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

[cynder]

John Mason was in court today with Jennifer. If you look at all the pics one of them walking in with her attorney shows Jennifer's left hand and she is wearing a HUGE diamond ring, looks like a several carat solitaire - her left behind engagement ring I am assuming? So they are still engaged at this point. Jennifer still looks like a deer in the headlights in some pictures, but in others appears more normal. She just has an odd, wide-eyed look sometimes - especially when she is focusing on something. She does look (to me) more relaxed than in some of the pre-wedding pictures and she has gained some weight.
I hope she is getting her head together in therapy and can do something worthwhile with her life now. The fact that she is still in therapy and is going to continue seems promising. The judge was right to order her therapy to be ongoing - I think she may finally be on the right course.

 

[arielilane]

I'm glad she didn't get jail time. Scooter doesn't need anymore crazies writing him. :hand:


ariel

 

[luvbeaches]

For now, they will produce a video of him telling his story for promotional purposes - interspersed with clips from the vigil for Jennifer with John praying and keeping the faith. This way he can tell his story at revivals and church gatherings and events without dealing with negatives or questions. He will write a faith-based book about forgiveness and prayer and how his faith was tested and God brought him through unscathed etc. He will make tons of money. His book and his video will not be about Jennifer, it will be about him and his faith and his experience. I am sure he has been encouraged to use his experiences to bring new converts to the church with his inspirational story. It won't be the tabloid tell-all type thing at all - it will be an "inspirational" message.
Perhaps eventually Jennifer will also do the same - telling about her wicked ways and how she was saved and healed by her faith. Once this dies down a bit they could become regular fixtures on religious TV shows. Those are scripted so they can tell only the parts they want or just show clips from their videos or read from their books. To some there is nothing better than a horrific and sordid tale ending in a great redemption at the critical moment.
In the Southern Baptist Faith this type of testimony is not only encouraged but it will almost be expected in this case.

I'll bet that's exactly what he does, but I have a feeling Jennifer isn't going to cooperate (by staying out of trouble). She's got a long history of trouble with the law, and it seems to be escalating. I wonder what’s next? She seems to be nothing more than your garden-variety criminal. Some say she should be left alone, because she has troubles, but I say, she’s just another criminal and needs to answer to her wrongdoings. Who knows why criminals do the things they do, but there’s certainly no shortage of them out and around us. She does need help (and I hope she gets it), but what criminal doesn't?

Your post is very interesting…lots of things I hadn’t thought about, but it sure makes sense.

 

[sassy_texasbelle2]

Yeah; like clean out the cages at the local animal shelter.

How about going with counselors and law officials that help families of the truly missing. Having to witness them doing a notification of a murder or death. She needs to see first hand what this does to a family. What a twit she is.:banghead:

 

[Sheromom]

How about going with counselors and law officials that help families of the truly missing. Having to witness them doing a notification of a murder or death. She needs to see first hand what this does to a family. What a twit she is.:banghead:

:clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[Lauren]

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/44878.htm

BRIDE'S FLEE DEAL

By MARSHA KRANES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAY IN COURT: Jennifer Wilbanks (left) with her lawyer yesterday.
Email Archives
Print Reprint



June 3, 2005 -- Georgia's bolting bride, Jennifer Wilbanks — in jogging suit, running shoes and tears — pleaded no contest yesterday to a felony charge of lying to police as part of a slap- on-the-wrist plea deal that will let her dodge jail time.
The 32-year-old medical assistant showed up for court with her jilted fiancé, John Mason, at her side and an engagement ring on her left hand.

She returned to an Atlanta-area psychiatric hospital after she was sentenced to two years' probation, 120 hours of community service and continued mental-health treatment.

Wilbanks had faced up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the felony charge — for fabricating a story about being abducted, sexually abused and driven to Albuquerque, N.M., to explain her disappearance four days before her planned April 30 wedding.

"I am truly sorry for my actions," Wilbanks tearfully told the judge — aptly named Ronnie Batchelor .

As part of her sentence, Wilbanks was ordered to pay the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office $2,550 in overtime it incurred hunting for her

continue article @ site

 

[lady-eowyn]

How about going with counselors and law officials that help families of the truly missing. Having to witness them doing a notification of a murder or death. She needs to see first hand what this does to a family. What a twit she is.:banghead:

Amen!!!

 

[Bhodirasta]

So what ended up happening with the "Chili finger" woman???
This woman could get away with murder...

I think it is time for some more Jack Handy and "Deep Thoughts"...
..............
"One thing people like is to be tricked. For instance, I was going to take my little nephew to DisneyLand, but instead I drove him to an old burned-out warehouse. "Oh, no," I said, "DisneyLand burned down." He cried and cried, but I think that deep down he thought it was a pretty good joke. I started to drive over to the real DisneyLand, but it was getting pretty late."

"Here's a good trick: Get a job as a judge at the Olympics. Then, if some guy sets a world record, pretend that you didn't see it and go, "Okay, is everybody ready to start now?"


"Here's a good joke to do during an earthquake: Straddle a big crack in the ground, and if it opens wider, go "Whoa! Whoa!" and flail your arms around, like you're going to fall in."


"It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man."

-Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts
..................

 

[MistyGirl]

Ok I am just a little upset by the sentence she received...she is charged with a FELONY and she gets ONLY 2 years probation & community service!?!?!?!?! I am sorry but that is a JOKE our system is a JOKE. If that is all they were going to give her then reduce the charge to a misdameaner or a gross misdameaner.

I am sure by sharing this story I am will catch some greif but I don't care. In Feb 2004 I received a DWI (1st, only & last) my BAC was .10 anyhow this was a gross misdemenaer I received two years probation and had other classes etc to attened. Now it too me a few weeks to obtain my "work permit" because you lose your license for 90 days when charged. Anyhow I am single mother and have to get to work pick my daughter up etc....well she got staranded somewhere and I made a few calls to friends to find a ride etc but had no luck so I drove to pick her up...well I got stopped and was issued a ticket for driving on a suspended license. So I go to court, no attorney and I get in front og the judge and I plead guilty...cause I drove I was guilty he siad you understand this is a gross misdameaner and is punishable up 90 days in jail and $1000 fine....I said yes your honor I do and he said you still want to plead guilty and I said yes I plead guilty with circumstance (that doesn't mean really anythign just wanted to explain why I drove) and how he sentenced me to a 2 years probation, $1,000 fine & 90 days in Jail all but 85 stayed..meaning I had to sit in jail for 5 days. Hey I did the crime I sat the time, but when some goes and gets charged with a FELONY and gets two years probation..WTF???....... Sorry JMHOP

 

[CozyReader]

So what ended up happening with the "Chili finger" woman???
This woman could get away with murder...

Hi Bhodi!

The "Chili Finger" woman and her husband have both been charged with conspiracy to file a false charge and attempted grand theft with excessive damages, meaning they sought to extract a large amount of money from Wendy's. They are in separate jails, awaiting trial in Santa Clara County, CA. I think the woman has pled innocent and as of Tuesday, the man has not entered a plea yet.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/05/31/state/n145547D54.DTL&feed=rss.news

The man and woman have not been married long. I wonder if she will claim the pressure of her recent wedding caused her to flee to San Jose and plant the finger at Wendy's?

 

[Bhodirasta]

Hi Bhodi!

The "Chili Finger" woman and her husband have both been charged with conspiracy to file a false charge and attempted grand theft with excessive damages, meaning they sought to extract a large amount of money from Wendy's. They are in separate jails, awaiting trial in Santa Clara County, CA. I think the woman has pled innocent and as of Tuesday, the man has not entered a plea yet.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/05/31/state/n145547D54.DTL&feed=rss.news

The man and woman have not been married long. I wonder if she will claim the pressure of her recent wedding caused her to flee to San Jose and plant the finger at Wendy's?

Well,
heaven help anyone who "jokes" that a finger was found in the chili of a multi- BILLION dollar coorporation as opposed to a woman that "jokes" about RAPE and falsifies her own abduction and costs the town thousands and takes away media attention from ACTUAL missing persons...

And Misty,
that is AMAZING, isn't it?? I bet you lost more money, time, etc than good ol' JW...
This woman DESERVES a felony on her record FOR GOOD.

 

[CozyReader]

Well,
heaven help anyone who "jokes" that a finger was found in the chili of a multi- BILLION dollar coorporation as opposed to a woman that "jokes" about RAPE and falsifies her own abduction and costs the town thousands and takes away media attention from ACTUAL missing persons...
...This woman DESERVES a felony on her record FOR GOOD.

I'm with ya all the way on this one, kiddo.

I read that many local businesses were upset and claimed that they lost revenues due to the Wilbanks case. They said people stayed away because their town was considered "dangerous" due to Jennifer's "abduction." Much like Wendy's losing revenue because people now worry about eating there due to the adverse "chili finger" publicity.

But I don't believe there are any multi-billion dollar corporations in Jennifer's little home town. So Jennifer gets a slap on the wrist.

 

[Marthatex]

Keep in mind this is not her first felony - she already had the $1700 theft erased from her record by completing the pre-trial diversion program, etc.

So this will be the SECOND Felony to be eventually erased from her record. This one was adjudicated in accordance with Georgia's first felony program, so does it make a difference if over 5 years have gone by? I have no idea.

And yet some continue to keep saying "poor Jennifer, she just needs help"; well I'm very glad she's getting mental health care; but yes she's getting plenty of help.

 

[arielilane]

Who the hell wears a jogging suit to court?

ariel

 

[kgeaux]

Who the hell wears a jogging suit to court?

ariel

Who the hell wears a jogging suit to court when they are appearing in court because they went jogging one night and ended up in New Mexico???? The irony has had me giggling since I saw the pics.

 

[arielilane]

Who the hell wears a jogging suit to court when they are appearing in court because they went jogging one night and ended up in New Mexico???? The irony has had me giggling since I saw the pics.

I think she is always prepared to make a run for it (if needed). :laugh: John's the one who needs to get some running shoes...Run John Run!!!

ariel

 

[luvbeaches]

And yet some continue to keep saying "poor Jennifer, she just needs help"; well I'm very glad she's getting mental health care; but yes she's getting plenty of help.

Exaclty. What criminal doesn't need help of some sort? "Poor Jennifer" is nothing but a criminal...and a darn lucky one at that. She has a rap sheet as long as my arm...

 

[Sheromom]

Keep in mind this is not her first felony - she already had the $1700 theft erased from her record by completing the pre-trial diversion program, etc.

So this will be the SECOND Felony to be eventually erased from her record. This one was adjudicated in accordance with Georgia's first felony program, so does it make a difference if over 5 years have gone by? I have no idea.

And yet some continue to keep saying "poor Jennifer, she just needs help"; well I'm very glad she's getting mental health care; but yes she's getting plenty of help.

Guess they don't have a 'strike three' law there. I don't think felonies should ever be erased from someone's record.

 

[browneyes]

If John marries her...they deserve each other. :slap:

What kind of book is she going to write. :waitasec:

 

[lilpony]

I can't believe John is still with her, after reading how she described the the fake rape and kidnapping...omg...:loser:

I kind of think its for show, and he will not stay with her....at least I hope.