I don't get it either.

BUT the local news here in Seattle is making a big deal out of the 'convicted felon escorting a field trip' angle before finally getting around to barely mentioning that he was wanted ONLY because of this minor parole violation. (King5 the local NBC affiliate is the worst so far for sensationalizing this one).

IF he were merely a convicted felon, he's not likley to be a danger on a field trip. I'd bet that on any given day across this country there are dozens of 'convicted felons' escorting children on field trips. Being so is NOT anymore dangerous than your average parent.

They play up the scary part of this to get your hooked into the newscast/story and then barely mention the actual facts.

It's pathetic how low the media goes on things like this.

Most Wanted List for violating probation for a bottle of wine? His former offense being a drug conviction? Come on, what are our governments wasting time on guys like this? They really called out SWAT, K9, and APB on this guy? What a joke that local law enforcement must be. "Attention all cars!! We have a jaywalker at 56th and Main!! Do not try to apprehend. May be very dangerous. Was last seen with ipod earbuds in his ear, be very careful!!"

I feel sorry for his daughter, and the trauma and embarassment she's gone through over the years because of her father's crime, and now the local police and school shouting it loud and clear. No way this girl can go back to school there. Momma better start looking for a new school.

Typical War On Drugs hysteria. When will we just grow the hell up and drop this wasteful decades-long boondoggle? Wine? REALLY? Last I checked, we had real problems to solve.

mary52

why was his parole for a drug conviction violated because he had wine at home??

Because big brother wants you to conform . Or find a way to insure that you do. They are getting there a lot faster than I would like to think about.

makes no sense but i have heard of this before

It does not need to make sense it makes money for lawyers and politicians as well as for police and civil authorities. That is all that is required sense is a relative term money is on the other hand what makes the world go round.

mary, most probationers or parolees wouldnt be violated straight out for a bottle of wine in the fridge. It's up to the officer to report him in violation to the court. Most of the time it takes a load of mess ups and a load of scolding, even leg monitors, before a guy is sent to the judge for a revocation hearing. Even then, most judges give 20 chances before sending them back to prison. The prisons are too packed, the judges too busy to waste time and money on small crap.

According to the Washington Department of Corrections, Vasser was in prison from 2006 to February of 2011 on a drug conviction. Vasser violated probation by having wine in his fridge, and a warrant for his arrest was issued on November 28

Geez I'm glad they got such a violent offender off the streets! I'm still for supporting the idea that breaking the law is breaking the law but situations like this make me scratch my head sometimes.

First I see this:

"He wanted to go to this field trip with his daughter because she was really wanting him to go," said Mary Vasser-Johnson, Vasser's mother. "He said he was going to take a chance because he didn't want to disappoint her."

and think "Did she know that her son was wanted and where he was?" And then I see this:

Vasser violated probation by having wine in his fridge, and a warrant for his arrest was issued on November 28.

and roll my eyes while shaking my head. WTF? Shss! A bottle (maybe a box) of wine. You've got to be kidding. Maximize and prioritize your list law enforcement!

At least he's being a parent, involve with his daughter and her school. How many other parents can claim that?

Unfortunately, parolees/probationers are instructed to avoid places where there is alcohol (& other stipulations). A friend of mine hides his beer when his other friend visits (you guessed it, drug charges) who's been clean/sober for 4 years. Until it's done, it is what it is.

The reason why is because the government knows that the majority of people placed on probation for drug/alcohol charges will violate. It keeps the judiciary and police busy (employed) and the jails full. In fact, police departments work with jails and choose times to execute warrants that will fill up cells. During that time they stay off the roads except for actual calls. They will not issue traffic citations, or have roadblocks during those times in order to avoid grossly overcrowding the local jail.

He was in prison for a drug conviction...not violence but drugs! I am sooo over this country wasting money to put people in prison for drug offenses. This is why there is NO room for violent offenders rapist, pedophiles, murderers etc.

I could serve a longer sentence for self ingesting a substance than for attacking a person...just doesn't make good common sense.

The reason why is because the government knows that the majority of people placed on probation for drug/alcohol charges will violate. It keeps the judiciary and police busy (employed)

Bull. I know for a fact that the judiciary has plenty of work to do without these ridiculous faux offenses wasting everyone's time. Maybe the cops love it, but the chronically understaffed judiciary has better things to do and knows it.

Because if drugs are legalized we would need fewer cops, lawyers, judges, court staff, bail bondsmen, etc. You think unemployment is bad now, how about tens of thousands more of unemployed people nationwide. It has never been about public safety, only money.

Wine is leagl---so was he stay off drugs and booze and his wife forbidden too.

Maybe people should mind thier own biz when there violence or risk of such at stack!

Its a bunch of BS. "Most Wanted" over alcohol on a non-violent offense? Come on. My brother is serving 6 years because his girlfriend did Oxycontin via needle in his house while he was on parole and sleeping. He was tested for everything, came back negative, and his parole was revoked anyway. Its a little ridiculous that someone can go away for NOT doing anything. Granted, the government still owns you for awhile, but that doesnt mean that it owns everyone in the house, which is pretty much what it is doing if someone is placed in that position. You cant be in your own home having a glass of wine or your spouse/child will go away for it.

So, Washington has some issues. At least he was trying to not let his child down, which is something that doesnt happen very often anymore. All over a bottle of wine. This "war on drugs" is a joke. Give the guy a medal for putting his freedom behind his daughters wants. That doesnt seem to be a bad guy, it seems to be someone who is trying to do the best they can for their child.

Most Wanted: A parent who didnt want to dissapoint his daughter.

if he is currently sober what was wrong with having the wine? how did they know he had wine in his fridge? he served his time if it was just drug possesion and not manufacturing or handling large quantities or firearms or violence related he should be allowed to be a normal part of society.

I know many parolees who are convicted of drug charges then are not given drug screens while on parole. That should be the only point of parole. Many people are paid their salaries to work on corrections how do they end up being so ineffective? are all government employees just that lazy / underqualified/ under-accountable?

I wish their were bonuses for any important person in a corrections system and have them inversly based off of the number of repeat offenders convicted.

He was in prison from 2006-2011. Somehow this sounds like a bit more than just weed smoking. None of us really knows what the details are of his parole. The news isn't giving us that info. Sounds to me like there's a lot more to this story than what is being told in this article.

Awww, it's so sad to think the daughter having to see all this go down, when all the guy was trying to do was make her happy. Wine in the fridge??? That's it? It seems this could have been handled differently. I seriously doubt this guy deserved to be on a "most wanted" list.

Liberal????? really Davy? Come on I know republicans love revisionist history but are you actually going to try and say the war on drugs and the insane and inane bottle of wine being a probation violation on liberals? Wake up Davy quit trying to convince everyone and yourself that every problem in society boils down to liberals.

Liberal left coast media at its finest.

Really. Last I checked, it was the conservatives (you know, the ones who bleat so much about "liberty" while desperately despising freedom) who staunchly supported the war on drugs. I'm thinking it was media owned by a massive corporation that decided to underplay the stupidity of the underlying revocation proceeding and focus instead on the chest-thumping "we got 'im, boys" angle.

Davy, how is that related to "liberal left coast media"? It's usually the conservative, FauX News like networks that are big on twisting facts, sensationalizing the mundane, and getting the public up in arms over nothing.

Difference between Liberal and Conservative:

The Conservative wants to pass laws to make it easier to enforce the rule of law.

The Liberals Also Pass laws to make it easier to enforce the rule of law, but tell you it is the other sides fault and lead the laws to fruition.

Difference between Liberal and Conservative:

The conservative wants to pass laws restricting or revoking the freedom of people who aren't wealthy straight white male Christian conservatives, and making it easier for law enforcement to trample those people's rights.

The liberal wants to pass laws assuring the equal protection of the laws to all citizens, even the ones who are not exactly like the liberal.

Fixed that for you.

A man that violated parole by having wine in his fridge is one of Washingtons Most Wanted? WTF

unless the law effects him, how much he or she gets paid with our tax dollars , limits terms, or keeps them from doing insider trading on wall street, which for the rest of us is illegal...have a nice day.

phillyfan - perhaps that says Washington doesnt have quite so many problems, or washington sucks at ranking their worst offenders/outlaws.

It's quite a stark difference...im hoping it's the former.

This is so dumb. Has TV really got that sensational and desperate that a non violent parole violator gets his name on the "Washintons Most Wanted" list? Really? They don't have any issues with human smugling or murder or... frig grand larceny that they can put ahead of a parole violator that violated because of wine? Not only that but it was obviously run on local TV for this guy to be noticed by another parent as a threat such that all that law enforcement was called in. Cause they really need all that force to take down a convicted drug offender that only did 5 years. Yeah OOOOKKKKK (sarcasm heavily). Anyone know what charges can get you 5 years? 1oz of marijuana is considered possesion with intent to distribute and will clock ya 3 to 5 and possibly even 10 depending on the area the offense was such as a school zone, 1 gram of cocaine gets ya 5 cause its considered a narcotic, 3 extacy pills can get ya 7 years or 5 with good behavior, the same is true with many other drugs and in most cases the only way to get such a short sentence is if the amount was small so we know this guy aint no king pin. That all being said he still made the most wanted list? What a joke. Hope America is waking up to the fact that they aren't free and are living in a complete police state run by greed and supported by the largest military, police, and prison systems in the world. And even further these pigs want you to believe this makes you safe, that this offers jobs, that this is whats best, that without the police or prisons the world would turn into chaos. Realy? The world ran just fine before this crap. Free my a$$.

Revoking his porole because he had a bottle of wine in the fridge?

If was an Auslesser or anyother sweet white wine from the German Rheingau area, well that suposed to be served chilled!!!

Now, if it were a Chateuneuf-Cote du Pape or a fine Merlot, well then, they should throw him in prison for the rest of his life!!!! Barbarian..... :-)

Seems to be much ado about a bottle of wine and mj. The man spent 4 years in jail for these two crimes. I say he paid his debt to society. Where are our priorities when this is considered a reason to put a man on the most wanted list? Shame on us. A terrible waste of tax payer dollars.

If we only had the "drones" in full swing patrolling our sky's and keeping a watchful eye on everything and all of the peasants this extremely dangerous thug who is next to Manson or Hitler in his criminal sociopathic ways!!

I mean he was a felony drug convict so he was inches away from raping nuns or eating babies and then he has a total disregard for the rest of the USA and their safety by having wine if his fridge, that bastard!!! I like how the no good drug addled POS wine keeper gave in to his daughters wishes and went on a field trip to a skating rink with her, only a lowlife mass murderer would even consider spending time with their children because they wanted them to!! Good thing he is off the street and the news outfits got the info out there about his heinous crimes against humanity!!!

AH! The outrage! A PARENT! Sheesh. What is this world coming to?

If a person is on a state's most wanted list, either there's more involved than a bottle of wine in a fridge or that state has the LOWEST crime statistics in the world! He did SOMETHING to get most wanted status!

"If it's true, I'd probably be quite bothered," said Amy Tu, a parent with two kids who were in the school during the lockdown.

Anyone else wonder where the famously sanctimonious, Ms. Amy Tu was engaged - when the Parent chaperoned Field Trip was taking place?

Was she "too" busy to attend or just "not available - due to previous scheduled, important engagement"?

Is it possible that Felon Fathers care more for the mental health of their children than previously reported?

Davy,

Since when is the sensationalizing the news a tactic exclusive to the liberal media? Didn't your precious Fox news spend an entire weekend having a field day over Obama wearing Flip-Flops on vacation not 2 years ago? How can you throw out accusations like that when Fox will make headlines out of LITERALLY nothing?

Please... don't be so naive

And the fact that this man was in prison for 4 years for drugs..... he better have been dealing or in possession of enough that indicated intent to sell. Even then , 4 years... wow. Nope Davy, this has conservative written all over it.

But nice try on the spin. Thank you for fueling the partisan problem. Better luck next time!

This is not even a story worth reporting. Absurd. It does show, however, how difficult it is for ex-offenders to get their lives back together with parole officers policing refrigerators.

I might not let him chaperone by himself but there were 19 other adults there plus the other children. I did not know that if a person was on parole for a drug conviction they could not have alcohol. I have friends who keep a fully stocked bar and consume alcohol daily but they are still good parents. They don't get drunk every day, but they do drink.

OMG, he has a bottle of wine, hide the kids, call in the SWAT and dogs, OMG....he'll kill us all!!!!!!!!! Lord, have mercy, are we really this stupid?

What's next? 30 days for picking your nose? These people have completely lost their minds; this is no way to conduct a civilized society.

His possessing wine violated his parole. What's so hard to understand? He was released from prison, with caveats. If drinking is that important to him, maybe he needs to be somewhere he can dry out.

Man just want to be with his kid to fulfill their wishes. Americans are under "fears" for too long and become state police. With each passing day, America's rabbit hole continues to get deeper and darker. And a whole helluva lot more disturbing and simply outrageous.

Handing down no alcohol, no smoking, loose weight, no Internet - etc. Seems to be the popular trend among judges for whatever capricious reason they decide ... regardless of whether the "offence" has or had any bearing (by any stretch of imagination or fantasy) on the crime under which the citizen was punished.

Judges seem to be competing to see who can come up with the most irrelevant, social-engineering ruling to impose on the unlucky sentencing of anyone falling under their "Empire".

I can see no alcohol being a part of the court ruling, being imposed for drunk driving. What I can't see is the draconian enforcement policy. I guess, in the best interest of the State - he should be denied the comfort of being a Father and she should ge protected from such a beast.

Seems he cares more for his daughter than the court does!

Well obviously he committed some infraction to even be on probation in the first place.

The article doesn't mention the crime he initially committed. He could be a child molestor/pornographer, a drug salesman, a rapist or armed robber.

dr.girlfriend Read it IT SAYS FOR A DRUG OFFENSE. Where do they get these people who cann't read. The dr. must have a very deep conversation with you.

dr girlfriend please read the story he was first arrested on drug charges... the story doesn't say what kind of drugs it could be anything at all.... so read the story before commenting please

The article states he had a drug conviction - and was on parole. Poor kid just wanted dad to go on the field trip, probably already lost years with him while he was in prison. Can't believe Washington doesn't have an actual dangerous felon out there to look for.

dr.g: The article says it was a drug offense. Big whoop. I'd let him chaperone my kids.

actually, dr.girlfriend, the article clearly states it was a drug charge. That could be a wide array of things, many of which could be much more minor than this article leads us to believe.

It states that it was a drug conviction Doc. I hope you are not a real doctor, I would hate to have you reading my chart and overlook a very important detail.

@ dr. girlfriend - If you read the article (and pretty much any random comment) you'll find out why he was on probation. No, he was not a child molestor [sic], rapist or armed robber. Although he may or may not have been a promising pharmacist (aka 'drug salesman').

If Washington's most wanted are out committing such dastardly deeds as being is possession of wine and chaperoning elementary school field trips with their daughters - well, it looks like I'm going to have to cancel that Seattle vacation I had set up.

The article says it was a drug conviction. They should really specify why there is a warrant out when they put out these Most Wanted lists. Why traumatize children and lock down a school over a non violent probation violation.

As for allowing someone with a drug conviction chaperone a school trip; unless he's telling the kids how to make money on the side or what he was doing from 2006-2011 or was high at the time, it shouldn't really be an issue. Drug use crosses all lines of social/ moral standings. I think that when most people hear of drug use they think of meth, crack, and heroine. There are some ppl out there that are responsible, have families and hold good jobs that use recreational drugs every once in awhile.

"Most wanted' fugitive - violated probation by having wine in his fridge"

I don't get the "Most wanted" part!!!! Aren't there a few killers and child molesters out there?????

Rabbit, what I am referring to is what he did to be on probation in the first place. His violation was having wine in his fridge, but what did he do to begin with (what crime did he commit initially)? Surely he's not a 'fugitive' for simply having wine in his home.

dr. girlfriend, his intial crime was a drug charge. He was on probation from that charge. The violation of the probation requirements is the wine in the fridge. No further detail available so nothing should be assumed other than what has been provided in the story.

1. Crime first (Drugs)

2. Probation 2nd (after serving some time for the crime)

3. Violation of probation 3rd (wine in fridge- ridiculous)

It really is that simple. hard to believe, but really simple.

dr. there are 10 responses that state what his initial crime was as stated in the article. He IS a fugitive for having wine in his home because it constituted a parole violation. I pray that you are not really a doctor because it seems over looking the obvious is the norm for you.

I usually try not to get ugly or personal when posting, but dr. girlfriend, you must be the trophy girlfriend. I have a hard time believing that a doctor could have a meaningful conversation with someone who cannot read and comprehend an article written below a 6th grade reading level. It states plainly in the article that he was incarcerated on a drug conviction and that having wine in his refrigerator was a violation of his probation. Dear god, they want to spend less on education in this country! Over half of our citizens are functionally illiterate.

wow DR. GIRLFRIEND...what...ten folks told you what got him on probation in the first place and you still didn't grasp it...special...too many years on the short yellow bus licking the windows i guess.

She couldn't have read the posts...no one can be that thick. Wow. But yeah, regarding the article, if the Washington's Most Wanted consists of these types of criminals, they need to look harder, there's much worse out there.

The article states he had a drug conviction - and was on parole. Poor kid just wanted dad to go on the field trip, probably already lost years with him while he was in prison. Can't believe Washington doesn't have an actual dangerous felon out there to look for.

Washington doesn't have an actual dangerous felon because they all become police officers.
In my area, you are more likely to be shot and killed by a police officer than to be killed by a regular citizen. They dont care if you are guilty or not. They just claim that you shot at them first. Then, an investigation is done, and its shown that you had no weapon at all, AND you may not have even been the person they were looking for...
Its happened several times. I don't speed anymore. Its a good deterrent. You don't know if the cop pulling you over is going to think you are grabbing a gun out of your glove box when you get the registration and proof of insurance you asked for... Shoot first, ask questions later.

Perhaps Dr.Girlfriend does not understand the concept of parole. So here is an elementary explanation. Vasser was convicted of a drug offense. Judge Bluebell (fictional name of course) sentence Vasser to 5 years in prison. Due to overcrowding, Vasser is released after serving 3 years and placed on parole. One condition of his parole is he can not indulge in drugs or alcohol or even be found in places that serves alcohol. A parole officer makes a visit to Vasser's house and found a bottle of wine in is fridge. The parole officer reports a "technical violation". In most cases, if not all, a two-step revocation proceedings is triggered. The first step begins with a hearing to decide whether there is probable cause to believe the conditions of parole were violated (Vasser, of course, has the right to be present and present witnesses on his behalf). If they do find evidence that a violation occurred, the second step starts when the parole authority decides if the case is serious enough to warrant sending Vasser back to prison.

Apparently in this case, they (the parole decision-makers) decide the bottle of wine is serious enough to return Vasser to jail. Therefore, an arrest warrant was issued for his arrest. I hope this abbreviated version helps.

Clarification: The 5-year sentenced I mentioned above is a hypothetical number. The numbers used in my post above It is NOT, I repeat NOT, the actual time Vassner spent in prison. The article does not state, nor do I know the actual sentence. All that is stated is that he was in prison from 2006-2011. I use the 5-year sentence to help illustrate my point.

democrat4evr that isn't true he could get put back in jail for that small offense also.. I don't think you are the prosecutor or the judge.. the prisons are full (at tax payers expence) of people that have been caught with a joint or acouple of norco... it doesn't take much for our system to want to pay for all the jobs we are getting... via prison guards ... there are people in prison that need to be there but in my mind a person that takes a pill or smokes a joint isn't a true criminal.... and no i don't smoke pot or do any kind of drugs..laws should be revised about alot of things... one would be if you have a beer or a bottle of acohol that isn't a crime... they also make it illegal to own a fire arm if you have been in prison for anything... anything..

democrat, not true. Many felons, on parole, are allowed to have alcohol in their possession, go to bars, etc. Depends on the initial crime and the conditions of parole or probation. The felon also has the choice whether to accept the condtions of parole or probation or to serve the remainder of the time in prison.

larry, only convicted felons cannot own firearms.

5 years is a long time for a drug charge. Unlikely it was a simple possession situation. Could have been a plea, any number of other circumstances and he may have a long arrest record. After all, some really bad gangsters were convicted of tax evasion because that's all that would "stick."

If a bottle of wine was enough to violate his probation, would want more info before jumping on the "he's a good guy, the gummit is bad and I'd let him watch my kids" bus.

your getting it all mixed up.....SWAT is for wine violations, the military is for citizens who wear white after labot day. Must be a tough bunch living up there.

Read the article - he was out on parole . . . and a minor infraction like a bottle of wine, not crack or meth, does not a dangerous felon make.

They should arrest the daughter, who masterminded this whole affair. She is the one who committed the horrible crime of wanting to spend time with her father.

"They should arrest the daughter, who masterminded this whole affair. She is the one who committed the horrible crime of wanting to spend time with her father"

You are VERY funny Glarg! You made my day! ;)

Next thing you know she'll want her dad to come to her birthday party!

Been There -- you should read the article more thoroughly. Yes, he was out on parole, but the mother knew that a warrant for his arrest was issued. Otherwise, she would not have responded the way she did stating that she knew he was taking a risk, but he wanted to see his daughter. Had she not known of the parole violation and warrant, she would not have claimed he was risking anything, because a parolee would not be "risking" anything if he's just going on a field trip and hasn't done anything wrong. She knew he was a fugitive from the law, meaning that she was knowingly harboring him by not reporting his whereabouts.

Good thing we got him back in jail, he may have drank that bottle of wine!!

We can all sleep well tonight!

Had it been a BOX of wine, he may have gotten life without parole !

I'm thinking we should all move to Washington. If this is all it takes to make the "most wanted" list, there must not be many murderers, armed robbers, rapists, or other violent felons in the state.

Better still, we should decriminalize pot, and make addictive street drugs available at supervised injection centers. Poof goes the street market, poof go the cartels, poof goes prison overcrowding and the sentencing of harmless citizens to years in "crime school," and in come the tax revenues. Who actually thinks the way we're doing it is better than that?!?

Yea but think of all the lost jobs that would cause....no more local street dealers, no need for all the police officers busting them, no need for people training drug sniffing dogs, no need for as many probation officers, etc, etc.

Better still, we should decriminalize pot, and make addictive street drugs available at supervised injection centers.

Yea[h,] but think of all the lost jobs that would cause.

More than made up for. Agriculture takes off like a shot (oh yeah - no more farm subsidies, too, and use of hemp reverses deforestation), creating farm jobs, packaging, distribution, marketing - and that's just pot. The rest of the proposal creates jobs at injection sites, but those are only temporary. Since new addicts will be increasingly rare, the need will decrease with time, reaching near zero as current addicts die off (mostly of old age, while contributing to society). But don't get me started...

Someone would have to admit the war on drugs didn't work. That it was a waste of money, time, lives and futures for so many that were charged for so little. Good luck with that.

Not gonna happen with a Republican or Democrat president. Didn't Obama admit to smoking weed?

Apparently they like spending that easy money they take from your check, are perfectly good with the killing south of the border (population control?) and the $59 billion dollar illegal drug industry.

Vote Ron Paul if you want the drug problem to go away. Otherwise accept it and keep paying for it.

I read it was in Washington and was hoping it was about DB Cooper.

Why the nukes? I did not read anywhere that he was from Canada...LOL

mw724...imagine it...it happens everyday, ive seen it a lot of times....its a lot less scary and dangerous...and probably fun too...for our "officers" to go after someone with a little weed....or someone even strung out on real drugs than it is to go after killers and rapist...hell...if I was a cop I would take the easy fun road also.....

From Qfox13

The man was identified as Donald Vasser, who was considered a violent fugitive and was wanted for failing to check in with the Department of Corrections. He has more than 20 arrests for obstructing law enforcement, assaulting an officer, burglary and harassment.

From Qfox13

Ah, yes, info from Fox, the Ministry of Truth. And Corrections wants him on a chicken$h*t possession of wine violation. I wonder how many of those

20 arrests for obstructing law enforcement, assaulting an officer, burglary and harassment

were bullpucky as well. All of the Occupy arrests could be (and have been) charged with same.

I'd like to see the justification of this from the hard-core prohibitionists who I know frequent these boards - the ones who advocate for the shooting on sight of anyone who's ever smoked a joint. The war on drugs would be a distant, shameful memory if it didn't appeal so strongly to so many Americans' sense of moral indignation. Come on, ridiculous anti-crowd! Let's see you defend this one.

But it was white wine with red meat.....you know thats a felony in washington..:)

I agree with you completely. And his daughter will probably not want to return to school because her classmates might tease her about the whole thing.

I wonder if the father who recognized the guy and called the police will collect a reward. If he does, I hope he donates it to "Toys for Tots" and if he doesn't, I hope he chokes.

just a smidge