Judge Gives Embattled Atheist Bail and A Warning

[rug]

BARTOW | A circuit judge granted bail Friday for Ellenbeth Wachs, the embattled legal coordinator for the Atheists of Florida who's facing criminal allegations that she made sexual noises inside her home that were heard by a 10-year-old neighbor.

Circuit Judge John K. Stargel set her bond at $6,000 — including $5,000 for the new charge and $1,000 for a March 3 arrest on charges she posed as a licensed lawyer.

Stargel ruled Wachs, 48, could have no contact with the Otto Lehman family, which lives next door to her on Lake Victoria Drive in Lakeland. Her pretrial release also prohibits her from having contact with any minors, Stargel ruled.

- - -

In the complaint affidavit, authorities allege Wachs was annoyed at the boy playing basketball outside on March 13, so she imitated noises made during a sexual act loud enough for the Lehmans to hear outside. She repeated "Oh John," gradually saying it louder and louder through an open window.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20110506/NEWS/110509549

[cleanhippie]

1. Would she have been arrested if she was a believer?

What does her non-belief have to do with anything?

[rug]

2. Lol.

[cleanhippie]

11. Whats so funny? I asked you a question, what does her non-belief have to do with this?

[adds76355]

12. good question

[mysuzuki2]

3. I don't understand why something like this is even

in the court system.

[Angry Dragon]

4. So if she was having sex and making the noise at the same level

that would have been okay??

[MineralMan]

5. I can't imagine what her atheism has to do with her behavior.

Can you?

[aSpeckofDust]

7. You would have to follow the rest of the story up to this point to know.

Basically, a fundie sheriff donated public equipment to his church, and she protested and sued. The sheriff then sent.. what was it? 20+ squad cars to 'arrest' her. A sidenote, the judge is also apart of the sheriff's churchgroup.

[monmouth]

6. This is Florida, okay????? (sarc.)

[WolverineDG]

8. Ok, so she was harassing a kid by making noises

Not a good thing to do, but really, did she have to be arrested for it?

dg

[struggle4progress]

9. She's been discussed extensively here at DU. Apparently she suffers from multiple sclerosis

... Her lawyer, John Liguori .. said Wachs .. diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, hasn't been getting her medication ...
Judge Gives Embattled Atheist Bail and A Warning
By Suzie Schottelkotte
THE LEDGER
Published: Friday, May 6, 2011 at 7:07 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 6, 2011 at 7:07 p.m.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20110506/NEWS/110509549

She seems to be good at getting in disputes with people. IIRC, she had some fight with her homeowners association, she's been arrested for practicing law without a license, and she's in a fight with the local school board over prayers before school board meetings

Polk atheist arrested for posing as attorney
Last Updated: 2011/03/03
... The State Attorney's Office says EllenBeth Wachs posed as a licensed attorney, which is a felony ...
http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/march/214417/Polk-atheist-arrested-for-posing-as-attorney

... On Tuesday evening, as a minister said a prayer, Kieffer and fellow Atheist of Florida member Ellenbeth Wachs stood up in front of the meeting and talked ... O’Reilly said Kieffer and Wachs refused repeated requests to take their seats after the prayer ... Kieffer was placed in handcuffs by officers and booked into the Polk County jail ...
Man accused of disrupting prayer before school board meeting
Last Updated: 2011/02/23
http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2011/february/211119/Man-accused-of-disrupting-prayer-before-school-board-meeting?cid=rss

March 24, 2011
Analysis of Court Order in Atheists of Florida v. City of Lakeland
As posted last week, a federal judge ruled against the City of Lakeland in part on its motion to dismiss the Complaint filed by the Atheists of Florida, Inc. and EllenBeth Wachs concerning the City’s invocation practices prior to city commission meetings ...
http://www.polklawblog.com/archives/analysis-of-court-order-in-atheists-of-florida-v-city-of-lakeland

[HockeyMom]

10. There was a guy in NY who accidentally hacksawed

his thumb off working in his yard. Obviously, he started screaming and CURSING. A neighbor's kid was outside and heard him. Do you know the kid's Dad tried to get him arrested because his kid heard the cursing? While I don't know if something else was going on between the two neighbors, was the guy supposed to be saying, "Oh, fudge". "There is my finger on the ground, gosh darnit!"

Give me a break. BTW, he wasn't arrested and no lawyer would take this as a civil suit. It was in the papers a while ago.