Couple Allegedly Has Sex In Restaurant In Front Of Children in Florida But No Parent Is Willing To Step Forward As A Witness

Jeremie Calo and Tiffani Lynn Barganier are accused of a bizarre crime of having sex in public at a Florida restaurant in front of families with children. Yet, they will not be charged with that crime because none of the adults, including parents, who watched the disgraceful scene are willing to come forward to be witnesses. It is an sad statement about our society that parents, who were upset with the alleged public sex act, do not view themselves as bound by civic duty to step forward as witnesses for the police. It appears that Calo is not the only one treating the incident with a wink and a nod.

The scene allegedly occurred at Paddy Murphy’s, an Orlando restaurant, after the manager was told by various patrons about the couple’s tryst. It is not clear why the manager is not a sufficient witness for the charge. He reported told the couple to stop and Calo, 32, allegedly told Tom Murphy “She can’t get up at this time” — a reference to Barganier.

Calo is accused of then scuffling with the staff and trying to leave without payment. He was charged not with having sex in public but “defrauding an innkeeper.”

What disturbed me about this story was the statement of the police that “The parents of the young children that observed Calo and Barganier having sex declined to write statements regarding their observations.” It is a chilling lesson that these parents are giving their children in not cooperating with police and stepping forward to serve as witnesses. I am not sure which is a worse lesson. This couple was presumably drunk but the parents were sober. In my view, one committed a contemptible act of commission while the other committed a contemptible act of omission. What do you think?

Source: Smoking Gun