Maybe I can lend some perspective on the story - Ryan, known as "Husky" to us, is one of the Idafurs group. I've known him for years now, though have had little contact with him outside of our monthly coffee meets and the occasional Boise outing (I live in Mountain Home, about forty miles east of Boise).
He is autistic and, as the result of his specific condition, very impressionable and naive, almost to the point of being incapable of making informed decisions by himself. He was in a relationship with another Idafur who is known for being manipulative, dishonest, and vengeful (I don't recall the specifics of that relationship, whether it was romantic or roomate, etc). This person is thought to have been using him for his disability income to pay for their expenses and get food (SNAP program benefits). He always seemed like a nice enough guy, if a bit odd. He had said some things to myself or other fur-friends of our group which may have been indicative of the allegations now made against him, but I cannot say with certainty he did anything of which he is now accused. There is some speculation within my group that he may have been: manipulated into performing these actions; may have been (falsely) indicated by the aforementioned relationship partner; may have done these actions entirely of his own will; may not have done any of it. There's a lot of possibilities here, but next to no known evidence. What evidence there is, that we have access to, is largely circumstantial and from questionable sources.
For my part, I don't know enough to declare him guilty or not guilty regarding the accusations made by the Ada County prosecutors. I've chosen to wait and see the outcome of the trial, if there is one (he can plea no contest, after all), and look at the evidence presented during the hearings myself.
I've suggested our group do as was suggested here, in the event he is found guilty: make no attempt to hide any of this, but publicly decry his actions and seek to help him 'get better' wherever possible. If true, this is very unfortunate for him (and the cat), but we may still be able to benefit by showing compassion and trying to help - something few people in this country do anymore. This would demonstrate our drive to be -more- human than most, more empathetic, more willing to do right.
If guilt cannot be reasonably established? Then defend him wherever necessary. The rest won't matter!
"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
Maybe I can lend some perspective on the story - Ryan, known as "Husky" to us, is one of the Idafurs group. I've known him for years now, though have had little contact with him outside of our monthly coffee meets and the occasional Boise outing (I live in Mountain Home, about forty miles east of Boise).
He is autistic and, as the result of his specific condition, very impressionable and naive, almost to the point of being incapable of making informed decisions by himself. He was in a relationship with another Idafur who is known for being manipulative, dishonest, and vengeful (I don't recall the specifics of that relationship, whether it was romantic or roomate, etc). This person is thought to have been using him for his disability income to pay for their expenses and get food (SNAP program benefits). He always seemed like a nice enough guy, if a bit odd. He had said some things to myself or other fur-friends of our group which may have been indicative of the allegations now made against him, but I cannot say with certainty he did anything of which he is now accused. There is some speculation within my group that he may have been: manipulated into performing these actions; may have been (falsely) indicated by the aforementioned relationship partner; may have done these actions entirely of his own will; may not have done any of it. There's a lot of possibilities here, but next to no known evidence. What evidence there is, that we have access to, is largely circumstantial and from questionable sources.
For my part, I don't know enough to declare him guilty or not guilty regarding the accusations made by the Ada County prosecutors. I've chosen to wait and see the outcome of the trial, if there is one (he can plea no contest, after all), and look at the evidence presented during the hearings myself.
I've suggested our group do as was suggested here, in the event he is found guilty: make no attempt to hide any of this, but publicly decry his actions and seek to help him 'get better' wherever possible. If true, this is very unfortunate for him (and the cat), but we may still be able to benefit by showing compassion and trying to help - something few people in this country do anymore. This would demonstrate our drive to be -more- human than most, more empathetic, more willing to do right.
If guilt cannot be reasonably established? Then defend him wherever necessary. The rest won't matter!
"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
-Douglas Adams