Pulling It Out (of) Yabut
Well it looks like the Fort Pickett APC joyrider is back in the news again. For those who don’t recall the “fine individual”, he’s been discussed in these previous articles here at TAH:
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=79869
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=85572
Per this 15 May Army Times article, it appears that the joyrider – 1LT Joshua Yabut, VA ARNG – has now decided to plead “not guilty by reason of insanity”. This is in spite of the fact that he was previously found competent to stand trial after an inpatient mental evaluation lasting 2 ½ months.
The linked article also discusses some other, um, “interesting” behavior on Yabut’s part. And that interesting behavior by Yabut certainly seems to me to be behavior that requires both the ability to perceive accurately the world around him and think logially.
Then again, one could argue that taking an M113-based APC for a 50+ mile joyride is in and of itself evidence of being “a bit off” – whether or not you had authorization. (smile) So maybe he does have a bit of a headspace and timing issue.
Yabut’s trial had been scheduled to begin Monday, 20 May. Instead, a new hearing (presumably to consider his latest claim that he is not competent to stand trial) now is scheduled for 2 July.
Maybe it’s just me, but I find the timing of this latest announcement by Yabut’s lawyers . . . very convenient. For the defense, anyway.
Category: "Teh Stoopid", Crime, Legal
This is like that story years ago where a man was discovered as having a Bengal tiger and an alligator in his apartment. The tenant below saw urine streaming down the walls and that’s how they discovered it.
My curiosity told me “I gotta hear this one.” Sure enough, days later the guy said he saw his apartment as the Garden of Eden and the tiger was his brother. He brought the tiger up to the apartment when it was a cub and when it grew too big he kept it in the bathroom with the alligator, which stayed in the bathtub.
I was disappointed. He turned out to be a Looney Tuney and I was hoping for a logical explanation. *sigh*
He shot the Tiger in the hind?
With a rifle.
Through a window.
I know of a police Chief (former) in Nebraska that would hire him in a heartbeat.
I’ll just assume when he shot it in the ass it was a lot like this:
If this tool is smart enough to steal an APC, drive it 50+ miles to another city, ditch an ankle bracelet, and fly halfway around the world and back, then he is sane enough to stand trial. He wants to be in Iraq? Fine, reopen the Abu Gru camp and he can become the star of man love Thursdays.
I am a very firm believer in the right to a fair trial. In this case, with the evidence available, it should be very short, with immediate punishment. “By reason of insanity?” “By reason of stupidity!” FIFY
2 1/2 months in jail and mental competency hearings after illegal behavior.
Sounds familiar, but WhaT dO i KNow.
Give this guy the Big Chicken Dinner.
And give a medal to the APC maintainers that did the work that allowed it to go 50+ miles without breaking down.
I’m all for his Battallion’s Maintenance Team to receive ARCOMs and AAM’s for keeping an APC like that capable of covering that distance sans a breakdown. Second, I’m quite sure that whatever Legal Authority involved is simply going to let him play games while they watch and let him fuck himself, I hope that’s the case because I’m ALL in favor of him receiving a DISMISSAL.
It made it that far, with an -LT- driving it.
ARCOMs indeed.
To be fair, the LT was probably lost and wouldn’t ask for directions.
I’m betting that he DID have a map and compass and was SURE of where he was going because he has a college degree!
Kinda doubt that, SFC D.
I’ve been to Pickett a few times, and I’ve seen the local community (Blackstone) myself.
I’d bet long odds that anyone stationed or training there knows the way to Richmond and/or Petersburg by heart – even LTs – if for no other reason than to go to Denny’s, IHOP, or Golden Corral.
Just playin’ to the stereotype!
I thought it was an M577, the Armored Command Post version of the 113? Which is even a worse choice since 577’s are usually only driven short distances to set up a field TOC and then driven back to the railhead or flatbed for transport.
IIRC, it was a M577, but that term will confuse those who never served in an Army mech unit. Maybe it’s performance had something to do with its low mileage.
Error noted and corrected above. The article now reads “M113-based APC” vice M113.
He managed to “deploy” himself to Baghdad since the incident… Flew out of NAS Norfolk.
Yeah, the second link kinda discusses that. (smile)
It must be said.
Yabot
Rabbit
DOH!