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Paul Lemmen – His Road To Redemption Has a Pot Hole
On June 5th, 2012, Paul Lemmen, a blogger at an Ex -Con’s View, made this blog post.
To the Idiots Photographing My Home Today …
So you want to play games, show where I live, our car , etc. in an attempt to silence me?
YOU LOSE!
Here is where I live:
4071 76th Ave, No. Apt. 6,
Pinellas Park, FL 33871.
Got any questions idiots? Come get me!
I had some questions.
Paul Lemmen was a small blogger 6 months ago, but not at An Ex-Con’s View. It was a different site called, The Right Planet (which is a good, reputable site that unfortunately got ensnared in Paul Lemmen’s world.) Paul Lemmen posed as a blogger named Willem VanBever (screen name Poison To Libs)- a black Georgian doctor who retired wealthy after his invention of Imodium. But tragedy befell Dr. VanBever. 7 months ago he developed stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and gifts and donations were accepted by Willem VanBever in care of Barb Lemmen at Paul Lemmen’s Florida address. Lemmen disappeared when discovered.
Two weeks later an Ex-Con’s View was born. Not realizing that this was Lemmen’s new site I began linking to some posts that were e-mailed to our tips line. When a reader pointed out that this was Poison To Libs I e-mailed Lemmen and informed him that iOTW could no longer link and that redemption required a bit more time than a few weeks. He understood.
Lemmen continued to blog, which is his right, and I would see some links here and there. The day I decided it was my duty to speak up was the day that Instapundit linked:
AN UNSUCCESSFUL INTIMIDATION ATTEMPT. This probably wasn’t a Kimberlin lackey. But next time, photograph the photographer. And his license plate.
Glenn Reynolds, I’m sure, is not fully aware of who Paul Lemmen was/is. I’m positive he would not have linked to this blog post had he known the full Lemmen story.
Since June 5th I’ve been very vocal about the wisdom of allowing Paul Lemmen to inject himself into the epicenter of the SWATtings as a right-wing operative. That could only end badly.
And it has -
The following are notes that were taken during a phone call I made this afternoon.The person I am talking to is Linda, the person who answers the phone at Carolwood Apartments (Lemmen’s residence.)
Keep in mind, I talked with Linda earlier last week. I called today to verify the information I learned, that is why my questions sound leading. I’m repeating back to her information that she already told me.
Carolwood, How may I help you?
BFH: Is this the person I talked to last week about the article I sent to you about the photgraphing of the apartments?
Oh, yes, uh huh.
BFH: Oh, you do remember me? I don’t know what to call you. I’m sorry, I never asked your name.
Oh, okay, it’s Linda.
BFH: Hi, Linda, this is uh, the person again, just following up. Regarding your superintendent. who informed Paul Lemmen that it was indeed the city that were burying the wires underground and that was the reason they were photographing, do I have that right?
Linda: Yes, uh huh.
BFH: One thing I’m not clear on, who initiated the contact between who? Did Paul ask the superintendent or did the superintendent just come out and tell Paul about the photographing?
Linda: Okay, to my knowledge after my conversation with the superintendent, he told me Paul asked him, “what was going on, did you see those people photographing my apartment. He then explained what he knew about the city doing work, or preparing to do work.
BFH: And they were photographing everyone’s apartment in the entire complex…
Linda: Yes
BFH: …. as surveyors preparing to bury the overhead electric system underground.
Linda: Exactly
BFH: I wished I knew if Paul published this before he knew, or after he was told… but I guess it doesn’t matter because he never updated his post.
Linda: I’m not sure of the date.
BFH: either way he should have updated his post. These weren’t guys out to get him.
Linda: True. Exactly.
BFH: Well, Linda, I feel bad calling you and bringing you into this..
Linda: I don’t mind giving information that is helpful… and accurate.
BFH: Ya, accurate. That’s the bottom line. Thank you. If anything else develops I hope you don’t mind me giving you a quick call.
Linda: Oh sure, sure. Just give me a call…
BFH: I’m not going to publish this. I’m just gathering information. Well, (laughs) I may publish it, or something, one day that says from my information, with the photographs, the story didn’t happen that way.
Linda: Alright, that’s not effecting me or harming me or anyone in any way… I don’t have a problem with it.
BFH: Well, Paul’s a good guy… he’s not gonna… right, I mean you’re friends. it’s not like he’s going… it’s not going to effect your friendship, is what I’m saying.
Linda: Oh, no no. absolutely.
BFH: Okay, great.
Oh, What is the superintendent’s first name, not his full name. just the first name.
Linda: Lee.
BFH: I just want to know so I can tell Paul that I know what I’m talking about, that there was a very innocent explanation for what the circumstances were surrounding this photographer taking pictures.
Linda: Right
BFH: Thank you, Linda, I hope the weather down there is as good as it is here.
Linda: Oh, no. We’re in the middle of some tornado warnings.
BFH: Oh, geez. Sorry, but what else is new in Florida.
Linda: Right… (laughs) Okay. Have a great day.
BFH: You too. Bye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I take no glee in posting this. I have no hatred for Paul, no axe to grind, and no agenda other than to warn people that Paul cannot help himself. He admits that he is in therapy. I want him to be healthy and happy. Enabling doesn’t do that.
If people keep encouraging Paul he is going to do something a lot worse than just lying about being “intimidated into silence” by stalkers. I do not want to see him end up back in jail, or worse, because online “friends” think this redemption is a cool story, so they are going to declare Paul redeemed.
Ann Barnhardt
June 24th, 2012
The first and greatest commandment of Superfun Rockband church: thou shalt be stupid.
The second commandment: thou shalt elevate sentiment over truth.
Mary Jane Anklestraps
June 24th, 2012
Oh that’s just sad. LOL
And Lemmen posted the picture with the phone # thinking no one would follow up on his claims? lolol.
Ouch.
Anonymous
June 24th, 2012
I used to live in various areas around Tampa Bay, Pinellas Park being one of them, and it is only a slight exaggeration to say that nearly every resident in that town has some sort of issue- alcoholism, drug abuse, behavioral/psych, all of the above.
Those that DON’T fall into the above categories tend to be “recovering”. I think we know where Lemmen is.
Menderman
June 24th, 2012
Paul is not dumb. I have yet to figure out what his newest con is, but I assure you, he is not a dumb man.
I am in the proceess of publically challenging him at his site. Go there to watch if you like. My guess is that in the coming days he will either block me or delete his blog. I have done days of background checking his past. I have many screen shots of “poisontolibs” comments that show that neither incarceration nor the gang rape of his wife drove Paul to “redemption”.
I may be out of my league with this guy, but we will see….
cfm990
June 24th, 2012
I think I may get swatted. I saw a picture of my house on Google Earth. I swear! It’s right there on the interwebs. Honest!
Mary Jane Anklestraps
June 24th, 2012
Menderman, are you thinking of doing a documentary on this guy?
I mean, he’d probably sit and tell you all his stories if you asked him.
RosalindJ
June 24th, 2012
Thanks, BFH. You are doing a kindness, whether it’s well-received or not.
Merry Poppet
June 24th, 2012
MJA is right. This is really sad. Putting these pictures online is pretty much begging for someone to do something so he can point and say, “See? They WERE after me!” If no one will come out and take ominous pictures of his place, why, he’ll just do it himself. If you want something done right… or maybe if you want something wrong done, you just have to do it yourself sometimes.
Adrienne
June 24th, 2012
Why is his zip code incorrect? It should be 33781.
mkultra
June 24th, 2012
You would think that someone whose jackass behavior contributed to his wife’s sexual assault wouldn’t shi7 so close to his kitchen.
BigFurHat
June 24th, 2012
Why were the headers wrong on what was supposed to be an online conversation between him and Neal Rauhauser?
Incompetence? Deliberate in order to foment conspiracy theories about him?
I’m hoping this is the last time his name appears on iOTW. I HOPE.
Czar of Defenestration
June 24th, 2012
THAT ADDRESS IS TEN MINUTES FROM WHERE I LIVE.
ANY REQUESTS?
Menderman
June 24th, 2012
@Big Fur Hat, I am beginning to think that he thrives attention and good or bad makes no difference so long as he gets noticed. Once he is exposed as the lying theiving cheating sonnaofabitch he is, he will just start a new personna. Sadly, we will be dealing with him one way or another for years to come…and he will still be stealing money from the truly deserved.
Ann Barnhardt
June 24th, 2012
What Menderman said.
Sard
June 24th, 2012
For crying out loud! The “little general [Lemmen]” never stops!
cfm990
June 24th, 2012
The whole picture taking thing, was bull spit from the beginning. Why would any one need a picture of his home to swat him? If they already knew your address, Google earth would suffice. In a 911 situation, the cops won’t care what color your door is. Why take a chance getting caught snapping pics? Do these swatters have some kind of Jim Rockford complex?
Menderman
June 24th, 2012
People that take pictures of houses:
Insurance companies
Surveyors
Home Appraisers
Tax appraisers
Mortgage companies
and many more….
I asked a guy why he was taking a picture of my house a couple of years ago…he was doing a home appraisal on a similar house a few blocks away, and he was using my house as a comp. I didn’t blog abut it.
Ann Barnhardt
June 24th, 2012
@cfm990
The whole “picture taking” narrative scam came as “inspiration” to Lemmen after he saw the utility company people and visited with the superintendent about them.
Again, just drilling home the point, Lemmen STILL IS a con artist. The lying has NEVER STOPPED. That’s the point. The lies keep on a-comin’ right now in the present. And, as Menderman pointed out, he is probably enjoying this as we speak, and more importantly, planning and plotting his next persona.
Mr. Pinko
June 24th, 2012
@ Menderman
Ask BigFurHat – I can assess a person very accurately with almost scary psychic abilities. I know a douche’ bag when I see one. i.e. the wacko girl from Texas that was a Rick Perry nut. I actually really got fired for that and I was right all along!
I read your dialog with Lemmen. Lemmen is giving you con man answers. Long winded drivel. All this Internet socializing is not healthy for the guy.
The guy should quit blogging and focus on himself – PRIVATELY with no interaction with people on the Internet. No good, real, professional therapist would suggest to a sociopath to “blog” on the Internet. That’s like telling Sandusky to start a Boy’s Club for therapeutic purposes.
Menderman
June 24th, 2012
@Mr. Pinko,
Paul just accused me of enjoying the fact his wife got gang raped while he was in a country club prison. I think I have him on the ropes! He is also mad at a recent comment I made at iOTW..I’m not sure which one…so we are getting to him, and he is watching!
Can we start a pool on when he blocks me?
BTW, what do your “scary psychic abilities” say about me? Oh nevermind…I know I’m nutz!
Mr.Pinko
June 24th, 2012
You’re a smart dude – keep up the great work!
RosalindJ
June 24th, 2012
Menderman, I did not see any implication of enjoyment on your part of those facts in that exchange.
anonymouse
June 24th, 2012
Mr. Pinko, Lemmen isn’t a sociopath. He’s a full fledged psychopath. People use the terms interchangeably but there is a distinct difference.
There is no therapy, meds or any cure for psychopathy. He was born deviant and will die that way.
I was trying to be kind
Mr. Pinko
Vaginal fluid often substitutes for Windex
June 24th, 2012
C’mon guys, give Lemmen a break. After all, he did save his family from the wreckage of a destroyed sinking battleship once.
CrustyB
June 24th, 2012
Jeez, I forgot to get rid of the nickname from the “Rachel Maddow” sidebar game.
Chief
June 24th, 2012
Anonymouse is correct folks. My brother is Lemmenesque and all you’re doing is feeding his psychoses.
Think of him as a highly functioning troll. And stop feeding him.
Chieftain
June 24th, 2012
What ever happened to the adage “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging”??
And if you want to attract public scrutiny via the internet there are plenty of people who will be more than glad to hook you right up. Ain’t the intarwebs great??
“Beware the seeds you sow and the crops you reap. Do not curse God for the punishment you inflict on yourself.”
Orange Catholic Bible
charles sierra
June 24th, 2012
Keep doing what you’re doing. The leftist scum will resort to any tactic to silence our patriotic dissent. I run a Conservative facebook page with 8k members highlighting liberal hypocrisy and have dealt with the same thing. Only much worse. Accusations of sexual deviancy including pedophilia without a shred of proof or evidence. Mass callings to my workplace attempting to get me fired and/or arrested for these trumped up accusations.
Yes, this is what we deal with when we call out the despicable traitors for their traitorous agenda and lies, hypocrisy, and misinformation.
When the left attacks, you know you’re having an impact. Hugely so. You know you’re making a difference so keep up the great work!
To be fair, Paul Lemmen is apolitical. He claims to be right-wing, but his actions to date have only hurt the right. I don’t think politics is a passion for him. Its simply a vehicle for his addiction.- bfh
Stirrin the B.S.
June 24th, 2012
Damn, I go out tonight and miss my favorite iOTW soap opera. I am more reaffirmed in my assessment of Paul Lemmen with every comment that I read here. I find it interesting that IC hasn’t appeared to defend Paul….
BigFurHat
June 24th, 2012
The only problem with your project, Menderman, is that there is no closure for you.
Even if Lemmen curls up in a ball and screams, “you’re right, you’re right, it’s all lies,” you’ve gained nothing.
We have no idea when Lemmen is being sincere, telling the truth, confessing, or whatever.
This is his true sentence. The 35 month stint he did was nothing.
Let’s keep this in perspective and proportion here as we’re doing this vetting that he is requesting of himself.
Lemmen didn’t do anything to us except make us look stupid. Keep that in mind.
I wish Paul well. I think Pinko is correct when he says that no therapist would ever recommend he start a blog after he came into the office saying “I was just outed on a blog for fraud, help me.”
Timeline -
Lemmen is outed as VanBever just before New Year’s 2012.
Lemmen marks his day of redemption as January 5th 2012.
The first comment on his about page appears on January 13th, 2012.
(I can assume the blog was in the works prior to that date. I’ll say a few days.)
June 5th, 2012, Paul Lemmen puts up a post about being silenced into intimidation because he saw, or was told about, people photographing his apartment.
I call the number on a sign in one of his posts and ask if they know Paul Lemmen. They do. I ask if they know anything at all about a situation where Lemmen sees someone photographing his apartment
They do.
It was the city who were taken photographs to help them with their plan of burying the electrical system underground.
The person on the line says that Lemmen was told exactly why the pictures were taken.
Paul never updates his post about being intimidated into silence.
reddecaesari
June 24th, 2012
@czar
candygram?
reddecaesari
June 24th, 2012
@menderman
what is his blog name
Jayne
June 25th, 2012
I work full time. Evenings and weekends are mostly taken up with errands and chores. Is there a Reader’s Digest/Cut to the chase version of this stuff. Very hard to tell who did what to whom first.
Stirrin the B.S.
June 25th, 2012
@Menderman – “….Paul is not dumb. I have yet to figure out what his newest con is, but I assure you, he is not a dumb man….”
Purely speculating here, but the one thing that drives all con schemes is money. Yes, it can be sociopath – scamming for the thrill of the game – but I’m going to make the assumption that Paul could use some extra money, given his present situation.
He picked up blogging after being released from prison. As an ex-con, finding gainful employment is practically impossible. Blogging is a means to generate income. As PTL, he was positioning himself to be paid for written content and/or accepted donations for medical expenses. That persona was outed and an “ex-con’s view” was born.
Paul the “ex-con’s view”, picked up the Brett Kimberlin SWATting story and rapidly went from small-time, unknown, outside reporter and commentator to potential inside participant. This story was serious shit in the dextrosphere and worthy of generating heavy web-site traffic.
Again, purely speculating, but there had to be a money angle in the BK SWATting insertion. Either that, or prestige or credential creation.
BigFurHat
June 25th, 2012
Jayne -
Here’s the Reader’s Digest version.
Serial liar and con-man goes to jail for 3 years for securities fraud. He also posed as a brigadier general in Iraq (he was never in the military at all) and he was attempting to scam a company called Iraq Blue out of millions of dollars.
When out of prison he becomes an online friend to someone on Fox Nation comments forum. They make a blog together. Con artist is making believe he is a retired black doctor. The doctor, after gaining the trust of the readership, “gets pancreatic cancer.” He receives gifts from the readers.
The blog owner finds out he is Paul Lemmen.
Lemmen disappears and re-emerges as a blogger with a site called An Ex-Con’s View.
He gains traction among the right-wing blogging community.
Eventually he inserts himself into the SWATting story.
Ann Barnhardt and myself begin telling the story of Paul Lemmen.
A contingency on the right, mostly Christians, scoff at the story we tell, saying he’s a great friend and a great man and he’s redemptive, leave him alone. They say the stuff we are saying is untrue, or, if true it’s the distant past and we’re just out to get him because we are douchebags.
Today I reveal that last week I knew that a post Paul Lemmen made on June 5th, 2012, (that people were after him for inserting himself into a prominent role in the SWATting saga) was a fabrication.
So much for Ann and I being douchebags.
I hope Paul gets his life together.
Mr.Pinko
June 25th, 2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_H._Lemmen
The Doktor
June 25th, 2012
Sounds like this guy is going to give the word lemon a bad connotation.
sablegsd
June 25th, 2012
I think he blocked me. Wussy.
House of Kell
June 25th, 2012
LOL…just because your paranoid doesn’t mean everyone isn’t out to get you, right?
In a world that tries its hardest, everyday, to make people who they aren’t, I find it much more exiting and interesting to just be….me! Its not the most popular position but if popularity were my goal, I’d probably be a lib…and THAT will not do!
Hope dude gets the help he needs, in the meantime, there’s the serenity prayer and the love of a kind, understanding and gracious God…good luck, brother!
I Luv Bacon
June 25th, 2012
Dear Mr. plemmen,
I have an idea for your next internutz personna.
Why don’t you make people believe you are a transgendered al muslime.
You’ll be privvy to an untapped goldmine of left and right wing dhimmi’s just dying to disprove their homophobia.
P.S. I saw you the other day…
KEEP OFF MY FUCKING LAWN
muddjuice
June 25th, 2012
As an ordained bishop of Copterinrearviewmirrorville, I agree with Archbishop Menderman. Lemmen will continue to be a thorn in the side of iOTW and other good sites.
Fur, I never saw where “Christians” were supporting him and his redemption. I’m not as in the know as you are though. Is IC claiming to be a Christian or something? All I saw the one time I visited Zilla’s site after her “Just how I am” post I saw a lot of Christian bashing by one of the people who left a comment….
Have I Been Targeted? | Darth Chipmunk
June 25th, 2012
[...] When dad called my cell, he had just finished calling my office. But he didn’t hang up that call, he conferenced by accident. The timing of my voice mail greeting was the right length to end and catch the ringing and dad’s breathing, and then record the entire conversation. It’s a perfectly reasonable explanation. Similarly, Lemmen didn’t have suspicious men photographing his apartment. They were from the local utility and were photographing all of the apartments where an underground line will b…. [...]
RosalindJ
June 25th, 2012
Menderman, I applaud your intent, but really don’t think it’s worth the effort – you’re just playing into his ‘all about Lemmen’ mentality.
It doesn’t matter what you say or ask.
It doesn’t matter if you catch him out while following his ‘rules’ of exchange.
It’s a huge time and spirit sucking effort.
I know you didn’t ask my opinion. If kicking dirt into the rabbit hole is fun for you, by all means, proceed.
He just linked to Aaron’s post about having the gag portion of his case against him lifted a short while ago today.
..And responded to a comment about it: “Amen! G-d does bless us errant children.”
I have not commented there myself because I don’t want him to have my IP addy. After today, I don’t believe I’ll be doing any more welfare checks on the psycho either.
Read this loud and clear: Lemmen, you freak, Aaron was not one bit errant regarding this issue. STOP TRYING MAKING IT ABOUT YOU.
RosalindJ
June 25th, 2012
..trying to make
..or stop making
Gah.
Menderman
June 25th, 2012
Paul said he won’t answer any more questions, but I know his angle. He is planning on writing a book. Nothing wrong with that, he is a good writer. It is my guess that he is trying to gain noteriety through the Kimberlin case and is doing anything he can to increase his name recognition. In his past he never cared who got hurt in the process of his scams, and I doubt that has changed.
BTW, I think he knew I was backing him into a corner, and I was. His own recent words in his various comments online (thousands of them) show his many very recent contradictions.
Big Fur Hat was right, there was no closure in my project. My intent was to make people think twice about linking his lies. Anybody can google, so just google “plemmen + swating”and other variations of his name. Also, for a disgusting view into a very sick mans mind, google “poisontolibs + iowntheworld.com”.
OK, Game Over.
Menderman
June 25th, 2012
You are right RosalindJ.
Menderman
June 25th, 2012
I also should add that Lemmen has conned a site called popehat.com into getting him free lawyers because his probation officer visited him in May and was concearned about his blogging. My guess is she got wind to the “poisontolibs” scam, but Paul claims Kimberlin sent her. Yes, he still is a con-man.
BigFurHat
June 28th, 2012
I think you were doing a valuable exercise in order to prove to others that Paul is still lying. I just meant there would be no value if the goal was to play mental chess with Lemmen himself.
You can’t win, and that is NOT a compliment to Lemmen, nor an insult to you.
BigFurHat
June 28th, 2012
Mudd, there are a whole host of sites that cite “being a Christian” as the main reason for believing in Lemmen.
I will name a few – Popehat, Lisa Graas, Goldfish and Clowns and many other bloggers whose names I won’t publish because it will seem like an attack, especially if I lump them in with a list of sites that I believe went too far in their whitewashing of Lemmen.
These other names invoked a Christian reason as well for giving Lemmen the benefit of the doubt.
It’s exactly what rankled Ann the most and was part of the impetus for writing her piece.
muddjuice
June 30th, 2012
Thanks fur,
As I said, you are more in the know than I am. There is something maddening about “false Christians”. I mean the one’s that are Christian in name only. There is nothing in the Bible that says you are to be stupid, ignorant and accepting of everyone no matter what. That’s the modern American church (lukewarm as it is) saying that.
We are called to be wise and discerning and not to fall for fine sounding arguments. That’s especially true given the state of the country now…..