For the Next Stranger Regrets Issue
By Laura Onstot in Crime & Punishment
Tuesday, Mar. 10 2009 @ 4:05PM
Everyone has the occasional trouble with the law and the cross-town rival news editor (and former SW writer), Erica C. Barnett, had her own run-in earlier this year. According to a police spokesperson, the SPD received a shoplifting call from the northern Broadway QFC on Jan. 28 at 6:50 p.m. Barnett is accused of attempting to steal an $8.99 bottle of wine. The spokesperson says SPD records indicate she wasn't arrested at the scene, but the city attorney's office did file a misdemeanor theft charge in Seattle Municipal Court. Barnett is scheduled for a hearing March 17. She declined to comment.
18 comment(s)
Rosebud says:
No comment? The writer whose gushing style Knute Berger aptly described as "waterboarding"? Not a word? Nada? A first!
Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 10 2009 @ 4:17PM
Rachel says:
Sure, theft of an $8.99 bottle of wine is *totally* comparable to the theft of nearly $100,000 by your IT guy. A single misdemeanor charge is *totally* comparable to 48 felony theft counts. You should totally report on ECB, but keep mum on Paul Jensen because "he's innocent until proven guilty."
Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 10 2009 @ 5:10PM
JJM says:
Rachel. SW was actually the first to report on Paul Jensen. Keep up.
Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 10 2009 @ 5:17PM
Neil says:
Did I miss the part where Laura said this was, like, "*totally* comparable" to the incident involving Paul Jensen?
Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 10 2009 @ 5:18PM
Jack says:
A critic of wasteful spending has identified a sensible alternative. If you either can't pay or don't want to pay for something, just fucking steal it! Maybe ECB could suggest this strategy to our city politicians as a means of dealing with ever shrinking financial resources.
Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 10 2009 @ 5:57PM
Anonymous says:
The Barnett story brings to mind another Seattle public figure who is a reputed shoplifter: Jean Enersen. I've heard this rumor for decades, but I've never seen a single piece of evidence. Fact or Seattle urban legend?
Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 10 2009 @ 8:36PM
Cred says:
Today's "Stupid Fucking Credulous Thief" award goes to Erica C. Barnett.
Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 10 2009 @ 8:36PM
Rachel says:
Oh. Nevermind.
Posted On: Tuesday, Mar. 10 2009 @ 8:56PM
Harrydoorknocker says:
It appears someone else knew about this as well - even sneaked it into the Stranger under Barnett's nose - in a Feb. 17 comment to a Barnett blog on an upcoming panel discussion on newspapers:
"will the sad story of the bleak economy, the stress it has caused and how it has turned journalists into alcohol fueled shoplifters be explored?????"
Posted On: Wednesday, Mar. 11 2009 @ 8:29AM
justanotherlurker says:
Well, we shouldn't rush to judgement.
Oh wait-- Erica is that shrill Womens Studies 101 feminist, right? I remember that she had lots of opinions about the Duke University stripper rape case. Even when the whole fiasco was unraveling-- because, you know, there was no physical evidence, no supporting witnesses, ATM photos showing suspects elsewhere at the time, and the revelations that the accuser was a drugged-out wacko who kept changing her story and had made similar allegations in the past-- Erica kept firm in her belief that the lacrosse players were all guilty. Because they were privileged white males and had to be guilty of SOMETHING.
Book her, Dano.
Posted On: Wednesday, Mar. 11 2009 @ 10:24AM
Siffle 'n' Ollie says:
Here's what happens if you post about it this on the Stranger's Slog.
No dirty laundry allowed!
COMMENT DELETED: Sock Puppetry
We'd rather not moderate your comments, but off-topic, gratuitously inflammatory, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate remarks may be removed, and repeat offenders may be banned from commenting. We never censor comments based on ideology. Thanks to all who add to the conversation.
Posted On: Wednesday, Mar. 11 2009 @ 12:50PM
Mike says:
They're actively removing them now without even a "COMMENT DELETED" left there as evidence.
Posted On: Wednesday, Mar. 11 2009 @ 5:18PM
Eddie says:
Apparently the Stranger's not paying her enough. Karma's a b*tch, ECB!
Posted On: Wednesday, Mar. 11 2009 @ 11:09PM
Trevor says:
Sad.
Posted On: Thursday, Mar. 12 2009 @ 1:34PM
susieq says:
Erica Barnett deserves hard time!!! She rips my business in print at every opportunity but has never, ever even once called to check facts. She thinks she is some sort of renaissance woman who can critique food, art, politics whatever. HA HA HA
Posted On: Thursday, Mar. 12 2009 @ 2:25PM
Anonymous says:
Old news. ECB is broke. (She acknowledged massive credit card debt in a Stranger article about the economic meltdown a couple months ago.) A quick court record search shows that her wages are garnished.
Posted On: Thursday, Mar. 12 2009 @ 5:08PM
blah says:
Old news. ECB is broke. (She acknowledged massive credit card debt in a Stranger article about the economic meltdown a couple months ago.) A quick court record search shows that her wages are garnished.
Posted On: Thursday, Mar. 12 2009 @ 5:08PM
hijinx says:
Wow you would think she is perfect the way she trashes others. Does wage garnishment give her the right to steal? And 8.99 wine stupid and bad taste. Why didnt the Stranger break this story, oh yea only the" truth" they like
Posted On: Thursday, Mar. 12 2009 @ 5:54PM