As the legal issues raised by this situation are evaluated and the facts investigated, for the time being TAH will not allow any more comments on any of the Wickre/Monkress/APL threads. Thank you for your patience as we work through this.
(In light of yesterday’s events at the Navy Yard, I’m publishing this so you can see what we are dealing with.)
NOTE: SHould go without saying, but behave yourself in the comments. THIS WILL BE READ BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. I want to make sure they get the threat, so don’t say something dumb. Kapiche?
We haven’t posted any updates on Paul Wickre for nearly a month now. In fact, we even went a step further and locked down the threads. I wanted to briefly explain why, and show you what we are dealing with behind the scenes. We are doing this because clearly he does not intend to stop emailing and commenting here, despite numerous entreaties that he no longer contact us.
For now, we have a great attorney helping us out. (No need to send money, we are good for now.)
His name is John D. Mason, and his law practice is “Copyright Counselors” out of….Bethesda Maryland, where Paul Wickre is located, which makes it much easier. He’s also an adjunct professor at George Mason University, where I graduated from law school. But the ironic part is, he has also worked with someone we all know and love loathe: Michael Yon. (In his defense, he also has Mike Totten as a client, so he’s one for two on those guys.)
Anyway, he’s phenomenal, and I won’t clutter this up too much praising him, because he deserves his own thread and hosannas once this is over. Suffice to say that dude has helped us immeasurably, dealing with local law enforcement, Mr. Wickre’s attorney and others. And he answers my calls and questions every time I call. So, if you are writing a book or need a literary agent, call him. If you are being sued for defamation, call him. He gets my highest recommendation across the board for legal knowledge, eagerness to help, responsiveness etc.
Anyway, yes, he’s helping us deal with local law enforcement on the ground in Maryland. Since we last talked about Wickre, things went RAPIDLY south. For obvious reasons, I am going to be somewhat circumspect here. As I was about to leave the country for Cuba, Wickre decided it was time to ramp up the physical threats. Rather than talk about them in the abstract, I am going to include some of the comments we blocked from the website, and emails we received, and let his words speak for themselves.
I perceived the threat to be real enough that I contacted three FBI field offices, my local police, and the police in Maryland. All of them have responded well, albeit somewhat slower than I would have liked, since I was headed out of the country. I got a new security system for my house, and started getting my wife to understand the basics of personal security. My father in law came down to stay with her, and to teach her some basic firearms skills. Now, my house isn’t the Alamo that Jonn has created, but I daresay we can hold out until reinforcements could arrive.
Wittgenfeld thinks we are being “pussies” for contacting the police. Ok. Then I am a pussy. But I love my wife, and didn’t want her to get beaten with a baseball bat (see below) when I wasn’t there to protect her. I haven’t included Jonn and my responses to these emails and comments, because largely all I have responded with was “do not contact us, continued emails constitute harassment.”
Where do we stand now? I’m not sure what I am at liberty to discuss. I will have updates for you as soon as developments occur. But this is only the first part of what will likely be a VERY long process. Because it is our opinion that this might go far deeper than just Paul Wickre… He continues to allege that his efforts are being bankrolled by APL and Monkress (for example: he wrote that “The litigation expense of multiple firms on this puzzle is being underwritten by the Principals as below, the Wickre Family Trust, APL and Phil Monkress.”). Which means that we are exploring the possible involvement of APL and Monkress in these threats and harassment.
For now though, I give you the threats and insanity that have been going on in the background in the form of emails and unpublished comments he has submitted to the TAH website for publication.
Email 8/12/13 2050 hours:
Just want to make sure you have this. On my trip to Indiana, I am going to stop by for a cordial visit with your family. N worries, my Class 14 Champion XKR’S which look like Aston DB-9;s will be stopping by.They do not break and can make the trip on the way to see Seaveys family in 6 hours.
Phil may come or just our agents from DC. We will bring a pie, so you remember.
It is not far, but I will be bringing papers. So open up your gracious home. We see it as on your AT&T statement at John Lilyea, RR HC 86 411 Fort Ashby VA 26719. I have a route planner so no worries. WE can find it. And we still have all your family mobile phones, so we can find it.
I will let you know as the week progresses such that your family can plan a warm welcome.
Watch for the Jaguars, they are quite something.
s send your wife’s name so we can instantly meet and bond.
If not Phil, I will be bringing the guys that called you in May, so we can all meet and greet, as you jave mentioned them so many times as to your wife and her friends. They should meet in person, and I will do introductions, so everyone is cozy.
