Junction City Man Accused Of Committing Hate Crime Held In Jail

A Junction City man is behind bars, accused of committing a hate crime. Junction City police say 54 year-old Thomas Stawski is charged with criminal threat and aggravated intimidation of a witness.

[family member]

Thomas is not a racist...he is a kind person with not a mean bone in his body. He was not raised like this and has no history of behavior of Hate in any kind. Yes he may have made mistakes, but I believe this is a case of 2 neighbors that did not get along and had conflicts over Thomas's dogs. It could of been handles better by both parties....but Why has it become a "race" issue? Just because you dislike a black person does not mean you are racist. Family and Friends will testify for him on his behalf.

[I dunno]

"Police say almost a year ago, Stawski sent several pieces of paper in the mail to the victim depicting images of past, racial violence toward minorities.

Stawski is being held in Geary County Jail on a $250,000 bond."

So mailing Klan propoganda and hate mail to a Black man is NOT a hate crime?

Sending images of Black men being hung by Klan members to a Black man is NOT a hate crime?

Sending images of Crosses burning and Klansmen dancing while a Black man is being tortured is NOT a hate crime?

Hmmmmmm.

I'd say THAT'S why it became a "race" issue.

[interested in the truth]

question wrote:

Is this that guy that runs around town in that white truck with KKK on it?? If so I am glad they finally got him. I thought that should be a crime!!

NO, it is not the same person. YES, the white truck guy SHOULD be the one in jail!

[interested in the truth]

I dunno wrote:

"Police say almost a year ago, Stawski sent several pieces of paper in the mail to the victim depicting images of past, racial violence toward minorities.
Stawski is being held in Geary County Jail on a $250,000 bond."
So mailing Klan propoganda and hate mail to a Black man is NOT a hate crime?
Sending images of Black men being hung by Klan members to a Black man is NOT a hate crime?
Sending images of Crosses burning and Klansmen dancing while a Black man is being tortured is NOT a hate crime?
Hmmmmmm.
I'd say THAT'S why it became a "race" issue.

WHY, if he sent these so called notes...did it take one year to arrest him?

[Guy]

interested in the truth wrote:

<quoted text> WHY, if he sent these so called notes...did it take one year to arrest him?

It takes awhile for the wheels of justice to turn.

I am pretty sure that a lawyer had to go through and build the case, then turn the evidence in the case over to the DA, who in turn has to decide IF there are grounds for an arrest.

Once determined, the DA asks the judge for an arrest warrant, particularly if the individual accused of a hate crime is unwilling to cooperate with the investigation. This PROBABLY started as a civil matter and was elevated to a Federal crime.

[question]

interested in the truth wrote:

<quoted text>
NO, it is not the same person. YES, the white truck guy SHOULD be the one in jail!

Maybe they are brothers?

[Hmmmmm]

"Thomas Stawski of Junction City was arrested late last week on charges of criminal threat and aggravated intimidation of a witness.

27 News has learned the victim and Stawski are actually neighbors living right across the street from one another.

The investigation began last year after the victim reported receiving mail that depicted past racial violence against minorities.

Police say forensic evidence links Stawski to the mail and they are categorizing it as a hate crime.

“The victim in this case is a minority,” Capt. Tim Brown of the Junction City Police Department said.“The suspect in this case is a white male. It appears, for all intents and purposes, that the threats occurred - the way in which they communicated - indicates that this was a racial issue.”

Stawski has a status hearing in Geary County District Court on October 6th."

Another GREAT White Guy!

[Shocked Aquaintence]

I don't know anything about Stawski as a neighbor, but I do know that unfortunately problems with neighbors animals (mainly barking or vicious dogs) can cause lots of problems between neighbors. There is nothing worse than trying to relax in the comfortt of your own home and hearing a dog bark loudly and constantly, or being chased and bitten or just scared when you try to go outside and the neighbors dog is running loose. I don't know what happened to start any of this as the news I saw didn't go into details, but what little I know of Stawski, he seems like a nice guy. Why he made the feud into a hate crime I don't know, but I sure feel sorry for his wife and daughter, who I know he adores and revolves his life around them. Unfortunately they now have to go on without him until this gets resolved. I am totally against anything to do with KKK or any hate crime that goes on, so maybe seeing what can happen will make people realize not to lose control over bad situations, and let the police settle problems before they get to this. We also need the police to take any call they get serious, because what they might not think is a big deal, is to some people. Thank god it didn't come to anyone being injured or killed.

[his daughters friend]

Yes Mr.Stawski was a good man when he wanted to be. He spoiled his daughter and granted he wife and wish she would mumble. I can not believe he is behind bars right now. But he had a bit of racist side to him. About his dogs, people would come to him and tell him that they were loose but he didn't really care. It's a shame of what happened to him but stupid is what stupid does.

[daughter friend]

he is like my 2nd dad!!:)
Everything will work out

[Racists Are Stupid]

daughter friend wrote:

he is like my 2nd dad!!:)
Everything will work out

Maybe.

I am sure he is learning a LOT about being a racist and how to speak to people of other elasticities as he sits in the jail cell.

I imagine he rather regrets mailing all that Klan garbage to his black neighbor NOW.

What many people fail to recognize is that THIS kind of hate crime is premeditated (he had to plan out what to mail) and a Federal crime (he used the federal post office) to commit the crime.

All this grief because he couldn't keep control of his dogs or his temper.

What a great role model.

[AAA]

Only in JC

[Not Racist]

he may have a temper thats why he takes meds b/c he was in desert stroms duh!! and he is not racist he is very kind and him & the neighnor use to be very good friends ( so i heard) then it started wit 1 dog going after them den it all started!! && got seriouslt out of control

[Local General Contractor]

He may have a temper. So do I.

He may have been in Desert Storm. So was I.

He may be on medications because of his Desert Storm injuries. So am I.

He may have dogs. So do I.

BUT

He needed to tend his dogs and keep them under control. He failed.

He needed to control his temper. He failed.

He needed to act like an adult. He failed.

He did let his dogs run wild.

He did make threats and accusations.

He did send Racist Klan materials through the Federal Mail System to a "neighbor" of color.

Although you love him, and you should, you need to understand that he is receiving the consequences of his actions.

The sad part is that it could have all been avoided, if HE had acted like a grown-up.

It is a shame.

[zzz]

Wow!! All Of You Know Nothing!

[knows more then all of u]

yes he did send the pics to the victim. he also intimidated them afterwards by having his daughters friend vandalize the neighbors house. the process took so long because the victim was in iraq and needed to be back for court. thats terrible that someone jus came back from war for our country, to be disrespected by his neighbor. stawski and the victim were never friends.

[go to court]

This case is going to court in January or February. I encourage everyone in this community that is against hate crimes to attend and support this victim and his family. Racial hate crimes should not be tolerated in our community. As citizens we should all go to court and make Stawski see the error of his ways!

[Frost]

knows more then all of u wrote:

yes he did send the pics to the victim. he also intimidated them afterwards by having his daughters friend vandalize the neighbors house. the process took so long because the victim was in iraq and needed to be back for court. thats terrible that someone jus came back from war for our country, to be disrespected by his neighbor. stawski and the victim were never friends.

You're an idiot! The soldiers are not fighting for our country.

[Cheer Up]

Frost wrote:

<quoted text>
You're an idiot! The soldiers are not fighting for our country.

The poster was correct. Our soldiers serve at the will of our government.
Wherever they are sent, they serve, are commanded by and are paid by our country.
Any problems that you have with WHERE they are being deployed needs to be addressed to Mr. Obama.
Also, try to be kinder. It's Christmas Eve.

[taxpayer]

Cheer Up wrote:

<quoted text>
The poster was correct. Our soldiers serve at the will of our government.
Wherever they are sent, they serve, are commanded by and are paid by our country.
Any problems that you have with WHERE they are being deployed needs to be addressed to Mr. Obama.
Also, try to be kinder. It's Christmas Eve.

George Bush, Dick Cheney, and war criminal Donald Rumsfeld also played a small part in where some of our troops are deployed. Remember weapons of mass destruction, or are we not supposed to say that anymore?