The word "ratchet" may be played out, but until the Internet agrees upon a more accurate description for these crimes, it will have to do. These stories are sad, imaginative, and they inspire us to have conversations about race, class, and the American dream.
This week's roundup includes a spaghetti fight, taking a bong hit after getting pulled over, and faking a coma. Each crime is rated on our Ratchet Meter, a base-10 logarithmic scale modeled after a similar system developed by Charles Richter—except that the Ratchet Meter has nothing to do with science because it's not actually a real thing.
Read on for the best of the worst ratchet crimes in America. Proceed with caution, stay safe, don't try this at home, and send your tips to cityguidetips@complex.com.
And for your viewing pleasure, here's the latest episode of Ratchet News Network with The Kid Mero:
RNN: Ratchet News Network
Driver Lights Up Bong AFTER High Speed Police Chase
Florida Woman Sets Fire to Roommate for Throwing Out Her Spaghetti and Meatballs
The iPhone 6 Caused an Explosion in a Man's Pants
Florida Teacher Forced to Contact Police After Being Groped Twice by 5-Year-Old
New Jersey Man Arrested While Selling Heroin Branded “Ebola” from Hotel Room
Clowns Assault Mother and Daughter in Illinois Haunted House With Sex Toys
Florida Man Arrested for Stabbing Nephew During Argument Over Pork Chops
Chinese Woman Gets Dumped, Decides to Spend a Week Straight in KFC
High School Gym Teacher Arrested Over Sexual Relationship with Student
Date: 10/22/14
Location: Staten Island, New York
Crime: Statutory Rape, Criminal sexual act
Ratchet Meter: 5
A former teacher at a New York City Catholic school was arrested yesterday for having sex with a male student on several occasions.
The New York Post reports that 24-year-old Megan Mahoney had sex with the 16-year-old Moore Catholic High School student roughly 30 times between October 2013 and January 2014. Mahoney also allegedly had sex with the teen on the Staten Island high school's campus.
According to the Post, Mahoney resigned from her post at Moore following an encounter with the teen's ex-girlfriend:
Mahoney, who also was Moore’s assistant athletic director and an assistant girls basketball coach, resigned under fire after the teen’s ex-girlfriend spotted him and Mahoney at a pizzeria and called the cops, sources have said.
The Post reports that Mahoney's relationship with the student began after she offered to help him improve at basketball. Authorities reportedly became aware of the relationship after he bragged to his friends and word spread. The teen told the Post that he was expelled for his role in the scandal, though the Post notes that the Archdiocese of New York denies this. The fallout also caused Moore athletic director Richard Postiglione to resign.
Mahoney has been charged with statutory rape and criminal sexual act.
[via New York Post]
Man Fakes Coma to Steal £40,000, Gets Caught When He Goes Grocery Shopping
Naked Russian Political Protestor Cuts Off His Ear, Because #Russia
Man Charged in Hannah Graham Abduction Indicted for Role in 2005 Sexual Assault
Date: 10/20/14
Location: Gilchrist, Texas
Crime: Abduction, Sexual Penetration, Attempted Capital Murder
Ratchet Meter: 8
Authorities announced that the man suspected of abducting missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham has been indicted in a 2005 sexual assault case.
According to the Washington Post, 32-year-old Jesse L. Matthew was charged with abduction, sexual penetration, and attempted capital murder for the incident, which involved a 26-year-old woman from Fairfax, Va.
As the Post reports, the woman was grabbed from behind while she walked home one night in September 2005. She was then taken to a secluded area and assaulted before the assailant fled:
The 26-year-old aggressively fought the man, apparently for her life, but he overcame her and sexually assaulted her before he was startled by a passerby and fled, said police and authorities familiar with the investigation.
Matthew was arrested in Gilchrist, Texas nearly two weeks after the 18-year-old Graham's Sep. 13 disappearance. The Post adds that Matthew, who has been tied to several similar cases in the area, is being held in Charlottesville, Va. on intent to defile and abduction charges in connection with Graham, as well other charges.
[via Washington Post]
Texas High School Teacher Arrested After Sexual Relationship with Student Is Exposed
Passenger Accuses Uber Driver of Forcing Her Out of Car, Destroying Her Phone
Date: 10/22/14
Location: San Fransico, California
Crime: Vandalism, Malicious Mischief and Battery
Ratchet Meter: 4
A San Francisco Uber driver faces charges for allegedly yanking a passenger out of his car and smashing her phone.
According to CBS San Francisco, the passenger got into a dispute with UberX driver Martin Hynek about her destination on Saturday evening. The 39-year-old Hynek, who is said to have difficulties speaking English, reportedly told the woman “I need address for GPS.” After traveling two blocks, Hynek pulled over and ordered the woman out of his car before getting physical with her. The woman recalled the incident to CBS San Francisco:
I put my head down and was texting, and the next think I know we’re stopped and he’s running to my side of the car cussing, telling me to get the f out of his car. He grabs my arm, I take that hand and I hold it up with my phone to take a picture. He lets go, grabs the phone and throws it down the street.
After finding her phone, the woman was able to make a copy of Hynek's name and image. However, she said it took Uber 20 hours to get back to her. She was given a refund for her ride and the company agreed to replace her phone. In addition to having his account suspended, Hynek received citations for vandalism, malicious mischief, and battery.
[via CBS San Francisco]
Daniele Watts and Boyfriend Charged with Lewd Conduct for Having Sex in That Car
