Bravo.

Quote:

The Associated Press Article Launched: 05/05/2008 SANTA ANA, Calif.—A federal judge in Santa Ana has sent a bodyguard for former Broadcom chief executive Henry T. Nicholas III to jail for refusing to testify to a grand jury investigating the Irvine-based chip maker. U.S. District Judge James V. Selna sent former Navy SEAL Stephen "Otter" Otten to jail on Monday. The 30-year-old Otten is one of several veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have worked for Nicholas to provide security and childcare. Otten has refused to testify despite being given immunity by prosecutors. Otten's lawyer H. Dean Steward told Selna "SEALs don't snitch." The judge said he hoped jail time would convince Otten to "do the right thing." Broadcom Corp. is under investigation for falsifying its reported income by illegally backdating stock options for five years. www.mercurynews.com/ne...ck_check=1

I'm with him. I'm impressed that he's willing to go to jail over a point of honor. Now, if the client is a known scumbag, I would probably feel differently.

While I admire the SEAL's loyalty, Mr. Nicholas is a well-known scumbag.

I think the attorneys comment that "SEALS dont snitch" is foolish. It is quite possible that he (Otten) didnt want to participate is a expedition by the prosecution. And for that I would give him thumbs up. But the "SEALS dont snitch" comment implies that the individual would knowingly look the other way in the face of criminal activity.

The other thing I dont understand is what insight a agent could provide that would help the prosecution determine if a white collar crime had been committed. What, does the prosecution think the agent was taking notes during board meetings? I dont know about the rest of the EP'rs out there but my training instructed me to tune out the clients personal and business commo and focus instead on the task at hand.

I remember congress a while back compelling a secret service agent to come forward with information and he just remained silent. What I find interesting is that the way our justice system works is that it, maintains that no person is required to give any information for any person or gov to not incriminate self. If this guy did talk no matter what happened he will never get work doing EP of any client ever again. Thats just a truth of any work when protecting people or property.

Quote:

A federal judge has released a former Navy SEAL who was held for 36 days on contempt charges after refusing to testify to a federal grand jury that indicted his boss, billionaire Henry Nicholas, for securities fraud and drug charges. Stephen “Otter” Otten, who worked as a security guard for Nicholas and caregiver for his children, was released six days after Nicholas was indicted on the criminal charges, Otten’s attorney John Early said today. “He was released from the civil contempt finding without any conditions on June 11, 2008,” Early wrote in response to questions from the Register. Otten would not make himself available for an interview, Early said. Asked what Otten is doing now, Early provided this statement: “After 15 years in the Navy, including five as a member of the Navy SEALs, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other tours of duty, and having received five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, as well as the Bronze Star for meritorious service, Mr. Otten left active duty in January of 2008 and is now in civilian life.” Nicholas has pleaded not guilty. A trial in the securities case is scheduled for April 2009, to be followed by a later trial on the drug charges. Federal prosecutors presented court documents alleging that Otten covered up Nicholas’ criminal activities, specifically taking responsibility for crashing his boss’s Lamborghini last November. Through his attorney, Nicholas later told police that he was behind the wheel during the accident. Prosecutors offered Otten immunity if he testified before the grand jury, but Otten declined. “SEALs don’t snitch,” said his Otten’s former attorney, H. Dean Steward, who referred to his client as Nicholas’ “SEAL nanny.” While Otten was being held, Steward said the ex-SEAL “was making productive use of his jail time- he’s learning Spanish and maintaining his physical fitness.”

Hahahaha.. Good Story

Wow. I admire his will not to "snitch."