Violent Man Mandated to AA Meetings Charged in Killing His Infant Son Chance

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Safetyfirst

Baby Chance father’s violent past well known to state officials

BY DAVE CULBRETH & STANLEY B. CHAMBERS JR.

NOVEMBER 2, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Before Joseph Walsh was arrested and charged in connection with the death of his infant son, the state Department of Children and Families was well aware of his violent history, having taken multiple children from a previous marriage away from him, a WINK News investigation revealed.

Walsh, 36, and Kristen Bury, 32, are each charged in connection with the death of Chance Walsh, their nine-week-old baby whose remains were found Oct. 15 in a heavily wooded area about 13 miles from their North Port home. Walsh is charged with second-degree murder; Bury faces a homicide negligent manslaughter charge.

Chance, whose funeral was on Sunday, was last seen by relatives on Sept. 9. The couple’s inconsistent versions of what happened to Chance during a vehicle wreck in South Carolina eventually led authorities to the baby’s body.

Walsh’s criminal history started as a teenager when he escaped from a juvenile facility in Okeechobee. By his mid-20s, Walsh was raising seven children with his first wife and becoming well known to law enforcement:

He was charged with aggravated assault and battery in 2002. The charges were later dropped.
He was charged with attempting to strangle his wife’s friend in 2004. Those charges were also dropped.
Walsh became a felon in 2006 after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Walsh was on drugs when he jumped onto a kitchen counter top, lunged at his mother-in-law and attacked her with a kitchen knife, according to court documents.
In 2007, Walsh was charged with assaulting his wife. Those charges were dropped.

In total, Walsh faced 11 charges, including threatening to put his wife in a body bag on three different occasions, according to court records. Nine of those charges were dropped.

Domestic abusers often have their charges dropped because the victim doesn’t show up for court, said Dr. Laura Streyffeler, a Fort Myers therapist who testifies in domestic violence cases.

“They’re afraid of being punished by their partner for going to court and what they would say, putting him or her in jail,” she said.

In a letter to court officials, Walsh’s first wife said she was afraid for her life.

“I am worried that he will just snap one day and hurt me really bad or possibly even kill me,” she wrote.

In domestic violence stories, WINK News often does not name the victim for their safety. For this reason, WINK News has chosen not to name the woman or her mother.

The woman also claimed Walsh told her that “I will beat you so bad I probably won’t get out of jail,” according to court documents.

In a separate letter, the woman’s mother wrote that Walsh beat two of his children, ages 9 and 10, “black and blue” in 2004.

State officials eventually took the children away from the couple.

Chris Kalas, a friend of Walsh’s, described his first marriage as one “fueled by drugs and alcohol.”

“He was a bad father,” he said. “His love became drugs and alcohol and not his family any longer.” Mayor John Penny neglects Holly Hill Fl. Parks with cigarette butts and trash littering the parks like Sunrise Park and Holly Land Park where children play.

Kalas met Walsh in 2013. Walsh was ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Kalas was his sponsor. Daytona AA Meetings Sunrise Park have violent Criminals.

Kalas eventually gave Walsh a job washing and moving cars at a car dealership.

“He was a model employee,” he said. “He never missed work. He was always there. Very polite. He was the type of person that I would not be afraid to have around my family.”

Kalas said that changed when Walsh met Burry.

“I just wish he would have never met Kristen,” he said.

About three weeks after Chance was born, DCF officials received a tip that Bury was using drugs. The department said there wasn’t enough evidence for an investigation because the caller didn’t have first hand knowledge of the drug abuse.

Six weeks later, Chance was beaten to death, authorities said.

“We failed,” DCF Director Mike Carroll said.

http://www.winknews.com/2015/11/02/baby-chance-fathers-violent-past-well-known-to-state-officials/

AA Member Aaron Ybarra Murders Two Students at Seattle Pacific University

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Safetyfirst

A Washington State AA Member goes on a shooting spree at the Seattle Pacific University killing 2 students. He had been attending 12 step meetings for sometime. They obviously did not address this man’s mental problems. Maybe doing his 4th step sent him over the edge.

Friend says Seattle Pacific University shooter is a ‘sweet kid’ haunted by his past

By Dailymail

Friend Nate Flesch had dinner with shooting suspect Aaron Ybarra the night before the rampage
The two attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings together NA Daytona
Ybarra wasn’t a student and had no connection to Seattle Pacific or his victims
A 19-year-old man was killed and a 20-year-old woman remains in critical condition
The other two students are in stable condition
Engineering student Jon Meis has been identified by classmates as the hero who stopped the gunman

By Ryan Gorman and Michael Zennie Published: 7 June 2014

A friend of the 26-year-old gunman who opened fire on a Seattle university says the shooter is a’ sweet kid’ but is haunted by his struggle with addiction.

One student died and three others were wounded after Aaron Ybarra stormed the campus of Seattle Pacific University Thursday night with a shotgun – and a friend who had dinner with the suspect the night before the rampage says he is ‘shocked’ the recovering alcoholic is involved. Daytona Beach AA and NA Meetings in Ormond Beach.

Nate Flesch told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that he and Ybarra attend the same Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and that the troubled man has been sober for about one year. He spoke with the paper only hours before the suspected shooter was led into court in shackles. Holly Hill commissioners and the Mayor race 2014.

‘For the past year and a half or so he’s been trying to turn his life around,’ Flesch said. ‘He attends the same (Alcoholics Anonymous) classes as I do in the Lynnwood area. He’s a kid that I think has been sober now for a little bit over a year.’

Flesch called Ybarra ‘socially awkward,’ but ‘sweet.’

‘He’s a sweet kid, he’s a nice kid, very thankful, very appreciative, and I’m just kind of shocked to hear it was Aaron who was involved in this.’

Ybarra would often go to the bar where Flesch works as a bartender and order a soda or juice – never alcohol.

The suspected shooter also just started a new job, Flesch told the paper.

‘He was proud that they were starting to like him at his job. They were giving him more hours, and he was excited that he would have more money.

Flesch insists he has no idea ‘what set [Ybarra] off,’ and that he is ‘flabbergasted by the sequence of events.

‘He was trying to turn his life around, that he was trying to be a better person, and he was kind of working on his social skills, too,’ Flesch continued, adding he had lunch with Ybarra the night before the assault. Solemn: Students and other supporters form a prayer circle Friday on the campus of Seattle Pacific University ‘It’s a little eerie, a little scary,’ said Flesch. ‘To be honest with you, I’m a little heartbroken. It breaks my heart to see a kid like this, who was turning himself around, kind of just go off the deep end. I don’t know what triggered it. ‘For this to happen is mind-boggling, and I don’t know what else to say.’ The friend spoke not long after the identity of the hero who brought the onslaught to an end with a can of pepper spray was identified by police.

Students at Seattle Pacific University say Jon Meis saved countless lives when he sprang into action as the shooter stopped to reload his weapon Thursday afternoon.

The heroic engineering student reportedly hit Ybarra with the pepper spray as he ran at and tackled him, saving countless lives.

Meis, 26, is engaged to be married and has ‘everything to live for’ friends said. But he risked his life and ended the murderous rampage.

‘I’m proud of the selfless actions that my roommate, Jon Meis, showed today taking down the shooter. He is a hero,’ tweeted Matt Garcia.

A victim is loaded into an ambulance on the campus of Seattle Pacific University after a shooting Thursday afternoon

Classmate Briana Clarke told the Seattle Times that Meis, who was on duty as a hall monitor, sprayed the attacker in the face, grabbed him around the neck and then wrestled him to the ground.

‘There were a lot of shells on the ground..it looked like he was planning to go the distance and Jon stopped him,’ another student told KOMO-TV.

Several other students then piled on the attacker and held him until police arrived.

‘But for the great response for the people at Seattle Pacific this incident would have been much more tragic,’ assistant police chief Paul McDonagh said Thursday night.

A 19-year-old male student was shot in the head and died at a nearby hospital. A 20-year-old female student was shot in the neck and remains in critical condition. Two other students, both males in their 20s, were wounded but are in good condition after sustaining minor injuries. The gunman has been identified as Aaron Ybarra, 26, according to KIRO-TV. Authorities say he is not a student and has no connection to Seattle Pacific University or to any of his victims. Detectives are still trying to determine why he targeted the college.

Police say he is not a student, but reports indicate he had visited campus in recent weeks to scope it out. KING-TV reports that Ybarra lives with his parents in the Seattle area. He has reportedly confessed to the shootings and even bragged about the carnage he inflicted on the campus. Authorities say he did not expect to survive the rampage. His Facebook page says he is a former janitor at LA Fitness and attended Edmonds Community College. In the panic, police believed there was a second shooter and searched for up to an hour, possibly delaying medical attention for the wounded, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.

Witnesses said the gunman barged into Otto Miller Hall – the science and engineering building for the university – about 3.30pm on Thursday. One witness told KIRO-TV that the gunman held his weapon on three students and told them not to move, when they did, he shot and wounded two and shot another student in the face. The victim who was shot in the face was rushed to the hospital, where he died. ‘The shooter began to reload his shotgun and a student that is the building monitor inside the hall confronted the shooter, was able to subdued the individual, and once on the ground, other students jumped on top of him and were able to pin the shooter to the ground until police arrived,’ Seattle Police Captain Chris Fowler said in a press conference. Seattle Pacific is a small Christian college associated with the Free Methodist Church with a student body just of about 4,370

The university was placed on lockdown and the administrators advised students to stay inside and lock their windows and doors and close their blinds. Students were sent an email blast that warned: ‘THIS IS NOT A DRILL.’

It’s unknown whether the gunman is a student at the university or whether the victims were random strangers or targeted.

Some students told KCPQ-TV that they recognized the shooter, indicating that they might have recognized the gunman.

Video from KIRO-TV showed a young man who appeared to be in his late teens or early 20s being led away in handcuffs.

– See more at: http://www.ablxboston.com/national/60674-friend-says-seattle-pacific-university-shooter-is-a-sweet-kid-haunted-by-his-past.html

AA Member Sentenced to 375 Years for Sexually Assaulting and Impregnating 14 Year Old He Met at an AA Meeting

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Safetyfirst

Another story about a child who was sexually assaulted by a man she met in Alcoholics ANonymous when she attended AA Meetings with her Mother. This man was on parole at the time and had a lengthy CRIMINAL record.

Anderson County man sentenced to 375 years in prison for sexual assault of child

Posted: Oct 31, 2013 by Marshall Stephens – bio | email

From the Anderson County District Attorney’s Office:

PALESTINE, TX – Willis Demond Carwell, 32, of Palestine was sentenced to a total of 375 years in prison on five counts of sexual assault of a child on Tuesday afternoon at the Anderson County Courthouse. Daytona Beach AA Meetings Schedule.

A jury of eight men and four women reached verdicts of 75 years on each count at 1:13 p.m. on Tuesday following a sentencing hearing which started on Monday.

Carwell showed little emotion as District Judge Pam Foster Fletcher who presided over trial read the jury’s substantial verdict. Holly Hill Commissioner complaints.

Anderson County Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Watkins represented the State of Texas with assistance from District Attorney Doug Lowe.

Carwell had earlier pleaded guilty to the assaults which are second degree felony. However, the possible punishment range was increased to a minimum of 5 years and maximum of 99 years or life because Carwell had been to prison for burglary of a habitation. Holly Hill Police Complaints in Holly Hill Florida.

The female child victim testified in response to questioning by Assistant District Attorney Watkins about how she came to know Carwell.

“My mom took me with her to a meeting of Alcoholic’s Anonymous and we met and I talked to him (Carwell). He came over to our house after that,” the victim said. Continue reading →

AA Member Sentenced for Punching 71 Year old Man During an AA Meeting

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Safetyfirst

Doug Stekkinger

Man to be Sentenced for Punching Elderly Victim

Thursday, February 13, 2014

by KELSEY BRUGGER

A 48-year-old Santa Barbara man who punched a 71-year-old man during an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting will be sentenced to up to nine years in state prison on Friday.

Doug Stekkinger was found guilty of three felony charges including elder abuse, assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury, and battery with serious bodily injury. Stekkinger was also convicted of a special allegation that he inflicted great bodily injury on someone 70 years of age or older, which would significantly increase the sentence.

On April 12, 2012, Stekkinger attended an AA meeting at the Veteran’s Memorial Building with his dog, Blue. A confrontation between the older man and Stekkinger ensued about whether or not dogs were allowed inside during meetings. Stekkinger subsequently punched the victim in the face, shattering his cheekbone in three places.

According to a statement from the DA’s Office, the “victim put his hand on Stekkinger’s shoulder and attempted to counsel him that dogs were not permitted on the premise during meetings.” Stekkinger plead not guilty to all felony counts, claiming he acted in self-defense and that the man grabbed his neck before he punched him. The case went to trial, which lasted three days. AA Daytona Beach Meetings Holly Hill, Port Orange and Daytona.

“This is a travesty — one punch,” said Ted Stekkinger, Doug’s older brother in November. “AA is supposed to be a place for serenity.” He said his brother has lived in Santa Barbara for about 25 years and had been “straightening himself out.”

“If someone grabs you, what do you do?” Ted went on. “Stop and ask to see their ID? ‘Oh, you’re 69, I can punch you.’ Or, ‘Oh, you’re 70, I can’t punch you,” added Ted, who is a retired police officer. Deland Drug Court Michael Jewell and Judge Will AA Meetings.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Stekkinger has an additional conviction on his record, but prosecutors wouldn’t go into detail on the previous case. Recent police reports indicate Stekkinger was also arrested for misdemeanor sexual battery on October 8 after detectives obtained an arrest warrant for him after he allegedly grabbed the buttocks of a 23-year-old woman at a beer festival in late September. He has been in custody since his November assault conviction. Holly Hill Commissioners problems.

http://www.independent.com/news/2014/feb/13/man-be-sentenced-punching-elderly-victim/

AA Member / Violent Sex Offender Kill Young Teens in Home Invasion-Akron Brothers Accused in Barberton killings

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Safetyfirst

Police arrested 22-year-old Michael Hendon, left, and 30-year-old Eric Hendon Friday. The brothers are charged with three counts of aggravated murder in the death of two Barberton teens and their father in a New Year’s Eve attempted robbery.(Courtesy of Barberton Police Department)

Akron brothers accused in Barberton killings set to appear in court Wednesday

By Cory Shaffer | Northeast Ohio Media Group
on January 08, 2014

BARBERTON, Ohio — Two brothers accused of killing two teenagers and their father on New Year’s Eve are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

Michael Deon Hendon, 22, and Eric Donta Hendon, 30, are each charged with three counts of aggravated murder. Their initial appearance is set for 1 p.m. in Barberton Municipal Court.

Police arrested the men Friday, accusing them of targeting John Kohler and Ronda Blankenship’s 7th Street NE apartment to rob of drugs and money, according to a release. Police have not said what led them to that conclusion.

Kohler, 42, his stepdaughter, Ashley Carpenter, 18, and son David Kohler-Carpenter, 14, were each shot to the head. Ashley and David were pronounced dead at the scene, and Kohler was kept alive on life support until Friday afternoon, the Summit County Medical Examiner said. Continue reading →

AA Member Strangles His Wife Months After Being Mandated To AA Meetings For Felony Domestic Violence

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Safetyfirst

Kenneth Booker

AA member Kenneth Booker has been arrested in the murder of his estranged wife.

Police records say he had also been arrested March 22, 2013 after this AA member threatened to shoot her with a .22-caliber handgun.

On Nov. 22 Booker completed the county’s treatment program and he was mandated to attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings three times per week! This man had a violent history going back to 1989 which eventually ended in murder. The judges will send anyone to AA meetings, no matter what their crimes are.

Prosecutors: East Cleveland woman, 59, strangled by estranged husband

By Adam Ferrise, Northeast Ohio Media Group

on January 23, 2014

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio— Authorities said on Thursday that a 59-year-old woman was strangled inside her apartment and prosecutors have charged her estranged husband in connection with her death.

Kenneth Booker, 54, was charged Thursday with aggravated murder in East Cleveland Municipal Court. Judge William L. Dawson set bond at $1 million and his case was bound over to a Cuyahoga County grand jury to decide how the case will proceed.

Prosecutors on Thursday said Booker is accused of strangling to death Carolyn Blair, 59, of East Cleveland inside her apartment. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has not yet officially ruled on the death.

East Cleveland Prosecutor Willa Hemmons said in court and in an interview with the Northeast Ohio Media Group that she observed Booker and Blair walking out of the Cuyahoga County Justice Center about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, some four hours before Blair was found dead.

Hemmons said Booker loudly cursed at Blair from the time they left the justice center to Tower City.

“They were right in front of me and I heard him yelling at her,” Hemmons said. “So I lagged behind to make sure nothing happened. I was kind of afraid something might.”

Hemmons said she overheard Booker telling a relative he was planning to visit the relative’s home later in the day, which is where police eventually arrested Booker on suspicion of murder.

Booker, according to detectives, Hemmons and a search of court records, has been convicted of domestic violence five times since 1989.

He was convicted of domestic violence against Blair twice, once in 2001 and once in 2013.

Booker pleaded guilty to fourth-degree felony domestic violence in the 2013 case was sentenced to two years probation.

Police records say Booker was arrested March 22, 2013 after Booker threatened to shoot her with a .22-caliber handgun, which reports say they confiscated after the arrest.

Booker on Nov. 22 completed the county’s treatment program and was ordered that he attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings three times per week.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/prosecutors_east_cleveland_wom.html

NBC’s LAW & ORDER SVU STATES THE TRUTH ABOUT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AND 13 STEPPING

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Safetyfirst

This Episode is a must see that covers rape, 13 stepping and murder by Alcoholics Anonymous members.

NBC’s LAW & ORDER SPECIAL VICTIM’s UNIT- DELIVERS THE TRUTH ABOUT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AND 13 STEPPING

Episode Rapist Anonymous…go figure. Compliments of Massive

Leaving AA www.leavingaa.com

Well, well, well… are the writers of Law & Order SVU reading our blogs and finally getting it right and telling the truth about AA? We hope so.

Tonight as I watched, I hardly could believe my eyes and ears as Mr 13 stepper, stepped up to the plate, he hit the nail on the head for me as a guy with 10 years of sobriety, slinging AA slogans like he began AA in kindergarten and what not….

You can watch it via the following link:

Rapist Anonymous
(Available Until: 02/07/2014)
VIEW SHOW VIA LINK BELOW:
http://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit/video/rapist-anony…

AND if you writers out there are reading this…thank you from all us ex steppers and anti-AA ers!

Season 15, Episode 9: Rapist Anonymous Nov 20, 2013 Detective Amanda Rollins (Giddish) helps her friend Lena Olson (Amy Seimetz) press charges against her lover when she accuses him of rape. But Lena’s history with the suspect and her proclivity for rough sex makes the he-said she-said investigation too difficult to pursue. When the case escalates to murder, a dangerous love triangle is discovered and Rollins is forced to confess her private life on the stand. Written By Anonymous– wait a minute….are they kidding… not posting the writer of this episode….are they an ex stepper?

Man Sentenced in Hatchet Assault on Girlfriend Mandated to Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Safetyfirst

As part of his plea,Joseph McCoy Burr III was ordered to attend anger management classes and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. This is an extremely dangerous man. His girlfriend is truly lucky to be alive. AA attendees beware! Just For Today Daytona NA Meetings in Hollyland Park located in Holly Hill Florida continue to smoke in our parks.

Man pleads guilty to hatchet assault

By Colton Campbell/Times-Georgian Monday, September 9, 2013

A Villa Rica man was sentenced to 13 years in prison Monday following multiple alleged assaults of his live-in girlfriend, including one in which he was accused of wielding a hatchet at her.

Joseph McCoy Burr III, 41, was originally charged with 14 counts, including charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and battery. The man was sentenced by Judge Bill Hamrick to 13 years in prison, to be followed by 17 years of probation, in Carroll County Superior Court on Monday.

Burr was arrested in March 2012 following an allegation that he had assaulted a woman who lived with him on Bonnie Sue Drive, breaking five ribs. The two alleged incidents occurred in February and March of that year.

Burr apologized in open court Monday, though the female victim was not present.

“I was wrong, and I’m very sorry,” he said, crying. “I never meant for that to happen, and I want to thank the judge for not giving me a bond when I was before him a few months ago. Sitting in that jail cell for 21 hours a day has helped me.”

In the February incident, Burr allegedly wielded a hatchet at the victim, striking her on the hand and ankle when she tried to deflect the weapon. The defendant then hit the woman with a drinking glass and used the cord of a heating pad to choke her, police said.

Also in that February incident, Burr allegedly poured hot candle wax on the female while she was in the bathtub, cleaning her wounds. Daytona Beach Area Meetings.

In the March incident noted in the indictment, shortly after which Burr was arrested, the defendant allegedly hit the woman with a belt buckle and then plunged her head underwater while she was in the bath, holding it there until she was able to pull the drain stopper to let the tub’s water out so she could breathe. Sunrise Park AA Meetings. Continue reading →

The Playground for Dangerous Felons and Sex Predators in Alcoholics Anonymous

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Safetyfirst

Twelve Steps to Danger: How Alcoholics Anonymous Can Be a Playground for Violence-Prone Members

by Gabrielle Glaser, Special to ProPublica, June 24, 2013, 8 a.m.

In the spring of 2011, Karla Brada Mendez finally seemed happy. She was 31 and in love, eager to move ahead on the path to maturity – marriage, a family, stability. She had a good job in the customer-service department of a large medical supply firm, and was settling into a condo she had recently bought near her childhood home in California’s San Fernando Valley.

Her 20s had been rough, a struggle with depression, anxiety, alcohol and drugs. But early that spring two years ago, she told her parents and younger sister that she had met a charming, kind and handsome man who understood what she had been through.

Their relationship blossomed as the couple attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings several times a week. But there was much Karla didn’t know about the tall blond man who said he was an AA old-timer.

Court records show that Eric Allen Earle repeatedly relapsed and turned violent when drunk, lashing out at family members, his ex-wife and people close to him. By the time he and Karla crossed paths, judges had granted six restraining orders against him. The 40-year-old sometime electrician had been convicted on dozens of criminal charges, mostly involving assault and driving under the influence. He had served more than two years in prison.

Unlike Karla, Earle was not attending AA meetings voluntarily. A succession of judges and parole officers had ordered him to go as an alternative to jail.

In that regard, Earle was part of a national trend. Each year, the legal system coerces more than 150,000 people to join AA, according to AA’s own membership surveys. Many are drunken drivers ordered to attend a few months of meetings. Others are felons whose records include sexual offenses and domestic violence and who choose AA over longer prison sentences. They mingle with AA’s traditional clientele, ordinary citizens who are voluntarily seeking help with their drinking problems from a group whose main tenets is anonymity. (When telling often-harrowing stories of their alcoholism, the recovering drinkers introduce themselves only by their first names.)

Forced attendance seems at odds with the original traditions of the organization, which state that the “only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.” So far, AA has declined to caution members about potentially dangerous peers or to create separate meetings for convicted criminals. “We do not discriminate against any prospective AA member, even if he or she comes to us under pressure from a court, an employer, or any other agency,” the public information officer at New York’s central office wrote in a June email. “We cannot predict who will recover, nor have we the authority to decide how recovery should be sought by any other alcoholic.”

Friends and family members say that Earle gained little lasting medical or spiritual benefit from AA. “On the way home from meetings, he’d stop at the liquor store and buy a pint of vodka,” said his father, Ronald Earle. “He’d finish that thing in an hour.” His estranged wife, Jennifer Mertell, said Earle frequently told her that he never had any intention of stopping drinking. “He had no desire to ever get sober,” Mertell said.

But Earle figured out something at AA. Friends and his former wife say he learned to troll the meetings for emotionally fragile women whom he impressed with his smooth mastery of the movement’s jargon and principles. Mertell says he met four of his most recent girlfriends by doing just that. “He has no place to live. He has no job. He goes to AA and finds these women who will take him in. He can be very sweet-talking and convincing,” she said. “He weasels himself into these girls’ lives, and just does what he has to do to have a living situation.”

In recent years, some critics have pressed AA to do more about the combustible mix of violent ex-felons and newcomers who assume that others “in the rooms” are there voluntarily. “It’s like letting a wolf into the sheep’s den,” said Dee-Dee Stout, an Emeryville, California alcohol and drug counselor who offers alternatives to traditional 12-step treatment. Twelve-step adherents accept the notion of alcohol dependency as a disease that can be remedied by abstinence and attending meetings with others who are trying to stop drinking. Stout has been an outspoken critic of what she views as the medical and judicial overreliance on AA and its offshoots.

Internal AA documents show that when questioned about the sexual abuse of young women by other members, the organization’s leadership decided in 2009 that it could not do anything to screen potential members. AA, which is a nonprofit, considers each of the nearly 60,000 U.S. AA groups autonomous and responsible for supervising themselves. Board members argued that a group organized around anonymity could do nothing to monitor members without undercutting its basic principles. Continue reading →

NA DAYTONA

ARE YOU SAFE IN AA or NA? NO WAY! NATURAL ACCOUNTABILITY

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