Crimes of commission, omission, passion and print

It took two weeks for Foster’s Daily Democrat to “learn” what The Lebanon Voice reported on just days after Ben Shannon was shot to death earlier this month by lawmen serving a warrant for his arrest at Sak’s Trailer Park.

The Dover newspaper reported this week it had “learned” that Shannon had threatened officers as they moved down a hallway toward a room where he was holed up.

The Lebanon Voice was told two weeks ago by a family member whose identity was confirmed by a third party that an armed Shannon had threatened officers before shots rang out.

Foster’s Daily Democrat, on the other hand, must have “learned” it from a crystal ball, for they fail to identify their source in any manner.

Of course they may have gleaned it by reading the Voice. That would explain their obscure and vague verbiage.

Later last week the paper went from too vague to too specific as it gave the address of the mother of the man charged in a bizarre stabbing.

Just because it’s in the arrest affidavit doesn’t mean you have to print it. The woman was also a victim in the incident, having been allegedly shoved to the floor by her son, who appears to be dealing with severe mental issues.

From what I read, The Lebanon Voice called the jail to see if he was on a suicide watch as his mother said she’d found a note in his wallet with suicidal thoughts.

Meanwhile, Brian Bundza of Rochester, who was charged in a domestic violence incident on10 Rod Road just hours after he was sentenced for beating up a former girlfriend, could be headed to the slammer for some serious time.

Part of his 12-month suspended sentence handed down on March 17 was that he keep his nose clean for two years. If the new charges stick it would seem he couldn’t keep it clean for 12 hours and Plan B could now be in effect.

Now I didn’t go to the four-day trial, but the felony assaults went from felonies to Class A misdemeanors to suspended sentences.

In the original indictment, Bundza, 30, was indicted on two felony counts of second-degree assault on a female dating back to an incident on Jan.1 of last year.

In that attack, Bundza is said to have grabbed the woman and squeezed her hand and fingers and also struck her head with his head or hand, causing her to lose three teeth.

But what gets me is no jail time for a guy who beats up a woman, but Buddy Stuart of Milton is supposed to serve two months in jail for shooting his gun over Milton Three Ponds trying to break up what could’ve been a dangerous altercation between his former tenant and one of his employees.

Now I ain’t condoning what he did. I’m just stating the facts as I see ‘em.

His indictment alleges he shot his weapon recklessly and could’ve injured someone, but word is the cops could find no bullet. Why? Because it’s at the bottom of Depot Pond. Maybe it killed a crappie, who knows.

Now Strafford County prosecutor Amy Feliciano wants to give Stuart two months for doing a stupid thing, but one that ultimately injured no one.

Feliciano was willing to take Stuart’s rap to a misdemeanor, but she still wanted him to serve 60 days. Stuart says he’d lose his woodworking business if he was in the slammer for 60 days. He’ll plead to a misdemeanor, but can’t do no time. I say Amy, give him a Class A misdemeanor with a 12-month suspended sentence and call it a day.

I think he’s learned his lesson.

C.O. Jones is a former sleuth, writer, raconteur, provocateur and armchair lawyer who lives in “the area.” You can write him with your tips and tales of woe at thelebanonvoice@aol.com. Staff will see that he gets your messages. His columns will appear as space and time permits.