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