Taylor Behl - Ben Fawley's Gun Charges Dropped

It's unclear what significance this holds for the inestigation at this time. It appears prosecutors made ad eal of some kind.

8News has confirmed that prosecutors in Richmond dropped a weapons charge on Monday as part of an agreement between Fawley's lawyers and prosecutors. He remains in jail on pornography charges.

Comments

[abigail]

Thanks Dan, sorry you are not feeling well.

I guess this means they are having to drop charges for answers from bf. So, is that basically blackmail? Wonderful....but I guess that's how it works.

I'm taking my crap ridden coin back guys and I would like interest for the past 24 hours since my donation!

[justathought]

Hey Abby

[abigail]

Hey JAT! Only a couple more days, right?

[justathought]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a God!!!!!!!!!!! Sunday night the latest Monday Morning

[abigail]

Well, hopefully God will give Taylor's family some justice! Who takes care of her otherwise?
Where is everyone tonight?

[justathought]

You are right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The lady that I am staying with lives with a family but they are on a cruise so I am here until they get back.

I don't know where anyone is. I have been going through my email since I have not done that in days. There are a bunch from work. I can't ever get away from them they even call while I am here!

[abigail]

Sounds like you need not to answer any work messages! At least you know that you are needed!

I'm staying up until the fire goes out. First one in the "new" house and a second opinion says don't burn wood, but be careful even if you burn those dura flames. So I'm up waiting for it to burn down, but it's so perty and nice! :)

Back on subject, what's your opinion on dropping the charges?

[abigail]

Sara: What is so bad about working in a record store? I know a young man who graduated from VCU sometime ago and he works in a record store. He is also an artist. He studied painting at VCU. What did you study?

Posted by: nova | Dec 9, 2005 11:40:03 AM

Hey nova,

I am with you, as there is nothing wrong with working in a record store, or any store for that matter. My brother is a music freak who used to work in a record store. He now owns a recording studio and a coffee shop which has live bands play and displays local art for sale. So basically, he gets to produce and record music, gives a relaxed atmosphere for college kids to go, provides entertainment and helps the community. There are so many other aspects to his "work", but it basically started in a small college town in a record store.

[Paulo]

Hey gang,

You folks know me from another board, too. I don't know about any donations but this much I do know:

Why are they dealing with Fawley on the weapons charges? Is this an implication that they don't already have enough on this piece of sh*t to at least keep him for life?

What does the outright confession go for these days? I mean, "yeah, I killed her, but it was an accident... Well, I just sort of cut-off any oxygen getting to her lungs until she died kind of accident."

This entire frickin' mess is really pissing me off! I deep down inside believe that there is something we don't know about that is driving this entire matter. Maybe they believe he's involved with the school teacher in Georgia; maybe it's that they've got him on other charges.

I can't say this publicly, but I know I will be joining a line of folks who want their pound of flesh out of this sh*t head, so I hope you folks get my meaning.

Paulo

[abigail]

Paulo--

I guess bf would not "talk" unless they offered a "deal", which in my mind means they don't have shit in the investigation, unless they get it from the horses mouth.

The donations thing is a joke, to keep us all going, if you read the last blog, you'll get it. We were all just acting like crackheads. BOB! :)

So, email me on the "line of folks" if you can't post it--I'm curious!

[x]

Say they made a deal, they drop the charges if he talks about what happened.
Whats in it for ben? he gets the gun charges dropped, but implicates himself on a much worse charge... murder!
I can't see why Ben would do that or why his lawyer would allow it.

Thinking back, these gun charges were never that solid were they?
Didn't it have something to do with his lawyer having possesion of the guns and Ben was never found to actually have them, but rather he handed them over.
Maybe they used this (aswell as the porn charges) to get him locked up and give them time to gather evidence.
Maybe now they have enough evidence to keep him locked up anyway, and the gun charges dropped, besides was there enough evidence to jail him for it anyway?

Can anyone remember what the deal was wih the gun charges, I'm sure there was some confusion over it at the time.

[abigail]

I'm not sure bf knows what he is doing. Perhaps he feels he will get less time if he "tells" his side and convinces LE what happened (on his account). They obviously are "desperate" for evidence and cannot get enough. They want to keep him in for as long as possible, but if he won't talk, they need to bargain with him. I can just hear all his lies now.
The firearm charges were solid, as they would have never charged him. Funny though, it was mentioned Collins could not represent him in the firearms charges since he was a "witness", but he is still listed as bf's attorney. I don't know. Just confused as to where this is going...

[abigail]

I'm not sure bf knows what he is doing. Perhaps he feels he will get less time if he "tells" his side and convinces LE what happened (on his account). They obviously are "desperate" for evidence and cannot get enough. They want to keep him in for as long as possible, but if he won't talk, they need to bargain with him. I can just hear all his lies now.
The firearm charges were solid, as they would have never charged him. Funny though, it was mentioned Collins could not represent him in the firearms charges since he was a "witness", but he is still listed as bf's attorney. I don't know. Just confused as to where this is going...

[abigail]

YIKES, Sorry for the double!

[bob]

Doesn't sound like a deal to me. Sounds like they didn't have evidence of possession. Cut and dry. Can you imagine the DA saying, we'll drop this weapons charge if you confess to capital murder? What do you think his response will be? Kiss my ass will be his response. It would be mine if that was the deal offered to me. The court docket should reveal the story here. I'm surprised Jim Nolan hasn't gone over to look it up.Unless a judge sealed it as part of the case.

[cindi in pa]

Usually LE will not offer a plea bargin, without something more substantial being turned over. A defense attorney would not turn over information that would lead to a conviction, unless lesser charges were offered. Who knows, at this point. LE is not stupid, they would offer no deals that would hamper the charges. What still bothers me is the scent the dogs followed from Taylors car, to another guys home. How did that scent get there? Could BF's compromise have to do with a second person involved?

[bob]

Yes, the guy who failed the lie detector test. And his aunt's home subsequently burglarized. And her scent in his car. And him arrested for possession of cocaine. If I was LE, I'd sure wonder about all that. Anyone know, is that guy walking the streets or even in Richmond still? possession isn't serious unless with intent to deliver.

[error404]

http://www.wwbt.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WWBT/MGArticle/WBT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128767525385

"When Richmond Police searched the amateur photographer’s apartment last month they didn’t find any guns, just a 32-caliber cartridge. Sources say it was around the same time two of Fawley’s guns were dropped off at the police department by a lawyer, leading to a charge against Fawley of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to sources, Fawley turned the guns over to his lawyer, Chris Collins. Collins has said he knew his client was a convicted felon and therefore would gave known Fawley shouldn’t have them. But, sources say Collins didn’t turn the guns over to police.

Instead they say he handed them to another Richmond lawyer, David Baugh. Those sources also tell NBC12 that Baugh dropped off the guns to police without an explanation. NBC12 does not know whether Baugh was aware of where the guns came from or why Collins had them.

NBC12 stopped by Chris Collins’ office for an explanation, but we’re told he is out of town and can’t be reached. So, NBC12 asked Baugh if he received any guns from Collins. Baugh says, “I will follow the ethical rules and the law and not answer that. I’m sorry.”

NBC12 asked Baugh: “Can you say whether you turned over any guns to the police department in the last month?”
Baugh replied: “I couldn’t make that statement either.”

The gun charges were far from being 'solid'.

[Rick]

e404= In other words. the gun charges were totally useless since he couldn't be proven that fawley ever touched a firearm.
I see only a confession and 25 to life on the horizon.

[error404]

Rick, it's hard to say, all anyone has to go by are the media reports and we can't even assume that they're always accurate.

Insofar as I can tell from this news article, all that can be determined is that Fawley handed two guns over to his lawyer, there's nothing to say that Fawley 'owned' either of the guns, (if I recall correctly, his landlord owned at least a couple of guns).

For all we know, the guns could have belonged to any number of people and been left in Fawley's apartment, (or wherever they were removed from).

Assuming that the guns are unregistered, Fawley probably handed them to LE because he felt that if LE turned them up, he'd be pinned as being the owner of them, even if he wasn't,(taking into account his 'history' and obvious distrust of the police).

I recall it was only a matter of a day or two, following the guns finding their way from his attorney's hands, into the hands of the police, that Fawley 'cracked' and made his confession - AGAINST his lawyer's advice.

I guess he lost faith in his attorney at that point in time too.

My saying any of this doesn't mean that I'm siding with Fawley, (as so many would feel more comfortable believing), all I'm defending, is the right to a person having a fair and honest trial.

Even Taylor's own mother deserves the right to know the truth about this case.

If you read back through media reports from the onset of this case, you'll see that it's highly unlikely Fawley acted alone, even though he has been targeted as the 'sole person of interest' from the beginning of this case.

Only if an investigation is conducted fairly, honestly and without bias, will true justice be served, and 'ALL' people implicated in this crime made accountable for their actions, whatever part it was that they played.

Things aren't always as cut and dry as people would like to assume...

[Diane]

Rick,I am beginning to think the same way.I may get a few people mad at me but I think VCU screwed up in this case as they waited to long.Fawley had plenty of time to get rid of evidence.I wonder if they ever had him under surveillance? Here we go again with another a$$hole riding the system and taking full advantage of it.Ben Fawley killed a 17 year old child and should spend the rest of his life behind bars. He will probably be out in 20-30 years.Taylor will not be here to testify to the events that occured that night Fawley made sure of it.I don't care that Fawley was bipolar he knew the difference between right and wrong.When society quits making excuses for these people and starts to hold them accountable for their own actions justice will be served. He decided not to take his meds and he alone should suffer the consequences for his own actions.

[Rick]

e404: We're obviously of the same mind re fair investigations/trials. We cannot know if fawley found the guns in the porn king's apartment whe he cleaned it and had "just gotten around" to handing them off rather than selling them. One of those having posession is not using situations where no one would have ever known he had the things without his other problems. The chain of custody from fawley to lawyer to lawyer to police is just too shaky and leaves loads of room for a shadow of doubt.
I have never believed he acted completely alone. Taylor and he were about the same size/weight and it would have taken more strength than he appears to have to move a body.

[Rick]

Diane: We've gotten too complacent, excusing criminals because of "mental illness". I've known 2 people who are "bi-polar" and one was prone to some pretty bizarre behavior mostly involving hurting herself. There's also the guy in Miami the TSA shot this week. Look, if someone is SO bi-polar that they never have a lucid moment and cannot distinguish right from wrong then they should be locked up for thier own good.
In six months time fawley had to have had a lucid moment and KNOWN he had killed someone and that it is wrong. I'll even give him the "it was an accident and I panicked" story, it does happen. But he knowingly left another human being lying in a ditch until there was little left of her....all the while knowing that her parents were being tortured over it. Like Absyth says, the guy is a total psychopath without conscience.

[error404]

A 'little birdie' tells me that there are two other people, aside from Fawley, involved in the 'death' of Taylor behl.

Both knew that 'a potentially fatal incident' was going to occur, one was there with Fawley at the time, and the other helped cover tracks.

That's all I have to say.

All anyone can and should do, is wait for the trial to take its course.

Richmond LE would have found Fawley far more cooperative, if they had had handled their investigation of this crime with more honesty and fairness from the onset.

There would have been less unanswered questions, and evidence would have been unearthed far quicker.

I don't give a flying f**k what anyone says about Richmond LE or the 'so-called' Justice system that exists in the State of Virginia, in my opinion, this case has been handled about as 'delicately' as a dozen eggs being tossed off a high-rise.

Oh and forget my first paragraph.

It's all just 'hearsay' anyway.

Outahere.

[abigail]

er--Well, that's just not fair!

What was the name of the guy who got arrested for the drugs? Was it Jessie something?

[Diane]

Error,I believe the hearsay thing may be correct as I have thought all along more than just Fawley was involved in her death.They may be cutting a deal with them.I guess I believe if anyone had a hand in helping Fawley they should get the same sentence he gets period but we all know the justice system does not work that way!!You want me to believe Fawley would have been more cooperative had they handled this case differently.Come on error he left her body in the ditch for weeks.

[Diane]

Abby, I believe his name was Jessie Shultz.

[bob]

I think the two people who helped are ZODIAC and Richard Speck.

[Diane]

Bob,Who are these 2 people? Never heard of them.

[abigail]

I can't find him on the VA court case website.

If some other people were involved don't you think bf would have been running his mouth before the gag, or the "others" for that matter?

Bob, you crack me up!

[bob]

Were firearms on the list when they did the search of his property? Were the guns given to LE before or after the search of his property? I think that should answer the gun question.

This is just a wild guess here, I have never murdered anyone, but my guess is, that if you had just murdered someone, adrenalin would be released and to get away fRawley could have lifted that car out of the ditch himself if that's what it took. Moving her about would have been nothing. There has to be forensic evidence in that car, something a strand of hair in the trunk, something to show it was used to transport her body.

[bob]

Wait I am channeling Rickard Speck now. Be quiet. Shhhh.

[Diane]

Oh lord bob now I get it!! Could you be serious!! lol

[bob]

OK channeling is done I have the whole thing solved now. Speck was the mastermind behind the whole deal. He was able through telekinesis to direct fRawley to have a fetish for teenagers who have Clara Barton Syndrome, or CBS for short. Speck actually sends signals hidden in radio and television waves to make you do evil things. Unless you are wearing an aluminum foil headpiece you are powerless to fight this. Smart people put aluminum foil under their socks so the waves can't some up from the floor.
OK, so Speck is the Godfather of this thing. fRawley is pretty weak-minded and he's basically a vegetable by August. I'm thinking bell pepper.
Speck tells Zodiac (who was never caught, he's 83 now but can still bench press 34 pounds and has his own teeth) to wait out in Mathews for the signal. Erin's property has all kinds of cell towers on it so Speck redirects his radio signals into a triangulation of crossfire which nets fRawley and Zodiac in pretty much the same place. By this time the victim is, alas, a victim. fRawley and Zodiac empty the car and wait for Speck's signal to leave. The cell phone rings, it's in alpha F sharp minor Error404 code. They take off in different directions. Zodiac goes to the grassy knoll in Dallas and waits for instructions. fRawley has his memory wiped. Speck sits back and laughs. End of story. I'll be available for interviews in the LBC tomorrow. I gotta shizzle my nizzle.

[abigail]

You are a definate crackhead Bob! The grassy knoll, that's funny, but I've been there recently and it's eerie enough without the Zodiac there!

Looking for the search warrent about the guns....

[abigail]

I can only find the list of what was taken, and you know that in itself is quite interesting. Here we have a jackass who has kiddie porn on computer(s), but it's not like it's surprising given the stuff they found in his crib. The guy went to fetish conventions, had "restraints" in his apartment among other things. We all like to think that this guy is not "smart", but most bipolars are very intelligent. Perhaps he tried to clear his path by mentioning all this garb on his LJ so it would seem like he was completely innocent. How the hell do we really know he got the computers from a dead neighbor or two? We just assumed that because he wrote it, but we all know bf is a freaking liar. How was the "video" camera right at the window explained to his neighbors? How can we be confident this guy has not been covering his tracks for years?

[k]

Yes, Abby...I've wondered about that video camera, outside his front door, as well. I think it is one of those fake ones like security/alarm company signs that people put up so they don't get "burglarized". Since he is a documented petty thief I'm sure he expected to be robbed too. Did you also notice the three or four locks on his front door.

If that camera was functioning on September5/6 I would hope that the tapes were released to RPD/investigators. I'm guessing it was just a prop though. There are tons of those cameras in Richmond and one right across from my student's apartment on a building across her alley. I think that's a fake one too. Why can't there be some video photo that shows him with Taylor. GRC's (the dorm)camera is always on and comes through on TVs at the security desk. There are dorms all around the neighborhood with cameras kept on and veiwng the front walkways. Somewhere there just has to be a picture of him with Taylor.

[abigail]

I thought I saw "footage" on one of his computers "watching" the front door, but I could be mistaken. So much crap to go through again that I would have to take a week off to do it! Even if it was a prop, did his neighbors know it? Would his "porn" neighbor want to live there if he thought he was being watched? I'm sure there are cameras in the dorms and around campus, but bf did not live on campus. He worked at VCU and probably knew where they were and lied about walking her back to her dorm. I think he is more clever (unfortunatly) then we give him credit for. He knows that campus inside and out, much better than Taylor, Cino and my dad for that matter, but of course those people did not "study" it in the way he did. bf claimed to hate Richmond, but he's lived here forever. He could have moved to be near his kids, unless he was not "allowed" to. Richmond seems to be the perfect town for him. Big enough to "hide", but surrounded by college kids, he just fuckered up.

[k]

Yes, all you have to do is look at his online history and his multiple sites. he knew tons about technology, photography, vcu freshman, male & female alike, getting "in" and around the city & the campus and manipulating all of the above. he used "his bikes, "his" cars & van/vans?, public transportation (buses & trains)and he had elaborate mapping skills. The creep had way to much time on his hands and obviously had a keen enough sense of reality as is visible through his many activities and ventures thus proving there can be no way for him to claim psychosis as a defense. he is not stupid as many would like to believe and we all must remember he has a history of weasling his way out of some pretty sticky situations (LE).
The reason I continue to post here is to make certain that his mastery of manipulation is kept in the forefront of the minds of those who will prosecute him. Any bit of insight that can be gleaned here might actually be seen by LE and used when it is time to prosecute him.

[peabody]

Yes, the video cameras were real. No, he didnt keep a live tape. Yes, he could have moved to Pa. Yes, he was allowed to be near his kids but not anymore. His family is embarresed. He could have had a good life being his adoptive parents are wealthy. This guy is a thief and liar! Frawley worked at a place in Doylestown Pa called Malmark. I think it was the late eighties. He robbed the place twice. His own employer?
He took his young daughters to graveyards! He beat up ex girlfriends! He cut himself on purpose! Oh, and lets not forget that he photographed his daughters scantitly clad. Remember Rene in a school girl outfit with her naval showing. This guy is GROSS! Make him sleep with the fishes!

[x]

error404, thats exactly what I mean (about the firearms charges being not very solid at all)
Seems to me to be the most likely reason for them to be dropped, theres no solid evidence and a lot of confusion to what really happened.
I dont think there was a deal made.

[error404]

x - yep, bringing the firearms charges to trial would have proven embarrassing for Fawley's 'previous' attorney, (Collins), and other persons who weren't acting in Fawley's best interests.

It's a typical example of how personal bias can influence and alter the outcome of a police investigation.

Richmond LE wouldn't want 'awkward technicalities' such as that to come under scrutiny in a courtroom.

Everyone is entitled to a fair trial, irrespective of what people choose to think of them as a person.

The investigation of Taylor behl's death has been tainted by personal bias and discrimination by many people involved from the onset, and yet, the ignorance of thee people could well prove advantageous to Fawley when his day in court arrives.

I doubt 'they'll' get the capital murder charge they're seeking, but then again, if no evidence comes to light to substantiate such a charge, why should they?

[Bob]

First off, no one here knows what they are going to "get' or not "get" in terms of charges unless they work for LE and saw the evidence, in which case he or she would have violated the gag order and would be in jail on contempt charges. RTD quoted someone in LE as saying they are seeking murder charges, that is where the investigation is going right now.
If they didn't find weapons during their search of his property, how can they prove he had them in his possession? His attorney isn't going to testify for the prosecution, is he? No one here really expects that, do they? Apparently the attorney was the only witness that could tie him to the guns---since they weren't found in his possession.
It was just another charge to keep him in jail, if indeed he was ever charged. Why didn't the RTD report on this? 8news is shaky at best in terms of credibility. To wit: "8News has learned Ben Fawley, a suspect in the case, will not be facing weapons charges." then the next sentence: "8News has confirmed that prosecutors in Richmond dropped a weapons charge on Monday"
Well, this reads both ways: he will not FACE charges, or charges were DROPPED. It's either one or the other, you assholes at 8news.
We don't know what LE has, the Grand Jury didn't even convene yet, and has anyone seen the autopsy report or the report from the forensic anthopologist? Nooooo. So we are picking knats out of dog shit here.
It's a guessing game.
And since everyone else can do it, so will I.
I said it before I say it again. fRawley doesn't have O.J. Simpson's or Michael Jackson's money to buy an acquittal. In fact, he's at the bottom of the socio-economic scale. The next rung down from where he is now is homeless. Behl on the other hand, has been portrayed in the MEDIA as coming from Vienna, "an upper-middle class" community.
The "slave" murdered his master and odds are good with no $$$ to buy influence he's done. Look at the preppy murder case. The dude looked like a Kennedy and had connections and he still got 15 years.
Do a little research in Vegas if you get bored. You can bet on anything out there, you know. What do you figure the odds experts in Vegas think are fRawley's chances of acquittal? Think about it.

[nova]

Bob: Im late answering your question but I will anyway. Yes, I read what barnyardmouse had to say on Cino's board. What about it interested you? I agree with what the mouse said.

[bob]

Nova,
I just found the comments about crime bloggers logical. I certainly admit guilt. But tomorrow is a new day. A lot of displaced anger out there. I think it fogs our better judgment.

[teresa]

GC05008655-00 SCHULTZ, JESSE L. 11/28/05 11:30AM Nolle Prosequi
Charge:
POS CONTROLLED SUBST Complainant:
LT. VENUTI, JOHN RIC

Jesse Schultz had his drug charges dropped. BF goes to court Weds for his porn charges. They better make them STICK!

[Bob]

Wednesday will just be a preliminary hearing, just to see if probable cause exists to hold him for trial. Trial could be months from now.
The threshold for evidence isn't very high in a preliminary hearing, just to see if basic evidence exists to go to trial. There should be an affidavit of P.C. which will discuss the DA's case re the porn. It too early to say whether anything will stick.

[teresa]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57340-2004Sep2.html?nav=rss_metro/specials/shootings/2002/muhammad

Hello Bob,
If I am reading this right, they betty hurry up unless it is BF holding this up.

[Bob]

Well the key thing there is a trial 5 months AFTER a grand jury indictment. There's been no GJ indictment here yet that I am aware of.

[teresa]

I wish we could see his J&D court records. :)