Town hires former state trooper fired for sex with a minor

It is true, an individual post in the Tidewater news comments said "Any situation can be argued until eternity as to who is right or wrong." If her parents knew, they were wrong to do nothing. If "the whole town knew" as stated here in the Pilot comments, they were wrong not to counsel this young woman. The LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL (Mr. Fuller) knew this was against the law; something he took an oath to uphold. Again, according to our law, which we all are supposed to live by, what this man did was WRONG. Plain and simple. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
Forgiveness is good, we all need it. I feel as towns people we have forgiven and let him "get on with his life", and should have continued to do so without putting Mr. Fuller in a position of authority when he knowingly had no regard for upholding the law in the past.

My comments were cut off, so I will finish. Hiring Fuller is a disgrace. He sullies the badge that I cherished and wore for mire than 20 years. Boykins will regret this decision. A problem officer continues to be a problem officer. The state police saw him that way and any other agency or government should as well. Sex with a child is just plain wrong and sick. Good luck Boykins, you'll need it.

Thanks but no thanks. Again I ask, why would you want to be around a race baiter? :)

Dinner or breakfast?

Yes, everyone please do click on my username and get to know my opinion a little better on issues of race. Didn’t know I was that important to IRA that he feels you all should need “go deeper” into what I say on these boards.
Trust and believe Ira, the paragraph directed to you came only after you insisted on bringing race into a post that had nothing to do with race. Then after you started looking like fool you decided you were through with that silly debate remember? I’ll keep responding as long as you want me to. Keep going…

"If you are a black person, then you know full well that everyday you are are reduced to your "blackness". "

You said it. If anyone would like to dig deeper just click on the posters name.

BTW, Zulu, there as no need for the emotional response. We are debating in print. The record speaks for itself w/o a full paragraph of ranting at me.

Strom Thurmond raped a 15yr old family domestic, when he was 23 & look at his later career. This clown, in Boykins, should be in prison, period. By the way, White House interns are of legal age.

You're not. Wait till your girl is 12 or 13 and has "consneual sex." The readon it is a crime is because childre do not know what they are consenting to! Fuller knew --- he should have walked away.
Thanks Boykins. You confirmed my opinion of you. I look ofrward to this year's Christmas parade with the Mayor, all the Town Council, nbeing led by the Grand Marshall - the new police officer, the country's laughing stock.

By the way Boykins, it has already been picked up by national news.

Let's look at the big picture here, and maybe consider some facts that you don't know about. The act he committed, while indeed wrong by law, was consensual for three years; while the female in question continually kept a diary of her actions with him and several OTHER older men. When things got sour, she chose to turn him in. Now isn't that a double standard? Since she is underage, she suffers none for the crimes she ALLOWED and ENABLED to happen time and time again. Instead she chooses to spitefully ruin his reputation and career after three years of "selling it". She only chose to press charges against him, and only him, out of revenge and anger.

So is he a violent rapist? No. Is he a brutal murderer? No. Is he a sexual predator and you need to lock up your daughters? No. He is a man who made a serious mistake. This situation does not show the "stupidity of a small redneck town"; instead it shows compas

The comment you cut and pasted was about Barack Obamas RACE! So wouldn't it make sense to post a comment about race? Just curious, I could be wrong as you so often like to point out to others.

with your silly "debates". Again, what did that comment you cut and pasted have to do with THIS forum? Ira you need to get a life, real bad. Stick to your comments and am definately sticking to mine. So what was your point again? Oh that right, I forgot, Zulu has no problem bringing up race, but even when she doesn't bring it up, she is still race baiting. Got it. (rolling my eyes so hard I might not be able to see straight again)

Everybody! Listen to the town crier (or in this case the VP crier) IRA! Theres a race baiter among us! Theres a race baiter among us! But the only one taking the bait is the town crier himself!

"calm down am
Submitted by zuluafrican on Sat, 09/06/2008 at 12:18 pm.
Its really not that serious. I was merely addressing the reality of this country. If you are a black person, then you know full well that everyday you are are reduced to your "blackness". Don't sound so shocked that someone actually wrote it for all to read."

I will stand by my comment. But I am done w/ this silly debate.

Facts: She was 15. He was 27. He had sex with her. He had piks of her on his cell phone. He has a new girlfriend. He is not married to her. They live together - still a crime in VA. He is not on the predator page because prosecutor (who did not withdraw from case as ethically should have) offered misdemeanor plea bargain. The charges were NOT correct. Should have been at least carnal knowledge of minor - a felony. But he was fire chief - best friend dad's a local good ole boy cop - family well known - his dad best friend with prosecutor. He should be in jail. If his name was Da'Quan,he would be. Not race, a fact. By the way, I am white.

I think this is a case where the entire legal system broke down. If this girls parents new of this relationship, why were they not charged with child neglect instead of allowing him to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges? Why did the prosecuting attorney not fully prosecute this case? After all, he could have requested it to be moved to another jurisdiction if he really wanted a guilty verdict. Why werent' the more serious charges pressed against him, regardless of what her parents wanted. This is a case that needs to be reviewed by child welfare to determine why they were not involved, and to bring the appropriate charges against this officer and her parents. It is the states duty to protect the child, not the state police officer. It appears that they have failed the children of the state of VA. Please take a second look and do what's right. Everyone involved in this case that allowed this to ha

ok,I think Kevin and zoey got it when they caught the 'dated for several years'bit.I'd like to point out that a 'few' years would put her at 12.Several years,'on and off' would have her at 8 or 9yrs old. Race and politics has absolutely nothing to do with this. Criminal behavior does as well as lack of morals and values. If this is an "upstanding citizen", I'm afraid to see what a 'non-upstanding citizen' in Boykins is considered. I'm alarmed that "most of the town knew and it wasn't an issue." Really? If that's true, then throw the pervert a parade! It's no wonder he was voted in. Play the banjos and make some lemonade.Good sequel to Deliverance.

Check Zulu's other comments? My other comments on other topics have nothing to do with what I stated here. Just because your on my g-string every time I make a comment does not mean that anyone else has to be concerned with what I comment on. You are the one continually pointing out race. I said nothing about race until you brought it up.
If you thought race was not the issue then why then why bring it into the equation? The comment I made about the young man in GA (and I was not the only one) was simply in comparison to this man in VA essentially being let off while being a full grown adult and the other young man, while and adult, was not even out of his teens when convicted. I intentionally did not mention his race 1. because it had nothing to do with my comment and 2. it was more of an age difference that I was focusing on.

On the issue of any other comments I may have made and will make in the future, I have absolut

"Why are you making this about race? You forgot to mention the girl in the GA case was white and that is why the black kid got time in jail. "

Check Zulu's other comments. They are always connected to race. Speaking of which, he only went to jail because he was black huh? Having sex w/ a minor while videotaping it at a party wasn't enough? Wow. Guess you have not seen it either?

"Submitted by zuluafrican:
So why should this guy get off without penalty? Wrong is wrong, no matter what your race."

I do not see race as being the issue. Period. The kid in Georgia commited a criminal act. The manner of the crime towards a young woman was vicious. I think being a trooper may have helped the guy in VA. That's just as wrong.

BTW I don't even get the conversation about Republican vs Democrat. This is an issue of crimes against children not a platform for personal views on the presidential debate.

If what gr8mommy says is true "Hank dated this girl for several years" and that it was approved by her parents and was not an issue for the town, then it is obvious that this town does not understand the terms preditor, pedophilia, or statutory rape. To know and approve that an adult in an authority position was allowed to perpetuate this crime against a child is apalling. To fathom that they would reward him with yet another distinguished position is mind blowing. Did anyone forget he pleaded guilty to his actions which tells me he is aware of what he did, yet to persue another position of authority tells me he is in denial to what the real issues are. It would appear that he has pleaded guilty to appease those who want to hold him responsible but with a tiny smack on the hand leaves him bold enough to attempt his calculated next move. At the very least he needs to be in touch with reality - that because of

One: Are we talking about Boykins, VA. or Boykins, W. VA.? Maybe the rules are different and she was his sister?

Two: What political affiliation is he, Mr. Fuller, Republican or Democrat? I am taking a poll on Conservative Family Values and I am just guessing that he and the town of Boykins are mostly Republican. Am I wrong??

Once Hank ended the relationship, she was upset and threw the whole "I was a minor" accusation out and pressed charges as sort of blackmail.

That's irrelevant to his crime. If she did demand money or other concessions to keep quiet, then she's guilty of a second crime that in no way excuses the first. The whole thing shows immaturity and disrespect for the law which are two big problems for a law enforcement officer.

This is crazy. She may have been almost 18, don't know, but he was still 26. Her parents knew? What's wrong with them? No wonder the girl was involved in a completely inappropriate relationship - if she didn't have more guidance than to date some one about 10 years older than her at such an age! If she had been only 16 and he 18 or even 19 that would be one thing. That happens all of the time, and that's why sometimes judgement need not be harsh. But as a law enforcement officer preying on someone 10 yrs his junior, it's sick. This man will never be able to testify in court, it will be a free or all anytime he has to take the stand against a criminal. Yes give him a chance, just not in a position with power. He blew that with his "adult" jusgement to date a child.

Fuller made a poor decision to have sex with a child and that is what she was, a child. Some people call that a mistake, while others call it perdophilia. Too bad he wasn't convicted of a felony because if he had the state would have yanked his law enforecement sertification. Nonetheless, there are other adults who didn't make sound choices. What were her parents thinking? Nevermind the answer is obvious, nothing. The state police fired him. Why on earth would someone hire him?
It was poor judgment by the Boykins Town Council members who voted to hire him. Surely, the Southampton County Sheriff's Office or the state police would have patrolled the town until a less controversial and more qualified individual could be hired. When it comes to Fuller's ability to investigate a crime against a juvenile, his integrity will be questioned. This man has no business carrying a badge and gun. He is a di

While this is no surprise it is a travesty that Boykins would hire this sex offender as a police officer . I have lived in this area 40+ years and have worked as a LEO for over a decade I know the system . Fuller got off with a slap on the wrist and should have had the decency and respect for fellow LEO and community to just walk away from a profession he disgraced . A sexual deviant such as Fuller has no place beside the respected LEO of this country . The victim in this case was 15yoa and Fuller used his position of authority and maturity of his age to sexually assault her . IF her parents knew of the relationship they failed to protect her from this sexual predator. A parent can not forfeit a childs rights to be protect by the Law . In this case the child was a victim of Fuller who was Sworn to Protect and uphold her rights .
As for the town of Boykins giving him a 2nd chance this has been there moto when it comes to hiri

Let's not be hasty. Times are changing, and views about sex by the Republican party are changing, so lets not be so quick to judbe. Right!

I can see it now. The officer is in court and the defense attorney asks him, ”Have you ever been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude?” The answer would be yes, and in the eyes of the court, his credibility is shot. In fact, I don’t think he can ever testify in federal court based on the Giglio rule.

Some crimes should prohibit you from being a police officer, and this is one of them.

This articles leaves out some important points.... Such as the fact that the salary for this position is... 26 k a year, and that he was the only certified law officer to apply... who else are they going to get at that kind of pay?

You have got to be kidding me...this is absurd. This man should never be entrusted to protect and serve anyone. A sex offender as a police officer? It doesn't matter what the circumstances were. He was entrusted to uphold the law and he knew he was violating it. Very poor judgement at the least. This town must be desperate. I can hear the bangos playing now!

Dated for several years?!?! What was she 10 when he first picked her up? Seriously, this is just bad judgment and I can only imagine how he will use his new "power." Sick.

I've sent an email to the man that reported this story. This is an incomplete article at best. Hank dated this female for several years, off and on (I believe; or it could have been a continual relationship). It was a consenual relationship (dating). It is my understanding that her parents knew of it and approved of the relationship. Most in the county knew of it as well and it wasn't an issue. Once Hank ended the relationship, she was upset and threw the whole "I was a minor" accusation out and pressed charges as sort of blackmail. There was a reason why the judge suspended all the jail time (parents knew about it, it was not a hidden relationship, dated for several years, etc.). There is a reason why no one in the town thinks it's an issue. Did he make a poor choice to date a minor? -- yes!! I can promise you he likely learned from this. He's an upstanding individual. That's why the town hired him.

Did the