Count #18

I got a text from Lori about 10:30 am Friday while my Government students were taking their final exam.  It said that the Prosecutor was going to announce arrests and charges against the people accused of creating the explosion.  I was not expecting to hear that news. I was not able to watch the press conference, but read about it online and could not believe what I was reading. I was honestly unable to comprehend what those people are accused of having done to collect $300,000 and change. What was most difficult to believe is that they actually thought they'd get away with it. Idiots. I won't go into detail describing their "plan", the news media has done a great job of dissecting it, but I will link to probable cause affidavit and list of charges.  Here is the link to the charges and the affidavit. The police seem to have the goods on the people they are charging. The affidavit is good reading, almost like a real-life TV show. You will laugh at the bumbling conduct of the Leonard boys and get angry at their hubris. The thing that makes it real is Count XVIII:

Hell no I did not give my consent to those knuckleheads! The fact that Lori and I are named as State's Witnesses comes later in the document.  Wow. Will we have to testify? I don't know and I doubt it.

The initial hearing is Monday morning.  I think I might go.  I want to see them before a judge and hear the charges read to them. I want to sit there and hopefully see me and my neighbors and know that what they are accused of doing affected others. (the evidence against them seems complete but we Americans do believe in innocence until proven guilty, darn it)

I have already been asked many times by friends and acquaintances what I am feeling about the charges.  I am angry, frustrated, incredulous, confused, and every other emotion you got. Providing all accusations are true, I am angry that greed caused two deaths and countless suffering for so many. I am frustrated that their stupidity and arrogance caused this to happen. I am incredulous that they actually thought it would work and bragged to others about the money they will be getting. A Ferrari on Craigslist? Hahahaha!! I am confused as to what will happen to Moncy's daughter. She is 13 and innocent of all things connected to this. My heart is breaking for her. It has been ever since the first time we were able to visit our house and I saw some singed school papers and achievement certificates with her name on them laying in our back yard. I saw half burned clothes in our front yard that had to be hers. She is another victim in this mess.

This is becoming like a wound that is trying to heal and then the scab gets torn off.  I was getting used to the explosion being in the background and moving toward the next step. After the charges are now filed and arrests made it is in the front again.  I have had calls from the media looking for a comment. We had a meeting for the neighborhood and had to leave a different way to avoid TV cameras. I know people care and want to know what is happening, but enough is enough. I can't speak for all the people in the neighborhood, but I think we are ready for normalcy and the chance to figure out what the heck we are doing next. I am elated the police and the prosecutor are getting to the bottom of this and will continue to work incredibly hard to get a conviction, but I am also ready for this to be over. It could be up to a year before the trial even starts.

The Star's website posted some more pictures of the neighborhood. Here are some of them. Here are the 49 felony counts described in the court document:

All of this to get a Ferrari from Craigslist. All of this to pay off some gambling debt. All of this for selfishness. No thought of anybody else or what could happen as a result of their stupid plan. I would love to talk to them and ask them just what the Hell they were thinking. All of those felony charges add up over a hundred years in prison if convicted. That would be a good start. Lots of time to think about the consequences of their actions.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Christmas Break has started and it will be the best break ever for the Crosley family.  God Bless.