Personally from everything I have read, him being blackballed from MLB is flat out wrong. His act as a 15 year was wrong and immoral. But he owned up his mistake, paid his debt to society and seems like a changed man. The backstory is a little odd in itself.
The guy is 1st round talent and not being drafted 2 years in a row is showing owners are colluding against him.
Weird, weird case.
his family disagrees.
There is no chance in hell I'd draft him.
this is like domestic violence x100, I normally don't try and get moral about stuff, but this is one case where I would.
his family disagrees.
There is no chance in hell I'd draft him.
this is like domestic violence x100, I normally don't try and get moral about stuff, but this is one case where I would.
pj is correct - he hasn’t really owned up to it. He still claims he’s innocent even now. Says he plead guilty to avoid a trial; sorry, if if I’m innocent, i don’t give that up for anything....
Don't know if it is collusion or teams realizing that the guy is a psychopath.
I get it he did something that’s sick as fuck. But there are others in society who are in the same boat that get hired.
If he went through rehabilitation and is cured, he deserves a shot. If people don’t get 2nd chances after rehab, why have it?
Don't know if it is collusion or teams realizing that the guy is a psychopath.
niece or cousin
I get it he did something that’s sick as fuck. But there are others in society who are in the same boat that get hired.
If he went through rehabilitation and is cured, he deserves a shot. If people don’t get 2nd chances after rehab, why have it?
He gets a second chance to live his life as a free man. That does not guarantee the right to be drafted and pursue a multi-million dollar career in professional sports.
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molested a very young child and keeps maintaining he's innocent.
Don't know if it is collusion or teams realizing that the guy is a psychopath.
niece or cousin
This distinction is vitally important to the story...
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Doing something they shouldn’t then?
I get it he did something that’s sick as fuck. But there are others in society who are in the same boat that get hired.
If he went through rehabilitation and is cured, he deserves a shot. If people don’t get 2nd chances after rehab, why have it?
He gets a second chance to live his life as a free man. That does not guarantee the right to be drafted and pursue a multi-million dollar career in professional sports.
This.
Also, I don't buy someone being "cured" of this. I don't think you do either, dep. Would you let him babysit your daughter for a day?
It would be PR suicide to draft and sign this guy. Unless he can prove he was compelled to pleaded guilty, his baseball career i is essentially over.
Having said that, there appears to be many facets to this story and plenty of people have plead guilty when they weren't for many different reasons. The fact is he was 15 and I'm sure his parents had a huge say in him doing what they thought was best for him. It sounds like no jail time for a minor and a supposedly sealed record is what they thought was best.
Another thing I've read is the girl's mother was going through a rough divorce and custody battle with his uncle, and there's reports out there that sounds a lot like the Woody Allen/ Mia Farrow deal with the girl being coached by the mother.
I'm certainly not taking his side in this as I don't know all the facts but based on the things I've read I don't want to just assume he's guilty because he plead to it. Even though it's such a horrible thing he plead to, I really want to know more before I pass any judgment.
That said, I think the teams know this is a PR nightmare for them and unless more things come out to clear him or shed serious doubt on his guilt, I don't expect any team to sign him, and I can't blame them for that.
You’ve got kids and are a teacher, I’m surprised you find this so strange. I wouldn’t let this dude anywhere near my daughter.
You’ve got kids and are a teacher, I’m surprised you find this so strange. I wouldn’t let this dude anywhere near my daughter.
But I am not asking him to be around kids. I mean he obviously had a very productive college career. He will get his degree. I am not condoning what he did. If he did it now, I would be a proponent of cutting his balls off.
My question I guess I should have asked is does it seem odd that the NCAA and Oregon state feel he is no threat and let’s him pitch but MLB doesn’t?
Even though he pleaded guilty six years ago, of late Heimlich has gone on the record and denied ever molesting the relative.
“Nothing ever happened,” he told The New York Times.
The victim’s mother was interviewed in the same story and said “there is no way he didn't do it," adding that her daughter has recounted “specific” first-hand details of abuse.
I don't think so.
Fifteen is plenty old enough to understand and doesn't get a pass in my book. The fact that he was/is attracted to a young child is sick enough but that he acted on it is horrible. You want to hire that guy be my guest but I pass.
And I seriously doubt there is any collusion. Who needs to collude about THAT? This is a simple case of normal people don't want anything to do with something like that.
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define cured because that makes no sense to me. Are alcoholics ever cured?
You’ve got kids and are a teacher, I’m surprised you find this so strange. I wouldn’t let this dude anywhere near my daughter.
But I am not asking him to be around kids. I mean he obviously had a very productive college career. He will get his degree. I am not condoning what he did. If he did it now, I would be a proponent of cutting his balls off.
My question I guess I should have asked is does it seem odd that the NCAA and Oregon state feel he is no threat and let’s him pitch but MLB doesn’t?
The MLB is a business with an image, no chance they risk that. Bad kids go to college all the time and are given a chance to achieve an education, he should be thankful for that and go lead a productive life outside of baseball.
My question I guess I should have asked is does it seem odd that the NCAA and Oregon state feel he is no threat and let’s him pitch but MLB doesn’t?
It is odd, but are we really going to rely on the moral compass of a college sports team? If Sandusky were somehow not in prison should an NFL team offer him a job because Penn State was OK employing him?
Plus if you signed him and he re-offended with a minor --- oh boy.
Link - ( New Window )
I get it he did something that’s sick as fuck. But there are others in society who are in the same boat that get hired.
If he went through rehabilitation and is cured, he deserves a shot. If people don’t get 2nd chances after rehab, why have it?
I don't think you can ever cure a pedophile. You may teach them how to not get caught or possibly reject certain feelings.
It's a PR issue and like it or not, best course of action or not, he plead guilty to molesting a 5 year old girl.
Is there another athlete in any sport who has been guilty of molesting a child? Serious question. I don't know the answer.
It's not up to the fans or anyone else to judge guilt or innocence.
but in a business like professional sports where image is everything, I'm not sure there is a more difficult position of weakness than trying to sell a child molester to fan base (and for good reason).
If you want to get into details of the case, be my guest, I just sadly (or not) don't think the details are the most important part of even extremely relevant to a pro team. the outcome unfortunately (or not) is more relevant than the details.
but I will say I find it shocking a family that religious would not put the ultimate judgment in god's hands and would agree to plead guilty if anyone was sure he did not do it.
and I've read all the reasons and that's the part that people will struggle to get past IMO. the guilty plea. this isn't something you take a plea for, at that age, IMO.
I think he would have a better shot at a major league career if he had been found guilty in court and then tried to prove his innocence vs pleading guilty to avoid 40 weeks in a juvenile detention center. It's not like he was looking at life. And sure there was the chance his brother could lose custody like the articles all said, but I fail to see how him going to court and being found guilty would jeopardize custody any more than pleading guilty.
but either way, I'll be surprised if a team signs him, but it will be a good test, when you have certain rare athletic abilities organizations find creative ways to justify things they normally wouldn't justify.
Another thing to consider is how will he be treated by teammates? There will be several players in the locker room that will want nothing to do with this kid.
I have to admit there are more issues to that story than I had realized. If he really didn't do it then it would be a horrible injustice yet it was his own family that accused him of it and ultimately he chose to plead guilty. I still don't see a team signing him but at least he is free to live his life to the best of his abilities even if it may not include becoming a MLB player.
It's a PR issue and like it or not, best course of action or not, he plead guilty to molesting a 5 year old girl.
Is there another athlete in any sport who has been guilty of molesting a child? Serious question. I don't know the answer.
It's not up to the fans or anyone else to judge guilt or innocence.
but in a business like professional sports where image is everything, I'm not sure there is a more difficult position of weakness than trying to sell a child molester to fan base (and for good reason).
If you want to get into details of the case, be my guest, I just sadly (or not) don't think the details are the most important part of even extremely relevant to a pro team. the outcome unfortunately (or not) is more relevant than the details.
but I will say I find it shocking a family that religious would not put the ultimate judgment in god's hands and would agree to plead guilty if anyone was sure he did not do it.
and I've read all the reasons and that's the part that people will struggle to get past IMO. the guilty plea. this isn't something you take a plea for, at that age, IMO.
I think he would have a better shot at a major league career if he had been found guilty in court and then tried to prove his innocence vs pleading guilty to avoid 40 weeks in a juvenile detention center. It's not like he was looking at life. And sure there was the chance his brother could lose custody like the articles all said, but I fail to see how him going to court and being found guilty would jeopardize custody any more than pleading guilty.
but either way, I'll be surprised if a team signs him, but it will be a good test, when you have certain rare athletic abilities organizations find creative ways to justify things they normally wouldn't justify.
All good points but at 15 years old I doubt his parents were thinking what would be his best shot at making a Major League team 7-8 years down the road. I'm sure their first priority then was right now. Should they risk a trial and guilty verdict followed by time in Juvie or take the plea, and seal the record.
Seems to me taking the plea was the best thing at the time for him and everyone else involved.
The problem here is optics - based on that conviction, I don't see how any team could withstand the PR backlash that would accompany signing him.
When he was a teenager, he and his family had a choice - go to trial, risk his brother losing custody of his children and him losing a year of his life (40 weeks), or plead guilty, where his brother would retain custody, and he'd hopefully have a sealed verdict that wouldn't really see the light of day, and he'd be able to play unnoticed.
That gamble backfired, and he's paying the price. If he was truly innocent that's unfortunate, but that was the chance he took. And if he's not innocent, then fuck him.
The problem here is optics - based on that conviction, I don't see how any team could withstand the PR backlash that would accompany signing him.
When he was a teenager, he and his family had a choice - go to trial, risk his brother losing custody of his children and him losing a year of his life (40 weeks), or plead guilty, where his brother would retain custody, and he'd hopefully have a sealed verdict that wouldn't really see the light of day, and he'd be able to play unnoticed.
That gamble backfired, and he's paying the price. If he was truly innocent that's unfortunate, but that was the chance he took. And if he's not innocent, then fuck him.
Pretty much my thinking as well.
One thing though, unless I'm mistaken the record would've remained sealed but he chose to have it opened and available to Major League teams in an effort to make him more draftable.
It seems his thinking was letting all the info out would confirm he wasn't hiding anything but it seems as though that backfired on him.
Yeah you may be right. I wasn't sure which came first though because if his juvenile record was sealed I don't believe he would've showed up on any database.
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him in a database of registered offenders that blew the lid on this, last year. I think Heimlich released whatever other information to the public in an attempt to gain some control over what was being said. I'm pretty sure he would much rather this never saw the light of day again.
Yeah you may be right. I wasn't sure which came first though because if his juvenile record was sealed I don't believe he would've showed up on any database.
Apparently, he mistakenly didn't update the sex offender registry with his current address, and that resulted in a violation:
Moran requested court documents in Washington state, where the molestation occurred. The public records reveal what happened and include a short admission of guilt written in Heimlich's own hand.
http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2017/06/why_we_published_the_story_abo.html - ( New Window )
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In comment 13987500 jcn56 said:
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him in a database of registered offenders that blew the lid on this, last year. I think Heimlich released whatever other information to the public in an attempt to gain some control over what was being said. I'm pretty sure he would much rather this never saw the light of day again.
Yeah you may be right. I wasn't sure which came first though because if his juvenile record was sealed I don't believe he would've showed up on any database.
Apparently, he mistakenly didn't update the sex offender registry with his current address, and that resulted in a violation:
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After those initial interviews had been conducted, Moran performed a routine background check - something we do on profile subjects. He ran Heimlich's name through the Oregon courts database and came up with this: Heimlich had been cited in April for failing to update his sex offender registration in Benton County.
Moran requested court documents in Washington state, where the molestation occurred. The public records reveal what happened and include a short admission of guilt written in Heimlich's own hand.
http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2017/06/why_we_published_the_story_abo.html - ( New Window )
Thanks for clearing that part up for me. I never knew Oregon unseals these type of juvenile offenses. Most states don't.
Btw, I agree with the reporters on publishing this story. It's a matter of public record in Oregon and a very important case/offense. It's not like they did anything underhanded to get the info and publish it.
Just FYI, his record has been expunged and he is no longer a registered sex offender.
In fact, the police report that he is was in reporting violation, which is how the Oregonian got tipped off in the first place, was in error.
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It is perfectly logical for baseball teams to avoid drafting a registered sex offender. From both a fan and locker room standpoint it is a non starter.
Just FYI, his record has been expunged and he is no longer a registered sex offender.
In fact, the police report that he is was in reporting violation, which is how the Oregonian got tipped off in the first place, was in error.
This is kind of getting lost in the fold.
He’s got his second chance. He’s not behind bars, is he?
Feel free to reach out and hire him. Put your name on it. Tell the entire company that you believe in second chances so you’re hiring a child molester. Reach out to your customers and let them know what a great guy you are too. I’m sure they’ll be very proud of you
There is no financial gain on the victim's mother's side to maintain that Luke is guilty.
Is it possible he is falsely accused? Sure. But is it also possible sports fans and the community are so desirous to see one of their own succeed and go to the pros that they'll either talk themselves into thinking he is innocent or even look the other way? We've all seen that happen before.
It's easy to second guess I admit that, but there are some things I feel comfortable saying I don't think I'd ever plead guilty to if I didn't do them regardless of whether it's in my best interest in the long run or not.
and child molestation falls into that category. the best thing you can say about this kid is maybe he got some bad legal advice, but you still don't know if he actually did it or not.
the other thing to consider is all these links and stories you are getting one side, repeatedly, you never hear much at all in any of these stories from the mother of the allegedly molested child. And you don't hear what led her to believe it took place to begin with. If you believe it didn't happen you are squarely in the camp of believing a mother 100% made up a lie saying her child was sexually assaulted by her 15 year old nephew - on more than one occasion.
I have seen some ugly divorces (both parent's divorced multiple times, siblings divorces, acquaintances with knock down drags out divorces) - I get it - people in love for eternity one day turn into mortal enemies the next, but accusing an ex-spouse's 15 year old brother of molesting your child seems beyond that. To what end? The mother seems to have kept with the story and it doesn't seem like it hurt the father (beyond the obvious strained family relationship)
It's complex and it's possible that unfortunately this kid is caught up in something he doesn't deserve, but if you are a pro sports team are you willing to take that risk?