Baker’s Dozen Developments

There were a few intriguing developments in the Yale Choir beating story today. We revealed more about one of the young men who was detained that night by police, after the Yale students identified him and three others. Marino Peradotto is a member of an elite Marine anti-terrorism unit, trained in martial arts and close-quarters combat. He’s now stationed in Japan. Families of the Yale students are upset that police haven’t even interviewed Peradotto or made any arrest in the case. What we didn’t say on the air today was that we’re hearing at least three Marines from San Francisco were involved in the incident with the Baker’s Dozen.

Then, there are the pictures. Jim Hammer is a former San Francisco prosecutor who’s now representing the Yale students and their families, along with two other attorneys. Hammer sent this letter to the U.S. Marine Corps on Friday and it reveals for the first time that Peradotto used his cell phone camera to take pictures of what the letter calls “wounds to the knuckles of his fellow attackers.” The accusation here is that Peradotto took “bragging photos” to commemorate the beating his friends gave the Yale singers. We’ll see if that turns out to be the truth.

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris has agreed to sit down with us tomorrow morning and talk about the case. We’ll have that Tuesday on the news at six.

Comments

[Mark Eichman]

Dear Dan,

Way to dig! I wonder if the victims are going to get some cooperation out of the Marine brass, or if the Corps is going to protect its own.

In the meantime, I'm willing to bet 20 bucks that you're about to get a bunch of posts here about bashing the Marines for your own self-aggrandizing purposes.

Looking forward to your interview with the SF DA.

Keep it up.
Mark

[Terry]

Thanks for the update! They should have copied that letter to the Secretary of Defense, that's where the politcal rubber meets the road.

[Yalemama]

Thanks for staying on top of this story. Things have been quiet for awhile. The plot thickens with the Marine thing, huh? I look forward to your update tomorrow.

[cbk]

This is rich....San Francisco and the SF DA are the one's dragging their feet and not arresting the miscreants, but the bloggers are blaming the Marines. Typical of San Francisco...blame the military and let's all have another latte. Maybe the other guys in the group of thugs will make it to the SFPD.

[Yalemama]

cbk, i just reread the above and I don't see bloggers "blaming the military". Personally I don't blame anybody but the miscreants (and the parents who "raised" them.) It seems to me that the SF DA is trying to put together a compelling case after a very rough start and some initial mistakes in police procedure. Now that the investigation is rolling, I certainly don't get the impression that anybody is dragging their feet. Seems like the wheels of justice are turning, but we'll see. Stay tuned.
P.S. I live in Santa Cruz and here it is chai latte.

[Kev Yu]

If it were me being Yallie getting hit i would have taught them how my new fighting technique is unstoppable.

[dan]

My new blogging technique is unstoppable!!!!!!!

How much do you want to bet that the photos and reports provided to police (by the former police lawyers whose house was used to host an unchaperoned, underage teen new year's drinking party which resulted in a drunken street fight) LONG AFTER THE ATTACK (and long after the Yale students had time to get their story straight at the advice of their high priced attorneys) had no mention whatsoever of the by now well documented drinking by the Yale Students, who were representing Yale University and who can now face suspension for violating school policy about alcohol use during a singing engagement.

This story is being tried in the media in an outrageously one sided manner.

If I were the marine commander I'd have serious doubts about helping this peculiar, questionable investigation.

[dan]

One more thing.

While those Yale a$$holes are attending drunken singing revels and LIVING the good life the accused are voluntarily RISKING their lives in elite anti terrorist units overseas.

The accused don't deserve a fair pass to commit battery, but they do deserve basic fairness and decency, and the protections of our most fundamental laws for which they are probably fighting right now as we engage in our right to free speech, and as abc7 engages in its right to commit legalized journalistic slander.

[Molly]

These Marines know that they are trained to use this in situations that truly dictate needing to defend yourself to such extremes. Those Marines should be charged for their actions, most of all, for unbecoming of a Marine.
BTW I'm a former Marine who is appalled by these nitwits actions.

[dan]

Aziz was admitted to Yale University because his wealthy father was class of '74. (barf).

I wonder what the Marine's story is......

[Patrick]

Dan,

Is Aziz still enrolled at Yale?

[Shamrock]

Dan, do you spend as much time investigating jumpings in the Bayview or Sunnydale as in the Richmond? Do you really care about helping the city or getting a christmass card from some yale familes?

[JMY]

Dan -

It is still amazing to me that that some individuals in this case keep reminding us that alcohol was involved.

That EXCUSE does not hold water! Being drunk or under the influence of some other drug, DOES NOT Excuse any ones behavior. Those individuals who have attacked these men should be held accountable. And it further amazes me that the DA still has done nothing.

Anyone using the defense of being under the influence is a coward!

One of the accused is reported to me a member of the military. Where is the honor, bravery the respect that this individual has for himself and the country he serves?

It seems to me that it only applies to people like him or his friends. Is this how our military trains troops! God I hope not!

JOHN

[jenn]

Dan, Did you ever think that maybe the Marine did not participate in the fight because of the fact that he IS in the MILITARY.You make him sound like RAMBO or something mentioning that he is a elite marine anti-terrorism and trained in martial arts and close-quarters combat. Well duh, all military personal are trained this way. Of course you wouldn't know that. He has as much to lose as those yale boys. Also the taking pictures from his cell phone is purly speculation. You called it bragging rights. Do you know this for sure? Dan Anoying get your story straight. You really don't have all the facts.

[Shamrock]

if he had all the facts he couldnt make a story out of it

[this isnt over yet???]

GEE...WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS? IF I AM EVER THE VICTIM OF A CRIME I WONDER IF IT WILL GET THIS MUCH MEDIA ATTENTION? I GUESS IT WILL DEPEND ON WHO I KNOW OR HOW MUCH MONEY I HAVE. WHY ARE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION TAKING SO LONG?...THIS IS ONLY AN ALLEGED ASSAULT AT BEST AND THEY HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY IN SF, WHAT MAKES THESE YALE KIDS SO SPECIAL THAT EVERYONE SHOULD DROP WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO SOLVE THEIR CASE? INVESTIGATIONS TAKE TIME AND TIME IS WHAT THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT! NO SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR THE YALLIES!!!

[this isnt over yet???]

GEE...WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS? IF I AM EVER THE VICTIM OF A CRIME I WONDER IF IT WILL GET THIS MUCH MEDIA ATTENTION? I GUESS IT WILL DEPEND ON WHO I KNOW OR HOW MUCH MONEY I HAVE. WHY ARE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION TAKING SO LONG?...THIS IS ONLY AN ALLEGED ASSAULT AT BEST AND THEY HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY IN SF, WHAT MAKES THESE YALE KIDS SO SPECIAL THAT EVERYONE SHOULD DROP WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO SOLVE THEIR CASE? INVESTIGATIONS TAKE TIME AND TIME IS WHAT THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT! NO SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR THE YALLIES!!!

[Sneak]

it's kind of interesting to recall all the different ways the media's tried to spin this. It's gone from being "queer bashing" to "San Francisco liberals angry with the Star Spangled Banner being sung" to "Anti-terrorist Marines." A little contradictory, dont you think? "San Francisco liberals/queer bashers," or "Anti-National Anthem United States Marines"

[this one person]

It really doesn't matter what the motive for the crime is. Whether or not there was alcohol involved, whether or not it was a hate crime, or whether or not it was just some guys who think they're the toughest shit in San Francisco (which is what my opinion is, since I did go to high school with the boys and have some understanding of their personalities) the point is they committed a crime.

The whole situation sucks and what makes it worse is that there isn't really anything being done about it. It seems like everyone is all talk, no one wants to prosecute these rich San Franciscans.

People keep claiming Yale-y money is the reason that anyone's giving this thought at all. But if that were the case wouldn't this be finished by now? There is money on both sides of the spectrum, with the kids from Yale and the rich San Francisco boys.

[Mark Eichman]

Dan, I just watched the video of your interview with Ms. Harris. For someone who claims "... we have put some of the highest level of resources that we have as an office into the case, into monitoring the case ...." she sure doesn't know much, judging by the number of "not to my knowledge/I have no knowledge of that/assumes facts not in evidence" responses she gave. Overall, I got the feeling she was not being completely forthright with you.

Also, you had asked about the Newsom comment regarding his understanding that a lot of drinking was going on. I think we now know where that came from... The Mayor was obviously confusing his own partying with the people in this case. Which ties us right back to your first interview: It's just a question.

I love a well-balanced story.

Go get 'em.

-Mark

[Terry]

She's never gonna charge anyone. Pretty clear this is sandbagging.

[ezra]

Dan, Why dont you spend as much time investigating oakland homicides, shootings and gang violence in other areas of the bay area. I guess it is to much work to do real investigations, and you will not gain any recognition from it. Why would you ruin the lives of people protecting our country and YOU. Think about it.

[Kev Yu]

1 Kev Yu = 20 thug marines

why not show them latest fighting technique? Fighting technique called show motherf***ers the inside of ambulance technique.

[What is the real story? I don't know but I can give some personal insight.]

Before I start on my bored rant I would just like to start a more personal one beforehand. You people who don't know anyone involved, who are so outraged by this event, who are pissed off at that o so bad reporter Dan, and just so emotional about it are just funny to read about. People like to jump on emotional ban wagons they don't really belong. From what I heard from my friends which by the way is just here say ....Richard deserves something...will your lives be any different if anything does happen to him...No. So go jump on something more important like AIDS....you know they did just find a weakness with some kind of protein. Donate your wasted emotions and time to that because honestly that plagues SF more than Yalies getting beat up over for being probably more pompous than they should of been in somebody elses backyard...or back porch in this case, not saying they deserved it but realistically speaking tread lightly in unknown waters.

I am a young San Franciscan who grew up in the city and recently graduated knowing a lot of who was who in the Catholic school circle. I didn't participate in the High School stupidity of fighting because your drunk. I just watched them do it as they fought or kicked them out when their drama wasn't wanted, but what I did in HS doesn't really matter.

I sadly was party hopping with my buddy who was home that weekend and we didn't get to the party till when the firetruck arrived. I know of Richard Aicardi and his brothers and his connections not politically but with people who he would call. I am not personal friends with them but you have a general idea growing up in that relative scene who knows who. I can tell you that a lot of those kids who were in the fight were grove rats(Kids who hang out in Stern Grove drinking almost every weekend)ranging from the retired grove drinkers to current members. And to be honest I wouldn't be surprised if Marino was involved not saying he was but I definitly wouldn't be surprised....Marine or not if your a grove rat or a friend of them back at home and you get a call about fighting you go do it....there is no Marine bashing here he was a guy back with his drunken friends living his old civilian life. Get a grip people he isn't bashing the marines he's just saying what he is now. But keep in mind fighting is nothing unusual for SH kids who have any relation to the Grove...or for that matter anyone who has a relation to the grove. For them it was just another night where old graduates and current High school students related to the Grove in some way got together to drink their usual 40oz of Mickeys and when they got a call about a fight it didn't matter who they were fighting as long as they did it together, the fact that they were fighting these uppity Yale students only gave it extra bonus points. Now for the "415" calls? I will tell you nobody is more proud to use glorified name of San Francisco as a means of justifying what they will do, as if they represented the very essence of the San Francisco, as a drunken Grove Rat "repping" the city till he dies.

Sorry for all the errors and grammatical what not's. I really don't feel like editing a blog but you get the idea hopefully if you decided to read this long thing in your random time.

[Yalemama]

Thanks for your perspective. What you are describing is found in almost any state in our country. It's not about San Francisco. It's not about rich or poor, gay or straight, Ivy league, patriotism, sons of prominent citizens, SH or SI... It is exactly what you described: "when they got a call about a fight it didn't matter who they were fighting as long as they did it together" and "for them it was just another night". Well maybe finally these alleged grove rat bullies have picked the wrong alleged fight.

As the daughter of a fifth generation San Franciscan father (Irish Catholic, Mission District) and the mother of a daughter at Yale (with a boyfriend in the Baker’s Dozen,) I continue to follow this story with interest. Not because I think it is more important than AIDS, but because it is interesting. You ask if our lives will be different if “something happens” to the alleged perpetrator. Personally, mine will not be different. But if I lived in the Richmond, my life might be better if neighborhood thugs thought they might go to jail if they beat the crap out of somebody. And if somebody goes down for this alleged assault, maybe parents will be more conscious of what could happen to their kids if they are raised to think that this kind of behavior will be tolerated.

Peace.