BANGOR, Maine — Former Penobscot County Sheriff Timothy Richardson — who says he voiced concerns years ago about the Rev. Robert Carlson and his relationship with young boys — said Monday that he did not write the letter that spurred a state police investigation into alleged child sex abuse involving Carlson.
In the last conversation he had with Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross, his longtime friend, Carlson said he suspected that Richardson wrote the unsigned letter, Ross told investigators.
“If I had been the author of that letter you would have known it because I would have signed it,” said Richardson, who was hired as a deputy in the early 1970s and was sheriff between 1980 and 1984. He lost the elected position in 1984 to Edward Reynolds, who served as sheriff until his death in 2002 from cancer. Richardson failed in his re-election attempts.
The former sheriff also said Monday that Ross was wrong to tell Carlson about the Maine State Police investigation and he supports Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith’s call for an investigation into Ross’ actions.
Ross, who worked with Carlson for 33 years, told him about the investigation just hours before Carlson jumped to his death from the Penobscot Narrows Bridge early on Nov. 13, 2011, according to a Waldo County Sheriff’s Department report into his suicide released last week.
Ross said he told Carlson that he was the focus of the state police probe because Carlson was on the Penobscot County Jail’s board of visitors and Ross wanted to limit his access to the jail.
It was a tough decision that he stands behind, Ross said Monday.
Some media outlets “made it sound like I made up a story a week later to cover myself,” the sheriff said. “That’s not me. That’s not how I operate. I don’t think there is a thing wrong with what I said” to Carlson.
Richardson, however, has a different opinion about what Ross should have told Carlson.
“If he had to tell him something he could have said the [Attorney General’s] Office was doing an investigation inside the county jail and no outside programs are being permitted,” the former sheriff said. “Being the sheriff, he need not give an explanation to anybody.”
Richardson also said that Ross’ action interfered with the investigation.
“By [Ross] telling him that, he did jeopardize the investigation,” he said. “Mr. Carlson went and talked to the victim” and Maine State Police never got the opportunity to speak with him before his death.
The Waldo County report states that Carlson met at about 12:30 a.m. Nov. 13 in Bangor with a local man who is the focal point of the state police child sex abuse investigation and was the last person to see him alive.
The man was an 11-year-old boy when he first met Carlson in the early 1970s, and Carlson began sexually abusing him soon after, according to the man’s family. The Bangor Daily News is not identifying the man because of the possibility that he is a victim.
Carlson helped found and was president of Penobscot Community Health Care; was a founder of Hope House, a Bangor shelter for people with drug and alcohol addictions; and was a previous chaplain for Husson College, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bangor and Brewer police and fire departments.
Ross said he received a copy of the unsigned letter that sparked the child sex abuse investigation on Nov. 10, the same day the state police inquiry began.
The unsigned letter claims that Carlson “sexually abused a young boy several years ago” while he was pastor at East Orrington Congregational Church. The letter asked for an investigation into the matter. The state police investigation is still open and should be complete in the next few weeks, the lead investigator said last week.
Ross said he decided two days after getting the letter to contact Carlson and spoke with him twice on Nov. 12. In the first discussion, he told Carlson about the state police investigation.
“I told him that there was a letter that has been sent to everybody and that the letter accuses him of sexual misconduct,” the sheriff said.
“It was not a secret,” he said. “It was sent to the clergy, sent to the Boy Scouts, the governor, the attorney general and me.”
In the second conversation, which occurred later in the day, Carlson said he suspected that Richardson was the author of the anonymous letter, according to Ross.
“He called me back at my house [and] he said, ‘I believe Timmy Richardson is behind them,’” Ross said, adding that “he made allegations in the past.”
Ross said the conversation lasted about two minutes and it was the last time he spoke with his longtime friend.
Carlson was the Penobscot County Jail administrator when Ross was hired and later became the jail’s chaplain, a post he held for 38 years. He retired as chaplain nearly two years ago.
Richardson said he questioned Carlson’s actions in the 1970s after seeing Carlson “come into the control room [at the Penobscot County Jail] with young boys at 2, 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning. It was very uncomfortable. It was just a very odd situation.”
The boys were “always troubled youth” and Carlson sometimes would rub them all over, including their buttocks, the former sheriff said.
Richardson, who was a young part-time deputy, said he reported his concerns to Otis N. LaBree, sheriff at the time, and then Penobscot County District Attorney David M. Cox, who later became a judge. Both are now deceased.
“They were concerned but they didn’t take it anywhere,” the former sheriff has said. “They didn’t want to take it anywhere. Back then they [religious leaders] were above suspicion of child abuse.”
Richardson said Carlson “knew I brought it up back then and was very angry with me.” After Richardson became sheriff, he said he asked Carlson to resign as a jail administrator.
Shortly after Smith heard about last week’s Waldo County report, he emailed Maine Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Mary-Anne LaMarre “calling for the removal of Sheriff Ross as president of the Maine Sheriffs’ Association.”
Members of the Maine Sheriffs’ Association met the next day and agreed to conduct an inquiry into Ross’ conduct, a step required by the group’s bylaws when a member raises a complaint about another member.
Ross said he is holding his own even under the scrutiny he is facing, thanks in part to his supporters.
“This is a difficult situation,” he said. “I have had so many people call me and sending me emails saying it was hard but the right decision was made.”
BDN writer Tom Walsh contributed to this report.
BDN, please don’t waste any more ink or web space by publishing any more quotes by Richardson. The guy lives to get his name in the paper, yet is so disliked that he didn’t even carry his own hometown of Hermon the last time he ran for sheriff.
His statements are nothing more than Monday-morning quarterbacking by a vindictive, bitter indivdual. The two sources to whom he supposedly “voiced his concerns” have both passed away. How convenient.
Let the authorities investigate the matter, Mr, Richardson; please go away.
There must be a file somewhere of these complaints. Sounds like they were true and justified.
If, as you say the “complaints” were “true and justified”, why didn’t Mr. Richardson open an investigation when he became Sheriff between 1980 and 1984. Instead he asked “Carlson to resign as a jail administrator”.
Mr. Richardson all you did was “kick the can down the road” and now he comes forward saying “hey look at me. I knew something wasn’t right.”
You had a duty and you failed to fulfill that duty.
What would he have investigated? Law enforcement can’t go on a fishing expedition on the basis of lawful, if distasteful, behavior observed.
ryan he found it disturbing enough to reportedly go to the his boss and the DA. Then we he became Sheriff he “dismissed” him.
Criminal investigations begin all the time because of observed behavior which raises a question or suspicion in an officers mind.
I think there would have to be a complaint first. Richardson filed a complaint and it was his superiors who didn’t follow it up with an internal investigation. It seems they were sending him a message.
He personally observed the behavior. It is no different than an officer observing the “suspicious” behavior of two individuals standing next to a car and watching money go in and an object go out. Drug deal? Maybe. Suspicious? Yes. Complaint first? No. Investigate? Yes.
Mr. Richardson had a suspicion. He failed to investigate it when he was elected Sheriff. He failed.
In the car scenario, the officer can go over and talk with the people. But what is a law enforcement officer to do just because kids are given a tour of the jail and the tour guide has his arm on the kid? That’s not a crime. It’s odd. But not a crime. It certainly wouldn’t be enough to get a search warrant.
ryan try rereading the story. The “tour guide” in the early morning hours (Richardson says “2, 3 or 4 o’clock”) “would rub them all over, including their buttocks”. That is a crime.
This was not your “average” school age tour of the jail with a regular tour guide. These were private “tours” conducted at extremely unusual with “touching” of the guests that would never occur in a “normal” tour.
He says he told the district attorney. What more could he have done? It’s the district attorney who files charges, not a sheriff.
He told the then Sheriff and DA (since they are both deceased they are not available to confirm or deny Richardson’s statement) but that is not the main point of your post. The main point of your post is “what more could he have done?”
Well when he was elected Sheriff (still within the statue of limitations then in affect) he could have opened an investigation into the “odd” behavior that he observed and “reported” but nothing was done about for starters.
Isn’t opening investigations one of the things we pay our Police and Sheriff Departments to do?
Yes, but it was observing child abuse .and back then it wasn’t like it is now .so I’m sure he new it would go nowhere … By the time Richardson was sheriff Carlson had all kinds of new friends and was in like flin ..
You are making an excuse for Richardson. He had a sworn duty as Sheriff to take action and he didn’t.
Law Enforcement can’t investigate a possible crime? You might want to tell the State Police that, they are investigating the very same allegations, the difference is now the crominal is already dead…
The difference is there was a specific complaint of criminal wrongdoing.
I’m not sure what your complaint is, it says he did report it to his superiors. Are you saying he should have gone above their heads when they took no action? This sounds exactly like the Joe Paterno story, but everyone is saying he did what he was required to do and he is being lauded.
So instead he allowed the behavior he found “odd” and made him “uncomfortable” to continue.
By not doing his sworn job as Sheriff he allowed the behavior to continue and if additional victims are found, Mr. Richardson is at least partially responsible for the abuse they suffered because of HIS failure to investigate behavior he found “odd” and that made him “uncomfortable”.
But he did report it. So far it seems he is the only one who reported anything. I’m not sure why you’re castigating this guy.
Why am I “castigating this guy”?
Because as Sheriff he had the power AND ability to act on what he observed several years before. The statue of limitations had not run out and instead of opening an investigation and looking into the “odd” behavior he observed, he dismissed Carlson instead.
All he did was “kick the can down the road” and allowed the “odd” behavior (what we now know was criminal behavior) to continue.
Because then it becomes a personal vendetta of sorts. By this time he had probably understood the way the system works to protect certain well liked public figures. Sounds like he was right but it also warned Carlson to be more careful about his nasty habits.
Did he report it? How will one ever know they are both dead
Richardson says that when he becme sheriff he prohibited Carlson from accessing the jail. So no, he didn’t allow the “odd” behavior — midnight jail tours — to continue.
Richardson “prohibited Carlson from accessing the jail” by dismissing him. While the “midnight jail tours” may have ended, the “odd” behavior of touching was “kicked down the road” and never addressed.
YES PLEASE. no more peyton place chronicles. until any charges are brought, leave it be.
The continuing love for Carlson would be amusing if it wasn’t sad. He did great things, but he also did horrible despicable things
Don’t shoot Richardson, he’s just a messenger.
Ross was very wrong to speak to Carlson and give him a heads up. No different that giving a drug dealer the heads up about an investigation. He should be released of his position immediately. There is obviously no concern for following rules, regulations, the law of ethics, the law in general etc.
Yes, I think he was wrong, too. If Carlson hadn’t been forewarned, maybe family and firends would have have been able able to keep him from killing himself. Then, there would have been a trial and perhaps some justice for the alleged victim.
victim(s), as in more than one.
AND just where are these victim(s)? Its been an open investigation for how long now and not one, including this upstanding citizen (who is also an admitted drug user) mentioned in the unsigned letter has come forward yet. So far its all been he said/she said hearsay.
I think its pretty clear that if the MSP had a credible witness or more victims coming forward they would have made some sort of statement to that fact or it would have leaked by now.
We don’t know what the victim (admitted drug user or not) has said to the MSP. We don’t know what other victims may or may not have come forward and spoken with the MSP. The victim(s) have no reason to speak with anyone other than law enforcement and only then if they want to.
Exactly my point! None have come forward publicly, we don’t know what the MSP knows…they have released nothing more so its all PURE SPECULATION on behalf of the “online jury” that there are one or more victims period.
Being sexually abused as a minor often leads the victim to criminality. Drug use, abuse of alcohol, and physical and sexual violence are CLASSIC symptoms indicating child sexual abuse.
We all watch TV crime shows and know the classic symptoms but until credible information is released to the public is not fair for the BDN online community to tag him as a pedophile. Yes, we were all led to “suspect” he is guilty and we are slowly learning he had other skeletons he didn’t want to face, but until MSP verifies the facts of this unsigned letter we can speculate all we want…it doesn’t make it fact.
An innocent person doesn’t kill themself ; if he hadn’t been tipped off,who knows?? It may not be LEGALLY wrong, but still wrong IMHO…
I agree 100%….we are slowly learning he had skeletons he didn’t want to face. I am just tired of the online jury convicting him without any knowledge of what he did wrong.
As far as Ross….I agree, he tipped off his buddy and should kept what he knew to himself.
So you are saying that no one who commits suicide has ever done so because of being falsely accused? I don’t know what this man did or didn’t do, and from what I can see here, neither does anybody else.
I have spoken to a family member of Carlson who confirms the allegations, so there are no ‘false accusations’.
How do you know?
Are you an investigating officer? How do you know that no other victim has come forward? They don’t need to come forward to the media. I wouldn’t if I didn’t have to. Look at the way people get picked apart when they do come forward. Just like what you said…”admitted drug user”. I probably would be a drug user too.
And why do you assume that they have? Until the facts (which are likely none of our business) are released nobody has any right to convict him on pure speculation and hearsay. I assume many people posting in this comment section are complete idiots, but it doesn’t actually mean they are…does it?
Well…I didn’t say they have for one thing. Sounds like your an angry dawg!
How do you know they have not? It looks like the MSP unlike the Penobscot Sheriff’s Office does not go public with their information, and I’m sure they do not tip off their friends as well with on on-going investigation. I cannot believe that a Sheriff tipped off his friend when he was asked not to by a Detective. WTF was Ross thinking.
Don’t think there would be a trial since the events took place so long ago that an older law was in effect and the statute of limitations had expired and he could not be tried on that charge. If there were any other victims I am sure the State Police would let it be known. The victim has never made a complaint to the police and if he would not testify about it the case would also go no where. Now, as for former Sheriff Richardson if he was sooooo concerned about this matter then once he became Sheriff, he had all the power and authority to open an investigation and turn the information over to the DA’s Office and if they would not pay attention he could bring the information to the AG’s Office. But, he did none of it. He stayed quiet about it. So, did Richardson do his duty, did he protect other potential victims or did he keep his mouth shut. Easy to say oh I reported it, reported to two people who are dead now and can’t say anything about it. Maybe if Richardson had done something years ago the statute of limitations may not have run out. I find it interesting we didn’t hear anything about this from Richardson until everything is done and he gets to be in the spot light. I don’t think I would want to come out and point a finger at someone else knowing that I did nothing about the problem…
Sometimes we sense that something is amiss, but we’re not quite sure what it is. We may mention it to somebody, but not press the matter, because we’re not sure. Later, when it turns out that something likely was amiss, we’re more apt to come forward and say something.
Each of us has a certain threshold that must be met before we take things to the next level.
From a personal experience, I had a neighbor whose boyfriend tended to yell a lot. The first time it happened, I didn’t do anything, because the yelling subsided. The second or third time, I heard my neighbor crying. I paid more attention. I heard some loud banging. But the threshold was crossed when the neighbor said “Why are you doing this to me?”
I called the police. The boyfriend was arrested.
From what I heard when the police arrived, the boyfriend likely assaulted my neighbor. He was convicted of disorderly conduct instead.
The point I’m making is someone else may not have called the police. What would have happened if it turned out later the boyfriend killed the neighbor in a future spat? Would we say the other neighbors shirked responsibility for not calling the police for an earlier incident of yelling?
Sounds to me like the Penobscot Sheriff;s Dept is a can of worms. I’m with Donnie Smith on this one.
I am no friend of Tim Richardson. If Glenn Ross had any brains he would stop talking to the news media. Every time he does he contradicts himself. First it was he told Carlson that the letter in question was about sexual misconduct. Then a week later he claimed he never told Carlson about the contents of the letter. In the same article that he claimed not to have told Carlson what the complaint was in the letter he then went on to tell how Carlson had said that the matter needed to be investigated due to the Sandusky situation at Penn State. Now he is saying, ”
In the last conversation he had with Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross, his longtime friend, Carlson said he suspected that Richardson wrote the unsigned letter, Ross told investigators.” So first he told him about the letter containing
allegations of sexual abuse and then he didn’t and now he did. Stop bringing dishonor to the men and women of the Penobscot Sheriff’s Department Mr. Ross. Resign.
I hate to break this to you, but Ross isn’t contradicting himself. The differences are from the shoddy reporting on the part of the BDN. They only tell part of the story each time they rehash it…
Bull Ross is just trying to cover his tracks. Carlson was a fraud I’m glad he Jumped off the Bridge !!!! Didn’t want to waste Tax money to feed and house him
Really? Ross isn’t contradicting himself? Perhaps you are correct. Why don’t we just find out? Here is what Ross said on 1/18/12, “I told him that there was a letter that has been sent to everybody and that the letter accuses him of sexual misconduct,” the sheriff said.“His only comment to me is that police have to take this very seriously because of what is going on with the Sandusky case,” Ross added, referring to the Penn State child sex abuse scandal involving coach Jerry Sandusky that broke around the same time. “He didn’t confirm or deny anything.”“If I had failed to act, I would have been in dereliction of duty, as the safety of the inmates is one of my major responsibilities as sheriff,” he said. Here is what Ross said on 1/20/12 , “There were no details shared, not who was investigating or for what. I just told him there was [an anonymous] letter of complaint that was widely circulated and that I would have to restrict his access. I told Bob that I could not reveal any details; that would be improper.”
On 1/18/12 Ross said that he told Carlson the letter accused him of sexual misconduct. However on 1/20/12 Ross claims not to have told Carlson, saying that he couldn’t reveal details of the letter.
If those two statements are not inconsistent then what are they? You can try to point the finger at BDN, and believe me I have , in the past in regards to this story, been critical of the BDN . In this story it has nothing to do with shoddy reporting. It has to do with Glenn Ross telling different stories.
Telling someone he is being investigated for sexual misconduct is not divulging details. The details would have been who made the complaint, who is suspected of being the victim, when the act occurred, the number of acts, where the acts occurred, who is conducting the investigation, when the investigation began, etc.
If Ross was so concerned about Carlson entering the jail, then why did he NOT tell jail officials not to allow Carlson into the jail…Would that not have been logical if that was the real reason that he told Carlson about the investigation? If Carlson had gone to the jail after Carlson was notified of the investigation, the guards would have allowed him to enter because they were never told to limit his access to the inmates………
“If he had to tell him something he could have said the [Attorney
General’s] Office was doing an investigation inside the county jail and
no outside programs are being permitted,” the former sheriff said.
“Being the sheriff, he need not give an explanation to anybody.”
He would have to get the AG to agree to that. He would also have to really suspend all outside programs. Just telling Carlson a lie probably wouldn’t be good enough. If the state police were so concerned about secrecy, they would have come up with something like that for Ross.
This was many years ago does any of this matter today , Almost all the parties are dead and and so called victiims are in ther fiftys or so . So put it all behind you and move on mayby times were better when people didnt talk and kept there opions behind closed doors
My comment wasn’t about what happened years ago,
imho, YES it does matter to those who have struggled in life as a result of Bob’s actions.
Do you really believe that if some of the characters are ” dead” or “in their fifties or so”, that life should just be fun and games now? NOT.
MSP and BDN, KEEP DIGGING…
Wow. Tell that to the victim who’s innocence was robbed and will probably never be able to live a normal life.
ITs called get over it and move on or you could use it as an excuse to be in trouble all your life turn to drugs and get a disability check or you can say now im in control of my life not my abuser and move on and forget they ever existed. be tought not spleeny so many people today blame there past or parents or abuse its called grow up and cope like the old days enought baby sitting.
I have only seen “he voiced his concerns”, not that he filed a complaint or anything…. pretty convenient he waits until anyone involved is deceased… and glad to see I am not the only one who remembers what it was like when Richardson was around!!!
Mr. Richardson all you did was “kick the can down the road” and now you come forward saying “look at me. I knew something wasn’t right.”
You had the chance to open an investigation when you became Sheriff between 1980 and 1984. Instead you asked “Carlson to resign as a jail administrator”.
You had a duty and you failed to fulfill that duty.
At least Richardson is coming forward. All you are accomplishing by your comments could be preventing someone else from coming forward. Thank you Mr. Richardson for your courage.
Mr. Richadson is “coming forward”? Why didn’t he come forward when he was Sheriff with an investigation?
He had a suspicion when he was a “new” Deputy Sheriff and “reported” it to his boss and the DA. But when he became Sheriff what did he do?
As Sheriff did he start an investigation into seeing Carlson in “the control room [at the Penobscot County Jail] with young boys at 2, 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning”? Richardson said “It was very uncomfortable” and a “very odd situation”. Richardson also said he observed Carlson “rubbing” them (the young boys) all over, “including their buttocks”.
I am asking a question that should be asked. Why didn’t then Sheriff Richardson do what he was supposed to do as Sheriff? It was well within the 15 year statue of limitations in place at the time for sexual abuse of a child. He found Carlson’s actions “uncomfortable” and “odd” enough to go to his boss and DA but not enough to do something about it when he was the boss.
He shouldn’t be lauded, he should be questioned about HIS non-actions too.
I see what you’re saying. But I think we would have to know what happened after he initially reported it to his boss and the D.A. Did they investigate it or not? If they did, then what were their conclusions. If they didn’t, then why didn’t they. Plus, this means that his boss and the D.A. were also aware of the situation for the past 30-40 years, and who knows how many others.
Why investigate it and find out nothing?????which is exactly what would of happened so he just got rid of him period at least he wouldn’t be bringing little boys into the jail anymore
What courage?
It’s about time for the State Police to tell us what they have. Enough of this shell game – what are the facts?
From the article “Sheriff Glenn Ross informed Bob Carlson of Maine State Police investigation” January 18, 2012
“The state police investigation into the sex abuse allegations, which began on Nov. 10, is continuing and should be completed in the next month, the lead investigator, Sgt. Jeffrey Love of the criminal investigation division in Augusta, said earlier this week.
and
“McCausland…said details of the sex abuse investigation will be released when it is complete.”
The fact is that the MSP as well as others are looking for a scape goat to indemnify the sheriff. This is the good ole boys club at it’s best! Ross should be placed on UNPAID administrative leave prior to his dismissal when the true facts are in.
We are still awaiting the conclusion of the MSP investigation of the alledged cold blooded murder by a state trooper in D-F a couple of months ago. The accusation was publically made by the Piscataquis Sheriff who was an eye witness.
It seems that there is more crime in this state involving law enforcement than the general public. Hardly a day goes by that they aren’t involved in domestic violence, OUI, or cover ups etc.
I am confident that much more crime is hidden than exposed by the boys in blue. And they wonder why they aren’t respected.
Odd how you don’t mention the “cold blooded murder” committed by the person BEFORE he was shot by the State Trooper.
Murder is a legal term which should not be used until AFTER conviction…which will now be never.
Then let’s use the term assigned by the Maine Medical Examiners office….homicide. The Maine ME uses that term to describe a death which is caused by the actions of another human. Happy?
Um spanky, first of all the State Police are NOT investigating the shooting in DF, the Attorney General’s Office is.
Second, the Trooper in that case saved the Sheriff’s life when he was walking into an ambush and the sheriff was too emotionally involved to realize it…
You never let the facts get in the way of your ignorance, eh Henrietta?
You seem to know a lot about the investigation in Dover and other cases you have commented on here that haven’t been made public. Is it speculation or fantasy on your part. It certainly couldn’t be ignorance. Hmmm!
You have no clue Do you make it up as you go?????? A PR man for the police ???????????
Well….. all I can say is that I’m glad SOMEONE DID THE RIGHT THING and wrote the letter…anonymous or not. Carlson apparently was a fraud in every aspect….no undergrad degree, no grad degree…so seminary degree…zip….. AND a pedophile to boot….EXCELLENT!!! No one checked his credentials, no one looked into previous concerns….I’d say this was just one EPIC FAIL all the way around.
I agree. The person who wrote the letter deserves a big thank you. The letter writer had the foresight to know that this letter needed to be sent to several different departments. Suppose the author had only sent this letter to the Sheriff’s Department? Thank you anonymous author, I do not care to know who you are, just thank you. I find it disgusting that people are posting negative comments about Richardson or Smith. Perhaps there are others in law enforcement ( I am positive there are) who witnessed strange behavior by Carlson. I hope they all come forward. For those posters who are accusing Richardson of grandstanding, I would like to remind them that there was no bigger grandstander than the silver tongued Carlson. The guy loved to be in the paper, on the radio, parked in the fire lane of almost every restaurant, and underneath the basketball hoop at the basketball tournaments.
One thing I can say for certain about Tim Richardson is that you always knew where he stood on an issue. Right, wrong, or indifferent the man did speak his mind.
“One thing I can say for certain about Tim Richardson is that you always knew where he stood on an issue. Right, wrong, or indifferent the man did speak his mind.”
Yeah….35-40 years after the fact!
He was the Sheriff and had the power AND ability to order an investigation into the “rubbing” of young boys all over, “including their buttocks” that he found “odd” and made him so “uncomfortable” as a young Deputy Sheriff.
But he didn’t and failed to do his sworn duty and is now criticizing the current Sheriff for what he did? Can you say or spell hypocrite?
Why the BDN refuses to ask Mr. Richardson about HIS failure to conduct an investigation into what HE personally SAW is mind numbing and if their are any additional victims, Mr. Richardson is at least partially responsible for the abuse those victims suffered for his failure to investigate the behavior he found “odd” and made HIM “uncomfortable”.
The statute of limitations back then was incredibly short. It is highly likely that “the rubbings” occurred long enough ago to be beyond prosecution.
The statue of limitations back when the “odd” behavior occurred was 15 years.
Richards say he witnessed the behavior in the “early 1970s” and he was the Sheriff from 1980 to 1984. Let’s give Richardson the benefit of the doubt and say he witnessed the “odd” activity in either 1970 or 1971. The statue of limitation would have run out in 1985 or 1986 which is well within his tenure as Sheriff of Penobscot County.
If you read the whole article Richardson went to the then sheriff and the da and they refused to do an investigation because back in the 70’s the head of any religious organization priest,minister,reverend etc…. was said to be or thought of as “above the law”
Brian I did read the whole article.
He claims that he went to the Sheriff and the DA and they did nothing. Of course neither gentlemen are alive to confirm or deny the report but let’s give Richardson the benefit of the doubt and say that he did what he said.
My problem isn’t what Richardson claims he did when he was a new Deputy Sheriff. My problem is with what he didn’t do when he was elected Sheriff. Richardson’s instincts about the “odd” behavior were good. So good that one has to wonder why he didn’t open an investigation when he was elected Sheriff.
how do you investigate without a known victim?
Richardson says he witnessed the “odd” behavior. Every person that enters the jail has to be signed in and out. You pull the old logs, review them, determine if the “young boys” were signed in. If they weren’t well presents a bit of a problem but he further claims they were “troubled youth” so it seems he knew where they may have been coming from. You can also question any other persons that were present in the control room. Since they call it a “control room” it is reasonable to assume that other Deputies and Jailers were present and may have also witnessed the “odd” behavior.
Carlsn would have been signed in, but the names of any juveniles accompanying him would not have been recorded. How long are the logs kept–7 years? We kept 4 years on-site and stored another 3-5 off-site, and purged any held longer than 7 years. Richardson said they came in at 2, 3 and 4am. Third shift, we only had one officer there. The thing is—anyone investigating would have to know who the kids were that he brought in with him so that they could be interviewed. Otherwise, it’s just one person saying “hey, do you think the Reverend Bob is dootlin’ those boys he brings in to the jail?” That is not a proper investigation.
Maybe much of what you say is true and then again maybe it’s not. We will never know but Richardson HAD the opportunity to do something and he didn’t. Not only did he not do anything, but he stayed silent until it was over. That say a great deal about Richardson’s lack of character.
Sure if it wore a skirt.
If he’d done his job rather than express his opinion, Jenny Hicks would have been found within days of her murder. other women wouldn’t have died, but then his opinion of women is pretty low. Which he proved when he got busted for stalking an ex-girlfriend.
Interesting behaviors. The bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral. Sociopath for sure.
I think you will find background checks have been done before just been ignored. Isn’t it standard procedure when you work for law enforcement???????? Colleges etc?????
A PCHC spokesperson said they did NOT check Carlson’s education and degree’s….when it was followed up on he had no bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or divinity degree….PCHC said ” he was Bob Carlson larger than life’ as to why they didn’t check his references….ridiculous.
I can’t for the life of me figure out how he got hired as the Jail Administrator! What REAL law enforcement experience did he have? What experience in corrections did he have? Being a preacherman doesn’t qualify you to run a large county jail.
Can someone explain to me why BDN keeps running the photo of Carlson with the caption “REV. Carlson?” Am I wrong, or hasn’t it been confirmed by the religious and educational institutions where Carlson claimed to have acquired his divinity degree that none of them ever heard from him???
I had the same thought, he should be referred to as Carlson. Period. To the best of my knowledge, that’s what I’ve read, he had no degree or education to be Rev. He was an
imposter in everything he did.
He should be referred to as”accused child molester”
he certainly was~
Agreed. AND, if the BDN insists on continually repeating his “accomplishments” it should use as much ink repeating that he lied about all of his academic “credentials.”
Which is why Richardson referred to him as ‘Mr. Carlson’. Though I did attend a wedding that he performed, he may have been a just Justice of the Peace. OTOH, he did preach at that church in E. Orrington for a number of years.
Regardless of his title, there’s little doubt of his guilt. I would hope there is miniscule disagreement about that.
You do not need to be a graduate of ANYTHING to be a Reverend. Al Sharpton claims to have been a “Reverend” since he was 13. There are no “standards” for the title of Reverend as that would violate the separation clause of the Constitution.
Exactly! Why not remove his picture from the public as well, I for one am sick of looking at his mug. In fact, quit publishing anymore info on this creep. I say he voluntarily had his day in the big court the day he took the cowards way out & is likely being punished appropriately. Let’s move on.
Until Maine voters and taxpayers come to terms with the fact they fund and own the criminal justice system then the inmates will continue to run the Asylum.
Couple that with the fact that Maine taxpayers are the primary consumers of this system
leaves one understanding there is no excuse .
Other states have long ago taken a leadership role and created volunteer civilian review police boards with subpoena powers.
The Maine taxpayers must determine their needs for safety not a hack in Augusta.
Here is another reason why, eh?
see link for full story
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/paul-duggan/46-months-in-prison-for-former.html
Jail for former FBI worker from Va.
Washington Post Editors
A 65-year-old former FBI employee from Prince William County was sentenced to nearly four years in prison Friday for possessing child pornography.
As he should.
Here comes the broken record again, still playing out of tune…and off topic.
Jehovah works in his own time,and in his own methods.Homosexuality is a sin, and Jehovah will dealt with homosexuals and such in his own way.Sodomites,Beware!.
How about murder?
see link for full story
http://www.fox8live.com/news/national/story/Appeals-court-upholds-judgments-in-Bulger-case/K1PLYnEAPEuVjki9V87M3Q.cspx
Appeals court upholds judgments in Bulger case
Published: 1/21 2012
The
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld awards of $1.3
million, $350,000 and $1.1 million for the families of Debra Davis,
Deborah Hussey and Louis Litif, respectively.
The court affirmed a
trial judge’s decision that the FBI showed “wildly reckless behavior”
in using Bulger and his associate, Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi, as
informants and shielding them from prosecution.
Bulger, who was arrested last year after 16 years on the run, is awaiting trial for participating in the murders of 19 people.
And Bulger’s case has WHAT to do with this?
He was married 45 years to a WOMAN…he was a PEDOPHILE genius…..there is a difference duh…..gee will jehover ‘dealt’ with pedophiles or are those lovely people no problem for good ole jehover???? PFFFFFFT.
Do you really believe that there are no homosexuals married to women? Also,These were little BOYS…He was a pedophile and a homosexual.I dont know about the pedophile genius,Im not privy to his IQ score.
You must be a Jehovah’s Witness. Didn’t think they allowed computers. They don’t allow much except, door to door religion peddling.
HILARIOUS……clearly it was your IQ (or obvious lack there of) ‘genius’ that was in question Pfffffft….and I’m fairly sure YOU haven’t been ‘privy’ to Carlson’s sexual preferences…..unless there is something YOU would like to share with the rest of us (King of Men are you?? I just bet.)….PEDOPHILIA is not the same as being gay……anymore than saying you’re ‘religious’ somehow makes you a good or decent person when in reality we are all privy to your narrow minded, fearful, bigoted and pitiful Belfast rants…..
Who really cares who told who and when they did it. The fact is BOB would have killed himself sooner or later…the demons inside were working on him.
The ‘demons’ apparently were only ‘working on him’ only after BOB got CAUGHT….I suspect the fabulous pseudo ‘reverend’ (he had no seminary degree) would have happily gone on his merry way – just as BOB had been doing for the last 20+ years- so long as no one raised any questions…..and when questions were raised…..well we have all seen the results of BOB’s character….he didn’t take responsibility for his sick and twisted actions….he took the cowards way out. The only ‘demons’ were the reality of being found out by everyone that he was nothing but a sham, a liar and a pedophile.
The guy was a coward and a fake. He used everyone to gain power. Only when he knew he was in trouble with pedophile activity he knew all the other lies would come out. The police should of done a thorough investiagtion. On who this guy was.
You’re right the State Police should have done a thorough investigation- except we can all thank Sheriff Ross for informing his good pedophile buddy about the investigation so the police never got a chance to even speak with Carlson before he did his swan dive.
Demon inside??? HE was the demon~
The emperor has no clothes. His veil of invisibility had been seen through and he took a swan dive. We can not speculate on what the total catalist was until the investigation is complete, only Bob knows why he jumped. Pointing fingers does no good. This is a subject that has no closure as long as it is in print. It keeps people riled up and angry at the wrong people. It keeps the victim in turmoil and his family wondering why it wasn’t seen sooner. I wish those involved nothing but peace and happiness. Carlson has paid with his sole.
One less pedophile in the world. Two bad he didn’t jump off the bridge many long years ago. These creeps that abound in the Catholic church and youth organizations have caused much pain and ruined more lifes than anyone can imagine. Maine’s most notarious pedophile, Eugene Trundy lived across the highway from me in East Winthrop when he molested a baby girl. Yes, a little baby girl just a few months old.
TLMMSW got it right. Epic fail all the way up the ladder, including Richardson. Lots of people HAD to know what had been going on for that many years. Ross may have been wrong in speaking to Carlson, but he has been truthful about everything, unlike so many others, including the victims family. It’s disgusting to see so many pointing the finger at Ross, when so many others could have done something about it years ago.”He that throws rocks should not live in glass houses.” What a bunch of self-serving hypocrites.
“including the victims family”!!!??? Get off your high horse! The victim didn’t tell anyone until after he was an adult!
since when has ross been truthful??? i’m pretty sure he’s been everything BUT
And the surface has only just been scratched, I bet there are a lot of people who either suspected and turned a blind eye or knew and just ignored it.
Thanks Timmy for your input. You are the man and that everybody thought you where. Timmy if Ross is out are you going to run again?? Timmy you should gone even higher to protect the people inwhich you thought was in harms way. Instead just Cox and Labree. There where other law enforcement that could have helped. I bet someone could dig up some mud in Hermon if someone was to just ask around. What Bob did was totally wrong and it should came to a head 30yrs ago. He was a slob for what he did and jumping was the easy way out..
Sounds like Maine has a sheriff problem.
Maine has had a few Sheriff problems going back to Richardson and before. We dont even begin to know whats going on with our law enforcement and political Good Ole Boy way of doing business in any of our Government offices ! This state and country is full of corruption, my motto , DONT TRUST ANY OF THEM UNTIL THEY GIVE YOU A REASON TO !
Sounds like Manie has a well protected Pediphile problem
No picture of Donnie Smith??….he is gonna be maaadddddd!! Expect a late night email crying why there was not one
They all like their picture and name up front don’t they. My favorite publicity-hound was Portland’s former chief Mike Chitwood or Mugging Mike to his detractors. I don’t know the name of the Portland Chief before Mike, but it was a calmer more livable city when the anonymous chief policed it.
Mr Richardson, shame on you for not doing job when you were Sheriff, and how will any one ever know if you speak the truth, the two you spoke two are deceased. I believe you always were a showboat and always will be. You will do anything to get your name in the press. This is a sad situation for all involved, family,co workers victims. Any thing you bring forth is for your own satisfaction. I think if you look back when you were Sheriff there were shady things going on that you allowed. Lets not throw stones at someone else things might appear about you that you may not like. Let the investigation continue and you need to step to the sideline and stay out of the way.
Bangor, you are rotten to the core!
Why did you not know that ANY preacher who espouses the evils of homosexual “marriage,” civil unions, or abortion is himself evil and a fraud?
Why was Bob Charlatan given access even to “conservative” churches?
“Even as Sodom and Gommorah, and likewise the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh are SET FORTH AS AN EXAMPLE suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7)
And you, “conservative” Baptists trusted a pervert more than you trusted the Word of God.
ahhhh because we didn’t know this about him if in fact they are true…duuhh
Congregationalists.
Just wanted to point out that Carlson likely paid no state or federal income tax for the past four or five decades based on his fake reverend credentials.
I didn’t know there was a special tax on “reverend credentials” that required paying additional state or federal income tax on.
Ministers are exempted from Federal witholding and FICA.
According to this website you are partially correct.
-Ministers pay their own self-employment tax.
-Ministers can receive a Housing Allowance and/or live in a church provided parsonage. (The value of both of these are excluded from a minister’s calculation of income tax…but still subject to self-employment tax)
-Churches cannot withhold Social Security and Medicare tax from a minister’s paycheck.
– Minister can opt out of social security
– The church can withhold income tax, but not Social Security and Medicare tax.
– Minister are responsible for paying the Social Security and Medicare tax themselves.
http://www.freechurchaccounting.com/clergytax.html
Good point! That crook bahstid!
It’s time to stop the blame game. Timothy Richards knew these alligations years ago. Why wasn’t this handled back then? It is never ok to abuse a child. It is never ok to cover it up. Lesson learned here, even when you cover it up it does come back at you. If someone did report this we wouldn’t be having this conversation today. I don’t care if you thought he was the Revern, the Reve turned out he fooled all of you. And used all you for his minipulation game.
Is anyone else tired of the armchair court of appeals rendering opinions on this?
Its easy to predict the past. Move on BDN your starting to look too much like a tabloid rag and not enough like a “news” paper.
Richardson is famous for writing letters,so nothing would surprise, his famous saying is well much as i hate to its time to put the pen to paper, he is a grandstander in the town and in the town office,where he has been known to create a distubance worthy of being asked to leave recently.
Glenn Ross is a good man who made a judgement call. I think some people who want to crucify him may have their own agenda. He is a honest man. If he had given specific details to Bob that would have been different but he didn’t. I think people are justifiably upset about the whole thing with Bob but Glenn Ross is not the person they should take their frustration out on. People in his position have to make tough calls everyday, let’s keep some perspective.
Ricahrdson has gotta be the only or one of very few sheriffs that didn’t retire from it ,its a lifetime gig if you do your job, with sweet retirement bennies and he was handed the job on a silver platter by Otis Labree ,his Old Town buddy.People trusted Otis ,he was talented and respected.
I think a lot of people did voice their concerns. I know I did when he participated in a non profit fund raiser….when he responded oddly to a request where a minister was needed, acted strangely around the neighborhood children, was oddly seen parked near the woodline at the airport, at the school,….etc. sometimes alone, sometimes with a young man…. I could name many more times when concerns were voiced…and many times people voicing those concerns were not responded too well. But, there was no hard evidence, only suspicions. At least that’s still demanded in this great Country of ours. The wise watched carefully and kept their distance, knowing a day like this would evolve.. The rest, unfortunately, were fooled by a great actor and one of biggest frauds we’ve known..Than again, Bangor seems to like to hide (or dismiss) the evil doings by those it’s put up on a pedestal. With that, I’m surprised the BDN has printed what it has, as I’ve wondered where the BDN was in past situations, similar to this…and no media….That was interesting..
You’d think that after a number of complaints were made by different people a light bulb might go off inside the sheriff’s office or state police. These guys seem totally numb, or is it dumb?
Have you notified the MSP and been interviewed?
I agree with richardson .100%.. Ross was out of line to speak with Carlson and most certainly cause of a series of events that may not have happened had he shut his mouth… he should be , at a minimum, be suspended and removed from his position. Loose lips, still, sink ships .. this one did.
Common folks don’t understand the good old boys network..
Truth hit to close to home “paul”?
Are you saying he didn’t have a sworn duty?
Are you saying his inaction didn’t allow the behavior to continue for years and decades?
Glenn Ross was very wrong in tipping Carlson off to the fact he was being investigated. In doing that, he severely compromised the investigation. If he can’t separate his personal life from his professional life, then maybe he isn’t qualified to be a sheriff. The fact that he can’t see what he did was wrong is very concerning. He should be relieved of his duties before he decides to tip off some drug dealer that might happen to be someone he knows.
call it a gut feeling.. my kid would never be left alone with carlson
“STFU” is in violation of the rules of etiquette here. civility would give your argument more weight.
I’m not sure why anyone cares who wrote the letter! Innocent people don’t jump off bridges!!!
Maybe Sherriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife of Mayberry, RFD wrote the letter. If not them…maybe Aunt Bee or Opie are the culpritts.
Being spurned by your superiors after reporting suspicious activity by a close associate at the jail, should not have deterred Mr Richardson from informing the parents of the youngsters.
A similar excuse was advanced during the current Penn State debacle. A top coach observed disgusting behavior between the school’s exalted athletic leader and young kids and reported it to his superiors. They waved his complaint aside and the top coach did nothing.
If Mr Carlson’s behavior upset Mr Richardson as he claims, and no action was taken to prevent recurrence, Mr Richardson should have taken the matter into his own hands and telephoned the parents of the youngsters involved. He could have met with them privately and bluntly explained what he saw happening.
Since Mr Carlson had at that time unlimited access to the sheriff’s quarters, it would have been a safe bet that no more children would have accompanied him when he visited. Mr Richardson’s concerns could have been amplified to the organizations Mr Carlson belonged to, especially those connected to children’s activities.
It is easy to say Sheriff Ross was wrong. On the surface it does appear that he was telling a suspected law breaker to run for it. However, the reality of the incident sadly depicts an extremely upset very good friend telling his long time friend that he was in deep trouble and was being investigated. It would be extremely hard for any real true friend not to have said something. In discussing this, many of us agreed they would not only have told Mr. Carlson he was big trouble, but also sought some facts and advised him to go to the police.
After 38 years of a deep trusting friendship, it is incredibly hard to believe that any one could do any different. There are many in Maine who knew Mr Carlson and are unable to comprehend, that the man they knew so intimately well, was guilty of what he was never charged with.
I personally don’t care what Timothy Richardson has to say about Sheriff Ross , Rev Carlson or anything else for that matter.
He is obviously a publicity seeker
If you’re wondering where the animosity between these two stems from, and what kind of guy Timmy Richardson is, read this MLRB decision. I wouldn’t trust a thing this guy says.
http://www.maine.gov/mlrb/decisions/ppc/83-22.htm
I personally don’t care what Timothy Richardson has to say about Sheriff Ross, Bob Carlson or anyone else for that matter.
He is a publicity seeker.
….
this “who said what & when” means nothing. The only person at fault here took the cowards way out, after damaging numerous lives. We should not let him create more victims after his death.
What I find amazing is that Ross does not even realize he was a “victim” of Carlson. Just like the Orrington Congo Church and it members, PCHC and all its members. Carlson surrounded himself with people of power and “victimized” them in the name of friendship so he could cover up his perverted tendencies and not be ??. He was a scary scary man who “victimized” thousands of people in the course of his fabricated life…..he is no Reverend!!
You are spot-on. ‘Murder in the guise of caring” is what the experts on clergy abuse call it. It matters not the age, although with children it becomes a criminal matter. See this link. http://www2.baylor.edu/baylorproud/2009/09/results-of-baylor-study-on-clergy-sexual-misconduct-could-help-congregations/
Mr. Richardson you are just a guilty as Bob Carlson. You should be tried and convicted and sent to prison for not stoping Bob Carlson when you knew that he was molesting boys. What is wrong with you and why is there a hold in arests?
Prior to the Mid 90’s, religious leaders were untouchable when it came to accusations of sex. Mr. Richardson did report this the athorities and I’m sure it not only fell on deaf ears, but I’m sure he was told to shut up about it. Making waves at this time would not have come to a conviction and probably would have ended his career in law enforcement. Just my 2 cents.
insatead the voters ended his career
Ross did exactly what Carlson wanted. He gave him inside information, all part of Carlson perfect plan to use his “make believe” friendship to get what he wanted from people of power. Ross needs to resign. I don’t always agree with Richardson, but he is correct in this case. Ross could have kept Carlson from the prisoners without spilling the beans.
The only thing I will say is—If you know, suspect, or have any reason to think that any child is being sexually or otherwise abused, and you do nothing,and whatever you can to cover it up, warn or even suggest to the person doing it that someone might look in to it, you are every bit as damn guilty as the person you are warning!!–What in hell is wrong with people??–
Enough already! So much about this is pure conjecture at this point. Tim Richardson needs to close his yap and so does Sheriff Smith. The BDN also needs to lay off these stories until the Maine State Police complete their investigation and release the report. Anything being reported now is “he said” such and such. Is somebody keeping score? Once the MSP report is released and the results of the Maine Sheriffs’ Association are made public I look forward to this entire story disappearing so that both the victim of the abuse and Carlson’s widow and son may find some closure to this tragedy.
This is not a tragedy, it’s a crime.
So good to hear the latest from Tim” Deep Throat” Richardson, first he says in an interview that “when he became sherriff he told him it was time to move on” ,now he says that when Carlson wanted to get involved in jail ministries he came to “Deep Throat” and” he went to the sherriff and set it up for him AND he did some wonderful things”Keep talking now all we need is ahandwriting sample and we can do an anaylisis and find out if he wrote it. Keep it coming BDN ,good entertainment !
To the Sheriffs of Penobscot and Washington County: I no longer desire your serving / protecting services.
Take a hint from everyone else involved with REV. Bad Touch and put some distance between you.
Reduce the budget by re-structuring the Sheriffs department. We have no need for the political waste that’s consuming it.
Of course the fact that Glenn Ross beat Tim like a drum in the election doesnt have anything to do with Tims feelings ! Keep digging Tim.
Jus ta couple of points folks,
Seriously who would want the job of Penobscot County Sheriff? The pay isn’t very good in exchange for dealing with the scumbags that end up in your jail everyday, the public votes you in therefore many of the public that didn’t vote for you will disagree with everything you do, your patrolmen work in a city fillied with the finest officers in the State which would lead some of your good guys jumping ship and joining the Bangor force. You have the media in your face everytime something goes down, usually at the hands of the criminal i.e. suicide in jail, claims of officer abuse, notables getting arrested. Did I mention the pay sucks. My point is you are probably not going to get the best human being with the highest IQ and moral standard available for such a role. I know, I know, we should but it is unlikely.
All that said, there is no way on earth that Glenn Ross, Glen Gary, or Glenn Beck should have tipped Carlson off that he was being investigated. He then flat out lies to us and gives the only bogus excuse allowable under public policy. His stated reason for telling Carlson is a joke and the public isn’t that stupid. Even the ones on Bath Salts sitting in a cell can see through that.
Ross, your response should have been “when I heard the news I was in shock and disbelief. I called my long time friend of 33 years just to give him the heads up, as I think any friend would, before I thought about the consequences. When I took my friend hat off and put the Sheriff hat back on I wondered if I had made the right decision. When I learned that he jumped I felt horrible and that confirmed I shouldn’t have warned him”. I need forgiveness from the public for making a poor impulsive decision”.
In todays media driven world of “instant news” people should really learn to use the words “no comment” particularly if their paycheck is signed by the taxpayer.
The sheriff system is old boy from the start, once they are in they can hire their relatives etc. The waldo county Sheriff is even running a prison farm to the benefit of county employees and their friends. They are hurting the local farmers and markets but they don’t mind it is all hurray for them. They don’t grow much that they use to get the inmates through the winter.
Folks the inmates are running the Asylum.
You have no idea how much of your tax dime is used by cops to arrest cops do you?
Two stories illustrate my point….
1st http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/24/justice/connecticut-racial-profiling-arrests/
FBI arrests Connecticut cops accused of racial profiling
By David Ariosto, CNN
January 24, 2012
2nd read
In 1999 the Martin Luther King family sued one of the assassins of Martin Luther King in civil court. They did this because the department of justice would not reopen the investigation after the Martin Luther King family uncovered evidence that the FBI, CIA, and Memphis police had assassinated Dr King. The King family also wanted to enter their evidence into a public record so it could be accessed.The jury returned a verdict in favor of the King family and juror members held a press conference saying it was a clear cut case of the FBI assassinating Dr King. There was a media blackout of the trial. Details of the trial can be viewed here or by reading the book called ACT OF STATE THE EXECUTION OF Martin Luther King
written by the trial attorney William Pepper.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/spl2/mlk-conspiracy-exposed.html
Regarding MSP final report, I’ve seen “released” and “made public” used in previous comments.
I believe there may be a difference between the report being released vs. made public. The former might allow a good writer to bullet the facts obtained from the MSP investigation and show it to the taxpayers via the media. The latter might be a process where the “file” would be available to the public by going to the MSP and requesting the file, maybe at a price.
Can anyone clarify this?
Perhaps BDN will pay the fee, then publish the facts for the taxpayers?
Who cares what Tim Richardson thinks, he is not any better than D. Smith, has to get his 15 min. of fame.
his 15 minutes expired years ago
Ross was very right! Ross is the Sheriff, he and Police everywhere tell people they are under investigation all the time, you can put all the stupid twists you want on this, but your wrong. Someone was at some point going to tell Carlson, now all of a sudden you people think you know better when the Sheriff should tell someone they are under investigation!!!??
He has/had every right and in fact the responsibility to tell him.
You people that say tipped off, you are so missing the point, ROSS IS THE SHERIFF, he received a letter, Carlson worked for sheriff, the State Police do not have some magical power over Sheriff’s Dept. they have the same if not less Police Powers than do the Sheriff.
Investigation are not secret, this is not Germany 1940, we very often tell people they are under investigation, the minute they interview one person, there is no law or responsibility for them to remain quiet. A Chief or Sheriff often deal with internal issues such as these, and they need to tell the officer they are under investigation, by doing this they also are legally warning the person not to tamper with witnesses or evidence. Only after he/she has been told he/she is under investigation would or could it be considered witness tampering etc.
Maybe the folks he molested tipped him off when he couldn’t come up with the extortion money?
And maybe those folks are grueling over the decision to make a report; power and control can continue even after death.
Tim Richardson is a stand-up guy. I agree with what he said, and believe every word.
bwaaaaaa !