Found Safe TN - Mary Catherine Elizabeth Thomas, 15, Maury County, 13 March 2017 #15 *Arrest*

[Mom24]

Great post. What kind of plea deal could they offer him for a guilty plea usually they will drop a charge or two. I know with no criminal history that goes into consideration as with the bail amount.

I can't see the need to drop any charges. They have all the evidence they need for a conviction. There's little question he had ET with him outside of TN for sexual contact, even the witnesses at the commune stated they saw and heard sexual behavior. The only reason for a plea deal is if they didn't have enough evidence for proof of guilt. There is a mandatory sentence for these crimes, so he'll do at least that amount of time, the considerations will go to whether he'll do more than that based on his criminal past and the severity of damage to ET. To put it another way, there's already a minimum that TC will have to do, but they make take his past history into account in regards to whether he'll do more than the minimum. Either way, he's going to be a very old man before he sees freedom again.

 

[Kapua]

I'm still way back to being a christian and committing adultery, statutory rape, deserting his family, lying and stealing. Last I checked those weren't good qualifications for being a christian.

Well, hey, if you are going to break one of the ten commandments, you might as well break them all.

 

[DexterMorgan]

I don't think she would pass for 15. The lawyer said she looked really young and the photos distributed of her look Nothing like her. Add that with the fact that he was able to pick her up tells me she is tiny. There is no way I could pick up my 13 year old. Much less a 15 year old unless they were really small.

She looked 18 in the Walmart video to me. Jmo. Now she definitely doesn't look 24.

So I'm just saying that I doubt they thought she was 15. Thats all Im saying.

 

[Deleted member 172065]

I can't see the need to drop any charges. They have all the evidence they need for a conviction. There's little question he had ET with him outside of TN for sexual contact, even the witnesses at the commune stated they saw and heard sexual behavior. The only reason for a plea deal is if they didn't have enough evidence for proof of guilt. There is a mandatory sentence for these crimes, so he'll do at least that amount of time, the considerations will go to whether he'll do more than that based on his criminal past and the severity of damage to ET. To put it another way, there's already a minimum that TC will have to do, but they make take his past history into account in regards to whether he'll do more than the minimum. Either way, he's going to be a very old man before he sees freedom again.

But, doesn't it go to jury/trial??


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[expatCanada]

In Federal court yes.

Look at the OKC bombing case. Trial took place in CO. Feds can try this case in any state. Forget TN and their laws. IF, TN want to go after him later, or Calif, then they can go for it, but 1st will be the Feds. Rightly so. JMO

ETA: Transporting across the state line for immoral purposes ... I thought they were saying immoral porpoises. lol http://pix.iemoji.com/images/emoji/apple/ios-9/256/dolphin.png

But, doesn't it go to jury/trial??


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[pegs]

A medic that caught himself on fire no less!

MOO

Yeah, Tad Cummins is a walking contradiction, and a liar, and all kinds of other things that I better not say here...but I'm thinking them!

 

[Kapua]

But, doesn't it go to jury/trial??


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Our attorneys can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it only goes to a jury trial if he pleads not guilty.

If he pleads guilty, a judge will decide his fate.

ETA: Here's a link.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/pleading-guilty-what-happens-court.html

 

[DexterMorgan]

Listen, I'm not going to feel bad about having a giggle over posing for pics in a dirty bath tub and breaking out a ukulele for an interview. Those were stupid, goofy antics on their part, and if they didn't want me to laugh, then they should grow the hell up and realize the seriousness of the subject matter they are running their mouths about while acting like circus monkeys.

I just calls them likes I sees them.

Him and her should thank their stars that a Todd Kohlhepp type of person was not apart of that commune. Jmo

Because he would have been killed and she would have been even worse off.

So let's be content for now. Jmo

 

[Mercedes]

That's why after the trial ETs Family will file a civil suit against TC but he doesn't have a pot to pee in and after this he sure will never gain employment unless he gets a book deal but he can't profit from that. Maybe proceeds would go to ET if there is a judgement He filed bankruptcy once or twice. Her Father best bet go after the school and district which I think may have already started.

IMO, I would want to know if the state of Tennessee, and its departments, are only responsible up to the limits of their liability insurance policy.

 

[DexterMorgan]

In Federal court yes.

Look at the OKC bombing case. Trial took place in CO. Feds can try this case in any state. Forget TN and their laws. IF, TN want to go after him later, or Calif, then they can go for it, but 1st will be the Feds. Rightly so. JMO

Agree. The feds make it easier. In the Angelica Hadsell case. The feds gave Wes 20 years for being a felon with a box of bullets.

Which is way better than the state of VA could have done. Jmo.

 

[Rosewater20]

Yup good old club fed. My best friends dad did an 8 year stint there and it wasn't that bad considering his crimes. Much cushier than state

. I think it depends on so many factors. Some people would find imprisonment much easier than others would. For me any kind would be hell as I have health issues amd I am pretty sure many of the products I need and certain ways I do things to make my life manageable/bearable would not be available in any prison. They could have yoga classes and library sessions but I would find it very hard. Years ago I would have managed much better . anyhow not to harp on about myself but comfort is all relative .

 

[Safeguard]

And a few new mattresses​!
All joking aside, even they saw through TC! I'm still trying to figure out how the adults and co workers in his hometown were duped by him.
MOO

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I don't think they were duped, so much as they didn't want to *see*. If you see it, you might feel compelled to DO something about it. It took that brave 12 year old, who witnessed that kiss, and did something about it. ( Much like the Emperors New Clothes, only a child had the courage to point out the obvious.). And then the "Adults" mishandled the entire situation.

Plus these things can be tricky. It's easy to doubt out own perceptions, and no one wants to be wrong about a suspicion as serious as this one, yet no one wants to right either... It's a terrible, and uncomfortable place to find oneself in, and people would rather not *see*.

 

[expatCanada]

Yep. They got him where the state couldn't. Go Feds Go...

Agree. The feds make it easier. In the Angelica Hadsell case. The feds gave Wes 20 years for being a felon with a box of bullets.

Which is way better than the state of VA could have done. Jmo.

 

[Mercedes]

Our attorneys can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it only goes to a jury trial if he pleads not guilty.

If he pleads guilty, a judge will decide his fate.

ETA: Here's a link.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/pleading-guilty-what-happens-court.html

In my experience, a defendant always pleads not guilty at their arraignment. So, don't be upset or surprised by that. Only after a defendant has met with counsel, would the case be set for trial. Sometime prior to trial, a defendant and his counsel could negotiate a plea deal, if the prosecutor is at all interested. If not, case would proceed, at the appointed time, to a trial by jury.

 

[Tssiemer]

. I think it depends on so many factors. Some people would find imprisonment much easier than others would. For me any kind would be hell as I have health issues amd I am pretty sure many of the products I need and certain ways I do things to make my life manageable/bearable would not be available in any prison. They could have yoga classes and library sessions but I would find it very hard. Years ago I would have managed much better . anyhow not to harp on about myself but comfort is all relative .

This is a huge crime deterrent for me. I am always sick and in pain, I need my electric blanket and hot chocolate. I need my doggie and Netflix.

I would not survive incarceration.


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[expatCanada]

Great point. Easier to look away and than to stand up and DO something. Big props to the kiddo who reported TC in the first place.

I don't think they were duped, so much as they didn't want to *see*. If you see it, you might feel compelled to DO something about it. It took that brave 12 year old, who witnessed that kiss, and did something about it. ( Much like the Emperors New Clothes, only a child had the courage to point out the obvious.). And then the "Adults" mishandled the entire situation.

 

[Whiteorchids]

. I think it depends on so many factors. Some people would find imprisonment much easier than others would. For me any kind would be hell as I have health issues amd I am pretty sure many of the products I need and certain ways I do things to make my life manageable/bearable would not be available in any prison. They could have yoga classes and library sessions but I would find it very hard. Years ago I would have managed much better . anyhow not to harp on about myself but comfort is all relative .

If he can live in that little cabin the rest of his life he will have no problem in prison. Commune said he was lazy not pulling his weight well they will have him working and up at 4:30am. Lol

 

[Mercedes]

I can't see the need to drop any charges. They have all the evidence they need for a conviction. There's little question he had ET with him outside of TN for sexual contact, even the witnesses at the commune stated they saw and heard sexual behavior. The only reason for a plea deal is if they didn't have enough evidence for proof of guilt. There is a mandatory sentence for these crimes, so he'll do at least that amount of time, the considerations will go to whether he'll do more than that based on his criminal past and the severity of damage to ET. To put it another way, there's already a minimum that TC will have to do, but they make take his past history into account in regards to whether he'll do more than the minimum. Either way, he's going to be a very old man before he sees freedom again.

Yeah, the Feds have mandatory sentencing time. Also don't know if there is a lesser charge he could plead to here. My guess, it won't be offered. IMO

 

[MsMtOlympus]

Just pray she is not pregnant by this idiot!

Amen to that! One of my theories was that TC would attempt to impregnate his victim as a means of tethering her to him even more. She was never free to leave the situation to begin with so in his scheming mind, a baby would make it even harder for her to escape or to even want to escape along with ostensibly bringing them "closer" as a "couple".

Also, I can see that arrogant SOB wanting to start a new family. The old family already served their purpose, he was done with them. (Sidenote: I'll always wonder if his grandchildren meant anything at all to him. I know some of us have previously discussed this with the general consensus being that he simply doesn't possess any empathy or the capability to truly love but even with EVERYTHING he's done I still want to believe that he loved and cared for his grandchildren to some degree. What are they being told about where grandpa is, I wonder? )

 

[Gardenista]

I'll bet you lunch that the prosecution does not put any of the commune members on the stand.:angel2:

I can't see either side wanting to use them. They'd be destroyed on cross.