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Shock and Law -- FAJ 364 [further updates at bottom]
10 years ago
Do many of you still remember Kevin Duane and his fall from grace, a few years ago?
Having made himself one of the least liked people in fandom, he finished his career as a furry by assaulting his wife's adult son during a family dispute. He was arrested, held and deported from Canada. Having nowhere to go, Kevin has been in Philadelphia with Andrew Green and his roommate, Sekhmet, who rented Kev a small room.
Kevin is in jail again, on another charge of assault. Once again, it was an assault on the person who has been sheltering him, suggesting that some people just don't learn from previous experiences....
Here's what Andrew told me as best as I can remember. The assault was on Thursday, the 4th. There was an argument over moving some of Kevin's junk with Andrew's truck. The junk was to go to a rental space of Kevin's, but in the middle of loading the truck some sort of argument began and Kevin slammed the heavy front door shut on Andrew's hand, severing the end of his right index finger.
Kevin had been living in Andrew's spare room for nine years... and both Andrew and his boyfriend had been hoping Kevin would find his own place for most of those nine years. Kev made promises, but like many things he has promised, nothing ever happened. Worse, Kevin apparently couldn't get a real job -- the only job I recall he held in all this time was demonstrating cheese spread on crackers at some equivalent of a Costco. That sort of thing. It was the same sort of temporary, Joe jobs he got in Toronto in lieu of real employment, that brought in just enough money to pay a little rent or earn s bit of pocket money. Andrew also complained that Kevin was messy, and intrusive, which I can believe.
However, Kevin really had nowhere else to go but Andrew's.
After more than a year in which Andrew and his boyfriend threatened to move out of their apartment, and leave Kevin behind, they finally made good on the threat. That's why Kevin's junk had to be taken somewhere else. Facing this existential threat probably explains the violent outburst. Kevin has always had temper management problems, but usually took it out on himself, by biting himself on the famously scarred place on his forearm.
After Andrew's finger was mashed in a door, he went to the hospital to have the injury looked after, and phoned the police. When he got home again, Kevin had already been taken into custody, and waits in jail, presumably to see a judge to have bail set. Since this is the second time Kevin has been charged with assault, bail set at $10,000.
In any case, Andrew hopes no one will come forward with the money, because he and his roomie intend to be moved to a new address before Kevin is released. Frankly, I can't think of anyone who can or would be willing to stand him bail. ("No, there is one last hope," Yoda said, and there is, maybe.) Even Kevin's mother doesn't want him out on bail.
Andrew has already undertaken the unpleasant task of informing Mrs. Duane, Kevin’s mother, about her errant son, and far from what you'd expect, she seems to think him better off where he is. She fears that in his current state he might be suicidal. One of Kevin's several brothers committed suicide a few years ago. (And Kevin was the unstable one of the family!)
I don't know much about American criminal law, but Andrew says Kevin probably won't be set a trial date for weeks, and could be facing two to five years for aggravated assault.
That's just about all I know at the moment but there will likely be plenty of time in Kevin's future for more detail to emerge. What there may not be in Kevin’s future is many options.
I voiced doubts about posting this, but Andrew said he thought that fans should know.
[Should you wish to assist Andrew and his lover, he has a Gofundme appeal that you can access at:
https://www.gofundme.com/s6nygd5f ]
UPDATES
Kevin's mother reportedly bailed Kevin out, and he is ... somewhere.
Andrew has been in surgery, and a procedure to graft a new fingertip to the damaged digit has been performed. Results in about eight weeks, I think.
When I got up today (Sunday, 14th) there was a brief message on my answering machine from Kevin. I presume he wants to tell his side of the story. It's hard to imagine how the basic facts I've related are wrong, but no doubt has his own spin on them. I'm curious to hear it. There may be further updates.
YET MORE!
Kevin called again, and this time I caught the call. He is definitely out on bail, and has a place somewhere he wasn't specific about. He has one of his temp jobs still. And he is waiting for a hearing date to be set. There are three charges on the police docket. Aggravated assault may be impossible to prove, as there are no witnesses. Simple assault seems clear, but endangerment is the only charge I'd wager money on sticking.
Beyond that Kevin's story is much like Andrew's except that he denies intention.
Having made himself one of the least liked people in fandom, he finished his career as a furry by assaulting his wife's adult son during a family dispute. He was arrested, held and deported from Canada. Having nowhere to go, Kevin has been in Philadelphia with Andrew Green and his roommate, Sekhmet, who rented Kev a small room.
Kevin is in jail again, on another charge of assault. Once again, it was an assault on the person who has been sheltering him, suggesting that some people just don't learn from previous experiences....
Here's what Andrew told me as best as I can remember. The assault was on Thursday, the 4th. There was an argument over moving some of Kevin's junk with Andrew's truck. The junk was to go to a rental space of Kevin's, but in the middle of loading the truck some sort of argument began and Kevin slammed the heavy front door shut on Andrew's hand, severing the end of his right index finger.
Kevin had been living in Andrew's spare room for nine years... and both Andrew and his boyfriend had been hoping Kevin would find his own place for most of those nine years. Kev made promises, but like many things he has promised, nothing ever happened. Worse, Kevin apparently couldn't get a real job -- the only job I recall he held in all this time was demonstrating cheese spread on crackers at some equivalent of a Costco. That sort of thing. It was the same sort of temporary, Joe jobs he got in Toronto in lieu of real employment, that brought in just enough money to pay a little rent or earn s bit of pocket money. Andrew also complained that Kevin was messy, and intrusive, which I can believe.
However, Kevin really had nowhere else to go but Andrew's.
After more than a year in which Andrew and his boyfriend threatened to move out of their apartment, and leave Kevin behind, they finally made good on the threat. That's why Kevin's junk had to be taken somewhere else. Facing this existential threat probably explains the violent outburst. Kevin has always had temper management problems, but usually took it out on himself, by biting himself on the famously scarred place on his forearm.
After Andrew's finger was mashed in a door, he went to the hospital to have the injury looked after, and phoned the police. When he got home again, Kevin had already been taken into custody, and waits in jail, presumably to see a judge to have bail set. Since this is the second time Kevin has been charged with assault, bail set at $10,000.
In any case, Andrew hopes no one will come forward with the money, because he and his roomie intend to be moved to a new address before Kevin is released. Frankly, I can't think of anyone who can or would be willing to stand him bail. ("No, there is one last hope," Yoda said, and there is, maybe.) Even Kevin's mother doesn't want him out on bail.
Andrew has already undertaken the unpleasant task of informing Mrs. Duane, Kevin’s mother, about her errant son, and far from what you'd expect, she seems to think him better off where he is. She fears that in his current state he might be suicidal. One of Kevin's several brothers committed suicide a few years ago. (And Kevin was the unstable one of the family!)
I don't know much about American criminal law, but Andrew says Kevin probably won't be set a trial date for weeks, and could be facing two to five years for aggravated assault.
That's just about all I know at the moment but there will likely be plenty of time in Kevin's future for more detail to emerge. What there may not be in Kevin’s future is many options.
I voiced doubts about posting this, but Andrew said he thought that fans should know.
[Should you wish to assist Andrew and his lover, he has a Gofundme appeal that you can access at:
https://www.gofundme.com/s6nygd5f ]
UPDATES
Kevin's mother reportedly bailed Kevin out, and he is ... somewhere.
Andrew has been in surgery, and a procedure to graft a new fingertip to the damaged digit has been performed. Results in about eight weeks, I think.
When I got up today (Sunday, 14th) there was a brief message on my answering machine from Kevin. I presume he wants to tell his side of the story. It's hard to imagine how the basic facts I've related are wrong, but no doubt has his own spin on them. I'm curious to hear it. There may be further updates.
YET MORE!
Kevin called again, and this time I caught the call. He is definitely out on bail, and has a place somewhere he wasn't specific about. He has one of his temp jobs still. And he is waiting for a hearing date to be set. There are three charges on the police docket. Aggravated assault may be impossible to prove, as there are no witnesses. Simple assault seems clear, but endangerment is the only charge I'd wager money on sticking.
Beyond that Kevin's story is much like Andrew's except that he denies intention.
Incidentally, Andrew is talking about a civil suit as well. I asked what Kevin could possibly have that was worth suing for. Surely most of what he owned could be summed up as "ratty old books, useless software and broken computer parts." But Kevin has a painting by underground artist Larry Todd that would probably be put to better use on Andrew's wall than buried under Kevin's dirty underwear.
I get the impression that Andrew is more than ordinarily pissed off about losing the end of that finger. He may have to learn to fire a gun left-handed.
MOTHERFUCKER extraordinaire is closer to the correct term. And thats being polite.
Kevin will feel at home with all the other losers of humanity. But he won't be able to flog his CDs there.
There are some quite nice furs who will take advantage, and Kevin is an example of the not very nice kind that that take it to the extreme. Andrew sounds all sorts of patient, even to the point of feeling obligated to provide a space for Kevin's stuff to go when they finally moved out, and help get it there. Well no good deed goes unpunished.
Now I have serious trouble with English.
This is Andrew's "Boy Toy" We haven't posted any details yet because of the vast amount of real life things that need to be done, including moving, packing Kevin's shit in a storage locker, cleaning up the apartment, etc. I'm sure Andrew will post the details when it is possible and the time is right.
On a more personal note, I am NOT Andrew's 'Boy Toy'. I am his loving Life Mate. I care for him so much that I have stayed throughout all the years of Kevin's mess. I'm a clean freak, so Every Single Day has been a struggle living with the living Hurricane of Filth named Kevin Duane. If I were a simple sex toy for Andrew, I would have left a long time ago.
One detail you might clarify for me about this mess... what door was it that Kevin slammed on Andrew's hand -- car door or door to the apartment?
I knew Kevin Duane BEFORE his entry into Furry Fandom. He was trying to pull the same kind of things in the SF community. It didn't work as well because the SF fans (and especially artists) were not as naive and possibly better organized. They recognized his BS as just that and the damage he caused was minimal.
I tried to warn those furry artists I knew or met that he was bad news. I wasn't convincing enough: I guess I didn't bellow as loud back then. He went on with his grandiose schemes that could never play out and dragged too many people down with him. I vaguely remember at least one artist who was offered a 9600 baud modem as payment (a VERY high connection speed at the time): the artist was told it was a demo item. I suggested that the artist contact the modem maker and attempt to register the warranty, explaining where he got it. I don't know if he did...
This was just a prelude to me asking you and Andrew to do what may be one of the hardest things you've ever done. Don't discuss this in public any further. Read Dalesql's reply above. He's right, unfortunately. If you and Andrew 'slander' (note the quotes) Kevin, it diminishes your testimony and merely makes you 'revenge seekers against this poor misunderstood innocent'. It's going to be hard enough to get a conviction to stick, I'm afraid; much less to get him any real jail time. Venting here or to anyone other than the police or lawyers will be interpreted as vindictive retaliation and could impact whatever happens in court.
Kevin belongs in jail for what he did to Andrew. Period. Keeping quiet about it may be the only way to accomplish that.
Charlieg is probably right about Andrew not talking too freely about the incident. The news is out and no more really needs to be known by the public.
He once promised me a laptop n exchange for the art I did, he handed me one that was 6-8 years old and clearly lifted from some office/library cause he couldn't be bothered removing the inventory lable. Kept telling me it was worth a couple grand. I know for a fact he shoplifted items from certain stores and would "Do the artist the favor". He once handed me a box of badge clips saying how he bought it at a Office Depot, yet the receipt in the bag was for a couple candy bars only and some double sided tape.
Plus he'd call at all hours of the night, often as late as 3AM just to chat and tellme about his latest scheme.
I remember in the early 2000s, there was a "What If" bantered about. What if Kevin Duane, Michael Hirtes and Ross 'Sibe' Reddick were locked in a room together, who'd be the one to come out. I answered "I'd just shoot the survivor!"
At the end of the weekend he took everything from the room that wasn't nailed down, and a couple things that were.
And he never paid his share of the room, left me a pile of those damn CDs instead.
And, if you won't mind a type comment, may I nominate both you and Andrew for sainthood? I couldn't stand to be around Kevin for half-an-hour, and both of you put up with him for nine years?! That's almost impossible for me to believe!
As for Kevin, his orchestra plays in the key of door, it always did. He should have been locked-up long ago in a home for the hopelessly confounded. Sadly, he won't get much help in prison, especially from the real criminals. (Not that what he did wasn't really a crime; it certainly was and he should pay for it. But he'll be an even worse person for it when he gets out if he isn't put on meds or something.) It might not be PC to say so, but that boy is sick in the head!
Some people might well benefit from such a structured environment from the start, before they even commit a crime, and there may be no percentage for anyone in ever letting them go. Kevin could well be such a person. On the other hand, if people could be sent to prison for unusual and nonconformist behaviour, how many of us would be safe from arrest?
And I just sent Andy a note asking who the guy was that did it.
Kevin Duane? Are you kidding me? That asshole still owes ME money!
And they all lived happily ever after, The End (of decency).
Mind you, the first part is now true. Kevin's mother did bail him out, and he's free for the time being. In fact, I woke up to find a call on my message machine from Kevin, who is no doubt anxious to tell his side of the story.
I'm curious to see how he puts his spin on it. Did Andrew somehow cause Kevin to slam the door on him? Did Andrew put his hand in the door on purpose, to claim a later injury? Has Kevin only been charged with "disturbing the peace?" Is it Andrew who has injured Kevin by laying charges, forcing Kevin to miss his first day as executive vice-president of Nickleodeon? The basic facts seem irrefutable, so it will be interesting to hear them reinterpreted.
As for the rest, I'll wear a fursuit to my next doctor's appointment if any of it happens...