“A victim of crime shall be treated with fairness, compassion and respect by the criminal justice system.” So states the Crime Victims Constitutional Amendment, added to the state of New Jersey constitution in 1991.
New Jersey also has a 14-point Crime Victims Bill of Rights (NJS 52:4B-36), which expands upon the constitutional amendment. Among its provisions, crime victims and witnesses are entitled to:
- Be treated with dignity and compassion by the criminal justice system.
- Be informed about the criminal justice process.
- Have inconveniences associated with participation in the criminal justice process minimized to the fullest extent possible.
The Bill of Rights sounds good, but it hasn’t done much for Trish Rynn, formerly of Ocean City, New Jersey. She was scammed by a seasoned con artist, Dennis SanSeverino, and now feels she is being further victimized by the New Jersey courts. It is a classic case of Legal Abuse Syndrome.
Con artist pleads guilty
Dennis SanSeverino took Rynn’s home, cleaned out her inheritance and left her with credit card debt. Rynn went to the police, and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s office, to its credit, investigated. They determined that the money SanSeverino took from Rynn added up to $318,240. Although he was originally charged with theft by deception, a second-degree crime, he pleaded down to theft by illegal retention, a third-degree crime.
On August 26, 2006, SanSeverino was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $275,000. Judge Carmen Alvarez ordered him to pay $1,000 per month for six months, and then increase payment to $2,000 per month. He was barred from entering casinos and ordered to get treatment for gambling addiction.
According to the Press of Atlantic City, SanSeverino’s lawyer requested lower payments, citing his client’s lack of employment. Judge Alvarez didn’t buy it. “I find his unemployment status to also be a con,” she said. “If you violate probation, there’s no question in my mind I will incarcerate you.”
But then SanSeverino was convicted of bouncing two $25,000 checks at an Atlantic City casino and sent to jail. He was sentenced to 270 days, but only served 66 days.
Still, it was enough for the judge to temporarily reduce the monthly restitution. She ordered SanSeverino to pay $6,000 by October 2007.
By the deadline, SanSeverino had paid $5,700, Trish Rynn says. A violation of probation hearing was scheduled for that month, and Rynn, confident that Judge Alvarez would take action, did not attend.
But Judge Alvarez was no longer on the case—she’d been promoted. There was a new judge, Raymond Batten, and the hearing was postponed. And somehow, the nature of the hearing was changed from a violation of probation to a request to reduce restitution.
Lovefraud publishes case study
The victim, Trish Rynn, was understandably upset. She believed SanSeverino was hiding money. After all, a few weeks before pleading guilty in Rynn’s case, the con artist had sold two homes, valued at $865,000, for $45,000. Then, two weeks after being released from jail, he bought them back for $1 each.
SanSeverino’s violation of probation hearing was rescheduled for February 7, 2008. Three days before it, Lovefraud published the True Lovefraud Story about Dennis SanSeverino. It detailed the money the con artist took from Trish Rynn, along with his real estate scams.
After publication of Lovefraud’s story, SanSeverino’s court date was postponed until February 15, 2008. Then the hearing was moved up to February 14, 2008. Rynn not notified—she only found out when she called to verify the date. By that time, it was too late for her to arrange to take the day off from work so she could testify. Rynn requested a postponement.
Hearing moved up again
The violation of probation hearing was rescheduled for March 28, 2008, then moved up to March 26, 2008. Again, Trish Rynn was not notified, and only found out when she called to check a week before the originally scheduled date. She immediately called Cape May County Assistant Prosecutor Meghan Hoerner, who prosecuted the original case against SanSeverino. According to Rynn, Hoerner said the date might change yet again, and that it might be heard by a different judge. The prosecutor promised to call Rynn with updated information. For days, Rynn heard nothing. Then Hoerner left a message the day before the hearing, which Rynn did not receive, stating that it was on.
But Rynn had already called the Cape May County Office of Victim Witness Advocacy at 4 p.m. on March 25, and had already learned that the hearing was indeed scheduled for the next day before a new judge. Rynn immediately called the new judge’s chambers and spoke to his assistant, asking for permission to be heard on the matter. Permission was granted.
No more advocacy
For some reason, this seemed to infuriate Assistant Prosecutor Meghan Hoerner. The day of the hearing, right before Rynn was to leave for the two-hour drive to Cape May Court House, she received an irate phone call from Hoerner. Because Rynn had spoken to the judge, the assistant prosecutor said, the case would not be heard. It would be rescheduled—perhaps for April 30, 2008.
Furthermore, Rynn says Hoerner told her that she could no longer speak to the Office of Victim Witness Advocacy. She would be advised of the new court date by mail. Rynn was actually glad to hear this, because she’d never received any notification by mail.
The next day, Rynn called the Office of Victim Witness Advocacy to confirm the new hearing date. According to the its website, the services provided by office include “information on the status and disposition of the case in which you are involved.” But sure enough, the advocates refused to speak to her.
Notification did not arrive in the mail. And while the hearing date kept changing, Rynn was receiving a pittance of restitution from Dennis SanSeverino. Instead of paying $2,000 per month as originally ordered, the con artist was paying just $100—when he got around to paying at all.
Letter campaign
Disappointed and angry, Rynn sent a 12-page letter to the New Jersey Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, the Cape May County Prosecutor, various New Jersey legislators, women’s advocacy organizations and media outlets. She told the entire story, including the fact that Assistant Cape May County Prosecutor Meghan Hoerner instructed the Office of Victim Witness Advocacy not to speak to her.
“The defendant, Dennis SanSeverino, has managed to play with our legal system because he can,” Rynn wrote. “And quite frankly, I no longer want to hear people within the system say that it is a ‘failed system’ and ‘it is what it is.’ That is having no integrity. Taking the loser’s way out—we need to fight for our rights! ”¦ While the prosecutor’s office gets their win and Dennis SanSeverino gets his win, the victim is the loser! That is just not acceptable to me and should be the same for all of you whom I am addressing here. For the whole of America! Our legal system has no integrity because the leaders within our system are out of integrity!”
Rynn got some responses. One northern New Jersey legislator called her and asked her why she didn’t get a lawyer. (Hello? Because she had no money!) A representative of New Jersey Senator Jeff Van Drew, who represents Cape May County, called and said the senator would send a letter to the attorney general on Rynn’s behalf. He would also look into sponsoring legislation.
Passing bad checks
In mid-April, Rynn checked blog comments related to the 2006 news story about Dennis SanSeverino’s sentencing. Much to her surprise, she found a comment from “MPM” in Sewell, New Jersey. “Dennis is a new tenant of mine and always behind in rent. Any suggestions?” MPM wrote.
Rynn posted information about SanSeverino’s upcoming violation of probation hearing. Then MPM wrote, “He also wrote a check with NSF – Fidelity Investments.”
The check had apparently been drawn on the investment account that SanSeverino had conned from Rynn. He’d wiped out the account years earlier, so it seemed that SanSeverino knowingly passed a bad check. Which is illegal.
Rynn called the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and asked to speak to the investigator who originally worked on the case. She wanted to inform him about the bad check. The investigator had previously told Rynn that SanSeverino was seen in the Harrah’s casino in Chester, Pennsylvania.
By going into the casino, SanSeverino violated the terms of his probation. And by passing a bad check, he committed a crime, which also violated his probation. Maybe this, Rynn thought while she waited on hold, would be enough to get SanSeverino put in jail.
The receptionist came back on the phone and said that, per instructions from Meghan Hoerner, the investigator would not speak to her.
The landlord, in the meantime, will be in court on May 1, 2008, to begin eviction proceedings against Dennis SanSeverino and the woman with whom he is living.
Nothing left to lose
So Rynn has continued to write letters. She sent them to the investigator, Judge Raymond Batten and yes, Meghan Hoerner.
“I don’t understand why they’re keeping information from me, not letting me speak to anyone and hiding court dates from me,” Rynn said to Lovefraud. “I should have a right to know. I think it’s just terrible.
“I care about what’s right, and I feel that the things I’ve pieced together make me sure something is wrong,” she continued. “I’m just going to tell it like it is and let the cards fall where they may. I have nothing to lose. I’ve lost already.”
Dennis SanSeverino’s violation of probation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30 at 1:30 p.m. in the Cape May County courthouse. At least, it is for now.
A request for comment sent via e-mail to the Cape May County Prosecutor, Robert Taylor, received no response.
Whoever these “public servants” are, whose salary is paid by RYNN, should be fired, disbarred, and HORSE WHIPPED IN PUBLIC.
Government “employees” should not be allowed to RE-victimize this poor woman, and to aid and abet the criminal.
How about some more NATIONAL MEDIA HERE? (the sound you hear is my blood boiling!)
It is interesting, do all lawyers say that “it is what it is” about the legal system? Is it like a common way of saying saying it? I heard an exactly the same phrase from my divorce lawyer “it is what it is” about the family law.
I think the truth about the legal system is that “it is what it is” – very very long, very very expensive and it serves no justice. It was that way thousands of years ago, it will be that way forever. Whoever has more money, more connections usually wins, victim stays victim. It is a business, it serves money interests.
All those public servants are suposed to serve the public, in fact they never do. Nor police, nor courts – when it comes to real problem. Congress and presidents serve business and not the public. CPS serves business and not the child.
I was talking to one professor from Stanford once, we talked about science and medicine, he said a very good thing – “the best thing to treat a disease is to prevent”
I feel sorry for Trish, I think the best thing I am going to do is to simply call the office and express my opinion to Meghan Hoerner about the situation. And I urge everyone else to do the same. Or may Be call the media or somehow bring the media attention…
I read the story today and after reading the two comments I weaped….I didn’t know how much pain I am holding onto…Thank you for being human…for having feelings…….I don’t need you to feel sorry for me…..I am strong…..I told my story to Donna Anderson because I know this man will hurt more people…my life today is about what I can do to make a difference…If Dennis had gone to prison with his first crime…I would not have run into him. He was on probation for a Larseny when he met me. I have learned a difficult lesson….but today I am interested in making legislative changes…if possible….and finding a new way to live my life!
Unfortunately I know all too well that Trish’s story is all too sadly true. May we never accept that the judicial system “it is what it is”. . . it will never be better if we don’t expect better.
WEll, I will in no way equate my “rape” by the criminal justice system (isn’t THAT an oxymoron?) but I got shafted today.
I was on the vice e mail list, that is ARkansas’ victim notification of any change in the status of an incarcerated offender. Okay, they sent me an e mail that the Trojan Horse P came up for PAROLE consideration (after only 45 days for each year of sentence) I contacted the VIce folks, very nice lady, and was told that I should contact the parole board.
The nice lady at the parole board told me that TH would be getting “case file review” not a HEARING for parole, and that if the case review went well, then a hearing would be scheduled and I would be allowed a 15 minute presentation to the parole board. I was also allowed to send in a LETTER to the parole board to be included in his file. I spent WEEKS researching his previous crimes (child molestation of an 8 yr old, 11, yr old and 14 yr old, habitual robber, burgular, VIOLENT offender, multiple drug offenses, etc. and the statistics for reoffense in all of these plus his VIOLENCE WITH A FIRE ARM AGAINST MY SON, etc.
I was informed that the results would be available from the parole board today, to see if and when he got a hearing.
Well, GUESS WHAT FOLKS—he had one PERSON review his file and he was also granted the hearing and GRANTED PAROLE.
I called the nice lady at VICE again and she told me what had happened after checking it all. I then re-called the parole board and asked to speak to the parole board member who granted his parole.
I have not heard from them yet (it was late this afternoon when I called)
Well, for here on in the plan is:
1) speak to the parole board member and see if I can get th ruling reversed.
If that doesn’t work. (possible but not likely)
Then PLAN B:
Go to the Governor’s office and speakk to whomever I can get to speak to (it will be someone I am sure, Arkansas is not that big a state that you can’t get in the door)
A) inform them of the situation, and the name of the parole board member.
B) inform them that I will go to the media.
C) if I get no response, then I will go to the media, all 3 television stations, and the state-wide newspaper.
If none of this produces any results, then AFTER his parole, I will speak to HIS PAROLE OFFICER, and make the situation clear that there is a GRAVE danger in this man toward my family. Request a no-contact order as part of his parole. If this is not granted, then I will need to go back to court to receive one. Also see if it is possible to have him placed on a leg monitor for the duration of his parole.
Assure the parole officer that if there is any problem that I will be back on the front steps of the capitol with the media, screaming HIS name. (this tactic worked quite well with another sexual predator that was released from prison and rejoined our living history group and got a job at the local museum dealing with CHILDREN) I got him forbidden to be in our group by his parole officer and fired from his job. It makes me furious that that kind of person can get a job working with kids and NO BACK GROUND CHECK. Grrrrr! that is the sound of my blood boiling and my teeth grinding!
Since he is a registered sex offender and his level was “assessed” Arkansas as “non violent”—approach the assessment board (I have already done this once) and see if I can get it raised.
Since he is a registered sex offender and his address is PUBLIC INFORMATION, then I will need to have someone (friend, not me, in case he might see me) take his mug shot, and rap sheet of MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS, 15 PAGES LONG, WITH ABOUT 5 CONVICTIONS PER PAGE to all his neighbors and warn them that a SEXUAL PREDATOR is living in their neighborhood. Whatever town he is in, also send a copy to the local newspaper and to the local law enforcement agencies, as well as speak to the Sheriff and the Chief of Police personally.
If he has a job, that will also be on the sexual predator map, and a copy of his rap sheet should be mailed to his supervisor.
He has apparently NEVER HAD PAROLE that he didn’t get busted back on, so I have no fear that he will be long out of criminal activity, so as long as I can make sure that he is MONITORED, REALLY monitored by his PO maybe he will not be able to be out long before he is reincarcerated for another crime. I just don’t want it to be attacking another child.
Everyone in our family has a concealed carry permit for a side arm, and are quite proficient in their use. I won’t live in terror of this man, but I will take whatever precautions I can to make sure that he does not “go unnoticed” by the law and his neighbors.
But I sure did feel “kicked in the gut” that the parole board reviewer (single) did not pay much attention to my carefully drafted letter.
TrishNJ – be strong! I wish you the best!
TrishNJ, (((Hugs)))) and God bless—put on your “big girl panties” and go get’em.
Excell4Success is right, as long as we quitely accept the judicial system for “what it is” it will never improve.
My late husband used to say “all progress is made by DISSATISFIED people” and he was right. If we accept what is not satisfactory without a fuss, things never change. They may only change slowly if we put up a fuss, but they may change some at least and help some person in the future.
Freedom is not “free”—and someone fought and/or died for every “right” we have today. The Good Lord knows that there are “enough of us” that maybe together we can make a difference
For what it is worth, I am going to keep working on keeping the Trojan HOrse-P in prison, or keep him closely confined on Parole or you will see me on CNN–they may be hauling me off in hand cuffs but I will be waving my picket sign as they do. LOL (nah, I’m not going to get arrested, I had to promise my boys I wouldn’t even use any swear words!But at least I can RANT here! LOL)
TrishNJ–what is the name of the office, address, phone number, and person to whom letters should be addressed for your cause. Legislators, Congressmen, Governor etc. and they had better got get a trailer truck to pick up their mail.
How about news media? I’ll write a group of letters or make telephone calls for you…how about it ladies and gentlemen? Let’s snow them with paper and BRIGHT LIGHTS
OxDover,
I don’t feel confident in my ability to write an effective legal letter but if you write one, I will copy and paste it and send one with my signature.
I would be happy to, honestly!
:O)
I’m leaving here to go pick up a friend from the train station 60 miles away but tomorrow when my head is more clear (if it is after a night of no sleep! LOL) I will see what I can come up with. They need to VARY some, so they don’t look like “form letters” so maybe we might come up with several suggestions from several people and then everyone can just cut and paste or copy them, change a few words etc.
If we could also get some of our friends off the blog to send some over their signatures it might also help. If each of us could get 10-20 letters sent with various names we could paper storm them.
When Blue Cross Blue Shield screwed over my friend who was critically ill with leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant that they were trying to get out of paying for BY SENDING HER TO WASHINGTON STATE from ARkansas instead of here locally, we did a web page and paper storm, and I made a couple of phone calls as her “primary health care provider” (not bothering to tell them she was ALSO my close friend) just giving them a “heads up” that they might want to get an 18 wheeler to pick up the mail—it worked too.
I also told them that she had a tape recording of one of their employees saying “Wel, you can appeal it, but it won’t do any good” (she did) I thought the head honcho was going to choke on his tongue when Ii told him that! In Arkansas it is legal to tape conversations even if the other person doesn’t know it, as long as ONE party does know it.
My friend is a very persausave person and has taught me a great deal, she knows her way around the system so I will recruit her advice on the wording too. She is great, and a great word smith as well.
BTW, she is 8 years out from the Leukemia and doing great! When we admitted her off the street into the ICU we didn’t expect her to live 24 hours. Spent a year in the hospital with every complicationknown to medical science, any ONE of which should have killed her—so We can confab a bit about all this and come up with some semi-form letters if we can get addresses and names. Maybe someone knows someone in national media they could call. Go the whole route. Give us all a “cause” to work on–make that SOB wish he didn’t have a zillion mad women on his tail! LOL
Retirement looks like it might be “fun” for me, now that I’ve got my back bone back, maybe I can take up “causes”—starting with this one and my Trojan HOrse P and his parole.
I am not a very political person so I wouldn’t even know what are the appropriate threats to make.. HAHA… not really threats but you know what I mean.
I will do what I can. It sounds like you understand the situation far better.