if these limits may, at any time, be passed by those intended to be restrained?"
-- Chief Justice John Marshall, Marbury v. Madison, 1803
Father of the Year
by Lee
Florida is a law and order state, so I seriously doubt they’re going to be able to find a jury anywhere which will find this guy guilty of anything.
A father marched into a classroom and punched a teacher’s assistant in the face after his teenage daughter accused the man of inappropriately touching her.
“I’m not real proud of what I did,” Dave F. Swafford, 42, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “You have to protect your children, and my daughter does not lie to me.”
Swafford was charged with felony battery on a school employee after he hit the 35-year-old aide in front of a full class at Lakewood Ranch High near Bradenton on Tuesday, authorities said.
A Tampa radio station named him “Father of the Year,” offering Swafford and his family Daytona 500 race tickets.
The school placed the aide on paid leave Tuesday because of the allegation, district spokeswoman Margi Nanney said. The sheriff’s office is investigating.
Swafford said he came to school to meet with officials about his 15-year-old daughter’s allegations. When he saw that the aide was not at the meeting, Swafford asked his daughter to take him to the man.
They argued and “I lost control,” Swafford said. Swafford spent about 10 hours in jail before getting out on bail
Some pervert touches my teenage daughter, you can bet your ass I’m going to smack him around a little.
Comments
I’d probably do more than smack him around.
If one touches any of my granddaughters, he’ll pull back a bloody stump. I’ve taught them to fight dirty.
Amen Drum!
Asshat doesn’t even show up at the meeting? He got off light, Maybe he can bunk with the Village People dude.
Inevitably all the pussy liberals out there will talk about how he resorted to violence in an uncivilized manner and that he’s setting an example to his daugher that violence solves everything.
Of course, I would say we need more dads like that out there.
If I had a kid and someone touched them then skipped out on a meeting (the civilized route) I’d track them down and punch them in the face too.
At least her father did something. I remember growing up that my dad’s best friend used to try to corner me and try to put his hands on me and kiss me. It grossed me out beyond words (I was 12) and I went to my father and begged him to tell him to leave me alone. He calmly told me to stay out of his way as best I could but the man was one of his best clients (dad was a commercial artist) and he couldn’t do anything to jeopardize the business relationship.
So was he your dad’s best friend or his best client? If my “best friend” were molesting ANYONE and I found out about it, I would turn his ass in myself.
Some minor things (maybe speeding a little, some wacky weed on rare occasions, little things) and I wouldn’t care, but groping a (prepubescent) kid is a little beyond the pale, and personally offensive to me.
Friendship goes a long way, but that’s a bit much.
And if it was a customer? Even quicker, because I can always find more customers, and some will hire me just because they heard that I placed my family over some perv…
be careful here, I work at a school facility (RTC, so for highly aggressive kids). If those kids get mad at you, the first thing they do is cry rape and say you touched them. While this may have happened, I would like to do some fact checking before the beatings. Kids are masterful manipulators, but if you can prove the allegations, then you may beat the living piss out of ‘em.
OH FOR FUCKS SAKE
What a shit of a man, I’d beat this cunt myself.
More often than not the teen is LYING.
With this sort of bullshit is it any wonder teaching numbers are low.
Some minor things (maybe speeding a little, some wacky weed on rare occasions, little things) and I wouldn’t care, but groping a (prepubescent) kid is a little beyond the pale, and personally offensive to me.
Especially if the kid is your own.
That is horrible, beano.
Poosh - I have no idea what you said. You seemed to go in ten different directions with your comments.....
It’s funny, Rep mom, He was so matter of fact about it it didn’t hurt so much then. When I grew up and had kids and came to know how ferocious that love is for ones children, it was devastating to recollect.
Drum, maybe “best friend” is a misnomer. His appliance store was a few doors down from my dad’s art studio and the were always taking coffee breaks at home (we lived a couple blocks over). Course when the dishwasher of the fridge went on the fritz he was always around.
Anyway didn’t mean to divert the thread with personal recollections ;-)
For my money, if I were accused of something this vile you’d better bet you asss I’d be at that meeting EARLY and very scared.Like how cops will tell you that after they’ve been tracking some guy and they put him in the slammer, if he falls asleep dollars to donuts they got the right guy.Someone who is innocent would be out off his mind.PLus this dad argued with the guy before decking him,would love to have that transcript.The guy doesn’t show up for the meeting and then tries to argue his way out off it with the dad?
Too many tells to give him any benefit of the doubt.
The guy doesn’t show up for the meeting and then tries to argue his way out off it with the dad?
Too many tells to give him any benefit of the doubt.
Yep. Anyone accused of this would be indignant and impatient to prove their innocence, not skip a chance to prove yourself right then argue with the guyu.
I would check to make sure that my kid was not lying. One should alway believe their child, but an accusation of this sort will end destroying a person’s life, it is best to cover your bases. If the accusations are false then the kid has some explaining to do.
However if the accusations are true, I would ass rape the guy. Not in a gay way mind you, but in a don’t mess with my family kind of way.....
However if the accusations are true, I would ass rape the guy. Not in a gay way mind you, but in a don’t mess with my family kind of way.....
You a big fan of Way Of the Gun?
If it were me, I would beat the guy into a dark spot on the floor.
Anyway didn’t mean to divert the thread with personal recollections ;-)
Why not? I was about to do it anyways.
I’m here at work and we just finished a most unholy mix of a meal. Italian, east african, and chinese. I can barely move. ^.^
Oh, I almost forgot the southern. Can’t forget the southern. ^.^
Honestly, the dad made the right choice. He tried to do it the civil way to teach his girl the proper way to do things. When that didn’t work, he did it the old fashioned way to teach her that he’d take care of her. Either way, his daughter knows her dad will help her and protect her like a dad should.
If she lied, she’ll be punished and have to deal with that. The TA only got a punch in the face, hardly a big deal. If the TA is a decent person, he would probably agree he’d do the same thing if roles were reversed and be able to forgive the dad.
The dad is a hero anyway so he doesn’t have to worry about being outcast.
Sort of OT - but - on the subject of protecting your children at all costs, did anyone see “Criminal Minds” tonight? Good show. Very emotional.
However if the accusations are true, I would ass rape the guy. Not in a gay way mind you, but in a don’t mess with my family kind of way.....
That guy was the greatest standup comedian ever, and I wish I remembered his name, but I’m *totally* doing what he suggested for my funeral.
“This was they’ll never forget me: There will be a closed casket, then, during the moment of silence, the lights will go out, techno music will start playing with strobes, and above the assembly, flying around the room on wires… will be my corpse.”
OT: My daughter (5) and I were just playing Midtown Madness 3 on Xbox and it came time to select the city. The choice was between Paris and Washington DC. She asked which one so I said, “It depends on who you hate more, the French or our Politicians.” She paused and said, “French!”.
Heh! She had to think about it.
Ah, so she hears you badmouth the French just a bit more than she hears you badmouth politicians, huh, Gripeboy? :)
Actually, I don’t mind the French as much as some of our politicians.
I’m just amazed at how quickly she picks up on these games. She never really plays them. Smart kid. I’m in trouble.
One more OT -
I have recently volunteered my time to help with a worthy cause. Check out this website.
If you have a few bucks left over (after contributing to this blog), and would like to help, it would be greatly appreciated. Any amount helps. Volunteers are also needed.
(And Lee, for allowing me to plug this here, I will now go and contribute to your cause. :) )
Oh, one more thing (I promise). If you think the cause is worthy, spread the word to your friends. It is a new organization, and quite dependent on word-of-mouth.
Gripeboy - the kids these days seem so much smarter. My great niece is 6, and we have all been amazed at how intelligent and mature she is - and has been since she was barely walking and talking.
Rep Mom,
I’ll be happy to spread the word. We have a huge VA hospital across the road from Duke Hospital and I’d be interested to know what is available to the veterans over there.
Your post reminded me of something else. It is that time of year again. It is time to buy girl scout cookies! One of our pharmacists brought in the order forms and said we also have the option of sending cookies to the soldiers in Iraq. I think that is way cool. I get the thrill of ordering some of everything but not the pounds from eating them. Our division is going to order bunches of boxes to send to Iraq. I am thinking this is an option everywhere and thought I’d tell you in case you’d be interested in sending some to the troops, too.
Thanks, beano.
That’s a great idea on the girl scout cookies. I have already ordered from two girls for myself and I sure don’t need the calories. My daughter was always selling something through her drill teams, so I try never to turn down any kids who come knocking on my door.
OH FOR FUCKS SAKE
What a shit of a man, I’d beat this cunt myself.
More often than not the teen is LYING.
With this sort of bullshit is it any wonder teaching numbers are low.
It sounds like the guy must have punched you pretty hard.
Seriously though, I agree that teens lie a lot, but this guy didn’t seem to have much interest in clearing himself of the accusations at the time. So he got his ass kicked. The again, maybe he was told not to show up. If it turns out he did do it, then I really hope he gets his ass kicked.
beano and RepMom - one of the kids on our street is selling GS cookies (mine are thankfully no longer involved in that mess of an organization), but I’d love to send some boxes to the troops - got an URL for where I can do so?
One has to believe with how jaded kids are these days, there are lots of false claims about this sort of stuff. Particularly nasty is how county workers in the “child protective” units get extra brownie points for finding *anything* suspicious. The sad fact is if your job or volunteer work involves kids, you absolutely must have other adult witnesses with you at all times. At least a couple times I’ve overheard 12 year olds in long lines for movies constantly talking about “they can’t do that, sue them!”, or “yeah, sue”. It’s the new lottery, with greatly better odds.
So he got his ass kicked.
This is pathetic mob mentality. I’m fucking sick of decent teachers having their lives ruined over little immature teens and what not. And even if he was guilty as hell, and you give him the just beating: what happens when the next Father thinks the same thing but is this time wrong?
Oh and good example to set for all the little kids. Betcha there are (more?) false allegations to come after this one.
This sort of bullshit leads to the kind of shit that happened in the UK where mobs of fucking peasants went out to attack kiddy fidlers whose names were revealed in a tabloid.
The stupid fucks attacked innocent men and women (famlies) who simply shared the same name as the real pedos.
Bunkergurl,
I’ll try to find out from the pharmacist who is selling them and get back to ya.
This actually happend near where I live and this guy was on a local morning show today defending himself. Well a couple of hours ago the school board decided the girls were lieing because they have video of him in a hallway during the “alleged” attack against the girl. UH OH looks like you all support beating innocent people.
This is EXACTLY why vigilante justice is wrong.
Innocent people don’t skip chances to explain their innocence. This guy did.
Innocent men don’t get combative when confronted with the angry parent of a girl he never touched. This guy did.
I still wouldn’t change my mind. If this guy has been touching the girls, then a black eye should have been the least of his worries.
I still wouldn’t change my mind. If this guy has been touching the girls, then a black eye should have been the least of his worries.
You are missing the point, there was no evidence of guilt. If all it takes is your daughter/grand daughter pointing her finger at any man that pisses her for you to get violent you need to get some help.
Innocent men don’t get combative when confronted with the angry parent of a girl he never touched. This guy did.
He didn’t get combative, he was in a chair sitting down when he was punched by the father.
If all it takes is your daughter/grand daughter pointing her finger at any man that pisses her for you to get violent you need to get some help.
That isn’t what happened. The teacher was accused, a meeting between the parent, the school administrators and the teacher in question was scheduled - but the teacher never showed! The parent got pissed, and went looking. if the teacher was innocent, a simple, “Oh, boy was that today?!? I’m terribly sorry, but let’s go get this straightened out right now...” would have ended it with no blows being struck, but the teacher got combative enough for the parent to take a poke at him.
There are at least two points at which this could have been settled down by the teacher, and is something that any innocent person would be happy to do. The yteacher didn’t.
“Consciousness of guilt”. It’s not just for breakfast anymore…
“Consciousness of guilt”. It’s not just for breakfast anymore…
So if an innocent man is offended by accusations that are completely unfounded he has bend over backwards to appease every pissed off parent?
Could he have been more helpful? Sure, but then again when CAN’T you be more helpful? Is it also reasonable to assume that man who is offend by some very henious charges is even less helpful with a beligerent parent? How calm do you think that man was when he came in the room?
No matter how you slice it he had no right to punch him, even if the guy was being an asshole. People are asshole’s all the time, it’s part of human nature but people are never justified in assault like that.
he has bend over backwards to appease every pissed off parent?
No, but he DOES have to show up at meetings set with the parents and the school administrators, especially if he’s innocent.
Innocent people are strongly interested in proving their innocence, not avoiding confrontations with the accuser.
Sure, but then again when CAN’T you be more helpful?
When you’re dodging a meeting with your boss and the parent of the teenaged girl accusing you of sexuall assault, that’s usually a pretty good indicator that you’re not being helpful enough.
How calm do you think that man was when he came in the room?
And like I said, with a single sentecne (certain to be spoken by an innocent man trying to clear up an obvious misunderstanding. Of course, maybe he had a really, really good reason for blowing off the meeting (that was obviously arranged in an attempt to avoid calling the police).
People are asshole’s all the time, it’s part of human nature but people are never justified in assault like that.
And he was arrested and booked for those acts.
I’m not saying I approve of his actions. But I understand…
School: Girl made up story that led father to punch teacher
I just hope that the girl’s lies don’t destroy the teacher’s entire life. It’s one thing to screw up your own life (she may be suspended or expelled), but it’s another thing to screw up someone else in your families life. I wonder, how much has she screwed up her father’s life? What exactly is the punishment for “felony assault charges” in their location?
What exactly is the punishment for “felony assault charges” in their location?
Under the circumstances, I doubt he would spend so much as a day in jail, even if the story was made up by his daughter. “Extenuating circumstances”, with a sufficiently humble apology, and a sharp enough defense attorney, and the DA might even decline to prosecute because of the possibility that there is no way in hell that he would even be convicted of even misdemeanor assault.
But, to answer your question, if the father has no criminal record, and if all the teacher suffered was a bloody nose/black eye/public embarrassment, the judge can legally let the father go with a maximum sentence of a short period of probation, a fine not to exceed $1,000 and anger management courses, but no jail time whatsoever.
Anything less than 44 points means no prison time, and simple assault (with “Moderate” damage to the victim) is only 18 points, unless drug trafficking or gang activity is involved, in which case it could be multiplied by a factor of up to 2.0, making the total still not enough for jail time.
Hope that helps.
“Swafford was charged with felony battery on a school employee”
Why is there a special category for school employees in this kind of law?
But the teacher could also file a civil suit, couldn’t he?
Again, with a sharp enough lawyer and a humble enough apology, the teacher’s attorney will probablyrecommend that he not even try, because a civil jury could reasonably conclude that the father’s response, while not admirable, was at least understandable, and what every father on the jury would do under similar circumstances. (He was named ‘Father of the Year’, after all.)
The teacher would probably get nothing but court costs. And only if he was lucky…
School: Girl made up story that led father to punch teacher
This girl should get some jail time if this is the case. This is the only way of stopping the crying wolf syndrome out there. People use these accusations as a means to get even, get money, etcetera at the expense of the real victims of rape who are not taken seriously anymore. I don’t care if she was just a teenager, or angry, or depressed, or whatever. If someone rapes someone, especially a kid, then they deserve a long time in jail. If you make shit up, and it is shown that you did, you should go to jail for a long time as well.
Terrorizing someone with the force of the government through lies and false accusations is no better than any other form that criminals use to terrorize people.
I sympathize with this guy for believing his daughter, and doing what I would probably do as well in the heat of the moment, but his daughter deserves far more punishment than he does if it turns out she was lying.
The truth is now out....The TA did not touch her and was not in the room when she said he was..She made it up to get back at him for punishing her..
I GUESS YOUR DAUGHTER DOES LIE TO YOU!!!
Hey, look everybody, dennis caught up! How’re ya feelin’, big fella? Not too out of breath, are ya?
A lil..need to get in better shape..
Forgive me for having a life..LOL
I can see why he supported his kid but if he is dumb enough to believe his kid don’t lie then he deserves what ever comes his way..gotta have all the ducks in a row before you go popping people
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And if the girl was lying?
There are some cockteasers out there
But I guess you gotta believe your kid