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VFP colleague Mike Ferner from Toledo, Ohio faces huge fines for writing "TROOPS OUT NOW" on local freeway overpasses.
Mike writes:
Friends,
Yesterday, my brother, John, a 20-year veteran of the Columbus, Ohio fire dept., was sentenced in Sylvania municipal court for his part in the spray painting crime spree of Jan. 1, in Toledo. His part, be it noted, was driving the vehicle while I got out and painted the overpass.
Since we were both charged with felony counts, and since he's a public employee in Ohio and the legislature has provided that he lose his job AND his pension if convicted of a felony, he pled no contest to reduced charges (misdemeanors) and went before judge Ramey yesterday.
Notwithstanding that he has a perfectly clean record and presented numerous laudatory letters from community leaders in Columbus, Ramey still sentenced him to:
75 days in jail, suspended, with 5 years probation.
70 hours of community service, to be served only at Sylvania's city-owned ice rink (a three-hour drive from John's home in Columbus).
AND, Ramey reviewed the Ohio dept. of transportation's obviously corrupt "bill" for rolling a bit of paint over the graffiti — $4000 and change!! — And ordered "restitution" of that full amount.
All of which makes me glad I refused to plead to misdemeanor counts and will be going to a jury trial on the felonies, July 18 in Lucas county common pleas court, before judge Wittenberg. My attorney and I will try to put the war on trial as best we can, but how much of that is allowed is up to the judge, who may well limit us to defending the criminal vandalism and possession of criminal tools charges.
It is indeed a great land. Stay tuned. In the meantime, be well. And raise hell!
Mike
You can show support for his attempt to educate the public by making financial contributions to: VFP Chapter #127, and mail to: 1498 Fremont Ave., St. Paul, MN 55106. Make note in the Memo corner: "Ferner Ed Fund"
He has been invited to the national convention in Seattle to explain and promote the impeachment effort. You can make it happen.