Ashley Todd's bail set for $50,000 - in jail tonight

[malaise]

No one has paid it. She's in a jail in Pittsburgh. You have to watch this.
Breaking on Anderson Cooper. Lots of details.

add

[NeedleCast]

1. 50K for Misdemeanor?

Has she been charge with something other than making a false police report?

[malaise]

2. Probably race-baiting

Waiting for details.

[malaise]

3. back to court on October 30th n/t

[NeedleCast]

12. Cant switch to A/C, Have they Said what she's being charged with?

Has hate crime been mentioned?

[malaise]

16. Watching for details

You can watch on line
http://www.channelsurfing.net/

[sohndrsmith]

62. only thing I've seen is from an AP report a couple of hours ago:

"Todd was awaiting arraignment Friday on the misdemeanor false-report charge, which is punishable by up to two years in prison."

CNN is saying she's * told * police that she has mental health problems, so it's not clear if there is an actual record of such. After this crime, I'm not sure I'd believe her. Considering her bail, it appears as though I'm not the only skeptical one.

Personally, I think that other charges should be considered. I consider this a hate crime, even though PA laws may not. I also think that any attempt to undermine or manipulate a freaking _presidential_election_ (which, in effect, is what she was trying to do, I believe unflinchingly) has got to be a serious, serious violation on many levels.

Combined with the racist aspect of her crime, I find it hard to think of anything but severe consequences within the limits of the law is appropriate here.

I will alter this view only if there is proof of severe mental disorders that can be related to actions or difficulties with related behaviours, but she sure seems lucid and functional with her words and work with the organization she was with.

I certainly could be wrong about the mental health component as precipitating this, but it doesn't really fit (with information thus far).

This is about political immaturity, egotism, deviousness and racism. That's my opinion, anyway.

[NeedleCast]

69. No Argument Here

I think everything you said is very valid. I'll be interested to see what they ultimately charge her with.

[Bandit]

94. How can a misdemeanor be punishable by two years in Prison?

I thought a misdemeanor could not ever get more than one year. Something is not right here..

[msanthrope]

99. PA code has 3 levels of misdemeanors--it's complex, and if you

have the right predicates, yes, you will be doing prison, not jail time....

As I haven't seen her indictment, but when I do I will post said code section....

[sohndrsmith]

71. how lovely - Mischief Night (and my birthday). Ah well, no matter. n/t

[malaise]

88. Belated happy birthday

:D

[ColbertWatcher]

9. Maybe because she's a flight risk? n/t

[NeedleCast]

15. Seems unlikely with what we know so far

Unless her folks are loaded or something. Twenty year old white college girl probably doesn't have the cash to go far and with the media attention she's gotten it wouldn't take long to spot her.

Police buddy of mine says that for the charge of filing a false police report there would normally be no bail, would be released and told when to go to court.

Possibly a repeat offender or being charged with a hate crime is my guess at this point.

[ColbertWatcher]

38. Okay, I never thought about that. Good point. n/t

[TahitiNut]

13. Flight risk

:shrug:

[pitohui]

30. why would filing a false police report be a misdemeanor?

it's a felony in my state and certainly in this case it should be

[NeedleCast]

50. Depends on Severity

Most states have multiple statues that cover this sort of thing and from what I heard earlier today she was being charged with the misdemeanor version.

That appears to no longer be the case.

[sohndrsmith]

72. I tried to make sense of the PA Code, and it appears as though

it is a M2 or M3... but I really couldn't figure out the sentencing recommendations (or much else).

http://www.pacode.com/index.html

Feel free to check out the link. I think there are better sites available with State Codes and Statutes. I'd love to know if someone finds a better site with the actual definitions and requirements.

I agree with others - I think there is more they're looking at, we just don't know it yet. I was just curious to see if I could find out how unusual this might be (or not). I got nowhere... unfortunately.

[B Calm]

54. She has been inciting right wing domestic terrorists. Far as I'm concerned

she is a fucking traitor!

[ellisD]

83. Conspiracy to commit election fraud

sounds more appropriate... this isn't just some young girl lying to the cops about getting beat up to get back at a ex, or to get attention/sympathy - this was a deliberate attempt to deceive the public at large in order to influence public opinion and sway the election... a crime to be committed against 300+ million Americans

I've read more then a few people calling her domestic terrorist, but I wouldn't because personally I think that label gets thrown around much too loosely. But she is definitely guilty of a premeditated conspiracy to commit fraud, and in my opinion borderline treason

I think they should change the law on filing a false police report so that the liar gets sentenced with the punishment the accused victim would have received if found guilty.... so in her case I guess that would be assault with deadly weapon, with some cruel and unusual punishment and bodily disfigurement thrown in...

[Frank Cannon]

87. She was probably charged with several counts of false reports

The police at least added sexual assault to their list of phantom charges, since she also complained she'd been groped.

[obiwan]

97. I was charged with a non-criminal offense...

...and I hadn't been in jail since I was 17 years old (I'm 54 now) and had no criminal record whatsoever. The judge was going to set my bail at $125,000 and send me to the LA central men's lockup for 30 days, because I pleaded "not guilty". Eventually, he got tired of fucking with me, especially after I fired my public defender. Me being in a wheelchair because didn't matter to this guy. Eventually, after unsuccessfully trying to put the fear of God in me, they issued a stay-away order, slapped me on the wrists, and let me go, no fine, no jail time.

Fuck the system. Its purpose is to keep the average citizen afraid and cowed.

[iamjoy]

4. Obama Should Pay It

I mean, he would get the final one-up-man-ship on this. He would look magnanimous to an opponent.

And it would really stick in Ashley Todd's craw to be indebted to a man she despises. Oh wait, a black man she despises.

Yep, that's what should happen.

[ellisD]

80. lol if he bailed her out

McCain would turn around and accuse Obama of being soft on crime! ;)

[marmar]

5. She better get back to that ATM, quickly......

n/t

[Orrex]

7. Yeah--that $1.50 surcharge probably doesn't look so bad now.

[liberalmuse]

6. That's sad.

Wouldn't it be cool if Obama supporters bailed her out? I do not condone what she did, but feel an emotionally disturbed girl was exploited by the McCain campaign.

[RollWithIt]

11. You don't understand the significance of a $50k bail.....

Most first time FELONS on non violent drug charges get out on $5k bond tops if it isn't major. She's in jail on a reported 3rd degree misdemeanor. There is a reason for a bond that high, my guess is that this is far more serious than we know and they don't want her out of jail right away.

[liberalmuse]

14. Interesting...

and you're right. I don't understand the significance. I wonder what else we'll be finding out? Still, she's 20. My daughter is 21. They still aren't completely grown up at that age.

[RollWithIt]

24. Well, the age thing stands out... she's only 20...

And trust me, detectives are well versed in terrifying young offenders. They probably had her broken down within minutes of her interview today. Then they let her go off and take a lie detector test which she failed. They've released initial reports of her confession and mental illness clains. They proceeded to frog march her through a parking lot in front of a full media contingent. On the way to jail.

Where she was stripped. Hosed with water. Doused with anti-lice powder. Hosed with water again. Photographed. And placed in a solitary holding cell with constant surveillance. By tomorrow morning when she wakes up there will be another detective ready to ask her if she's thought about her story and what really happened.

[rockymountaindem]

28. Umm... she's in the Shawshank Redemption?

I thought that de-lousing thing was just in movies. Am I missing something?

[RollWithIt]

57. Yes, you are....

Most large city jails will delouse inmates as they come into the system. This is standard in almost all American city jails and state prisons.

[charlie]

75. Delousing is usually a cup of shampoo nowadays

In a regular shower, not the old-school stuff from the Shawshank Redemption.

[pitohui]

34. if you can't do the time don't do the crime

too many innocent people have been thru the same experience

it is only thru the grace of god that some random wasn't picked off the street and put in jail for what she "said" happened

[XemaSab]

78. Seriously

I can just picture some black dude getting off work, ready to head home to the wife and kids, and getting thrown in the can 'cause that little bitch can't think about how her actions have consequences for one damn minute. :banghead:

[S n o w b a l l]

37. Oh please..

You're not serious are you? Talk about dramatic.

[RollWithIt]

56. Ummm, that is the standard procedure for most people being booked into a large city jail....

They are stripped down in shower cubes. They are sprayed down with cold water. They are deloused. They are then resprayed down. Then they are photographed. I'm not just making this shit up.

[pitohui]

58. so why is she special that we're supposed to get upset about this?

you would be more happy if she were infected with lice and MRSA whilst in jail?

wtf???

[S n o w b a l l]

66. Well, I wasn't either by saying you're full of shit...

I was arressted when I was 19 on a felony...I sold 2 ozs of pot. My bail was $50K. I was in jail for 4 days before they reduced my bond to 5K. You ARE just making that shit up or you're just full of shit or drama cause nothing like that happened to me. Not even close.

[msanthrope]

98. A couple nights in jail might convince her to talk about her conspirators. n/t

[LiberalHeart]

29. Maybe they're afraid to let her out because they don't think she's stable enough to be on her own.

I also read somewhere that other charges are possible.

Conspiracy, maybe, now that we know what details the campaign folks were releasing early on?

[malaise]

33. A mug shot would be nice

And yes I'm curious about the charges.

[spooked]

39. Here are pics of her in handcuffs

Click on links for pics:

http://ap.google.com/media/ALeqM5jk4wDlPZMVITtKb5Z0YMM-dRGYrA?size=s

http://ap.google.com/media/ALeqM5hpqAfucvA-kq1FNpPZX24HRnv3Kw?size=m

http://ap.google.com/media/ALeqM5gVSpcxdTA2UNVPA1sQ5CICSzGhsg?size=m


The article is here:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iidrMKZwVNDDlEtkssY6t1xxhg9QD94169T80

[malaise]

41. How does someone that age throw away her life

for Rethugs?

Thanks - I saw those. You know the media will be following her to court next week.

[Realityhack]

47. The police say they do not think anyone else is involved n/t

[pitohui]

31. how more serious can it be?

she was trying to commit election fraud, big time
00==-- in a federal election

this needs to be treated seriously

i'm sorry if she's ill, unfortunately, her mental illness does not excuse her from her obligation to follow the law

[orleans]

85. but don't people only have to put up 10% to get out?

if your bail is 50,000 then you only need to get 5,000

at least that is what i thought.

[John Q. Citizen]

18. Do you believe this?

I don't.

"She said she has prior mental problems and doesn't know how the backward letter 'B' got on her face."

However, Todd was the only one in the vehicle, and "when she saw the 'B' she thought she must have been the one who did it," Bryant said.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/24/mccain.sticker/index.html

I don't believe her.


If you look at how fast and with how much as yet unreported detail the McCain campaign pushed this story to the press, and the speed with which McCain and Palin called her up and chatted with her, you have to wonder if it was coordinated?

How did Drudge get the story. How did the McCain campaign get the story.

Who helped this 20 year old attempt this hoax?

[malaise]

27. Great post

and don't forget she was blogging just before the incident and preparing to be in that neighborhood.

[justiceischeap]

65. She also posted after the "incident" n/t

[Shakespeare]

42. I don't buy it, either--she left an evidence trail showing premeditation.

Most significantly her odd blog post about going out to find an ATM.

She's not mentally ill, just racist, vile and DUMB.

[John Q. Citizen]

43. And I bet she had help.

I haven't read her blog or the post you mention. I'd like to see it.

[Realityhack]

46. not sure. If she had help they might have gotten the B the right way around but...

it is possible.

[John Q. Citizen]

59. Maybe, but how the backward "B" was made is still a mystery.

I'm thinking she had help in the concept and catapulting of the propaganda more than the the execution of the hoax.

The PA Repos seemed to have inside info very quick.


Also, she's now held on 50k bail. So something is going on here. It seems if she was a psych problem they could just put her on a psych hold.

Instead it's 50k. that's 5 grand on a bond usually but maybe more for her since she's from out of the area.

[Realityhack]

64. she was a volunteer. Word would spread fast.

Just playing devils advocate but the police have been telegraphing on this one and they say they do not suspect anyone else was involved. Could change but I don't know.

[Ms. Toad]

82. She made the B while looking in a mirror

It looked right in the mirror, and she didn't think far enough ahead to realize it would be backwards on her face.

[John Q. Citizen]

84. What mirror did she use?

[Realityhack]

89. Of what relivance is that?

Are mirrors suddenly in short supply or something? Who cares what mirror she used.

[John Q. Citizen]

106. Do you know it wasn't her boss' bathroom mirror in his house?

[malaise]

91. Her car mirror n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

105. How do you know?

She claims she can't remember, according to the press.

[Ms. Toad]

108. Who cares.

There are plenty of mirrors around. Car mirror, bathroom mirror at a gas station, mirror in her friends' house, etc. You described the backwards B as mysterious - I think it's pretty clear that it was backwards because she used a mirror to make it; one of the first things that should have raised the suspicions of anyone hearing her story. There is no logical reason anyone other than herself would have carved it backwards.

[malaise]

86. Have a look at this thread

I find the date of the attack on Nancy Takehara very interesting and wonder if this was a planned response.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4306470

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-campaignattack,0,815315.story

[MH1]

101. Does premeditation exclude mental illness?

I don't think so, but I'm certainly no expert.

What this girl did was horrible - especially considering the history of false accusations against black men by white women, and what that could result in. But I feel sorry for her. You don't get to choose your parents or how they bring you up (or fail to bring you up). Sure, at 20 she's supposed to be an adult and has some responsibility for her choices. But she still is shaped very much by how she was nurtured.

Speaking of parents, I wonder where they are in this incident.

[sohndrsmith]

74. agree with you and those who responded to you.

I don't believe her either. Particularly because every report I've heard says the mental health issue is based on the fact that "she told them she forgot things, and had mental health issues." No mention of actual clinical records.

Personally, I wouldn't exactly assume that she's being honest.... considering the circumstances.

It doesn't jive with everything else we've learned about her... but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I just don't believe it. She's trying to avoid prison time, in my view. And she probably realizes that any other motivation could potentially cause difficulties to the presidential election. She's already had an affect on it, however slight or significantly. That's really, really not good. This is way beyond Joe the Plumber lying to Obama just to challenge him. Way beyond...

She deliberately used Obama's name (according to one reporter's account on msnbc last night) and she specified the political nature (not to mention the racist ugliness as well), so I don't think this is being treated like a run-of-the mill false report.

I wish her blog/twitter postings weren't closed down, it would be interesting to see if there is any mention that she forgets (or "blacks out" apparently) on a regular basis, or is in treatment for any cognitive problems. Of course the absence or presence wouldn't prove anything, not in a legal, definitive way. I'm just fascinated by human behaviour and inordinately curious... and I'm mad, too. But compulsively curious whether I'm mad or not - to a fault, I'm afraid.

[Frank Cannon]

90. I can't believe she had help. Even if other morons were helping her...

they would have at least gotten the "B" right. She could also have had someone do the "Dirty Harry" thing and give her a real black eye or rough her up a bit more.

No, this has all the trappings of a lone nut, and one who's not too bright at that.

[John Q. Citizen]

107. She didn't place the bogus story on drudge herself. She had help, alright.

[Heather MC]

25. No! She is only going to be charged with a misdeamenor, and more than like time served for spending

One night in Jail
let AssLee stay right the hell where she is, with all those pissed off black Woman!

[proud patriot]

40. that would be very cool

:think:

[NNN0LHI]

49. Cool if DUers bailed out this thug?

This is why Dems lose elections.

Don

[Realityhack]

52. I second that. It would not be cool at all. n/t

[Frank Cannon]

92. I third it. This racist is a danger to herself and others...

and belongs exactly where she is.

[RollWithIt]

8. Ummm, $50,000 for a third degree Misdemeanor is unheard of, it must be far more serious charges....

Which leads me to believe they are actively interrogating her as to what exact campaign connections she had. They smell a rat. And they are searching.

[malaise]

17. Race-baiting is a serious offense

No word yet on the charge(s)

[Gregorian]

10. Karl Rove is far more deserving. But I digress...

Geez. Leave Britney alone!

[Swamp Rat]

76. I agree

[underpants]

19. McCain will bail her out... oh wait, I forgot, he can't spare the money

:bounce:

[XOKCowboy]

48. Might have to return some of those clothes to Neiman Marcus

My bad!

[rocktivity]

100. I understand that the McCrazed campaign made condolance calls to her

If they can afford spend $150K on clothes and $22k on makeup, surely they can manange a lousy $5K bond.

By the way, this attack on a campaign worker barely made the news. But then again, the victim wasn't white, the attacker wasn't a non-white, the worker was supporting Obama, AND THE ATTACK ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

:mad:
rocknation

[fascisthunter]

20. Could She Have Committed a Hate Crime...?

...by conspiring to wrongfully charge a black man of sexual assault, mutilation and robbery with a deadly weapon?

[Poll_Blind]

44. That's what I'm betting. First, filing a false police report is a serious crime. Second...

...filing a false report of a hate crime is much worse.

  I could be talking out of my ass but I was on the Oregon (where I live) Department of Justice's website and there is, if I recall correctly, a fund set up for victims of hate crimes. In other words, victims of hate crimes may have access to funds from the state- mostly to pay for therapy and that sort of thing. Again, I could be speaking out my ass, but this is what I recall from a few weeks ago.

  Anyway, if Pa. has a similar fund, they may treat this even more seriously because it could ultimately be construed as an attempt to defraud the state of funds intended to help victims of such crimes.

  This may be a stretch- I admit that. But the bail says they're taking this as seriously as I'd hoped.

PB

[XemaSab]

79. Had a little mini-debate about which was worse:

committing a hate crime or faking a hate crime.

Let's just say that faking a hate crime is right up there. :grr:

[SeattleGirl]

21. Good!

Fucking dirtwad needs to stay locked up!

[malaise]

23. I'm amazed that the College Rethugs haven't posted

her bail as yet. Damn this will get coverage right through next week when she shows up for court on October 30th.

[hulklogan]

22. Maybe Caribou Barbie and the RNC can pawn some of her clothes at Out of the Closet.

A few Valentino ensembles and a Louis Vuitton bag or two should cover it.

[malaise]

26. If the campaign pay that bail, several more bells

will start ringing re the connection to the campaign.

[Catherine Vincent]

32. She also claimed the guy sexually assaulted her.

They must be pissed at her big time.

[malaise]

35. Not just claimed

described in some detail to the cops. She's sick.

[John Q. Citizen]

60. She may be sick or maybe she's lying about it.

Using mental illness as a shield.

I don't know. But she was sure able to get her story out and seen around the world before it fell apart.

The PA Repos had a lot of very early very detailed information about this story before it was published anywhere else.

Something is fishy still. My gut tells me there is more to this than a disturbed young woman acting alone at exactly the perfect time to influence the election. The amount of her bail is odd, for another thing.

[frogmarch]

36. In one article I read that

she was being held for her own protection - from herself - and that she will be monitored on suicide watch.

[HooptieWagon]

45. That's high, but probably for her protection

Cops probably don't want her bailing out before she undergoes a mental evaluation.

[Realityhack]

51. possibly. Or they could be saying that

she is a flight risk because she is loony toons.

I don't know if a judge is allowed to set a high bail based on you being a potential risk to yourself. I thought that went right to reprimand.

[NNN0LHI]

55. Her protection?

The public needs to be protected from someone who is capable of carving letters into their own face in an attempt to make millions of black men who fit her description instant suspected felons.

Think about if someone had done this in your town and the person she described fit your general description and all the police were staring at you.

How would you feel then?

Don

[HooptieWagon]

96. Her protection from herself.

PPD statement said she'd had prior mental issues, and they were keeping her in custody until she could undergo a mental evaluation, probably monday. Otherwise, a charge of filing a false report she'd be charged and released on her own recognizance. First offender felony drug charges are usually about $5-6K bail, I can't imagine what the PPD could charge her with that would justify $50K bail. So, I assume it's just to make sure she doesn't bail out before the docs in the white coats get a look at her. Once she is evaluated, if she's determined not to be a threat to herself I expect the bail will be drastically reduced or eliminated.

[submerged99]

53. They probably want to keep her in until the election is over

That is a high bail, no doubt. One of the reports said she hasn't shown any remorse so they probably figure she would cause more headaches if they let her out before the election. Conceivably, she could be out tonight if someone raised the money but they are probably hoping to make it a challenge--they could always reduce the bail after Nov 4.

[LiberalHeart]

61. Is it the full $50,000 or 10%? Seems like her family would be writing a check.

Or maybe they're disgusted.

[EFerrari]

67. How many families have five thousand dollars sitting around for a bond these days?

[RetroLounge]

63. And the irony is if she's kept in jail she can't vote...

What a fucktard.

RL

[justiceischeap]

68. You should check out the KDKA site, the story is slightly more detailed than CNN

Police say there's no indication that anyone else was involved in bogus robbery and assault incident involving Todd.

Todd is now facing charge for filing a false police report.

She is spending the weekend behind bars awaiting a psychiatric evaluation on Monday.

http://kdka.com/local/attack.McCain.Bloomfield.2.847628.html

Some post above stated that the police didn't suspect anyone else... I think maybe they don't suspect anyone else had a hand in the hoax robbery, not that there may not be a conspiracy to commit the hoax.

[adamuu]

70. Imagining the conversation in the jail cell tonight

Hey, girl. How'd you get the B on your cheek?
Ashley (timidly): Nevermind that.

[adamuu]

73. I hope they let her have her Blackberry back

BTW, this video says the high bail and felony charge is "for her safety"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li2u10aOWAA

[XemaSab]

77. Mean thought: I hope she's crying.

I really do.

[book_worm]

81. I guess she will miss out on voting for McCain.

unless she already voted.

[ShortnFiery]

93. Doesn't Ashley Todd have parents or other family members? Where are they now

that she truly needs their help and emotional support?

[malaise]

95. Well unless they show up, she'll be spending

the weekend in jail.
http://kdka.com/local/attack.McCain.Bloomfield.2.847628.html

She is spending the weekend behind bars awaiting a psychiatric evaluation on Monday.

[ShortnFiery]

102. We should be able to find out WHY she's not out of jail over the weekend? With family?

Why not? If I were her sister, I don't care if she's bat shit deluded crazy (and almost worse, a republican :blush:), she's family and I'd have her stay with me.

What's going on here?!?

[malaise]

103. It's here

http://kdka.com/local/attack.McCain.Bloomfield.2.847628.html
She is spending the weekend behind bars awaiting a psychiatric evaluation on Monday.

[ShortnFiery]

104. That does not make sense if she has family?

Wouldn't the family be able to spring her? This is way too "one flew over the coo coo's nest" to me.