What INTERNET PRECEDENTS Are Set by Raphael Golb's PRISON SENTENCE? Dead Sea Scrolls

WHAT PRECEDENTS ARE SET BY
RAPHAEL GOLB'S PRISON SENTENCE?

(And yes, today the Court system DOES seem like a lottery)

It is my understanding, please correct me if I'm wrong, that even a felon can be eligible for rooming with other non-violent, minimum-security inmates. Why choose the most physically dangerous place to send skinny 125 lb bookworm Raphael Golb, fellow Jew, and son of an academic rival? Do they throw in minnows like him to provide easy victims for the sharks?

For some inmates, Rikers Island is as good as a death sentence (or nearly)- or at least, continual fear thereof- I was not aware that beatings, death and rape, or the torture of non-stop expecting it- are on the lawbooks as the punishment for blogging and emailing- or even "identity theft" for that matter. Or even (as they claim) begrudging a professor a $650 lecture.

Many of the newspapers were present for the sentencing; I briefly discuss their reports at the end of this post.**

For now I just want to mention a few stray things; and then make some guesses about what PRECEDENTS this conviction may set. I read in the papers that covered the trial that Raphael Golb's case is the first of its kind, that no one has ever been convicted of a "crime" for doing what he did. This tells me that Raphael Golb's case will probably set a precedent for internet conduct.

Why Was Raphael Golb Convicted of a Felony, not Libel? Dead Sea Scrolls

Poet Frederick Seidel,

in 2006 called

"the best 

American poet writing today" 

by the New York Sun.

(click for website)

Raphael Golb testified that

he was the inspiration 

for the name 'Jonathan Seidel'

Did the jury understand why they convicted Raphael Golb of a felony?

I found a copy online of the original Grand Jury Indictment of Raphael Golb. I knew that he had been convicted of the felony of Identity Theft, and I soon figured out that "Identity Theft in the Second Degree" was a felony, while "Identity Theft in the Third Degree" was not a felony but a misdemeanor.

The definition of these two types of "Identity Theft" were very similar- it was a difference of one extra phrase. I know I sound condescending but I wonder if the jury realized the difference, if they realized that one was a felony and the other was not.

Changes to My Previous Posts. Dead Sea Scrolls Trial of Raphael Golb

Frederick Seidel's poetry collection

"Ooga-Booga" won the 2006 

Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

(click for website)

Raphael Golb testified that

he was the inspiration 

for the name 'Jonathan Seidel'

If you occasionally revisit my older posts, you will find changes almost every time you return. Changes both large and small.

What Exactly Was Raphael Golb Convicted Of? -Dead Sea Scrolls Trial

Equality, Liberty, Fraternity
French Revolution, Masonic emblem

People know that Raphael Golb was found "guilty" in criminal court last week. But what do people think he was found "guilty" of?

I suspect a lot of people assume Raphael Golb was found "guilty" of making up "lies" about Dr. Lawrence Schiffman plagiarizing his father.

I thought making up a lie about someone is "defamation" or "libel." And if the court decides there could possibly be some plausibility to the accusation, it's not "defamation" anymore. And I thought that's a matter for civil court to figure out.

I Evaluate Two Dead Sea Scrolls News Reports, Sep 27

Yuval Peleg; R. Golb described Monday

how in recent investigation at Qumran,

Peleg, with Y. Magen, felt they demonstrated

 R. Golb's father et al's theories to be more probable

Raphael Golb gave most of his testimony on Monday. I don't understand how they do it, but the reporters already had their articles up within an hour or less.

I have reactions to the few news articles which are now on the web. As of this posting, the New York Times and the New York Daily News did not have articles up yet.

Dead Sea Scrolls Trial, Brief Overview

Raphael Golb, son of a prominent Dead Sea Scrolls scholar, has been accused of writing emails and blogs under pseudonyms.

book by Raphael Golb's father

Scribner 1995

Raphael is said to have written these emails and blogs to expose the fraudulent conduct of scholars- who oppose his father's and colleagues' theories on the Dead Sea Scrolls by blocking them from representation at conferences and museum exhibits. 

site of Qumran, responsible for some of the
chief disputes between these scholars

Raphael is said to have used the actual name of Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, in order to expose the man for plagiarism of his father's ideas- by parodying an emotional "confession" in emails.