In February, we reported that the former guitarist of Cop Shoot Cop, Michael Kaminski, had apparently traded in his axe for a gun-shaped cologne bottle, which he used to rob an Akron video store.
The 41-year-old earned national headlines as well as his own comic strip in Blender when he stuck up a Highland Square Video clerk with a gun-shaped Stetson cologne bottle – he even painted the “handle” black to make it look more convincing – and threatened to shoot if the guy didn’t empty out his register. Instead, Kaminski got the beating of his life from the clerk and a worker from a neighboring store. Kaminski was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon…
Needless to say, C-Notes found this story pretty amusing and branded Kaminski the moron of the day.
Our story elicited impassioned responses from Kaminski’s friends and family, who claimed that he was a drug addict who needed rehab instead of punishment. We agreed, but still felt like the guy deserved a bit of time and humiliation for sticking up an innocent minimum wage worker.
But Summit County Court Judge Patricia Cosgrove didn’t agree with our sentiments. Yesterday, Kaminski pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison. He’ll be able to evade prison time, however, thanks to his addiction. Cosgrove suspended his sentence and placed him on two years probation, in which he has to complete a drug treatment program, says Cosgrove’s bailiff Kathie Nelson. “It does have a lock down period, for as long as 90 days. It will help him find a job, try to change his way of thinking – give him a sort of guide.”
Which all sounds great – if Kaminski is ready to receive the help. After all, he spent the past few years in a vicious cycle of abuse, robbery and recovery. Hopefully he’ll realize that we only get so many second chances. Because the next guy he robs might decide to shoot him instead of kick his ass. – Denise Grollmus
Denise, Your written words here are callous and in dispute with the legal decision and authority of Judge Cosgrove and not in adherence with the law. Your tone as a reporter is petty. I know you are friends with the video store owner and perhaps with the martial arts guy who so foolishly beat Michael "to a pulp". It may be helpful here to state the FACTS of the case correctly and without prejudice.
Your most recent article is actually detrimental and disrespectful to the courts decision with regards to Mr. Kaminski's sentencing. When reading your initial article pertaining to Mr. Kaminski (Feb. 28, 2008) one could easily come to the conclusion that you, as a reporter, had fallen into the unprofessional pit and succumbed to your own personal feelings due to your friendship with the video store owner. Also it must be noted how unprofessional it was for you to publish an article with regard to your own insatiable desire to bring about preconceived judgements regarding what Mr. Kaminski's conviction and incarceration should be.
Now after the fact, your initial intent to cause detriment to Michael with regard to the verdict which could have resulted in a preconceived, unfavorable conviction of Mr. Kaminski was not successful. So much for the power of the pen and the written press. Sometimes, Denise, in the real world, justice does prevail. Shame on you for your vile tone. As a graduate of Oberlin College, I expected no less.
Posted at: April 25, 2008 10:06 AM