[Vision2020] Parks sentencing

Wed Aug 4 13:55:46 PDT 2010

I was very saddened, disappointed, and a bit outraged by the defense team argument for Silas Parks' probable rehabilitation.

In a nutshell both parents testified that they never saw or even had a hint that Silas Parks would ever do something like this but alleged what a loving husband and Christian Silas Parks is.  ("He's a Christian and he practices the tenets of his faith.")  Then defense "hired gun" psychologist, Dr. Craig Beaver, also stated the same thing:  there was no way to see this coming.  However, then Beaver went on to argue that on the basis of some risk testing profile that Parks would be unlikely to ever so something like this again -- kill or injure someone in a temper tantrum (my words).

WTF?

On one hand Beaver says it would have been impossible to predict this murderous behavior of Parks, but after this horrific act occurred (a certainly strong piece of evidence), on the other hand Beaver now confidently predicts that it would not be likely to happen again.  Even Silas Parks in his statement to the court said of himself "The potential in me to explode is scary."

What's worse is that Beaver never administered the profile tests relating to anger management!  This is voodoo psychology, and this is what gives attorneys and hired gun witnesses a bad name and leaves the public with a sour taste of the criminal justice system.

The prosecution witness, Dr. Robert Engle, did administer anger management profile tests.  He came to a much different conclusion (and more realistic one given the total facts in this case) than Beaver.  PA Thompson did a good job of pointing out the inconsistency in Beaver's testimony, but obviously the judge didn't get it or didn't want to.

Attorneys operate under a special set of ethics which allows them to advocate in wide ranging ways for their clients.  I do not think that Barker or Kovis did anything unethical in terms of the bar canons.  Under the circumstances and facts of the case, they did remarkably well.

I do not know what kind of ethical rules psychologists testifying on forensic matters are to be held to.  But if the kind of thing that Beaver did is ethical under those rules, then perhaps the rules are in dire need of revision.  Perhaps an ethics compliant to the appropriate professional bodies might help bring this issue forward.

Psychology is a relatively young science.  It deals with very complex and numerous variables, many difficult or impossible to isolate in clinical or experimental situations.  Hence, there is not a consensus of opinion on many, many important matters.  Hence disagreement does not also mean charlatanism.  However, when contradictory testimony is offered by the same psychologist in a single testimony as above, then ...

Wayne A. Fox
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rosemary 
  To: 'Andreas Schou' ; 'Dan Carscallen' 
  Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 5:28 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parks sentencing

  This morning Saundra Lund and I attended the sentencing hearing for Silas Parks.  It was an obscene spectacle, thanks in large measure to Silas Parks, his family, and The Beaver from Boise -an expert (psychological) witness for the defense.  Public Defenders, Chuck Kovis and Ray Barker, deserve praise for their professional defense of a whining weenie of a client.  Public defense is a difficult, and often unpopular job requiring an enormous reservoir of integrity and grit to do it at all let alone as well as Mr. Barker and Mr. Kovis.  Mr. and Mrs. Parks, testified that their "brilliant" son, was a frustrated student in high school who had headaches, difficulty concentrating, and an inability to complete assignments.  His "volcanic temper" [his mother's description] complicated his learning. He was a known liar (from other testimony) and rationalized and blamed others for his own failures.  Nonetheless, both parents are proud to proclaim that he was and is a devout and compassionate Christian.  [Editorial note: WTF?????]

  Did I mention how really, really smart Silas was? - his mother did at least ten times during her testimony.  Mr. Beaver, and even the prosecutor and judge were similarly dazzled by this crapola kid's obviously bent mind.  Arguably, the most offensive testimony (remember, Silas is so bright that he mentored other students in high school) was Mrs. Parks declaration that Sarah Parks had her own set of "problems." How dare she blame the victim?  She mentioned that Mr. Jackass has yet to return Sarah's things to her family. He is "processing" them at his own pace.  Mrs. Parks also shared with us that she has had some email contact with Sarah's family regarding Sarah's personal items and she has found this limited contact "healing" for her.  It is my sense that she needed to be on her knees begging forgiveness from Sarah's family - that might institute a prelude to a genuine healing.

  I am outraged, no, it is more than outrage, that this sanctimonious simpleton is still excusing and justify her feckless, cowardly, spoiled brat of a son.  

  Sadly, Mr. Smarty Pants Parks only received a 20 year fixed sentence.  Despite a lengthy yada yada yada for the cameras, Judge Brudie did not think Parks deserved more than 5 years fixed for his arson conviction.  In this instance Judge Brudie is sooooo wrong. I am hopeful that the electorate will remember Judge Brudie's less than vigorous role in November when he is up for re-election.   

  Bill Thompson's summation was adequate, albeit, several months late.  Silas Parks is a cold blooded killer and arsonist; a conniving criminal with a life-long history of violent temper tantrums whose accommodating and enabling parents helped shape the histrionic little jerk who stood before the court this morning. Despite years of counseling he has gained limited (if any) insight into his behavior, and clearly lacks rudimentary impulse control. With a catch in his voice, Silas told the court he plans to concentrate on "serving" his fellow inmates in a positive way, and being helpful to the staff and administrators of the prison. I'm not thinking that this is a recipe for jailhouse success. 

  I've known some really smart people in my life, some of them I liked a lot, others not so much. From what I observed today, Silas Parks is a bush leaguer in comparison to most of them. The real brains, grace, and courage in that court room this morning belonged to the arson investigators, law enforcement personnel, Sarah's colleagues who were sitting in front of us, and particularly Sarah's mother, sister, and cousin. They are, and should be our heroes.  

  Once again, in Latah County it is the same old song and dance. Domestic violence is pled down to disturbing the peace, which not surprisingly in this instance, culminated in the death of a young women and her daughter.  We've seen it before in this county, and unless dramatic changes are made in the punishment and accountability of domestic violence perpetrators we will see it again.   Fifteen years for killing two people... As a lay person, I don't give a rats ass that the properly worded charge is voluntary manslaughter - this is not the time to toss around legalistic euphemisms. Murder was done, and in effect, excused.  Because, by now we all know that Silas Parks was smart enough to get away with it.

  Rose Huskey

  -----Original Message-----
  From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Andreas Schou
  Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 2:03 PM
  To: Dan Carscallen
  Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parks sentencing

  Pretty much exactly what I suspected.

  On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 1:47 PM, Dan Carscallen <areaman at moscow.com> wrote:

  > Heard it from a reliable source that Parks got a fixed sentence of 20, max of 40 years

  > 

  > More to follow

  > 

  > DC

  > =======================================================

  >  List services made available by First Step Internet,

  >  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.

  >               http://www.fsr.net

  >          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com

  > =======================================================

  > 

  =======================================================

   List services made available by First Step Internet, 

   serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   

                 http://www.fsr.net                       

            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com

  =======================================================

  No virus found in this incoming message.

  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 

  Version: 8.5.441 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3045 - Release Date: 08/02/10 06:35:00

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  =======================================================
   List services made available by First Step Internet, 
   serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
                 http://www.fsr.net                       
            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
  =======================================================
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20100804/0049bf8a/attachment-0001.html 