Chris - The Legal Issues - A Prosecutor's Perspective

[Mason Verger]

A good defender would try and use whatever to confuse the issues and take the widest latitude of “reasonable doubt”.

A good question is how Chris would react to it though. We know he’s extremely proud of being “high functioning” and I could easily see him resist and even try to sabotage attempts at being portrayed as a naive simpleton being played like a toy until he didn't know right from wrong.

I can’t bring myself to get into the whole Bella angle yet, but Chris is retarded and deluded enough to still think Bella is an ally in all this. Notice how only Null “betrayed” him, not sweet, innocent, female Bella the psychopath. It took a massive amount of convincing to get Chris to turn on the idea fags, and even after all that was done.. he still occasionally thanked them for adding to his merge lore.

I feel for his attorney, not only is the case itself a challenging mess, but they can’t even trust their own client to not torpedo his own defense with “yeahhh no, hmm Bella’s a good girl with a kind heart and sweet soul, let’s keep her out of this little mess and concentrate on why Null stole my convention trip money..”.

 

[DeadMansHand]

It has dorm blocks, regular cell blocks, and at least one ad seg block. Chris is almost certainly in the latter.

I've only seen the pictures in the newspapers when they opened the new addition. They were pretty proud of it, but the only pictures they had were the dormitories. But it's central VA, so I guess a big room with some bun beds is a big achievement for them...

 

[Fapcop]

I can’t bring myself to get into the whole Bella angle yet, but Chris is retarded and deluded enough to still think Bella is an ally in all this. Notice how only Null “betrayed” him, not sweet, innocent, female Bella the psychopath. It took a massive amount of convincing to get Chris to turn on the idea fags, and even after all that was done.. he still occasionally thanked them for adding to his merge lore.

I feel for his attorney, not only is the case itself a challenging mess, but they can’t even trust their own client to not torpedo his own defense with “yeahhh no, hmm Bella’s a good girl with a kind heart and sweet soul, let’s keep her out of this little mess and concentrate on why Null stole my convention trip money..”.

Chris is hardly known for his ability to control himself in a courtroom.

(As when he called Snyder a dang dirty thief and liar or something similar. During the court hearing where all he had to do was apologize and plead guilty!)

I’m looking forward to reports from the trial (if it comes to that.) I could totally see Chris go off on a full autistic rant when he’s testifying about missing out on the convention it was FORETOLD he would go to, Joshua Wise and Null stealing his money and being without his toys for months.

Let’s just hope he has a lawyer dumb enough not to see the warning signs.

Or naive enough to think that Chris testifying might raise some doubts in the jury’s minds.

 

[Learned Hand]

Let’s just hope he has a lawyer dumb enough not to see the warning signs.

Or naive enough to think that Chris testifying might raise some doubts in the jury’s minds.

By all accounts and research, his attorney seems shockingly competent. We're all a little in the dark as to where he came from, but if he's court appointed, he's a huge windfall for Chris.

 

[Second-Hand Boat Supplies]

If someone wanted to watch the trial, how would you find out the time and what procedures to go through to see it in person? Also, how much substance would there be in the September 16th court date; is it possible or likely that it only lasts a few minutes on that day with an outcome that just postpones things?

 

[Fapcop]

By all accounts and research, his attorney seems shockingly competent. We're all a little in the dark as to where he came from, but if he's court appointed, he's a huge windfall for Chris.

Just our luck! The Sped-trial of the century, and Chris gets a competent attorney who’s probably too smart to let him testify.

Fortunately Chris has an iron will when it comes to resisting those trying to help him, and might just find a way to make this the feast of autism it deserves.

Wonder what the odds are of Mr. Competent Lawyer quitting in frustration, and Chris going pro se, because he watched some legal show in the commons room, and thinks “lawyering” is like jumping in a platform game: You just have to say “Objection!” at the right time to clear the level?


I know, I know... Pile on the “Optimistic”

 

[On Numbers And Games]

We're all a little in the dark as to where he came from, but if he's court appointed, he's a huge windfall for Chris.

I'm far from an expert, but doesn't this mean he was court appointed:
>Greene County General District Court Judge Kenneth Andrew Sneathern appointed Charlottesville attorney David Heilberg to represent Chandler on Wednesday and based on the nature of the offense moved it to JDR for bond.

 

[AnOminous]

Ah yes, the whole Kansas rocket silo case, right?

William Leonard Pickard. I just looked it up and was glad to find they let him go last year, thanks to the coof, so COVID-19 did at least one good thing.

I'm far from an expert, but doesn't this mean he was court appointed:
>Greene County General District Court Judge Kenneth Andrew Sneathern appointed Charlottesville attorney David Heilberg to represent Chandler on Wednesday and based on the nature of the offense moved it to JDR for bond.

This also seems to suggest he was specifically chosen for this case, not randomly selected from a pool of volunteers or draftees. It didn't seem likely such a prominent lawyer would be chosen at random. This strengthens my belief they're taking this case very seriously and don't want bad optics from Chris getting incompetent representation.

 

[Fapcop]

William Leonard Pickard. I just looked it up and was glad to find they let him go last year, thanks to the coof, so COVID-19 did at least one good thing.

Just read his Wikipedia bio. Interesting fellow and clearly very intelligent. (As you’d expect from someone dabbling in organic chemistry at this level.)

The interesting thing is that he didn’t seem to be motivated purely by profit, but like Owsley & co. took to LSD with a near religious or missionary zeal.

Interesting drug.

This also seems to suggest he was specifically chosen for this case, not randomly selected from a pool of volunteers or draftees. It didn't seem likely such a prominent lawyer would be chosen at random. This strengthens my belief they're taking this case very seriously and don't want bad optics from Chris getting incompetent representation.

I take it the local prosecutors were a bit surprised when their weird, little local incest case suddenly broke the internet.

It’ll be interesting to see what other effects it might have on the trial. It could be to Chris’s benefit or be detrimental to his case.

 

[Shovel Mech Pilot]

Prison food it pretty much above starvation rations, so he'll probably end up losing a lot of weight.

It's actually the opposite, prison food is usually at least 2,000 calories a day and up to 3,000 calories per day. The VA DOC specifically shoots for 2,500 daily calories. It's very reminiscent of school lunches - lots of cheap (unhealthy) food that's easy to prepare in large batches, like meatloaf, hot dogs, and mashed potatoes. Quite a few people actually get fat in prison.

 

[Learned Hand]

William Leonard Pickard. I just looked it up and was glad to find they let him go last year, thanks to the coof, so COVID-19 did at least one good thing.

This also seems to suggest he was specifically chosen for this case, not randomly selected from a pool of volunteers or draftees. It didn't seem likely such a prominent lawyer would be chosen at random. This strengthens my belief they're taking this case very seriously and don't want bad optics from Chris getting incompetent representation.

I agree, I do not believe his appointment was random now that I have looked at the body of this guy's work. I think there is some internal politicking taking place, influencing some of the prosecution and court decision making here. No one wants to see this case move up the food chain, or survive to appeal for any preventable reason.

If I was going to hazard a guess, I would say this attorney is mostly doing this for the novelty and notoriety, I don't think this type of case is in his wheelhouse, but he also didn't protest.

 

[Thomas Talus]

Wonder what the odds are of Mr. Competent Lawyer quitting in frustration, and Chris going pro se, because he watched some legal show in the commons room, and thinks “lawyering” is like jumping in a platform game: You just have to say “Objection!” at the right time to clear the level?

I'd put much higher odds on Chris firing (or trying to fire) his lawyer than on the lawyer withdrawing of his own accord. You can't always withdraw from representation in a criminal matter if it would make it difficult for the defendant to have their rights upheld, and there can't be a plea deal if the defendant isn't represented (at least where I practice). I'm not sure if a judge can flat-out deny a persistent request to fire a PD (they can certainly push back against it, see the viral contempt of court video that got re-voiced by the cast of Rick & Morty for an example), but they will try very, very hard to not have Chris be unrepresented, and would likely deny a motion to withdraw for anything less than a valid claim of concern for safety proved at a motion hearing, simply due to how much of a potentially-overturnable shitshow the case would then descend into.

 

[Miss Misery]

I imagine that Chris will blow through any money he has on the various insanely priced prison services. There is a whole industry dedicated to overcharging prisoners for stuff.

On the plus side we might discover that Chris has developed an addiction to The Whole Shebang potato chips. (Canadians will recognize these as "all dressed" chips. Until recently the only place all dressed chips were sold in the US were in prison commissaries. Ex-cons would often lament that they couldn't get their "Shebang" anymore once they got out, and didn't know that they are common in Canada. Lately I've been seeing all dressed chips in American grocery stores, but ex-cons only know them as "whole shebang".)

You can buy Shabangs online now, direct from the manufacturer, at slightly less than commissary prices. They don't taste quite the same as all-dressed, but it's close enough.

Apparently K2 and other shit like that too. With LSD you could actually have enough to sell a hundred or more doses. Effective dose is measured in micrograms. Same with some other goofy deep web research chemicals. Meth requires a high enough dose this would just be recreational levels for one or two people.

Actual, real LSD is pretty rare these days no? From what I hear, much of what is sold as LSD is other hallucinogens that doesn’t quite take a doctorate in organic chemistry to manufacture, the way LSD does. It’s extreme potency makes it easy to smuggle though. I bet US prisons were a lot more fun when it was still around.

Really? Do either of you want to trip balls while in prison? It sounds like a horrible time to me...

I've only seen the pictures in the newspapers when they opened the new addition. They were pretty proud of it, but the only pictures they had were the dormitories. But it's central VA, so I guess a big room with some bun beds is a big achievement for them...

CVRJ's annual PREA report details what sort of housing the facility has. Also photos inside are pretty forbidden - it's one of the reasons inmates aren't allowed cell phones. It's a security issue.

Yes, 20 years back they caught the one guy literally responsible for most of it in the country and nobody really ever took his place. The Rainbow Family that used to follow the Dead around probably still has access to some but it's a rare thing to see at all.

The Rainbow Family? Should we ask a certain someone about it?

Nah... he shits up every thread and dwelling he inhabits.

 

[Pointless Sperg]

I agree, I do not believe his appointment was random now that I have looked at the body of this guy's work. I think there is some internal politicking taking place, influencing some of the prosecution and court decision making here. No one wants to see this case move up the food chain, or survive to appeal for any preventable reason.

If I was going to hazard a guess, I would say this attorney is mostly doing this for the novelty and notoriety, I don't think this type of case is in his wheelhouse, but he also didn't protest.

This going to trial would be an absolute shitshow and could result in negative publicity for Greene County in so many ways. Chris is someone they do not want to be famous for. I'm sure they're taking extra care to make sure the Chris is well-represented to find some way to make him quietly go away for a while.

Of course the person most likely to derail this is Chris. Having a good, non-overworked attorney means a better job tard-wrangling him. If instead they went the "I can only speak to you for a few minutes because I have 200 other cases" route it would quite possibly result in Chris loudly demanding his right to a jury trial, with the PD looking on in disbelief.

 

[Second-Hand Boat Supplies]

I’m ignorant of the way this usually goes, but how did Chris end up with a lawyer at all? I know that you’re guaranteed representation but I would have assumed you’d have to ask for it which, given his demeanor during arrest and mugshots, I’m not sure Chris would have done.

 

[Mariposa Electrique]

I’m ignorant of the way this usually goes, but how did Chris end up with a lawyer at all? I know that you’re guaranteed representation but I would have assumed you’d have to ask for it which, given his demeanor during arrest and mugshots, I’m not sure Chris would have done.

They're probably trying to defend the transfaggot

 

[ScaliasGhost]

I’m ignorant of the way this usually goes, but how did Chris end up with a lawyer at all? I know that you’re guaranteed representation but I would have assumed you’d have to ask for it which, given his demeanor during arrest and mugshots, I’m not sure Chris would have done.

This is just based on my jurisdiction but should be pretty similar. You have the right to legal representation when the charged crime carries a prison sentence. You're given one at the initial appearance or arraignment (sometimes these are separate events, sometimes not), the judge asks if you need legal assistance, and you are given an indigency form to fill out. Since lawyers are really expensive the indigency standard is actually relatively high, many middle class people qualify. At least in my experience, even if you say you don't want a public defender, if you can't afford a private attorney or don't have one with you during your appearance, you are given one initially anyways and can get rid of them later. (One of my PD friends actually has days where she just sits at counsel table to act as an attorney for people if they don't have/haven't been assigned a permanent one yet. She basically just makes sure they understand what's going on and tells them to plead "not guilty".)

 

[blackboots]

I’m ignorant of the way this usually goes, but how did Chris end up with a lawyer at all? I know that you’re guaranteed representation but I would have assumed you’d have to ask for it which, given his demeanor during arrest and mugshots, I’m not sure Chris would have done.

You're automatically given one, in his county, they don't have a public defender pool, there's not that many trials, (ditto judges, juries, thus next reconvene being Sept 16 unless something comes up.) So they outsource to high-end lawyers who take on cases NEARLY pro bono for the sake of publicity, and a small freelancer fee from state. This keeps everything running smoothly and well, and ensures more cases in the future and staying in good graces all around.

 

[BigFungus]

I’m ignorant of the way this usually goes, but how did Chris end up with a lawyer at all? I know that you’re guaranteed representation but I would have assumed you’d have to ask for it which, given his demeanor during arrest and mugshots, I’m not sure Chris would have done.

During intake they ask about your financial situation. His tugboat qualifies him to receive a public pretender

 

[AnOminous]

Really? Do either of you want to trip balls while in prison? It sounds like a horrible time to me...

Not really. My interest is purely theoretical. I like this thing of not being in prison. So I don't commit crimes, don't rape my mom, don't do shit like that.

The Rainbow Family? Should we ask a certain someone about it?

You mean the single person who knows least about it? The person who has been kicked out of that community for being a child molester?

I mean obviously you're kidding.