Beware........... A thief resides in fort white

[Maureen]

Wow. If this person is an instructor and a drug addict, who steals/lies/misrepresents to feed her addiction, why is she getting off so lightly with you Jonathon? Even as an addict there are choices to be made, and she apparently hasn't made any good ones. When Mr. Richards was in a similar situation the outcry was much different. Reverse sexism? As you say, unless that apology is accompanied by action and restitution is is meaningless, and acceptance of it is enabling her behaviour.

[K Mejean]

The difference between this case and Mr. Richards is that he was convicted of a crime. In this case she has not been. Don't get me wrong here......... I have no use for a thief and I know addiction and it can be beat if you are willing to fight it. There is no excuse for what she did in regards to the theft and she should pay the price for it.
However....... I don't think you can hold her solely responsible for the stupidity during the dives. There were other parties involved in the incidents that I know of and while she holds the responsibility of possibly representing herself as more than she is we all hold responsibility for our own actions in the water and we should all know where we are in a cave and what our limitations are as a diver. It doesn't matter what your cert level is or the cert level of your dive buddy. "Trust me" dives can get you killed.

I only met and spoke to her a couple of times and she never claimed to be more than an open water instructor and a certified cave diver.
Personally I have no use for her at all. Diving is a very big part of my life and I enjoy the small community of cave divers as well as being able to work in the industry and I take issue with anyone that is out to cheat or steal from them.

[rddvet]

The difference between this case and Mr. Richards is that he was convicted of a crime. In this case she has not been. Don't get me wrong here......... I have no use for a thief and I know addiction and it can be beat if you are willing to fight it. There is no excuse for what she did in regards to the theft and she should pay the price for it.
However....... I don't think you can hold her solely responsible for the stupidity during the dives. There were other parties involved in the incidents that I know of and while she holds the responsibility of possibly representing herself as more than she is we all hold responsibility for our own actions in the water and we should all know where we are in a cave and what our limitations are as a diver. It doesn't matter what your cert level is or the cert level of your dive buddy. "Trust me" dives can get you killed.

I only met and spoke to her a couple of times and she never claimed to be more than an open water instructor and a certified cave diver.
Personally I have no use for her at all. Diving is a very big part of my life and I enjoy the small community of cave divers as well as being able to work in the industry and I take issue with anyone that is out to cheat or steal from them.

+1. I was going to just shut up but you hit it on the head. Even if you're being guided you're still 100% responsible for making the appropriate decisions in regards to your safety and follow the basic rules and ideals we're taught.


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[TONY CHANEY]

She may not have been arrested, went to court and got locked up but I don't need any of that to know that she is a thief and a lier. And I don't want people like this in the dive community being around my two girls. She did not make a mistake, it was planned. And I do not believe that "due to the economic down turn," people fly to a have fun diving Australia. Instead they go to the NCPDRA quarry in NC where she first started diving and I first met her.

[Jont]

To all,

I'm not suggesting letting her off the hook, she has to prove that she's really sorry and thats not easy.

If you dont want anything to do with her GREAT...thats fine, but dont be angry or bitter, dont allow your self to react and dont be consumed my such strong feelings, its funny how tough people are on the internet, its a waste of energy and only hurts you.

What we are dealing with are very minor larcenies, hardly a reason to seek blood.

Maureen: Have you ever met Johnny Richards? I have 4 times, he's a hell of a nice guy and a masterful instructor, I watched him with a student and I've got to say he's a good instructor, most instructors I've met could learn a thing or two from him. Did he mess up, of course he did but he paid the price, am I still going to tell a joke or two....of course I am, better to get a few laughs then feed some blood lust several people had over the matter.

My point has always been KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE, this was not and never will be a capital offense, this isnt a case that warrants revenge, sometimes revenge is a visceral need and can be just....but here?

and this person wasn't even charged with a crime.........

[Jont]

+1. I was going to just shut up but you hit it on the head. Even if you're being guided you're still 100% responsible for making the appropriate decisions in regards to your safety and follow the basic rules and ideals we're taught.


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PROVIDED THAT YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION TO UNDERSTAND THE RELM YOU ARE IN........thats the part that people like to ignore when it serves a selfish purpose for themselves.

[rddvet]

There was no lack of education that lead to an inability to follow thirds or have some sort of situational awareness. Theres a difference between lack of education and blind following.


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[Maureen]

I do not know any of the involved parties, and was not throwing Mr. Richards under the bus, just noticing a difference in how these two people were being "treated" on the internet and wondering why. Yes, it does make a difference if one was convicted and one not. But it sounds like that is just a formality that has not been pursued with this woman.

[TONY CHANEY]

To all,

I'm not suggesting letting her off the hook, she has to prove that she's really sorry and thats not easy.

If you dont want anything to do with her GREAT...thats fine, but dont be angry or bitter, dont allow your self to react and dont be consumed my such strong feelings, its funny how tough people are on the internet, its a waste of energy and only hurts you.

What we are dealing with are very minor larcenies, hardly a reason to seek blood.

My point has always been KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE, this was not and never will be a capital offense, this isnt a case that warrants revenge, sometimes revenge is a visceral need and can be just....but here?
and this person wasn't even charged with a crime.........

I really do not fully understand where you get your thoughts from.
1) No one said that you were letting her off the hook. You do appear to have a very relaxed attitude about the situation.
2) Not really even sure what you are trying to convey with "tough people, waste of energy, hurts you etc."
3)No one is wanting blood but just to warn others that she cannot be trusted.
4) Who said anything about revenge?

From my take on the situation...My dive buddies are trustworthy first and foremost. I trust them with my life thus trying my best to return from every dive to my wife and daughters. I can truly say that after 20 years in the military, 8 years working in a hospital, all the countries I have been to, every level of diving I have been at, I have never seen the trust displayed by cave divers! Some of the finest people I have ever met. I have seen thousands upon thousands of dollars in dive gear left unattended and no one will touch it. All of us from NC simply are blown away with what we see in cave country i.e. Wayne's dive shop Amigos. I truly feel that if I can't trust someone with my light then I damn sure will not trust them with my life nor my friends' life. For me, once I lose the trust and respect for someone they really will not get much of a chance to burn me again. (First time your fault second time my fault). So with that said, if you want to dive with her I understand your position and have no hard feelings. I really don't care either way. But to allow someone who has done all the things that she has done and allow her back into the fold just does not make much sense to me.

[JahJahwarrior]

Is it odd to think there is a difference between someone doing an insane amount of blow and someone who lies, steals, and takes people into dangerous situations?

Lots of things are illegal, but they don't impact me, so while I don't approve, once they pay for the crime, then let's get back to diving.

But if I have to watch my dive gear around you? That's a no-go. Say sorry? Will take a few years of no dive gear going missing before I stop watching it. Still, that would be better than complete denial or saying that it was a misunderstanding.