It seemed like only yesterday we had the “Hot Felon” Jeremy Meeks dominating the headlines. (Though in what must have been a hard-fought competition, it’s being reported that Canadian Stephanie Beaudoin owns the title of World’s Sexiest Criminal.)
Now there is a new player in the game: A homeless millennial, formerly of Boston, now living (?) in New York, who survives by picking up women. Like Cher, Madonna, and other one-named icons, he is only known as “Joe.”
The video below that features an interview and “day in the life” of Joe has gone viral. Joe is quick to compliment women (his “type” appears to be anyone who can offer sex and shelter); although he reports making $150 a day, because he drinks and takes drugs in order to stand living with himself, he blows through that money regularly and remains homeless.
First, the legal blah blah. Is what Joe is doing illegal?
When it comes to panhandling, most peaceful panhandling is not a crime. It is generally considered protected speech, so long as it occurs in a public forum, even if it makes people uncomfortable. New York does have laws that prohibits aggressive solicitation, which is conduct that is intended or likely to cause a reasonable person to feel unsafe or intimidated. There are exceptions though, and Joe’s panhandling activity would cross into the world of the criminal if he did it in certain protected areas – most notably near banks— or if his activity blocked traffic. In New York, where Joe is homeless, a conviction could mean up to 16 days in jail. (Or, as Joe may put it, 16 days of living indoors and getting three meals a day; am I alone in seeing this as somewhat ironic?) As much as panhandling activity may disturb some, others criticize the attempts to limit free speech, and as a thinly-veiled attempt to criminalize homelessness.
But before we give Joe a complete pass, this video also shows Joe engaging in behavior that is clearly criminal, especially stealing from stores. What many fail to realize is that repeated thefts, or any evidence that suggests that the person had the intention to steal as they crossed the threshold of a store, can turn a petty theft into a commercial burglary.
What’s fascinating is how a story like this can turn a guy like Joe into an instant Internet Celebrity (which, as the Hot Felon has demonstrated, is just a click away from being a real celebrity!). Remember how cute it was when we could all complain about how the reality shows created celebrities? People who were famous for just being famous? The Internet Celebrity era is definitely now with us, and shows no signs of abating. Unlike their reality show brethren before them, the Internet created celebrity has no need for a production company, a budget or network.
Smart phone? Check. Ability to upload to YouTube? Check. And we’re off…
But Joe’s case leaves me with a profound sense of sadness. The glimpse into his life is inspiring thousands of online comments, most of which are critical of Joe’s behavior, or from women who are grateful not to be one of his sexual conquests. I’m no longer surprised by an outpouring of Internet negativity; what’s sad is that any “celebrity” Joe achieves will only reinforce an obvious and pronounced case of alcoholism and drug addiction.
I know, from my experience as both a criminal defense lawyer and a certified interventionist, that addiction is a treatable disease. And there is no question that it is a disease, just as much as diabetes and cancer, though its symptoms tend to be far more irritating to those whose lives intersect with the addict. Joe is no longer Joe; what we are seeing in Joe is the disease of addiction as expressed by the person who used to be Joe. When we are upset with Joe, or offended by Joe, or disgusted by Joe, we are railing at the wrong thing. We should instead be asking a different question, like “How do we address addiction in a more effective way, so that we start seeing fewer Joe’s in the world?”
Forget about Joe becoming an Internet curiosity, like the Hot Felon or the Three Breasted Girl or the World’s Sexiest Criminal. For all the Joes of the world, the road leads to three places: jails, institutions, and death. Maybe we can stop laughing just long enough to create a fork in the road. I’m willing to do my part!
Darren Kavinoky is a criminal defense attorney at the Kavinoky Law Firm in California. He is the creator and host of “Deadly Sins” on Investigation Discovery, a TV legal analyst and keynote speaker. He is on Twitter and Facebook.
Photo Courtesy: YouTube/Elite Daily
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