In a message dated 02/26/2000 2:09:17 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Mario's Cyberspace Station http://mprofaca.cro.net/mainmenu.html -__ ___ _ ___ __ ___ _ _ _ __ /'_|'0 \'V'/'\|'|'__|'|'|'/'_| \_'\''_/\'/|'\\'|'_||'V'V'\_'\ |__/_|'.//'|_|\_|___|\_n_/|__/ Friday, February 25, 2000 Editor Sentenced in Source Dispute By JENNIFER COLEMAN Associated Press Writer ARTOIS, Calif. (AP) - Tucked behind an old mill in a two-room office lined with stacks of old newspapers, Tim Crews - editor, publisher, reporter, photographer and deliverer of the Sacramento Valley Mirror - is fielding phone calls and visitors. It's production day for the twice-weekly newspaper, but Crews is busy answering questions about another deadline. ``Yep, I'm going to jail,'' he says to nearly every caller. It's not the first time Crews has stirred up trouble in Glenn County, population 27,000, about 130 miles north of San Francisco. But this time, his troubles will likely land him in jail for five days on a contempt of court charge. Crews is refusing to name confidential sources in a story he wrote about a former highway patrol officer accused of stealing a handgun. On Thursday, a Tehama County judge called his reticence ``obstinate and wrong-headed.'' Unless a federal appeals court in San Francisco intervenes, Crews will report to the county jail on Saturday. Reporters clashing with prosecutors is nothing new, and many have faced jail time for refusing to discuss sources. But it is usually the turf of daily newspaper or broadcast reporters. The June 8 Mirror article by Crews reported a 1995 allegation against Dewey Anderson, accused of stealing a gun from a law enforcement drug unit in which he worked. Anderson later became a highway patrol officer and an undersheriff, and was charged with the theft after the gun turned up at a local high school. Crews published the story after the gun surfaced and charges were brought. Its sources were two unidentified patrol officers who read Crews part of a written report on the case. California's press freedom statutes are among the nation's strongest. But Crews faces jail because Anderson's attorneys - not a judge - subpoenaed him in an effort to show the statute of limitations on the charges against their client had expired, since officials knew about them more than four years ago. Terry Francke, general counsel for the California First Amendment Coalition, said written evidence already in the court record is stronger than that sought from Crews. ``We don't see why Tim's sources are necessary at all,'' he said. It's all a hot story for the Mirror, but not out of place on its pages. In a single issue, the paper features hard-charging stories right along with coverage of the Little Miss Lamb Derby pageant. ``It's a mix of 4-H news, everyday news and, I think, some pretty good investigative journalism,'' Crews said. ``I also think we're fair.'' Crews started the Mirror in 1991 after leaving the competing Willows Journal. The paper has its share of critics, which could explain the estimated 30 break-ins at the newspaper office in its first three years. ``He's done a pretty good job in this community of keeping people stirred up,'' said Denny Bungarz, a Glenn County supervisor. ``But without him, there'd be things going on in this community that people wouldn't know about.'' Crews says his article on a high number of concealed weapons permits issued by a former sheriff brought death threats and boycotts. Or there's the time several teenage boys ransacked a house outside of town and Crews named names, said Elizabeth Larson, editor of the Journal. ``Those boys were the sons of some prominent people,'' Larson said. ``Some people weren't pleased.'' The Mirror's readership has skyrocketed due to recent coverage about his approaching jail time, Crews said, but it hasn't translated into more advertising revenue. Larson said Crews ``has truly existed at a near-poverty level to do this paper. He has the budget of a monk,'' she said. Crews' work keeps the community interested in local politics and news, said Jon Hays, a lifelong Willows resident. He and his wife, Margaret, disagree on the controversial editor, but both said they would hate to see him thrown in jail. ``I don't agree with him most of the time, but it's good to have a voice in the community that offers a different view,'' Mrs. Hays said. The couple subscribes to both the Journal and Mirror, which sit side-by-side on the counter at their sporting goods shop. Crews probably won't park his pen at the jailhouse door. ``He really believes in what he's fighting for,'' said Jose Gonzalez, who helps run a Willows office supply store. ``I can see Tim going inside and asking the inmates about how they're being treated.'' 0000000000000000000000000000000000000 *** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to SPYNEWS eGroup members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml *** Mario Profaca, SPY NEWS uGroup list owner, editor & moderator mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>
Mario's Cyberspace Station http://mprofaca.cro.net/mainmenu.html -__ ___ _ ___ __ ___ _ _ _ __ /'_|'0 \'V'/'\|'|'__|'|'|'/'_| \_'\''_/\'/|'\\'|'_||'V'V'\_'\ |__/_|'.//'|_|\_|___|\_n_/|__/ Friday, February 25, 2000 Editor Sentenced in Source Dispute By JENNIFER COLEMAN Associated Press Writer ARTOIS, Calif. (AP) - Tucked behind an old mill in a two-room office lined with stacks of old newspapers, Tim Crews - editor, publisher, reporter, photographer and deliverer of the Sacramento Valley Mirror - is fielding phone calls and visitors. It's production day for the twice-weekly newspaper, but Crews is busy answering questions about another deadline. ``Yep, I'm going to jail,'' he says to nearly every caller. It's not the first time Crews has stirred up trouble in Glenn County, population 27,000, about 130 miles north of San Francisco. But this time, his troubles will likely land him in jail for five days on a contempt of court charge. Crews is refusing to name confidential sources in a story he wrote about a former highway patrol officer accused of stealing a handgun. On Thursday, a Tehama County judge called his reticence ``obstinate and wrong-headed.'' Unless a federal appeals court in San Francisco intervenes, Crews will report to the county jail on Saturday. Reporters clashing with prosecutors is nothing new, and many have faced jail time for refusing to discuss sources. But it is usually the turf of daily newspaper or broadcast reporters. The June 8 Mirror article by Crews reported a 1995 allegation against Dewey Anderson, accused of stealing a gun from a law enforcement drug unit in which he worked. Anderson later became a highway patrol officer and an undersheriff, and was charged with the theft after the gun turned up at a local high school. Crews published the story after the gun surfaced and charges were brought. Its sources were two unidentified patrol officers who read Crews part of a written report on the case. California's press freedom statutes are among the nation's strongest. But Crews faces jail because Anderson's attorneys - not a judge - subpoenaed him in an effort to show the statute of limitations on the charges against their client had expired, since officials knew about them more than four years ago. Terry Francke, general counsel for the California First Amendment Coalition, said written evidence already in the court record is stronger than that sought from Crews. ``We don't see why Tim's sources are necessary at all,'' he said. It's all a hot story for the Mirror, but not out of place on its pages. In a single issue, the paper features hard-charging stories right along with coverage of the Little Miss Lamb Derby pageant. ``It's a mix of 4-H news, everyday news and, I think, some pretty good investigative journalism,'' Crews said. ``I also think we're fair.'' Crews started the Mirror in 1991 after leaving the competing Willows Journal. The paper has its share of critics, which could explain the estimated 30 break-ins at the newspaper office in its first three years. ``He's done a pretty good job in this community of keeping people stirred up,'' said Denny Bungarz, a Glenn County supervisor. ``But without him, there'd be things going on in this community that people wouldn't know about.'' Crews says his article on a high number of concealed weapons permits issued by a former sheriff brought death threats and boycotts. Or there's the time several teenage boys ransacked a house outside of town and Crews named names, said Elizabeth Larson, editor of the Journal. ``Those boys were the sons of some prominent people,'' Larson said. ``Some people weren't pleased.'' The Mirror's readership has skyrocketed due to recent coverage about his approaching jail time, Crews said, but it hasn't translated into more advertising revenue. Larson said Crews ``has truly existed at a near-poverty level to do this paper. He has the budget of a monk,'' she said. Crews' work keeps the community interested in local politics and news, said Jon Hays, a lifelong Willows resident. He and his wife, Margaret, disagree on the controversial editor, but both said they would hate to see him thrown in jail. ``I don't agree with him most of the time, but it's good to have a voice in the community that offers a different view,'' Mrs. Hays said. The couple subscribes to both the Journal and Mirror, which sit side-by-side on the counter at their sporting goods shop. Crews probably won't park his pen at the jailhouse door. ``He really believes in what he's fighting for,'' said Jose Gonzalez, who helps run a Willows office supply store. ``I can see Tim going inside and asking the inmates about how they're being treated.'' 0000000000000000000000000000000000000 *** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to SPYNEWS eGroup members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml *** Mario Profaca, SPY NEWS uGroup list owner, editor & moderator mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 0000000000000000000000000000000000000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *__ ___ _ ___ __ ___ _ _ _ __ /'_|'0 \'V'/'\|'|'__|'|'|'/'_| \_'\''_/\'/|'\\'|'_||'V'V'\_'\ |__/_|'.//'|_|\_|___|\_n_/|__/ http://mprofaca.cro.net/latest.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get what you deserve with NextCard Visa! Rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR, online balance transfers, Rewards Points, no hidden fees, and much more! Get NextCard today and get the credit you deserve! Apply now! 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