Trial By Television in Phoenix, The Jodi Arias Three Ring Judicial Circus.

Phoenix, AZ—Maricopa County Judge Sherry Stephens is presiding over a broadcast and Social Media lynching of the hapless accused guest of honor, murder suspect and defendant, young, Jodi Arias.  Arias is facing the death penalty in connection with the stabbing and shooting death of her former lover.

Kinky and lurid sex tales have sensationalized the case with the ever-present help of a gaggle of celebrity court pundits.  The Court’s Public Information Officer Karen Arra is doing her best to make sure the media wont miss a second of every salacious aspect of this sad case.  She can be seen everyday outside in the street socializing with the media stars set up in satellite trucks and the improvised field TV sets.

Of course there’s the highly graphic and detailed Mormon anal sex angle of this csse where religion and sex converge on each other like speeding freight trains in the night.  Visions of little boy’s Spiderman underwear dance in the heads of the jurors and spectators along with those watching at home on their iPads, iPhones and every conceivable new technology device. 

Then there is that prosecutor, Juan Martinez who’s become a lynch mob’s favorite Rock Star.  Apparently Martinez loves mugging for pictures and signing autographs for the bloodthirsty and sex crazed spectators during court breaks.

Judge Stephens lost control of her courtroom in the very beginning and of course any likelihood of a fair trial has passed long ago. 

The evidence seems to be quite damning but I just can’t imagine this as a death penalty case.  There’s no question that Arias has redundantly and desperately lied to authorities while giving various conflicting accounts of this death.  There is however no eyewitnesses and we along the jury must guess what really happened.

The state apparently refused to offer Arias less than death in exchange for a guilty plea leaving her no choice but to face this poor excuse for a trial. 

I don’t mind cameras in the court because the public should see what goes on in our government. However the time to post, broadcast or publish the video should be only after a verdict is rendered.

As for jurors and their admonition not to read, watch or listen to media reports about the trial?  That’s nothing less than a cruel joke.  My own research suggests that no less than 95% of jurors violate those rules.

I remember as a youngster the infamous 1954 Show Trial of Dr. Sam Sheppard in Cleveland, Ohio. This story became the basis of that wildly popular TV show of the 1960’s, The Fugitive, starring the late David Jansen. 

It took many years but Sheppard was freed after a re-trial but as a totally shattered and only a shell of the popular young physician he once was.  He became a third rate professional wrestler because he was unable to reintegrate to the medical community.  He died as a battered and broken man at the age of 46.

One important note about the Sheppard Media Lynching, is that back then they did not have the technology to broadcast live from courtrooms.  They relied on after the fact TV, radio and print reports.   I also think that details like the Mormon inspired anal sex information was off limits back then to broadcaster’s reports.

 Declaring a mistrial in the Arias case is long overdue.  The retrial should be done sans the TV cameras and Rock Star prosecutor.  Rather than a re-trial perhaps an offer of less than lethal injection in exchange for a guilty plea can save taxpayer a huge bundle of cash.  Perhaps even dignity could return to our sacred hall of justice. 

There is Life After Police Work! This Retired Policewoman Rocks!

Lorraine Iwan

Los Angeles, CA—For those that don’t know I’m a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild.  I attended a SAG function a couple of years ago in Hollywood and met a hopeful young lady actress.  Her Name is Lorraine Iwan and she happens to be a retired New York city policewoman.

I don’t know how old Lorraine is but she seems way too young to be retired. She packed her bags and relocated in LA LA Land so she could bring a little reality to cop dramas but she can also sing!   

Hollywood is a tough place to compete and make a living as an entertainer.  Lorraine was out making the rounds trying to get noticed.  Her credits are slim right now but I think that’s all about to change! I really hope that Lorraine get’s a top Hollywood agent and can see her dream come true.  

She just posted this video and I’m sure you’ll agree with me that there is life after police work.  Rock on Lorraine!

How’s This For A Gun Control Scandal!

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .38 with Eagle Grips Secret Service grips in pink Kirtinite www.eaglegrips.com

Washington, DC—Guns are stolen or sometimes simply lost.  You can believe that loads of hot guns are in criminal hands waiting for an opportunity for deadly mayhem.

The ones reported stolen are listed by gun’s make, model and serial number are listed in the giant NCIC computer maintained by the FBI.  Additional information such as the police agency report number is also listed.  That’s so that a recovered guns can be used to prosecute the criminals in possession and so the gun could be returned to its owners.

Incredibly, by law the government has kept this information secret from the public, licensed gun dealers and firearm repair businesses.  Guns that are bought, sold or repaired are never compared with the list of hot guns.  It’s impossible to say how many criminals avoid detection, arrest and punishment because of this unforgivable and asinine government loophole.

Cops on the street occasionally run serial numbers of guns that are found in possession of suspected criminal and once in a while an arrest is made.

If the list were a public record law-abiding gun owners would never buy a gun without whipping out their trusty iPad and checking the number.  The dealers, repair centers and the public would be more than willing to call the cops and make sure the gun was returned to its rightful owner.  Along the way the criminals involved would be facing arrest and prosecution.  There’s no question that lives would be saved.  

Okay my blog visitors are pretty smart people and I have loads of cops that read my stories.  I want someone, anyone to offer up a good reason that the NCIC hot gun list should not be made public.  Somehow I don’t think that will happen.

Perhaps it’s time to ask the politicians for a real “common sense” gun law that would bring about the arrest of many armed criminals.  If you’re like me you know our politicians advocacy of gun control is nearly always disingenuous.   Making the hot gun list public is a true no brainer. 

The Gift of Friends

On a plane from Geneva or Amsterdam a few years ago I sat next to a man and we struck up a conversation.  We seemed to hit it off well and exchanged business cards and went on our way.

Later this man’s family became involved in multi-million dollar litigation.  I got a call from his attorney and this fellow I remembered from the plane.  They needed some serious investigation. 

Soon I was sent out of state to get the skinny on the adverse party and spent a week or more doing just that.  I searched far and wide for something resembling a smoking gun for use in the courtroom.   My client’s lawyer really put a tight leash on me somewhat obstructing my areas of inquiry.   In these kinds of things the lawyer is the boss. I held my nose and obeyed him.

I turned up a bunch of things but nothing seemingly particularly exciting.  I called in my information from the field and forwarded my report later.

I was disappointed that I found nothing seemingly spectacular.  I felt they did not get the bang for the buck.  Boy was I wrong!  The documents showed that the adverse party committed perjury and the winds of fortune changed dramatically for my client.

My new client was a rare one.  He’s sane, sober, hard working and shared many of my interests.  Now my client has become a great friend and that’s the real bonus for that job.  The gift of friends is a true blessing in life. 

My new friend found at least one more friend through my friends.  Friendship is contagious.  I must say I like how this turned out. 

Who is Arizona Milke, a Victim or Just Another Dysfunctional Drug Addicted Ex-Convict?

Phoenix, AZ—Mark Henry Milke has legally changed his name to Arizona Milke.  It’s understandable, he’s got a very troubled past.  He is an ex-convict and drug addict that happens to be the father of four-year old Christopher Milke.  James Styers and Roger Scott murdered Young Christopher Milke in December of 1989.

If Debra Milke is guilty of any wrongdoing it was by being smitten as a young adult by this smooth older con man.  Mark Milke had that bad boy image and young Debra was delusional that she could meet the challenge to somehow change and tame him. 

Mark Milke was a sometime carpet installer when he was not in jail, prison or simply idle because of alcoholism, mental illness or his drug addiction.  Milke has a long documented history of domestic violence with numerous women.  The Orders of Protection, mental commitments and criminal cases were once all available at the Maricopa County Court Clerks records.  Later the law was changed and his mental commitments were removed from public viewing.  I still have two old case numbers.

Early in their failed marriage Debra, soon learned that Mark was dangerous and a horrible excuse for a father.  He did not support his child and refused to stop his law breaking and substance abuse.  Mark threatened Debra and Christopher and that sent Debra Milke running to the courts for protection during their divorce.

Debra Milke had to seek safety from Mark and her sister knew a sometime church going James Styers who was a single father of a girl  Christopher’s age.  Styers was a Marine veteran living on a disability pension.  More importantly Styers had a two-bedroom apartment and offered to rent one to Debra and her son. 

Styers quickly tried to romance Debra but she understandably rebuffed the older man.  Soon Debra got a better paying job across town and rented her own two bedroom apartment in Tempe close to her job.  It was after Debra’s announcement to James that he and Roger Scott decided to kill Christopher.  Was this because Styers believed Debra would not move away while her son was missing?  Did Styers somehow think he‘d finally be in line for Debra’s affections under those circumstances?

Mark Milke took no part in Christopher’s murder but I think it’s clear that his mental illness, drug addiction and threatening violence placed little Christopher right into harm's way.  I’m convinced that had Mark Milke been any kind of a father Christopher would be alive today.  Mark Milke is not without serious guilt here.

When Christopher was murdered Mark Milke quickly became a self-promoter.  He immediately used his new status and fame to garner sympathy, sex and financial support from gullible women.  Some of the women later got Orders of Protection and later had to flee from Mark Milke too.

Mark Milke’s new pick-up line was, “My ex-wife murdered my son to get back at me!”  He’d carry around a little Teddy bear and his son’s ashes in a belt fanny pack.    Soon Mark Milke misplaced Christopher’s ashes and to this day does not know where they may be. 

Mark Milke bragged to me after the trial and sentencing of his ex-wife how he hid the family photo album from her lawyer and trial court.  He actually loaned it to me to photograph for a future Channel 10 television story.  In it there were hundreds of great color photographs of a very happy Debra and Christopher Milke.  A clean apartment, great kids clothes, toys and there was a wonderful story of motherly love revealed by those pictures.

Mark Milke has capitalized on his son’s murder in every way he could.  His conduct was beyond disgraceful and despicable.  Arizona Mark Milke has never missed an opportunity to smear his long-suffering ex-wife with the media.  Due perhaps to financial reasons the media no longer vets their sources.   So this troubled ex-con-husband is allowed to smear Debra Milke relentlessly and unchallenged.

In all of Mr. Milke’s efforts to smear his former wife claiming he “knows she is guilty” he never once mentions that he was unable to give police or prosecutors one scintilla of evidence of her involvement in the crime.  Arizona Milke never testified in any proceeding whatsoever in this case.  That alone should scuttle any credibility of his outrageous and self-serving claims.   

As for Debra Milke She has won a new trial for now and will have to continue the fight for her freedom.  However now the prosecution has been exposed for their outrageous obstruction of justice, promotion of detective Armando Saldate's perjury and the truth seems to be traveling in the direction of setting Debra Milke free.   

Appealing the Illinois Concealed Weapons Case to the U.S. Supreme Court…

Chicago, IL—The 7^th U.S. Court of Appeals struck down the blanket Illinois prohibition against law-abiding citizens carrying concealed weapons.   Illinois was the hold out state with no provision for the bearing of arms outside the home.

The question on the minds of Second Amendment legal beagles is about the benefits or drawbacks of an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.   Gun rights hating Chicago politicians stand to lose in a big way.  Additionally the possibility exists that a handful of states may also lose the arbitrary dictatorial control they used to victimize citizens for decades.

The real controversy here is the concept of may or shall issue concealed weapon permits.

The abuse of citizens gun rights in the may issue states is appalling and tyrannical.  California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington, DC issue permits only to the politically connected in most cases.  These systems are rife with massive corruption and racial discrimination. 

If Chicago’s politicians want to appeal their failed gun prohibition to the Supreme Court they will be bring the matter to the same court that decided Heller and McDonald.  That court will not be friendly to the continued obstruction of Second Amendment rights and can be expected to rule in a way that settles concealed carry as the logical extension of gun bearing rights. 

I doubt the Supreme Court would stay lower court rulings like the 7^th Circuit Court’s pending their own ruling.  The ramifications may well bring an end to the arbitrary concept of, may issue permits nationwide.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has apparently recognized that an appeal to the US Supreme Court many well backfire and has avoided filing an appeal.  Now Madigan is being nagged, harassed and aggravated by ignorant gun rights haters like Governor Pat Quinn to take the appeal forward to a demonstrated pro-gun rights Supreme Court.   They may force her to appeal but what could they possibly gain?

I say file the appeal and let the fun begin!