Convicted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17493-2003Jun20.html?nav=hptoc_m

It wouldn't matter if his defense involved whether police dogs are a difficult product to define. It also might not matter whether his dogs can or can't work, although the investigation seems to have proven that they can't find the substances they were "trained" and sold to detect.

Fraud is a charge that focuses on false statements, made knowing they were false, with the intent that they be relied upon. Sometimes there are additional elements, but that's the basics. In this case, he obviously made some false statements (marketing, etc.) to sell his dogs. Unfortunately, he did so in a way that potentially endangered the lives of many officers and civilians at very high-risk installations.

As for federal oversight during sentencing, he was convicted in federal court (i.e. oversight is automatic). He will therefore be sentenced according to the applicable federal guidelines, which are typically very harsh when compared to state sentencing schemes. Under those guidelines, inmates usually must complete at least 85% of a sentence before being eligible for parole.

Good riddance to this dirtball. I hope they stack his sentences to run consecutively.

Poorly worded I agree, however, when I was referring to Federal oversight, I was talking about dog training. I don't care what they do to that scrote.

DFrost

 Quote:

Originally posted by Gordon Beyer:
What also needs to be considered is the very nature of EOD, K9 assited or otherwise: initial success or utter failure. I think this case will bring " certified trainer" and "minimum standards" into the political arena. Here we go again......

I don't think there is anything wrong with a 3rd party annual certification that is not dependant on membership $ for survival. It is a simple solution that would (if planned correctly) work and keep the "marketing pros" off the field for real pros to do good work.

I totally agree with a 3rd party certification. The arguments I've heard against it usually revolve around statements such as: "no one is going to tell me how to train dogs". Trying to explain that applying a system of measurement against a standard does not limit the methods a trainer uses, usually fall on deaf ears. Having once made a presentation to a POST Commission relative a mandatory certification, I was somewhat surprised when one member stated, "sounds like someone is trying to establish a profitable business". I reminded the member I was a state employee, prohibited from private business and that my concern was quality of dogs being used within the state. I don't disagree that a dues paying membership is not the best method of an objective evaluation and certification, however for many it is the best thing available. Organizations such as the USPCA, while certainly rely on dues paying members do a pretty good job of ensuring at least a minimum proficiency level. Just paying dues does not guarentee certification. I'm opposed to a federal certification, only because I believe it should be on the state level, unless as with the TSA, it is a preagreed arrangement.

DFrost

I see that Justice has perhaps been served in the case of Mr. Ebersole. It appears he as been convicted and sentenced to 6 1/2 years in a Federal Prison. Bless his heart.

As a side note (perhaps a little on the bragging side) one of my EDD's was sent to conduct a search of two vehicles and a storage building. The search resulted in 3 responses. A carful search of the areas resulted in finding 3 IED's which were subsequently rendered safe. Although they were not functioning devices, they did contain two different explosive components. Nothing like finding something you've trained to find, that did not come out of your bunker, or that you have never handled.

DFrost

David;

Congratulations to you, your Trooper and the dog. Good Job!

yes, congrats. i'll bet that is a tough one......for both narcotics and explosives training. you're never quite sure if the dog is actually picking up on the item you are training for or if they are picking up scent that you inadvertantly left.

Interesting topic. Just when I am in the process of evaluating dogs to train for explosive detection as a side business ,someone comes along and makes it appear as a criminal endeavor. It seems that no matter how noble the cause there is always someone out there that screws it up for everyone else. No matter, I know that my dogs will have the best training I can give and they will be evaluated honestly with no slack for an animal that cant make the grade. I have had the good fortune to train with the local Air Force Base EDD's and patrol dogs with my current working dog (which is our city's first EDD) and have seen first hand how a dog reacts to a large amount of explosives as opposed to the modest weights used in the early stages of bomb training. Although I havent tested him on a truckload of fertilizer he did indicate on a boxtruck that had recently hauled hundred of pounds of fertilizer during a real life bomb threat/search at a local elementary school. This of course made me happy (not at the time) that my partner was able to recognize and alert to this strong odor and not be overwhelmd/confused.
I find it interesting that not long after 9/11 I was called to search our airport numerous times when circumstances required useage. Now the TSA is imbedded here and will not allow me to search at the airport until I have passed their evaluation/certification. My dog or myself have not been tested yet so I hope a need does not arise soon. What will they do?
Also, before the last shuttle went up, myself and approx 30 other central florida dog teams had to search every vehicle entering a local hotel where the dignitaries stayed. We worked 12 hr shifts for 3 days and only had about 6-8 dog teams at the main gateper shift. By the end of the shift each team had sniffed approx150-200 vehicles. usually 10-12 cars/trucks/buses at a time. My dog has lots of energy but I can tell you that by about the 4th or 5th hr it was only show. Not only were the dogs wore out from work, very few rested because they found it much more fun wearing theirselves out barking at the other dogs when it wasnt their turn in the pit.