A warrant was issued last week charging Patrick Ryan Harrison, 66, with three counts of second-degree rape, five counts of second-degree sex offense, and third- and fourth-degree sex offenses, according to electronic court documents.
Harrison, who now resides in Hot Springs Village, Ark., turned himself in to county police on Sunday, said Sgt. John Gilmer, a county police spokesman. He was released on his own recognizance following a bail-review hearing...
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Pretty much guilty? - 2009-07-29 17:15:22
Looks like he is pretty much guilty with the alfred plea? Not only was he abusing the poor girl but her mom got cancer? Geez, what a bad hand that was delt.
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Wayne F. - Laurel, MD - Karma: Neutral
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reading - 2009-03-21 09:14:12
Wayne, I wrote "victim or liar" - she is one or the other. I don't know yet. He is either a rapist or a victim. I don't think we should jump to conclusions or print names until this is settled in court.
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William C. - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Terrible
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Same thing - 2009-03-20 23:05:22
Well I would expet you to do the same to the accuser. You are standing up for the accused rights but you just said the "liar" about the accuser. You can't have it both ways. Give the girl her day in court just like you want to give his before, as you said, jump to assumptions and apply guilt.
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Wayne F. - Laurel, MD - Karma: Neutral
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witch trials - 2009-03-20 00:13:05
Wayne, the victim or liar's name is also in the public record, but The Capital doesn't print that. They could make the truly responsible choice and not print anyone's name until the man has a chance to be heard in court. He will be forever tainted by this, even if he is found not guilty. As for the Salem witch remark, there was more evidence that certain people in Salem were practicing witchcraft (especially in regards to Bishop and Burroughs) than there is right now against this man. I think we need to hold off on assumptions of guilt and give the man his day in court.
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William C. - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Terrible
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Comment removed by HometownAnnapolis staff. - 2009-03-20 00:09:36
Staff message: Duplicate post. Why is this comment hidden?
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response to Wayne - 2009-03-20 00:01:17
"I have always felt that one should believe that the police wouldn't waste time on things and weed though the bogus attempts from people pressing charges."
Wayne, I felt that way too until I started to work in courthouses. They don't do that.
"If he is innocent I'm sure it will still get reported."
It won't matter. He will be seen as the rapist who got away with it.
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William C. - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Terrible
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Have to believe - 2009-03-19 20:51:25
I have always felt that one should believe that the police wouldn't waste time on things and weed though the bogus attempts from people pressing charges. If he is innocent I'm sure it will still get reported.
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Wayne F. - Laurel, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Semantics - 2009-03-19 16:37:19
Agree that the handling of the alleged victim's identity was handled badly. Regarding the alleged perpetrator: you may see a difference between 'charged' and 'accused', but the semantics are your own. The police can charge anyone they wish. This has not gone to a grand jury, so the due diligence is minimal. You don't have to go as far back as Salem to find cases where peoples' reputations have been destroyed on baseless charges. We remember the sullen mugshots on the front page. We very seldom see corresponding coverage when charges are dropped. That isn't newsworthy, apparently.
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John M. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Semantics - 2009-03-19 16:20:06
Agree that the handling of the alleged victim's identity was handled badly. Regarding the alleged perpetrator: you may see a difference between 'charged' and 'accused', but the semantics are your own. The police can charge anyone they wish. This has not gone to a grand jury, so the due diligence is minimal. You don't have to go as far back as Salem to find cases where peoples' reputations have been destroyed on baseless charges. We remember the sullen mugshots on the front page. We very seldom see corresponding coverage when charges are dropped. That isn't newsworthy, apparently.
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Good Point Tina - 2009-03-19 11:39:42
I agree with what you are saying, they are skirting around the name by a hair. In response to William C, I don't believe these are just accusations, these are actual charges which is public record correct? I would find it hard to believe the police would charge most people without a good amount of evidence. These aren?t the Salem Witch Trials anymore William.
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Wayne F. - Laurel, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Good Point Tina - 2009-03-19 11:07:33
I agree with what you are saying, they are skirting around the name by a hair. In response to William C, I don't believe these are just accusations, these are actual charges which is public record correct? I would find it hard to believe the police would charge most people without a good amount of evidence. These aren?t the Salem Witch Trials anymore William.
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Wayne F. - Laurel, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Good Point Tina - 2009-03-19 10:44:49
I agree with what you are saying, they are skirting around the name by a hair. In response to William C, I don't believe these are just accusations, these are actual charges which is public record correct? I would find it hard to believe the police would charge most people without a good amount of evidence. These aren?t the Salem Witch Trials anymore William.
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Wayne F. - Laurel, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Good Points - 2009-03-19 10:16:15
You people make good points. However, I do in fact believe if the report is simply a regurgitation of publicly available facts it may be a case of responsible good reporting.
But if the Capital was going to feign having a policy of protecting alleged victims, it may wish to redact ( leave out) certain unique identifiers such as
" 'now 27, told county police she had been sexually abused by her father from age 12 to 14 at their home on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard in Annapolis' "
Which make it apparent to locals and those familiar with the neighborhood in question exactly whom the alleged victim is.
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Tina Schubbie - annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad
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Good Points - 2009-03-19 10:15:45
You people make good points. However, I do in fact believe if the report is simply a regurgitation of publicly available facts it may be a case of responsible good reporting.
But if the Capital was going to feign having a policy of protecting alleged victims, it may wish to redact ( leave out) certain unique identifiers such as
" 'now 27, told county police she had been sexually abused by her father from age 12 to 14 at their home on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard in Annapolis' "
Which make it apparent to locals and those familiar with the neighborhood in question exactly whom the alleged victim is.
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Tina Schubbie - annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad
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Fatty Arbuckle - 2009-03-19 00:23:40
Wayne, you are missing the point. Everyone still thinks that Fatty Arbuckle raped girls with coke bottles, even though the jury apologized to him at his trial.
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William C. - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Terrible
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UK law - 2009-03-19 00:16:07
In the UK they don't report either name until a verdict is rendered. That is a good system.
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William C. - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Terrible
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To Both - 2009-03-19 00:03:20
You both are agreeing to the same thing basically just on other ends of the spectrium.
I will add, if he is found not guilty then I would assume that would be reported as well?
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Wayne F. - Laurel, MD - Karma: Neutral
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really? - 2009-03-18 23:48:38
"The Capital does not name victims of sexual abuse."
And how does this man get his reputation back if he is found not guilty?
He won't be able to get it back from The Capital. You will be in Chapter 7 by then!
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William C. - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Terrible
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To Lee S. - 2009-03-18 23:13:05
My comment had nothing to do with his guilt or innocence. It strictly referred to the policy of The Capital in claiming to not name victims of sexual abuse. If you identify the relationship (whether at the time of the abuse or not), you in effect identify the victim -- or ALLEGED victim, if adding that one word makes you feel better. If you're going to call someone out, perhaps you should make sure you understand WHAT they are referring to.
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Michelle C. - Hattieville, AR - Karma: Neutral
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Decent? - 2009-03-18 21:56:12
"you can see what a 'DECENT' human being he is" Odd that his attorney would use that choice of the word 'decent' and couldn't find a better word? Also, what does work history have to do with ones character? Bernard Madoff had a good work history but look at his character.
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Wayne F. - Laurel, MD - Karma: Neutral
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To michelle c. - 2009-03-18 20:27:52
I doubt there is still a "relationship" for one and shouldn't you be referring to "an alleged victim" or is your double-standard completely one-sided [is that an inherent redundancy ?] ?
Before you go casting stones, make sure you are out of your glass house !
Additionally, these are allegations and the professor is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law !
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Lee S. - Long Beach, CA - Karma: Neutral
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Seriously????!!!! - 2009-03-18 19:59:20
"The Capital does not name victims of sexual abuse."
You don't have to name her -- you've already revealed who she is -- his daughter.
Responsible journalists NEVER reveal the relationship in a rape case like this. You should treat it the same as her actual name. I think it's time to re-evaluate your policies.
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Michelle C. - Hattieville, AR - Karma: Neutral
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