Mike Burgmeier - very Bad softball coach

[Skarp]

My evaluation of Pezz is based on his own comments about his own actions (or, more precisely, lack of action) in light of his own claimed level of knowledge about Mr. Burgmeier's predatory activities. It has nothing whatsoever to do with his evaluation of Mr. Burgmeier, other than that if he is right, and he stood by while children were being victimized, he is human garbage.

As far as your own purported knowledge is concerned, you are completely anonymous and citing completely anonymous sources. Forgive me if I'm somewhat less than overwhelmed. Your comments do, however, inspire some curiosity about who exactly you are that various parents and former coaches, etc., have felt compelled to share those types of opinions with you. Because that happens to me all the time. Random people just approach me and tell me things like that.

Your legal analysis also leaves a bit to be desired. According to all that can be gleaned from the press reports, he was arrested on "suspicion" of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, and his home was thereafter searched for evidence. All that is needed for that arrest, and for the search, is probable cause to believe that a crime may have occurred--in other words, nothing more than the bare allegation. You think they subjected this child to a battery of examinations prior to making the arrest? Dream on. All they needed was an internally consistent story sufficient to justify an arrest, an interrogation, and the issuance of a search warrant. If they find no additional evidence to corroborate her story, they might start to question her version of events more thoroughly. Then again, they might not. Just ask the Duke lacrosse team.

If the girl had approached her parents directly with her claim, I would be much more inclined to take it at face value. I'm not saying that I disbelieve it, but there are scenarios in which I can imagine a girl telling her friend a false or embellished story of this type that she never in a million years would tell to her parents. If the friend then unexpectedly takes the story to the parents, it's entirely plausible that the girl might feel compelled to stick to the story. Look at her dilemma. She can either come clean and admit to her friend that she is a liar, and to her parents that she makes up stories about having sex with grown men, or she can play the victim. Which makes her look better? Which would she think makes her look better?

The bottom line is that false accusations occur ALL THE TIME, and for all sorts of reasons. It isn't 1,000 to 1. Not even close. There's a reason that things like this actually have to be proven before we put them to "death at dawn."

You choose solidarity with the girl? I choose solidarity with the truth, whatever that winds up being. Like I said, it doesn't look good, but I'll wait for more than gossip from the sewing circle before I convict the guy here.

[Pezz]

"I'm not saying that I disbelieve it, but there are scenarios in which I can imagine a girl telling her friend a false or embellished story of this type that she never in a million years would tell to her parents." Jeez -- and you have the nerve to find fault with me? You really think that a 13-year-old would "cry rape?" That is disgusting. Without going into too much detail, I am going to tell you now that Michael Bergmeier was actively dating a relative of mone when he was 30 and she was a teenager. I feel no need to provide you with proof, because she feels no desire to come forward. This was a relationship that many viewed as acceptable at the time. She was underage, and he was about 15 years older than she. Why would I make this up? And what is with the attacks on me? I'm not the bad guy here. This board is an absolute joke.

[Skarp]

Hey guys: I understand what each of you has said, and I understand why you would take issue with it. Skarp, you're very misguided. The woman I am speaking of is an adult woman. She revealed things to me in confidentiality. Another person that I am close to, who knew of the same incident that I am speaking of, told the police. They claimed that privacy laws prevented them from interviewing the woman of whom I am speaking. It might be better that way. Get your head out of your behind before you choose to find fault with me. Think before you speak. Now I'm gonna go take a shower. Attach a filter to that big mouth of yours.

Okay. You knew Mr. Burgmeier for many years, and were privy to specific credible information that he was a child predator. And you presumably knew that his coaching activities provided him with a steady supply of new potential young victims. Correct?

Now, the reticence of your adult friend notwithstanding, what steps, if any, did you take to ensure that those children would be adequately protected from this "serial predator." Did you let any of the parents or other coaches know? Did you send an anonymous letter, perhaps, just to put them on guard? Did you do anything that might have prevented this child from becoming another victim? Or was that not your place?

[giftsideas]

Hey Pezz. Ignore Skarp. That happens sometimes.

A parent I know on the Diamonds told me that he had been dating a former softball girl / high school student. I think a lot of people know about that.

[Pezz]

Just curious -- is Skarp a moderator here? I have been receiving some hostile "personal messages" that seem totally out of left field.

[giftsideas]

At least I take a stand skarp. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck. Take a stand..."I love him...I hate him." If you're waiting for some diluted 'truth' at the end of some trial...you'll have a long wait...and while Skarp decides to wait, more innocent kids will be harmed by such indecision...talk about hypocrisy.

I just proved you to be a hypocite. Pezz just proved you wrong. You can take your knee-jerk reactions and misplaced attacks to another topic. You appearently spend way too much time on HB. This is not Facebook.

I live in this guys area and know diamond girls & parents as well as Simi girls and parents as well as the people at boostyouraverage. I have a lot of inside information, but if someone tells me something in confidence, I'm not going to broadcast specifics to satisfy your angst for minutia.

[Skarp]

You really think that a 13-year-old would "cry rape?" That is disgusting.

First of all, it is a 15-year-old claiming to have had consensual sex with an adult (legally rape, but not rape from her perspective) two years prior. Claiming to a friend, mind you. That is not "crying rape" by any stretch of the imagination.

Second, if you think it is inconceivable, and thus undiscussable, that a 15-year-old girl might make up a story like that, you're more than a little naive. I'm not saying she made it up. In fact, I believe that it is probably true. But your "she said it, therefore it is an absolute, irrefutable fact" formulation isn't going to fly.

Third, I'm sorry, but are you now saying that you also stood by while this 30-year-old dated a 15-year-old relative of yours? Exactly how deep are you planning to dig this hole, anyway?

All of that said, if the facts you have related are true, then your conclusions about Mr. Burgmeier are also true. I just prefer to get my facts from somewhere other than the clear blue sky. Please forgive...

Oh, and me a moderator? I've been walking next to the cornfield since the day I joined this site. Someday they will do me a favor and ban me forever. But if you're suggesting that I'm coordinating some harassment campaign against you, seriously...don't flatter yourself.

[Pezz]

"Now, the reticence of your adult friend notwithstanding, what steps, if any, did you take to ensure that those children would be adequately protected from this "serial predator." Wow -- did you even read my post before responding? I was aware of ONE instance of an inappropriate relationship. Everyone around me, everyone at the high school, knew what I knew. Everyone thought it was strange. But it was somehow MY personal responsibility to monitor Michael's behavior? (By the way -- I didn't know until 2 days ago that he was a girls' softball coach). Why do you keep posting angry, vindictive, accusatory accusations when you know NOTHING of the specifics of my situation? I don't think I've ever come across anyone like you. You talk out of your behind like nobody I've ever encountered.

[giftsideas]

As far as the law is concerned...I used to work at Riordan & McKenzie a law firm in DTLA. The process and the law vary somewhat from Santa Monica to LA to Ventura County. A report was filed Wednesday and the arrest was made on Friday. That's a lot of time to corroborate the girl's story through different means.

[Skarp]

At least I take a stand skarp. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck. Take a stand.

Says the guy standing in the shadows. Oh yeah...tall as an oak, you are.

I didn't say that I was waiting for some diluted truth at the end of a trial. Read my posts concerning Facionne, a case in which there was ample corroborating evidence on the record, and you'll see that I came down pretty strongly in the other direction. Read my posts here, in which I simply say that I am awaiting similar corroborating evidence from a credible source. You, my anonymous sapling, aren't it.