Sunday, May 30, 2010

The Sound of Silence: Another Rape in Another Library Bathroom, This Time in Enid, OK, and the Library is Mum

Another rape in another public library bathroom, this time in the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County, Enid, OK.  See: "24-Year-Old Enid Man Arrested for Having Sex with 14-Year-Old Girl in Local Library," by Cass Rains, Enid News and Eagle, 28 May 2010.

And the sound of silence?  It's from the library. "Library Director Michelle Mears said the library did not have a comment about the incident and referred inquires to Enid Police Department or the city attorney’s office."

Art Garfunkel talked about the "inability of people to communicate with each other.  [W]hat you see around you is people who are unable to love each other." And he named a song "The Sound of Silence."

Now that silence has come to Enid, OK, but it is not that the library director is unable to communicate, rather she refuses to communicate. Who or what is she protecting?  I have a hint:

I was involved in another matter in this community five years ago when there was a problem with "registered sex offenders ... using library computers to contact minors."  I spoke with law enforcement there and learned American Library Association [ALA] policy was being applied to block law enforcement efforts to apprehend registered sex offenders!  For my involvement in the matter I was incorrectly labeled by the ALA as "antipornography," an obvious attempt to deflect attention from the real issue.  The ALA wrote the article to make it appear I opposed allowing patrons to read email, when I actually opposed the library blocking law enforcement efforts, something the ALA regularly encourages.  For all I know, the library is still blocking law enforcement to this very day.

Now a child is raped in the library's bathroom.  Is it any wonder we hear the sound of silence from Library Director Michelle Mears?



May 28, 2010


By Cass Rains, Staff Writer
Enid News and Eagle

ENID — Enid Police Department detectives arrested a 24-year-old Enid man Thursday on complaints of having sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl in April at Public Library of Enid and Garfield County.

Detective Sgt. Dustin Albright said the girl reported to police Tuesday she had been sexually assaulted by Joseph Hoff on April 19. The girl also told police there was another incident involving Hoff but she did not recall the specific date it occurred.

Albright said the girl had told detectives she had known Hoff for about a year.

Detectives arrested Hoff, 318 E. Ash, Thursday afternoon on complaints of sodomy, lewd molestation and second-degree rape.

During an interview with detectives, Hoff admitted to some of the allegations the girl made but denied others, Albright said.

Library Director Michelle Mears said the library did not have a comment about the incident and referred inquires to Enid Police Department or the city attorney’s office.

Charges had not been filed against Hoff Friday afternoon, online court records show.

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