 SENTENCING DAY, PART DEUX
SENTENCING DAY, PART DEUX
EYEWITNESS REPORT!!1
By: Trix E. Lom
Intrepid Reporter
Trix E. Lom is no stranger to covering Miss Debbie in teh courthouse: her earlier dispatches covered Frisch's first sentencing on 3/12/09, and 
her 10/25/10 conviction on a probation-violation. 
In today's dispatch, Trix covers Miss Debbie's April 7th 2011 plea-bargained conviction for Debbie Frisch's vile harassment and threats to a local man and his young daughters...
ARRIVAL
It was a typical day in 
Lane County court as your intrepid reporter     arrived. Once again, I removed my belt and boots then redressed in     the small area behind the security station next to the slowest     elevator in 
Lane County. A skinny young woman bemoaned her ongoing     drug problems and approached the counter on the second floor to     renew a restraining order against her husband. On the third floor, a     young man discussed his divorce case with his sympathetic mother.
I had spotted Deb Frisch as soon as I approached court room 302,     sitting just outside the door with her female attorney. I walked     past and sat down on a nearby bench, overhearing snatches of their     conversation about religion and family.
"We'll get this done," the     lawyer reassured Frisch confidently.
By 9 o'clock Frisch was still waiting outside the courtroom door,     but two minutes later she was inside, so I entered the court room     and took a seat in the back row, on the left. Five other people were     in the visitor's gallery -- a man and two women directly across from     me in the back row on the right side of the aisle, and Frisch with     her lawyer seated on the bench in front of them.
How she must be     suffering, I thought, as the three in the back row loudly discussed     their amazing iPads and compared them to the Blackberry--toys now forbidden to Miss Debbie as part of her probation--which one     woman claimed she would "never give up!" Frisch and her lawyer     quietly left the room.
A minute or two later they returned.
SUBDUED DEBBIE COPS HER PLEA...
"We can go right up," said     Frisch's lawyer, motioning to the table for the defense. Almost     immediately the clerk ordered "All rise," and informed us the     Honorable Bryan T. Hodges was presiding. The only case to be heard     was 
STATE VS DEBORAH ELLEN FRISCH.
Miss Debbie's lawyer     told the judge she believed the prosecution would read the terms of     their agreement.
The prosecutor, a slim, dark-haired woman, rose and called for 36     months of probation, with terms as set in her previous case, number     210826446. That is, Frisch would
-      continue mental-health treatment as directed by her probation     officer
-      not go online "or on the internet"
-      pay whatever fines or fees are imposed by the court, and 
-      have no contact with her latest victim or his family (with     "contact" meaning its legal definition).
The prosecution was requesting no further jail time, just a     probation which mirrors her other one. (
Editor's Note: As loyal readers know, Miss Debbie served almost a week in jail after being arrested on teh latest charges; unable to make $2500 bail, Teh Deb needed her Daddy to come in from California to pony up teh fund$.)
Judge Hodges asked Frisch whether she'd heard and understood the     prosecution. She stood up hurriedly and answered "Yes," in a clear     voice.
Frisch's curly, reddish hair is long, just past her     shoulders, and she's very thin. But, so far that morning, Miss Debbie's face had     lost its crazed, concentrated tightness and her eyes, while clear,     were less hawkish, less sharply focused in her past intimidating     fashion. She was dressed casually, Eugene-style, in a pair of faded     jeans and a buttoned-down work shirt.
She sat down almost as quickly     as she'd stood, and her lawyer entered her plea of guilty on both     counts, the first of which is harassment.
Judge Hodges asked whether the defendant had been fully advised of     her rights.
Yes, her lawyer answered, both in writing and in     person.
The judge turned to the prosecutor for the state, and     asked what they could prove. The prosecutor answered confidently the     state could prove that 
on October 14th, 2010 in Lane County the     defendant intentionally harassed and insulted the victim with     abusive words and gestures intended to provoke violence.
Then on October 17, 2010, with intent to facilitate unlawful     activity, the defendant impersonated S.H., Lane     County's Public Health Director at the time--a government official--in an email.
"The state can prove this," declared the prosecutor.
VICTIM STANDS UP TO BULLY FRISCHJudge Hodges turned to Frisch's lawyer and asked whether she would     like to take advantage of the two-day delay before sentencing. She     declined. The judge was then informed that Debbie's latest victim wanted     to address the court.
Teh Victim was invited to stand up where he was and to give and spell out his name.
He began his statement by     introducing himself as a "local budding politician." The judge made     some wisecrack about that which your reporter failed to hear (Judge     Hodges is an older gentlemen who speaks with authority, but     quietly).
Proving his diplomacy, Teh Victim glossed over the     wisecrack with an indulgent laugh and continued without     skipping a beat in his concise yet unhurried cadence.
He told the     court he is running for the 4J School Board now but on the day in     question he was standing at 7th and Pearl in Eugene with a campaign     sign because he was running for State Representative of 
District 13.     His daughters were with him and 
having a great time.
"I go to lots of meetings," he confessed, and that day he was     spending time with his daughters.
Then Deborah Frisch drove up and     began shouting "sexually explicit expletives" at him.
Teh Victim,     while visibly angry, maintained his cool throughout his statement.     He described what transpired as well as any civic-minded and     well-spoken person could, without uttering a single profanity.
He     said he could not explain why this bizarre event was happening, but     as Frisch walked by him she continued her verbal assault.
He knelt     down and pulled his daughters to him, trying to cover their ears and     to shield them. The situation was "beyond belief," he testified.
It was a "mind-blowing public attack," he continued, one he would     have to explain later to his daughters.
But the abuse did not end     there. Frisch later bashed him and family members on her blog
.
At this point,     Mr. Callahan's voice grew stronger, fraught with emotion. His anger     was palpable, and although he kept his cool, he spoke sharply and a     bit louder as he declared "That's where I draw the line."
He     backtracked a bit, saying he draws the line at anyone harming or     threatening his kids but "As a victim . . . " he began, then stopped     as if to gather his thoughts. He said he doesn't like calling     himself a victim, but in this case he is one, and ended his statement by recommending "the harshest punishment" for Frisch's     crimes.
After a beat, he said "Thank you" and sat down.
DEFENSE PLEADS FOR MERCY FOR PITIFUL DEBBIE
Judge Hodges thanked Mr. Callahan and turned again to the defense.
Frisch's lawyer began her plea by stating her client is unemployed     and fifty years old. She's seeking medical help for some "issues"     she's dealing with, and she's supported by her family, who are "very     involved" in her life.
Teh law office, said teh attorney, has received many calls     from them. They want to make sure she gets the care she needs.     Frisch's lawyer was appointed to represent her, she continued, and     the charge is a misdemeanor. She asked the judge to impose no fines,     fees, or costs.
She claimed Frisch's 
probation officer had written a     generous letter which states her client is "doing excellent," and     that in her case he has waived his usual fees.
In conclusion, Frisch's lawyer told Judge Hodges her client relies     solely on her parents for financial support and lives well below the     poverty level--facts 
well-known to loyal Daily Squeak readers. She wanted to make the judge aware of Frisch's     financial condition.
At that point, the judge allowed Frisch to speak. She stood up and     chimed in a high, childish voice, "I just want to apologize for all     the horrible decisions I've made."
JUDGE SHOWS MERCY, COMPASSION FOR VICTIM
Judge Hodges then addressed Teh Victim at the back of the court     with another apology.
"This may seem strange to you," said teh Judge. "It used to be strange to me."
He then explained that     plea-bargain procedures are necessary in a court of a dozen and a     half judges with thousands of cases before them. These circumstances     require accommodations, he said.
Frisch's lawyer, standing next to     her client, whispered something in her ear. It was clear to all     present that Teh Victim's earnest plea for harsh punishment would be denied.
The judge agreed to follow what the two competing sides had worked     out and invited Teh Victim to discuss the case with him later if     he so chose.
The mutual respect and civility of the two men was also     clear, and it elevated the atmosphere in the courtroom despite the     judge's aura of regret. There was a general sense of inevitable     resignation as the judge reviewed the details of the sentence:
- Thirty-six months of probation during which Frisch will violate no     law (Editor's Note: This appears to be concurrent with Miss Debbie's current probation-term, which runs through 11 March 2014, according to Criminal Debbie's online VINE record.) If she is cited or arrested for any offense, even a violation,     she must report it to the court in writing.
- She must also     report any change of name or address within five days and continue     her supervised, formal probation.
-    She must submit to mental-health evaluation
- Miss Debbie must not use the internet     for any purpose
- Miss Debbie is forbidden from contact with her victim or his family     or to be in or near their residence. That is a "total, absolute     prohibition," stated the judge. If Frisch does contact or attempt to     contact Teh Victim, he'll notify the District Attorney and, he     told her, "You will be arrested, brought to court, and might go to     jail." 
- Frisch's probation officer has the authority to search her     computer at his initiative at any time. 
The judge asked the state     whether there were any oversights in his sentencing to which she     answered, "I don't believe so," and Frisch's lawyer concurred, but     the judge didn't acknowledge her with so much as a glance.
Judge Hodges told Frisch if she wishes to appeal this decision she     must do so with the appeals court in Salem within thirty days.
That was the end of her formal sentencing, but Teh Judge had a few more     words to say. "This is a sentence based upon negotiations," he declared, but if there is a violation "all bets are off!"     And, rather than hedge as before when he said she "might" go to     jail, he issued this clear warning: if Frisch violates her     probation, she'll get "maximum jail time."
Before the judge rose to leave the courtroom, he thanked Teh Victim again.
MISS DEBBIE DROPS HER SANITY-MASK
Outside the courtroom, I lingered to chat with an older woman about her     son's messy divorce. Then Deb Frisch suddenly stormed out the door.
She     arrowed toward us, stalking fast, and I saw her eyes had hardened     again.  She'd regained the sharp, hawkish gaze meant to scare all the     demons her paranoia tells her are out to get her and to intimidate     her victims.
No, this reporter thought, she hasn't changed. Her     behavior inside the courthouse was just another of her acts and,     sadly, I must predict this drama isn't over yet.
(
Editor's Note: Miss Debbie, indeed, appears to have returned to some of her past harassment behavior:
A TALK WITH TEH VICTIM
As I walked slowly away from the courthouse under an overcast sky, I     saw Teh Victim stuffing campaign signs into his trunk. I     approached him and congratulated him on his performance in the     court. He thanked me.
I expressed my condolences that he'd been attacked by Frisch, with no     prior warning and no way to explain or justify such random and     vicious criminal behavior.
Teh Victim was stalwart and affable, gave me a     business card, and showed me photos of his beautiful children. I     wished him luck in his campaign.
No wonder he conducted himself so well, I thought. When I visited his     website, I learned he's an 
Eagle Scout. (This reporter confesses she     has a soft spot for 
Eagle Scouts.)
This reporter fervently hopes Frisch has no further victims. Of     course, this is not the end of the story. Wherever and whenever     Frisch turns up again, 
Teh Daily Squeak will be here with another     timely report.
Labels: deb frisch 2011, deb frisch arrest 2011, deb frisch crimes, deb frisch harassment, dfrisch@nsf.gov, dfrisch@oregon.uoregon.edu, dfrisch@pobox.com, oregon criminal 1675174, trix e. lom