In answer to the noticeable absence of the Treptow threads...

Nothing has been deleted. Scout's honor.

Threads have indeed been moved to a more private forum...and no, it's not Strategy. We're trying to keep discussion private to the extent only where we don't want anything out there that could affect his current legal issues (e.g. sentencing), which aren't over yet.

To answer the basic questions:

-Yes, he is pleading guilty to reckless discharge.

-No, he has not been sentenced yet.

-No, he is not discussing his reasons for the plea at this time.

I'm guessing that there will be far more said after the sentencing takes place. For now, if you would like access to the Treptow forum, please let one of the administrators know and we'll discuss. Note that we are being cautious on this one.

-Mark
Forum Administrator

Will the thread be made public once final disposition has been made? I'd like to follow developments & the historical discussion once there is no further need for "discretion". In the meantime, to quote 'Papa Schultz', "If you want me to keep a secret, don't tell me and I won't tell anyone".

LOL

I'd guess that the final disposition will be management's call.

I think you're going to see an awful lot of commentary coming out of folks once sentencing happens, but there's also the issue of the civil suit that Beard has filed.

-Mark

I'm of the opinion that if someone pleads guilty, and is not discussing their reasons they shouldn't receive any support from the community. Especially from the pro-carry/pro-gun community...

If you plead guilty to a crime you didn't commit you're essentially selling out your fellow law abiding citizens.

I can't say for sure, but I could hypothesize a few reasons he may not be talking, all of which involve counsel.

-Mark

I can think of at least one really good reason not to talk: it's not done, yet. At a minimum, wait until after sentencing.

Well, you're assuming he had a fair chance for justice. Remember, both men were originally indicted by a grand jury. But then a new prosecutor simply dismisssed the charges against Beard, but not agianst Treptow, leaving Treptow an almost imposssible burden of proving self defense against three serious charges. He was essentially forced to plead guilty. Any experienced criminal defense attorney will tell you that.

It's essentially exactly the unfair attitude of the prosecution that we are complaining about. It looks like a railroad. The "plead guilty" is sort of irrelevant if yo face unfair prosecuction. Which this is.

I think Dick describes the probable situation perfectly. The stars were aligned and the deck stacked against Treptow (I firmly believe INTENTIONALLY!!!!!!). He has my support and sympathies for that reason, and for the hardship defending the case has brought to his family, and for the burden of the financial costs that have to be massive.

Remember Beard had his top of the line defense paid for by his union pals. I believe the manipulation of the case and the shell game played out in the various counties and venues left Beard going about his merry way, no sweat, no strain; and Treptow left to the vultures and politics, That ain't justice in my book!

Frankly I don't think Treptow owes me anything, I'm thankfull I'm not walking in his shoes.

By pleading guilty it doesn't matter if he did or not. As we all know you should be a reluctant participant in a self-defense scenario. From the facts that are published Treptow escalated/started this situation.

The cop in an unmarked car drives past on the shoulder of a suburban boulevard, and a guy with his family in the car takes it on himself to chastise the driver. A chase ensues and guns are drawn. This looks to me like Treptow put himself and his family in danger. http://greatdivide.typepad.com/across_the_great_divide/2009/07/self-defense-overkill.html?cid=6a00d8341c69dc53ef011570d73c1c970c

It seems safe to assume if he would have called 911 and reported the driver things would have turned out much different.

You can regain reluctant participant status. Treptow did that by disengaging. Beard then followed.

But yes, it can be said that there were less than perfect actions on both sides. Unfortunately, that's sometimes the case.

-Mark

You shouldbe a reluctant participant? I was under the impression that MN statute 609.06 required you to be a reluctant participant. Yet another fact you seem to be ignorant of?

Semi quote from Beard something like "I don't care I'll kill you".............yea sure... just a benign threat from an undercover police officer (plain clothes, out of city, out of county, and just around the corner from his gal pals place, big time pissed off in traffic.... kinda on duty, drug investigation don't you know).....yea sure.....pffffffffffffft....on a level playing field Beard should be looking at jail time....but Justice doesn't get served........just a new Fed job for Beard:!:

+1000

Nah. That would assume that there was some magical connection between the 911 conversation and Beard's brain. That's not only an unsafe assumption, but a vanishingly unlikely one.

Sure -- after Beard almost ran him off the highway, Treptow shouldn't have honked and given him the finger. But neither of those was a crime -- and, after some shouting, Treptow had not only tried to withdraw from the conflict, but had withdrawn from the conflict, only to be trapped at a stoplight when Beard drove up on his right side -- while Treptow was stopped in the rightland lane -- whipped out his Glock, pointed it at Mrs. Treptow's head, and shouted, "I don't fucking care about jail, I'm going to fucking kill you," or words to that effect.

My guess -- and it's just a guess -- is that Beard, frustrated at the distraction from his planned nooner with his fiancee, was intent on intimidating the Treptows, not murdering them, and got the surprise of his life when Scott Treptow drew and shot, his aim deflected by his wife turning toward him for rescue from her apparently murderous assailant.

Wait, I thought he was on-duty, just out of his jurisdiction....and in street clothes...driving his own car...coincidentally right by his girlfriend's place okiwillshutthehellupnow.