The David Allen case - 2nd visit

Magistrate L. Stuart Platt conducted a hearing Friday morning (8/8/08) for the purpose of addressing alleged violations of the conditions of a release order in the case of USA vs. David Roger Allen. You will recall that Mr. Allen was the subject of splashy tv coverage of his arrest for having kiddie porn on his computer. See The TV Perp Walk for our first visit to this case.

Mr. Allen was released on $50,000 bail on the condition that he be examined by a psychiatrist, live at a halfway house, and get a full time job. Mr. Allen was previously employed as a college teacher, and given all the publicity the main stream media gave his arrest it's safe to presume that he is no longer on the college payroll. And as of the time of this hearing, Mr. Allen was unemployed.

So what kind of job would a college drama teacher with a PhD on his resume and a felony charge hanging over his head expect to get? Think outside the bun.

Mr. Allen testified that he had applied for work at Jumburrito, a locally owned fast food eatery, and was told to report for job orientation the Friday morning of the hearing. He explained that he couldn't be at the orientation because he had to be in court, and they told him he had too many appointments and to forget about working there. Apparently, a federal prisoner employment service intervened and arranged for him to have a second chance at Jumburrito.  We'll see how that works out as Magistrate Platt told Mr. Allen that he must be employed full time in one week or else he should report directly to the U.S. Marshal for incarceration.

Mr. Allen's attorney advised the court that Mr. Allen was having trouble getting hired because of the pending criminal charge. Magistrate Platt replied that the prisoner employment service represented to him that people who had committed some serious crimes were employed all around town. So if you are a fast food customer feel secure in knowing that any offenders preparing your food have most likely been rehabilitated. Might want to steer clear of the serrano and jalapeño peppers, however.

Finally, one of the things we should expect to learn from this trial is how many children did Mr. Allen actually harm. Usually when a teacher is charged with some sexual misconduct students seem to come out of the woodwork with similar accusations. In the present case that's a dog that didn't bark. I have no inside knowledge, but it appears that there have been no complaints of any kind other than the government's concern about what Mr. Allen had on his computer and the key strokes he made thereto.

Comments

[StuckInAStrangeDream]

He harmed plenty of children by supporting their sexual torture with his habits. If there were no market for this material then the sheer volume of it would be reduced greatly and therefore the number of victims would be as well.

[Geo]

Thanks for that, Dream. But for law enforcement to focus so much publicity on someone at the bottom of the distribution channel invites the inference that they are diverting attention away from the fact that they can't find the real villains.

[Anonymous]

Just because the students haven't come out does not mean they weren't hurt.

[Geo]

That's true, Anonymous. But such a claim could be made about anyone in a student/teacher situation. If someone was hurt now is the time to come forward.