04/25/24
February 09, 2005
Tibbetts: "I've been labeled a child rapist in jail, a rapist on the street and a bad person in the hockey world — none of which is even remotely true..." The 30-year-old forward played 82 games in the NHL over three seasons, but also spent 39 months in prison. He admitted to a 1992 sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17, a crime under Massachusetts law, and received probation. He went to prison in 1996 after he was found guilty of assault in a BB gun shooting, thus violating his probation.
If he's telling the truth about the sexual incident, I feel sorry for the guy, but it's dumb for him to quote the dictionary definition of rape -- which he wasn't accused of committing -- instead of statutory rape, which he admits he did. His sentence for that offense -- four years probation with a three- to five-year suspended sentence -- was a lot more lenient than some of the other cases I've read about around the country. Most of his troubles stem from his idiotic decision to commit a gun-related offense while on probation. He should have paid a little more attention to the judge and/or his lawyers when that suspended sentence was issued.
posted by rcade at 09:58 AM on February 09, 2005
Charging a 17-year old with statutory rape is harsh in my opinion, especially since there is not any "knowing" requirement. They can go to school together, but they have to make sure that the know the exact age of their classmates. The bb gun incident sounds like bad decision making that resulted in a harsh sentence because of the prior incident.
posted by bperk at 10:55 AM on February 09, 2005
Yeah, rcade, but by his own admission, he was a teenage knucklehead at the time. He wasn't going to hear any advice. I'm not sure his attitude is all the way there, but I'm glad he's moving in the right direction.
posted by chicobangs at 10:56 AM on February 09, 2005
"...None of which is even remotely true." "Tibbetts pleaded guilty on March 30, 1994, to raping a 15-year-old girl in 1992 at an outdoor drinking party in Scituate, Mass. He was 17 at the time of the crime. At Tibbetts' sentencing, Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Cortland Matters called the crime "brutal," but did not send Tibbetts to jail. Instead, Matters sentenced Tibbetts to a 3- to 5-year term in prison. The sentence was suspended, and he was placed on probation for four years. On April 27, 1994, Tibbetts received a suspended sentence of six months in jail and 18 months' probation, and was fined $625 after convictions on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, and intimidating a witness. According to published reports, he threatened to kill the police officer and his family. Then, on July 12, 1995, in Hingham, Mass., District Court, Tibbetts was arraigned on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a BB gun. He allegedly shot a then-19-year-old friend in the back. The pellet passed through the man's intestine and lodged in his back, according to a published report following a court hearing." When he was up for parole during his stint in prison, the board delined saying Tibbetts, "Displayed minimal insight or remorse [except for himself] into the harm resulting from his offenses." By the looks of it, things haven't changed.
posted by 86 at 11:23 AM on February 09, 2005
I'm not sure any sympathy is warranted in his case. Plus, he was a bad hockey player - no hands. No love from Weedy.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:16 PM on February 09, 2005
As far as Tibbetts goes, whether it was forcible (and brutal) or not, if someone is under the age of consent, then there is no consent...that is how that works. He should go discuss rape charge defense strategies with his teammate Riley Riddell who got acquitted of the charges against him in September 2004. They always are sorry they got in trouble or got caught, but that is about it. I'm thinking Tibbetts' account of the events is pretty self serving.
posted by chris2sy at 03:11 PM on February 09, 2005
I wrote that Riddell was acquitted there, but actually the charges were dismissed...ooops. Should have caught that on preview.
posted by chris2sy at 03:12 PM on February 09, 2005
I feel sorry for the guy...bunch of bad breaks.
posted by StarFucker at 11:19 PM on February 09, 2005
re: blogs - ok, i'll start with a new find, mirtle, who points to this odd lawsuit filed by Pavel "My knee is fucked, but I still kick ass in ESPN NHL2K5" Bure against a Russian cosmetic chain for, get this, insinuating the russian rocket's rocket was the first to enter Anna's orbit.
posted by garfield at 09:24 AM on February 10, 2005
Thanks to BSB, a site I've only returned to of late as the lockout news drought has turned the focus of the hockey blog world in upon itself. There seems to be alot of love (more so than usual) going around lately. What are your favorite hockey-centric blogs?