CARRINGTON
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Subscribe to this comment's feed| IT IS MIND BOGGING TO ME THAT HE HAS BEEN COACHING YOUTH FOOTBALL FOR 4 YEARS AT BISHOP MIDDLE ST. SCHOOL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMEBODY WANT'S TO NAIL HIM. ALSO FUNNY THAT TWO COACHES FOR THE SENIOR PROG. ARE PEACE OFFICER'S FOR THE CITY OF BISHOP AND THEY NEW NOTHING ABOUT THE LAW. |
momwhocares
said:
| It is not mind boggling to me, The fact that he was allowed to coach for 4 years is sickening and disturbing. If you go to the website for sex offenders, Mr Birmingham is not even registered. The laws are great, but reality is there is no way to enforce them. Or it is just too costly. I guess all sex offenders should have to report once a year to prove they have complied with registration, and if they don't, then arrest their butts. I am glad someone finally did their job and stopped the nonsense. Just because you wear or wore a uniform does not make you above the law. You did the crime like a man, now take the consequences like a man. Grow up and do things right. This 4 year stunt shows he didn't learn anything and can not be trusted. |
justthe facts
said:
| You should probably check the facts and now there are two different types of registered offenders. One is what he is and the other is Megan's Law. Megan's Law is the one that has to do with children. His crime had nothing to do with children. Eric was out there coaching because no one else wanted to do it and because he loves the game. Last year Eric didn't even have one of his children on his team. He put up with this crap so he could teach young men the game of football. I know that for the last two years at all sign ups if it was brought up they were told Eric was willing to step away if someone else stepped up. No one did. Eric has been seen by several law enforcement officers, probation officers and DA's on campus and not one has ever said or done anything. Why? If they didn't know that was a law then how do you expect Eric to. Eric was only trying to help. He did nothing to hurt children and only helped. He helped turn my child into a great kid and not a bad football player either. Why didn't they just tell him to leave, instead they set him up by letting him, once they knew there was law and he still didn't, come to the practice like he has done for three plus years and then arrest him. Sounds like entrapment to me. What's funny is people always want to complain how criminals don't pay their debt but here he is trying and doing a great job and they not only shut him down from this but also keep him from being a father to his own children. No wonder this world's criminal justice system is broken. But before you just start typing mom who cares know the facts. |
Fed up with Idiots
said:
| To Justthefacts, Megan's Law covers both offenders against children and adults so do your homework. Statistically there are far more offenders against children listed than adults...at least reported/charged/convicted and that's why it would appear to be leaning towards the latter. Birmingham has never accepted responsibility for any of his actions and didn't have to "publicly" register under Megan's Law because of his former peace officer status. It seems a probation violation should suffice to have him upgraded where he needs to be under PC 290. I don't care if some people like him as a coach, he still needs to follow the rules and it sounds like all he had to do was swallow his pride and ask for approval from the school administration. |
HOW SAD
said:
| INYO COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM SUCKS BIG TIME!! SOOOO SOO SAD HOW THE JUSTICE SYSTEM SUCKS THAT BAD...SO PITIFUL....HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO BE LET DOWN BY THE "JUSTICE" SYSTEM...BUT WHAT ELSE IS NEW??... |
David Vaulet
said:
| It is amazing to me that people will write comments in support of a convicted sex offender, but are unwilling to identify themselves. Birmingham plead guilty to the charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment of women. If you believe he should be coaching your children on school grounds then write your Congress Person as the law recently changed to include all sex offenders (PC 290 Registrants) which Eric Birmingham is. The law was changed to include all 290 registrants because young innocent children became victims from these types of offenders. I am not saying that Eric Birmingham would ever hurt a child, but that is the background behind the law. No he is not on Megan's law as his "plea bargain" did not include children which Megan's law was intended for. Birmingham is required to register as a sex offender and is not allowed on school grounds except under very specific circumstances. He did not follow the law and as a result was arrested. It is very apparent that no one up to this point has even read the law or they would not be making fools of themselves in defending him. I being a past coworker and friend of Eric Birmingham was once fooled too. Please be cautious when defending a Felon who has committed very serious crimes and has betrayed the publics trust by grossly failing to uphold his sworn duties while he was a Deputy Sheriff. I pray that all our children will be safer because of this law. I also praise the Bishop Police Department for their efforts in keeping a close eye on our local sex offenders. Also, to "Just the Facts," it would probably be best not to have a coach then to have one who is a sex offender. I am glad your child benefited from Mr. Birmingham’s coaching, but there are several victims of Mr. Birmingham who have to fight every day to deal with the life lasting effect Mr. Birmingham has had on them. Don’t you think Mr. Birmingham should have thought about the consequences to him and his family before he committed the crimes over and over again? David Vaulet |
C.W
said:
| In response to Momwhocares, it must have been your son who wasn't getting playing time. I can't think of any other reason you would say the things you said without knowing the facts. As far as trust, parents of the other 14 kids who know Mr Birmingham obviously know and trust him to teach their kids. It is people like you who exagerate the truth and talk about things they know nothing about are the ones not to be trusted!! If it wasn't for good dads and great people like Eric, Chris R., Dan N., Jim R. and many more, the program would have folded long ago. Since they are the ones out there everyday working hard with these kids and ensuring their saftey. They seem to be the only ones willing to step up and help out, it is always the same people every year. Instead of complaing, step up and help out!! I would trust Mr. Birmingham with my life and my childrens lives, he is a good person who made a mistake long ago and has learned from it. With a few members of the Bishop Police department involved with the youth program and working with Mr Birmingham for the past 4 years they trust him. If they did not this would have been a issue years ago. It has nothing to do with him being an ex-sheriff, so get over yourself and learn the facts before you speak. |
PCR
said:
| I am truly disgusted with opinions like (momwhocares). Eric is someone who will step up, when everyone else is too involved with his or her own lives to be bothered. Year after year the league begs for volunteers to donate their own time, for no other reason than knowing you are making a difference in children’s lives. Very few people will give up three hours in the evening and almost an entire Saturday every week, (during football season), to teach lessons in football as well as sportsmanship, responsibility, and common respect for adults and teammates. Now that these persons have caused BYFL to loose a coach, I do not see them stepping up to replace this coach. With only their own personal vendetta in mind, did not stop and consider the entire team that would have to suffer with the transition of losing their coach. Shame on you! |
C.W
said:
| Sheriff Deputy Vaulet has some intersting remarks. It must be hard finding new friends since you are the Fair Weather Kind! Kinda makes me nervous that one of our sheriff Deputy's has these kinds of feelings towards people they know so little about and are quick to throw under the bus. I hope that is not the feelings of your entire department? You said in your comments that Eric was a co-worker and friend? Co-worker I believe but friend..... don't think so! A true friend stands by someone regardless of the reasons. Yes what Eric did was wrong, I wont dispute that, but that doesn't mean I am going to hate him or stop being a friend. I hope you never find yourself in dire need of friends during hard times, and if you do I hope they treat you better than you have treated Eric. I find it ironic that now this has all come out you seem to be the only Law Enforcement officer who knew this law in it's entirety. Yet while it was going on did nothing to alert Eric or anyone else for that matter that he was breaking the law, apparently for the past 4 years. As for not wanting to identify myself I don't seek personal gain by writing comments, but for the record my name is Derek Carrington. |
David Vaulet
said:
| To CW and PCR, This is not a coaching issue. It is about protecting children while at school. If you trust Eric so much, then have him coach your children but get the sex offender off the school grounds. This law passed with overwhelming support and is a great law. It is very apparent you have only heard Mr. Birmingham's side of the story. Have you talked to any of the numerous victims? I have talked to some of them, and I do not want that man near my children. I strongly believe if you did some research you would agree. After all, much of the court records and police reports are now public. Look into it, it will shock you and you will probably be ashamed of yourselves for defending him. |
David Vaulet
said:
| In response to CW or Derek Carrington. God forbid, if one of Eric’s victims had been your close friend or family member, would Eric still be a friend? |
C.W
said:
| It is pointless to argue with you about this issue Mr. Vaulet, since you have your biased opinion of Mr. Birmingham and I have my opinion of him. You still weave a tale of half truths and not the whole story. I have not denied what Eric did was wrong but, you make it sound like he committed the most horrible crimes any human being could commit and that is not true. I'm sure you have a clean and clear past free of any wrong doings or crimes, right?? I do feel for victims of crimes, and i'm sure they and their families feel pain, but this case was blown way up. So get your last word in and feel better about yourself, since that is what you seem to be aiming at. I know the real Eric and will continue to support him and call him a great friend. |
onefrustratedmom
said:
| Just want to be clear, my objections were from my son being "coached" by him....nothing to do with Eric's convictions. That was the icing on the cake though. To have those type of convictions against you.....it's disgusting. No way, would I ever want my child to be coached by this type of man. No way would I EVER want a "registered sexual offender" to coach my child. Why would BYFL have any type of affiliation with that. This is huge liability against any organization! |
In support of Vaulet...
said:
| I think its funny that people are actually in support of someone breaking the law. Eric was not "CONVICTED" of crimes against children, doesn’t mean that he wasn’t charged with them or that he didn’t commit them. As Mr. Vaulet states, “No he is not on Megan's law as his "plea bargain" did not include children which Megan's law was intended for.” It shouldn’t matter if he is a good coach or not. What matters is the example we as a community are setting for our children. We are teaching them that it is ok to break the law and get away with it. There will be no consequences for your actions. Is this what we want our children to grow up believing is acceptable? If we are willing to allow registered sex offenders to coach our youth, what will stop other felons from coaching. How about a murderer, a drug dealer, a bank robber, someone who beats their spouse? Are they ok to coach because their crimes weren’t against children? Go ahead let them be around kids, just stay away from adults!! In defense of our local law enforcement… your right, some of them didn’t know about the law. BUT they are human too. We all make mistakes. I give a big THANK YOU to all of our men and women in law enforcement. They do an amazing job serving and protecting us. Without them our town would be a complete mess. Thank God for the police stepping up and doing what is right!! |
educated
said:
| Ok here's the skinny, Derek law enforcement did not know about the law because of the recent change in the law, The old version was that if the sex offender did not involve children he/she could be in and around school. That law changed this year to include any sex offender. Erick does not fall under Megans Law because he was not convicted of sexual crimes against children, only adults. He is still an offender just not published on the Megans law website. Secondly Erick would be unable to coach regardless, he is a Felon. Felons cannot coach Youth Football. He was able to get through initialy because Inyo County dropped the ball and did not enter his felon status in the state computer system. So when the league completed a back ground on him he did not come up a felon three-four years ago, it would come up now though. As Dave has commented on facts are facts, and he is now paying for what he did. I suggest anyone that has any questions go and get the report and the court documents, its sickening. Erick is lucky that he did not go to State or federal prison. |
Suzie Q
said:
| I couldn't agree more, Educated! Obviously you know the law and the facts. You must have been around the football league for many years. I also remember alot of the stuff you wrote. 4 years ago the background checks came back clear but if i remember correctly Eric was unable to coach because the board made a decision to not allow it. I believe that they were also able to get the court documents to show the people who questioned the decision. Great job putting the facts out there. Thanks for stepping up and sharing this information with all of us, some need it a little more than others. |
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