Veteran MMA fighter Jeff Monson pleaded guilty to graffiti-related charges stemming from a picture that was published last year in ESPN the Magazine (right) of Monson spraypainting an anarchy symbol onto the Washington state Capitol. Monson pleaded guilty to the Capitol charge, and entered an Alford plea on the charge for graffiti at an armed-forces recruiting center, meaning that he doesn’t admit guilt, but does believe that there is enough evidence that he will be convicted.
Monson, 38, is scheduled to be sentenced in October, with the prosecutor recommending 90 days in jail. He was also slapped with a $21,894 fine for restitution. However, the crushing blow for Monson is that he was forced to hand over his passport. He is reported to have fights scheduled in Russia and Japan in early 2010, and won’t be able to travel for them. When asked to turn the passport over, he asked the prosecutor, “Are you going to support my family now?”
Monson’s last three fights have not been in the United States, but the idea that he won’t be able to find a fight within the U.S. is just silly. His name has drawing power, and there are plenty of shows that would clamor to have Monson on their card.
They probably won’t pay as well as the Japanese and Russian shows, but Monson should have considered those consequences before he whipped out the can of spray paint and defaced government property. His graffiti may have been an act of civil disobedience to bring awareness to anarchy, but, as he well knows, acts of civil disobedience are frequently punished.
I like Monson, he’s one fighter I always like to watch fighting, and even though I don’t completly agree with his political views, I always though of him as a very smart man… that being said, spray painting a goverment building and letting people take pictures of you doing it… well, I don’t want to call him an idiot, but mostly because he trains pretty close to where I live and he scares the crap out of me
Yeah, that’s generally how it works. If you do something illegal and have yourself photographed doing it, then have that photo published in a national publication with a large circulation, the prosecutor won’t press charges because you have a family to support and it might hurt your job prospects.
And, as observed above, no matter how good your jiu-jitsu is, if your ass has been saved by the elaborate legal protection your government is required by its charter to give to criminal defendants–even though you’re guilty–you might be better off rethinking the whole “anarchy” thing.
There is nothing particularly anarchist about entering a not guilty plea for a crime you actually committed. An anarchist makes his own decisions about what’s right and wrong. He doesn’t depend on the legal system to make or validate those decisions. Fighting your way through the legal system demonstrates that you think the law or the legal system is legitimate. If you don’t think they’re legitimate, then you do whatever gets you closest to the outcome you want – who cares what the government thinks?
Monson committed this crime, he went to court and said he did it, and now he gets to go home and see his kid. I’m sure that is way more important to him than what some judge thinks.
In fact, there are many forms of anarchism. It’s not always about Fighting With the Man.
Not fighting in court is pretty typical of yer basic ghandi type non violent anarchist. Part of that whole honesty moral high ground thing they fetishize. It’s not like he was out there setting fire to stuff.
And afaik, giving up your passport is not that common for a misdemeanor. But I can’t remember a misdemeanor protest type sentencing hearing being delayed for that long either.
are we really going to have the thread where two dozen people argue about what they think “anarchism” means? This is particularly amusing when it goes on between Utopian small government liberals and paranoid small government libertarians, so in love with pouncing on each others’ perceived hypocrisy they orbit each other in an ouroborus formation, chewing and chewing until all that remains is two mouths connected by a strip of flesh.
Why don’t we instead talk about how it’s stupid to have crazy permanent penalties for shit that washes off? Jeff monson commited a kidde crime, and he should get a kiddie punishment: He should be out there with a bucket of paint and a mop, lower lip sticking out, cleaning the shit up.
Apparently, I suck at proper reading - my question about the passport withholding was answered in the article - sentencing due in October, proposed punishment 90 days, fights early 2010. Which means if he gets the 3 months jail time fast, in October, he’d miss out on fights due in January 2010 (thinking loud, to help myself and other low-IQ readers get it)…
Some of you have reading comprehension problems too - Monson allegedly DID NOT ADMIT he did it, read again:
Alford plea on the charge for graffiti at an armed-forces recruiting center, meaning that he doesn’t admit guilt, but does believe that there is enough evidence that he will be convicted.
Also, JohnnyCache is right, we don’t need an Anarchy 101 debate circle jerk here.
The only anarchy viewpoint needed here would be Monson’s, so if you can make him post here, fine…
It looks like Jeff Monson is competing with Josh Barnett for the stupid move of the year award. I really like both of these guys from my home state of Washington, but this getting ridiculous.
What about paranoid big government socialists? Can we argue about it? Nothing I said had to do with anyone’s “perceived hypocrisy.” I don’t think that basic political philosophy is beyond the scope of this forum. Nothing else seems to be beyond its scope, anyway.
[quote=Tonuzaba;2183949]Apparently, I suck at proper reading - my question about the passport withholding was answered in the article - sentencing due in October, proposed punishment 90 days, fights early 2010. Which means if he gets the 3 months jail time fast, in October, he’d miss out on fights due in January 2010 (thinking loud, to help myself and other low-IQ readers get it)…
Some of you have reading comprehension problems too - Monson allegedly DID NOT ADMIT he did it, read again:
Also, JohnnyCache is right, we don’t need an Anarchy 101 debate circle jerk here.
The only anarchy viewpoint needed here would be Monson’s, so if you can make him post here, fine…[/quote]
The article says he entered one guilty plea and one “Alford” plea.
If people make ignorant statements about any political viewpoint, you can’t expect people not to say anything. Well, I suppose you can. I don’t.
I’ve always enjoyed watching Monson fight (would like to see him in the UFC). He does seem to kind of like all the publicity he gets for his poilitical views and involvement in the whole Anarchist movement.
He’s an interesting character. They’re should be more of them in MMA.
