receive restitution for their medical bills, trip home, wrecked dream of hiking thru, etc.

So. . . if you have a problem in any state while on the trail, my advice is to trust the law enforcement in the area (they live there, they don't like crime any more than you do, and they're likely to know something about it), report the crime, and make yourself available when court time comes.

At the risk of coming off as a real ass......
It's important to report the crime. If a male ego kept the brothers from doing so, they inadvertantly became part of the problem. It wouldn't have taken too much thought to realize that by not reporting this, they exposed another hiker to the same thing later on. Would you not try to eliminate any other safety hazard you came across? WE as a group got lucky with thanks to the LEO's.

[nitewalker]

those hoodlums were llucky they didnt run into the wrong person. if it were my hiking buddy and i they would have been in for a rude awakening. my buddy is a seasoned blackbelt and had they tried something it would have been amusing watching these young punks bleed. i can also hold my own.. im glad the punks were caught and hopefully there will be no next time for these d-bags. why do punks like this always seem to get 3,4,5 or even more strikes b4 something is done to control the rotten behavior.....50 lashes may help!!!

[yari]

I'm not going to start carrying a gun or anything because of this but it definitely will make me more aware of the people around me while I'm out hiking.

Wow ... hard to believe this happened.
I'm naive I guess.

Have to agree with you, I wouldn't go around armed no matter what. Now, having said that, if I am ever attacked the person doing the attacking better want to kill me. Because I am going to respond like my life is at risk.

I don't think you are naive, it is hard for people with compassion to think like someone without any.

[TOW]

yeah. he's the only one that can turn his life around at this point. the other 2 have some bad karma comin' their way
well i would say reedy and dean both have a chance......

[TOW]

Hate crime. No kidding, they should push this as a hate crime. These idiots need to go away.

Hate crimes (also known as bias-motivated crimes) occur when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her perceived membership in a certain social group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_group), usually defined by racial group (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_%28classification_of_human_beings%29), religion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion), sexual orientation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_orientation), disability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability), class (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_class), ethnicity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicity), nationality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationality), age (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageing), gender (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender), gender identity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_identity), or political affiliation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_affiliation).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_crime#cite_note-williams-0)
yes!!!!!!! i agree

[TOW]

Our Police Department is undoubtedly the best in the state of Virginia. And I am going to see if we can get them recognized as such!

[john gault]

This was a hate crime, but not sure how they would prosecute it since hikers are not a protected social group, but I don't know maybe they have an all encompassing group or some other string they can pull.

To me just the fact it seemed to be intensely premeditated combined with their history are enough to give them the max sentence. Don't know how that would compare to a max sentence under hate crime law.

[the goat]

Our Police Department is undoubtedly the best in the state of Virginia. And I am going to see if we can get them recognized as such!

let's not get too carried away, wasn't your police chief caught dealing meth not that long ago?

[BAG "o" TRICKS]

Sounds like the bashers need a good azzz kick'n

'OR'.., a little mountain justice! Hope they get it either way. A-holes

[Hobbler]

Thanks for the post Lone Wolf....All this happened in a “Hiker Friendly” town....Really ironic and of course a terrible mark on the Damascus local population.


This town is renowned for it's hospitality to all who thru on the A/T. Local economy is given a boost each and every year from Trail Days and other recreational use throughout the year of facilities nearby. There needs to be some sort of outlet to “educate” those few ignorant locals on matters of benevolence. Unfortunately, the ingraining of bad behavior and intolerance starts young among some of the country families and continues through the generations. The cycle needs to be broken somehow. This kind of behavior is intolerable. If it could happen there it could happen at any trail town along the A/T. You can bet that if any of the three accused needed help with any situation or needed anything while they were in the woods, that the hiker population would be the first to lend a hand without regard to looking at anyone's stature or upbringing.


What are the real reasons that they do these things?...Do they feel threatened by the hiker having the real guts and determination to challenge and test themselves by taking on such a long adventure? You can be relatively sure that any stay in the woods they might spend is first short, second, having all the comforts of home at hand, and third never out of sight of the beer cooler. They must be highly envious and jealous of people who are self-reliant and complete. After-all something must be lacking in their own lives. The attack was the ignorant result of multiple people sharing a single miss-guided idea. It is like a feeding frenzy for the local gangs, preying on the easy, and available game that hikers afford to these hunters. What did they hope to gain from it all? I agree with others that this is a hate crime!


What would have been the case if the hikers did report it to the authorities promptly. Interest in safety and a chance to educate the public on how important hikers are to Damascus could have been revisited at “Trail Days” just days down the road.....Instead, it was a lost opportunity. It could have been a benefit for other hikers and others in getting these perps off the street. Who knows what other crimes they may have committed in the time they went free before arrest. Please report all trail crimes, always!


My suggestion: Maybe the local powers that be could do something like a seminar on trail safety and acceptance of others, and of course encourage the Damascus population to get more positively involved....Maybe with your influence Lone Wolf and the respect of the town, you might help move the focus in the direction of pro-activity.


Great work by the Damascus LEOs in following up on, and making the case for prosecution. I will be following the results closely.


I am a forgiving person but, in this case the crime was a senseless and very disturbing act with deep concern to anyone who hears about it and worries about their own safety on the trail. I really feel for the unlucky hikers who while enjoying the trail met this terrible fate at the hands of these fools. They should get all that is coming to them, and send the message to others who are so inclined to do harm. Hikers will feel more confident, and Damascus will be a better and safer place for it!

[Lone Wolf]

well i would say reedy and dean both have a chance......

nope. dean has a long rap sheet. violence and drugs. frig him

[Doc Mike]

Lone Wolf or TOW please post the update to this so those of us without the local paper can keep up to date. It sounds like the prosecuter is on the ball in this case but sometimes a petition from voters helps encourage local politicians to pursue the maximum sentence.

Doc Mike

[Gray Blazer]

This was a hate crime,


Aren't all crimes hate crimes? I never heard of someone committing a crime against someone because they loved them.

[Spokes]

I too applaud the local police in this case. Wish Washington County, VA had an online arrestee mugshot database to get a look at the punks.

[Trailbender]

Aren't all crimes hate crimes? I never heard of someone committing a crime against someone because they loved them.

Yeah, extra punishment because the person was a minority or something is pretty stupid, honestly.

[jesse]

Yeah, extra punishment because the person was a minority or something is pretty stupid, honestly.

Its not stupid, its political.

[Lugnut]

Its not stupid, its political.

Same thing.

[SassyWindsor]

Maybe these punks could be the start of a public service "chain gang" of sorts to maintain trail-heads, hostels etc. At least, have them pick up after the annual trail days event, all under armed guard and with real chains of course.

[john gault]

Yes Hate Crimes has gotten political, but it didn't start out that way -- just another example of how politicians can screw up anything.

At one time there was a reason for prosecuting hate crimes, basically to prevent further retaliation to the violent act. Example: buring a stick in someone's yard is not going to get someone much of a legal burden. However, buring a cross in someone's yard (especially if that someone is black) will bring much legal problems on the perpetrator. And for good reason, because acts like this can snowball into much larger problems for society. Such as retaliation violence, riots, etc...

But somewhere along the line hate crimes went from the judicial world to the political and now the term Hate Crime gets a lot of :rolleyes: and many times for good reason. But there is a place for hate crime legislation, it keeps the simpletons under control.

I don't believe this crime should be prosecuted as a hate crime, simply because it's an isolated incident. Hikers should not be a protected social group.

[RGB]

I can't believe it. Damascus has been so friendly the few times I've been there. Guessing these guys decided to take a break from drinking PBR in the three years after they dropped out of high school to make absolutely nothing out of their lives to be even more complete pieces of ****. Well, at least they're miserable. That's the motivation. Hikers, in general, are happy and fulfilled. These people were just jealous of it because they live sad, boring, and meaningless lives. So the next logical step was to knock someone down to their level so they could feel better about themselves. May they rot as long as the law allows.

[RGB]

Totally agree with the lone comment on the article's site. It isn't really a stereotype if it is constantly proven true. Sheesh... Reminds me when those punks beat up Nick in "The Stand."

[rickb]

I can't believe it. Damascus has been so friendly the few times I've been there.

That can be said for anytown until something happens. Like the rape of the 19 year old thru hiker in Troutdale (Troutville?) hitching into town a couple years back. To say nothing of the sexual assault at Trail Days earlier this year.

People need to wake up to the fact that the Trail is not immune from all kinds of ugliness.

My most profound respect and gratitude goes out to the victims who are now standing up and being heard in court. I know that is not easy. What they are doing is heroic.

To Tow and Wolf: Perhaps you guys might be able to put together a piece on this latest crime, and the good work that Damascus law enforcement needed to do to bring the accused to court, and submit for publication in the Appalachian Trail Way News or such.

[Rain Man]

Yeah, extra punishment because the person was a minority or something is pretty stupid, honestly.

You don't believe in extra punishment because the person is ... something?

What if the victim is a ... policeman? Fireman? A defenseless child?

Too bad? The perp gets the same punishment no matter the victim?

Rain Man

.

[vamelungeon]

let's not get too carried away, wasn't your police chief caught dealing meth not that long ago?
Not the current police chief or officers.

[sheepdog]

You don't believe in extra punishment because the person is ... something?

What if the victim is a ... policeman? Fireman? A defenseless child?

Too bad? The perp gets the same punishment no matter the victim?

Rain Man

.
less punishment if its a lawyer???;)

[mweinstone]

lwolf and me kissed once. on the lips.not gay but like a straight guy kiss. cause i love him that much. lol.

[Tinker]

lwolf and me kissed once. on the lips.not gay but like a straight guy kiss. cause i love him that much. lol.

Lone Wolf and I, Matty (correct use of subject matter). Use "and me" when it's the direct object...........:)
and exactly what is a "straight guy kiss?" :confused:

Thanks again for the laugh. You are one funny dude.:D

[Lone Wolf]

lwolf and me kissed once. on the lips.not gay but like a straight guy kiss. cause i love him that much. lol.

you're a freak- azz whacka dillia

[Skidsteer]

less punishment if its a lawyer???;)

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/Smileys/smiley-laughing021.gif http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/Smileys/smiley-laughing021.gif http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/Smileys/smiley-laughing021.gif

[TOW]

let's not get too carried away, wasn't your police chief caught dealing meth not that long ago?
not this police chief, besides time changes things....

[TOW]

Thanks for the post Lone Wolf....All this happened in a “Hiker Friendly” town....Really ironic and of course a terrible mark on the Damascus local population.


This town is renowned for it's hospitality to all who thru on the A/T. Local economy is given a boost each and every year from Trail Days and other recreational use throughout the year of facilities nearby. There needs to be some sort of outlet to “educate” those few ignorant locals on matters of benevolence. Unfortunately, the ingraining of bad behavior and intolerance starts young among some of the country families and continues through the generations. The cycle needs to be broken somehow. This kind of behavior is intolerable. If it could happen there it could happen at any trail town along the A/T. You can bet that if any of the three accused needed help with any situation or needed anything while they were in the woods, that the hiker population would be the first to lend a hand without regard to looking at anyone's stature or upbringing.


What are the real reasons that they do these things?...Do they feel threatened by the hiker having the real guts and determination to challenge and test themselves by taking on such a long adventure? You can be relatively sure that any stay in the woods they might spend is first short, second, having all the comforts of home at hand, and third never out of sight of the beer cooler. They must be highly envious and jealous of people who are self-reliant and complete. After-all something must be lacking in their own lives. The attack was the ignorant result of multiple people sharing a single miss-guided idea. It is like a feeding frenzy for the local gangs, preying on the easy, and available game that hikers afford to these hunters. What did they hope to gain from it all? I agree with others that this is a hate crime!


What would have been the case if the hikers did report it to the authorities promptly. Interest in safety and a chance to educate the public on how important hikers are to Damascus could have been revisited at “Trail Days” just days down the road.....Instead, it was a lost opportunity. It could have been a benefit for other hikers and others in getting these perps off the street. Who knows what other crimes they may have committed in the time they went free before arrest. Please report all trail crimes, always!


My suggestion: Maybe the local powers that be could do something like a seminar on trail safety and acceptance of others, and of course encourage the Damascus population to get more positively involved....Maybe with your influence Lone Wolf and the respect of the town, you might help move the focus in the direction of pro-activity.


Great work by the Damascus LEOs in following up on, and making the case for prosecution. I will be following the results closely.


I am a forgiving person but, in this case the crime was a senseless and very disturbing act with deep concern to anyone who hears about it and worries about their own safety on the trail. I really feel for the unlucky hikers who while enjoying the trail met this terrible fate at the hands of these fools. They should get all that is coming to them, and send the message to others who are so inclined to do harm. Hikers will feel more confident, and Damascus will be a better and safer place for it!what an annalist..........

i'll tell you exactly what this is about other than them boys being stoned out of their minds at the time, to them it was nothing but fun. and that is how some folk think naturally..........

i will agree with you on one aspect, upbringing.........two i know of had it pretty darn rough.......

[TOW]

Lone Wolf or TOW please post the update to this so those of us without the local paper can keep up to date. It sounds like the prosecuter is on the ball in this case but sometimes a petition from voters helps encourage local politicians to pursue the maximum sentence.

Doc Mike
it's not the prosecutor on the ball, it's the chief..........

[TOW]

I can't believe it. Damascus has been so friendly the few times I've been there. Guessing these guys decided to take a break from drinking PBR in the three years after they dropped out of high school to make absolutely nothing out of their lives to be even more complete pieces of ****. Well, at least they're miserable. That's the motivation. Hikers, in general, are happy and fulfilled. These people were just jealous of it because they live sad, boring, and meaningless lives. So the next logical step was to knock someone down to their level so they could feel better about themselves. May they rot as long as the law allows.
these three were the local dope dealers for a while and the one that was dealing the most of it lived right next to me......

[TOW]

That can be said for anytown until something happens. Like the rape of the 19 year old thru hiker in Troutdale (Troutville?) hitching into town a couple years back. To say nothing of the sexual assault at Trail Days earlier this year.

People need to wake up to the fact that the Trail is not immune from all kinds of ugliness.
i agree with ya, this is anytown america. but we do have a police force willing to put a stop to a bunch of unnecessary bull and to send a message that it is willing to do so.....

[TOW]

lwolf and me kissed once. on the lips.not gay but like a straight guy kiss. cause i love him that much. lol.


you're a freak- azz whacka dillia
i knew it!

[yari]

"What are the real reasons that they do these things?...Do they feel threatened by the hiker having the real guts and determination to challenge and test themselves by taking on such a long adventure?"

I seriously doubt they cared that the victims were hikers, per se. Criminals generally aren't insightful enough to think things thru like that, they are opportunists. My guess is that the attraction of attacking a hiker was they knew they could find someone that was vulnerable due to the isolation of the trail and the burden of carrying a pack.

As far as all crimes being hate crimes, domestic violence crimes are often perpetrated because the attacker "loves" the victim.

[Trailbender]

You don't believe in extra punishment because the person is ... something?

What if the victim is a ... policeman? Fireman? A defenseless child?

Too bad? The perp gets the same punishment no matter the victim?

Rain Man

.

Murder is murder, it is not worse or "better" depending on who it happens to. Same with any other crime.

[Lyle]

Murder is murder, it is not worse or "better" depending on who it happens to. Same with any other crime.


Unless of course it was a sports figure. They are Gods after all, so of course it is much more of a tragedy when one of them die. Murder or not.

[john gault]

Murder is murder, it is not worse or "better" depending on who it happens to. Same with any other crime.
There are different degrees of murder, but that's a separate issue from the point of hate crime prosecution as originally intended.

I don't want to get in a debate about this, but suffice it to say, to understand hate crime legislation or any other reason for certain punishments the legal system determines appropriate you must separate yourself from your emotions. Emotions cloud judgement.

There is a very good reason why some crimes incur more punishment than others despite them seeming very similar on the surface.

[TrailSquirrel]

There are different degrees of murder, but that's a separate issue from the point of hate crime prosecution as originally intended.

I don't want to get in a debate about this, but suffice it to say, to understand hate crime legislation or any other reason for certain punishments the legal system determines appropriate you must separate yourself from your emotions. Emotions cloud judgement.

There is a very good reason why some crimes incur more punishment than others despite them seeming very similar on the surface.

well put....

[SawnieRobertson]

I called the police dept tonite to thank them - spoke to one of the guys who did the leg work, he was cool. Told him a lot of people appreciate what they did.

Thank you for doing that. The Damascus PD has had a lot of bad (and not undeserved) publicity in recent years. The actions of these officers really clears the bill. I'm willing to once again place my trust in that department.

Thanks also to Lone Wolf for bringing this to our attention. (Three big cheers for LW!!!!)

I'm planning a little trip to Abingdon to witness justice in action if it works out. Are these guys in jail now or are they out on bail?--Kinnickinic

[SawnieRobertson]

I hiked with Jamie and Zach and really enjoyed them. I heard in Damascus that they had gone home after an incident, but didn't realize they hadn't reported it. I have tried to get in tough with them via their TJ, but haven't had any success. They are such great guys and I'm glad that the police caught the bad guys.

Well, hopefully they will return to Washington County to testify. And, hopefully, you Texas Woman, will make a trip over to be present. Can you imagine anything that would make them feel supported than a large presence of hikers, especially one they know?--Kinnickinic

[mad4scrapping]

less punishment if its a lawyer???;)

Hey, I resemble that remark!!

[Mizirlou]

Salute to Chief Nunley and the troops.

LEOaffairs missing Damascus PD. For interested law enforcement agencies:
http://forums.leoaffairs.com/index.php?sid=4de069c6b763ac8c5e25e6c071b8dbc9

[Erin]

Here is hoping a defense lawyer does not drag it out two years until these guys, the victims, don't want to come back and or care anymore about being victims and pursuing the case. Um, dismissed.
Nice police work though and follow-up.

[TOW]

Here is hoping a defense lawyer does not drag it out two years until these guys, the victims, don't want to come back and or care anymore about being victims and pursuing the case. Um, dismissed.
Nice police work though and follow-up.Hopefully it will not take two years for the law to catch Ray Ray either, if the boy would quit being afraid and just turn himself in then maybe he would grow a real back bone....

[Dirt_leg]

Here's the sad part, this will in all likely hood never go to trial. The lawyers public apointment no doubt, will string this thing out for a year or two. Some evidence will get lost, witness will not show up. And presto, case is dismissed. Thata the sad part of the justice system. I've been waiting on a piece of trash in my community to go in front of the man for saling dope. He was arrested over 2years ago and still has not gone to trial!!!

[Lone Wolf]

just back from court. the case is continued to Dec. 22nd in order for the victims to be present. the chief will work on getting them here. the commonwealth will reimburse for all expenses

[Cookerhiker]

Wolf, thanks for keeping us informed.

[sevensixtwo187]

Exactly. I would have shot all 3 of them dead, several people beating on you, even unarmed, is lethal force.

Amen to that. I too would have popped all three and saved everybody a great deal of trouble and money. That is what a .45 is for ...

[sevensixtwo187]

Kudos to the Damascus Police Department for pursuing this after they discovered the video.

Yes indeed! They are to be applauded for their efforts!

[nitewalker]

may Buford T Pusser lay justice on these boys!!! THE LAW IS THE LAW!!!

[HiKen2011]

sonsab$%#&@#

[tuswm]

I like the idea that the victims will be reimbursed for travel expenses.

[mweinstone]

what if a solar flaire caused planetwide justice? would lwolf be sheriff and would he wear a sombraro?

[darkage]

what if a solar flaire caused planetwide justice? would lwolf be sheriff and would he wear a sombraro?

yes, and absolutely ...

[SawnieRobertson]

LoneWolf, would you please post the time and the court where the trial will take place at Abingdon on December 22? Thanks.-- Kinnickinic

PS: I'll bring homebaked chocolate chip bars.

[Lone Wolf]

LoneWolf, would you please post the time and the court where the trial will take place at Abingdon on December 22? Thanks.-- Kinnickinic

PS: I'll bring homebaked chocolate chip bars.

9:00 AM General District Court.

[Stir Fry]

Any updat on this case?

[Red Hat]

It was cancelled when the brothers didn't want to come and testify... they just want to forget that it happened

[gypsy]

http://www.topix.com/city/damascus-va/2011/01/prosecutor-declines-to-pursue-charges-in-damascus-hiker-beat

[gypsy]

http://www.topix.com/city/damascus-va/2011/01/prosecutor-declines-to-pursue-charges-in-damascus-hiker-beat
http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/jan/26/4/breaking-news-prosecutor-declines-pursue-charges-d-ar-800960/