Sex offender Tom Pollacci pleads not guilty to rape

Thomas Pollacci, 49, of Pebble Beach, appears in court Tuesday. He is charged with three felony counts of alleged rape of a woman he brought beaten and unconscious to the emergency room at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

[eleve]

This article raises so many issues:

Messrs. Worthington and Liu having found "no evidence whatsoever" that the victim was incapable of consent. I believe two undisputed facts in the case are that the woman had a blood alcohol level of 150% of the legal driving limit, as well as a skull fracture and intracranial bleeding. Most people would consider either of those to render a person incapable of consent. No doubt if either of these gentlemen had signed over the contents of their bank accounts in such a state, they would find a legal argument to make disputing the legality of such.

Mr. Worthington also "bemoan[s]" the public's reaction to news of Pollacci's arrest, worrying about the rumors and innuendo circulating on the internet sullying the family name. News flash, Mr. Worthington: intelligent adults are usually able to discern verifiable truth from rumor, innuendo and prevarication, and have come to understand the "information" on the internet is roughly equivalent in reliability to information dispensed by attorneys to the media.

Then there's the defense investigator, Mr. Lee, having "learn[ed] that...Pollacci...is neither a rapist nor a danger.". Is it supposed to be a comfort that this man, who (presumably) never "dated" Pollacci, thinks that? Why would his declaration be more convincing than the statements of the many women who have? Please arrange a "date" for your (daughter/sister/cousin/female loved one) with Tom Pollacci and let us know if you come to the same conclusion.

Lastly, Lee reports that one victim only reported her encounter as a rape after learning that Pollacci was known as a rapist. Is that unusual? What do we know about rape victims? They're ashamed and embarrassed, and fearful that they won't be believed. That does not, of itself, reduce her credibility.

[Pyro]

Defence attorneys get paid big bucks to put spins on the truth, some may want to call them lies.

This little predator needs go away for a long time, hopefully with the normal jail population who will, "take care of bussiness"

Any father who continues to support a 49 year old son who repeately over the past three decades has been a rapist/predator, is just as guilty. How about some tough love dad? Let him answer for his deeds.

Pyro
Churburna, Mexico

[Scared in Pacific Grove]

I was a teacher at Pacific Grove High School in 1975 when Tom Pollacci was a sophomore. His test scores revealed that his reading and comprehension were on a level with a third-grader. He was an exceedingly disruptive influence in the classroom and I wondered at the time what would become of him in later life. He's fortunate that he had his family liquor store income to support him for all these years, while they ignored his severe emotional problems.

Tom Pollacci desperately needs to be placed in a mental health care facility and carefully monitored until such time as it can be proven beyond any doubt that he will no longer prey upon women. Is he another sexual predator like James Lamb? Pacific Grove has more than its share of problems without adding the likes of Tom Pollacci to the mix.

P.G. doesn't want or need a "legend" of this type.

[Outraged]

Is Tom Pollacci another Michael Olivetti with affluent parents buying off their son's abhorrent, perverse behavior?

[Kevin]

Sadly, whether or not Pollacci's guilty (and he probably is), this case is going to come down to the fact that the Pacific Grove PD is going to have to overcome their long history of ineptitude when it comes to high profile crimes like this and piece together a solid chain of evidence for the DA to get a conviction. While I am doubtful, I hope I am wrong.

[American Patriot]

The Pollacci family is all about looking good, making money and callous disregard for the community. They are in part responsible for enabling Tom. They would never hire a stranger with Tom's history to work in their store, nor would nyone else hire him. A lot needs to change with the Pollacci clan. ur community needs to protect itself.

[mickey mouse]

Boo..HOO..HOO,are we really suposed to feel sorry for this SICKO,I totally agree his family is in denial.Im glad they posted a photo.Poor spoiled Tommy........................

[Luck One]

30 years ago when Mr Pollacci tried to victimize my sister and myself in the middle of the night-- he was met with a 357 pointed at him and was told if he ever returned to our residence he would be "SHOT". Guess it would have saved many people a lot of grief if we had shot him 30 years ago. This guy is truely a menace to society.

[Sam]

Nothing said in these posts matters at all. A jury will decide what matters and that is the bottom line.

[Bozotheclown]

Sam wrote:

Nothing said in these posts matters at all. A jury will decide what matters and that is the bottom line.

Then why did you bother to post?

[fly on wall]

I know Tom and have known him for years. Yes he is obnoxious,yes he is too forward,yes,I believe he did some wrong things in his younger years.However I do not believe he would brutally hit this woman over the head,as the newspaper stated,causing a concussion.She says she fell and that makes since to me.Whatever else happened, I have no idea,but I cant imagine him causing such a horrific injury as what happened to this woman.

[Sam]

Just trying to make a point, that's all.

[pacific grove resident]

The best encounter that could finally happen to make Tom Pollacci become a new person is to come to surrender to JESUS CHRIST--Short of this....NO HOPE!

[eleve]

fly on wall wrote:

I know Tom and have known him for years. Yes he is obnoxious,yes he is too forward,yes,I believe he did some wrong things in his younger years.However I do not believe he would brutally hit this woman over the head,as the newspaper stated,causing a concussion.She says she fell and that makes since to me.Whatever else happened, I have no idea,but I cant imagine him causing such a horrific injury as what happened to this woman.

I haven't interpreted what I've read regarding the victim's head injury to mean that he beat her and caused it, although no doubt that is being investigated. The point is that even if she slipped on some ice and hit her head hard enough to cause such an injury, in addition to being intoxicated, she wasn't in a state to consent to sex, as the defense is suggesting she did.

[Sheila in Carmel]

I agree with Fly on the Wall as I have also known Tom for many years. The comments here that judge him based on what's written in the paper are entirely unfounded. Leave him alone and let a jury figure it out once they've heard all of the details.

[Ex Carmel Valley Resident]

I actually remember Tom from when I was in high school during the early 1980s and he was a pervert then. He used to offer to give teenage girls free booze if they would make out with him. He wore incredibly tight jeans and was always inappropriate. Once while I was parked with a female friend on Ocean Avenue, he put his crotch against my driver's window (which thankfully was rolled up) and started stripping. He was/is disgusting. I'm only sorry I didn't report him way back then. Being 17 years old, I was mortified and didn't know what to do.

[concerned citizen]

I have known Tom for many many years. I have known him well enough to stay clear of him. I recall back around 1980 he was arrested or accussed of raping someone on Highway 68. His father bought him off then, was my understanding. Had that case been allowed to go forward it would have put him in the "system" where he belonged and odds are that alot of women would have been spared alot of grief and pain. Shame on the District Attorneys office as well as Toms father.
It goes to show you, money can buy just about anything.

[old local carmel]

Ive known tommy for forty years . he uses a tranquilizg drug when he about to his thing. All of us who know him have known this for years . I just wish the police would have tested his victims for any date rape drugs still in their systems

[Pat]

Outraged wrote:

Is Tom Pollacci another Michael Olivetti with affluent parents buying off their son's abhorrent, perverse behavior?

I thought Olivetti had long ago been forgotten, but you are right -- they are two of a kind.

[Seaside Resident]

Pyro wrote:

Defence attorneys get paid big bucks to put spins on the truth, some may want to call them lies.
This little predator needs go away for a long time, hopefully with the normal jail population who will, "take care of bussiness"
Any father who continues to support a 49 year old son who repeately over the past three decades has been a rapist/predator, is just as guilty. How about some tough love dad? Let him answer for his deeds.
Pyro
Churburna, Mexico

Actually I know of three women that his father raped, and stalked, so like father like son. I am hoping that the women will come together to (past victims) in support of the victim and finally put this long overdue monster in jail....and his father supports him because he taught his son how to rape and abuse and disrespect women, it is a known fact that he (daddy) repeatedly abused his wife as well....so why would this monster be the product he is.... hopefully this pattern will be broken now