GA - Jennifer Wilbanks, runaway bride, for false police report, Duluth, 2005

[Timex]

The way I understood both the mayor and the DA is...the prosecution isnt interested in the restitution. They are leaving that to the city. The mayor said she is confident Jennifer will make restitution, as she feels Jennifer is very sincere in her efforts to "make things right" with the citizens.

 

[Buzz Mills]

It may not be part of the decision to prosecute but it would very likely become part of her sentence, even if a settlement is reached. At this point, her lawyers have offered $13k as a settlement toward the $43k total expense.

If they go ahead with the felony prosecution, I doubt the city will see restitution. Any available money will go to pay for JW's attorney, and to pay the probable fine. Don't the attorneys always end up with all of the money??

I would have to agree with Timex; the Jennifer Wilbanks case doesn't warrant a forum; this single thread seems to be doing fine.

 

[Bhodirasta]

The idaho murder and the missing kids get daily coverage...many of us are indeed following that case very closely.

Im just wondering how many new jails and prisons we are going to need when we start arresting and locking up everyone that lies to LE.

LIES?
The woman faked her own abduction and accused a white woman and a Hispanic man of RAPE.

What would happen if we didn't prosecute people for faking abductions and falsley charging a couple (in a blue van) of rape?

 

[Timex]

LIES?
The woman faked her own abduction and accused a white woman and a Hispanic man of RAPE.

What would happen if we didn't prosecute people for faking abductions and falsley charging a couple (in a blue van) of rape?

She isnt being charged for faking her abduction...she is being charged for lying to LE. If she had faked the abduction, and not made any statements to LE ... she would not have been charged.

 

[Marthatex]

"Deals" are for those who rape, kill and mame. Serious criminals such as JW will go to trial.

Deals happen all the time with middle class, upper middle class anglo boys and girls - they do other things besides go to jail; they even have the charges dropped from their records. MOney and social status usually help some, especially with minor offenses.

These charges may just be a way to get the family to pay more and get Jennifer AND the whole family to take this more seriously. In addition to setting an example that others should not try this - you will not get away with it. It doesn't prevent all crimes, but maybe deters some. That's all you can ask in this society.

 

[tipper]

She isnt being charged for faking her abduction...she is being charged for lying to LE. If she had faked the abduction, and not made any statements to LE ... she would not have been charged.

I'll ask again...

What lies did she tell GA LE? My impression is she lied to NM LE and they chose not to press charges.

 

[Timex]

Deals happen all the time with middle class, upper middle class anglo boys and girls - they do other things besides go to jail; they even have the charges dropped from their records. MOney and social status usually help some, especially with minor offenses.

These charges may just be a way to get the family to pay more and get Jennifer AND the whole family to take this more seriously. In addition to setting an example that others should not try this - you will not get away with it. It doesn't prevent all crimes, but maybe deters some. That's all you can ask in this society.

It could well be the case...my point is...who really cares what happens to this woman? If she gets 1 year, so be it . If she gets 5 years...so be it. She is a nobody, who has already gotten far more attention than she should have. There are far more important people in the world IMO.

 

[Timex]

I'll ask again...

What lies did she tell GA LE? My impression is she lied to NM LE and they chose not to press charges.

When she called her fiance, georgia LE was on the line, so the statements she made to John were also made to Georgia LE.

 

[Mabel]

I'll ask again...

What lies did she tell GA LE? My impression is she lied to NM LE and they chose not to press charges.

She lied to police in NM, lied to the FBI, and lied (via telephone) to police in Deluth.

 

[noorbe]

I just heard on court tv that Jennifer Wilbanks has been ind (sp) by a grand Jury for lying to police, and a whole bunch of other charges.......
Good, because nobody should lie to the whole country like that, scare the family, and make up false stories, while "she has to find herself".

 

[tipper]

When she called her fiance, georgia LE was on the line, so the statements she made to John were also made to Georgia LE.

Thank you.

 

[Timex]

She lied to police in NM, lied to the FBI, and lied (via telephone) to police in Deluth.

She isnt charged with the lies to NM LE, or the FBI. Those agencies chose not to pursue the case.

 

[Bhodirasta]

She isnt being charged for faking her abduction...she is being charged for lying to LE. If she had faked the abduction, and not made any statements to LE ... she would not have been charged.

If there is one thing that everyone knows, is that LE will charge someone with a crime that is (sort of) unrelated, in order to punish them for something else. Just ask the mob. LOL.

 

[Mabel]

She isnt charged with the lies to NM LE, or the FBI. Those agencies chose not to pursue the case.

I didn't mean to imply that any other agency was pressing charges. Her crimes started in GA with the staged abduction. They, IMO, have the most reason to charge her.

 

[Timex]

If there is one thing that everyone knows, is that LE will charge someone with a crime that is (sort of) unrelated, in order to punish them for something else. Just ask the mob. LOL.

Of course everyone knows that. My point was simply the DA is being less than honest when he gives his reasons for charging her. But then, as we all also know, LE is under no obligation to be honest with society, its society that has an obligation to be honest to LE.

 

[Timex]

I didn't mean to imply that any other agency was pressing charges. Her crimes started in GA with the staged abduction. They, IMO, have the most reason to charge her.

There is nothing illegal about staging your own abduction. The only illegal action was her statement, via telephone, to Georgia LE.

 

[kgeaux]

When she called her fiance, georgia LE was on the line, so the statements she made to John were also made to Georgia LE.

Timex, she KNEW LE was on the line, she was speaking to LE when she made those false statements. She is not being indicted because LE listened in on some statements she made to John. She is being indicted because of the false statement she made directly to Georgia LE.

 

[Timex]

Timex, she KNEW LE was on the line, she was speaking to LE when she made those false statements. She is not being indicted because LE listened in on some statements she made to John. She is being indicted because of the false statement she made directly to Georgia LE.

Correct, she knew they were on the line. As for why she is being indicted...well, thats open to interpritation. On paper, yes, its for making a false statement.

 

[luvbeaches]

It may not be part of the decision to prosecute but it would very likely become part of her sentence, even if a settlement is reached. At this point, her lawyers have offered $13k as a settlement toward the $43k total expense.

The family should have just forked over the $43K. Now that they have attorneys involved, it will probably cost them much more (in the end).

 

[Mabel]

The fact is, Jennifer broke the law (not for the first time) and cost people a lot of money, heartache, and worry. She staged an abduction and filed a false police report accusing two people of kidnapping and rape. A false police report is a "lie" and that's what she's being charged with. Whether there are people who committed worse crimes or other people who aren't getting their fair share of media attention doesn't make her any less guilty.

I see no reason why she shouldn't at least be charged, she's nobody special and has no more right to break the law than anyone else. Ultimately the judge will determine if the charges are just and what her sentence will be.