In Oconomowoc, Wisconsin on February, 12th, James Van Iveren thought he heard a woman being raped in the apartment above his. Iveren grabbed his family's heirloom cavalry sword and charged out of the apartment he shares with his mother. After banging on his neighbor's door, Van Iveren kicked the door in and demanded that his neighbor tell him where he was keeping the damsel in distress. It turns out Van Iveren had actually heard screams from a porn movie his neighbor was watching. He has been charged with criminal trespass, criminal damage and disorderly conduct. The combined misdemeanors could carry up to a 33-month jail sentence. When asked to comment, Van Iveren said, "Now I feel stupid. This really is nothing, nothing but a mistake." Police have taken possession of Van Iveren's sword.
Shouldn't he be covered by some sort of Good Samaratin law? You know like, you perform CPR on somebody who has keeled over, they can't sue you for breaking their ribs. Or, you bust in on your neighbor watching porn tapes and force him, at swordpoint, to show you around his apartment to prove that he isn't raping somebody...ok maybe it isn't the same thing, but 33 months in jail seems a tad excessive. If I were the judge I would have him pay retribution in the form of: 1 set of headphones for his upstairs neighbor and perhaps suggest that one of them consider moving in order to avoid an awkward encounter at the mailbox. Labels: Strange News, Wisconsin