Taylor Behl Suspect Ben Fawley Worked At VCU As Convicted Felon

Virginia Commonwealth University appears to have employed convicted felon, now murder suspect Ben Fawley for well over a year in a capacity which afforded him ample opportunity to interact with VCU's student population in a formal capacity. He was registered as a student during that period. However, had background checks been required, it's possible he wouldn't have been given his positions.

Benjamin Fawley, a convicted felon going back to his days as a car-stealing teenager in Bucks County, Pa., worked for more than a year and a half handing out towels and checking I.D. cards at two of the university's recreation centers.

Fawley was employed as a student worker by VCU's recreational sports department from April 2001 to January 2003, university spokeswoman Pam Lepley confirmed yesterday.

Lepley said Fawley worked at VCU's gym on the school's Medical College of Virginia campus from April to August 2001, then worked at the Siegel Center until January 2003.

via Jim Nolan at the Times Dispatch h/t Cindi

Comments

[sw]

non news

being a felon doesn't preclude one from working.

in san francisco they are going to remove the question from the application form for city jobs...

Bone up on federal employment law, that would be news.

don't expect anything to change, as the issue is bigger and more important than a punk like Fawley, and well established by case law.

[cindi in pa]

Bone up on federal employment law, that would be news.

don't expect anything to change, as the issue is bigger and more important than a punk like Fawley, and well established by case law.

Posted by: sw | Dec 3, 2005 8:17:32 PM

Federal law dictates, anytime an employee can have contact with a student under the age of 18, finger prints are required, as well as Child welfare agencies doing a back round check. Granted, most college students are over the age of 18, but not always. And if VCU is like most universities, they allow high school students to use their recreation centers. So, yes this is a problem that should be addressed. When I volunteered in my children's high school I needed all the back round checks. This is no different.

[Paulo]

Yeah well...

Yes indeed there are several types of employment that exclude convicted felons. I don't see the article having much to do with federal employment, and San Francisco well, what happens in S.F. should stay in S.F! They seem to march to a different drummer altogether there.

Nope, I see this as just another shirking responsibility, complacency, and passing the buck kind of sheeeeit! Here's what I mean:

According to Pam Lepley: "Lepley said that with student employment, "it's up to the individual department whether to require background checks. As far as I know, he did not have any convictions in Virginia [at the time]."

Now, a simple background check would have allowed the buck-passing-university-spokesperson would have provided information otherwise. Furthermore, who gives a rats ass whether this guy is convicted in Virginia [at the time] or San Francisco, CA or New York, NY or where ever for that matter.

What on earth does this schmuck think she's doing? Not worth a hill of beans---and, the university should hear about it. "It's up to a department..." I mean, she doesn't attribute copability to any human being.

Lastly, I believe Janet Pelasera has several grounds and several institutions to seek remedies from. My hope: you guessed it! Sue the sheeeit out of VCU, City of Richmond, whatever county, Virginia, and the lot.

Paulo

[abigail]

Thanks Cindi!

More important than a punk life Fawley???? This is the most important thing in Taylors family and friends lives, that he gets what he deserves, that what this blog is about right now. Maybe when they are not exhaused and feel like some justice has taken place then perhaps they will take a look at the bigger picture.

Geez, what if he was working at an on campus daycare? Anytime children are involved and you are working around them it should be like the 3 month interview to get a job just in IT for the FBI!

[cindi in pa]

Can see the headlines in S.F now. Federal job applicants no longer need to reveal felony convictions, still must have a good credit rating.
Go figure lol.

[abigail]

Good points Paulo, but bf stopped working for VCU before or around the time Taylor was a Junior in high school. bf would have gotten a hold of Taylor or whomever if he happened to be employed at the local fast food place or VCU. Yes, they should have checked. I'm guessing there was a US database at that time to check for convicted felons all over the country, no matter what state it occured in.
If Taylors mom wants to sue it should (IMO) be because VCU police made Taylors friends take down missing posters. They assumed (as rumor has it) she was a meth head and a runaway. Taylor was already "gone" at that point, but if she was found sooner there would have been more evidence to convict bf.

[Rick]

"Can see the headlines in S.F now. Federal job applicants no longer need to reveal felony convictions, still must have a good credit rating."

Cindi you misunderstood. Federal Labor law has little to do with Federal Employment. The US Govt. does not follow the rules it expects the private sector/state & locals to fall under. Depending on the job rest assured that every applicant will undergo a background check for federal employment. They do however hire ex-felons for some positions.

[cindi in pa]

There is a data base for convicted felons, not child abusers, that is confidential information as to the specifics. Only qualified agencies can check on criminal convictions. Employers send those that need a clearance to their local police department for finger prints and back round checks.
Still have to ask yourself, why did BF surround himself with people so much younger than himself. I think we all know the answer to that. It allowed him some good opportunity to have more power, to look good. Put him in the company of adults with any kind of wisdom or street smarts, he would not have survived but half a day. I know myself, I would have tortured him.......... Taylor was no dummy, she was smart enough to know, after a short time, BF was bad news. She was young, and most likly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Sure if things continued she would have told someone. Sad to say, she never got that chance. Lets hope BF spends his life in jail, if not for the murder of Taylor for the pornography he had on his computer.

[cindi in pa]

Rick, I did not misunderstand anything. I worked in Human Resources for several years as a paralegal. Even the Feds when hiring have to go a long with federal laws. As does any agency who falls under the guidelines of hiring felons. In any job that puts an employee in contact with those vulnerable to others, eldercare, mental hospitals, schools, day care and so on, back round and fingerprints are a must, not an after thought. National Little League now requires all coaches, assistant coaches, any adult with child contact must be finerprinted and checked out. Even on local government levels, schools included, colleges, high schools, grade schools.

[cindi in pa]

Bottom line here, VSU, prior to the death of Taylor, dropped the ball. Leaving the decision on backround checks up to each individual department. Hellllloooooooooooooo, what kind of training were these department heads given in hiring technices, and why was the final decision not that left up to the experts in the schools human resourse department.

Good question for parents to ask before decisions are made on a student attending a university or school of higher ed. Several weeks ago, my son and I met with the admissions director of a school of his choice, I was floored when he asked the question of crime rate on campus. He was then commended on asking the question, the director said in her years of doing interviews, she was never asked that. I only hope she remember that when she gets his application lol. Sad to say, with all these cases of missing, murdered teens, we as parents are learing things, we never imagined we would have to deal with.

God Bless Taylor and Natalee and all the other children missing and murdered.

[abigail]

Geez, thoughts of Taylor surround me. Damn musical guest on SNL performed a song and I thought of her. UHHHGGG!

[cindi in pa]

abigail, she was such a beautiful young woman. Hope thru all of this her family can hold onto that. I sure as hell would be proud to have called her my daughter.

[#7]

Here's an interesting coincidence on the topic of the pond photo discovered on the WS boards (sorry this is off topic here). There is a Taylor Pond in New Kent County. It looks to be about 2 miles off of Route 33, which would be on the way from Mathews to Richmond according to Mapquest directions. We all know BF stopped to get gas in New Kent. I will say it doesn't look like he would have just happened on it unless he knew it was there, but it's still an eerie coincidence. Anybody from New Kent familiar with this Pond? Looks to be just a bit south of Davis Pond of Farmer's Drive.

[abigail]

Cindi,

Yes she was, but even if she was not so attractive does not make it right or justified! I know you realize that. Pretty is as pretty does is what I tell my 5 year old. Yes, Taylor was smart, pretty and obviously had a huge heart from what I know. Her big heart may have been what got her in "trouble". Not her fault that she was kind and cared about other peoples feelings even though some may not have deserved it, which seems to be the case... geez. This situation just plain fucking sucks! Sorry, had to use it...

#7--that is totally interesting! Do you know it?

[#7]

Abigail - I just found it by accident when people on WS were looking up James River State Park. A Taylor Pond shows up there too, but it's in Buckingham County. However, when you put Taylor Pond into mytopo.com, the one that it shows is the one in New Kent. I took the longitude and latitude from that site and put it in mapquest and came up with the location. I don't know if anyone that posts here is from New Kent, but figure if so and they don't know about the pond, then it's probably unlikely that there are any signs for it or that BF would have known about it.

[abigail]

#7--

Can't recall if anyone is from NK that posts, if so, it's been a while. Good work though. I'm not sure bf put that much thought into it, but who knows. I think he had premeditated thoughts, but I'm not sure how far back they go...
I'm off....good night--or actually good morning, YUCK!

[#7]

Abigail - I wouldn't think there would be any premeditation to it. My thinking is that if for some reason there is a sign for Taylor Pond on route 33 that maybe BF saw it as he was driving home and couldn't resist the opportunity to stop and take a picture of it for some twisted reason. And then maybe later that week he came up with the idea to superimpose an image of Taylor (or a skull) on Taylor Pond (that is, if, like some others you see an image in the picture, not sure I do). Also if for some reason he still had some of her stuff or a weapon to get rid of, maybe at that point he thought it would be fitting to dump it in Taylor Pond.

This is, of course, assuming that the reason the picture is relevant is because investigators know the date it was taken and it was on or around the time she was killed. I just don't see any other reason for them to be interested in it. And it really may have no significance other than it's a picture of Taylor Pond and BF is a weirdo. I realize this is a stretch as it would all have happened by pure chance (I'm highly doubtful there would be a sign for a pond out on the route 33) but you just never know!

[bob]

My understanding is that Cindi is 100% correct, we have Act 34 clearance required in PA for anyone who works with those under age 18. Even school bus drivers must have Act 34 clearance. Convicted felons need not apply. Will someone tell me, I thought VCU was a STATE organization, not a federal one. Am I missing something here? I'm not seeing what the feds would have to do with VCU's hiring practices.
I agree with Cindi and Abby too. I could not have said it any better.
Paulo, boy you hit on a good one. But if fRawley did not work there when Taylor was a student, how could Janet sue? Would it be the state's fault (negligence) that Taylor died? At first glance I think no. What are the grounds for a suit?
But this news will hurt the school nonetheless, in terms of new enrollments. When word gets out they had fRawley working there, shit, I'm sure some people would change their minds about going to VCU because they might wonder, "How many more felons work there?" besides fRawley? Time will tell whether the word filters out, or if anyone cares.

[cindi in pa]

Bob, federal funding is the difference. Lot's of state,county and local funding comes from the Federal government. If that's the case, you have to follow their guidelines if they are pitching in the majority of the salary.

[bob]

#7 how ironic would that be? Taylor Pond...right under their noses. Part of me hopes you're right.

[lindadanette]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, I don't remember the dates of his prior felony convictions, but if he was not found guilty of physical assault or a sexual crime, wouldn't he be eligible? I used to work in human resources but that was before the world started going psycho. . .

[lindadanette]

Wow, I just read the article - I didn't know that he had assault convictions!

[Captain Joe]

The reason the police want to identify the pond scene is because the police still haven't found Taylor's student ID and some of her clothing, according to new Times Dispatch story.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768521971

[cindi in pa]

Glad they are still going to charge him with murder. Evidence of his behavior with women prior to Taylor, especially the two claims made by women he tried to choke, should give the jury some powerful evidence.

Thanks for the link JOE

[bob]

Cindi I'm aware of the unfunded federal mandate issue, I'm just trying to think which employees at a state school live VCU fall under federal guidelines. I can't think of any. Which ones are you thinking of?

[bob]

Thanks for the link Joe, looks like the U.S.S. fRawley is indeed sinking. I can't wait to see the affidavit of probable cause. Wonder how long they can all tread water?

[cindi in pa]

Bob, any position where they have chance to make contact with children under the age of 18. The high school my son attended was a private catholic school. I still had to have security clearence to volunteer there. Like I said earlier, may be a college, but they will have some students under the age of 18. And many groups are allowed to use the campus for activities involving younger children. Friend of mine works for the County child services unit as a secretary, she also needed clearance, even though she has no contact with kids. I will ask a few college professors I know how it works.

[bob]

OK Cindi, I just thought the Act 34 was a state issue, not a federal one. But maybe the feds allocated $$$ for background checks. In any event, it's surprising volunteers are being checked as well. In our school district I don't think the PTA moms have been checked, I know the coaches and such have been. But that's because they are paid positions. Suffice to say VCU will certainly have a black eye from all this, not sure whether it will be enough to withhold federal funding.

[Paulo]

Thanks for the link Cpt. Joe :~) And as usual: Cindi in pa, abigail, and bob:

In my experience as professor and teacher, Virginia has had the most unrelenting and strict laws on background checks I've yet to encounter. Perhaps this is because of working in education. They actually have a computer in Fairfax County, VA that links directly to the FBI in Washington DC and before you leave that building (Dept. of Ed.) you know if you are on file. After returning from Sydney, Australia, I was finishing up a post-graduate degree in VA. I went to work in Fairfax County. That's how I know. Believe me, there were several people not being hired the day I was there.

On Janet Pelasera and suing: I am not really sure other than "wrongful death" if she can sue or even the organizations aforementioned. As I wrote last night I got more and more steamed and I was thinking that if we could find her something to stand on, let her sue the Earth! It just seems to me that when anyone dies anymore I'm always hearing about someone or some institution having to pay out.

In this case I think whoever Fawley was seeing re: bipolar disorder and whatever else, is probably as good a place to start as any. This creep was getting paid disability money (Fed. gov't?) for an illness that was being treated by some agency who was also administering medication. Somewhere in that mix--someone must know of his past criminal history especially the violence with Jessica and Erin. Someone sure had some neglience.

Oh well, gotta bounce. Blessings.

Paulo

[Vedder]

Bob.. I have a question for you that I do not want to ask here.Your email adress is not letting me get through..Is there some other way I can contact you

vedder

[smedley]

The Richmond times dispatch did an article a while back on Virginia Commonwealth Univeristy's reaction to the murder of Taylor Behl. VCU decided to add a mention of the "dangers of the internet" to freshman orientation. There was no mention made of the dangers of the neighborhood, folks who live there only to prey on the students.
BF was well know to campus employees including security during and after being a registered student.
VCU is in denial. If Taylor's mother hadn't put the spotlight on them, they would have stalled even longer before calling in competent help.
The freshman orientation should state: "VCU might be a first rate school, but it's in a third rate city, kinda like Newark, NJ, but without the charm. There are predators in the neighborhood waiting to victimize you, and and we won't lift a finger to help you unless you force the issue with publicity and get us in trouble with the governer's office."

[bob]

Vedder is the link that you have here legit for you?

[vedder]

Bob....Yes

[bob]

Hello Paulo
Good idea, but a civil suit against fRawley would net three skate boards, a van plastered with bumper stickers and maybe a crack pipe or two. I guess Janet could set all the shit on fire, but I don't think it would help her. So he's got nothing. You are correct I think, if he accepted the disability there were obligations he had to fulfill, but how does one prove he didn't take the meds?
VCU certainly has deeper pockets and that's where I assume Janet's attorneys should be looking, but I'm afraid it would be a long shot. They can't be responsible for her after she leaves the property. Bungling the case? Might be something there. But RPD would have to testify against VCU PD and that's not likely. And all that would resolve is that the body would have been found sooner. Some relief.
I think Jim Nolan is helping Janet on this by writing about VCU and the employment issue. I give him credit and the RTD editors as well. VCU is probably a big advertiser in the RTD, and I'm sure this story really, really pissed them off. They may pull ads and the RTD knew it. Kudos to the RTD!
Look at the fallout already--ie. Smedley's post above. He or she makes sense, ouch, it's blunt and to the point, but rings true. When 1,000 other prospective students feel that way and go elsewhere, VCU got a real problem. And it didn't cost the Behl legal team a cent. Ahhh the power of the press.
I always say, don't get into a pissing match with a guy (or gal) who got a barrel of ink. You lose every time.

[bob]

Vedder,
I will set up a new E-mail account, probably tomorrow sometime, and send you an E-mail. If that's NOT!! OK let me know...

[vedder]

Bob..yes, that is fine....thank you

Just would like to hear your thoughts on a sensitive part of the case.....something thats been bugging me for 2 months...

Thanks again....vedder

[abigail]

New blog set up about the article in the RTD today....