Talk:Rick Alan Ross

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New request for edit re: Criminal Record

Change "In 1974 at the age of 21, Ross was arrested for the attempted burglary of a vacant model home, pleaded guilty for trespassing, and was sentenced to probation.[8] The following year,[1] he robbed a jewelry store in Phoenix. Ross confessed to the crime, restored the property in his possession, and received probation.[8]"

Change to -- In 1974 at the age of 21, Ross was arrested for the attempted burglary of a vacant model home, pleaded guilty for trespassing, and was sentenced to probation.[8] The following year,[1] he was convicted of conspiracy to commit grand theft. Ross confessed to the crime, restored the property in his possession, and received probation.[8]

See http://www.avvo.com/legal-guides/ugc/theft-burglary-and-robbery There is a profound difference between robbery and grand theft. I was convicted of conspiracy to commit grand theft not robbery.

See http://www.culteducation.com/group/1284-scientology/23617-rick-ross-termination-of-probation-.html Also see http://culteducation.com/group/1284-scientology/23616-rick-ross-application-for-restoration-of-civil-rights-.html

I have the original document issued by the Arizona Department of Probation and signed by the Deputy Adult Probation Officer on January 18, 1979. I also have the original document signed by the judge in Arizona Superior Court vacating judgements of guilt against me, dismissing all charges and restoring my civil rights June 7, 1983. These documents are online and their authenticity has never been contested, but I am willing to produce them physically to resolve this matter. Rick Alan RossRick A. Ross (talk) 12:56, 28 May 2015 (UTC)

For now I'd propose:

In his early twenties Ross ran into justice twice, once for attempted burglary, and once for embezzlement of property. His civil rights were restored in 1983.

+add something about the "probation", if it can be done short, with appropriate references and without too much of technical-juridical lingo. See my stance on this in previous talk page contributions. --Francis Schonken (talk) 13:15, 28 May 2015 (UTC)

References

I don't think that statement is complete enough. It takes more words to handle something as serious as a criminal record. I propose a summary from 1974 to 1983 that would take the current bio entry from about 50 words to about 60 words. It' an addition of about ten words, but it's clear, focused and accurate. How about the following:

In 1974 Ross attempted burglary of a vacant model home, and a year later he was convicted for conspiracy to commit grand theft.[1] Ross confessed to both these crimes, made full restitution and received probation, which was ended early for good conduct in 1979. The court later dismissed all charges, expunged Ross' criminal record and restored his civil rights in 1983.[2]

Sources:

Ortega, Tony (November 30, 1995). "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans. Clients of deprogrammer Rick Ross call him a savior. Perhaps that's why people he's branded cult leaders want to crucify him.". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved April 27, 2006.

Termination of Probation, Adult Probation Department, Superior Court of Arizona Maricopa County January 18, 1979. See http://www.culteducation.com/group/1284-scientology/23617-rick-ross-termination-of-probation-.html (Original document available upon request)

Order Vacating Judgement of Guilt, Dismissing Charges and Restoring Civil Rights (CASE NO 85433), The Superior Court of Arizona Maricopa County, June 7, 1983. See http://culteducation.com/group/1284-scientology/23616-rick-ross-application-for-restoration-of-civil-rights-.html (Original document available upon request).

Rick Alan RossRick A. Ross (talk) 13:43, 28 May 2015 (UTC)

For what it is worth, I am not convinced this information belongs in the article at all. It occurred relatively early in the article subject's adult life and has nothing to do with the reasons he is notable (if indeed he is notable). Newyorkbrad (talk) 20:06, 28 May 2015 (UTC)

I agree. Very old information. When I was qualified to testify as an expert witness at the James Arthur Ray trial the judge determined that my criminal record was not relevant and could not be brought up at trial. See http://www.albuquerquejournal.com/news/state/apsweatlodgeross02-28-11.htm Rick Alan RossRick A. Ross (talk) 20:19, 28 May 2015 (UTC)

Re. "(if [Rick Ross] is notable)" : last discussion seems to be at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Rick Ross (consultant), I don't see a reason why, when asked, the community would decide otherwise under current BLP policy (I got the impression reviewing the deletion discussion that there was a broader acceptance of courtesy deletion in those days than what remains of it in the current BLP policy). However, if the question regarding notability is an elephant in the room, maybe it is time, after seven years, to take the article through AfD afresh, otherwise I'd like to keep it to the fairly convincing community consensus established in 2008 that the subject is notable. In short, I suggest to either initiate a second AfD nomination, or to stop suggesting the subject is maybe not notable enough for a Wikipedia article.

Re. whether the early convictions are notable enough to be mentioned in the biography: I see at least two reliable secondary sources mentioning them, so on that level, yes, doesn't seem like a good idea to be completely silent about them in the Wikipedia article. Also w.r.t. the internal consistency of the biography I see at least two reasons to keep them in: it shows Ross getting experience with the US legal system before being involved in more famous legal proceedings (like for an actor we would mention he had a side-job as newspaper delivery boy before playing the role of a postman in one of his films), and secondly his NRM counterparts at least tried to use it against him later in life, and that is documented. IMHO Wikipedia just can't make it to act as if it never happened, would make a shaky biography this would lay the Wikipedia biography open to a possible reproach of being selective. --Francis Schonken (talk) 23:21, 28 May 2015 (UTC) (updated 10:40, 29 May 2015 (UTC))

I understand the basis for your comments, but I disagree with your bottom line on this section. Let's see if anyone else wants to weigh in. Regards, Newyorkbrad (talk) 00:15, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

Tried to make the bottom line a bit more appealing. Indeed would welcome additional input. --Francis Schonken (talk) 10:40, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

How did you make the bottom line a bit more appealing? Rick Alan RossRick A. Ross (talk) 12:53, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

Wasn't implying I had been successful in making it more attractive, only that I tried to. Reviewing my original bottom line "IMHO Wikipedia just can't make it to act as if it never happened, would make a shaky biography" I saw that I was kinda talking in absolutes after the "IMHO", with some exaggeration added. Then I remembered how I appreciate Newyorkbrad for not talking in absolutes for as far as I can remember. So I toned it down a notch to "this would lay the Wikipedia biography open to a possible reproach of being selective", hoping this to be more compelling.

@Rick A. Ross: question: was anything about these youthful incidents mentioned in your 2014 book? I mean, I appreciate your being honest and open about what happened (as evident from your website, also here: Talk:Rick Ross (consultant)/Archive 5#Early Life), would think it a pity leaving this out of the Wikipedia biography completely just for some wording matters that don't seem too impossible to resolve to me. --Francis Schonken (talk) 14:05, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

No. My book "Cults Inside Out" is not a biography, but an educational book about cults and intervention work. It includes the Jason Scott case in a chapter about the history of cult intervention work, but not my personal history from before 1982, which is not relevant. Rick Alan RossRick A. Ross (talk) 15:43, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

I think that if the criminal record is left in it must be done accurately and not selectively. My proposed edit does that in 60 words. The current entry is 50 words. Ten more words. Rick Alan RossRick A. Ross (talk) 10:28, 29 May 2015 (UTC)

Nothing seems to be going on here regarding the suggested edit. The account of my criminal record remains selective and incomplete. I suggest the following;

In 1974 at the age of 21, Ross was arrested for the attempted burglary of a vacant model home, but later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor trespassing. He was sentenced to probation. The next year Ross was convicted for the felony conspiracy to commit grand theft.[1] He again plead guilty, made full restitution and received probation, which was ended early for good conduct in 1979. Arizona Superior Court later dismissed all charges, expunged Ross' criminal record and restored his civil rights in 1983.[2]

The word "expunged" can be linked to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expungement_in_the_United_States

Rick Alan RossRick A. Ross (talk) 15:37, 8 June 2015 (UTC)

It has been a month since I posted the request for editing regarding my criminal record within this bio. It is selectively edited and misleading. It does not reflect the complete record 1974-1983. Why has this not been edited? Rick Alan Ross173.72.57.223 (talk) 15:05, 8 July 2015 (UTC)

None of the revised text proposals found consensus for implementation. I've been very clear on what needs to be done when you want me to join a consensus.

Please login when posting on this page, we've been through this before. --Francis Schonken (talk) 15:15, 8 July 2015 (UTC)

Sorry, but I am not aware of any login account. My last recollection was that I have no account and cannot login. Rick Alan Ross96.235.133.43 (talk) 13:50, 10 July 2015 (UTC)

WP:BLP is quite clear here - " If an allegation or incident is noteworthy, relevant, and well documented, it belongs in the article – even if it is negative and the subject dislikes all mention of it.". I can't see that his very young brush with the law is noteworthy, and it certainly isn't relevant to his life. Regardless of the subject's claim that the charges were vacated (it would be very useful to see the documentation here, it would ensure this section never returned) I have therefore removed it. 11:50, 10 July 2015 (UTC)

I have the original documents issued by Arizona Superior Court and the Arizona Adult Probation Department. I am willing to have them physically inspected. They are also a matter of public record. The fact that I made full restitution of everything in my possession to the satisfaction of the police and injured party is also a matter of court record and was reported by Tony Ortega in the Phoenix New Times. In the criminal court case concerning sweat lodge guru James Arthur Ray I was qualified and accepted as an expert witness for the prosecution. In that process Ray's attorney's, who opposed my qualification, filed a motion to have me barred as an expert, which was denied by the judge (2011). Ray's attorney's specifically wanted to bring up my past criminal record 1974-1975 at trial if I testified. The judge denied that request in his ruling stating it was not relevant. See http://news.yahoo.com/group-expert-testify-ariz-sweat-lodge-case-20110228-154433-807.html Rick Alan Ross96.235.133.43 (talk) 13:44, 10 July 2015 (UTC) Rick Alan Ross96.235.133.43 (talk) 13:46, 10 July 2015 (UTC)