Speculation: Assault negotiations taking place.

CyRocket · 12-07-2007, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Since when is a lawyer playing hard ball the fault of a program/team?

I'm in no way defending Pierce. I hated the fact that he was back on the team in the first place, and really lost respect for Alford after that. But lets be honest here, regardless of where these cases take place, if a person has any sort of fame to them, their lawyers are going to use that to their advantage.

It's gross, but that's how the game is played I guess.

SouthernHawk you ignored the obvious. Someone within the program or university paid for his lawyer so by extension their conduct, as employees, is the business of those who paid them. They will not "play hardball" unless you want them to.

PolkCityClone · 12-07-2007, 02:09 PM

Maybe EIU needs an intro to money management, dating, and grammar class during orientation for all recruits. That way athletes would learn they don't have to steal, assault women and would understand that no really means no.

cys_av8r · 12-07-2007, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by PolkCityClone

Maybe EIU needs an intro to money management, dating, and grammar class during orientation for all recruits. That way athletes would learn they don't have to steal, assault women and would understand that no really means no.

But then they would have to go to class.

DaddyMac · 12-07-2007, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by letsgostate

This is pure speculation, but with a background in these types of issues, that frantic negotiations are taking place on the alleged sexual assault charges involving Iowa football players. The victim has the right not to press charges and a settlement can be reached involving dollars. IF this quietly goes away, it could be an even bigger potential mess for the University of Iowa. Who will pay? Who has the money? There are plenty of lawyers to go around in Iowa City to handle this, but I believe this story will not just go away.

I think this is slightly inaccurate. The ultimate decision of prosecution in criminal trials comes down to the DA. They alone decide. In civil trials, it's obviously the decision of the victim.

However, if the victim doesn't want to "press charges", they DA isn't likely to get very far.

But I don't believe it's the call of the victim - or a "right". If the DA believes they still have a case, they can proceed even against the wishes of a victim.

Lawyers?

SouthernHawk · 12-07-2007, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by CyRocket

SouthernHawk you ignored the obvious. Someone within the program or university paid for his lawyer so by extension their conduct, as employees, is the business of those who paid them. They will not "play hardball" unless you want them to.

I'm not sure of the policies in the athletic department, of the university, or whatever. If somebody in the university payed for Pierce's lawyers, then you'd also think that it would be a violation of NCAA rules. So I'm not sure about that - not that I don't believe you, it's just I find a hard time understanding how the university would fund expensive lawyers for athlete like that.

Even if this is the case, like I said 3 times, I don't agree with how the Pierce situation was handled. I don't like the fact that he got off, and I think it's a shame that victims can be intimidated the way they are.

It's a slippery slope - on the one hand sometimes people falsly accuse, and get people in trouble - so hardball in that case is needed. However, 99% of the time something did actually happen, and victim intimidation is terrible. I don't have the answers, obviously nobody really does. But this issue is completely different than a "university coverup".

Wesley · 12-07-2007, 02:18 PM

innuendo : Kirk has broken out from his kitty of $3M US dollars enough chunk change toi settle the issue to everyone's satisfaction. As a gesture of good will to the ladies, the players are suspended right up to the next football game and they will receive four season tickets.

Me State · 12-07-2007, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by bellzisu

Southern... The reason why we are sick of this and jumping to conclusion is because they ALWAYS get a slap on the wrist. How bad of a sentence did DD get? Oh... a slap on the wrist.

If you or me got arrested for the same thing you can guarentee we are sitting in jail.

There are times where they are innnocent but we are sick of these stupid defered judgements and all the trouble you hear coming from the east.

What happens if they are guilty and only get a slap on the wrist? What justice is that?

Biggest joke of the day. Eddie Griffin ex football player from IL said this morning on Cotler that kids want to play for Ferentz because he's a good honest person that runs a clean program that never has problems. Seriously??? Your part of the Big 10 network and you don't know whats going on. What a joke.

I will disagree with most of what is in bold. It is VERY common for people to get a mere slap on the wrist for a lot of crimes. For most people the only time they spend in jail is the time after the first get arrested until they bail out. Go to court and accept a plea deal and not see another minute in jail(for that offense).
Deferred judgments are also a good thing in most cases. People make mistakes. If you get a deferred judgment you still pay fines, take classes, meet with a probation officer and must stay out of trouble for a set amount of time. Many people have learned and corrected their behavior and stayed out of trouble after getting a deferred judgment. Once you screw up after getting a deferred judgment I feel you should get the harshest sentence.

bellzisu · 12-07-2007, 03:58 PM

[quote=SouthernHawk;275064]I'm not sure of the policies in the athletic department, of the university, or whatever. If somebody in the university payed for Pierce's lawyers, then you'd also think that it would be a violation of NCAA rules. So I'm not sure about that - not that I don't believe you, it's just I find a hard time understanding how the university would fund expensive lawyers for athlete like that.
quote]

Ok... How does that work then? Pierce didn't have a job, he doesn't have an education. How could he pay for something like this? Especially the top lawyers in the state.

Originally Posted by Me State

I will disagree with most of what is in bold. It is VERY common for people to get a mere slap on the wrist for a lot of crimes. For most people the only time they spend in jail is the time after the first get arrested until they bail out. Go to court and accept a plea deal and not see another minute in jail(for that offense).
Deferred judgments are also a good thing in most cases. People make mistakes. If you get a deferred judgment you still pay fines, take classes, meet with a probation officer and must stay out of trouble for a set amount of time. Many people have learned and corrected their behavior and stayed out of trouble after getting a deferred judgment. Once you screw up after getting a deferred judgment I feel you should get the harshest sentence.

Ok... It is common for the slap on the wrist. But some of these charges are extremely serious. Ok... now DD got a slap on the wrist for credit card fraud, which remember thats using a credit card without owners consent. More or less stealing. So now will he get a slap on the wrist for stealing videos from Wal Mart? Will he be back on the team? Seriously, they do get off easier then you or me.

Pierce got off easy on both sentences. Anyone else would be in jail longer. Wait that is because he gets lawyers that I couldn't even afford to dream about if I get in trouble.

SouthernHawk · 12-07-2007, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by bellzisu

Ok... How does that work then? Pierce didn't have a job, he doesn't have an education. How could he pay for something like this? Especially the top lawyers in the state.

Like I've said, I don't know how it works. But, it sounds like Pierce's parents pulled some strings, and payed for Parrish, who (and I remember reading this in the DMR when all of this was going down) worked the case for a minimal fee, since it was a high profile case and he was getting tons of publicity.

Here is a quote from the Daily Iowan:

And if the patriarch's $15,000 investment into Pierce's most recent case - in which prominent Des Moines attorney Alfredo Parrish came to the rescue once again - is indicative of his commitment to second-born son, then Kevin Pierce's use of a public defender is equally as telling.

Daily Iowan

So, while it all sounds fishy, I think people are looking way too much into Pierce's lawyer. If you're interested in knowing more details, I suggest googling "Pierre Pierce + Alfredo Parrish" - and that'll give you tons of results. But with Parrish being a public defender (as stated in that article), and Pierce's father paying for the legal bills, it hardly sounds like the university "palyed hard ball and swept the Pierce case under the rug."

Me State · 12-07-2007, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by bellzisu

Ok... It is common for the slap on the wrist. But some of these charges are extremely serious. Ok... now DD got a slap on the wrist for credit card fraud, which remember thats using a credit card without owners consent. More or less stealing. So now will he get a slap on the wrist for stealing videos from Wal Mart? Will he be back on the team? Seriously, they do get off easier then you or me.

Pierce got off easy on both sentences. Anyone else would be in jail longer. Wait that is because he gets lawyers that I couldn't even afford to dream about if I get in trouble.

Theft and credit card fraud often get slaps on the wrist if any punishment at all.
Sadly, sexual assaults often end up in the victim not cooperating or there not being enough evidence for a jury to convict and those suspects also walk free. A lot of sexual assault claims are also false though(based solely on my experience...which is work related not that I have been accused).

And the Pierce case was a high profile case. I can guarantee you that some lawyers were frothing at the mouth to get on the case.

Some players get in trouble and should be allowed to remain on the team. When a player shows he can act violent or will continue to be a poor representative of the university he should be kicked to the curb no matter how good of a player he may be.

ketelmeister · 12-07-2007, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

I think this is slightly inaccurate. The ultimate decision of prosecution in criminal trials comes down to the DA. They alone decide. In civil trials, it's obviously the decision of the victim.

However, if the victim doesn't want to "press charges", they DA isn't likely to get very far.

But I don't believe it's the call of the victim - or a "right". If the DA believes they still have a case, they can proceed even against the wishes of a victim.

Lawyers?

That is not correct. It is up to the victim in Iowa. They decide to go forward or not. I am very sure about that.

CyCloned · 12-07-2007, 08:29 PM

More or less stealing. So now will he get a slap on the wrist for stealing videos from Wal Mart? Will he be back on the team? Seriously, they do get off easier then you or me.

This Walmart thing will disappear, somehow, count on it. This is what has always pissed me off about the Berryman thing. They really nailed his butt to the wall for the $4 and cell phone thing because of the previous incident. That was for breaking the window out of his girlfriends car. 90% of the time this is something that won't even get to the police. Berryman was out late,drunk and did something stupid one night. The Iowa guys took a credit card and purposely and repeattedly used it.

herbiedoobie · 12-08-2007, 01:37 AM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Since when is a lawyer playing hard ball the fault of a program/team?

I'm in no way defending Pierce. I hated the fact that he was back on the team in the first place, and really lost respect for Alford after that. But lets be honest here, regardless of where these cases take place, if a person has any sort of fame to them, their lawyers are going to use that to their advantage.

It's gross, but that's how the game is played I guess.

The University, as I understand it, took certain actions that were intimidating toward the victim. I believe they also expended some of the defense funds. Alford's infamous statement was designed to color, and intimidate the witness, as well.

That's what I had a problem with, in the PP case.