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Tigger gets aquittal in FLA

Good, those charges looked totally fake. Either way...someone mentioned this before..what's the point of grabbing someone with like 12" thick padded gloves on?

:beer: to Disney for being able to act like they still control the world!
 
Yeah it was. If anything, the poor people in the suits get molested by the kids. I know someone who walks around the parks as Eyore and she says that the kids'll freakin' ram into your gut and/or crotch head first, full speed.

Also, the fact that you can't see scheit in those suits and you have to bend down with an awkardly weighted head piece and put your arms around like 8 kids at once.....accidents are bound to happen.
 
Originally posted by: neutralizer
Originally posted by: Bootprint
Link
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boo! registration
Click to expand...

Really? Strange, I don't get it. But here :

Tigger character cleared of battery, molestation of girl

MIKE SCHNEIDER

Associated Press


ORLANDO, Fla. - A Walt Disney World worker who portrayed the beloved character Tigger was acquitted Wednesday of touching the breast of a 13-year-old girl while posing for a photo at the Magic Kingdom.

Jurors found 36-year-old Michael Chartrand not guilty of misdemeanor battery and lewd and lascivious molestation, a felony, after deliberating for less than one hour. He had faced 15 years in prison if convicted.

Chartrand hugged his attorneys when he heard the verdict.

During closing arguments Wednesday, a defense attorney donned a Tigger costume in the courtroom in an effort to show jurors how difficult it is to maneuver and see in the outfit.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Kaufman first strapped on Tigger's tail and then put on a neck cloth, the enormous orange and black-striped head and two large orange mitts to show jurors how the costume limits peripheral vision and arm movements.

"This is my friend Tigger," Kaufman said while pulling the Tigger costume out of a box. "It might spoil the magic for most people, you know?"

Jurors smirked but kept their composure. They were given the chance to try on the costume themselves in the jury room.

Kaufman, who also moonlights as Tigger and Goofy at Walt Disney World, told jurors that Chartrand never touched the girl's breast, and if he did, it was purely accidental.

"There is no evidence that Michael did this on purpose," Kaufman said.

Earlier in the day, when Kaufman asked Chartrand on the witness stand if he had ever intentionally touched the breast of a Disney guest, Chartrand said "Never!"

Prosecutor Will Jay told jurors that Chartrand was guilty of a lewd act and that acquitting him would send the wrong message.

"This is an issue about the defendant, a 36-year-old man lewdly touching a 13-year-old while at work ... portraying an innocent character like Tigger, dragging Tigger through the mud as well," Jay said.

Chartrand testified that he wrote a letter of apology to the girl who he didn't remember, but only at the urging of a detective investigating the case. The detective told him it would make the girl feel better, Chartrand said.

"I believe (the detective) was trying to get me to admit to something I would never do, fondling or groping a female," Chartrand said.

Chartrand's defense attorney has contended that the girl's mother was merely after money and planned to sue Disney. The mother also claimed Tigger had touched her breast too during the visit to Disney World last February, although no criminal charges were filed on her allegation.

Under questioning from defense attorney Jeffrey Kaufman, the mother conceded that she had met with a lawyer about the case. But when asked if she thought she could make a lot of money from Disney, she told Kaufman, "C'mon. No, I didn't."
 
Originally posted by: Bootprint
Originally posted by: neutralizer
Originally posted by: Bootprint
Link
Click to expand...

boo! registration
Click to expand...

Really? Strange, I don't get it. But here :

Tigger character cleared of battery, molestation of girl

MIKE SCHNEIDER

Associated Press


ORLANDO, Fla. - A Walt Disney World worker who portrayed the beloved character Tigger was acquitted Wednesday of touching the breast of a 13-year-old girl while posing for a photo at the Magic Kingdom.

Jurors found 36-year-old Michael Chartrand not guilty of misdemeanor battery and lewd and lascivious molestation, a felony, after deliberating for less than one hour. He had faced 15 years in prison if convicted.

Chartrand hugged his attorneys when he heard the verdict.

During closing arguments Wednesday, a defense attorney donned a Tigger costume in the courtroom in an effort to show jurors how difficult it is to maneuver and see in the outfit.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Kaufman first strapped on Tigger's tail and then put on a neck cloth, the enormous orange and black-striped head and two large orange mitts to show jurors how the costume limits peripheral vision and arm movements.

"This is my friend Tigger," Kaufman said while pulling the Tigger costume out of a box. "It might spoil the magic for most people, you know?"

Jurors smirked but kept their composure. They were given the chance to try on the costume themselves in the jury room.

Kaufman, who also moonlights as Tigger and Goofy at Walt Disney World, told jurors that Chartrand never touched the girl's breast, and if he did, it was purely accidental.

"There is no evidence that Michael did this on purpose," Kaufman said.

Earlier in the day, when Kaufman asked Chartrand on the witness stand if he had ever intentionally touched the breast of a Disney guest, Chartrand said "Never!"

Prosecutor Will Jay told jurors that Chartrand was guilty of a lewd act and that acquitting him would send the wrong message.

"This is an issue about the defendant, a 36-year-old man lewdly touching a 13-year-old while at work ... portraying an innocent character like Tigger, dragging Tigger through the mud as well," Jay said.

Chartrand testified that he wrote a letter of apology to the girl who he didn't remember, but only at the urging of a detective investigating the case. The detective told him it would make the girl feel better, Chartrand said.

"I believe (the detective) was trying to get me to admit to something I would never do, fondling or groping a female," Chartrand said.

Chartrand's defense attorney has contended that the girl's mother was merely after money and planned to sue Disney. The mother also claimed Tigger had touched her breast too during the visit to Disney World last February, although no criminal charges were filed on her allegation.

Under questioning from defense attorney Jeffrey Kaufman, the mother conceded that she had met with a lawyer about the case. But when asked if she thought she could make a lot of money from Disney, she told Kaufman, "C'mon. No, I didn't."
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BS!
 
I wasn't sure on this before, not knowing all the facts, but considering that the jury took less than one hour to decide I'm guessing the wealth of information in this guy's defense was overwhelming. Sucks that he got suspended without pay though. I hope Disney either gives him some compensation or he sues the crap out of the family that filed charges. Or both.
 
What a waste of Tax Payers money. Why do the DA's try to throw people in jail when they didnt do a damn thing and are accused by a bunch of whack jobs.

its fricken scary of what can happen to you just because some nut points their finger at you, and the dumbass DA takes you to court to get a conviction...
 
The only problem I see with this situation is the guy's rep is destroyed. It really doesn't matter that he didn't do it and was acquitted, because in the minds of many people out there he's now just some sicko who likes to touch 13 y.o.s Just being accussed of being a sexual predator or offender is serious business. I hope he takes the family for everything they have.
 
Originally posted by: BigJ
The only problem I see with this situation is the guy's rep is destroyed. It really doesn't matter that he didn't do it and was acquitted, because in the minds of many people out there he's now just some sicko who likes to touch 13 y.o.s Just being accussed of being a sexual predator or offender is serious business. I hope he takes the family for everything they have.
Click to expand...
Fortunately there's no way to tell who's under that Tigger suit. His rep would only be destroyed if he had to show his face for his job. I have a feeling that most potential employers will look at how damn quick the jury took to decide and realize this guy's innocent.
 
Originally posted by: Wuffsunie
Wow, don't see that too often! :beer: to the guy for having the balls to fight that and win.

Oh,
Chartrand hugged his attorneys when he heard the verdict.
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<-- Irony :laugh:
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I just hope his lawyer doesn't go after him for cupping.
 
Originally posted by: yukichigai
Originally posted by: BigJ
The only problem I see with this situation is the guy's rep is destroyed. It really doesn't matter that he didn't do it and was acquitted, because in the minds of many people out there he's now just some sicko who likes to touch 13 y.o.s Just being accussed of being a sexual predator or offender is serious business. I hope he takes the family for everything they have.
Click to expand...
Fortunately there's no way to tell who's under that Tigger suit. His rep would only be destroyed if he had to show his face for his job. I have a feeling that most potential employers will look at how damn quick the jury took to decide and realize this guy's innocent.
Click to expand...


But for example, in his home town, where people know him, and how his face was plastered on CNN and various local papers. He's probably taking a lot of crap from people.
 
Originally posted by: BigJ
But for example, in his home town, where people know him, and how his face was plastered on CNN and various local papers. He's probably taking a lot of crap from people.
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Which is why he should file a civil suit against the accusers, so they'll get crap too. :evil:
 
Originally posted by: yukichigai
Originally posted by: BigJ
The only problem I see with this situation is the guy's rep is destroyed. It really doesn't matter that he didn't do it and was acquitted, because in the minds of many people out there he's now just some sicko who likes to touch 13 y.o.s Just being accussed of being a sexual predator or offender is serious business. I hope he takes the family for everything they have.
Click to expand...
Fortunately there's no way to tell who's under that Tigger suit. His rep would only be destroyed if he had to show his face for his job. I have a feeling that most potential employers will look at how damn quick the jury took to decide and realize this guy's innocent.
Click to expand...
Nah, his rep is largely toast, IMO. If the arrest shows up at all during any background checks for similar jobs I'm pretty sure most employers will pass him over. They'd see him as too much of a liability, and be too worried that guests who find out he's working there would complain and start various kinds of crap.
 
Originally posted by: Wuffsunie
Nah, his rep is largely toast, IMO. If the arrest shows up at all during any background checks for similar jobs I'm pretty sure most employers will pass him over. They'd see him as too much of a liability, and be too worried that guests who find out he's working there would complain and start various kinds of crap.
Click to expand...
I hope he goes to civil court then, so he can sue for lost future wages.

Frikkin' asshats who abuse the legal system piss me off.

Can't he sue to have the arrest record removed or supressed or something?
 
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