Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2001 00:52:25 -0400
From: rfriend@advnet.net ("R. Friend")
Subject: [lpaz-repost] C.P.S. Run Amok
To: carmelaaah@advnet.net ("Carmela Hamilton")
Cc: armedpagans@egroups.com ("Armed Pagans"), ArmsFreedom@listbot.com ("Arms Freedom Discussion Group"), drugfreedom@listbot.com ("Drug Freedom - Discussion Group"), EduFreedom@listbot.com ("Education Freedom - Discussion Group"), glbilib@listbot.com ("Gay, Les, Bi"), lpaz-repost@yahoogroups.com ("LPAZ - Repost"), MIlibertarian@listbot.com ("Michigan Libertarian"), pagolibertarian@egroups.com ("PagoLibertarians"), PALibernet@egroups.com ("PALibernet")
------=_NextPart_000_03F2_01C0EAFE.4A72BC80
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Dear Carmela and Althea,
Well, we've been trying to tell people for months now, that this agency had=
run amok. Now they've proven us right, and made the national news in the =
process!
For those that have remained skeptical about our warnings. Perhaps you'll =
stop and take notice now??? Is there anything else we should be doing in t=
he name of the children now??? Just thank heaven we've got at least one sa=
ne sheriff out there.
Yours, In Liberty;
Rick.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
----- Original Message -----=20
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 9:16 AM
Subject: [ArmedPagans] Sandpoint, Id: A modern American tragedy in the maki=
ng
Re: Children, Dogs Hold Off Idaho Sheriff
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/idaho.htm
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Trouble in Paradise....
Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 20:16:09 -0700
From: "Edgar J. Steele" - steele@plainlawtalk.com
My name is Edgar J. Steele. I am an attorney with an office in Sandpoint Id=
aho. I have been asked by JoAn McGuckin to provide representation to her wh=
ere her court-appointed attorney's representation ends, as well as for her =
six children, now the subject of the highly publicized "standoff" in Sagle,=
Idaho, which is the rural township where I maintain my personal residence.=
=20
Here is the statement I released to the press this afternoon:
Edgar J. Steele =3D steele@plainlawtalk.com
102 South Fourth Avenue, Suite C
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
Admitted in Idaho, Oregon, Washington & California
Facsimile: (208) 265-5329
Telephone:(208) 265-4153
PRESS RELEASE - IMMEDIATE May 31, 2001, 4:00 p.m., Sagle, Idaho
Contact: Edgar J. Steele, attorney for JoAnn McGuckin and her children
Sandpoint, Idaho. A modern American tragedy in the making. That=E2=80=99s w=
hat the Sagle, Idaho, McGuckin family =E2=80=9Cstandoff=E2=80=9D represents=
.
The McGuckin family home and the 40 acres upon which it stands were recentl=
y sold for a pittance by the county government for past-due taxes. It broug=
ht only $50,000, while the property is in prime territory, with fully half =
of Beaver Lake on its eastern edge.
Dad died recently, after a long and valiant struggle with multiple sclerosi=
s, not of =E2=80=9Cmalnutrition and dehydration,=E=80=9D which has widely =
and falsely been reported as the cause of death. Just a couple days after t=
his tight-knit family buried Dad, county government lured her out with a pr=
omise of money and free groceries, then arrested her, leaving them only to =
have to deal with the kids. That was a mistake, of course, but not their fi=
rst.
Rather than allow this tightly-knit family a decent period to grieve the lo=
ss of their beloved husband and father, the county government instead is do=
ing its best to make the faily=E2=80=99s worst nightmare come true.
For years, Mrs. McGuckin has been fearful of the government taking her prop=
erty and her kids. Today, that fear is realized, with the issuance of an or=
der through Child Protection Services, making the six children its wards. O=
f course, the Sheriff can=E2=80=99t get near the house to make good on that=
order.
She has been jailed on a charge of felony child endangerment, allegedly for=
not providing a proper home for the children, including food, hygiene and =
education.
Well, admittedly the running water is off temporarily, because the well pum=
p broke and, what with Dad=E2=80=99s severe condition as his days drew to a=
close, they just didn=E2=80=99t have the time or the money to deal with it=
properly. So, they drew water from the crystal-clear lake on their propert=
y for washing and to flush their toilets with. And, yes, the laundry did pi=
le up, but what family doesn=E2=80=99t have a few domestic backlogs when it=
loses its patriarch?
And the children are home schooled, fact which makes them politically incor=
rect, even by North Idaho standards.
But, they do have food, contrary to reports, and the power was hooked up an=
d paid for when Mrs. McGuckin was arrested.
Are they armed? Who knows? Nobody has seen any weapons and no gunshots have=
been fired. Sheriff Jarvis has shown great prudence in executing the order=
s he is lawfully obligated to follow. He did not cut off any essential serv=
ices, as has been reported. He has vowed to keep his men well away from the=
house and allow us time to effect a peaceful resolution to this crisis.
That resolution must begin with the release from custody of JoAnn McGuckin =
and the rescission of the order giving custody of her children over to the =
government. Friends and family stand ready to accept responsibility for the=
children while Mrs. McGuckin puts her life in order and proves the outrage=
ous charges against herself to be false. However, the demand by the county =
Prosecuting Attorney that the bail, initially set for $10,000, be elevated =
to $100,000, effectively guarantees that Mrs. McGuckin will not be given th=
at opportunity.
We are now asking the court for a reduction in the bond requirement and wil=
l then seek a modification to the CPS order, whereby the children are given=
over, as a single unit, to the custody of a trusted family friend. Then, w=
e will take on these outlandish charges and give them the ignominious end t=
hat they deserve. We are also investigating this highly-questionable attemp=
ted seizure of the McGuckin family home.
Donations to the family can be made to:
McGuckin Family Trust,=20
PO Box 1255,
Sagle, ID 83860.