Bush supporter pleads guilty in attack on Kerry-backing girlfriend

[Rose Siding]

snip>
The 18-year-old Florida man had been accepted into the Army and planned to enlist after graduating this spring from high school.

But the plan came apart in late October when he attacked his girlfriend after learning she planned to vote for Sen. John Kerry in the presidential election.

Soper pleaded guilty Wednesday to false imprisonment, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery and resisting arrest without violence.

Circuit Judge Jorge Labarga sentenced Soper to 90 days in jail followed by five years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

The judge ordered Soper to write a letter of apology to 18-year-old Stacey Silveira, whom he dated for two years, according to Silveira. Soper is also required to complete a batterers' intervention program, undergo psychological and substance abuse evaluations and complete any recommended treatment.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/nation/11270106.htm

[physioex]

1. So much for the...

"Culture of Life".....

[VegasWolf]

2. Hey, you gotta get cannon fodder where ever one can. They didn't say

this clown was going to be an officer.

[Virginian]

3. You would think he would be more laid back with a name like Soper. n/t

[vpigrad]

4. Bush-supporters and (future) thugs in green are all alike! (ntxt)

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. This is what happens when people are indoctrinated into believing that

a vote against the Bush cartel is a vote for Satan himself. He was doing the equivalent of destroying a village to "save it from the _________ "(fill in the blank).

A tragedy all around. This young man was surely capable of better than the path his life has taken.

[noamnety]

6. 90 days?!

If someone held me hostage, assaulted me and threatened to kill me, I'd be pretty ticked off if he only got 90 days. Is that one of those deals where because they had a relationship, it was kinda sorta okay to try to kill her?

[Jilly Beans]

9. Pretty lucky that he's doing ANY time at all.

If this is his first DV offense, it's amazing that he has to do any time.

[grannylib]

12. Kinda like the guy in Oregon a few years back; beat up his girlfriend

and put her into the hospital, and he also killed her pet rabbit.
Got more time for killing the bunny than he did for putting her in ICU.

[Asirac]

7. Why does this always happen

in Florida?? I'm so ashamed...

[VegasWolf]

8. Just one of the many reasons I left my home state. n/t

[UpInArms]

14. welcome to DU Asirac!

:hi:

[rainbow4321]

16. It's OK, you got a long way to go before it's as bad as TX!

My kids and I were talking about that...wondering what it is like to live in a state where people NEVER get embarrassed/cringe when local/state crap makes national news <or in a state that you never hear about on the news>. Eventually, you'll start going "whew, at least <insert news report here> didn't happen in Florida".

[Laurab]

10. Aha - another one of those "Christian" fundie * lovers

showing his pro-life, and family values, and all that stuff.

[Scairp]

18. I doubt it

If it hadn't been about that he would have come up with some other lame ass excuse for beating her. Petty, angry men always do. It's always someone else's fault for pushing them to do it.

[stanwyck]

11. Maybe Jeb will intervene

and pardon the guy so he can enlist in Jeb's brother's war. Seems like Jeb is busy with this kind of busybody interference when he should be taking seriously the sad state of children in Florida. Homelessness and poverty among children is on the rise in his state and Jeb wants to call in the calvary to prevent a woman from dying in peace.
And, I concur that 90 days seems light for this kind of violent behavior. The false imprisonment alone should be good for at least six months.
More of Jeb's traditional values, I guess. It's not really criminal if it's just a guy trying to keep his woman in line.
The young woman is better off without this loser.

[obxhead]

13. I'll bet he still got off easy.

[MidwestTransplant]

15. If recruiting stays as bad as it is, the Army just may take this guy after

he's out of jail.

[Best_man23]

17. Mr. Soper

Since you're going into the Army, may I suggest an MOS for you. Here at the Army, we have MOS 11B, which will ensure you will get right up there where the action is.

FYI: Army MOS 11B is an infantryman.

[Moderator]

19. kick to combine

[sabra]

20. Man Gets 90 Days For Attacking Girlfriend Over Support Of Kerry

<<SNIP>>
http://www.news4jax.com/news/4333519/detail.html

Man Gets 90 Days For Attacking Girlfriend Over Support Of Kerry

POSTED: 7:59 am EST March 31, 2005

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- An 18-year-old man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for attacking his girlfriend for supporting Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry last fall.

Steven Soper pleaded guilty Wednesday to false imprisonment, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery and resisting arrest without violence.

Prosecutors said Soper pointed a knife at Stacey Silveira, 18, and threatened to kill her. The couple had been dating for two years.

Defense attorney Michael Salnick said the teenagers' sometimes-volatile relationship became violent when Soper learned Silveira planned to vote for Kerry instead of President George W. Bush.

Salnick said Soper had wanted to join the Army.

Soper was also sentenced to five years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

<</SNIP>>

[sniffa]

21. one Less feLon to vote in fLorida

unLess that doesn't appLy to bushies.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

22. Had it been the opposite, he would have gotten 10 years.

Mark my words.
Duckie

[demo dutch]

23. Only in the State of Florida!!

If he found his rearend in Iraq, he would have danced to a different tune! Then again he probably would have part of the prisoner abuse!

[AutumnMist]

24. Kerry Rage or Not

This guy is a violent person.....whats next? Rage over the shape of pasta at dinner? The towels aren't folded right?

[Zenlitened]

30. When you're living with an abuser, yep. That's exactly...

... the point you reach. Spend all your time wondering what you should not do in order to avoid "upsetting him."

[AutumnMist]

37. Yep...

So many women and men live in fear of this kind of backlash. And its a sickness in our society. A sickness that so many choose to look the other way about. The rage shouldn't be about why he was mad. It should be about that he handles any anger in this type of violent fashion. Thanks for responding. :)

[sniffa]

25. i never heard of this case

how come it wasn't aLL over the news Like the road rage case?

[meganmonkey]

26. I remember hearing about it when it happened

here in LBN, of course. I don't remember if it had widespread coverage. Probably just in the local news....

[devinsgram]

35. I also remember it there.

It really doesn't surprise me, because these were the typical * supporters. People who like to use violence to get their way, just like the nutjob they were voting for.

[loro mi dicevano]

27. Florida!

No, honestly, Florida DUers - is it, like, something in the water?

[Catherine Vincent]

28. Will Fox News seek out this girl and interview her like they

did the woman that had the bumper sticker guy following her arrested? Probably not.

[Hobarticus]

29. Now, he can explore opportunities in the fast food industry...

Knucklehead.

[denverbill]

31. Cripes, let him sign up for the Army for pete's sake.

He's a violent Bush-supporting lunatic, he should fit right in.

[northzax]

36. luckily for him,

he just ruled himself out of the pool...

[Toots]

32. 90 days ought to really show him

I'm sure he will never do anything like this again after such severe punishment. :crazy:

[JerseygirlCT]

33. Had the political positions been reversed

what's the chance that he'd be charged as a terrorist?

[sabra]

34. Death row?

[earth mom]

38. IMO, He got a slap on the hand. What an asshole! nt

[daydreamer]

39. Send him to Iraq!