Reply With QuoteYou got to be kidding. Thats absurd, he win his appeal easily. Hope he sues the **** out that Jake guy and the district he was arrested in. Buddy is only half a word.
A Police officer sentenced to 5 years of jail because he defended himself.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sec...cal&id=5478651
and a discussion here:CPD officer sentenced to 5 years in Iowa
By Chuck Goudie
July 13, 2007 - A Chicago Police officer has been sentenced to five years in prison. He says he was defending himself against a drunken attacker while off-duty in Iowa. A judge in Dubuque, Iowa, says the police officer should have simply run away.
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Patrolman Mike Mette was convicted of felony assault. He has been removed from the Chicago Police Department and faces a stiff prison term in Iowa.
"I feel it's a complete miscarriage of justice," said Officer Michael Mette.
The case raises questions about fairness and just who was the victim.
This is not just a question of whether the punishment fits the crime. Chicago Police Officer Mike Mette says there was no crime. Nevertheless, a judge in Iowa this week sentenced Mette to five years behind bars for slugging a Dubuque college student, even though the judge admits Mette was being attacked at the time. No one is disputing the facts of the case of what happened that night, only the outcome is being questioned.
"My younger brother Marc was living in Dubuque, he went out there for his 25th birthday," said Michael Mette.
The party weekend took place October, 2005, near the University of Dubuque campus. Eleventh District Chicago Patrolman Mike Mette, his brother Marc and several friends went to a late night beer party in a nearby home thrown by a pair of university students, one of them 20-year-old Jake Gothard. According to authorities, Gothard was extremely drunk at the time.
"Yelling, makin' derogatory comments about us being six guys with no women with us," said Michael Mette.
Michael Mette says when he and his brother and their four friends tried to leave, Gothard became angry.
"He was just mad that we didn't want to stay and drink with him anymore," Michael Mette said.
Gothard and his roommate began chasing Mette and the five other men, claiming they had stolen his cell phone, until they all ended up on the front lawn of Marc Mette's house.
"Mr. Gothard approached me and told me he was going to beat the crap out of me, and he actually hit me with his two fists like this in the chest. Hit me three times. I pushed him away from me. Told him to leave. He comes back at me a fourth time and that's when, you know, when I hit him. I hit him in the left side of the face," said Michael Mette.
Moments later, when city police arrived on the scene, Gothard was still on the ground, having been cold cocked by Officer Mette's right hook. When Mette and the others described what happened, Dubuque Police arrested Mette, charging him with felony assault causing serious injury.
"Just because I am a police officer doesn't mean I'm supposed to take a beating," Michael Mette said.
"His conduct wasn't warranted," said Timothy Gallagher, assistant Dubuque County attorney.
The prosecutor who brought charges against Mette says it wasn't self-defense.
"Mr. Gothard received, as I recall, numerous cuts, abrasion bruises, head/brain bleeds," said Gallagher.
When the case went to a bench trial in December, Dubuque County Judge Monica Ackley found that Chicago Police Officer Mike Mette "was not the initial aggressor of this incident," Jake Gothard was. Nevertheless, Judge Ackley ruled that Mette was guilty, because even after Gothard struck him three times, Mette should have just ignored it and retreated.
"If I'm being attacked on my own property I should have the right to defend myself within reason," said Mette.
On Monday, Mette was sentenced to five years in prison.
"The court has no discretion in that matter. It's mandatory incarceration," said Gallagher.
Jake Gothard wasn't charged, although he has since been arrested for driving under the influence. He returned to compete in college golf tournaments and, apparently, to the party circuit, having displayed dozens of drinking photos on his Facebook page.
Jake Gothard, the official victim in the case, agreed to an interview Friday but then backed out on advice of his lawyer because he says they plan a civil suit against Officer Mette.
Former Officer Mette, who has been placed on unpaid status, is off the job as he appeals the conviction and sentence in Iowa.
http://www.snipercentral.com/forums/...ic.php?t=10495
You got to be kidding. Thats absurd, he win his appeal easily. Hope he sues the **** out that Jake guy and the district he was arrested in. Buddy is only half a word.
So the attacker continues on as normal and will sue his victim
While the victim has his life ruined and gets sued as wellJake Gothard wasn't charged, although he has since been arrested for driving under the influence. He returned to compete in college golf tournaments and, apparently, to the party circuit, having displayed dozens of drinking photos on his Facebook page.
I hope Gothard gets anal herpesFormer Officer Mette, who has been placed on unpaid status, is off the job as he appeals the conviction and sentence in Iowa.
Take away the fact this guy is a cop and would anybody give a crap?
A bloke went to a party, bunch of people are drunk, a fight starts and well one guy ends up in hospital. You know. Somebody is going to be charged and it's usually the person who kicked the persons ass weather he started it or not.
Besides that. Obviously the attending officers though this guy was in the wrong otherwise they wouldn't of charged him.
Fact is. Just because a guy is a cop doesn't make them all high and mighty, church attending, don't do no wrong people. They are just like all of us.
As we all know. Booze, lots young-med 20's it's a recipe for disaster.
But if you look at the facts for a minute. The cop was copping **** all night it seems he reckons he left peacefully. Yeah right bull****. His irked up over the piss taking at his expense.
I've been there seen it all before. That will teach him for throwing punches at a smart ass.
A horrific travesty of justice.
Shows a flaw with mandatory sentencing.....
Wow, there you go....this goes to show that not every state has the same laws in that state. Basically, as it was found, the officer DID retreat to not cause an incident only to be followed. What do you do then? What would you do if someone places there hands on you more than once......In My opinion, this cop had a S**ty lawyer.
Incidents like this are why we ended up with a stand your ground law in Florida.
Cop or not, he wouldn't even be charged down here. The aggressor who chased him outside probably would be though.
I'm in disbelief. I feel there must be more to this story. Not only was Mette attacked but on his own property.?? The judge said that the officer should of "retreated". Well he did, to his own f#cking property??!!?? He was then attacked numerous times. Wasn't the "victim" trespasing on Mette's property? Had he not trespassed the fight wouldn't of happened. I hope it works out for Mr. Mette. Prayers to him and his family. Gotta be a scary time. He must feel as though he's in the twilight zone. As for the "victim" I hope he keeps on the road of destruction he's on till he winds up in the pokey. Hopefully he doesn't injure or seriously hurt anyone in the process.
Read the article.Originally Posted by Minardiau
The cop was accused of stealing the drunk guy's cell phone (false accusation), he was chased by that drunk guy to the cop's house. The drunk guy threatened the cop, punched him three times in his chest on the cop's front lawn, the cop warned him, the drunk guy charged at him and got knocked out.
P.S. God knows how with a right hook he hit him on the left side of his face.
If it was Texas Mr. Gothard would be reviewing his stupidity with God.
I'm like sooo surprised that mp.net folks take the cop's side on this. Because, cops are cool, or something. Even if they smack some drunk unconscious, while being drunk and off duty themselves.
So you have never been/witnessed punch on's involving early 20's types. Especially in this day and age. This guy has done something to really piss these guys off.
He was the butt of jokes. He's had a few beers himself got pissed, irked up made a scene at this guys property and it's escalated from there.
Don't get me wrong. 5 years for a drunken brawl is way to much. I'd just throw the riot act and a night in the lockup and tell them to be good little boys next time. I'm just not buying the story as it's been portrayed at all.
Are you insane? If someone attacks you, you defend yourself. Plain old common sense. He tried to retreat multiple times what more do you want? What does it matter if hes drunk while off duty? Hes OFF DUTY its his time to do what he wants! When was he suppose to start using force to defend himself? When he was getting beaten with a baseball bat? Rakkis right, even in washington this retard would be laying in a pool of his own blood and there would be a short investigation. THATS IT!
Tell us how you really feel Douche
This Florida resident was put on trial but acquitted. Good for him.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localne...lfdefense.html
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