What if your LBS owner was a felon?

[Adventure Girl]

Somewhat off topic, but I'd like to get your opinion on a rather odd subject.

A former pro cyclist owns a bike shop near me. To the cycling community, his name is fairly well-known. (I've even heard Phil and Paul talk about him on OLN during TdF coverage). The shop sells pretty high end bikes and equipment.

He was convicted of 10 felony counts including performing lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years and sex penetration with foreign object: victim under 16 years. This is a matter of public record, not just rumor or speculation. He served his sentence and is now on probation. He is now a registered sex offender.

So here's my question. Some of my cycling friends still patronize his shop. Would you?

[maillotpois]

Sounds like Jock Boyer.....

My feeling is, he did the crime, he did his time. Let him move on and run a bike shop. (If it is Boyer, he also just did RAAM). I would patronize his shop if it had good products and good service. That I don't know about.

The real question is, would I let my daughter patronize him shop, unsupervised. Em often walks into town by herself and goes into shops - the high end pet supply shop is her favotire. But if this person's bike shop was in town and she could walk there (at age 10) - would I let her? And I am just not sure. Most likely it would be fine - and certainly there would be other employees/patrons there. So I probably would. With some specific direction to her on the issue.

[Denise223]

No, I wouldn't.

When you hurt a child in that manner, you lose your right (in my opinion), to be a trusted "human being" <<-- I use that term lightly, too.

It has been proven again & again that child predators cannot be reformed.

There's really nothing to prevent him from hurting another child again!

Denise

[Nanci]

No, I wouldn't. I would feel like vomiting or ripping his willie off every time I went in there.

Nanci

[bcipam]

No, I wouldn't.

When you hurt a child in that manner, you lose your right (in my opinion), to be a trusted "human being" <<-- I use that term lightly, too.

It has been proven again & again that child predators cannot be reformed.

There's really nothing to prevent him from hurting another child again!

Denise

Denise - I'm right there with you. Just on moral principal I personally would not patronize the shop.

Of course my not patronizing the shop has nothing to do with the fact he would or would not hurt a child again. If I had the power, I would make sure others knew of this situation and that their children are protected. Sounds mean I guess, but a child's innocence is worth it! I would let others who patronize the shop know about the situation so they don't bring their children in there. I also believe he needs to be watched when he's away from the shop.

[maillotpois]

Maybe I am soft on crime.

I guess my response has to do with me knowing something about the case - if we're indeed talking about Boyer. My understanding was that he wasn't a serial child molester. While there were many counts, my understanding was it was all related to an incident with one specific minor. If those are the facts - then what he did was terrible and wrong. But I would probably go to his shop.

If he had been a serial molester, then the response would be more along the lines of what others have said.

[pooks]

One victim is one victim too many for me to want to spend money at that store.

[bcipam]

I second that!

[snapdragen]

I'm with MP on this one, I read up on the case. Things aren't always what they seem.

[Geonz]

I agree. There are lots of people doing things that cause egregious harm to others... they just don't get caught, or we don't react as viscerally. (Sweat shop products for starters?) If I, personally, **know** the story, I can decide. What am I supporting with the alternatives?

[KnottedYet]

If I knew he'd molested even ONE child, there is no way I could go into his shop, let alone spend money there.

Doesn't mean no-one else should, just means I wouldn't/couldn't.

I've done more than my share of work with child-molestation victims and seen the effects of a grown-up's uncontrollable obssession with children. From a personal gut-level stand point, I would not go to the shop, no matter how famous or good a biker he is.

[Selkie]

I'm with MP on this one, I read up on the case. Things aren't always what they seem.

I agree w/you, Snap.

[pedaddler]

no...
i think there should be a special place in hell for those who commit crimes against children.
i think he deserves to earn a living and he's done his time, but i would not knowingly patronize a convicted child molester's shop.

[Brandy]

A sex offender and the case was against a child under 12? Hell no. I wouldn't knowingly give him my business.