Texsox Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 OCONOMOWOC, Wisconsin (AP) -- A man says he broke into an apartment with a cavalry sword because he thought he heard a woman being raped, but the sound actually was from a pornographic movie his upstairs neighbor was watching. "Now I feel stupid," said James Van Iveren, who has been charged in the case. "This really is nothing, nothing but a mistake." According to a criminal complaint, the neighbor told police that Van Iveren pounded on the door and kicked it open without warning February 12, damaging the frame and lock. "Where is she?" Van Iveren demanded, thrusting the sword at the neighbor, the complaint said. "Where is she?" The neighbor told police Van Iveren became increasingly aggressive as he repeated the question, insisting that he had heard a woman being raped. The complaint said that, with the sword pointed at him, the neighbor led Van Iveren throughout the apartment, opening closet doors to prove he was alone. The neighbor later played for police the part of the DVD he believed Van Iveren heard downstairs. Van Iveren, 39, of Oconomowoc, was charged with criminal trespass, criminal damage and disorderly conduct, all while using a dangerous weapon, and is scheduled to appear in court March 5. Together, the misdemeanor counts carry a maximum sentence of 33 months in jail. Van Iveren said Tuesday that he heard a woman "screaming for help," grabbed the sword, bounded up the stairs, kicked in the apartment door and confronted the man who lived there. "I intended to hold it behind my back and knock. But I froze and instead, what happened happened," he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contesting his neighbor's account, Van Iveren said he didn't look anywhere in the apartment except the front room, and that he never threatened the neighbor with the sword. "I had the sword extended, but that was all," he said. Van Iveren, who lives with his mother in the downstairs apartment, said he did not call police when he heard the noises because he does not have a telephone. He said he barely knew the upstairs tenant. Police seized Van Iveren's sword, which he said was a family heirloom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 "I had the sword extended, but that was all," he said. Oh so many jokes could be made from this line considering the story... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 "I had the sword extended, but that was all," he said. sounds like all of my high school dates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 Ancient Brandmeier fans will remember this line "Jaaaames, has a mental problem . . ." I kept hearing that as I read that guys name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted February 24, 2007 Share Posted February 24, 2007 sounds like dwight from the office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reddy Posted February 25, 2007 Share Posted February 25, 2007 i hate that people trying to do good (if not a little odd) things in this country can end up in trouble... all because of our stupid court system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasox24 Posted February 25, 2007 Share Posted February 25, 2007 QUOTE(bmags @ Feb 24, 2007 -> 01:25 AM) sounds like dwight from the office. That would be something Dwight would do... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 25, 2007 Author Share Posted February 25, 2007 QUOTE(Reddy @ Feb 24, 2007 -> 09:47 PM) i hate that people trying to do good (if not a little odd) things in this country can end up in trouble... all because of our stupid court system It is up to the courts to decide if he broke down the door and threatened the guy with a sword because he really thought someone was being raped, or he broke down the door, etc. because the TV was too loud or he was deranged. In 99.99% of the cases our system gets it right. The fact that both the porn watcher and the would be hero both are protected in this society by a fair and inpartial court system is a wonderful thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Pratt Posted February 25, 2007 Share Posted February 25, 2007 QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 24, 2007 -> 11:16 PM) It is up to the courts to decide if he broke down the door and threatened the guy with a sword because he really thought someone was being raped, or he broke down the door, etc. because the TV was too loud or he was deranged. In 99.99% of the cases our system gets it right. The fact that both the porn watcher and the would be hero both are protected in this society by a fair and inpartial court system is a wonderful thing. I would say it's about eighty percent of the time, personally. I don't have much confidence in court-appointed attorneys for the poor, the judgement of a lot of juries or sanity in the appeals process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reddy Posted February 25, 2007 Share Posted February 25, 2007 QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 24, 2007 -> 11:16 PM) It is up to the courts to decide if he broke down the door and threatened the guy with a sword because he really thought someone was being raped, or he broke down the door, etc. because the TV was too loud or he was deranged. In 99.99% of the cases our system gets it right. The fact that both the porn watcher and the would be hero both are protected in this society by a fair and inpartial court system is a wonderful thing. you really think the percentage is that high? there was a similar story like this recently where a woman couldnt figure out how to get rid of pornographic pop ups and now she faces jail time - does she really deserve that?? if there really was a woman getting raped this guy would've been a hero but since it was just porn now it's considered assault? thats effed... although we'll see how it all turns out. i agree with Pratt though, juries are surprisingly stupid sometimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobDylan Posted February 25, 2007 Share Posted February 25, 2007 This is my next short story here. Thanks Tex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 25, 2007 Author Share Posted February 25, 2007 QUOTE(Reddy @ Feb 25, 2007 -> 12:29 AM) you really think the percentage is that high? there was a similar story like this recently where a woman couldnt figure out how to get rid of pornographic pop ups and now she faces jail time - does she really deserve that?? if there really was a woman getting raped this guy would've been a hero but since it was just porn now it's considered assault? thats effed... although we'll see how it all turns out. i agree with Pratt though, juries are surprisingly stupid sometimes The ones they get wrong make the news. How many calls are there to the police, and how many situations like this come to mind? Last month just in Chicago there were over 11,000 reported crimes. If you take the 80% suggestion, this would mean that over 2,000 people would fall into the "pop up" and "smashing down the door" type. I don't think so. Using my number one or two would have fallen into that category. And looking at the two situations, in the one she didn't need to figure out how to stop the pop ups, she needed to figure out how to cover the monitor with a coat or call for help. I am certain the jury thought about that. In this one, if someone knocks down your door in the middle of the night, threatening you with a sword, and you did nothing, wouldn't you want the authorities to investigate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reddy Posted February 25, 2007 Share Posted February 25, 2007 QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 25, 2007 -> 08:12 AM) The ones they get wrong make the news. How many calls are there to the police, and how many situations like this come to mind? Last month just in Chicago there were over 11,000 reported crimes. If you take the 80% suggestion, this would mean that over 2,000 people would fall into the "pop up" and "smashing down the door" type. I don't think so. Using my number one or two would have fallen into that category. And looking at the two situations, in the one she didn't need to figure out how to stop the pop ups, she needed to figure out how to cover the monitor with a coat or call for help. I am certain the jury thought about that. In this one, if someone knocks down your door in the middle of the night, threatening you with a sword, and you did nothing, wouldn't you want the authorities to investigate? no you make valid points, i just hope that the jury in this case isn't moronic. you're right though in that the wrong ones make the news and so then it just seems like its a much more common occurance than it probably is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.