Graffitti in JB

[sandy]

As you enter the cavern, is it on the wall straight in front of you off to the right towards the ceiling. If so, I did not see it on 7-30 but I think I saw it on 8-6 while in deco. Wish I had paid more attention now.

FYI, I found a diver with that name by searching Nick Dorado scuba florida. I guess the question is, " Did someone with this name deface the wall or did someone else write in the name?"

Maybe Edd can look up this name in his records?

Found a Nick Dorado on Facebook who li ves in PC and likes to spearfish. Also, he has a FB friend Simon Dorado.

[Ken Hill]

The Cow Springs incident took months* and the CDS was able to prosecute because they as the landowner had standing to file a complaint. The initial process started with the States Attorney of the 3rd Judicial Circuit and a Sheriff’s investigator was assigned.

Jurisdiction to investigate may fall to either the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the County Sheriff. Someone needs to take the lead and gather the info from all sources to present to the States Attorney and work with them and the Law Enforcement agency they delegate.

In the case of JB, the county is either the administrator of state land or the owner of the site. If so, they and only they, have the legal standing to go forward. The Florida statute 810.13 (2a) addresses cave vandalism and related offenses as a misdemeanor of the 1st degree. The county or state may seek civil damages above the fine.

To prove the elements of this crime you will need photo’s of the damage and supporting statements by those who took the photo’s. Obtain statements of divers that will pinpoint the approximate time and date of the damage is necessary.” i.e. Diver A states that on 1/1/11, I did not observe damage, and Diver B that 0n 1/3/11, I observed the described damage.” The investigative goal then is to investigate everyone who dove there between those dates and connect those visitors to “Nick or Simon.” All this can be in email form to the person collecting the data all statements should be signed or identified with a full name, address phone and email to enable the state to prepare a witness list.

If the Sheriff’s Department or DEP is willing, I would suggest someone with Instructor’s status take one of their divers for a first hand observation of the scene and use you information to support their report. (We did not have that luxury in Cow!)

To sum it up. Collate what you get and you will find these people. It will be time consuming.

One other useful tactic is to have the local newspaper publish these photos (especially the names!) Prepare a story of how a formation possibly millions of years old was destroyed as a result of a criminal act. Tie it in with tourism dollars and someone will pick it up.


* Cow took 19 months from the report of damage to the acceptance of the plea and conclusion. Hundreds of names went through the funnel. Check all diving releases. Check all fill stations and local lodging. Then some of you very talented with the internet, like the person that helped me with Cow, do a search of, twitter, facebook, myspace and where ever else people run their mouths about stupid things like graffiti. Put a piece of bait out there and see if someone bites.

Lastly, keep your findings quiet, do not post progress on the internet! There are a multitude of reasons, cases fall apart, people want to come forward anonymously or witnesses back down.

Rewards need to be considered. I’ll offer $100 for identity, arrest and conviction of the perpetrator(s) with a fund going to restoration.

/Ken

[Sludge]

Cow took 19 months from the report of damage to the acceptance of the plea and conclusion. Hundreds of names went through the funnel. Check all diving releases. Check all fill stations and local lodging. Then some of you very talented with the internet, like the person that helped me with Cow, do a search of, twitter, facebook, myspace and where ever else people run their mouths about stupid things like graffiti. Put a piece of bait out there and see if someone bites.

Well, from Sandy's post edit, it appears we just eliminated about a year of investigation.

[Line Squirrel]

So, Ken - I don't remember ever hearing exactly what the DIC/Cow guys were fined, care to share?

[sandy]

Would it be appropriate for a moderator to change the names carved into the cave to a John Doe and change the name of the cave to ABC ? The change may keep the responsible party from knowing what is happening.

[Spd 135]

Would it be appropriate for a moderator to change the names carved into the cave to a John Doe and change the name of the cave to ABC ? The change may keep the responsible party from knowing what is happening.

From a law enforcement background.....it doesn't matter at this point. With their names on the wall and their status on FB and the other location, you have basic probable cause for a warrant. They are likely related and do stuff together. They are divers and from the area. It is possible they signed in at Edd's or the SO but not as likely. To further it cell records can be subpeonaed to show tower usage in this area between when we know there was no damage to when it was found. Most likely this will not be necessary. A solid interview with the two would likely give the two a better way out than an all out investigation. Jackson County SO would be the appropriate agency, unless Florida is worlds different then Louisiana. Since the county controls the park, the SO would arrest you for trespassing. If they happen to see this, it would be in their best interest to do the right thing. Mark

[Ken Hill]

So, Ken - I don't remember ever hearing exactly what the DIC/Cow guys were fined, care to share?

No! I will say that the agreement called for a fine and restitution for the damage. Couple that with their legal representation and court fees I suspect under $10K!

Regarding the other posts. I do not know if facebook and other postings can be removed so make hard copies and then work on the timeline of the damage. Frequent visitors to JB can help pin point the timeline of the event and if the suspected people were there within that timeline thats a good first step. Some PM's have been sent to me that some local people are thinking about stepping up to collect the information, statements and photos. If so I'll be happy to review it (OFF-LINE) so that it can be prepared for presentation to the states attorney. If the SA's office goes ahead with a case an investigator will be assigned to fill in the who, what, where, when gathered from what you present them. The more you get done in advance the better it will be.

When it gets to the suspect interview process, let the authorities conduct the interview and determine how it gets put into the system. With regards to what your idea of what appropriate justice is, it's one thing to think it ... just don't say it on these forums.

/Ken

[Tegg]

No! I will say that the agreement called for a fine and restitution for the damage. Couple that with their legal representation and court fees I suspect under $10K!


/Ken

Is the agreement sealed or something? If not, I find it very odd that no one is willing to state what it was... from the CDS or otherwise. In my opinion, it kind of makes it less likely that the next prosecution will go so well, if we don't know what kind of "real" punishment took place. As far as I can tell, no one got punished because no names were mentioned and no details of the "agreement" were ever posted.

Just my opinion, it's worth what was paid for it...

[Kelly Jessop]

You know there may not be enough evidence to find someone guilty of the crime,but if someone knows they are being investigated,and this makes the Jackson Co newspaper,it will have a deterence benefit. FWIW,cave divers having an interest in pursuing this will show Jackson Co that we have concern for protecting their resource,and would be a breath a fresh air versus rhetoric like,"...scooter trench at...."

[Spd 135]

If Jackson County SO cannot prosecute the state charge, specific to cave damage, (some states differ in this aspect) there is a criminal damage to property in every city, state and county. Usually a fine and probation comes with these charges as well as some type of restitution. Either way this should be easy enough to prosecute with photo's and perhaps a guided dive into the cavern so a sworn officer can state he saw it. Edd may be sufficient as a witness due to his community involvement, only because an officer may not be able to witness the damage first hand. Obviously a guided dive, in this case, would not be out of order. In fact it may give a new perspective to JCSO and help relations get even better. I will be there next weekend and if they want I can borrow and camera and provide a sworn statement as a sworn police officer (20 years as well as a PSD) if needed. Either way, not being in a state park with multiple jurisdictions to deal with, this should be a pretty easy case. Mark