Official Statement of TarValon.Net Regarding Riley Robinson

[Jordan Rayne]

That's probably true, and it may not be as easy for him, but I also hope it's not extremely complicated for him. I feel terrible for the members who had their money stolen, the Site, but also for Riley. I can't help but wonder what pushed him to do such an awful thing, something so abnormal for him.

 

[Hilwa Katir]

Much appreciated.

I am so sorry that we are going through this..

 

[Sela Narian]

If it's not rape, or murder, or something equally monstrous, why should it follow someone around for the rest of their lives? Especially when what they do for a living is in NO way related to their crime?

Because laws have been put into place which declare his actions illegal and lay out the consequences, as they did for your situation. You served the sentence required by the law and determined by the courts. If all theft were all the same, laws would have the same definitions and the same consequences for every sort of theft. If you disagree, you disagree, but that doesn't change the fact that the laws he broke contradict your beliefs. The law is what the courts will follow.

As for his living not relating to his crime...Riley is certified as a mental health therapist. In my opinion, it would be unfair to his clients not to inform the board which issues his certification. When the going gets tough, he takes from people who have formed a decade-long bond of love and trust with him. If he would do this to us, I doubt his ethical obligations to his clients would be any stronger. I would not ever want a therapist with such low moral standards in such a position of trust and power over my mental stability.

 

[Leese Sulan]

Sela for President. \o/

 

[Deoan Kakarot]

In the event that the site files a formal complaint and charges are pressed, the concept that this is a first offense will be considered by the court, especially during sentencing. Short circuiting this process because we may have done things we're not proud of doesn't change the fact that there is a system set up by the people to handle situations like this, and people that are experienced in dealing with this system. The legal system (prosecution, judges, the whole bit) are the system that should handle it, and our lawyer (Hammar (love it)) is our (the site's) lawyer.

Now, I want everyone to know how I feel about it. If the site decides to file a complaint and Riley gets the maximum sentence under law, it is *not* the site, or us, that has ruined his life. It's Riley that ruined Riley's life. I know a lot about this, my brother has been in prison for over 17 years now. He was sentenced to 30 years, with a minimum of 15. NOT ONCE as his direct family member did I blame the person that filed the criminal complaint against him. It was always his fault for having committed the crimes.

If he chose to do it. If he is guilty. If the prosecutor decides to press charges. If the court finds him guilty. If the judge sentences him to a life-crushing sentence despite it being a first offense (if it is). NONE of this means that the site has ruined his life. It means he did. So please, please stop talking about this as though it was the site's fault for getting embezzled from, and allow the legal system to act in its role: from Hammar and the Board gathering evidence to the courts if that is decided to be necessary.

 

[Zashara Sho'am]

If the site decides to file a complaint and Riley gets the maximum sentence under law, it is *not* the site, or us, that has ruined his life. It's Riley that ruined Riley's life. I know a lot about this, my brother has been in prison for over 17 years now. He was sentenced to 30 years, with a minimum of 15. NOT ONCE as his direct family member did I blame the person that filed the criminal complaint against him. It was always his fault for having committed the crimes.

If he chose to do it. If he is guilty. If the prosecutor decides to press charges. If the court finds him guilty. If the judge sentences him to a life-crushing sentence despite it being a first offense (if it is). NONE of this means that the site has ruined his life. It means he did. So please, please stop talking about this as though it was the site's fault for getting embezzled from, and allow the legal system to act in its role: from Hammar and the Board gathering evidence to the courts if that is decided to be necessary.

This. So, this. Thanks for summing things up so eloquently, Deoan.

 

[Jadira Paerael]

This. So, this. Thanks for summing things up so eloquently, Deoan.

Amen

 

[Alyria Ess]

In my heart, I forgive him, but that doesn't mean I don't think the law shouldn't take it's course. The two things can go together. I don't think I'm alone in that.

 

[Kelgan al'Moranwin]

In the event that the site files a formal complaint and charges are pressed, the concept that this is a first offense will be considered by the court, especially during sentencing. Short circuiting this process because we may have done things we're not proud of doesn't change the fact that there is a system set up by the people to handle situations like this, and people that are experienced in dealing with this system. The legal system (prosecution, judges, the whole bit) are the system that should handle it, and our lawyer (Hammar (love it)) is our (the site's) lawyer.

Now, I want everyone to know how I feel about it. If the site decides to file a complaint and Riley gets the maximum sentence under law, it is *not* the site, or us, that has ruined his life. It's Riley that ruined Riley's life. I know a lot about this, my brother has been in prison for over 17 years now. He was sentenced to 30 years, with a minimum of 15. NOT ONCE as his direct family member did I blame the person that filed the criminal complaint against him. It was always his fault for having committed the crimes.

If he chose to do it. If he is guilty. If the prosecutor decides to press charges. If the court finds him guilty. If the judge sentences him to a life-crushing sentence despite it being a first offense (if it is). NONE of this means that the site has ruined his life. It means he did. So please, please stop talking about this as though it was the site's fault for getting embezzled from, and allow the legal system to act in its role: from Hammar and the Board gathering evidence to the courts if that is decided to be necessary.

Very much this.

 

[Neisa Alibrylla]

Agreed with Deoan, and to emphasize one thing he and (I think) Zasha said:


It's time we stop supposing what Riley is thinking or doing right now. It's time we stopped assuming that this is the first offense he has ever done- how would we know if he's done only one wrong thing or many? How would we know what Riley is thinking? The person many of you claim to have known "so well" just got caught doing something illegal, something "so out of character." Perhaps, just perhaps, this isn't the first time he's done something sketchy. I'm not supposing anything about Riley- just trying to suggest that we stop making guesses or predictions- or- hopes- on what will happen, when as Deoan says, there's a reason why we have a legal system in place.

 

[Loira Al'Ramoidra]

This. So, this. Thanks for summing things up so eloquently, Deoan.

Amen

Yeah.

 

[Tazren Talamar]

This. So, this. Thanks for summing things up so eloquently, Deoan.

Also agreed.

In my heart, I forgive him, but that doesn't mean I don't think the law shouldn't take it's course. The two things can go together. I don't think I'm alone in that.

You are not alone in that. I don't see the two as mutually exclusive, either.

 

[Kitan Tataru]

Thanks, Deoan. Even though I'm in favor of some sort of legal action, I didn't think about it in the way you said (perhaps because I've never really known anyone who's gotten in any trouble beyond traffic tickets). Thank you

 

[Hilwa Katir]

Regardless of how we feel Andwin is right, there are going to be many people who will think twice about donating to the Site and that is troublesome to me. On the other hand... In the short run..

We now have to find out ways to have our donations go directly to charities instead of to us..or even find a way to have
payments go directly to a venue instead of us, as in the case of Fall Ball..

This is a problem but not one we can not overcome..this Site has been here for over 11 years and this is the first problem we have ever had of this sort..we shall overcome..

My friend, bridesmaid and sister of my heart describes this Site when we are talking about it to others..she is not on the Site and refuses to read "the books".. calls everyone here as my "other family" whom I love almost more than my real family".. losing Riley hurts..but I have not "un-friended him" on facebook nor will I. He is the black sheep of the family right now, and will remain so for a while.. but I must say, that in real life, time is the healer of all wounds...and I'm hoping that in the next ..who knows how long... I will be able to see something on his page and be able to hit like..

Right now..not so much...


I agree with Jeffan about our lawyer...


nods


It's been said before, but again, I thank our board for their actions and quick response during a difficult time..

Prayers, goodwill, thoughts etc and so forth are being said on your behalf daily...

 

[Hilwa Katir]

I don't think we can or should make that decision until all the facts are in - and that may take a while...

Alaria,
For us, what more information do you need?
The way I see it, he was in a position of power, he abused it and now we/the law are sorting the facts out.


Ariana,
HUGS

 

[Deoan Kakarot]

We now have to find out ways to have our donations go directly to charities instead of to us..or even find a way to have
payments go directly to a venue instead of us, as in the case of Fall Ball..

You have always been able to donate directly to charities. However, a large part of the reason that groups get discounts is that the things we're getting discounts from don't have to individually deal with 50 people. They get to do it more efficiently, so it's cheaper for them, so it's cheaper for us.

More importantly, the site isn't taking our money right now. Not until they feel comfortable that they have a process that they feel comfortable with. They removed the person that took the money, and followed through on the obligations. No Tower member was actually directly affected by these actions. Indirectly, sure, but not directly. That's like saying that you'll not donate to the Red Cross because someone stole medical supplies from one of their tents. It happens. New processes are made to protect the life blood of this community.

I have donated in the past. I will donate in the future. I will not let the actions of one person decide my actions going forward. Just because he did not love this community does not affect my feelings towards it.

I will be patient. And when the administration feels comfortable accepting funds again then I will look at the procedures they outline at that time and move forward as I see fit. I think it's a bit pre-emptive to start trying to figure out a way to not be with the group during Tower parties, or to harm our ability to get a group rate.

 

[Alaria Celentari]

Alaria,
For us, what more information do you need?
The way I see it, he was in a position of power, he abused it and now we/the law are sorting the facts out.


Ariana,
HUGS

Ariana,

Without going into details that could constitute speculation, I'm thinking of things like how long this has been going on, what his reasons were for the theft, whether or not it was a first-time offense, etc....

This does not excuse what he did in any way, but these are the kind of questions that could affect how I personally feel about the situation.

s, Alaria

 

[Gwendolyn Bashier]

Thank you for the update and responce.

 

[Leese Sulan]

That's Hilwa, not me.

I think she was just sending me hugs. :P

 

[Zashara Sho'am]

We now have to find out ways to have our donations go directly to charities instead of to us..or even find a way to have
payments go directly to a venue instead of us, as in the case of Fall Ball.

Basically, you are saying that the result of this is that the Tower shouldn't ever handle money again, but the person who caused this entire thing is just a 'black sheep' and you may be able to forgive him one day. At least, that's how I read it.

We really don't have to do any of this stuff.
As Deoan said, a person can donate to a charity directly if they are worried about the charity getting the money. The Board also made a statement that the charity funds were not affected. The system we have for donating to charities has not been compromised.
In terms of paying for the venue directly, event ticket costs aren't just for the venue. They also cover food, which in the case of Anni parties is typically bought by the food committee from local grocery stores. They cover any activities that might be included, like the cruise for the NYC Fall Ball. They cover things like event insurance, equipment rental, and other miscellaneous costs. There is no question about how our events teams handle these kinds of things, at least in terms of what Riley did.

Right now, what we need to do is to let the Boards and Hammar collect all the information they need to sort things out. Then, I'm sure they will have a discussion about finances moving forward.