"Tigger" who fondled WDW guests

[lynxstch]

went on trial today..he claims that he didn't know where he hands were on the people's bodies cause of the restrictive costume...if convicted he faces up to 15 years in prison..

 

[Cebhfhionn]

You know what, they're supposed to be coming up with something big on the defense side. I really don't think he did it. I think that this all started because this woman thought she could sue Disney or get something from them.

We'll see what happens. I really feel bad for the guy....

 

[Scratch42]

Yeah, they will probably find out it's not the first time this "Family" has tried this!

Scratch

 

[SunshineSis]

I just don't see how he could get any pleasure through those big furry paws. I'm skeptical too, although stranger things have happened.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Here is the lastes update:

Tigger's Costume Entered As Evidence In Battery Trial

POSTED: 6:17 am EDT August 3, 2004
UPDATED: 12:14 pm EDT August 3, 2004

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The antics in the trial of a Walt Disney World worker accused of groping a 13-year-old girl's breast while posing for photos dressed as Tigger would be downright goofy if the charges weren't so serious.

Jurors will get the chance to try on a Tigger costume in the jury room. Walt Disney World officials suggested Tigger's costume be altered before being introduced as evidence. The defense attorney moonlights as Goofy and Tigger at the theme park resort.

"This whole trial has a bunch of things unique about it," Matt Benefiel, court administrator for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Orlando, said Tuesday on the second day of trial, which is expected to last through Wednesday.

Michael Chartrand, 36, is accused of misdemeanor battery and lewd and lascivious molestation, a felony. If convicted he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. He rejected a plea offer on Monday that would have kept him out of prison.

He was suspended without pay from his job and his fiance left him after he was arrested in April.

During deliberations, jurors will get the chance to try on the Tigger costume. Defense attorney Jeffrey Kaufman Jr. said he wanted the jurors to feel what it's like inside the hot, stuffy costume so they know how difficult it is to wear.

"Johnny Cochran with the glove thing might be outdone," said Kaufman, referring to the O.J. Simpson trial.


Benefiel said he can't remember another case where jurors were allowed to try on an outfit.

But the use of the Tigger costume during the trial worried Disney officials enough that a company attorney suggested to the defense attorney that the costume be dyed black and white and its ears be removed, Kaufman said last week.

The Tigger costume, covered in a black garment bag and stuffed in a cardboard box, was entered into evidence as state's exhibit No. 7 on Tuesday.

"Our hope is that the use of our costume will be handled with appropriate sensitivity so as to preserve the dreams and magic for our younger guests as much as possible," Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said.

Prosecutor William Jay told jurors during opening arguments that such magic was stolen from the victim when she posed with Tigger and her mother for photos last February.

"He abused his job as a costumed character to steal a little girl's innocence," Jay said.

Much of the trial's contention hinges on whether photos show Tigger's hands on the breasts of the girl and her mother, who later told her daughter she too was groped.

Kaufman said he plans to introduce into evidence Walt Disney World promotional literature that have photos showing what looks like costumed characters' hands on visitors' breasts.

"You're going to get a lot of interpretations," Kaufman told jurors.

The defense attorney also planned to call an expert witness who will bring new meaning to the word character witness: a Walt Disney World employee who plays the costumed characters at the parks. The expert was expected to explain the protocol for taking pictures with guests.

Kaufman, who moonlights at the theme park resort working sometimes as Goofy and Tigger, took the job for free.

"Disney characters don't make any money. They're broke," Kaufman said. "There are hundreds of issues that come up, that, I hate to say, if you haven't worn the costume and you haven't worked there, you don't understand."



http://www.wftv.com/news/3609250/detail.html

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I'm sorry, but this story gets a HUGE DOUBLE eyeroll from me...It looks like someone trying to make a quick buck at Disney's expense. Please, let's deal with some real criminals for a change and leave Tigger alone.

 

[RedxPanda]

Originally posted by SunshineSis
I just don't see how he could get any pleasure through those big furry paws. I'm skeptical too, although stranger things have happened.

agreed!
i mean maybe he poked you will a big furry paw..but that doesn't mean he stood there and fondled your breast!

its a shame when people want to ruin disneys reputation to make money

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by hrh_disney_queen
I'm sorry, but this story gets a HUGE DOUBLE eyeroll from me...It looks like someone trying to make a quick buck at Disney's expense. Please, let's deal with some real criminals for a change and leave Tigger alone.

 

[Lanshark]

I would anticipate a change, stemming from the Tigger incident, banning any physical interaction between the guests and characters. That would be unfortunate.

 

[gshoemate]

Wow, just on the news, the mother's ex husband will be testifying tomorrow on the defense's behalf. He was the one taking the pictures and said NOTHING happened. He said the mother see's Disney as a way of making money. Plus the jury will be putting on the costume.

I feel bad for him. His whole life was ruined by this family. His fiance even left him. I hope he turns around and sues the mother.

 

[Kallison]

Originally posted by Lanshark
I would anticipate a change, stemming from the Tigger incident, banning any physical interaction between the guests and characters. That would be unfortunate.

I know I thought the same thing. We were just talking about this the other day -- when Tigger put my son in a headhold, he is laughing hysterically or when Goofy was holding his chair and motioned for him to sit then pulled it out, or when the Country Bears linked arms with me and wouldn't let me go for like 5 minutes while they skipped around Main St. Geez we could have sued for any one of those incidents and said we got a sore neck, or sore butt or I was humiliated when they wouldn't let me go! Actually I kept saying out of the side of my mouth -- come on guys let me go (I was by myself), but it was a great memory all of them. I hope this doesn't ruin the magic for the rest of us. I'm rooting for you Tigger!

 

[Laura]

What makes it seem unlikely to me that "Tigger" is guilty is because they were posing for pictures. Ya gotta be a pretty stupid criminal to wittingly pose for a picture in the middle of a crime.

 

[BrerMom]

"The defense attorney moonlights as Goofy and Tigger at the theme park resort." I'm sorry, that cracked me up! And the ex-husband is testifying against them? I almost wish I were on the jury so I could try on the suit.

 

[Thumpersmom]

I would actually love to do jury duty for this case. ....at least it would be interesting. Hope all turns out all right for Tigger!!

 

[RedxPanda]

i don't think they would want anyone on the jury from the DIS
i think we may be a little biased

well the deffense might want us

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I heard that they talked to several attorney's who would not take their case. They waited several weeks before coming forward. The defense asked the girl why she was smiling in the picture if this just happened. Her comment was "it was a picture what was I supposed to do". Humm NOT smile, show that you were unhappy about something.

I agree, I think the Mom thought this would be a good way to make some money from Disney.

There are truly children who are abused everyday in their own homes or by others and we have to focus on a guy in a Tiger suit with oven mitts for hands that may or may not have placed in his hand in an inappropriate place. Those Characters take hundreds of pictures daily. They just throw their arms around you and pose and move you along.

The Mother was probably hoping that Disney would settle out of court with some hush money and she would walk away happy.


Strange case...

 

[disney4us2002]

I didn't do a search here but I thought when this originally came to light that the police supposedly confiscated hundreds of photos of this 'Tigger' with other young and/or teen-aged girls. I'm not saying he did or did not fondle anyone or preclude to know why the mother wouldn't have said it happened til her dd did (weird though) but after 11 yrs of working in child protective services, I believe anything is possible. I don't think being able to 'feel' thru the costume would be necessary. As for the dumb criminals comment......that is usually their downfall, lol. Ever read knuckleheads in the news? Some of the stories are hysterical because they're so dumb.

Again, I don't have an opinion one way or the other but I wouldn't just dismiss it as impossible.

 

[TennVolTony]

This woman is just looking for money.......Nothing happened....

 

[Betsyt82]

Sounds to me like the family is looking for the cash cow.....er cash Tigger in this case. People come in so many shapes and sizes that breasts are likely to be touched by accident sometimes, and add a costume? Please.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I truly don't think he did it. I have worn a costume like that (not at Disney) and you can not feel anything through those gloved hands and honestly, they are very clumsy and it is sometimes hard to see and tell where your hands are.

I think this family is trying to make a quick buck.

I hope they don't, and they get charged the court costs for wasting the courts time. Then I hope the guy countersues them and gets at least something for lost wages and emotional distress of having his fiance leave him.