Not guilty pleas in gang murder trial
By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer
July 8th, 2009
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The four teens charged in a December 2007 gang-related killing pleaded not guilty Wednesday to all of the charges against them.
The men — Stephen Barrios, 19, Raymond Almodobar, 18, Christian Gallegos, 18, and Daniel Ortega, 19 — appeared before Napa County Superior Court Judge Rodney Stone.
They are charged with the Dec. 8, 2007, shooting death of Ricardo Gonzalez in a gang-related street fight in the 2500 block of Laurel Street.
Although all four have separate attorneys, their preliminary hearings will be consolidated into one Dec. 1 hearing, with Napa County Deputy District Attorney Fred Gutierrez serving as prosecutor.
All four of the defendants are being held in Napa County jail on bail ranging from $3 million to $5 million.
In addition to a murder charge, each teen has been charged with street terrorism and special allegations of intentional discharge of a firearm, causing great bodily harm. All four are known gang members, according to prosecutors.
All of them are looking at the possibility of life terms in state prison.
Almodobar has been charged with three other felonies in a separate case, which is set for preliminary hearing on Friday.
On Sept. 27, a Napa police officer spotted Almodobar driving a car in the area of Kansas and Wilkins avenues.
Knowing that Almodobar did not have a valid driver’s license, the officer stopped the car and searched it. During the search, police found a billy club, shovel and a large brick, according to the police report.
Almodobar told police he carried them for his own protection, the report said. The officer also found a CD player in the trunk, which was found to be stolen, police said.
Almodobar was arrested and charged with felony possession of a deadly weapon, street terrorism and receiving stolen property. He is a known Norteno gang member, according to police.
Earlier this month, Barrios was transported from California Department of Corrections at Tehachapi for his arraignment in the Gonzalez murder. He is serving a two-year prison sentence for felony vandalism and disturbing the peace which happened in Napa on Nov. 23, 2007. That incident is also gang-related.
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49ergrl707 wrote on Oct 29, 2008 11:40 AM:
jonb3333 wrote on Oct 29, 2008 12:33 PM:
Keep it up, maybe soon, if you keep arresting these cowards, we will all be free of gang terrorist soon.
GREAT JOB, keep up the good work!!! "
janet707 wrote on Oct 29, 2008 12:53 PM:
kittyamma wrote on Oct 29, 2008 1:07 PM:
napachica wrote on Oct 29, 2008 1:34 PM:
funnyyou wrote on Oct 29, 2008 2:07 PM:
amerimex08 wrote on Oct 29, 2008 2:12 PM:
Plus, i know that christian is a good person. I know that for a fact because i went with him looking for colleges and universities here in saint louis and he had good grades and everything. "
collegestudent wrote on Oct 29, 2008 3:21 PM:
As to these guys I know most of them as well. They are friendly. Went to school with 2 of them and even though I didn't like and don't like them I wish them the best but if they did do it then i hope they rot in hell. No one deserves to die the way ricardo did. No matter what wrong they did. Killing is not the answer.
God be with Ricardo's family and god help the lost soul that took this young man's life. "
caprichosa707 wrote on Oct 29, 2008 4:54 PM:
NAPAMOM21 wrote on Oct 29, 2008 8:56 PM:
These kids should be put away for killing another. NPD needs to crack down on gang members to dimisigh the gang violence in Napa! "
49er wrote on Oct 29, 2008 10:09 PM:
yamamama wrote on Oct 30, 2008 4:42 AM:
SouthNapa wrote on Oct 30, 2008 7:05 AM:
!LiVe!LaUgH!LuV! wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:02 AM:
"..... a good kid doesn't have multiple felony charges"
i dont agree... good kids sumtimes get turned down the wrong path! and it happens and theres nuthing wrong with that! as for this article and every1s comments about innocent or not...whtever happened to "innocent until proven guilty?" until they sentence them with a guilty term i think every1 should keep there mouths shut! you never noe maybe they really arent the ones who did it! "
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:17 AM:
as someone else said in an earlier blog: why haven't ricardo's homiez been arrested! they brought him there, they initiated the fight and they were responsible for him being stabbed! at the very least lock them up on felony street violence with a gang enhancement!
NPD, you are a joke! you had the wrong people in december and you have the wrong people now! stop sitting at starbucks for three hours every morning wasting tax-payer's money and actually get some real work done! "
JimClark wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:33 AM:
Uniforms have been prevalent since at least the 1960s. Ragged military uniforms that indicate an anti-war position, business suits that give image to employers and, more recently an attire that represents all that represents the current “culture”; as demented as it is becoming.
We are advised not to judge a picture by its presentation in a newspaper yet some artists may use identical images to promote or disdain the questionable behavior of a pathological element of our civilization; an element that has absolutely NO right to exist in any manner. Napa, as well as the entire United States must eliminate this poorly romanticized image of “gangs”.
Some gangs wear business suits also. My point here is that Americans have been assaulted by image makers. The sleazy political advertisements on the media are a radiant example. The Gangs in America are represented by what seems a politically protected entity in our country. Why? Bad guys are bad guys and that concept indicts the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). If Americans as a whole are subject to a threat, that threat must be quelled or eliminated altogether. "
Dwayne wrote on Oct 30, 2008 9:01 AM:
Well, he sure looks like a real nice feller... Just the kinda guy I'd like to have take my daughter to the prom... "
cellsitegod wrote on Oct 30, 2008 9:04 AM:
GOOD JOB NAPA PD.
Your professionals at what your doing and there is a good reason your charging these guys.
"Going down the wrong path" ???
Their crimes were not stealing candy bars!
From looking at the "Gansta Grammer" here some of these people didn't spend much time in school learning basic grammer. Guess "gang activity" was more important than learning something? "
GANEECE wrote on Oct 30, 2008 9:23 AM:
really? because that's exactly what is sounds like to me. Someone did die..... Ricardo. "
grape wrote on Oct 30, 2008 9:26 AM:
I agree with SouthNapa on the mugshot. "
napa_girl wrote on Oct 30, 2008 9:35 AM:
to NAPAMOM21:
good kids sumtimes get turned down the wrong path! and it happens and theres nuthing wrong with that! as for this article and every1s comments about innocent or not...whtever happened to "innocent until proven guilty?"
what do you mean there's nothing wrong with going down the wrong path? it's called wrong for a reason. Regarding the innocent until proven guilty...This is Napa here it's guilty until proven innocent... "
melimop wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:04 AM:
amigo wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:32 AM:
Lets deal with the core problem and stop teating just the symptoms "
Brea wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:47 AM:
napamom21 wrote on Oct 30, 2008 11:10 AM:
I say throw the book at them! "
notpc wrote on Oct 30, 2008 11:41 AM:
cordell wrote on Oct 30, 2008 11:51 AM:
dre83 wrote on Oct 30, 2008 11:57 AM:
Redredwine wrote on Oct 30, 2008 12:53 PM:
I also agree with Brea (in regards to spelling), you need to learn how use correct grammar and punctuation to even be considered taken seriously!!! I understand that this might be your way of self-expression, but it does not add to a constructive dialogue. Enough with the slang, and "Ganster Grammer", as "cellsitegod" puts it. "
FreeBarrios wrote on Oct 30, 2008 12:55 PM:
mymy wrote on Oct 30, 2008 1:14 PM:
HELLLOO!!! Open your eyes the gangs are and will always continue to be. They always have and they always will.
Yes now they are completely out of control and who's fault is that? The parents? No. The police! For assuming that things would always be ok. They pretty much opened the doors for all of this to happen in the passed and now.
Putting anyone in jail will not bring back Gonzalez or change the fact that gangs exist. If Gonzalez were still alive he would probably be the next suspect for another gang related activity as well because thats who he was.
Gonzalez left behind a child a child who would grow up learning gang from his/her father because THATS WHO HE WAS.
Get the point! No one, nothing will stop the gangs they're everywhere and always have been.
Oh and no I'm not a gang banger myself nore do I associate with them...I'm just using common sense.
It is what it is!
Peace! "
collegestudent wrote on Oct 30, 2008 1:49 PM:
Look I'm not on here to argue with anyone about anything. You have your opinion of Ricardo and I have mine. But what was done to him was still not right. The killing of a person no matter how it is justified is not right. It's time for everyone to step out of their shells and really take a look at the situation without any bias. The . truth will come out sooner or later. I just hope that it is sooner than later so that everyone involved and affected by this can cope and move on. "
mymy wrote on Oct 30, 2008 1:59 PM:
y2kcbr wrote on Oct 30, 2008 2:04 PM:
FreeBarrios - There is a long hard road ahead, stay strong and focused. Be ready to accept the challenges that you will most certainly be faced with from any judicial decision. Guilty or not guilty, you need to continue to be supportive.
On a side note, to the folks that posted on these forums using Gang talk (sorry, I have no clue on the apporpriate word(s) for that! Please take a moment to make a post if you want to be taken seriously on message boards, forums, blogs. I see the first sentence from your posts and completely skip over them until I read coherent posts that referred to your posts (thus making me backtrack). Just a word of advice, take a moment, think about what you are going to type. Create it in Word or whatever word editor you have, then for petes sake, hit F7 (spellcheck).
People will read your post and take it with a little more objective eye, rather than a subjective eye... "
Heaven wrote on Oct 30, 2008 2:16 PM:
14obama wrote on Oct 30, 2008 2:51 PM:
Joinin a gang........
A perfect example of a person trying to re-create himself out of disrespect towards his true self. ego=easing God out
No Gang !
Be Free !
Like Me !
Respect Yourself !
Life's a short Journey.
Find what you enjoy and Do it. "
GregN. wrote on Oct 30, 2008 2:55 PM:
What a life it would be that they could go to jail where all their freind are (will end up), and hang out every day with free food!
I hope NPD watches this blog and questions those who know the defendants well. Perhpas that will bring some more gang members to the light. "
tiredofcomplainingnapkins wrote on Oct 30, 2008 3:08 PM:
The police have been investigating this murder for almost a year before the arrests were made. If i had to bet money on it I would take a bet that the police have the right people. These are professionals investigators who have years of schooling and experience, I'm pretty sure the police and DA wouldn't put there reputations and careers on the line and arrest people without evidence to convict them. "
14obama wrote on Oct 30, 2008 3:09 PM:
The real word is sow,as in "you reap what you sow".
not
"you reap what you sew".
A difference there ! "
steph wrote on Oct 30, 2008 4:51 PM:
How cute!
Listen--can you kids please find something constructive to do? Like get a job, go to school, read a book, do some volunteer work--something?
Really--the idea of you all threatening each other here on line is ridiculous--you're only making yourselves look immature and silly. Not gaining any sympathy from those of us who work hard and raise our kids and pay our taxes.
Frankly, I'm tired of you clogging up our courts and jails and wasting valuable resources. Please grow up! "
Paddy wrote on Oct 30, 2008 4:51 PM:
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Oct 30, 2008 5:20 PM:
i have volunteered a lot of my time working to keep kids out of gangs; to teach them that it is not about what they think it is about and that they need to think before they get into it because it is a very serious. if caprichosa707 wants to try and attack me online, let her. she is only showing her own stupidity and it does not affect me.
just because i understand the people in these things, does not mean that i am one and the fact that i call things how i see them does not mean i am attacking anyone. so i just hope that none of those posts were directed at me. "
MarkMiwords wrote on Oct 30, 2008 5:34 PM:
wipemedown wrote on Oct 30, 2008 6:19 PM:
OOhhh yes. . . . . . . . the many triumphs of our Nation.
I hope i'm on the jury..... "
Jane Eyrehead wrote on Oct 30, 2008 6:38 PM:
The grammar and the spelling and the textmessagese are terrible, but the freedom with which some writers advertise their gang affiliations is quite arresting (no pun intended). It does provide evidence for my belief that only idiots join gangs.
I would love it if the area code here were changed--a whole lot of fools would have to get new tattoos. "
Napagemini wrote on Oct 30, 2008 6:48 PM:
You asked him if the register can post photos/video of the defendants and he replied "NO YOU CANNOT" because it would violate their constitutional rights, you replied that it's A free of speech and he still denied your request. I'm not defending the suspects in this case, but when you go ahead clearly ignore the judges decision you clearly have no respect. I don't care if you don't post this comment, but someone at the register needs to know what was said and their will be repricussions. "
HaveAtIt3 wrote on Oct 30, 2008 7:10 PM:
49er wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:32 PM:
kracker wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:54 PM:
Joe wrote on Oct 30, 2008 9:01 PM:
NVR Moderator wrote on Oct 30, 2008 9:16 PM:
We were, however, allowed in the courtroom with cameras on previous occasions with the defendants, and those photos can be used in our print and online publications.
The jail booking photos of the defendants, such as the one of Mr. Barrios here, can also be used in our publications.
Thank you for your concern "
mypoint wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:13 PM:
Napagemini wrote on Oct 30, 2008 10:50 PM:
jersey guy wrote on Oct 31, 2008 1:39 AM:
Juries in Napa County usually convict in criminal cases, so if you don't want to get convicted, go commit your crimes in Solano or Alameda Counties where the juries are more sympathetic to the perpetrators. "
Jane Eyrehead wrote on Oct 31, 2008 6:18 AM:
And to those writers who know the habits of gangsters, use gangster-style ID, blame the predictable outcome of the gangster life on ouside forces and then say they aren't gangsters themselves--good luck. Maybe someone will believe you. I don't. "
!LiVe!LaUgH!LuV! wrote on Oct 31, 2008 8:41 AM:
first of all i wasnt talking about barrios! i was saying in general and tatoos have nuhting to do with it!
im not going against the investigation i just wish the NPD would do there job for once and quit trying to act like they do a goood job if they did then why wasnt somebody put behind bars a long ime ago for this! the only reason they arrested just anybody is because the media pressed down on them being on ch. 2 news for one and then the register does a 3 day series on the things npd doesnt even do right!
napa_girl
i wrote that and if u have kids your gunna try and tell me that there perfect angels that never make mistakes? cuz you would need a reality chk for that one everyone makes mistakes your live and learn from them! "
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 9:12 AM:
i am really tired of yuppies like U. if u want to step outside ur lil circle and speak in a circle of ppl that speak diff then learn to speak their way and dont criticize them 4 it. "
Jane Eyrehead wrote on Oct 31, 2008 10:54 AM:
I am not a yuppie. I am simply saying that if people want to speak or write effectively about this topic, they should drop the off-putting rhetoric. They should try to write so others might want to see their point of view--otherwise it's just in-crowd ventilation.
In many of the comments in all the stories about this case, I am seeing writers who are glorifying gangs and making fun of "snitches." They are also using gang-style names. It's depressing.
If the writer is not in a gang and chooses to use that type of language, it is even more depressing. "
49er wrote on Oct 31, 2008 1:21 PM:
FREE DANNY!!!! WE WILL BE WAITIN 4 U TO GET OUT SOON FAM!
"That means Free Danny we will be waiting for you to get out soon family"
Did that work 4 ya? Lol! "
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 2:49 PM:
jayne eyrehead- that was not a personal attack. it was just as much a personal attack as what you had to say about how others were writing. it was simply a wake-up call to you that apparently didn't work. look, i have been to college and was accepted into the highest english class that freshman were allowed into.....at 16 years old. I know how to write correctly. i have published work. however when i speak and type, i choose to stick to the vernacular of those that arena in which i am speaking.....i was simply saying to do the same instead of criticizing those for using the language of the arena in which they are speaking in.... "
Redredwine wrote on Oct 31, 2008 3:09 PM:
caprichosa707 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 3:36 PM:
cellsitegod wrote on Oct 31, 2008 5:32 PM:
Tell me Grapetownbankerboi707, Where is that language recognized and listed officially?
And the defenders of these boys can also tell me why somebody would have an extra large 707 on their neck if it wasn't for a "gang reason" "
Mike Staleeny wrote on Oct 31, 2008 5:36 PM:
why waste are time and money, let the garbage take care of the garbage. You cannot stop movement that already happened. Focus on the better things in life. "
littlered56 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 7:53 PM:
In reading the comments it is as tho this is just the standard normal thing people have to put up with.
It is way way time for laws to be written to protect people from the gang violence and the law inforced to the fullest. There is no excuse for this violence. "
49er wrote on Oct 31, 2008 9:42 PM:
Lol.......ur welcome, I jus could not believe that people can actually judge people for how they write. Well anyways get over it people, alot of people use this type of text form and it's not cause we r gangsters! To:cellsitegod
The extra large 707 on his neck does not have any way shape or form, ties to a gang. If he wanted to put a tattoo on his body claiming his turf then truss me it would not be a area code. It would be a 13 or 14 in extra big letters. You should not critisize on the writing at all, it's not really that hard to understand.... FREE DANNY, WE WILL C YA IN COURT ON DEC 1ST! "
jersey guy wrote on Nov 1, 2008 5:12 AM:
kracker wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:22 AM:
FREEBARRIOS wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:27 AM:
Malcolm G wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:57 AM:
Improper english speaks volumes to the mainstream...just like a big tatoo on the neck.
Do and say what you want, but know that the mainstream passes judgement on you, just as the opposing gang will do...
Remember, the pen is mightier than the sword---but in this blog, I am starting to wonder. "
Joe wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:24 PM:
dre83 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 7:46 AM:
Joe wrote on Nov 3, 2008 1:11 PM:
Malcolm G wrote on Nov 3, 2008 1:38 PM:
I think you, along with these other folks do not understand that IT HAS EVERYTHING to do with the spelling, the tatoos, etc.
Sociey will not take you seriously if you continue to fester in the life that got them in this bad situation.
If you look past the obvious, there is some help here...the guys in this case do not have a clue that they are perpetuating a losing battle. You can tell me that you are not in a gang, however the multitude of tatoos and the "hand signals" say something COMPLETELY different. They can think they are smarter than everyone else, but you can literally read it on their faces (neck, arms, back, and so on).
I am trying to shed light on the fact that you need to listen (and speak) like the authorty figures they speak so negatively about. For the sake of the Napa community, I hope these guys go in and speak the slang they defend in front of the judge...they will see just how cool they are as they are being sentence to prison. When in Rome speak like the Romans...or better yet don't, and spend the next 25 years of your life wishing you would have...
A wise man once said that it is the person that raises his fist first is usually the one who has run out of constructive ideas. "
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 3:05 PM:
you sit here and talk about how important typing correctly is, yet you apparently don't even look at your OWN posts before you post them!:
"...authorty..."?!
"...it is the person that raises his fist first is usually the one who...."?!
"Sociey will not take you seriously if you continue to fester in the life that got them in this bad situation"?!
your post is riddled with incorrect spelling and incorrect english. so according to your line of thinking, we should all disregard your post as nonsense and not worth our time to read.
you say "A wise man once said that it is the person that raises his fist first is usually the one who has run out of constructive ideas." well, it could be said that you an everyone else that is complaining about the typing style raised your fists first.....so is it you that has run out of constructive ideas first?
as i have said before: GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSES AND CONSIDER THE MESSAGE PEOPLE ARE SAYING RATHER THAN THE WAY WITH WHICH THEY CHOOSE TO PORTRAY IT! "
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 3:13 PM:
not to mention, half the time, the authorities don't do anything with the information provided or claim that the information is useless because of the source that it is coming from. so don't be so hard on them. and no, i am not with-holding information from the police. i do not know any information. "
dre83 wrote on Nov 4, 2008 8:12 AM:
Malcolm G wrote on Nov 5, 2008 12:29 AM:
Keep up the brilliant work...you are truly, truly helping these young gang members. Be proud of your profound comments and continue to be a lackey of the ignorant. It suits you well!
I regards to the english language...if you can not write in complete sentences, then stop trying to pretend that you can...you are only embarrassing yourself.
The beauty of a blog is that it is open to everyone as long as you have access to the internet...
By the way...having a job as a bank teller does not make you a banker...nor does it give you prospective on society.
Saying "large bills or small" is one step above "paper or plastic".
I will continue to sit on my high horse because I can. And, I will sit and look at the masses and how you weep for the poor little boys who took a wrong turn. Keep making excuses for them. "
49ergrl707 wrote on Nov 6, 2008 12:16 PM:
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Nov 7, 2008 11:32 AM:
malcolm, what makes you think that i am simply a teller? I am NOT simply a teller. I do all aspects of banking. i graduated high school at 16, went to college and have been working since i was 12. i work two jobs and use to work three. in my spare time, i work more than 40 hours a year in the community including working with youth (part of which includes working to keep them out of gangs, so you can kiss your arguement that i am helping gang-members goodbye!). all of this must mean that i am a low-life, worthless scum of society then huh malcolm? and what is it that YOU do for a living? do YOU work more than one job? also, how is a bank teller not that important of a job? apparently, controlling hundreds of thousands of customer's money is not that important? i suppose that it won't matter to you if tomorrow you go to the bank and try to cash a check for $250 and find that your account has been overdrawn by $4,000.00 because of one of us "stupid tellers". you must have no idea the work that is involved with a bank if you think that it is simply "large bills or small?". if all the tellers in America quit at once, the country would crash and burn.
Get educated or get off the blog! "
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Nov 7, 2008 11:54 AM:
as i have stressed before, the so-called "text messaging" form of writing is actually a language that was invented for the computer by individuals that worked with computers specifically for things such as blogs.....it has become a common form of language for text-messaging in this day and age, however it is still used as the medium for language online. so it is still YOU malcolm(and others) that is not using the correct spellings and that needs to conform if universality is of utmost importance to you.....NVR, maybe you can help me out with where i can find the article you wrote about this type of language a few months back. i so far have been unable to find it by searching it on your site in the archives, but i remember reading it..... "
NVR-Dan Ross wrote on Nov 7, 2008 12:07 PM:
Great point, here is the link for everyone to go back and read the article, so maybe this ridiculous banter about the chosen method of conveying a message can stop.
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/01/11/news/local/doc47871f54ecfe6705836093.txt "
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Nov 7, 2008 12:08 PM:
your post cracked me up too....PURO 49ER! RALMAO (rolling around laughing my a$$ off)
i'm thinking we should create a new account on here with that title: PURO49ER707! hahaha..... "
soccer mom wrote on Nov 9, 2008 8:58 PM:
soccer mom wrote on Nov 9, 2008 9:43 PM:
cellsitegod wrote on Nov 10, 2008 4:44 PM:
That doesn't make it appropriate language when I'm adult!
"Press 1 for Spanish, Press 2 for"text speak", Press 3 for "pig latin" Press 4 for "Gangsta Grammar" and last but not least, Press 5 for the rarely used: good old american english"
"Ia hinkta angsga reaa tupidsa!"
Ha, Ha, "
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Nov 11, 2008 10:36 AM:
you are speaking in an online forum. leet speak was invented for online forums such as this. read the article. if u are still intolerant of this type of typing, then how about you get OFF this forum instead of telling others to. it is perfectly appropriate to use language that was designed for this form of communication by people that use this form of communication. in your line of work i am sure you use many types of slang. it would inappropriate for someone to come into ur workplace and tell u not to use that language. same thing here. either conform or leave. "
cellsitegod wrote on Nov 12, 2008 5:18 AM:
You seem to be very literate and use grammer well.
Your screen name implies that you work in the banking world.
Would you send an email or note to your banks regional manager whom you've never met in "Leet"?
Would you send a formal letter to a bank customer in "leet"?
Have you read the article "why shoot the messenger"
Most people agree that "Leet" has it's place.....On a cell phone, where your characters are limited.
However, it is obvious that there are other commenters here are somewhat illiterate and maybe they have spent too much time communicating in this so called language of "Leet" that they have forgotten the use of correct grammar. "
dre83 wrote on Nov 12, 2008 7:57 AM:
GrapetownBankerBoi707 wrote on Nov 12, 2008 7:23 PM:
cellsitegod- i would not typically use leet speak in the situation. however, i would use bank jargin. leet speak is essentially online forum user's jargin. it was specifically created NOT for texting (it was created in the early 90's which unless i'm mistaken, was a period of time when texting didnt even EXIST) but for the exact use in which these people are using it: for speaking online in forums/IM's or in video games.
i have not read the article why shoot the messenger. maybe you can explain the general idea of it.
i am sure many of these people do know how to type correctly, however they choose to use leet as they are in the domain that leet speak was designed for. if you are so incredibly concerned about these people's literacy level, then how about you go out and spend more time helping the youth and others in the community to become more literate instead of simply criticizing them! california has one of the lowest levels of education in the country! people like you who simply complain about the problems that YOUR generation created for our youth instead of becoming active in your community to FIX these problems that you created are a major part of the reason we have the problems being discussed in this forum in the first place! half of the hard-core gang-members in napa were expelled in high school for the simple fact that the schools THOUGHT they were in a gang (no proof) and they got in a fight.
as for the topic that this whole thing was about before certain people decided to get all uppity:
FREE THESE INNOCENTS! NPD DO YOUR JOB! "