Chump, sucker, fool, dupe, patsy? That's what I feel like. Choose any of them. Do you feel that way too?
The more I let it stew, the angrier I become with those who ignore this crime and seem to do little to solve it. We seem to have the original perpetrators, bad as they are, and those who enable them to not have to face the consequences of their actions, and I simply do not understand the latter! These are public servants who work for us, and we should demand accountability. OK, I'll admit there may be much I don't know here, but frankly I have a right to know it. So tell me!

CDD comissioners-- Are you listening to your constituents here?

Up the ante- increase the reward and publically voice your displeasure with the appropriate public officials.

Has anyone heard a public statement from the various CDD boards on this issue?

I can just imagine the lawsuits filed by the perpetrators. The $100,000 will be chump change compared to the lawsuit for libel, slander, false arrest to name a few potential causes of action. No way is the Sheriff, the developer or any other entity going to name anyone without some hard proof and that proof is going to be hard to come by.

Neighbors, and the guilty homeowner, are going to claim they thought the trees were being cut down by some government agency. They have no clue what neighbor did it or paid to have it done will be the response by all, even if they positively know who did it. Even with a lot of luck, proving this crime beyond a reasonable doubt will be difficult if the homeowner had even a modicum of common sense and some smarts. The odds are the folks who actually did the deed are going to keep quiet for fear of criminal charges.

Folks, let it go. Someone committed an obscenity and got away with it. No matter how much we would like to see the perpetrator(s) brought to justice, the odds are against it.

I think the people that benefited from the tree removal should be looked at a little closer. Maybe a set in at the address would work.We could have a pick nick. Even block the street. Lets face it that deal works just like the government of the US. You will never know. Money talks and BS walks. Bubba is alive and doing fine.

At least if you did this, SOMEBODY would get arrested.

Redwitch, by my observations you are always reasonable and nearly always right, and you certainly may be right about this, but isn't your take on this exactly what the original perps want the citizens of this community to do? All I want is to know the facts. If there is no evidence then so be it. But if wood is stacked in a yard, isn't it reasonable to demand to know why? And if it's not reasonable to know why, then tell me the rationale for that. If the body politic is paying the bill, then we have a right to know the facts and hear an explanation.

You sound like just the person to lead such an endeavor.

It just feels like "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." Hamlet 1.4

It would be nice if whichever entities investigated this crime would open their books, so to speak, so the public would be informed as to the processes followed, what was done, who was interviewed, what they said, and so on. Some details would be nice, thank you very much!

All we got was a broad brush conclusory statement that it was looked into and the perps could not be identified. What?

Exactly. Two questions should be answered; Is the Sumter County Sherriff's Office totally incompetent? If so, that should concern all residents. Or were they being asked to step down and look the other way. Also, this should be a concern to residents who pay their salary and now will pay the damages and fine.

The defense to libel, slander (defamation) is the truth. If it is true that the trees cut down in the restricted area contains the same wood stacked behind someone's home , a home located at the location of the criminal act then do you not have a beginning. Is there not enough of a question to pursue this investigation? I seriously doubt any one of those people strongly suspected of this misdeed would follow up on a lawsuit. They may threatened one but if they proceed then they allow a free hand (opened the door) at investigating this incident and for a criminal investigation there is motive and opportunity. And, for a counter civil suit against the alleged perps there is a breach of a tort ,injury and damages.

We need Professor Irwin Corey to weigh in on this.[emoji6]

"Folks let it go"
Why?

Why not get together and hire a private investigator? It shouldn't be that expensive and I would bet some answers would be found.

Well maybe, but I haven't heard the Fat Lady sing yet? But I am a bit hard of hearing

especially if they have mucho dinero

In one of my previous posts I made some suggestions about increasing the reward. It appears this tree removal is not going to go away (and it should not), and it appears the only way this is going to be solved will be to raise the reward to a level that someone speaks up. Maybe. we the people paying for this should take up a collection to increase the reward? I have no idea how this would be organized, but it would be interesting to see how much would be raised and if it would make a difference.
If no one came forward to claim the increased reward, the money collected could be held for a future incident, or donated to a suitable charity.
What do you think?

Actually I agree with barefoot because I have witnessed liars lie in court under oath and get away with it more times than I care to remember. But I learned the hard way it doesn't matter what is true it making those truths facts/evidence in a court of law.

We watched a President, a lawyer himself perjure himself. We watched a mother who killed her child in Florida walk free and continues to attempt to write a book for a big cash payoff. That is the reality and I recognize it is what we in America have become and worse yet people like this are rewarded

I personally continue to participate in this thread because of this and because of the same reasons many of you do and that's a demand for truth and the rule of law.

In this case its likely the perpetrators have already committed to their position and if so they lied and they will never recant those lies because of what followed this incident.

People can complain that this thread is done, beating a dead horse....but to me it is a clear example of the goodness, demand for fair play and demand for truthfulness and the rule of law of this, our generation

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"

See my signature

I'd be willing to bet that the Sheriff knows exactly who did it but has no hard proof. Circumstantial evidence rarely wins in a court of law. Personally, I really don't want my tax dollars thrown away on a trial that will go nowhere. I also sincerely hope that the neighbors are totally ostracizing this homeowner. Bridgeport Lake Miona has some pretty close knit friendships. It would be nice if these folks had a block party every week and made sure the perpetrators were never invited. At least it would be a little justice.

As to opening the files to show what the Sheriff has or has not done to investigate this matter, not gonna happen and, personally, I wouldn't want it to. That's not how our justice works today. Imagine if a file had your name in it as a possible suspect but you're completely innocent. Would you want your name bandied around?

The reason I say let it go is simply because I doubt there will ever be enough proof to do anything. Knowing who did it is just not enough. Even knowing who was hired is not enough. The individuals who physically cut down the trees might be brought to trial. They could even name who hired them but, without a physical trail, it be comes a he said/he said. Again, hard to convict under those circumstances.

And, finally, while truth is always a defense against libel and slander, you must be able to prove what you said was true in a court of law. Good luck on proving this one.

And I am now going to return to my world, with a sincere wish that the folks who had those beautiful trees removed get a very swift, hard kick in their self-entitled behinds by Karma.

Lots of persons whose opinions I greatly respect based on past posts on TOTV are suggesting that we forget this issue and move on. I am convinced that they are people of good will who simply believe that this fight is a loser and a waste of time. I get that. Maybe they are right, but I don't think we have to do that yet. At least I hope not. Whoever did this to us deserve for us to make them sweat, and to ultimately be caught and pay. I still believe that "right" can win if you fight hard enough and long enough. And if that is naive, then so be it.

I'm not asking that files be opened. I'm not asking that we go to court. I'm not asking for arrests. I'm not asking for sit ins or protests. I'm not asking anyone to name names. I'm not asking for any of these things......yet! I would simply like a rationale explanation from our Sheriff, our District Manager, the applicable Board of Supervisors, our local newspaper, or some other person in the know on the progress of what I believe should be an ongoing investigation. Just give me a reason other than "because no one is talking." Let me know, with details, that this is not a dead issue leaving only the citizens of The Villages en masse as the losers. Give me something other than "too bad, so just pay up and shut up."

Do you think you will get that by posting the question here?
If you are soooooooo interested, why not make a few phone calls and set up a meeting with those you think have all the secrets?

Very logical and well stated. This sounds like a question that should be asked at Welcome Wednesday: "Welcome Wednesday is a program designed to give residents the opportunity to learn about ongoing projects, address rumors and have their questions answered by District staff. Please join us each Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the District office located at 984 Old Mill Run to have the opportunity to hear first-hand about the latest rumors and meet District Board Supervisors from your CDD and others."

I respect everyone's opinions on this subject except the ones laced with sarcasm.

CF - I'm trying to figure out whether my post was laced with sarcasm or not. Oh, that's right, I don't even recallI if i posted on this thread. 👿

Ha ha! No, I always appreciate your humor & wisdom, and your lack of memory somewhat matches my own.:D

I agree with upping the reward and catching the crims. I don't agree with the public having to contribute. TV and the sheriff should be taking care of that part of it. Not that it will happen, but that's my opinion.

And we are sticking to it!

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit since its aim is to belittle or hurt someone, and to laugh at their expense; we associate the word 'cutting' with it.

.... and now back to this question of illegal tree cutting. I may be in the minority here, but I do not think that Ms. Tutt or the Developer have given up on this problem. I have heard that Ms. Tutt is like a dog with a bone and will shake it to death until the truth falls out!

Just for the record, there is not one ounce of sarcasm intended in any of my posts on this thread, and if someone mistook any of them for sarcasm, then I offer my most humble apology. I'm not sure to whom you were referring, and I prefer to think that it was not me, but I just wanted you to know that every word I said is sincere.

I also agree that neither the Developer nor Ms. Tutt had anything to do with the infamous cutting of the trees.

I'm not sure if this helps by posting here or not, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't hurt and maybe someone with authority reads this stuff too. I am interested Bogie. In fact I am sooooooo interested that I've asked these questions. Why don't I set up a meeting? Because others are getting paid well to do those things for us, and I'm hoping they pursue the issue.

You may be in the minority, but you are definitely not alone. I wholeheartedly agree.

Unfortunately, alot of residents are probably of the mindset that if there isn't any increase in my amenity/maintenance fees, I don't care. There is no such thing as a free lunch and somewhere along the way, we're all paying for it. I would rather have a little "bad press" than allow things like this to be swept under the rug. What will it be next time? :posting:

redwitch: It would be hard to argue against you except for the part of " even if they knew who cut down the trees...." because by knowing who did cut those trees marks them for the dirty deed and the responsibility and I doubt they would set back and take the blame alone and especially the restitution Its possible the homeowners known as the " interested parties" could have cut the trees themselves

We may not solve the mystery but responding to this thread is at least good therapy:D

Without reading back through all the posts, I am wondering if the trees have been replaced yet, and if so, were they put back in the original spots, covering up the homeowners' views? I certainly hope so.

I don't think the trees are being replaced with mature ones. Probably about the size of a reforestation tree. But they grow like crazy. In fact they may be 50 feet tall by the end of this thread.

Add me to the "minority" side. I also don't believe the Developer is using any influence, he may or may not have, to cover this up.

:1rotfl::1rotfl:

Post #435 wins my vote for best post. :eclipsee_gold_cup:

Chi-Town, thanks for the morning laugh. You have perfect timing, too. :) ......

Where oh where is Carl Hiaasen when we need him.......

I would be happy to offer him a working title.........Treed

Hi there Boom.


Treed it is!