Has Sierra Madre Prepared for the Return of Bob Matheson Next Month?

The standing joke in Sierra Madre is that since the Police Department can never talk about an ongoing crime investigation, chances are pretty good that they'll never talk about it at all. The investigations continue basically until people forget about it, at which time the entire futile enterprise just disappears.

Which perhaps is the reason for not talking about anything. After all, what is the point of encouraging public speculation on issues that are just not going to resolve well? The EVG investigation being a good example. The only time we hear about that one is when it's raised here as an example of local law enforcement inconsequence. At which time we invariably hear from the SMPD that the investigation is still continuing, but naturally they can't talk about it.

The Robert Matheson situation is perhaps the most discussed criminal case here in recent years. Or at least it is at the resident level. But as far as any official discussion goes there has been an almost complete news blackout. As a matter of fact, the only time either the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem even acknowledged the arrest of the noted Sierra Madre resident and bon vivant in Nova Scotia for trafficking in child pornography was after some pointed public comment from Fay Angus regarding their complete lack of leadership on the issue.

But the gist of their comments that evening were to deny that they had anything to do with the crime. Which, while certainly a relief for all concerned, was also a rather odd confession for them to make since nobody, and certainly not Fay Angus, had ever once suggested that they did.

But enough nostalgia. I received a "Google News Alert" e-mail yesterday from The Chronicle Herald (click here), the newspaper straight out of Halifax, Nova Scotia that first broke the news about Robert Matheson's run in with the law there over the laptop loaded with child pornography he was carrying. And it now appears that another traveler of his behavioral ilk was popped at the very same place as Bob a month later.

Child porn case may lead to plea bargain - An American who allegedly had child pornography on his laptop computer when he arrived at the Halifax airport in December is trying to work out a plea bargain with prosecutors.

Edward Manak, 22, of Webster, Mass., returned to Dartmouth provincial court Thursday to face Customs Act charges of smuggling and possessing illegal goods and a Criminal Code charge of possessing child pornography.

Either child pornographers are somehow strangely drawn to Nova Scotia, or the authorities there are just really good at catching them. The article then had this observation to make:

Last October, agents at the airport found child pornography on the laptop of a man from Sierra Madre, Calif. Robert William Matheson, 67, pleaded guilty in December to possession and smuggling charges. He was sentenced to 108 days in jail on top of the 12 days he spent in custody before he posted bail.

So let's see, Matheson was sentenced to 108 days in jail on Dec 13, which means he will be released on or about March 30. Or next month if you choose to view it that way. And since it took the notified agency, U.S. Homeland Security, a full two months before they searched his million dollar wickiup on Liliano, chances are reasonably good that whatever evidence might have been there at one point was long gone before the Fab Feds got around to doing their jobs. After all, Bob did have a roommate, and then there was also the young man he was traveling with on that fateful day back in October. He had been returned to the U.S. a week later.

Now I could be wrong, of course. It doesn't happen too often, yet nobody is perfect. But if no evidence was found at Matheson's by then scrubbed home, there might not be any legal reason to put the guy in jail when the Canadians expel him from their country in March. Much less try him in court for anything. And if this does turn out to be the case, apparently it will mean that Robert Matheson will be returning to his Sierra Madre home a free man at the end of next month. Presumably to pick up the pieces of his shattered life and seek some peace.

I do know that the City doesn't like to discuss such topics with residents, and certainly not when it is something as unpleasant and controversial as this. But I do have a question for them. What arrangements has the City of Sierra Madre made to deal with this contingency?

I think it is a fair one to ask.

Bonus Coverage

Pasadena Star News: "Sierra Madre residents suspicious of planned development" (click here)

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