Half-sunk boat reamains in lake, sending Lynchburg woman to jail

wow, well this is a classic case of the rich punishing the poor for not being rich . The woman in jail has told the court she does not have the means to procure assistance to pull the boat out of the water. She has obviously got in over her head with boat being there. She obviously financial sank along with that boat. But she has essentially been thrown in jail (with drug dealers, violent offenders, etc etc) for being unable financially to get the boat out of water. I guess the good Christian people of Bedford County expect her to lift that boat from the Smith Mountain waters like Yoda lifted Luke's X wing fighter from the swamp on that swamp planet he lived on. I also love how the Judge states how his friends are giving him a hard time about the boat draining the aesthitics of their weekend getaway. "Someones gotta pay" right ? Well you def took care of that situation. Putting her in jail is gonna expedite that process. Maybe she can send pigeon couriers to people form the cell window or something. Why not I say show a little sympathy. Put the criminals in jail. Thats whats the courts for right.

This story makes my sick. These lake people sound so snooty and seem to have to much time on their hands. The woman explained her situation and that the boat is not titled in her name but she is the one getting punished. She also sold the boat and had a contract for the Solomon to move it because she didnt have the $ to move it. She was trying to comply with the judge even though the boat wasn't hers. I don't understand this good ol boy system. It discust me.

Anonymous wrote:

wow, well this is a classic case of the rich punishing the poor for not being rich . The woman in jail has told the court she does not have the means to procure assistance to pull the boat out of the water. She has obviously got in over her head with boat being there. She obviously financial sank along with that boat. But she has essentially been thrown in jail (with drug dealers, violent offenders, etc etc) for being unable financially to get the boat out of water. I guess the good Christian people of Bedford County expect her to lift that boat from the Smith Mountain waters like Yoda lifted Luke's X wing fighter from the swamp on that swamp planet he lived on. I also love how the Judge states how his friends are giving him a hard time about the boat draining the aesthitics of their weekend getaway. "Someones gotta pay" right ? Well you def took care of that situation. Putting her in jail is gonna expedite that process. Maybe she can send pigeon couriers to people form the cell window or something. Why not I say show a little sympathy. Put the criminals in jail. Thats whats the courts for right.

I am the woman that Judge Updike put in jail over this sunken houseboat. Yes, I would say that I felt like I was trying to raise the Titanic! I presented Judge Updike paperwork stating that I was not the owner of the boat plus a signed letter from my ex husband stating that it was his boat. Judge Updike evidently didn't care about ownership because these documents were tossed aside. Talk about feeling totally run over by the rich!!! Boy did I. What really gets you is that Bedford County had the resources for getting this boat up. A pump boat, pumps, divers, etc. They got up 30 Boats this summer for folks just like me. Does that make any sense?? Didn't to me either. Any imput would be appreciated. Thanks Karen Foster

I personally know Karen. She bascially got the shaft here. If anyone can explain how she was at fault i'd love to hear this. She was put in jail for no reason at all. What the heck is this world coming to when innocent people are put in jail and guilty are let go be cause they have the money to buy their way out.
D

I've been wanting to purchase a houseboat and live aboard for several years. I was considering Smith Mountain Lake when I found this article. Needless to say, I've changed my mind. Karen, my heart goes out to you. It seems this Judge Whoever has more than just a legal interest in this matter. How the legal system and people of this county can treat you this way and remain clear of conscience is beyond me. This is a total abomination. I'll look elsewhere.

What is Judge Updike's full name? We should all pull together for Karen and write this "honorable" judge!

Judge Updike is very arrogant. I have been in front of him for Civil matters and he NEVER reads any documents. It is sort of like a power play thing with him. He is the judge and he can do or say whatever he wants. So sad and unfortunate

im going thru the same problem here in fla..but that judge in your case should be disbared..you had proof the boat wasnt yours..he should be held taen to civil court himself..heres my problem...Hi; my name is Joe. I had two large shrimp boats in Key West, FL when Dennis and Katrina came through. Both storms battered my boats too badly for me to repair them. I contacted FEMA and was told that they would help.

I had to get my boats to a railways and have estimates for repairs, so I took them back to my home town of Tarpon Springs, FL and did as I was told. When I contacted them again i was told the devastation was too great in Mississippi and Louisiana for them to help me.

I borrowed fuel on credit down in Key West to get my boats to the railway and even though Tarpon Springs used to be a fishing village now there isn't dock space for our boats. I had to bank my boats on the edge of the river using fuel in a 5 gallon bucket to move them. Now they're sitting there with no way to repair them. I'm being fined daily and told I am going to have two felony charges; one for each boat if I don't remove them in 30 days.

Water has gotten into the engines, and now they're in even worse shape. I did get a job mowing grass for $10.00 dollars an hour and am thankful just to feed my family. Both my wife and I work and have just enough to pay taxes and insurance on our home. I sold what property I had and lost $300,000 worth of boats. I'm lucky to still have my home.

Over 20 years of fishing and shrimping made a fair living for us. I sure miss my old life on the water but need to move these boats. I don't want to go to jail or have the felonies just because two storms destroyed my life and boats. The city of Tarpon Springs has about $25,000 in code violation fines and then $30,000 to $40,000 to remove each boat.

Are other hurricane victims being treated like this? Also, that's 20 years of my life and $300,000 worth of boats and I sure wouldn't just abandon them. I survived two major hurricanes and now I'm facing this nightmare. My 10 year old daughter asked me, "Daddy, are you going to jail?"

Thanks for any info.

I have been a resident of Bedford County for almost 20 years. I have had occaision to appear in the court on a few matters and I won't do it again !!! I have had my front door busted by a no good drug dealer and he got away with it bcause he lied and I have been cursed at in public by white trash and she go away with it. I had witnesses both times and the subpoenas were conveniently "lost" - Bedford County Court House has sent me a very clear message - If you have a problem, take matters into your own hands if you want satisfaction. BARBARIC !! They take good care of the trash and drug dealers in Bedford County, VA ..

This happens a lot in Bedford County VA. My son is currently serving a big sentence because we had no money to prove his innocence. The system is messed up. Is it a conflict of interest when the state prosecutes you and pays your attorney?
Unfair judicial system~

Well Judge Updike is mean and is all about the money - my son is in jail for a crime he didn't commit...for longer than a killer would serve. He is mean and mean spirited

agreed - unfair judicial system

Updike is a piece of shit, he's arrogant, he thinks he's god and could give a rats ass about any of the people who enter his courtroom. He serves only ONE purpose he is there to collect money for the county. The woman in question was thrown in jail because Updike made money off putting her in jail, thats how it works, they created a Bond and sold it on Wall Street once she went to jail. Welcome to America where Judges, Clerks and Sheriffs make money by putting people in jail. Is it any wonder that the USA leads the world in incarcerations #1, and we are 17th in education. Wake up America all crimes are commercial and the courts which are not courts at all (there defacto corporations) just look up Bedford County Court on Dunn & Bradstreet you will locate their EIN number and their D&B rating. Updike is nothing more than a Bank teller that can create money out of thin air just like the Federal Reserve ...(which is not federal) no more than Federal Express or Federal Ammunition.

Anonymous wrote:

Well Judge Updike is mean and is all about the money - my son is in jail for a crime he didn't commit...for longer than a killer would serve. He is mean and mean spirited
agreed - unfair judicial system

his name is updick or uppenis

I just wanted to post that during this ordeal over a million dollars worth of my family's property was pirated. My 85 year old father was approached and told that the 46 lot subdivison I was working on was worthless. He sold the property for $150,000. Also, my personal residence was pirated at the courthouse and transferred into someone elses name. It is my feeling that I fell into a white collar legal scam of the courts cleverly disguised as a way to acquire your assets. Dirty lawyers and Dirty Judges. BEWARE!!