Once Again, Law Enforcement Protects Us From The America-Destroying Scourge Of Children With Lemonade Stands

Phoenix DA Decides Not To File Charges Against Woman Accused Of Groping TSA Agent

from the is-that-good-or-bad? dept

Wed, Jul 20th 2011 4:01pm — Mike Masnick

Well, well. There was a lot of talk earlier this week about the woman, Yukari Miyamae, who was arrested for allegedly groping a TSA agent at a security checkpoint. The police reports claimed she had grabbed the agent's breast. In some press reports, Miyamae had claimed she did not actually grope anyone. And now... the district attorney's office in Phoenix has decided not to press charges, claiming that what she did "did not rise to the level of a felony offense under state law." She may still be charged with a misdemeanor, however, though that would be a city issue. At this point, it's not entirely clear what happened. Either the original claims by the police were simply not accurate and she didn't do what they claimed (as she asserts). Or the DA may have realized that going forward with such a prosecution would be problematic for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the equivalence issue that plenty of people have raised, about whether or not the TSA gropings themselves are a form of sexual molestation.

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Filed Under: felony, groping, tsa, yukari miyamae

29 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jul 2011 @ 4:09pm

Yay, open invitation to grope TSA!
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jul 2011 @ 4:12pm

Get Some
Everyone should now grope their friendly TSA agents when they go through security. Every single person. Just cop a little feel, return the favor and help put a smile on their face. Pretty soon the lines at the screening will be rather long due to everyone using the asile with the most attractive TSA agent.
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out_of_the_blue, 20 Jul 2011 @ 4:15pm

It's a waffle because of publicity.
Also, a misdemeanor is still up to a year (probably) in jail. And once in jail, out of public sight, she could be extra-legally punished by anything up to murdered. So I wouldn't bet that the Establishment as represented by DA of a sizeable city is going to let her off even lightly, they're just minimizing public appearance.
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The Incoherent One (profile), 20 Jul 2011 @ 4:28pm

Poor Dark Helmet
He was at one time in love with this woman.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jul 2011 @ 4:37pm

"Phoenix DA"

I imagine he graduated from the University of Phoenix :)
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Daddy Warbucks, 20 Jul 2011 @ 4:44pm

New TSA Scanner
They have new generic human form scanning software now.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/07/new-tsa-software-ends-naked-scanner-images. html
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jul 2011 @ 4:45pm

Next time I go to the airport... Purple Nurples for all TSA agents!
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Greg G (profile), 20 Jul 2011 @ 4:53pm

Re: It's a waffle because of publicity.
...extra-legally punished by anything up to murdered.

What? first.. extra-legally? umm.. what??

second.. she could be punished...up to murdered. So the DA could have her murdered? umm... what??

Yes, I know you meant something like "she could be *charged* with anything up to and including murder."

Again... what??

Are you really that daft to think that this would go unnoticed and unreported by anyone if something like that were to be considered? Do you really think the DA is that stupid to pursue something like that? That DA obviously has SOME smarts because the DA office decided to ditch this case.
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Bas Grasmayer (profile), 20 Jul 2011 @ 4:57pm

Hah, this is basically how marihuana got 'legalized'/condoned in The Netherlands.

"prosecution would be problematic for a variety of reasons"
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Eric, 20 Jul 2011 @ 5:09pm

Re:
so I'm guessing UoPHX turned you down...
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Michael, 20 Jul 2011 @ 5:09pm

Re: It's a waffle because of publicity.
hmmm, misdemeanors generally do not get you jail time. I don't know where you get your info from, but I can tell you from experience that a misdemeanor is usually a fine and/or probation/community service.
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Rose M. Welch (profile), 20 Jul 2011 @ 5:10pm

Re: Re: It's a waffle because of publicity.

Extra-legal: Not permitted and governed by law.

second.. she could be punished...up to murdered. So the DA could have her murdered? umm... what??

That depends on your view of culpability.

For instance, if a public official ensures that an accused child molester is placed in a cell with a known violent criminal, that is certainly an extra-legal way to assure that they're beaten. But is the public official culpable for their beating?

Another frequent extra-legal punishment (or reward) is to ensure that a prisoner is sent to a facility that is known to be bad (or good). These types of punishments and rewards are also extra-legal.

Yes, I know you meant something like "she could be *charged* with anything up to and including murder."

I believe that out_of_the_blue meant that the officials involved could ensure that she was punished by extra-legal methods up to and including murder. Rape is more likely, however.

Again... what??

That's what I'd really like to ask you.

Are you really that daft to think that this would go unnoticed and unreported by anyone if something like that were to be considered?

If it's 'considered' by the officials involved, who is going to notice and bring it to the attention of the public? Certainly not any of the officials that use such tactics.

Do you really think the DA is that stupid to pursue something like that?

Do you really think that our public officials are the brightest crayons in the American box? Really?

That DA obviously has SOME smarts because the DA office decided to ditch this case.

Maybe. Or they could just be waiting for the ADD mind of the public to move on to the next spectacle before charging her with something else for the common-yet-extralegal crime of embarrassing them. After all, the DA chose to bring the charges in the first place.
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Web Developers (profile), 20 Jul 2011 @ 6:04pm

proof ?

In some press reports, Miyamae had claimed she did not actually grope anyone. And now... the district attorney's office in Phoenix has decided not to press charges,

They must have security cameras there. So does that mean that there is actually no proof of this happening at all ?
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Rekrul, 20 Jul 2011 @ 7:02pm

I thought the TSA had CCTV cameras filming every checkpoint? Where the footage of what really happened?
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Dennis Stefonek, 20 Jul 2011 @ 8:17pm

Legalized sexual molestation
That's exactly what the TSA is doing, Legalized sexual molestation, and there does not seem to be a damned thing anyone can do about it. Maybe a person could do a little bargaining, you know, cop a feel for a feel.
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The Arbiter (profile), 20 Jul 2011 @ 8:26pm

Re: Re: It's a waffle because of publicity.
Sorry , but you are wrong. In VA for example, a class 1 misd can net you a 2500 fine and a year in jail. Generally judges will impose 10-15 days of that.

I realize that other states are different, but you need to realize the same. You can not make a blanket "Misdemeanor's net you no jail time" statement.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jul 2011 @ 8:27pm

The Da may also have had a ham sandwich for lunch. Speculation at it's finest, masking as a conclusion. Wishful thinking?
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Nicedoggy, 20 Jul 2011 @ 8:52pm

Re:
The image probably showed the woman putting her hand up and stopping the TSA agent from performing the grope. Then the TSA agent got angry and since the woman touched her chest she complained it was sexual assault LoL

Wouldn't be fantastic to see what the woman really did?

What is the first thing anybody do to try and stop someone from getting near it?

I believe the most common reaction is to put both hand in front of you and push forward.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Jul 2011 @ 10:43pm

I flew out of Lambert St. Louis last week. Returned via Las Vegas. There were no nude scanners in the Southwest Terminal in St. Louis so I went through a metal detector.

Then, at Las Vegas, we could pick between metal detector or nude scanner. Guess where 90% of the people were going?

I'm very happy to report that I went through both metal detectors, avoided being groped and actually did not see some asshat trying to blow up, take down, hijack the plane or threaten anyone on board.

The worst I had to put up with was getting stuck next to two different Milfs.

For once, it was a pleasant flying experience.

This comment obviously doesn't have much to do with the article, other than the TSA seems to have lost ground in pushing people into over-the-line screening techniques.

And Thank God.
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abc gum, 21 Jul 2011 @ 5:53am

Re: New TSA Scanner
Radiation is of more concern than the naked scans.
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ComputerAddict (profile), 21 Jul 2011 @ 6:11am

Re: New TSA Scanner
I would think that abstracting the scan would simply make it less effective. So now we're being scanned on a system already proven to be uneffective at scanning for certain items (http://goo.gl/QRCVi) and on top of that we are installing software to REMOVE RESOLUTION of the scan but keeps the radiation level the same.

I think we could probably have better security by asking everyone nicely "Are you planning on Hi-Jacking this flight?" and if they answer "No, I'm going to blow it up" then arrest them. This method has been time tested and proven by comedians everywhere.
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John Harman, 21 Jul 2011 @ 7:59am

Groping vs. Safety
This whole hoopla is outta control. The people that are complaining the loudest about the groping issue are bumping, grinding, and having an otherwise good time after the airport at some club being groped by strangers in the dark, but after a few drinks, makes it ok.

Has anyone considered that some of the loudest voices in this foray may be the people that are trying to get the TSA and Fed Gov to back off so they can walk through security more easily???

The TSA people know that they are on a short leash, and being watched by ALL of us. And they know that they are only one step away from having their video shown on YouTube, thus for the most part, being quite cautious. But of course, there are always a few rotten apples (at the clubs and airports)..... My attitude, I can get over you checking my junk as long as you can get me there safely...
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HothMonster, 21 Jul 2011 @ 9:48am

Re: Re: It's a waffle because of publicity.
he is a special blend of Mike hating and conspiracy nut with a sprinkling of stupid and low reading comprehension, just laugh about it and move on
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Bengie, 21 Jul 2011 @ 8:18pm

Re: It's a waffle because of publicity.
Think they could get a Jury to convict her to put her in jail?
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Spaceman Spiff (profile), 23 Jul 2011 @ 1:34pm

Just wait!
The first time I get my balls squeezed by a TSA agent, I'm going to turn around and squeeze his as well!
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Jul 2011 @ 9:00am

Re: Groping vs. Safety
Has anyone considered that some of the loudest voices in this foray may be the people that are trying to get the TSA and Fed Gov to back off so they can walk through security more easily???

I want to walk through EFFECTIVE security and not be sexually assaulted in the process.

I don't hate the TSA. I hate that what they do in unnecessarily personally invasive and demonstrably worthless.
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gene (profile), 24 Jul 2011 @ 2:36pm

TSA abuse
It is no surprise that the accuracy of the police story is being questioned..It is a shame that law enforcement have gotten a reputation for lying about arrests and arrests often result in charges being dropped and police found guilty of abuse when the event/arrest is videotaped. People are getting tired of being abused and lied to by politicians, bureaucrats and law enforcement. The TSA has very few friends outside their own families and is an agency that should be abolished.
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SUE, 20 Aug 2011 @ 11:19am

pat down on stumbel
tit for pat
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Phoenix criminal law attorney, 27 Jan 2012 @ 11:33pm

You touch me,I'll touch you also. Maybe the agent was looking at her passionately.
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