Dr. Thompson, the Mandeville Canyon motorist accused of road rage, appeared in court for his arraignment on an amended felony complaint and now stands charged with a total of 7 counts.Thompson will return to court on February 23, 2009 when his attorney, Peter Swarth, is expected to enter a motion to dismiss the charges which are: 2 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, 2 counts of battery with serious bodily injury, reckless driving, reckless driving causing specified injury and mayhem.
Deputy District Attorney Mary Stone moved swiftly, entering the charges and asking the Judge to order Thompson to surrender his passport. The Judge set bail at $100 thousand and directed Thompson to turn over his passport, giving him until Tuesday to retrieve it from storage.
As in the past, Thompson appeared in court with his entourage, a group that only served to draw attention in an otherwise quiet and routine day at the La Cienega Airport Courthouse.
The trial date is set for March 6, 2010, almost 2 years after the July 4 weekend incident that set this journey in motion. Thompson is alleged to have pulled his car in front of 2 cyclists, slamming on his brakes, causing one cyclist to hit the ground while the other cyclist went through the rear window.
The incident drew attention from around the world to Mandeville Canyon, not just because of the motorist vs. cyclist tension demonstrated in this incident but also because of the history of conflict in this exclusive community.
Residents complain of speeding motorists, motorists complain of slow cyclists, speed humps irritate the upper Mandevillians, honking irritates the lower Mandevillians, trash cans create an obstacle course for everybody and, through it all, Councilman Bill Rosendahl has convened a task force to see if there's a way for everybody to get a piece of the road.
"That's so LA!"
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6 comments:
Assuming the motion to dismiss isn't successful, the trial isn't for another 14 months? Seriously? I know one can waive rights to a speedy trial but I didn't know one could get a glacially slow one instead! That's a ridiculous time frame.
I hope the cyclists will both launch civil suits. I read another post online from someone who said they worked in the ER with Thompson and that he is extremely narcissistic and prone to raging fits. He deserves to spend 4-5 years in prison and lose a lot of money.
T
in San Francisco
Do you know if the DA has offer him a deal at present time. i.e. plead guilty to these lessor charges and this will be your sentence?
I don't think any cyclist is going to see this man get what they feel he has coming to him. I do think at the very least this will end up being a major pain in the ass for him. If convicted of a felony(s), he will most likely get a suspended sentence. Possible jail time, more then likely most of the time being done on house arrest. If any time is demanded that it be served, he could pay to do it at a city jail as oppose to going to the county jail. He will have to do anger management courses. He may have his license to practice medicine reviewed.
My arm chair predictions.
Do you know if the DA has offer him a deal at present time. i.e. plead guilty to these lessor charges and this will be your sentence?
I don't think any cyclist is going to see this man get what they feel he has coming to him. I do think at the very least this will end up being a major pain in the ass for him. If convicted of a felony(s), he will most likely get a suspended sentence. Possible jail time, more then likely most of the time being done on house arrest. If any time is demanded that it be served, he could pay to do it at a city jail as oppose to going to the county jail. He will have to do anger management courses. He may have his license to practice medicine reviewed.
My arm chair predictions.
Received via email:
Hi,
I normally don't like to wish ill on anyone, but I can't tell you how relieved I feel to read your piece in CityWatch and to know that Dr. Thompson is being charged and held responsible for the horrible damages he caused to the cyclists last July 4th. On that very day I was riding with the Critical Mass group that went to watch fireworks in Marina del Rey. I'm not an avid cyclist but i think it's great that more people are cycling instead of driving...it's good for people in so many ways.
If you ask me, Dr. Thompson should have both his driver's license revoked forever so he is forced to be a pedestrian or cyclist to get around. He should also have his medical license withdrawn as the Hippocratic oath specifically states that a practitioner "will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption" and his actions would indicate he has directly violated that oath. I feel that would be the only appropriate way to deal with him as money probably doesn't mean a thing.
I hope the two injured cyclists are doing ok. I am sure they are still haunted by that horrible experience and undoubtedly they are scarred for life, physically and emotionally.
Just know I support them and your efforts and want to rid this City of disrespectful, angry, unethical people like Dr. Thompson who should never be allowed on any road.
Best,
VK
The trial has been set for 9/17, according to Streetsblog.
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