LEGAL BRIEFS

Dear Reader,

We have a number of legal items to report here for your information. Yes, it has come to the point where imprisoned poets have their own blogs, thanks to a little help from the outside. We also follow the latest developments as the case of confessed embezzler Andrew Bandy takes some surprising twists and turns in our labyrinthine Federal judicial system. All fresh off the vine from Milwaukeeworld.com

--Michael Horne

A POET IN THE PEN

Exclusive to the readers of milwaukeeworld

Updated August 14th 2007

By Michael Horne

We all know how morose poets tend to be when permitted to range freely on their own, even in a field of buttercups and daisies. Imagine how dreary they must be when imprisoned.

Imagine no more. John Tyson, a poet, art collector and the former director of telemarketing for the Channel 10 Friends has been in prison since his April guilty plea to one count of using a “computer to facilitate a child sex act,” Wis. Stats. 948.075(1), a Class D Felony. [See Tyson’s photo here.]

He’s letting us read all about life behind bars in a blog called “The Old Man Prison Poet.”

In a posting from late July, we read of a rape of a young prisoner drugged into unconsciousness by an older prisoner, and learn that Tyson has autographed copies of his books under the nose of guards, signing them with his identification number, which he feels appropriate for a laureate in his current estate.

He doesn’t talk much about whatever it is that brought him to prison for 30 months confinement, but the offense occurred August 21^st, 2006. Apparently it involved a sting operation in which he used a computer to solicit sex from a person he believed to be under the age of 16. He says he thought he was arranging for a burger and a beer with a 26-year old.

We also learn about prison buddies, and the pain of separation when a cellmate is released.

“Sometimes we need good friends … & hugs. And inmates almost always associate hugs with homosexuality. I do not have a problem with homosexuality; it’s just that I’m not. And I don’t like being labeled as something I am not.” [I wonder how he feels about being labeled as a pedophile? – Ed.]

Tyson continues, “My friend will walk out of these gates today. I’ll give him a hug on his way out.”

Way out.

Then blog is assembled by Kelly Conway, who worked with Tyson for many years, she says. Apparently she transcribes letters she receives from the inmate in the mail.

[Update -- August 14th, 2007 -- Since this posting I have spoken with three sources who have further information about Tyson. He frequently had young black males hanging out with him at his apartment in Chalet on the River, although a neighbor said they did not seem to be underage. His protestations of not being gay seem almost laughable with considerable evidence to the contrary. Tyson also seemed to get weirder and weirder lately, borrowing money from friends of friends, making bizarre accusations about neighbors, promising to purchase artwork for which he had no money, and skipping out on his rent. (He owes about $9,000.) He may have suffered some strain with the apparent drug overdose death of his son Evan, last year.--Ed.]

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BANDY CASE

Readers have asked for the outcome of the oft-delayed sentencing of Andrew R. Bandy, who pleaded guilty in February to federal charges related to the theft of money from his employer, Mallory Properties, Inc. The sentencing scheduled for Thursday, August 2^nd, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. was converted to a status hearing by the order of Judge Lynn Adelman on July 31^st.

Court minutes from the two-minute August 2^nd hearing read [in their entirety] “Court raised issues w/ charge. Court sets case for status on 10/3/07 @ 1:30. Defendant must appear.”

The only other document I could mine was a “transaction” entered on August 3^rd at 2:01 p.m. which read, “Docket Text: ***Terminate Deadlines/Hearings as to Andrew R. Bandy. No public notice (electronic or otherwise) sent because the entry is private.”

[Here is the original posting on the Bandy embezzlement story.]

--Michael Horne