Another raid based on a simple accusation...this time against David Copperfield

[Manedwolf]

Hope they didn't break anything. I'm sure some things will be "missing"...

Cops: Seattle Woman Claims David Copperfield Raped Her

Friday , October 19, 2007

A Seattle woman has made a rape claim against magician David Copperfield, law enforcement sources tell FOX News.

The woman told Seattle police the magician raped her while she was in the Bahamas, sources told FOX News. Because the alleged incident happened abroad and the woman did not report it until she returned to the United States, Seattle authorities turned over the case to the FBI.

On Thursday, FBI officials raided a Las Vegas warehouse used by Copperfield. A Seattle FBI Agent Robbie Burroughs said Thursday that the case was related to one in Washington.

"The investigation is related to a Seattle case. The Seattle case is pending and that means we can't say anything about it," Burroughs said.

Copperfield has been contacted by law enforcement authorities and the FBI has conducted an investigation in Las Vegas, where the magician regularly performs, his lawyer and the FBI confirmed.

Copperfield's Las Vegas attorney, David Chesnoff, told FOX News that possible sexual abuse claims against the illusionist were false.

"If in fact those are the allegations, unfortunately false allegations are all too often made against famous individuals," said Chesnoff. "But we are confident the investigation will conclude favorably."

"We are in touch with the investigators, and are respecting the confidentiality of the investigation," he said.

Copperfield has a warehouse in Las Vegas that he has dubbed the International Museum & Library of the Conjuring Arts. He apparently stores tricks and memorabilia from around the world at the warehouse.

"I can confirm that there's investigative activity at the warehouse," FBI Special Agent David Staretz, spokesman for the Las Vegas office, said Thursday. Staretz wouldn't give further details.

KLAS-TV reported that an FBI raid with 12 agents took place Wednesday at Copperfield's warehouse.

Copperfield, 51, has been a longtime performer at the Hollywood Theater at the MGM Grand casino-hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, where he has performed in six- to eight-week stints several times a year, said MGM Mirage Inc. spokeswoman Yvette Monet.

Monet said Copperfield performed two shows Wednesday night, which were at the end of his most recent run. Monet said Copperfield was next scheduled to perform in Jakarta, Indonesia.

[AZRedhawk44]

I'll bet that some trade secrets get spoiled.

Seriously... why on earth would there be evidence in his magic museum or performing stage of an alleged rape that occurred 4000 miles away?

[Laurent du Var]

So he gets to be Claudia Schiffers finac?
and then he  rapes a woman on the bahamas
and then the FBI raids his warehouse with twelve agents ! 

That reminds me a little of :

This picture is not explainable

[ilbob]

why is the fbi investigating a crime alleged to have happened in the bahamas by searching a warehouse in las vegas?

in fact, why is the fbi investigating a crime alleged to have happened in the bahamas at all?

[HankB]

Why is the FBI involved in raiding Copperfield's warehouse for alleged crimes that took place in another country?

Are the Bahamas now under FBI jurisdiction?

Have charges been filed in the Bahamas, or have Bahamian authorities requested extradition?

On what basis was cash stolen seized by the FBI?

[Chris]

Okay, let's be sure and put the blame where it lies.  If there is indeed no evidence of a crime which was committed within U.S. jurisdiction, let's slam the federal judge/magistrate who signed off on the search warrant.  If there's not enough evidence to support a finding of probable cause, the warrant shouldn't be signed.  It ain't that hard to say no.

[ilbob]

Okay, let's be sure and put the blame where it lies.  If there is indeed no evidence of a crime which was committed within U.S. jurisdiction, let's slam the federal judge/magistrate who signed off on the search warrant.  If there's not enough evidence to support a finding of probable cause, the warrant shouldn't be signed.  It ain't that hard to say no.

LE has gotten very good at getting warrants. The courts have told them what weasel words and phrases to use, and thats what they do. A clever LEO can get a warrant on anyone, if they really want to.

If you want to get a big laugh, read a few warrants some time. It will open your eyes up a lot.

[JonnyB]

The afternoon nooz stated the the feebs confiscated $2 million in cash at the warehouse. What're the chances that Copperfield ever sees that bundle again?

a) Slim
B) Fat
c)None

jb

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

maybe he cashed his paycheck and hadn't been to switzerland to deposit it

[Perd Hapley]

Charges should be dropped.  David Copperfield would certainly not rape a woman. 

[Waitone]

If charges prove false, I hope Mr. Copperfield goes after Madame Perp hammer and tong. 

[Thor]

What makes me angry about this situation is that the woman waited until she got back to the US to file rape charges. She's ruined any forensic evidence. At this point, I don't see how she could even come close to proving rape. The evidence they confiscated MAY be of some assistance, as there was a camera, a computer and other stuff that could help her case. However, I don't see where the FBI could even proceed as it allegedly happened in the Bahamas. I'm pretty sure that doesn't fall under US jurisdiction. I think Copperfield will have a myriad of lawsuits to file after all is said and done. All in all, it just goes to further prove that the US is moving ever closer to a true police state.

[Chris]

Okay, let's be sure and put the blame where it lies.  If there is indeed no evidence of a crime which was committed within U.S. jurisdiction, let's slam the federal judge/magistrate who signed off on the search warrant.  If there's not enough evidence to support a finding of probable cause, the warrant shouldn't be signed.  It ain't that hard to say no.

LE has gotten very good at getting warrants. The courts have told them what weasel words and phrases to use, and thats what they do. A clever LEO can get a warrant on anyone, if they really want to.

If you want to get a big laugh, read a few warrants some time. It will open your eyes up a lot.

Maybe I should introduce myself to you, ilbob.  See, I was a criminal prosecutor for 14 years, and now I'm a magistrate.  I've written maybe a hundred warrant requests in my old career.  Mainly meth labs, but a couple of computer cases and a sex offense or two as well.  And, yes, I have laughed at more than one warrant request, though.  In my county, all warrant requests had to be reviewed and written by a prosecutor before being presented to a judge.  I still remember getting a call on Christmas day a few years back.  A man hit another man in the head with a ball bat.  The suspect was seen running into an apartment buiding with 8 apartments.  Officer on the phone wanted me to leave friends and family to request a warrant for one apartment.  When I asked how they knew it was that apartment, the response was that it had to be, as it was the only one where no one answered the door, and all teh lights were off.     Turns out the guy went in one door and out the back, and the dark apartment was vacant.  Glad I didn't bother a judge with that garbage.

[Hawkmoon]

why is the fbi investigating a crime alleged to have happened in the bahamas by searching a warehouse in las vegas?

in fact, why is the fbi investigating a crime alleged to have happened in the bahamas at all?

DING!!!!!

Go to the head of the class.

Also, why did the FBI confiscate $2 million in cash from the warehouse? How does cash in a warehouse possibly relate to an alleged rape that took place in a foreign country?

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

the fbi is involved since the crime involved us citizens while overseas  nothin new here   and did the amount of cash increase by 40 mill or are we dealing with the usual flexible facts

[Hawkmoon]

...and did the amount of cash increase by 40 mill or are we dealing with the usual flexible facts

Nope. We're dealing with the usual fumble-fingered typist. Look carefully at your keyboard, and see what's above the '4' -- I slipped and missed the shift key.

I fixed it -- thanks for the catch.

[De Selby]

What makes me angry about this situation is that the woman waited until she got back to the US to file rape charges. She's ruined any forensic evidence. At this point, I don't see how she could even come close to proving rape.

A credible witness to the crime is proof.  I don't believe that every rape accusation should be required to come with CSI style evidence to prove the case.

The evidence they confiscated MAY be of some assistance, as there was a camera, a computer and other stuff that could help her case. However, I don't see where the FBI could even proceed as it allegedly happened in the Bahamas. I'm pretty sure that doesn't fall under US jurisdiction. I think Copperfield will have a myriad of lawsuits to file after all is said and done. All in all, it just goes to further prove that the US is moving ever closer to a true police state.

Agreed with the camera idea-I wonder if any documents will hit the net to show us what they were really after, but I would be on this if I had to.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

cool  2 million is barely explainable  but 42 mill in cash would be suspicious  i thought that we had the usual multiple 1/2 facts from the media

[Warren]

Maybe David should be more careful with what he pulls out of his pants.

And I don't get the whole raid the warehouse-sieze the money angle either.

[Unisaw]

I heard on the news today that the FBI has now stated that it didn't seize a cache of cash.  As usual, it doesn't pay to get your panties in a bunch over initial reports.

[Firethorn]

Maybe David should be more careful with what he pulls out of his pants.

This wouldn't be the first false accusation of rape/molestation against a famous person either.  I'm not saying that this situation is false, just that false accusations have happened.

A credible witness to the crime is proof.  I don't believe that every rape accusation should be required to come with CSI style evidence to prove the case.

How do you define 'credible'?  I certainly wouldn't want to see another Duke type situation occurring.

I certainly don't need CSI style evidence - but I do want 'beyond a reasonable doubt'.  To me, that requires multiple witnesses or at least some physical evidence.  DNA samples, evidence of struggle, video tapes, even sound tapes would all help.

It gets especially complicated if it's a case of 'date rape' where the woman at least initially consented.  I especially dislike the cases where the woman decides that she doesn't consent the day after.  For example, one case the man and woman were actually in the act, the woman said 'no, stop', he stopped pulled out, and presumably went to sulk*.

Afterwards she reported it as rape to the police on the urging of female friends, and he found himself up on rape charges - because he was 'in' when she said 'no'.

*I know I would.

[De Selby]

Firethorn,

How do you define 'credible'?  I certainly wouldn't want to see another Duke type situation occurring.

I think it depends on the complainant's story.  If the witness can answer questions, appears credible in her speech, and has a consistent story with details that tend to confirm the account, that's pretty solid proof to me.

I don't agree with requiring physical evidence, because especially in rape cases, the issue isn't the physical act, it's the state of mind of the particpants.  You are looking for consent, not whether or not a sexual act occured, when you investigate the crime of rape-and only a witness can give you that answer. 

It's always possible for accusers to lie-that's true of any crime, like assault.  I don't think it's any more likely or troubling when a sex crime is alleged. 

[Matthew Carberry]

Given the potential risks of being convicted of a rape charge, prison time, sex offender registration, permanant loss of rights, I expect that innocent until proven guilty should rest on more than he said/she said.

It is far too easy to seem "credible", and the reward for accusing a famous wealthy person too lucrative, to not expect more than just the word of one or more people.

[Firethorn]

It's always possible for accusers to lie-that's true of any crime, like assault.  I don't think it's any more likely or troubling when a sex crime is alleged. 

Yes, but as carebear points out, rape has far greater consequences, and in some ways is far easier to fake than something like assault - which generally has a battery component and therefore physical injuries.

Meanwhile if you get the right investigation department* they'll practically lead the woman on in what to say to get the guy.

*Not necessarily a good one, one that's too dedicated to 'getting the rapist'.

[Manedwolf]

Three words.

Duke

Lacrosse

Team