Marine Self Defense

[Gorogoroth]

Do you think Jace actually believes he has a level of ability that could benefit others if taught?
I mean, I know of a guy round my way who literally just bought a gi and a black coloured belt off the internet and started running 'taekwondo' classes from the local community centre. He's not spent much time doing martial arts that I know of, and he spends four hours a week teaching middle-aged women and kids the wrong way to do front kicks for a not insignificant fee.
The question is, is Jace doing this even though he knows he's not an expert, just so he can make a quick buck... Or is he genuinely so deluded that he actually believes he's offering a fantastic deal?

Definitely option number two.

 

[DeagleDad420]

Do you think Jace actually believes he has a level of ability that could benefit others if taught?
I mean, I know of a guy round my way who literally just bought a gi and a black coloured belt off the internet and started running 'taekwondo' classes from the local community centre. He's not spent much time doing martial arts that I know of, and he spends four hours a week teaching middle-aged women and kids the wrong way to do front kicks for a not insignificant fee.
The question is, is Jace doing this even though he knows he's not an expert, just so he can make a quick buck... Or is he genuinely so deluded that he actually believes he's offering a fantastic deal?

He's far, far more delusional than he is intelligent enough to come up with a scheme like that.

 

[A-№1]

Actually, driving with a suspended license is not a felony, at least in most states. I looked up Massachusetts law and it doesn't say whether it is a felony or not.

I don't know MA law specifically, but in most states there are a number of ways to "upgrade" a vehicular misdemeanor into a felony. Sometimes it depends on what your license was suspended for: they take things like DUII suspensions much more seriously than, for example, child support non-payment suspensions. It could have also been upgraded if there were minors in the vehicle, or if Jace was also driving without insurance, or if Jace did something particularly stupid while driving with a suspended license (he had to have done something to attract the police attention while doing it).

Also, I do not believe a crime is a felony unless it is punishable by over a year in jail.

Nah, there are all sorts of "paper felonies" that hardly ever involve any incarceration or even fines IRL. You are correct that on the books felonies come with at least one year prison (not jail) sentences, but what a defendant actually gets depends entirely on the sentence the judge lays down or (more often) the deal the defendant plea bargains himself into. I can easily see Jace taking the first plea bargain offered where he agrees to a bumped up felony charge in exchange for a suspended sentence and reduced or waived fines because he simply doesn't know any better (but thinks he does) and thinks he's getting away lightly. This happens a lot with young and stupid offenders and is an easy way for prosecutors to pad their conviction rates.

 

[Thetan]

This is overpriced. He don't even had some credentials.

I'm not sure if you need to have credentials to teach self-defense in a seminar type setting. I am however quite sure that you don't need any certification to instruct people in the safe handling of toy guns.

 

[Da Pickle Monsta]

He go's into more detail here.
View attachment 1235

I AM A UNITED STATES MARINE

http://www.justice.gov/usao/kyw/news/2013/20130712-01.html

Hardin County, Kentucky Man Guilty Of Impersonating A Soldier For Financial Gain
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Hardin County, Kentucky, man pleaded guilty in United States District Court today, before District Judge John G. Heyburn II, to charges of pretending to be an officer of the United States, wire fraud, making false statements or representations, and entering government property under false pretenses for the purposes of committing a felony, announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

Jonathan Wade Short, age 23, despite being a civilian with absolutely no record of service in the armed forces of the United States, admitted to falsely impersonating a United States soldier for a period between March 8, 2012, until December 7, 2012.

Further, during August 2012, Short admitted in court to meeting A.V., the daughter of a retired member of the armed forces, on a social networking site where he falsely claimed to be a highly decorated soldier, who had been on multiple deployments, and received high military honors (including the Purple Heart). Approximately one month later, when the two met for the first time in person, Short, dressed in a complete Army Combat Uniform (ACU) wearing the rank of Sergeant, a Combat Infantryman Badge, and Parachutists Badge, Combat Patch, and a Ranger tab. While dating A.V. in Daviess and Hardin Counties and elsewhere, Short, who was accompanied by A.V., repeatedly demanded and obtained financial benefits and discounts only entitled to current and former members of the armed forces of the United States. Short possessed at least seven Army Dress Uniforms, with accompanying ribbons, badges, and medals, and wore them in public and on social networking sites as part of his continuous effort to impersonate a decorated combat veteran.

Between October 6, 2012, and approximately November 16, 2012, in Hardin County, defendant Short, did repeatedly ask A.V. to send him money under the false premise that he needed money to help defray the expenses related to his son’s emergency medical treatment at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Short actually had no son who was ill or hospitalized. In fact, he demanded the money from A.V. in order to exploit A.V.’s belief he was a noble soldier in a desperate family and financial situation. During the two month period, A.V. gave Short nearly $1,000.

On or about December 7, 2012, Short admitted to A.V. he was not a Soldier and that he solicited money from her based upon false pretenses. Moreover, he refused to return the solicited funds upon A.V.’s request. Further, on or about October 11, 2012, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in the exclusive territorial jurisdiction of the United States, Short was apprehended once Military Police at Fort Knox for attempting to impersonate a Soldier. Once an investigation revealed the extent of his fraud, he was apprehended and detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation near Springfield, IL. If convicted at trial, Short faced a possible combined maximum term of 23 years in prison, a combined maximum fine of $500,000 and a ten year term of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 15, 2013, at 1:00 pm, in Louisville, before Judge Heyburn.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Milton A. Turner and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

TL;DR: offering a self-defense course is an exceptionally bad idea.

 

[Ariel]

Is there a register for military impostors in the USA? I know they tend to go after people who claim they fought in WW2 & Vietnam, but he might still be a candidate/target.

 

[Misbun Sidek]

Is there a register for military impostors in the USA? I know they tend to go after people who claim they fought in WW2 & Vietnam, but he might still be a candidate/target.

Nothing official, but sometimes vets will set up little websites about particularly egregious fakers. Remember, for reasons related to the first amendment, pretending to be a servicemember by itself isn't actually illegal for civilians. Actively impersonating for political or monetary gain is generally charged as fraud, and impersonating in an attempt to "sneak" on a base is about as illegal as it gets. Jace hasn't actually committed any crimes yet, although if he starts trying to advertise a business by telling people he is a Marine, it would be considered fraud.

Wearing the uniform, however, is (or was, it may have been repealed) illegal, under "10 U.S. Code § 771 - Unauthorized wearing prohibited". Really, the stalking and drug use is a bigger threat to Jace's freedom than his USMC fetish.

 

[A-№1]

Is there a register for military impostors in the USA? I know they tend to go after people who claim they fought in WW2 & Vietnam, but he might still be a candidate/target.

There are a few of more or less official status, but Jace is beneath their notice (and contempt).

They only care about impostors who might actually fool someone.

 

[Duke Nukem]

I don't know MA law specifically, but in most states there are a number of ways to "upgrade" a vehicular misdemeanor into a felony. Sometimes it depends on what your license was suspended for: they take things like DUII suspensions much more seriously than, for example, child support non-payment suspensions. It could have also been upgraded if there were minors in the vehicle, or if Jace was also driving without insurance, or if Jace did something particularly stupid while driving with a suspended license (he had to have done something to attract the police attention while doing it).

Nah, there are all sorts of "paper felonies" that hardly ever involve any incarceration or even fines IRL. You are correct that on the books felonies come with at least one year prison (not jail) sentences, but what a defendant actually gets depends entirely on the sentence the judge lays down or (more often) the deal the defendant plea bargains himself into. I can easily see Jace taking the first plea bargain offered where he agrees to a bumped up felony charge in exchange for a suspended sentence and reduced or waived fines because he simply doesn't know any better (but thinks he does) and thinks he's getting away lightly. This happens a lot with young and stupid offenders and is an easy way for prosecutors to pad their conviction rates.

It's possible he agreed to bump up a comparatively minor misdemeanor to a felony just to avoid going to jail or having to pay the court his weed and game money. I wouldn't put it past his dumb ass.

Of course, I must also point out that we have nothing to prove that he actually is a convicted felon, plea bargaining or otherwise. Of course, with the way the Deagle Nation Civil War is going, I believe it may be only a matter of time.

 

[Da Pickle Monsta]

There are a few of more or less official status, but Jace is beneath their notice (and contempt).

They only care about impostors who might actually fool someone.

True. There's the Stolen Valor Act in the US, but it usually concerns folks who are claiming military service or awards they never received in order to get VA or civilian benefits. As far as the self-defense class goes, Jace has done nothing illegal unless he receives money and continues the class under the pretense that he's an actual Marine veteran. And even then, the only people who might get involved is local law enforcement, and only if somebody lodges a complaint.

 

[A-№1]

Of course, with the way the Deagle Nation Civil War is going, I believe it may be only a matter of time.

Only if he doesn't get his silly ass killed first. Or worse.

I don't think there's any way the Jace Connors story will end well.

 

[Misbun Sidek]

I don't think there's any way the Jace Connors story will end well.

I think if he's forced into getting a job at some point, he'll mellow out and mature. At the very least, he'll be too tired to run around shooting airsoft guns at high school students and TPing people's yards.

 

[ChurchOfGodBear]

I think if he's forced into getting a job at some point, he'll mellow out and mature. At the very least, he'll be too tired to run around shooting airsoft guns at high school students and TPing people's yards.

He's not "Chris-level" lost yet. Jace at least understands what having a job is, and isn't so old that an empty resume will be a dealbreaker. He could probably walk right into a GameStop and do wonders for himself.

 

[A-Stump]

He's not "Chris-level" lost yet. Jace at least understands what having a job is, and isn't so old that an empty resume will be a dealbreaker. He could probably walk right into a GameStop and do wonders for himself.

Come on, even Jace deserves better than a Gamestop.

 

[ChurchOfGodBear]

Come on, even Jace deserves better than a Gamestop.

Jace can't tell the difference between being a "future marine" and an "actual marine", he'll never figure out the difference between a new game and a used game. He'll be a perfect fit.

 

[A-№1]

I think if he's forced into getting a job at some point, he'll mellow out and mature.

That's a pretty big "if" you've got there. And you forgot the other "if" that goes along with it: "If he manages to keep it."

I agree with you that a job and some real responsibilities might help Jace wake up to reality, but I don't see that happening in the near future. The longer his mother puts up with him and protects him from growing up, the worse his long term prospects become. Isn't he already getting some ? That doesn't bode well.

He's not "Chris-level" lost yet. Jace at least understands what having a job is, and isn't so old that an empty resume will be a dealbreaker. He could probably walk right into a GameStop and do wonders for himself.

"Yet." "Could."

Jace is probably still salvageable, but I don't see anyone doing any salvaging, least of all himself.

 

[ChurchOfGodBear]

I think the question then becomes, is Jace's mom a Barb-class useless bint, or can she be pushed so far she'll tell him to shape up or ship out? Granted, if she were the latter, it probably would have happened by now, but can't rule it out until we know more.