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Public defender a parking vigilante?
By JOSE CARDENAS, Times Staff Writer
Published August 30, 2007
Courthouse regulars know to arrive early at parking-deprived Pinellas County Circuit Court. Joan Bonnain, 48, learned that the hard way Wednesday when a desperate move to find a space put her on a collision course with Public Defender Bob Dillinger. The result: a blocked car, a miffed driver and two parking tickets. It started when Bonnain, a witness in a case, arrived at the courthouse late for a 9 a.m. deposition. She searched in vain for a space for 20 minutes before parking her 1988 Mercedes-Benz in a reserved space. "I was afraid I would be held in contempt of court," said Bonnain, a telemarketer from Madeira Beach. "That's what the subpoena said." A few minutes later, Dillinger arrived to find no reserved spaces available. He was late for a meeting with Pinellas Chief Judge Robert Morris, State Attorney Bernie McCabe and Clerk of the Court Ken Burke. Dillinger parked his Jeep behind Bonnain's car. He told deputies about the illegally parked car and said he would be in a meeting with Morris. When Bonnain came out and saw her car blocked, she was angry. She was even less pleased when she received a $30 ticket for parking in a reserved space. Deputies told her the blocking car belonged to Dillinger. She wasn't impressed. "I got a ticket," she said. "It doesn't mean I should be blocked." Bonnain accused Dillinger of abuse of power. She urged deputies to tow the car or cite it. She threatened to call the news media. For an hour and 12 minutes, deputies searched for Dillinger. In the end, they wrote Dillinger a $30 ticket, said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Cecilia Barreda. As soon as his meeting was over, Dillinger said he sent someone to move his car. He said he wanted to avoid Bonnain because she was upset. Dillinger said he believes he received a ticket because Bonnain complained so loudly. "If she hadn't parked there, there wouldn't be a problem," he said. Jose Cardenas can be reached at 727 445-4224 or jcardenas@sptimes.com.
[Last modified August 29, 2007, 23:18:01]
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by Christian
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09/01/07 09:25 PM
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Hats off to the deputy who served this citation.
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by stacey
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08/30/07 03:51 PM
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and meanwhile, there are starving children in the world........
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by Roger
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08/30/07 01:45 PM
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Dillinger likes to throw his weight around. He abused the city of St. PEte during the homeless debacle, and now he's beating up on this woman. Quite the fella our "Public Defender".
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by Michelle
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08/30/07 12:18 PM
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My first problem is why did you send someone to move your car after the meeting? If that was an option why not send them on your way in the meeting? Second you have been towed it was abuse of power. Third will someone wake up and fix this problem!!!
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by marti
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08/30/07 11:42 AM
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please follow up and see if Dillinger PAYS his ticket.
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by Huh?
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08/30/07 09:46 AM
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Umm, so basically the PD took the law in his own hands? At the courthouse? While meeting with the SA? And he sees nothing wrong with this? Mmmkay.
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by Loretha
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08/30/07 09:36 AM
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What a pompous ass Dillinger is.
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by Dr_Dug
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08/30/07 09:32 AM
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Mr.Dillinger got a ticket for illegal parking..Not because Bonnain was loud. Mr.Dillinger IS Not above the law.And when did Dillinger start deciding on his own punisment to parking violations?Mr. Dillinger..Get to work on time and follow the Law !!!
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by Joe
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08/30/07 09:08 AM
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to bad dip head. Another form of abuse of power but in your case you have no power, just another idiot attorney
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by Em
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08/30/07 08:45 AM
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What a sense of entitlement this woman thinks she has! I guess she thought her Mercedes out-trumped a "reserved parking sign".
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by Paul
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08/30/07 08:26 AM
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So the public defender should get a ticket for parking in a spot that isn't a parking space and another ticket for blocking access. This guy is cop, jury and judge all in one? If anyone should realize the law, it seems it would be the pubic defender.
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by Sal
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08/30/07 08:01 AM
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This is TRIVIAL! Both deserved tickets, end of story...
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by Pete
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08/30/07 06:28 AM
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All that flat space around the criminal complex, no one ever thought of building up? A parking garage is in order, if only for staff.
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