Ex-trustee in Steuben admits to sex crimes

[LiberalFighter]

Donald Ross Clark, 67, of Angola, was sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sexual battery, a Class D felony punishable by six months to three years in prison, and battery, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in prison.

Clark, a former 4th District Republican Party chairman, was deputy trustee for his wife, Trustee Camelia Clark. He also has been chairman of the Steuben County Republican Party.

Clark’s wife and son, two of his daughters and two family friends were character witnesses, testifying that he always had been an upstanding citizen and that since 1985, he has suffered a neurological disease that incapacitates him mentally and physically.

Smith investigated seven cases involving Clark and female township residents, he said. One dated back to 1979.

****
His mental capacity does not explain the incident(s) that occur prior to 1985.
****

SOURCE Ft Wayne Journal Gazette 2/16/2005

[denverbill]

1. Ahhh, yess. The Republican as the victim. Yet another story.

Unlike all those other rapists, this one was an upstanding citizen, who only forced women to perform sex acts because of some mysterious 'neurological' disorder.

Maybe if we made a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, neuorological diseases like this wouldn't be such a big problem. Or something like that.

[LiberalFighter]

2. But he didn't have that "disease" until after 1985...

doesn't explain his actions prior to that

[evilkumquat]

3. I Know This Guy!

Part of Clark's duties as trustee was to help qualified people pay their rent with a monthly stipend from the county ($125 at the time). I happen to work in a real estate office that used to manage a lot of rentals.

Years ago, he would show up once a month with a landlord form that I had to sign for one of my tenants. Like many of those the trustee helped, she was a single mother who just got out of a horrible relationship and was having a very difficult time getting back on her feet.

She was also very attractive.

I remember thinking at the time, in all innocence: "Now if I was an evil, perverted bastard, county trustee would be the job to have! Dealing with single, vulnerable women... desperate for cash. 'Hey, baby. I'll be sure to have the county help you with your rent if you do a little something for me.'"

I was absolutely FLOORED when I found out this evil, old, perverted, fat bastard was doing EXACTLY THAT!

Unfortunately, the piece of shit is only going to get a slap on the wrist for all this. In fact, after he was found guilty (remember, this was for a sex crime), he was allowed a month out of jail to put his affairs in order (no pun intended).

Do ALL rapists get that benefit, or just those who ran the local Republican Party?

Evil Kumquat

[salin]

4. clearly, just those who ran the local Republican Party,

have there been many (or any) local letters to the editor? If not, and with no coverage - most folks will never be aware...

[evilkumquat]

5. Nope

At least, no letters in my local paper.

If not for the danger of serious professional retribution, you can be sure the editorial section of the local paper would be on fire from what I would say.

Unfortunately, up here in Steuben, Democrats have to blend in with the Republican scum or else face being ostracized. Fortunately, it is relatively easy since almost all Republicans are blinded by their own ethnocentrism and are incapable of grasping the concept that others can share views different than their own.

I cannot afford to hurt my family's business ties by spewing venom at the hypocrisy of the state's dominant party. Semi-anonymous Internet political discussion forums are about the only outlet I have to let off steam without fear of losing my job.

Yay, America.

Evil Kumquat