Now that people are coming foward at Tweak City regarding the authorities having contacted them on this matter does this mean the "variety of reasons" includes the authorities having interviewed you? I know you bought raffle tickets, did you win one? From what is getting posted at TC its looking like all raffle winners or donors of $500 or more were interviewed by the authorities.
Nope, I haven't been contacted. Actually, I never participated in the raffles. The only one I was going to participate in was the one to benefit Bruce (aka Brucer) (was that the first raffle?), but by the time I got around to buying a ticket, all the tickets had been sold so I just made a small donation ($50 - I think) to MLS for Bruce's benefit. Hope the money made it to Bruce.
The "variety of reasons" is partly because I have to be careful what I post publicly because of my job. I also had personal reasons to keep quiet because I did/do consider Mark to be a friend (in the same sense I consider you and Curtis to be "friends"), and didn't want to pile on. Didn't see that I really had anything constructive to add.
Also, I didn't like how much some people seemed to be enjoying tearing someone down publicly, and I knew if I pointed that out I would be accused of taking up for Mark which I also didn't want to do. It's been pretty obvious for some time that, by his own admission, he stole money from the raffles, and the whole "under-funded" terminology made me want to gag a little. Just seemed best to stay out of it.
I have prosecuted a number of embezzlers, and almost none of them initially intended to keep the money. They are just temporarily "borrowing" the money, and will pay it all back. Of course, the paying back almost never happens. I call it the "no harm, no foul" justification. Also, they almost never realize how much they've actually taken ... another justification/minimization process.
I prosecuted our former elected court clerk who had a gambling addiction and was forging a district judge's signature on her travel claims. I don't excuse her actions, but I did feel sorry for her. I've sent a lot of people to prison who I felt sorry for. No one is completely good, and no one is completely bad, and sometimes essentially good people do bad things. Justice must be done, but it is not always something to rejoice in. I'm guessing a lot of people won't understand that.
One more note, I saw a few comments about how none of the charities will get their money now that the legal system is involved, and at least one about "blood-sucking lawyers". In every financial crime prosecution I have ever been involved in or seen, the prosecution's number one goal was to get restitution for the victim(s). If restitution can be made up front or at least a substantial down payment on it made, it typically goes a long way in getting a reduced plea offer. In my jurisdiction that typically means probation.
No winners here ... only losers ... my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved (including Mark and his family).
