WeHo Politician Allegedly Luring Young Black Sex Workers to Their Deaths

[hypothetically]

Has anyone been following this story?

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6719975/Man-dead-Ed-Bucks-home-described-Democrat-donor-f-ing-devil.html

 

https://newsone.com/3846611/ed-buck-another-black-man/

 

[+ E.T.Bass]

Yes, I have. I don't understand why he isn't is jail. Maybe because the dead young men were gay and black?

Edited February 21, 2019 by E.T.Bass

[+ Seaninsf]

Sadly, I think you're correct @E.T.Bass, he's not in jail because they were gay and black and their deaths involved drugs and (maybe more importantly) he has money and is well connected.

 

The story did get a good bit of coverage (NYTimes, etc.) when it broke around the first of the year, but I've heard nothing in the last month or so.

[+ E.T.Bass]

Sadly, I think you're correct @E.T.Bass, he's not in jail because they were gay and black and their deaths involved drugs and (maybe more importantly) he has money and is well connected.

 

The story did get a good bit of coverage (NYTimes, etc.) when it broke around the first of the year, but I've heard nothing in the last month or so.

Even worse, if he was not white, he'd be wearing an orange jumpsuit long time now. The linked articles revealed more of a menace than our local news has been reporting. Absolutely frightening, a monster.

[BabyBoomer]

https://www.companyofmen.org/threads/another-young-black-man-dies--in-ed-bucks-west-hollywood-apartment.145427/

 

~Boomer~

[+ E.T.Bass]

The articles linked above allege some horribly nefarious behavior, similar to Cosby, yet worse because of the deaths.

[+ Charlie]

He is in the news again because of his relationship with John Duran, the mayor of WEHO, who is being urged to resign by almost everyone because of his own #MeToo sex scandals. Duran has refused to resign, and Buck has not been charged with any crime because although the two black men died at his home when he was present, the authorities have no evidence that he was responsible for their deaths.

[+ stevenkesslar]

Somebody needs to come up with a catchy slogan that millions of people can put on their cars as bumper stickers.

 

My favorite so far is, "Believe ............. but verify."

 

Or I'd settle for this: "Investigate, investigate, investigate." That's what the protesters outside Buck's house were calling for.

 

We now have a whole bunch of examples of variations on a theme. Jussie Smollett and Justin Fairfax belong here, too.

 

In all these cases, you have things that sound like horrible crimes on the face of it.

 

But you have denials. And you also have victims or witnesses who are easy to stereotype as "less than credible". A Black Gay former porn star. A woman who had restraining orders placed against her. A Nigerian drug dealer.

 

And it is a bit weird. You've got a guy who won't go to Buck's house, because he doesn't want to end up dead. And then he goes anyway, and ends up dead from a drug overdose? The cops did open a homicide case. Presumably, they did an autopsy and determined what drugs were in the guys body, right?

 

The other thing that doesn't quite make sense is that all the drug use and drug paraphernalia would seem to at least suggest a drug bust would be possible.

 

A coroner’s report confirmed that at the time of Moore’s death, Buck’s apartment was littered with drug paraphernalia including 24 syringes with brown residue, five glass pipes with white residue and burn marks, a plastic straw with possible white residue, clear plastic bags with white powdery residue and a clear plastic bag with a “piece of crystal-like substance.”

 

At the close of business Thursday, July 26, the L.A. District Attorney’s Office had rejected criminal charges against Ed Buck in the meth overdose death of 26-year-old Gemmel Moore, citing insufficient evidence.

 

https://www.jasmyneacannick.com/new-video-and-receipts-show-white-democratic-donor-continued-to-lure-young-black-gay-men-with-money-and-meth-while-under-investigation-for-homicide/

 

Yesterday there were articles about the lawyers for the two alleged sexual assault or rape victims of Lieutenant Governor Fairfax protesting that the Virginia Legislature will adjourn today without setting up a special counsel probe into the sexual assault allegations. The Virginia House Democratic Caucus said this week that law enforcement should handle it.

 

Every case is obviously unique. And we just learned from Jussie Smollett that it takes a lot of resources to investigate allegations. But we also learned that investigations actually often leads to results.

 

I hope what comes out of this is an all purpose standard that can expressed in a bumper sticker.

 

In Virginia in particular, it sounds like Democrats are asking for trouble this Fall. They seem to be ignoring calls for an investigation.

 

At least in Buck's case, there was an investigation. If you go to somebody's house and voluntarily shoot up drugs, I'm not sure what the legal basis is for a homicide charge.

Edited February 23, 2019 by stevenkesslar

[rvwnsd]

...And it is a bit weird. You've got a guy who won't go to Buck's house, because he doesn't want to end up dead. And then he goes anyway, and ends up dead from a drug overdose? The cops did open a homicide case. Presumably, they did an autopsy and determined what drugs were in the guys body, right?

 

The other thing that doesn't quite make sense is that all the drug use and drug paraphernalia would seem to at least suggest a drug bust would be possible.

 

A coroner’s report confirmed that at the time of Moore’s death, Buck’s apartment was littered with drug paraphernalia including 24 syringes with brown residue, five glass pipes with white residue and burn marks, a plastic straw with possible white residue, clear plastic bags with white powdery residue and a clear plastic bag with a “piece of crystal-like substance.”

 

At the close of business Thursday, July 26, the L.A. District Attorney’s Office had rejected criminal charges against Ed Buck in the meth overdose death of 26-year-old Gemmel Moore, citing insufficient evidence. ...At least in Buck's case, there was an investigation. If you go to somebody's house and voluntarily shoot up drugs, I'm not sure what the legal basis is for a homicide charge.

You make two good points. Here's another one: had they conducted a drug bust and brought Buck in they might have been able to get a murder confession out of him. Sounds like they didn't even try that. Then again, LA County Sheriff is not known for its brilliant investigative work. Perhaps that's why Smollett and his hot-shot LA lawyer didn't think CPD could figure out his case.

[+ Charlie]

You make two good points. Here's another one: had they conducted a drug bust and brought Buck in they might have been able to get a murder confession out of him. Sounds like they didn't even try that. Then again, LA County Sheriff is not known for its brilliant investigative work. Perhaps that's why Smollett and his hot-shot LA lawyer didn't think CPD could figure out his case.

Why would Buck confess to murder to get out of a drug possession charge? That would make no sense. It also doesn't make sense for Buck to kill someone in his own home and then call the police--twice! I think the most he might be charged with is manslaughter, if it could be proved he provided the fatal drugs, and apparently there isn't even enough evidence to charge him with that. He certainly sounds pretty sleazy, but that is not a crime.

Edited February 23, 2019 by Charlie

[rvwnsd]

Why would Buck confess to murder to get out of a drug possession charge?...

I didn't say he would do so to get out of a drug charge. There are detectives who can elicit information out of a suspect and steer the conversation so that the suspect caves. Alternatively, with decent questioning and police work they could have gotten enough evidence to charge him.

 

...It also doesn't make sense for Buck to kill someone in his own home and then call the police--twice!...

That's exactly why a suspect would do that. It doesn't seem to make sense, so what a great way to make yourself seem innocent. It usually doesn't work for parents who have killed their kids, but they usually don't live in West Hollywood.

[+ Charlie]

I didn't say he would do so to get out of a drug charge. There are detectives who can elicit information out of a suspect and steer the conversation so that the suspect caves. Alternatively, with decent questioning and police work they could have gotten enough evidence to charge him.

 

 

That's exactly why a suspect would do that. It doesn't seem to make sense, so what a great way to make yourself seem innocent. It usually doesn't work for parents who have killed their kids, but they usually don't live in West Hollywood.

Are you taking for granted that he actually did kill both men? And are you taking for granted that the police did do an incompetent investigation?

[+ stevenkesslar]

Why would Buck confess to murder to get out of a drug possession charge? That would make no sense. It also doesn't make sense for Buck to kill someone in his own home and then call the police--twice! I think the most he might be charged with is manslaughter, if it could be proved he provided the fatal drugs, and apparently there isn't even enough evidence to charge him with that. He certainly sounds pretty sleazy, but that is not a crime.

 

I think you're actually making my point, @Charlie.

 

What was interesting about that one report I cited is there was a massive amount of drug paraphernalia around, all of which probably had something to do with illegal drug use. That's not homicide, but presumably it is a crime. They could have gone after him for that.

 

And especially after the second incidence, I would think that a jury might actually produce a guilty verdict. I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know the fine points. But if you invite someone into your house to do something illegal, and they die, and then you do the same thing again, and they die again, it sounds like you could make a case that Buck might have had something to do with the fact that people ended up dying.

 

The part that would be hardest to prove was intent. But it would be like drunk driving. You didn't intend to plow into a child when you drove drunk. You just did it. The child is still dead. And you are still guilty of a crime, I think. This is worse. With alcohol it's legal, up to a point. With the drugs used here, there is no pretense of legality. You are injecting illegal drugs into someone's body, and that results in their death.

 

You are right that it would come down to proving the connection. Again, I'm not a lawyer. But it's not clear to me in a situation like this you would need to have witnesses who actually saw Buck injecting drugs he bought into someone's body, any more than you'd have to have witnesses that actually saw the drunk driver's car actually plow down the dead child.

 

I can see why Blacks would be pissed off, if the standard of comparison is that Blacks are stopped and frisked and end up in jail for minor drug offenses, like possession.

Edited February 23, 2019 by stevenkesslar

[Walker1]

Buck seems to be the male version of Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct.

[hypothetically]

Truthfully, I think Buck has some substantial dirt on someone and that’s why he’s not being prosecuted.

 

Also, I think it’s rather peculiar that they keep painting Buck as this “wealthy politician” who has given “generous donations” to the likes of etc etc etc.

 

I don’t mean to sound like I’m stigmatizing but Buck fits the description of any strung out older man looking for sex. I’d know, I’m forced to work with them more often than I’d like to. And that apartment they are protesting in front of certainly doesn’t scream “wealthy politician”...it screams public housing. And allegedly, per casual banter amongst LA friends, those donations weren’t stupendous. So I’m unsure as to why they keep painting this alleged killer as a beacon of virtue.

[Mocha]

Truthfully, I think Buck has some substantial dirt on someone and that’s why he’s not being prosecuted.

 

Also, I think it’s rather peculiar that they keep painting Buck as this “wealthy politician” who has given “generous donations” to the likes of etc etc etc.

 

I don’t mean to sound like I’m stigmatizing but Buck fits the description of any strung out older man looking for sex. I’d know, I’m forced to work with them more often than I’d like to. And that apartment they are protesting in front of certainly doesn’t scream “wealthy politician”...it screams public housing. And allegedly, per casual banter amongst LA friends, those donations weren’t stupendous. So I’m unsure as to why they keep painting this alleged killer as a beacon of virtue.

 

But why would you be forced to work with those strung out types? Its easy to walk away from those types.

[+ Pensant]

Truthfully, I think Buck has some substantial dirt on someone and that’s why he’s not being prosecuted.

 

Also, I think it’s rather peculiar that they keep painting Buck as this “wealthy politician” who has given “generous donations” to the likes of etc etc etc.

 

I don’t mean to sound like I’m stigmatizing but Buck fits the description of any strung out older man looking for sex. I’d know, I’m forced to work with them more often than I’d like to. And that apartment they are protesting in front of certainly doesn’t scream “wealthy politician”...it screams public housing. And allegedly, per casual banter amongst LA friends, those donations weren’t stupendous. So I’m unsure as to why they keep painting this alleged killer as a beacon of virtue.

I don’t get the “wealthy donor” bit either. He lives in a shabbily furnished dump.

[MikeBiDude]

Family member of victim files wrongful death suit:

https://ktla.com/2019/02/27/democratic-donor-ed-buck-sued-by-mother-of-man-who-fatally-overdosed-in-his-west-hollywood-home/

[body2body]

I don’t get the “wealthy donor” bit either. He lives in a shabbily furnished dump.

I live in WeHo and the building is a very average 60s era building. Mr. Buck does not “live” in the building. Mr. Buck rents the apartment the apartment as a place to go and have sex. The neighbors in the building report that there is no furniture other than a mattress and mirrors in the apartment. The difficulty the Sherriff and the DA’s office have is proving that Mr. Buck administered the drugs that caused the overdoses. Mr. Buck could be accused of Drug possession but unless it can be proven in a courtroom that he injected the two deceased men with the drugs that killed them, it will be very difficult to bring an indictment against him.

[+ azdr0710]

long-time Arizonans will remember Ed Buck for his effort to get the then-governor impeached back in the 1980s