Man convicted of groping Minnie Mouse

[pogo791]

Okay, I'm a woman, wasn't there, didn't see it except for the picture. Only Minnie and the guy know what really happened but here's my take on it.

I agree with Feral Peg and Eyeore's Butterfly and have no doubt as to the amount of crap the CM's (especially characters) have to put up with. And I also believe that the CM really did feel that she was touched inapppropriately.

But I also believe KinPA that her FIL didn't intentionally do anything wrong when that happened.

[ . . . ]

That's JMHO. I feel bad for the CM and I also feel bad for the guy. KinPA - Welcome to the DIS. I appreciate your post and I feel bad for your FIL. If it was truly unintentional (and it seems like it was to me), it's definately a hard lesson learned.

Very nice and balanced post. Well said!

 

[KinPA]

Thanks Tink888! I like it here. Yep, it is what it is...it was not a hung jury..he was found guilty by his peers. Now he just has to move on and try to deal with it. But now this is this woman's second time going through something like this..not made up, BIL was told by police in FL. Perhaps it is too stressful for her. I know I couldn't do that job...having people poke, prod, hit, and grab me all day. I think we do forget that there is an actual person under there dealing with heat, strangers, mean people, screaming kids..NO THANKS!! Maybe some day new rules?? Keep hands behind your back with the characters. This way everyone is protected. Thanks to all who are seeing (maybe a little bit) the other side. With all the horrible names he was being called elsewhere, I had to do something. I did try to post on other sites, but it seemed pointless. There are very understanding and intelligent people on these boards, so this was the best place to go!! thank you!!

 

[DebIreland]

But now this is this woman's second time going through something like this..not made up

Really? Was the accused in the first case found guilty do you know?

By the way, do you or your in-laws have children? I'm thinking how hard it would be to explain this to little kids.

 

[KinPA]

DebIreland: The officer never said what the outcome of the first case was, and I can't find anything about it. My children are 17 yrs old..they don't say too much, but can't believe it. My FIL's grandkids that were with him there are 4 mnths old and 2 yrs old, so they don't have a clue what is going on. FIL'S kids are all grown.

 

[Shutterbug]

I am going out on a limb here and hopefully will not regret this. I have done that job, I have worn that costume (see my sig). Believe me, the majority of guests know that certain characters are almost always exclusively played by females. There are just not many men wandering around who are that short.

In that costume, the character's "chest" is your chest and it is very obvious whether or not you have something up there to grope. Any guest looking at it can see that right away. I don't know what happened. What we have a case is he said, she said. But if a jury convicted, I'm going to assume there was some overwhelming evidence.

Having been in her position with guests and seeing the picture, it does look like his hand is where it should not be and she is trying to physically restrain him. Maybe he didn't realize it, I don't know. But again, I have been that person so am more familiar than most with how these things work.

I have literally had a guest lift up my costume shirt in front of a line of children. I have had a drunk guy all over me at 9:00 am, I have been punched, I had a friend who was groped. It happens more than people realize it, but most of the time we don't do anything about it.

I don't see this a man bashing forum at all. I know for a fact these things can happen by mistake. But he was convicted by a jury of his peers. The way I look at it, innocent until proven guilty. If the jury finds you innocent, I will believe you are innocent, if they find you guilty, I will believe you are guilty.

Thank you for that info. Just from what looking at those costumes, they looked so big and bulky, that it would seem hard to know but from what you said and others said I now see that obviously isnt true.

Like a few others said, I have no doubt the CM obviously thought she was being touched inappropriately and took the necessary steps.

I am also not saying there are not times that people do this intentionally. I do believe that some people do intentionally do this just in this case I dont know.

All I am saying is this MIGHT have been unintentional.
Although the jury has thought otherwise. Though there are times juries have screwed up IMO

If the jury finds you innocent, I will believe you are innocent, if they find you guilty, I will believe you are guilty.

So you believe OJ Simpson innocent?

 

[DebIreland]

DebIreland: The officer never said what the outcome of the first case was, and I can't find anything about it. My children are 17 yrs old..they don't say too much, but can't believe it. My FIL's grandkids that were with him there are 4 mnths old and 2 yrs old, so they don't have a clue what is going on. FIL'S kids are all grown.

I'm glad there's no younger school age kids who'll have to put up with taunts from other kids in school.

Give your kids a big hug from me. Whatever anyone believes about your FIL, one thing is for sure - you and your DH and kids are innocent victims of this horrible situation.

 

[KinPA]

thank you!!

 

[Shutterbug]

Just wondering if there will be an appeal or just move on.

Also if the lawyer had really thought that he was guilty wouldnt he have suggested that he take the plea in the first place which seemed alot less harsh or was it that the lawyer didnt think there was enough evidence?

Other question, Kinpa mentioned the judge shaking his head.
Cant a judge throw out a jury's verdict? Just wondering.....

 

[KinPA]

Don't know if he will appeal, haven't talked to him yet. In hindsight he should've taken the plea, but he felt so strongly that he didn't do anything, he didn't want to say he was guilty. I was wondering if a judge could go against a jury too..I don't know.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

... If it was truly unintentional (and it seems like it was to me), it's definately a hard lesson learned.

And the lesson learned is this - if a man is accused by a woman of something like this, he is going to jail. Again, ir reminds me of a time when a black, accused by a white, was automatically guilty...

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...Other question, Kinpa mentioned the judge shaking his head.
Cant a judge throw out a jury's verdict? Just wondering.....

Only if the jury's finding is not based on the law. The judge gives instructions to the jury that they must follow. If a judge believes that there wasn't enough evidence to convict, he/she can throw out the case without letting it go to the jury, but this rarely happens...

 

[Hercules10]

Don't know if he will appeal

I hope he does and gets a better lawyer.

 

[Wishing on a star]

And the lesson learned is this - if a man is accused by a woman of something like this, he is going to jail. Again, ir reminds me of a time when a black, accused by a white, was automatically guilty...

Once again, all I can say is 'ohhhh, good grief."
Once again, a very troubling post.

This is from the link in the original post...
I don't see any jail time.
"He was convicted Tuesday of misdemeanor battery and sentenced to write the victim an apology, serve 180 days probation and complete 50 hours of community service.


And, to even bring up race???
If one wants to bring up bigotry or discrimination, how about the fact that woman have been subjected to sexual assault, harassment, and have had their word doubted and questioned..... THANK GOD, a woman's word is now at least given consideration in at least 'some' cases. Men often get away with violent rape, just by claiming 'she never said no'....

 

[Rora]

I personally know several CMs that have been touched inappropriately and even hit. I'm glad this CM had the guts to stand up for herself!

That's just terrible.

This poor woman . At least he was brought to justice.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Look, none of us were actually there...

But, I have to ask the obvious question... Just what in the heck was his hand even doing there....

The cast member said that she was doing everything she could to try to keep his hands away from her breast....

That whole 'pose' looks 'contrived'.....

Millions of people take photos with characters every day without stooping into an awkward position and placing their hand right there.....

I could never imagine my DH or most any other man that I know in that particular pose, at all.
In fact, just to be open and honest... I don't know any grown 60 year old men who would want a one-on-one shot with Minnie Mouse.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Was there other evidence than this picture?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Once again, all I can say is 'ohhhh, good grief."
Once again, a very troubling post....

Why are you trying to make this about me? If you don't like me for some reason, that is fine - but that has nothing to do with these threads.

I don't see any jail time...

The judge gave him time served, 2 days - so he did get jail time. Maybe it is your inability to grasp the basic facts of the case that have you confused.

Do you have sons? I do, and this really concerns me...

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Was there other evidence than this picture?

There was a series of photos, but this is the one labeled as "proof". The only other evidence was her testimony. All others in the room testified that they saw and noticed nothing...

 

[Wishing on a star]

Sorry, but this IS about this case....
If you come on here, post after post after post (how many do you have on here now...), on this thread and others with similar themes, you can expect there to be others who will comment.

Yes, most here know that I do have a son...

Yes, I still find your posts troubling...

My son will know better than to disrespect woman and to think he will get away with it. My son will know better than to put himself in any such position with a woman.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...I could never imagine my DH or most any other man that I know in that particular pose, at all.
In fact, just to be open and honest... I don't know any grown 60 year old men who would want a one-on-one shot with Minnie Mouse.

I agree with this, 100% - but I don't know how he got into that pose. A picture can be misleading. I wasn't in the room, but the other people in the room saw no misbehavior.

I take great pains to ensure that I never put myself in compromising positions, and I am teaching my boys the same. But not everyone is as circumspect, and I hate the idea that a person who makes a simple mistake can go to jail simply because his actions were misinterpreted and her word is taken over his. That should be able to happen in our justice system...