UI softball player is alleged menorah vandal

#1      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
A University of Illinois softball player from California has been identified as the alleged vandal of the menorah outside a campus gathering place for Jewish students.

University of Illinois Police Lt. Tom Geis said Ruby A. Fernandez-Rivera, 21, was given a notice to appear in court later this month on a preliminary charge of criminal damage to property for allegedly vandalizing the religious symbol at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life on South Fourth Street in Champaign early Sunday morning.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/lo...i-softball-player-alleged-menorah-vandal.html
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#5      

KRSAS

K
Charleston, IL
KRSAS
I believe, she allegedly said that she was trying to "fix" it but then her story started to fall apart through interrogations. With all the recent damage to this item, I wouldn’t be surprised if she is convicted of a felony. She has a public defender, who probably has a stack of case files to defend. She should probably hire an attorney to plead down the felony case so then she might be able to play softball again.
 
#6      

Flight 33

F
Flight 33
Tophe said:
And she has been charged with a felony.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-02-23/ui-athlete-charged-felony-over-menorah-damage.html
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Ridiculous that she is charged with a felony. She was out drunk and goofing around. It appears to be accidental damage of less than $300 per the article.

She should be able to plead down to a misdemeanor and have it expunged from her record if she does community service and pays a fine, like the prior person who damaged the menorah. Sounds like that option will be available to her and I would be shocked if that's not the route she goes.

I would guess she'll be back on the softball team after her fate is determined.
 
#7      

icengineer

I
Southern Illinois
icengineer
Flight 33 said:
Ridiculous that she is charged with a felony. She was out drunk and goofing around. It appears to be accidental damage of less than $300 per the article.

She should be able to plead down to a misdemeanor and have it expunged from her record if she does community service and pays a fine, like the prior person who damaged the menorah. Sounds like that option will be available to her and I would be shocked if that's not the route she goes.

I would guess she'll be back on the softball team after her fate is determined.
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No doubt. Just because something 'religious' is involved doesn't make it a hate crime. When I was younger I did many things that would probably result in a similar charge. I've stolen 'presents' out from under public Christmas tree displays (mostly McDonalds..:eek:) and given them to friends as gag gifts. I 'borrowed' a plastic Santa Claus from an outdoor display one time to take to a weekend bonfire/camping trip, but returned him Sunday night on the way home. Granted he had a bit of road rash from falling out of the back of the truck on the highway. At least I went back to get the poor guy after he jumped! Perhaps he knew he'd be involved in some pretty intense partying through the weekend and was trying to escape. :D