Story Archive

Crime and Punishment

Aleksander Robin Tomaszewski, 33, being held in the Lane County (Ore.) Jail after being booked for stalking and first-degree sexual abuse, told deputies that the detectives who came by the jail to interview him had beaten him up, and “repeatedly” said he wanted to press charges. For sure, his face was covered with fresh bruises consistent with a brutal beating. Tomaszewski’s holding cell was covered by security cameras, so they played back the recording and saw Tomaszewski punch himself in the face at least 45 times, creating his own injuries. “When he learned that the incident was caught on camera, he admitted that he thought making the claim would get him released,” a sheriff’s spokeswoman said. Tomaszewski, whom newspapers were careful to describe as “a California man,” pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and filing a false report, and was sentenced to 40 days in jail, three years of probation, and $600 in fines. (RC/Eugene Register-Guard, Portland Oregonian) ...So he was beaten by his own game.