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January 26, 2012 in City
Doug Clark: Thompson’s ‘responsibility’ stance tests justice
And now for the latest in legalized leg pulling.
Ex-Spokane police Officer Karl Thompson Jr. has “accepted responsibility” for pounding Otto Zehm to pulp in 2006 and lying to investigators afterward to cover his slimy hide.
Or so the Thompson shysters claim.
Gee, Karl. Too bad you didn’t have this “come to Jesus” moment a few years back.
Could’ve saved the public all the expense and bother of holding a federal trial. You know, the one in Yakima last fall that found you GUILTY as hell.
This is just another Hail Mary ploy by the defense, of course.
The goal this time is to get Thompson a discount on the already woefully thin amount of prison time he has coming.
Sad but true: Thompson’s convictions for excessive force and lying to investigators put him in a sentencing range of between just 27 and 33 months.
Cogitate on those numbers for a moment.
Thirty-three months max. For all those Taser shocks and vicious strikes that Thompson rained down on Otto with his special unbreakable cop club.
It’s chump change considering how Zehm – wrongly suspected of thievery – died two days following his beat-down in a North Division convenience store.
Justice? Tell me about it.
The prisons are filled with inmates pulling way more time than that for nonviolent marijuana convictions.
Yet Team Thompson wants the judge to dip below these weenie guidelines because, well, ol’ Karl is such a fine stand-up dude.
Or as Thompson lawyer Carl Oreskovich reasons in a legal filing …
“While Defendant Thompson did choose to exercise his right to trial, this does not preclude him from receiving a sentencing reduction for acceptance of responsibility.
“Thompson has understood and accepted responsibility for the actions he took inside the Zip Trip store.”
You could fertilize the entire back 40 with a load of bull like that.
Hopefully, the judge has more sense than a mollusk, which is all he’ll need to see this for exactly what it is.
Not that I expect Team Thompson to back off. Heck, no.
Before this is over, they’ll be asking the judge to send their disgraced client to Acapulco for a six-month vacation at the resort of his choice.
Accepting responsibility?
To borrow an old metaphor, Thompson wouldn’t know the meaning of the term if it climbed up and wet his leg.
My hard-nosed Old Man, rest his soul, had a special fondness for the “R” word and would drill me with it daily when I was growing up.
Responsibility this. Responsibility that.
There was never any wiggle room about what it meant.
Accepting responsibility means you don’t lie. And when you screw up, you face up to what you did and take the consequences without whining.
Thompson’s act is nothing new.
Just about every hoosegow-bound punk gets some sort of religion when he starts to feel the ol’ cell doors closing.
Speaking of which, some of you out there are steamed that Thompson has been allowed be out and about pending the outcome of all this wrangling.
Not this guy.
Remember? Not long after the Yakima jury lowered the boom, Thompson actually did spend a couple days in one of the area’s lesser confinements.
Free or not, Thompson probably sees the inside of that cell every time he shuts his eyes.
So keep the fires burning for Otto. Don’t give up.
This fight won’t be over until Convict Karl is learning to accept his responsibilities while he’s locked up good and proper.
Doug Clark is a columnist for The Spokesman-Review. He can be reached at (509) 459-5432 or by email at dougc@spokesman.com.
Recent stories by Doug Clark
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Otto_Pilot on January 26 at 12:27 a.m.
Let the games begin…
Ed Byrnes on January 26 at 12:31 a.m.
It would seem to me that despite all of defense counsel’s arguing for mitigation, the fact that the offender committed his felonies under cover of law should be taken as a major aggravating factor, thus encouraging the judge to deviated upward from the guideline maximum.
Ed Byrnes
BlondeSquawker on January 26 at 3:37 a.m.
I like you, Doug Clark.
bez233 on January 26 at 6:42 a.m.
So, Doug, tell us what you really think.
I totally agree with you Doug… .Amen brother.
This has been a disgraceful sham to our community and the “judicial system”
Truthbtold on January 26 at 6:50 a.m.
Yet when someone local steps up to try and hold some responsibility on the local prosecutor who did nothing to Klubber Karl, you actually print “what was she thinking.”
SHE was thinking about you and everyone who complains and does nothing…..
generallyspeaking on January 26 at 7:42 a.m.
Shannon…I really think you should remain silent on this one….didn’t hear you crying when you got your plea deal for running around like a crazy woman with a gun shooting tires out….you were just lucky no one got killed by your stray bullets….
GDodd on January 26 at 7:49 a.m.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/18/doug-clark-head-crackin-karl-can-hum-his-own/?audio
Albert on January 26 at 7:49 a.m.
Our city’s reputation is somewhere near the bottom of the pile thanks to the SPD and “people?” like this_________ atty.
We need jobs in our community, thus we need to attract quality employers. Who, in their right mind, would relocate a major company to our town with it’s wonderful, klubber reputation? We “talk” about ethics, “good cops”, and etc. etc., yet we see this ongoing disastrous abuse of the system, complete with the hemorrhage of taxpayer funds. At what point is enough, enough?
lewis8457 on January 26 at 8:00 a.m.
Once a man loses his honor he is pretty much done for, KT has lost his honor and he has clawed his way all the way to court saying he was justified in beating Otto to a pulp. After court he has said jury was fixed or bad they just simply got it wrong.
His lawyer tries over and over for a new trial but now wants a lesser sentence. Does that mean he agrees with the jury his client is guilty as charged or is this just another smoke screen trying to play the heart strings of the judge? I would think the judge is pretty disgusted by now; he let the defense play their games just to tie them up so they could not appeal.
In court KT attorney painted the picture of Otto being a thief and drug addict, while prosecution was stricken from telling the jury Otto was not on drugs and was not guilty of the crime.
Before he even got to trial his cop buddies started a face book page where 96 police and family members have all stated Karl is great guy and Otto deserved to die, if for no other reason he wasn’t a cop, just a normal citizen whose life isn’t worth a can of beans. Showing the attitude KT had the night at zip trip is the same attitude his fellow officers have to this day.
But now with the chance of having a set of breasts penned to his back he wants to take responsibility? Sorry KT you did the crime and now you will do some time.
Not as much time as someone that grows pot in their basement or owes money for parking tickets but time nonetheless.
For how many years the Zehm family had to wait for trial and watching the local police salute a felon in front of them in a court of law, not enough time by about 15 years.
It disgusts me the way the police know all the sleazy lawyers and all the loop holes in law no one else thinks of. Most people convicted just put their heads down and do the time, but not a convicted cop they will drag the sentencing as long as they can and spend as much of the tax payers money possible keeping their butts out of jail. While giving the bird to the victims family, that only want justice for their fallen son.
It is just plain sad when a ex cop and ex military veteran has less morale fiber then the average meth addict living in a cardboard box, just plain sad indeed.
wheels on January 26 at 8:02 a.m.
“Thompson has Understood and Excepted responsibility”(.Otto did’nt have the chance to do either)..Hell I doubt that.Carl O your BS makes me ill on so many levels.33 mos max for beating Otto to death? I’m fairly well educated but cannot except this.F’shame.
PlanB on January 26 at 8:08 a.m.
Is there any statement directly attributable to Thompson where he takes responsibility? I haven’t seen one.
The sentencing guidelines are a joke. I’m guessing Thompson, a cold blooded killer who murdered Otto Zehm, spends a year in jail max.
Sickening…
DickAdams on January 26 at 8:11 a.m.
Albert: I could not agree more regarding your comment. Most of the time, you hit the nail squarely on the head when ever you post. Good job, thanks.
ultralitigator on January 26 at 8:28 a.m.
“The prisons are filled with inmates pulling way more time than that for nonviolent marijuana convictions.” Myth. Debunked again and again. I get tired of hearing this and couldn’t let it pass. Except of changing jurisdictions and a couple of quibbles, I agree with this letter:
http://www.crawfordcountypa.net/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/CRAWFORDCOUNTYGOVERNMENT/DISTRICTATTORNEYCONTENT/LETTEREDITOR2.PDF
It would be interesting in this case to see the guidelines calculation. Had he simply plead and gotten a two point reduction (or helped out and gotten three points), I wonder what his range would be. I suspect it would be much lower.
brianrbreen on January 26 at 8:29 a.m.
@generallyspeaking/justme09
I was able to copy the two posts that were deleted on the other thread, but I’m kind of wondering if you had anything on me aside from my irrelevant, inept career, and what you purport to be my fat boy, insignificant troubled high school youth. Like for example have you been able to come up with any criminal convictions, plea-bargains, treatment for psychological disorders, attempts to jump off a bridge, or for that matter previous attempts to jump from a bridge. You once tried to post my wife’s name, which was deleted, not that I really cared, but how about my kids names going to give that a shot, or my grandkids?
Instead of taking shots at people who that are perhaps sometimes misguided but well meaning, like Shannon Sullivan, Lewis, Misjustice, Shelala, Tom Clouse, Doug Clark, and others why not just stick with me, I love it and it provides me with some much needed entertainment, or is it a concern you might have that I would breech an agreement I’ve made with the SR…. don’t worry I wouldn’t.
@Lewis
A good old quote, “Do as I say, not as I do” please.
generallyspeaking on January 26 at 8:33 a.m.
No worries here BB…..breach away….and as far as just sticking with you…..Nah, you have become boring…
lewis8457 on January 26 at 8:46 a.m.
oh goody Jerome i hope you don’t forget me i love your constant insults and hate it gives me a reason to get out of bed in the mornings.
Brian call GS his real name Jerome, makes him almost human that way. Almost…….
Ron_the_Cop on January 26 at 8:53 a.m.
Go Shannon!!! APPEAL - Tucker should be given no quarter.
NO JUSTICE - NO PEACE!
To use a favorite phrase of the Revs Jessie and Al.
WAKE UP SPOKANE!
There will be no justice until ROCO TREPPIEDI is fired. He is one of the main reasons this culture and behavior has flourished at SPD. Thompson and others like him are only a symptom.
brianrbreen on January 26 at 8:54 a.m.
@ultralitigator
I tried to calculate it, something I’m not at all good at, but I came up with the same thing it appears you have. The range would have been considerably lower with the two or three points. I doubt there was much room on the DOJ’s side though, and it would have probably meant he would have to give up Moses and McIntyre. Something that may explain to an extent all the support.
Funny thing, all the hoopla about prison time, and either way he would end up at a “Camp Cookie” improving his tennis game especially the way it appears the PSR turned out.
You have to admit though not pleading has contributed to the Spokane economy, after all panel attorneys spend money just like every other member of the community. :)
brianrbreen on January 26 at 8:58 a.m.
@Lewis
That isn’t generallyspeaking’s real name, otherwise I would.
ultralitigator on January 26 at 8:58 a.m.
@brian.
Coffee next week? I agree. As for contribuing, see The Broken Windo Fallacy.
generallyspeaking on January 26 at 9:04 a.m.
See BB…you just proved you are full of hot air….IF you knew anything you would know my name is Jerome….unless my birth certificate is wrong…..But for now…I am off to a warmer climate for two glorious weeks…..so you all have fun in front of your computers……!!
The_Seer on January 26 at 9:05 a.m.
….in places where soap gets dropped,
Bending over the Jailhouse Cop…
St. Jerome: Have you seen Davinci’s unfinished painting of your patron? He looks a tad tormented. Internal demons to be sure.
lewis8457 on January 26 at 9:05 a.m.
ultralitigator you might want to check this site out. for one plant i can get more time then KT gets for beating a man to death and lieing about it.
http://www.justice.gov/dea/agency/penalties.htm
Federal sentencing:
Marijuana 50 to 99 plants not more then 20 years first offense, not more the 30 years second offense.
Marijuana 1 to 49 plants not more then 5 years first offense, second offense not more then 10 years.
Really Brian so GS is not only low life scum but also a lair? Do tell?
ultralitigator on January 26 at 9:19 a.m.
@lewis8457 Are the state and federal prisons filled with marijuana growers? Yes or no?
brianrbreen on January 26 at 9:34 a.m.
@ultralitigator
Re; The Broken Window Fallacy. Good point, and perhaps my reference to the Spokane economy was misguided and self-serving. After all I should have known by now that even though I launched his career as far as defending cops is concerned, subjected myself to danger in the interest of some of his other clients, and have defended his zealous defense of Thompson, you think I could ever get the guy to buy a drink…. hell no, and if I ever could it would probably be at some joint where he knows he would get the money back. Etter is the same way. :)
Next week is bad for me, but let’s do it, I’ve got the number.
Shelala on January 26 at 10:11 a.m.
Heck, the feds had no problem sticking Bernie Madolf or Martha Stewart in federal lock up for financial crimes. but ole KT seems to be “special”. How this slippery eel avoided being behind bars while awaiting sentencing is beyond me. If he had been locked away waiting for sentencing, he would have gotten credit for time served and his remaining time to be served would likely be the equivalent of a bad vacation.
Do Rocco and Delaney have that special slippery quality that prevents them from being fired too? Must be good stuff issued only to law enforcement and their guardians.
Shelala on January 26 at 10:28 a.m.
BTW
@Shannon
Just because you got shot down in your efforts, it does not mean that the public condones Tucker’s and others actions.It just means you can’t self appoint yourself as a leader in the public interest armed with a badly written petition and expect people to line up behind you.I applaud your activism, but your actions are your own.
??Riddler?? on January 26 at 11:13 a.m.
?? Ron_the_Cop ??
?? Ya gonna put yer John Hancock on Ms. Sullivan’s Appeal ??
** waiting…waiting…waiting…**
DISENFRANCHISED_X on January 26 at 11:34 a.m.
I’m thoroughly disgusted with the SPD’s manner of law enforcement. The quality of officers has drastically dropped due to poor selection standards. It would appear the old saying, “The only difference between a cop and a criminal is the cop can’t stand to go to jail” is true. For a large segment of the SPD to thumb their nose at the Zehm family in public and within the courtroom is an insult to the community, which reveals a dangerously unethical expectation of future SPD interactions. With the mongrel pups Rocco and Delaney forsaking the best interest of the citizens of Spokane by misguiding justice it would appear legal staff as well as the police department require an overhaul, as they have forgotten they work for and serve the community. These soulless husks chose to sell out instead of fight for right and that is a sad commentary on society.
Ron_the_Cop on January 26 at 11:49 a.m.
@Disencfranchised -
RIGHT ON - You get it!
Your fired Howard Delaney and Roco Treppiedi!!!
Steve Tucker -
Take your pension when you max this spring otherwise your days are numbered either by recall or other legal means.
misjustice on January 26 at 12:09 p.m.
‘Responsibility’ stance; reminds me of “wide stance”…
Just sayin’…
selkirk on January 26 at 12:19 p.m.
DisX - I have always heard it as “The only difference between a cop and a criminal is that the cop never got caught.”
If he truly accepts responsibility, he must pay for his legal counsel. Otherwise, they are just words and the video proves just how “honorable” his words are.
brianrbreen on January 26 at 12:20 p.m.
@Lewis
By the way, just so you know, probably the second biggest case in the history of Spokane, which was the Coe case, was in essence solved by a janitor, someone who cleaned toilets, and may have been looked down upon by some because of what those people perceived was his station in life. Had it not been for that janitor, and the ability of a little gal named Pat Thompson who was in the prosecutor’s office back then to hold the case together at a time when women weren’t as equal as they are today Coe would be walking the streets of Spokane and flaunting the acquittal.
The same is probably true from the standpoint of OTTO…just an SSI janitor, no one will complain…no one will care. The same is true when even people I would expect more from attack you here.
The truth is some people do care, including most cops and most prosecutors. Please keep that in mind.
HEAR MY VOICE…. JANITORS ROCK…
therailroader on January 26 at 12:55 p.m.
Doug Clark, you’re 100% right on ~ keep those pearly words of wisdom flowing!
Shelala on January 26 at 1:15 p.m.
Who cares if you are a janitor, a cop, a lawyer, a chef, a nurse, a gardener or anything else? We are all residents of our fair city. If you are moral degenerate, you are moral degenerate. People of supposed authority are simply either elected or otherwise entrusted by the rest. Abuse that trust and authority, you should be given the boot. Play by the rules or face the consequences. We all made those rules. There are some people who try to elevate themselves by trying to make others look small and there are others who can actually stand on their own merit. I don’t care if Otto was a janitor or had challenges. He could have been you or I, your neighbor, your loved one - anyone. Spokane lost a citizen that night because another decided he had the authority granted by other citizens to hurt, harm and destroy because he wore a badge. We said no and took away that badge and will soon show him that Otto had value. He will pay the consequences of those outrageous actions that night like any other felon, but IMO his sentence should be much harsher because he used his position, equipment and special training to cause the death of another. Had he attempted to beat Otto without the badge and uniform, I’ll bet you anyone in the surrounding area would have stepped up and tried to stop the abuse.I heard a comedian recently who remarked that if anyone was caught filming him being abused by the police, to please put down the camera and help him.
brianrbreen on January 26 at 2:36 p.m.
@Lewis
As a side note, I’m prepared for the challenge. Including Rocco’s challenge, and despite what he might say about me. We will see, and if he is willing to go there, I will, including an old case he might remember.
Tell me about this Rocco or would you like to forget it, perhaps most would and then let the public draw the conclusion. Are you giving them good counsel, or are you protecting your arse. But remember what you say gets back. I’m not going to get into a lot of it but remember this guy?
http://www.linkedin.com/in/halspice
All the records are there by the way and the ten-year statue has run. So…would I, as I did before in the meeting about the lawsuit…who knows. Just go ahead and keep it up…do your best. Gee one would think having kicked your arse out of my OID crime scenes because of the conflict would have amounted to this, who would have known that years later Mayor Verner gave you the boot because it was right, and in the best interest of the cops, and the public.
I’m kind of left under the cover here, go ahead, take your best shot, but keep this in mind, I have nothing to lose. Just get your time in and leave.
Ron_the_Cop on January 26 at 2:53 p.m.
Ex Ofc Thompson violated the sacred oath of sheepdogs. Do no harm to the sheep we’re sworn to protect.
Further the sheepdogs in charge failed to deal with rogue sheepdogs that mistook sheep for the wolves.
RE WE A NATION OF LAWS?
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!
brianrbreen on January 26 at 3:57 p.m.
@green
Sorry, had to be obtuse, again.
herewegoagain on January 26 at 4:49 p.m.
Thompson won’t be going to a regular prison . They’ll be sending him to a prison facility which is set up to accept only bad cops.
So when all is said and done he won’t be spending time with hardened criminals he’s more or less going to a holding spot for the old boys fraternity where cops look after cops, both in staff and inmates.
Ron_the_Cop on January 26 at 5:04 p.m.
@brian,
Gee in the sky on SW. I’ll snoop linkedin when on grnd u got my interest going re our bud FOCI.
Ron_the_Cop on January 26 at 5:05 p.m.
sorry I mean ROCO fat fingers again.
EthicsinLE on January 26 at 5:10 p.m.
Riddler - Great question. I to wondered if Ron the EX cop will actually sign the recall effort against Steve Tucker this time or leave poor Shannon out there to hang. After all, he helped write it as Shannon stated on the Mike Fitzsimmons radio talk show. Kinda like Ron REFUSES to sign ANY of the complaints he has filed against SPD or SCSO. I wonder if this is because there is a “Under penalty or perjury” statement or because he knows he might be liable for false and liable claims? If you’re interested, I can send you all kinds of facts about Ron. BTW, he has filed several complaints against SPD and SCSO and refused to sign a single one of them. Ask him about his “Friends of Mark Fuhrman” website he used to have. ANY officer who would associate themselves with a CONVICTED perjuror and racist is a disgrace to the community. Funny, Ron says Fuhrman never REALLY perjured himself, yet he plead guilty to perjury and lied on the stand – I can send you the trial transcripts if you like. Ron likes to hear himself speak, nothing more. He is a mouthpiece for himself. Odd how he includes his personal PI business info on many of his postings now– trying to drum up some business Ron? Ron also advocates for blood test for officers involved in shootings, which I FULLY agree with. Yet he fights against this while with Riverside PD. I can send you the Press Enterprise reporting site if you like to support this. Ron is an arrogant, pompous man who needs to feel wanted and loves to hear himself speak. Trust me, I have lots of fun facts about Ron to post – Interested Ron?
Shelala on January 26 at 5:34 p.m.
@Ethics,
Seriously, why do you care? Ron’s not on trial, not an elected official or even a cop. He has an opinion like everyone else posting here - including you.
lewis8457 on January 26 at 6:33 p.m.
ultralitigator read what i posted FEDERAL GUIDELINES i would assume that means federal prison where KT is headed….maybe
ultralitigator on January 26 at 7:34 p.m.
It’ll be federal prison alright. Frankly, the time he’ll do isn’t that much in the scheme of things.
liveinfearoftheSPD on January 26 at 8:48 p.m.
Sounds just like the KK Clan wouldn’t you say EthicsinLE?
Ron_the_Cop on January 26 at 10:36 p.m.
@Shelala
Thanks:-) I’ve posted under my real name. I’ve answered these questions several times now. I’m not going to rehash it here. Just click on my name for previous posts. I will stand by my previous statements and positions.
greenlibertarian on January 26 at 11:31 p.m.
brianrbreen on January 26 at 3:57 p.m.
@green
Sorry, had to be obtuse, again.
Indeed!
boogiesan1 on January 27 at 4:10 p.m.
Speaking of sentencing, how many years did the dude get that killed a family of 5 up on Highway 2 quite awhile ago? He was using his cell phone and drove into the car with the family head on and killed them all.
Ed Byrnes on January 27 at 11:21 p.m.
@generallyspeaking: Shannon was not acting under color of law, which should be a aggravating factor in the sentencing of offender Thompson.
@PlanB: You ask the pivotal question.
@lewis8457: If you know generallyspeakings full name please do share it, they think such things are fine to do to others, like Brian’s ex-wife’s name. Seriously, if you can out this poster of vitriolic attacks who hides their identity definitely do it.
@misjustice: Thank you for the laugh :)
mary1958 on February 12 at 8:17 p.m.
I should think that if Thompson really was accepting responsibility for his actions toward Otto Zehm then he would take a higher sentence to match what any normal person would get for such a crime. Come on Karl–You can do it–—Be responsible!!!
ChiefsFan21 on February 13 at 12:28 a.m.
When have you ever seen local law enforcement accept any responsibility?Not going to happen.And why should they when they know the city will help get them off as not to accept any responsiility themselves.