ptsd Trying To Help

[Guest terrysturgis]

I found out today that a friend I went to school with screwed up today. He shot his dog. Nieghbors called the cops and they took him down pretty hard. Arrested him and took him to jail. Confiscated all his guns. My first advice to him is to hire an Attorney for his arrangement on Friday. DO NOT TRY TO HANDEL IT ON HIS OWN! By the way the dog bite him first, no excuse to do what he did.

He has been a loner. I do not go around him much as I no longer drink. He was artillery in Viet Nam 67-68 and might suffer from PTSD. I am not trained to give advice along these lines and most people around me say that if he does not want help to leave him alone. He does have terrible hearing and red splotches on his arms. My question is that if prosecuter gets him convicted of a felony can he file a claim for his SC'd conditions?

I am going to try to help him as I feel he is a confused, frustrated man that knows he royally F___ed up and I believe he will welcome the advice. I am going to pray for him and be there. Wish me luck. Terry Sturgis

[Berta]

It is a shame that he does not have documented PTSD as this could help with his defense- not that it is an excuse- but it could be a reason- could be----

I have found that cruelty-not saying this is cruelty- but often anti-social behavior that could be sometimes attributed to PTSD-is not PTSD at all-

and a vet who wants to be left alone- often it is best to leave them alone-

perhaps he will tell his lawyer what triggered all this- and if it in fact was due to war service, that could be used as part of defense - but it still does not excuse what he did.

This guy has guns? I would be cautious around him if I were you.In case the cops missed a few guns.

Edited June 29, 2006 by Berta

[Guest terrysturgis]

Berta, the thought crossed my mind last night about him having other guns. I appreciate your concern. He said they confiscated 14 guns. To be honest I worry more about the idea he may hurt himself instead of someone else. The first thing he needs to do is get help for the court situation and then getting sober for a start. THANKS! Terry Sturgis

[olenavygoat]

Very true and good solid advice. Who's dog was it? And was he hauled in for shooting the dog or for discharging a firearm within city limits? If his lawyer is smart he'll have him transferred immediatly to the VA for observation and evaluation for PTSD to help him at least reduce the charges. Either way he can still file the claim and get an award if granted, he just can't receive his compensation while incarcerated.

[Guest DON20906]

A felony conviction would have no relevance to his claim for SC, unless it is for a capital crime. I have worked cases where vets were in prison and were SC'd for various things. If an incarcerated vet is receiving SC comp, his award is reduced to 10% while s/he is locked up. The balance may by apportioned to his dependents. I've also worked waiver-of-overpayment cases where the vet didn't tell VA about being in prison, kept getting the money and ended up owing VA when they got out.

If he doesn't already have a diagnosis of PTSD, this could be an opportunity to be evaluated and possibly treated by a court-appointed MH professional. Courts are much more aware of PTSD then they were in the 70s, when VN vets were given major sentences for crimes that would now be considered mitigated by PTSD. The big, bad ACLU had a program back in the 80s and 90s to have courts review sentences from that period.

I found out today that a friend I went to school with screwed up today. He shot his dog. Nieghbors called the cops and they took him down pretty hard. Arrested him and took him to jail. Confiscated all his guns. My first advice to him is to hire an Attorney for his arrangement on Friday. DO NOT TRY TO HANDEL IT ON HIS OWN! By the way the dog bite him first, no excuse to do what he did.

He has been a loner. I do not go around him much as I no longer drink. He was artillery in Viet Nam 67-68 and might suffer from PTSD. I am not trained to give advice along these lines and most people around me say that if he does not want help to leave him alone. He does have terrible hearing and red splotches on his arms. My question is that if prosecuter gets him convicted of a felony can he file a claim for his SC'd conditions?

I am going to try to help him as I feel he is a confused, frustrated man that knows he royally F___ed up and I believe he will welcome the advice. I am going to pray for him and be there. Wish me luck. Terry Sturgis

[Guest terrysturgis]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will print it out and get it to him. The rest is up to him. THANKS again! Terry Sturgis

[Guest DON20906]

In most places that have such laws, discharging a firearm in public is a misdemeanor, so it may not be as bad as he thinks. I don't think it's illegal to kill your own dog. His lawyer should bring up his VN service and the possibility that he has PTSD to the court.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will print it out and get it to him. The rest is up to him. THANKS again! Terry Sturgis