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bernices bernices
 
M$1 August 11, 2009 10:51 PM

Man gropes Minnie Mouse at Disney? Is the punishment enough? Too much?

60 year old man groped Brittney Duncan Mcgoldrick while she was dressed up as Minnie Mouse while working at Disney World. He was convicted of a misdemeanor battery and had to write a letter of apology, supervised probation for 180 days, must complete 50 hours of community service within four months, pay $1,000 in court costs and undergo a mental evaluation.

Does the punishment fit the crime?
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buddawiggi buddawiggi
 
 August 12, 2009 12:11 AM
Statue 784.03 of Florida law says in part: The offense of Battery occurs when a person

1. Actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other; or

2. Intentionally causes bodily harm to another person.
Statute 784.03

So it seems at first look he is guilty of the crime. To me the punishment seems fair as incarceration was the maximum punishment.
Source(s):
http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Sea...
http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Sea...

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socalsue socalsue
 
August 12, 2009 12:26 AM
At 60 years old he was brazen enough to grab at a Disney character's chest and behind in public. He has most likely gotten away with touching others in less public scenarios and felt like he could continue to get away with it. The punishment fits the crime.

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buddawiggi buddawiggi
 
August 12, 2009 12:32 AM
I agree. He could have been charged with sexual battery as well. I believe his punishment is suitable. The D.A. seems to have taken leniency when selecting what charges to bring against this man.

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fraggle fraggle
 
August 11, 2009 11:11 PM
Personally it seems to me like he was punished a bit too harshly.

I know these topics are very sensitive, and a misspoken word or mistype can get somebody into all sorts of trouble. But i am going on the basis that this guy has never even had so much as a speeding ticket in his 61 years.. My understanding of it is, he fondled her behind whilst getting a photograph taken, and then 'She did everything she could to get him off her breasts', I don't know what that last bit means, but without the full details i'm not really able to pass comment. From the newspaper stories, it sounds like she may have exaggerated slightly.. In court she 'was fighting back the tears because she was so distraught'.

He has to be supervised for 180 days WITH 50 hours C.S., to be finished in 4 months, $1,000 fine and Mental evaluation along with a letter of apology and global media coverage...

I think there are rapists out there who got less then that.

Don't get me wrong, the guy should get punished, in my opinion, i think that maybe, in this case it was just a little bit harsh..

Tags: court, mouse, disney, minnie, groped

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seanhunter seanhunter
 
August 11, 2009 11:45 PM
tough situation. personally i dont think punishment will really "fix" these problems.

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kdeals2009 kdeals2009
 
August 12, 2009 12:41 AM
In My Opinion,

The punishment fits, except for the mental eval.

He was probably joking around and didn't mean it but he should have thought about the consequences and/or said something before he did it.

But those charges are not too serious and he probably wont do it again!

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albanian albanian
 
August 12, 2009 02:23 AM
This was absurdly excessive. He should have gotten just a warning. People touch mascots all the time, and there is no real likelihood that it was particularly sexual. How could it?

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defolts defolts
 
August 12, 2009 03:23 AM
I like your answer but not sure if it was not sexual, have you been watch Fox News, apparently the whole debate about marriage is so people dont marry animals or somthing else.

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albanian albanian
 
August 12, 2009 08:47 AM
From time to time I happen to see a tv with Fox News on it, and it seems pretty much just right wing propaganda these days. I don't think there is much chance of anyone marrying a mouse.

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defolts defolts
 
August 12, 2009 03:26 AM
I am familiar with what the courts do here in California so I cant say the punishment was too much, it really is a matter of intent.

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kankimizut... kankimizut...
 
August 12, 2009 05:39 AM
..........wow............

I definitely believe that the punishment fits the "crime".

What sane man, even an old one, will go around groping "Minnie Mouse"!!
Even I am not that desperate....

But I wonder.......will the 50 hours communtiy service within 4 months be done during the probation.
I would not trust this man to do community service without someone watching him.

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morriss003 morriss003
 
August 12, 2009 06:12 AM
Sounds good to me.

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zachwillms zachwillms
 
August 12, 2009 06:55 AM
Given the man's age, I would expect a certain degree of restraint (on his part.) The elderly are expected to set good character examples for the younger generation, so a crime like this is actually more heinous.

On the other hand, if the evaluation suggests that the man is mentally disabled, I think the community service and the fine should be waived, leaving only the 180 days probation (presumably both for his protection and others around him.)

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