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f13.net  |  f13.net General Forums  |  General Discussion  |  Serious Business  |  Topic: Beware of psycho clowns at Burning Man. 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
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Author Topic: Beware of psycho clowns at Burning Man.  (Read 2224 times)
Shockeye
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Posts: 6668

Skinny-dippin' in a sea of Lee, I'd propose on bended knee...


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on: August 18, 2005, 01:34:45 PM

Quote from: AP
Tips Lead to Arrest of Clown Assailant

Aug 18, 3:28 PM (ET)

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A man dressed as a clown who assaulted another man and stole his bicycle at last year's Burning Man festival has been sentenced after the victim's friends tracked down the disguised assailant.

Dennis Hinkamp had to have two plates implanted in his arm after the attack at the annual counterculture festival on the Black Rock Desert.

Though his attacker disappeared into the crowd of painted and costumed celebrants, Hinkamp's friends launched an Internet search to find him.

They linked him to a group called Anarchoclowns, and finally to a hospital in Washington, where Johnny Goodman was a nursing student.

"If you're a nursing student in Seattle and you're a clown, you're pretty identifiable," Hinkamp's friend, Jim Graham of Felton, Calif., told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Goodman eventually confessed and was sentenced Tuesday in Pershing County to one count of conspiracy to commit theft, a gross misdemeanor, District Attorney Jim Shirley said.

Before sentencing, Goodman apologized to Hinkamp for hurting him and to the court for wasting its time, said Graham, who attended the hearing with Hinkamp, a resident of Logan, Utah.

Hinkamp said he accepted Goodman's statement.

"I generally believe he's remorseful for what happened," Hinkamp told the newspaper, but added he's not sure Goodman was taking full responsibility and might be blaming it on alcohol or a breakup with his girlfriend.

Goodman paid $21,000 restitution and was placed on probation for three years, Shirley said. He also was barred from Burning Man, prohibited from entering bars or casinos and must submit to drug and alcohol testing.

Hinkamp, who works as a Burning Man volunteer, said he was riding his bike away from the crowd gathered for the torching of the tall wooden sculpture that marks the festival when he saw the clown coming toward him.

"He pushed me over and the way I caught myself, I broke my arm," Hinkamp said. As he struggled to stand, the clown punched him in the face and kicked him several times, he said.

The clown rode off on the bike and Hinkamp was helped to the medical tent, he said. Once back in Utah, he was diagnosed with a radial head fracture and underwent surgery. He ended up with two plates and 13 screws in his arm, Graham said.

The clown might have remained anonymous had it not been for the efforts of Graham and others who immediately tried to find the culprit clown. They posted messages on two Burning Man Internet discussion lists asking for tips.

They soon learned the clown's name was Johnny and that he was part of a group of clowns who had gathered for the event.

In response to the Internet chatter, a person posted an apology, but didn't reveal his name. Graham turned the e-mail address over to a former-hacker friend, who traced it to a medical center in Seattle.

Graham began communicating with the clown, urging him to identify himself and saying it was only a matter of time before he would be found.

Goodman eventually came forward.

"I did a horrible thing and I should pay for it," his note said. "I don't know what came over me. I'm really not a psycho ... I attacked you and I am deeply ashamed."

Graham and Hinkamp turned the information over to law enforcement, and Goodman was arrested.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2005, 02:03:43 PM by Shockeye »
Paelos
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Posts: 27075

Error 404: Title not found.


Reply #1 on: August 18, 2005, 02:08:32 PM

From what I've heard of Burning Man, I wouldn't mind seeing the military pick the date and place as a good time for tactical missile tests.

CPA, CFO, Sports Fan, Game when I have the time
Furiously
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Reply #2 on: August 18, 2005, 02:25:56 PM

Love your fellow man?

tazelbain
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tazelbain


Reply #3 on: August 18, 2005, 02:55:02 PM

Given how big it has become, it does seem to be relatively trouble free. Kudos.
I understand Paelos, seeing freedom makes ya mad, but its a few days a year. No different than spring break.
I love these intenet withhunt stories, like the Half-life code theft.  Lesson: don't piss-off the nerds on the internet, they will hunt your ass down.

"Me am play gods"
Paelos
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Posts: 27075

Error 404: Title not found.


Reply #4 on: August 18, 2005, 04:44:05 PM

Yeah, freedom makes me mad...or something.

Apparently I can't run a Christian thread and make a kill-em-all joke anymore. Duely noted.

CPA, CFO, Sports Fan, Game when I have the time
Yegolev
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Posts: 24440

2/10 WOULD NOT INGEST


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Reply #5 on: August 18, 2005, 09:01:18 PM

Quote
As he struggled to stand, the clown punched him in the face and kicked him several times, he said.

Awesome.  He should have then tooted his wee horn.

Why am I homeless?  Why do all you motherfuckers need homes is the real question.
They called it The Prayer, its answer was law
Mommy come back 'cause the water's all gone
tazelbain
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tazelbain


Reply #6 on: August 18, 2005, 09:02:58 PM

Yeah, freedom makes me mad...or something.

Apparently I can't run a Christian thread and make a kill-em-all joke anymore. Duely noted.
I have stayed out of that thread. See, Satan hasn't completely corupted my evil athiest heart.

Anyway, you go extreme in one direction. I go extreme in another.  Its a crazy internet.

Gonads and Strife!

"Me am play gods"
Samwise
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Posts: 19324

sentient yeast infection


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Reply #7 on: August 19, 2005, 12:37:24 AM

Anyway, you go extreme in one direction. I go extreme in another.  Its a crazy internet.

If you think Paelos is "extreme", don't go to the Midwest.  Your evil atheistic head would probably explode.
tazelbain
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tazelbain


Reply #8 on: August 19, 2005, 06:31:32 AM

I don't think Paelos is extreme. I think his "nuke the hippies" comment was extreme.

Fuck, I live in 'bama now. Luckily, I blend in.  Splinter Heathen.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2005, 08:59:39 AM by tazelbain »

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Paelos
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Error 404: Title not found.


Reply #9 on: August 19, 2005, 08:43:37 AM

In the words of Nelson Muntz, "Gotta nuke something."

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Samwise
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Reply #10 on: August 19, 2005, 09:02:49 AM

Are there any actual hippies left at Burning Man?  I was under the impression that it's gotten "trendy" now.
Sky
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Reply #11 on: August 19, 2005, 09:58:02 AM

Hey, now. Easy on the anti-clown rhetoric!

 wink
voodoolily
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Finnuh, munnuh, muhfuh, I enjoy creating new written vernacular, s'all.


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Reply #12 on: August 19, 2005, 10:01:13 AM

My buddy Danno used to run the Black Rock Nerd Sanctuary there. Last summer my friend who works for Nike went to do "research". So yes, it is trendy now.

Call me crazy, but the idea of getting wasted in the middle of a desert for a weekend just sounds like inviting the buzzards to me. voodoolily + intoxicant + daylight + heat = bad.

Voodoo & Sauce - a blog.
The Legend of Zephyr - a different blog.
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