CDC scientist pleads guilty to punching 14-year-old girl on ski slopes

[somone]

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-scientist-pleads-guilty-865894.html

Georgia scientist pleads guilty to punching girl on ski slopes

A Decatur man accused of punching a 14-year-old girl in the face for running into his son on the slopes in Colorado has pleaded guilty to third-degree assault. The Vail Daily reported Tuesday that the plea from 41-year-old Scott Filler, a renowned malaria expert, was for a misdemeanor stemming from the December incident at Beaver Creek Ski Resort. Police reports say Filler thought the teen was skiing carelessly when she bumped into his 4-year-old son. Eagle County sheriff's deputies say that's when he jumped on the girl and hit her with his fist. The girl said she was swerving to avoid another skier.

District Attorney Mark Hurlbert says Filler was sentenced to anger management classes and restitution, the amount of which would be determined by the girl. Prosecutors also sought community service, but Hurlbert says the judge fined Filler $500 instead.

Three witnesses told deputies they observed Filler punch girl between two and four times. The ski instructor who pulled the Decatur man off the girl told deputies Filler punched her "at least four times, using a closed fist". Two other witnesses said they observed Filler yell at the girl before landing two or three punches. Filler, charged with misdemeanor child abuse, told deputies he thought the girl was skiing carelessly and had seriously injured his son. The boy was not hurt, however, and Filler apologized. The girl was treated for minor injuries at a local medical center. Her father requested charges be filed against Filler, who was banned for life from Vail's six ski resorts.

Filler's work as a "disease detective" with the Epidemic Intelligence Service was chronicled in former AJC reporter Maryn McKenna's book, "Beating Back the Devil."

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BTW he and his wife Sami Gottlieb are both MDs. His wife was featured on 60 Minutes in 2003.

[Dappleganger]

1. Some people just shouldn't be allowed out in public, period.

Even if it was a preventable accident, he could have pressed charges against her for compensation if his son had been hurt. But this? That is just crazy.

[Teaser]

5. Angry people make stupid choices

hopefully he gets that under control.

As someone with my own anger management issues, I cannot stress to others with similar problems how important it is to control that part of yourself.

[nomb]

14. Like this one, in which an adult man has chosen to be forever known for face-punching a 14yo girl.

A reputation takes a lifetime to build - but only a second to squander.

Some of his closest friends and family will tolerate him, one or two will even become his apologists. His peers will reject him by and large. And those with whom he never before would have associated with will now embrace him for his research and professional fame while looking away from his infamy, and he will grudgingly accept this because he will require the social sustenance even while always knowing its stilted artificiality.

He is damned, branded by his action throughout the earth, and his life now shamed has changed irrevocably.

[speltwon]

23. I wouldn't be his "apologist" but I certainly wouldn't stop being his friend

for a misdemeanor committed in the heat of the moment like this. He was wrong, he is getting punished, and you move on. I don't see this as a big deal.

[Zebedeo]

2. He should be punched in the face four times

by the 14 year old girl's dad.

[devilgrrl]

16. how Christian of you.

isn't wrath a sin? :popcorn:

[Zebedeo]

21. How surprising

that you take the side of the child abuser.

[devilgrrl]

22. How not surprising that you're advocating violence when it suits your purposes.

Hypocrite.

[aikoaiko]

3. What an a-hole.

Even as a father there is no way I can justify for a "bump" on a ski slope where the youngster was not injured.

[BlueIris]

4. Disgusting.

Misdemeanor? Oh, wait, and banned for life from the town's ski resorts. Fucking terrible. I hate people like that violent asshole.

[deutsey]

6. Four times? Really?

I mean, once is overkill here, but damn, he must be one uptight asshole to hit a 14-year-old girl four fricking times.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Great. Somebody whose job is dealing with lethal pathogens

who has anger management issues.

Nothing could go wrong with that.

[VoteProgressive]

8. Wow, how horrible.

[jdp349]

9. I've been a ski instructor at Vail no less

Collisions are no joke, but this mans reaction was unacceptable.

[cali]

10. I posted about this when it happened. And just the other day

I read about a 14 year old boy who was badly beaten while standing in the chairlift line at Bromley in Vermont. The police are seeking the help of the public. I mean wtf? How could some kid be badly beaten while standing in line? Didn't anyone see what was happening? How come no one did anything?

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Peru, Vermont - March 3, 2011

An attack at a Vermont ski resort is baffling police.

On Monday, Jan. 17, police say a 14-year-old boy was standing in line for ski lift number 1 at Bromley when he was reportedly punched numerous times and knocked on his back. The suspect kept attacking him while he was on the ground.

The teen was seriously injured and has not been able to return to school. He's facing significant rehabilitation in the hopes of regaining most of his motor and cognitive function.

Police say the suspect is a white male in his mid-to-late teens, about 6' tall with a trimmed beard. He was wearing a brown Carhartt-style jacket with black ski pants and a black hat. Anyone who saw the attack or has any information is asked to call Vermont State Police at 802-875-2112.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=14177813

[Bandit]

11. With absolutely zero to go on, I would bet this man is a Republican

Probably even a Tea Bagger.....Many doctors are Republicans because of their money, and once a person accepts being a Republican they have to accept all that goes along with it, like rudeness and pettiness, and violence and intimidation and complete lack of compassion for their fellow man or woman. Not to even mention the contempt they have for women..

[lame54]

12. Did she deserve it? - Let's ask Megan Kelly...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x593484

[PassingFair]

13. Skiing is dangerous.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9f-5QLXa7_Y/ScQ7lTZB5GI/AAAAAAAADTo/4pWQWi_0joA/s400/Blog+Art+-+Natasha+Richardson12.jpg

I wouldn't take a 4 year old on anything but a "bunny hill".

I'd like to punch the guy myself.

[Horse with no Name]

19. I was wondering that myself

WHY was the 4-year old on a slope like that?

[devilgrrl]

15. "restitution, the amount of which would be determined by the girl"

Ask for everything he has!

[devilgrrl]

17. Total slap on the wrist. Had he been from a less than desirable social status, he been sent to jail.

eom

[speltwon]

24. Bullshit. I see this meme all the time

Whenever a story like this is posted. This is PAR FOR THE COURSE for a misdemeanor assault for a first time offender. Poor, rich, black, white, doesn't matter. That goes for DV assaulters too. How do I know. I've investigated over 100+ assaults in a long career, testified many times, and seen the court cases.

Feel free to go down to your local courthouse and peruse the sentencing standards. This is EXACTLY what the run of the mill misdemeanor assault defendant gets as punishment - again, not on probation and no priors.

[devilgrrl]

25. You're entitled to your opinion.

And why shouldn't someone think what I said when one reads of so many instances where people are thrown behind bars for much less?

How about those blacks kids that got into a fight with white kids after they tied a noose to a tree? Guest who got arrested for the incident.

Nah... that never happens.

[speltwon]

26. It's not opinion, it's fact

And I didn't say it NEVER happened, I said it's par for the course- irrespective of race and class. Heck, I've seen black (and white kids) commit MUCH more serious crimes and get similar punishment. Outliers and travesties don't define the mean.

The reality, in the real world (again, facts- not opinion) is that if you commit a misdemeanor assault (no weapon, relatively minor injuries), and you have no priors (which would also mean not on probation or parole) you will VERY rarely get ANY jail time whatsoever. It is usually some sort of fine and/or community service. Most of the time, you can get some sort of deferred prosecution, which means you complete your probation etc. and you get it wiped from your record.

I prefer reality. That's reality.

[devilgrrl]

28. I'm fine with reality and I hope that girl takes that prick to the bank...

and gets everything she demands.

[JBoy]

18. He thinks his son is seriously injured, but his first instinct is to beat up the girl?

What a dick.

[frylock]

20. being banned from vail is going to kill his social status..

what a fucking dick.

[Liquorice]

27. He should have just claimed she punched him first. Many people

would have found that sufficient justification for his behavior, or at least a mitigating circumstance. Based on some of the disturbing responses to the woman who was punched into a coma on another thread, I think he would have had a good chance of getting out of punching the girl altogether if he just would have claimed she struck first. A good percentage of people would have believed him just because he said it's true. He may have even been found not guilty by reason of self-defense.

(I am being sarcastic, for those who haven't read the thread about the woman in New York who was attacked and punched until she fell into a coma.)