GEORGIA

Mainstream media coverage of Georgia murders remains problematic.

Then there's the matter of those who make money off children. Click here for a sampling of salaries, that seldom see Ink.

The lack of willingness to use the "M" word, Misogyny is apparent. But how else to explain why these crimes fade from the headlines?

Warning: Possible Email Scam for Film, "Support? System Down."

Received an emailed plea for financial support from Angelo Lobo, the Producer/Writer/Director of "Support? System Down" supposedly to enable the film to be shown at an unnamed movie festival in Atlanta. In checking the website no specific festival was listed.

This seemed very strange. Calls and emails to Mr. Lobo requesting he verify the festival, were not returned. However, calls and emails to all five area Atlanta Film Festivals were. None had heard of Mr. Lobo or the film. This includes a festival specializing in documentaries.

It seems our calls frightened Mr. Lobo. Later, we received another email expressing a need for confidentiality because “some people want us to fail.”

First, we have never heard of any producer refusing to identify a movie festival he or she hopes to screen a movie. Secondly, the movie has already failed, (hence the ongoing requests for money). But more importantly, Lobo continues billing the film as a documentary exposing corruption in the child support system, although it is not a documentary. Below addresses why.

1. The individuals and groups interviewed in this movie paid to be included. However because Mr. Lobo chose not to mention their paid "support" the public remains unaware of their financial incentive.

2. Mr. Lobo plays a key role in the movie. He tells the audience the Texas, courthouse double murder committed by David Hernandez Arroyo Sr., was why he had to make the movie. As the shooting made national news, any true documentarian would interview family members and police personnel. Mr. Lobo did not. Including the surviving son David Hernandez Arroyo Jr., who shot by his own father.

3. We saw the movie during the Del Mar screening a few years ago, after being assured by Mr. Lobo the movie was a proponent for "shared parenting." It was not. The first woman speaking against the child support system didn't appear until well into the movie, and her one-line, seconds-on-screen qualifies as a cameo. (The second woman's appearance was near the film end. By now she could be lying on the cutting room floor).

4. However, after watching the film we immediately obtained copies of police reports surrounding the murders, as well as prior instances of calls to the family home, and the killer's earlier arrest for DUI. We interviewed police personnel and quite a different picture emerged. Unfortunately the facts surrounding the murders are missing from the film.

The reality? After a twenty-two year marriage one David Sr., who'd been arrested before, continued to terrorize his family. He also swore he'd never pay child support for his six year old son. The police defaulted on protecting Mirabel Estrada. (Also not uncommon.)

Newspaper reports quoting her attorney, Joshua Wintters, saying Mirabel was not fearful were not fact-checked, and remained wildly inaccurate.

Ms. Estrada did not speak English, which may have also contributed to continuing inaccuracies. However, in speaking with the police translator involved, we learned e Mirabel said she did not believe she'd survive the divorce.

Thus the reality is Mr. Lobo wants financial support for documentary that isn't, while attempting to make family killer, Mr. Arroyo, the poster boy for an unfair child support system.

What seems clear is Mr. Lobo could have either picked a better role model, or chosen make a more truthful film.

Unfortunately, he chose neither.

While we believe anyone can support whatever film they desire, as Mr. Lobo chose not to be truthful in his emails, his movie, or his representations of Atlanta film festivals, we urge people to think carefully before deciding to "support" a film like this, during these hard, economic times.

In other news, self-described "Role Model" and Chris Brown look-alike kills most of his family days after his wedding.

PAST COVERAGE

"Is there any possible way House Speaker Glenn Richardson's divorce filing could have been more badly handled?

We don't think so.

Not when it features a judge who never should have touched it, a court clerk who refused to show a reporter a public document; and topped it off with a file that was questionably sealed. This is a bad scene guaranteed to get worse.

More Bad News!

Would you want former NY judge and deadbeat dad, Reynold Mason, your Metro Brokers agent? Even an arrest and jailing couldn't motivate the guy to pay back support.
(We worry is he might treat his clients like family.)

Ralph Sampson arrested for not paying child-support.

The law firm of Hill Kertchner and Warner exemplify the reason why people don't trust attorneys. As their inaction demonstrates, They are, Exhibit A why we wouldn't trust this firm for our business needs.

Representing web hosting company, Affinity;Hill Kertchner and Warner,at the direction of Scott Wharton, continue to allow Ron, forced-to-resign-with-charges-pending, Lais the ability to rake in victims via his family law "consulting" scams.

Originally arrested on five felony charges of impersonating an attorney; Lais, who has also been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and the New York Times, merely thew up his Affinity hosted website, and continued ripping people off. Lais' trial was delayed as the Complaint was frequently amended to include newer victims. Trial in Santa Monica, California, set for May 16, 2005; now boasts a the total of Thirty, felony charges. (Lais is now in prison having been convicted of multiple, felony counts of the unauthorized practice of law.) However,

Hill Kertchner and Warner via, Scott Wharton, was made aware of Lais' con mid-September, 2004; including th case numbers and the direct telephone number of the prosecutor.

Hill Kertchner and Warner was likewise made aware Lais registering names, not his, to annoy and harass those bringing his scam to greater public view.

Hill Kertchner and Warner's response, via Scott Wharton, was to tell the individuals complaining, who faxed their request to remove the sites, not to telephone their office, in September. Wharton's tone was a sneer.

We know lawyers protect other lawyers. But protecting former lawyers facing so many felony charges is a bit much.

Now, about divorce. Collaborative Law is great, if you want to pay money without a result; and should be avoided when you know your partner will want to litigate. However, the bigger issue involves Georgia judges who award custody to the economically superior parent, regardless of fitness of that parent, seldom addressed by the old, mainstream press.

It's important to remember that State Legislators, who found time to vote for "grits" as the official State Food for Georgia, could not put together either a Child Endangerment Act, or a child support bill that made sense.

Remember, Georgia, a state whose foster care system is so bad, it rated a cover story for Time magazine, more aptly than most, demonstrates their low regard for children.

A quick survey of the canons, Judicial Qualifications Commission reveals they concentrate more on "appearances" than matters involving actual bias and judges refusing to uphold the laws of the State of Georgia.

In that the job is to protect the public, the secrecy this Commission surrounds itself remains suspect, at best. Our ongoing experience with this particular less than august body, reveals arrogance at levels sanity does not intrude.

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