The LA Daily News is reporting additional details and various candidate reactions to the Johnny Pride teenage rape allegations.
First, details of the allegations:
On Feb. 27, Pride bought alcohol for the two girls, Scopp said. They separated and the girls went to a nearby park, but later went to Pride’s Valencia apartment after he sent them a text message. There, he allegedly gave them more alcohol and then molested them, Scopp said.
The girls later reported the assault to police on March 2, Scopp said. It is unclear what the relationship between the girls was, but both were acquaintances of Pride, Scopp said.
Pride’s father, Gerry Scarpitta of Yuma, Arizona, also added some color relevant to a number of comments made on the earlier SCVTalk posting.
Pride’s father said his son was fired after an arrest for trespassing during a track meet at Canyon High School, which he also attended as a student. Scarpitta said his son tried to persuade school officials to let a family who couldn’t afford the entry fee see the meet for free.
…
Pride’s father said his son changed his name from Johnny Scarpitta for professional reasons. Pride appeared on reality television shows including Fox’s “The Battle of the Bods” and ABC’s “The Conveyor Belt of Love,” both dating shows in which he was shown wearing Speedos or underwear
The Frame ?
Pride’s father, Gerry Scarpitta, believes his son was framed to derail his City Council bid. While acknowledging his son was arrested at least once before for trespassing at a local high school, Scarpitta characterized that arrest and Thursday’s as examples of “harassment” by Santa Clarita authorities.
“It just seems so blatant because here he is running for City Council and this suddenly comes up like this,” Scarpitta said in a phone interview from Yuma, Ariz. “They’re trying to make him sound like a serial rapist, and he’s not. John would never do anything like that.”
Candidate Reactions
Weste
Laurene Weste, Santa Clarita’s mayor and a council candidate, said she was saddened by the news.
“In Santa Clarita, nothing is more important than our families and our children. It’s the kind of community we are,” Weste said. “If this is true, it’s a violation of trust of the highest order.”
Gauny
“I think it’s sad,” said candidate and business owner David Gauny, who added that Pride’s support of small businesses resonated with him. “He had some ideas that were pretty good, but I don’t know that he’s been out there enough to be a serious candidate.”
Schultz
“I am shocked,” said Henry Schultz, a retired Amgen scientist who met Pride for the first time at a candidate forum Thursday, just before Pride was arrested. “I wouldn’t have expected it.”
Observations
1) If true, the text messages would be damning evidence against Pride and enough to warrant the arrest. They could also be validated rather easily by the mobile carriers. The recency of the alleged crime also makes gathering corroborating witnesses and physical evidence much easier.
2) Assuming #1 is substantiated, Pride could be left with the treacherous argument of “I didn’t know how old they really were,” or worse, put the victim on trial. Either that, or argue that the long arm of the City Council incumbents extends to the telecommunications giants. After all, there was the deal at last week’s CC meeting to approve a T-Mobile tower on City property…
3) Oh, and what things our beloved valley is being recognized for these days. The AP and LA Times picked up the story, as did the (formerly much more local) LA Daily News and our local ABC and CBS affiliates – who reportedly interviewed our friends at the SCV Moms Blog this evening on this story.
Loading ...
Wow….he should withdraw from the race. Shame on the father for his unsubstantiated allegations against the local sheriffs. The fruit does not fall far from the tree.
Johnny Pride framed to derail his City Council bid? Why do people live in parallel universes.
http://www.scvmomsblog.com/profiles/blogs/johnny-pride-arrested-our
Framed? Really?
Why would anyone want to frame a virtually unknown pretty boy to derail his election bid to a medium sized town? They actually think he was considered a “threat” to the good ole boys?
blazingmonk found JP’s myspace page last month, and if you go there now, 4 of the 11 comments are from (self-reported) 17 or 18 year old girls–Jill, Lauren, Emmie, Amanda. And he’s 26, right?
http://www.myspace.com/330358084
From The Signal article it is clear that there were warnings signs on his Myspace page, and yet someone sat on this information and took his word that his account had been hacked. This was news worthy and should have been available information for the public to consider. One might even surmise that the incident involving the girl’s might not have happened if he had been publicly “outed” or put on notice earlier. Everyone assumed that Pride might bring some color to a dull campaign-so he was protected by those who proclaim Vigilance Forever on their masthead.
What happened to the other post? W/the creepy Utube videos?
FWIW…..I don’t speak the language the girl who posted to his page was typing in. Whats with EXTENDING the length of the words? Is that a teenager thing?
FWIW, I’m not much older than Mr.Pride and even without the allegations, he strikes me as quite a bit creepy/immature. I had a family and kids and and 401K was a homeowner (for the 2nd time) when I was his age. I certainly wasn’t hanging out with teenagers (who can’t spell, did she mean ‘beer’ when she asked about a bear?) or making random Youtube videos with teenagers or working (and getting fired) from crappy part time jobs.
Okay. Just looked at the myspace and the teenager in the creepy video is probably 16YO sister. Less creepy on that account, still creepy as a total package.
This is where someone’s image and habits play a part in whether we’re inclined to assume guilt. If these charges had been made against another candidate, there would still be some doubt.
As the mother of a 14 year-old who looks older, and as an observer of teenage girls in general these days, I have some modicum of doubt still. Pride is no doubt immature and not very bright. I can see a scenario wherein, being very attractive, young teens who appear to be older would give chase and find themselves in a situation where they would be regretful of their behavior and worried about the possible consequences. That is not to say that Pride should bear no responsibility; but statutory rape is different from forcible rape. Interesting that the girls did not report the incident until 3 days after it occurred.
Regardless of whether he’s guilty of this heinous crime, at the very least, the guy is a liar and has some serious character flaws. His judgment as a 26 year old guy on MySpace with relationships with underage girls, never mind the fact that he lied to a room of hundreds of people… he is missing something upstairs.
I haven’t seen anyone write about this part but he complained he couldn’t hear Thursday because he had been at a boxing audition the day before and hit in the head. Maybe he was… but by whom?
RM:
So we can put you down in camp of Whoopie Goldberg in that statutory rape is not “rape rape?”
They reported it 3/2. He wasn’t arrested until 3/4.
No, no, and no.
I am saying that it can be hard to tell how old a teenage girl is. There is no date stamp that I’ve seen. When my daughter was 13 and shopping at the mall, she was approached more than once by adults who began asking her questions about the merchandise, believing her to be an employee. And she gets a lot of attention from males whenever we are out.
Roman Polanski knew how old his victim was. Johnny Pride may not have had a clue. That does not mean that what Pride allegedly did was right or that he should escape punishment. But I do think that it is unlikely he is a dangerous in the same way that say, John Gardner is.
I hope that if Johhny Pride walked up to my daughter and offered her alcohol and then sent her a text message inviting her back to his place, she would have the brains to decline both. The girls in question did not. I feel sorry for them — sometimes we learn the hard way. They were lucky if they escaped without an STD or unwanted pregnancy.
The alleged rape occurred Feb. 27. The girls did not report it until March 2.
I was raised in a household with 3 older sisters. I have 2 daughters (heck, even my dog is female). I’ve always counted myself amongst those in the Womens’ rights and equality in the workplace camps etc.
But I get what RM is saying. I also believe in the concept of innocent until proven guilty. We have a system of justice. Until he has his day in court, I believe it is only fair to let it run it’s course.
If he’s guilty, there will be plenty of time to talk about what a creep he was…
Let’s say he’s innocent (as much as it makes me vomit).
He is still a pathological liar who sat in front of hundreds and not only misrepresented himself but lied to all of our faces as he tried to gain our trust and protect our families by serving on the city council.
If he didn’t do it, I feel sorry that this has exploded like this. But it doesn’t make him not a creep.
RM:
Since you have daughters, I can’t believe I am reading your “apology” for statutory rapists. This is the reason we have informed consent laws. A 14 year old cannot possibly consent in a mature way to sexual contact. But I guess since they are not dead in a shallow grave on a hiking trail it is not that big a deal.
As for the “late report” that just doesn’t hold any water. Victims of assault, especially statutory rape, are often confused about what actually occurred (I guess they should be with attitudes like yours still out there) and it takes some time and consultation with family and friends to build up the courage to report. Luckily there are SVU detectives that take that job because they don’t think the underage victims were “asking for it.”
Well, I’m a patholigical devil’s advocate so here goes:
Jackie, I went to JP’s MySpace. While the posts from the obviously very young girls are, shall we say, disconcerting, I didn’t see him responding. Shall we deem him a creep for what someone else posted on his site?
As far as him being a pathlogical liar, I’m not sure how you determined that. Patholgical? Really? If a would-be SCV politician lies about being on a PTA to garner votes, I guess I would have to respond, gee, I think I can point to worse behaviour by our current City Council…just review SCVTalk’s archives.
He may very well be a creep. If the investigation confirms that and more, then by all means, let him have it.
But I hate to see a previously TM-Endorsed candidate get tried and convicted in the SCV press…that’s not the “Awesometown” way to roll!
Oh give it up, Tim. Nowhere did I “apologize” for Johnny Pride. Nowhere did I say that because “they are not dead in a shallow grave that it is not that big a deal” or that the girls were “asking for it.” You are misrepresenting what I said in the most despicable way.
I would never have given Johnny Pride my vote for City Council before this incident. But you were quite willing to do so in spite of the smut on his facebook account and his numerous questionable modeling and acting assignments. I was the one who questioned his excuse that his accounts had been hacked — you were quite content to believe it.
Your judgment was questionable then; it is no less so now.
A 14 year old cannot possibly consent in a mature way to sexual contact.
Huh? Have you even been around any fourteen year olds in today’s world recently? Johnny Pride is acting the way our overly sexualized pop culture expects immature man-children to act. Those 14 year old girls were acting the way our overly sexualized pop culture expects 14 year olds to act.
I don’t excuse the guy either, but the 14 year olds should also be held accountable for their stupid actions.
I don’t care who endorsed him, he’s a tool. I worked in reality TV long enough to know that some people will do whatever it takes to get in front of an audience. He was an absolute joke at the luncheon the other day. Yes, people lie. But to try to represent himself as this model citizen in front of hundreds of people, he has no concept of reality. Even my three small kids know when to keep their clothes on and not to lie.
I agree that 14 year olds should be held accountable. But NO person deserves what Pride is accused with. Plus, there’s scientific research that teens’ brains are still forming and they really can’t make smart choices just because you want them to. http://www.sfn.org/index.cfm?pagename=brainBriefings_Adolescent_brain
“But I hate to see a previously TM-Endorsed candidate get tried and convicted in the SCV press…that’s not the “Awesometown” way to roll!”
I think what makes this “Awesometown” is our ability to stand up for what’s right and protect our innocent kids — first and foremost.
We SHOULD protect our innocent kids.
14 is a tricky age to be sure. Old enough to want independence, young enough to make poor decisions not taking into consideration the consequences. If what happened to those girls is as the story states, it is a parent’s nightmare.
But that isn’t really what I commented on.
I’m not supporting JP.
I’m supporting our justice system. Not perfect, just the best we have.
I’m suggesting we allow it to work before we jump on the dogpile and convict before the trial.
Jackie, is it your opinion that we dispense with the trial and lock JP up?
LOL, Scott. Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Seriously?
What I’m saying is that if he’s been arrested and the allegations have been investigated, our first job is to do what it takes to get through to our kids the dangers that are out there that maybe aren’t so obvious to them. If my talking about it helps a mom stop and think “yikes, I haven’t talked to my teen about anything like this,” then I know I’m doing the right thing.
As a 17 year old girl, I would get drunk and pass out, putting myself in HUGE danger. But it never occurred to me that I was at risk for anything other than getting caught by my parents. Education about the dangers is key, but it can’t come in the form of lectures. I hope there are teen girls around the SCV and beyond who use this as an example of the dangers of drinking and losing the ability to protect themselves.
I don’t suggest we lock him up without a trial. Quite the opposite… as a mom of three — one of them a girl — it is my opinion that I lock HER up until she’s 30 to keep her safe from all of it. But since I can’t, I just hope that I can find the patience and perseverance to help her get through those years unscathed.
I’m an innocent-until-proven-guilty sort of guy too, but as it concerns matters that we discuss here, rarely are these matters accompanied by a criminal conviction. As far as it concerns Johnny Pride as a candidate and by extension, a public figure, I think it’s fair to piece together a patchwork of troublesome associations, dishonest pathologies and what not to make a preliminary judgement on whether the allegation is serious and credible enough to have it factor into our assessment of that public figure. Is he worthy of dismissal? Sure, but we already knew that. Any praise offered here was strictly ironic. Is he worthy of contempt? Given what we know and the probability of what’s yet unproven, I’m sorry, I’ll say yes.
In the public square, it doesn’t make much sense that we will hold people up to scrutiny in one manner, but when an allegation gets to a certain point, we are somehow asked suspend that scrutiny. That may be fair in the absence of a pattern of behavior or in light of a credible defense, but I don’t generally ascribe to it. That said, I’m glad our justice system does.
How much time Mr. Pride serves in jail, if any, is another matter which won’t be decided by election day.
Jackie, I have a client that advised me (I’m also a parent of three, 2 girls) that teenage girls should be locked up at the age of 14 and not released until at leat 20.
Both of my girls have made it past that dangerous age (one is 24 and one is about to turn 18). I would like to think that because of my mad parenting skills, they would never have done what is alleged these girls did. While mad parenting skills may have been involved, luck, I know, was also.
It did sound to me like you would have advocated passing on a trial, that’s why I posted in the first place.
I’ve been involved in litigation support for many years, and it always bothers me when I see this sort of trial by press. If JP is found to be innocent (however unlikely you may believe that possibility) will the same people and newspapers make as big a stink about how he was unjustly accused? Of course not.
Use this to teach your children. Until convicted, leave his guilt or innocence to the courts.
Scott,
If it is found that he is, in fact, innocent, I will stand on the corner of Valencia and McBean flipping a sign that says I was wrong about Johnny Pride.
Because that’s how I roll.
Mike, I get what you’re saying and I find it hard not to agree. I’m going to stop just short of publicly convicting this guy of rape (or rape rape).
He’s guilty by past associations and behaiour of the following in my opinion:
1. Douchebaggery
2. Dangerous liaisons
3. Public deception (I’ll spot Jackie on this one)
But rape is a significantly higher category of offense and I can’t make that leap. Many others have done (sadly enough) similar to what we know he has done…how else could “reality” TV have lasted so long?
I’m screen printing your last comment Jackie, and I’ll hold you to it and join you on the corner… just because that’s the way I roll…
BREAKING NEWS: Pride released due to insufficient evidence. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14526098
Wow…
Jackie, can we make it next weekend? I’m making sourdough bread just now and I’m in the midst of a delicate proofing stage…
;.)
Let’s wait til the fat lady has sung. I have to get my Bedazzler out to bling out my sign.
OK fine. I was going with body paint but I just noticed my supply is low.
That was fast. I’ll have to default to my prior assessment of “douchey”, but in a mega-douche kind of way.
I would never have voted for this person. I never took him seriously. I wondered if ‘he’ took ‘himself’ seriously, or was this (his running for a city council seat) just a publicity stunt; something he could add to his portfolio?
With all that being said, this case should be investigated, FULLY and THOROUGHLY! This crime allegedly took place on Feb.27th. If these girls were harmed and scared, that is understandible, however I would first question why this was not reported for several days to the authorities? How could these girls not tell ANYONE about this occurance? If he has admitted to contributing to minors, then he should be charged with that, at least and for that crime alone, he should be wirthdrawn from the race…IMMEDIATELY and with no hesitation!
Just my opinion and thoughts on this very disturbing case!
Johnny would never do this~ what happened to innocent until proven guilty? For one thing he NEVER drinks! He is a very kind person that would NEVER do these unthinkable acts!
Jackie~ get that sign out~ because he is innocent!!!
I don’t know the guy, Justice. I don’t know anything about him. ‘IF’ he provided (bought) alcohol for these 14 year old girls, then that in itself should be easy to prove…where, when, etc. If he is proven ‘innocent’ and there is no proof of that he provided alcohol, then I believe that without physical (DNA) evidence of the other allegation, all charges SHOULD be dropped and charges should be filed against the girls for ‘false charges/arrest’.
I have always believed in ‘innocent before guilty’ and I am the first to give a person the ‘benefit’. My concern is that this man’s history seems to indicate that he likes the ‘lime light’ and the attention.
This is very sad in every way; for the girls, Mr.’Pride’ and our city. When I saw this in the paper, it was another negative story that has come from this city.
I hope this is not true; however if it’s not, then these girls are going to be the ‘negative’ story and ‘why’ they would make these false allegations.
Johnny ~ would never buy alcohol ` and not to minors. These girls concocted this story for attention, and now they are recanting, because they can’t keep the lie going. It’s sad that everyone believes this to be true already. What if you were accused of this and you were innocent, sadly it would wreck your life. This case will be dropped because it never happened~ but Johnny’s life has been wrecked because of it. I know Johnny and I know he doesn’t drink NEVER, and he is not a pervert.
Justice,
Who said the girls “recanted” their story? They’re still investigating and reportedly moving forward with DNA.
Justice, I believe you because you are very passionate about this. I too have known someone very close to me that was wrongly accused (as you say Johnny has been) and it did change his life FOREVER! He was in prison jail until he could make bail; he went through 2 trials (one deadlocked,the other aquital) and he was never the same. I am not going to accuse Johnny of anything; innocent people are accused of crimes they did not commit. Sadly, it happens.
You seem to have a close connection to this case and obviously to Johnny. The D.A. has to act unbiasly in this case. Sadly, whether the girls recanted, there’s no ‘proof’ or the D.A. doesn’t have ‘enough’ proof, doesn’t change the fact that these charges were made and EVERYONE’S life (even the girls who may have made false allegations) has been changed, forever.
Part of DNA testing often entails blood type matching. Depending on which facility and tests the sheriff’s department is using, there are preliminary DNA tests that can be done while waiting for fuller results in a few weeks. But the blood type matching comes more quickly and, because it is part of the DNA process, is often referred to as DNA testing, even though it is tangent to that.
Here, testing played a part in exonerating JP. It is likely that his blood type did not match.
Interestingly, police units generally don’t question tests when they come in positive. They just accuse the person they’re holding and move on. But when tests come back negative, they will often “question” the testing, hoping for something better to help convict the person.
I am not aware the girls have recanted. If they did, I’d certainly be interested. Accusers sometimes do not recant until years later. We’ve all heard those stories. But, other than their statements, there were no other items of evidence to substantiate their stories. And preliminary tests (possibly blood type matching) came back negative. That exonerated him.
The sheriff’s department tends to ALWAYS say that they are still “investigating.” It’s just something they do. They rarely tell us when they are done.
I would like to think that someone falsely accused can get their life back. But it doesn’t seem like people are willing to do that.
NickelDime,
I am grateful that you did pull that earlier article/posting. Frankly, I had not expected that. I think that perhaps you don’t really mean you stand by “every” word since, minimally, you had posted a JP video that was not actually this JP. But I understand what you are saying and do appreciate that being pulled. Obviously, I had felt strongly about it. Thanks again for that.
ML
Johnny will be back and he will make a statement to try to put out the fire, now is not the time though. Can you put yourself in his shoes? There is a lot of finger pointing, and remember there is such a thing as Karma~ Johnny is not perfect, but he is the type of guy that helps everyone, not harms people. I know it’s always the way for people to come forward defend someone and then they turn out to be guilty. But he is the opposite of what he is accused of, and so far removed from being a predator. When the truth comes out I want to see those signs out on Valencia and McBean~ Thank You lvogel for your comments~you must be a good person~I am finding that is rare in this “fire storm” of accusations against Johnny.
If you’re so sure of Johnny and stand by your comments, why do you go by “justice.” There’s nothing worse than an opinionated, yet anonymous, commenter.
Jackie, I can think of many things worse than an anonymous poster. Someone willing to condemn an innocent man is but one example. I would certainly think you would be aware that, even for those posting names, many are pen names which they anonymously use anyway. No guarantees. So “Justice” is just as good as Mary Smith, for example. You aren’t looking for Justice’s identity in order to personally attack him, are you? I certainly hope that is not the case. I like “Justice.” Let him keep it. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I agree with Justice, too!
What interest does the Contra Costa Times have in this news story?
Petz, the Contra Costa Times website is just running the article from the Daily News. I think they are owned by the same company.
Timothy, you really think that the small city counsel of Santa Clarita Valley is going to take steps to frame Johnny Pride. Come on. Frame him. What do you people think. This is a no body trying to get on the city counsel. Theirs no frame job. Just a stupid young man that cant ad, and keep his picker to himself.
John “pride” drugged and raped a girl I know.
JP does not do drugs. He is against drugs. Period.
Rape charge is a serious crime. JP is innocent.
I know with all my heart that he is guilty.