Destruction of human remains/Memorial site

[Beancounter]

I know someone who has been convicted of destruction of human remains/memorial site.  I’m not sure of the case particulars, only the charge.  I’m not entirely sure what all might be entailed or what he actually did.  

Would any Forum member with legal expertise want to hazard a guess as to what this guy did?  Could it be as simple as knocking over a headstone or more serious, i.e., digging up human remains?

im not comfortable approaching the topic with him. 

[+ Pensant]

That’s pretty outré.

[+ sync]

I'm NOT in the legal profession, however, after a little snooping on Google, it appears that the definition and related penalties for that activity is determined by the state in which the deed occurred:

State Burial Laws Project - American University Washington College of Law

[Luv2play]

I'm fairly knowledgeable about the subject but only here in Canada, but I imagine the same principles apply in the USA. Anyone disturbing a registered grave site by digging up human remains is guilty of a criminal offense. Knocking over a gravestone intentionally would be an act of vandalism and also liable to a criminal penalty, although less severe. 

Disturbing unrecorded grave sites of human remains is covered by federal and provincial laws and requires one to immediately call the police and contact the provincial archeological authorities. They determine if the remains fall under criminal law (I e. are of a suspicious nature) or are pre-historic and fall under protection of provincial heritage laws. Failure to do these things will result in penalties depending on the circumstances.

[Beancounter]

Thanks for the information @Luv2play  and thanks to @sync for the link to state information.  The person I know that was convicted of these charges is actually an escort I think highly of.  That’s not the case now.  I’d have a hard time engaging his services now.  

[MscleLovr]

@Luv2play has given a comprehensive reply to your questions but I wonder @Beancounter if there’s perhaps a more innocent interpretation.

I know someone who (a few years ago) was restoring an old building to make a house for his family. The restoration and some new building was all properly permitted and he had all the necessary approvals. Yet the contractors accidentally extended the new building work too far…when the archeologists were called in, they found it had disturbed what they then concluded had been a slave burial ground. The person I know was found to be at fault even though it was inadvertent.

[Luv2play]

2 hours ago, MscleLovr said:

@Luv2play has given a comprehensive reply to your questions but I wonder @Beancounter if there’s perhaps a more innocent interpretation.

I know someone who (a few years ago) was restoring an old building to make a house for his family. The restoration and some new building was all properly permitted and he had all the necessary approvals. Yet the contractors accidentally extended the new building work too far…when the archeologists were called in, they found it had disturbed what they then concluded had been a slave burial ground. The person I know was found to be at fault even though it was inadvertent.

I'm fairly knowledgeable about the subject but only here in Canada, but I imagine the same principles apply in the USA. Anyone disturbing a registered grave site by digging up human remains is guilty of a criminal offense. Knocking over a gravestone intentionally would be an act of vandalism and also liable to a criminal penalty, although less severe. 

Disturbing unrecorded grave sites of human remains is covered by federal and provincial laws and requires one to immediately call the police and contact the provincial archeological authorities. They determine if the remains fall under criminal law (I e. are of a suspicious nature) or are pre-historic and fall under protection of provincial heritage laws. Failure to do these things will result in penalties depending on the circumstances.

[Luv2play]

The software von this site sucks. It repeats post already made. Making it impossible to post a reply.

[Luv2play]

Anyway, as I was trying to say, this is an interesting case. Timing is everything. If your friend carried on and did the work even after uncovering evidence of a burial ground, then he would have been found at fault for not notifying the authorities immediately. 

The problem is that when these discoveries are made on private property, it is the owner of the property who is on the hook for any expenses related to the archeological investigation and they can be substantial.

That is why some people will try to cover up or ignore the discovery of human  bones on their property.

[Beancounter]

I suspect you may be right @MscleLovr.  It’s like a guy taking a piss out in public behind a tree and being charged with public exposure.  On the surface public exposure sounds bad but delving into the details shows otherwise. 

I don’t think I’ll ever know the details of what happened.  

[+ nycman]

I would appear that this is information you found out by snooping around 
using the escorts personal information. Admittedly, this is something that is
quite commonly done in today’s world.

That doesn’t mean it’s morally sound to do so. Nonetheless, the deed is
done and now you’ve uncovered something that may, or may not, reflect
poorly on the young man’s reputation. 

Of course, the only reason you’re not confronting him directly with the
information you’ve uncovered is that you don’t want him to know that you
were digging into his private life.

So in essence you are protecting yourself while doing damage to his
reputation. Even if the damage is only in your mind and to your relationship
with him. Your judging him without giving him a fair chance to defend himself
seems at best unfair and at worst self-serving.

Man up, tell him about your little Nancy Drew escapade, face the shame, and 
give him a chance to explain. I believe you owe it to him. I’m sure others feel
differently. 

[+ augustus]

On 11/16/2021 at 10:04 PM, Beancounter said:

im not comfortable approaching the topic with him. 

I wouldn't be comfortable approaching him at all.    Maybe he's a grave robber.

[+ azdr0710]

On 11/16/2021 at 8:04 PM, Beancounter said:

im not comfortable approaching the topic with him. 

then don't.....forget about it and move on.......if it's a provider you really like to spend time with, you have a decision to make (keep meeting and stay quiet....or stop meeting)

but I do hope a lawyer here on the forum who knows about these things can offer an idea what this charge usually means in real life, as you wondered.....

[Luv2play]

I thought I had explained what the legal situation was concerning these types of incidents but maybe I am missing something in what the situation actually involved.