Complaint Review: Fort Bragg Advocate News

November 9, 2013

Re: Fort Bragg Advocate News -- Discrimination & Hate Speech

Dear Ripoff Report Reader,

I am a disabled American. My disability is psychological. I didn't choose it. It chose me.

The Fort Bragg Advocate News is a newspaper published ten miles from my home town. It's owned by MediaNews Group in Denver, Colorado. The editor is Katherine Lee.

One of the big features in this weekly paper is something called "The Court Report". Over the past few years, I've noticed that Ms. Lee was omitting certain stories from this report. Crimes against the disadvantaged went unreported. Wealthy defendants -- or friends of Ms. Lee -- all got a pass.

The first incident involved an assault charge by a former employee -- and personal friend -- of Ms. Lee's against a minor. Plus terrorist threats. A warrant was issued for that person's arrest. None of this showed up in "The Court Report".

The second involved an alleged child molestation by a prominent local locksmith. A man who can break into your home. How frightening is that? Once again, it didn't show up in "The Court Report".

The third was a major story about a famous local biologist arrested under a million dollar warrant for embezzling from a local Indian tribe. The initial story didn't appear in the newspaper at all. In its place was a public service announcement announcing a fundraiser for the defendant!

So I did some research. According to the arrest warrant, the money was laundered through a local charity called MRB Research. Sure enough, you can see it all at the California State Registry of Charitable Trusts. Six years of unfilled tax returns for six figures in unreported income. The single year of tax returns was signed by a former president of the now-bankrupt local hospital -- who resigned during a Grand Jury investigation!

When I mentioned this on a local list serve, Ms. Lee attacked me. Not on my facts, but for my disability. Not directly, but by inference. "Don't believe him." was her response to other readers. "Do your homework." -- thus pointing to my disability.

The California Newspaper Association bills the Fort Bragg Advocate News as "an award winning newspaper".

For discrimination and hate speech, I couldn't agree more.

Sincerely

Anonymous

 References:

 Superior Court of Mendocino County Case Index, State of California v. Andarin Arvola, October 4, 2007, Case Number 80104 002.

mendocino.courts.ca.gov/data/A.pdf

"Rough Seas Claim Another Diver," Fort Bragg Advocate-News, by Andarin Arvola, May 15, 1998.

newspapers.com/newspage/1081449/

Superior Court of Mendocino County Case Index, State of California v. David Escola, June 13, 2012, Case Number 22063 002.

mendocino.courts.ca.gov/data/E.pdf

Escola's Locksmith website listing.locksmithi.com/escolas-locksmith-fort-bragg/

California State Registry of Charitable Trusts: MRB Research

rct.doj.ca.gov/MyLicenseVerification/ ; go to link at fourth bullet point, "Click here to search for a Organization instead of a person."

enter "MRB Research" in "Organization Name" field and "CA" in "State" field.

"3 accused of embezzling $900,000 from Yurok Tribe", Press Democrat, February 12, 2012 pressdemocrat.com/article/20120228/wire/120229537

Affidavit for Search Warrants, 2012 yurokvoices.com/uploads/YurokSWsandRameysPC-1.pdf

"What's Happening", Mendocino Beacon, June 21, 2012 mendocinobeacon.com/localnews/ci_20907696/whats-happening