| Copyright (c) 2008 Robert Keefer | | | | upon life as an independent adult. |
| Young people have really taken to | | | | She also asked the Court to let Lipton |
| MySpace, Facebook and YouTube. They | | | | feel her pain and live her life: "I |
| love to post pictures, movies and | | | | want you to feel completely and utterly |
| articles. So far, so good. The problem | | | | helpless...I want you to know how it |
| is that much of their posted material is | | | | feels to only eat when people feed |
| there for the whole world to see, | | | | you... to be completely dependent on |
| probably forever. | | | | others...I will live with what you did |
| I saw a custody case where one parent | | | | to me every day, everything that I do, |
| had real concerns about the | | | | for the rest of my life." |
| non-custodial parent. One side had a | | | | During sentencing Lipton cried and |
| very important witness who posted on | | | | apologized to his victims but the |
| Facebook. According to his own Facebook | | | | prosecutor used photographs from |
| account this important witness was an | | | | Lipton's Facebook account to give the |
| irresponsible, somewhat lewd lawbreaker. | | | | Court a different picture of Lipton's |
| The proponent of that witness was | | | | feelings. This picture was of Lipton, |
| forced to drop him. | | | | drinking Red Bull, sticking out his |
| I think this fellow's account was set up | | | | tongue, with his arm slung around a |
| as a joke but he could not be used as a | | | | sorority member, wearing a prison |
| witness since the case would have become | | | | jumpsuit embossed with the words, "Jail |
| about his Facebook account, not the | | | | Bird". |
| problems of the custodial parent. | | | | While a picture may be worth a thousand |
| Another example of how internet posting | | | | words for Lipton it was worth two years |
| can hurt you is the case of Joshua | | | | in prison. The Judge Daniel Procaccini |
| Lipton. Lipton was the accused in an | | | | said that the Jail Bird Picture |
| alcohol caused motor vehicle collision | | | | influenced his decision. The Court felt |
| that seriously injured a woman. | | | | the mocking picture gave an insight into |
| According to Rhode Island prosecuting | | | | how Lipton really felt after almost |
| attorneys, Lipton had a .15 blood | | | | killing Ms. Combies and almost ruining |
| alcohol content as he drove over 60 mph | | | | her life. |
| in a 40 mph zone in the rain before | | | | Indeed, the Court called the Halloween |
| striking one vehicle and then slamming | | | | costume Lipton donned two weeks after |
| head on into a vehicle containing Jade | | | | this collision "sick, depraved and |
| Combies and her sister. This three | | | | disgusting". It was impossible for |
| vehicle pileup left Jade Combies, then | | | | Lipton to overcome the terrible |
| 20 years old, hospitalized with a | | | | impression of lack of remorse that this |
| traumatic brain injury, fractures to her | | | | photograph portrayed. |
| femur, hip, and collar bone as a well as | | | | Apparently, Lipton's words of contrition |
| injuries to her liver and spleen. | | | | seemed hollow when placed beside the |
| Due to these injuries, Ms. Combies | | | | picture of him wearing the irreverent |
| endured nine operations, rehabilitation | | | | orange jumpsuit. Lipton's request for |
| therapy, memory loss and constant pain. | | | | probation and community service in light |
| She had to learn how to care for herself | | | | of his post-accident substance abuse |
| again just like an infant. | | | | treatment and remorse fell on deaf ears. |
| At trial, Ms. Combies spoke of her loss | | | | People using these social sites on the |
| of independence and her feelings of | | | | Internet need to understand that these |
| helplessness in having to rely upon | | | | pages are going to follow them forever. |
| others at a time she should be embarking | | | | |