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