lenoil@mit-eddie.UUCP (Robert Scott Lenoil) (02/09/85)
I plucked this off of ARPANET's INFO-MICRO bulletin board; spread the word far and wide - we have won! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 7AM, 02/07/85: PURSUANT TO A TELEPHONE DISCUSSION WITH REGINALD DUNN, HEAD OF THE CRIMINAL DIVISION OF THE L.A. CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROSECUTION BELIEVES IT HAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONTINUE THE PROSECUTION OF TOM TCIMPIDIS, SYSOP OF MOG-UR. THIS DETERMINATION WAS MADE AFTER I REQUESTED A REVIEW OF THE CASE ON 1/11/85 AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF CITY ATTORNEY IRA REINER TO BECOME D.A., AND WHILE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS BEING RUN BY THE CIVIL SERVICE STAFF PENDING ELECTION OF A NEW CITY ATTORNEY. MR. DUNN HAS GIVEN ME HIS WORD THAT THE PEOPLE WILL SEEK DISMISSAL OF THE CHARGES AGAINST TOM UNDER CALIF. PENAL CODE SECTION 1385, I.E., DISMISSAL IN THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE. UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW, SUCH A DISMISSAL IS "WITH PREJUDICE" AND THE PEOPLE CANNOT REFILE THE CASE SUBSEQUENTLY. TO PUT IT SUCCINCTLY, A DISMISSAL WILL TERMINATE THE PROSECUTION PERMANENTLY. AS THE MEMBERS KNOW, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS PREVIOUSLY RENEGED ON REPRESENTATIONS MADE TO ME REGARDING DISMISSAL OF THE CHARGES....I WISH TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT I HAVE KNOWN MR. DUNN FOR 10 YEARS, AND I TRUST HIS WORD COMPLETELY. IF HE SAYS THE CASE WILL BE DISMISSED, I AM SATISFIED THAT SUCH AN ACTION WILL OCCUR. WE WIN. WIN....WIN....WIN....WIN....WIN....MY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO SUPPORTING TOM AND I IN THE DEFENSE OF THIS MATTER. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A MAJOR VICTORY FOR THE RIGHTS OF FREE SPEECH OVER THE "BIG BROTHER" MACHINATIONS OF THE PHONE COMPANY. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD DOWNLOAD THIS MESSAGE AND PLACE IT ON OTHER SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.....THIS IS A VERY BIG VICTORY, AND THE BBS AND MODEM COMMUNITIES SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT. AGAIN, THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT. BEST WISHES TO ALL, CHUCK LINDNER ATTORNEY FOR SYSOP TOM TCIMPIDIS . 8PM, 02/07/85: THE CASE OF PEOPLE V. TCIMPIDIS, AKA USE A MODEM, GO TO JAIL, WAS DISMISSED IN THE "INTERESTS OF JUSTICE" THIS MORNING, 2/7/85. AS NOTED EARLIER, THIS DISMISSAL IS WITH PREJUDICE, AND TOM IS NOW FREE OF THE PACTEL SCOURGE. ANOTHER SMALL STEP FOR SOMETHING RESEMBLING JUSTICE. CHUCK -------