Silvis man's profanity-laced letter gets him arrested

[rpannier]

SILVIS -- Writing a strongly opinionated letter to public officials with obscene language in it might be a crime in Silvis.

John T. McGregor, 22, 1015 2nd Ave., Silvis, was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with ordinance violations alleging disorderly conduct and breach of the peace because he used profanity in a letter he wrote to aldermen two weeks ago. He criticized the council for voting April 4 against enterprise-zone benefits for Triumph Foods' proposed pork processing plant site in East Moline.

Mr. McGregor said Friday afternoon he's going to court to contest the charges because he feels he has a constitutional right to express his opinion.

A Silvis police report says although the letter has no threats in it, Mr. McGregor was charged because the unsigned, typed letter "shocked, alarmed and disturbed the complainant."

***************

Amazing. Isn't it?

the article can be found at:
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/sections.cgi?prcss=display&id=285249

[sendero]

1. Poor fucking baby..

... he (and I :) ) better hope I never send him a fucking letter :)

[napi21]

2. Shocked and alarmed?????

Who is this alderman? Must not get out of the house much, huh?

Perhaps we should send DU's wed address, just to give this person some experience.

[joeybee12]

3. Fucking Goddamn language like that is constitutionally protected, damn it

It really is--the SCOTUS has often ruled that it is. SIlvis better get with the program

[SofaKingLiberal]

4. O'Reilly would be proud. n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. "Disorderly conduct and breach of the peace" for profanity in a LETTER?...

...How does one "breach the peace" in a letter? How does one commit "disorderly conduct" in a letter?

Amazing?? No, it's totally outrageous!

[napi21]

6. I'm sure they searched all the possibilities and that's all they could

come up with. My guess is it will be thown out, with no fine due. But then again, he did offend the Aldermen! Wonder how much clout THEY have in this town????

[madrchsod]

7. i think silvis should worry more about it`s

crappy little town than this much to do about nothing. the faster i can go through silvis and east moline at two in the morning the better..the smell of the pork plant certainly isn`t going to make these two towns any better...

[madrchsod]

8. i take it you are from the area?

[rpannier]

10. I have family that lives in the area

I live in Korea.

[madrchsod]

14. well that`s along way from illinios.

sorry about cutting down east moline and silvis but i can remember when they were nice cities before the collapse of ih,the rock,and others along the river.

[stillcool]

9. but look at what happens to the Senator's son....

http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2006/04/03/news/local/20060403_local_news_7.txt

Son of Senate president offered plea deal in assault case

Monday, April 3, 2006 10:48 AM CDT

PHOENIX (AP) - Two young men charged with sodomizing 18 boys at a youth camp last year have been offered a plea agreement that may net them little jail time and no record of sexual assault.

Clifton Bennett, 18, the son of Arizona Senate President Ken Bennett, and his co-defendant, Kyle Wheeler, 19, were charged in January with 18 counts of aggravated assault and 18 counts of kidnapping for the incidents, which happened at a youth camp last June.

The younger Bennett confessed to police that he and Wheeler sodomized the 11- to 14-year-old boys with broomsticks and flashlights in at least 40 incidents, court documents show.

His father, Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, sat behind him. A Prescott native and businessman, he hasn't spoken about his son's arrest except to issue a brief statement expressing concern as a parent.

[Ilsa]

11. Hmmm...I'd love to see them flip if xultar from DU sent them a letter!

xultar has a way with words. His frustration is palpable in his posts. Xultar is a Master!

[DrDebug]

15. I am pretty sure that xultar is a she

She has a very girlish avatar with pink hair. No man would pick that avatar.

[Ilsa]

16. Thanks for correctly me. I don't think much about the gender of DUers. nt

[Neil Lisst]

12. Of course. The law against being "shocked, alarmed and disturbed!"

Because if you're in government, no one should be able to call you names.

[Cronus Protagonist]

13. More thought crimes!

This is bad news for America.



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