True Stories Of FidoNet

The "Larry (Larry-bud) Jaster" story...
by Jack Sargent, 1:379/12

In April of 1997, we finally caught up with the infamous anal retentive, Charles Wharton, alias Jaster or "larry-bud," who had literally plagued a number of Fido echoes, including UFO for several years.

As it happened, a friend, Pat Parrinello was attending his web site when Charles Wharton "signed in," and proceeded to leave behind his foul vulgarisms of an anal-retentive nature. Pat monitored the situation and also notified Don Allen, a past moderator of UFO, and long-time victim of Mr. Wharton. Pat and Don then notified me of the incident and furnished me with "Larry-bud's" address.

Here is the story, told in a series of e-mail exchanges between "Larry-bud" and myself. Note his tone in the beginning compared to his demeanor at the end.

BBS: The Transporter Room
Date: 04-15-97 (15:25) Number: 343
From: JACK SARGEANT Refer#: NONE
To: ALL Recvd: NO
Subj: Larry Jaster, 1 of 8 Conf: (442) Recr: Ufo

From: ufo1
Full-Name: Jack P Sargeant
To: cwharton@pdq.net
Fcc: Sent
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 14:33:21
Subject: You
Message-ID: <19970413.143215.4655.0.ufo1@juno.com>
X-Status: Sent
X-Mailer: Juno 1.23

I often wondered what I would say to you if given the chance.

All I can come up with for now is... ...WHY?

Jack Sargeant,

Moderator - UFO

--- FMail 1.22
* Origin: -=Keep Watching the Skies=- Charlotte, NC (1:379/12)

BBS: The Transporter Room
Date: 04-15-97 (15:26) Number: 344
From: JACK SARGEANT Refer#: NONE
To: ALL Recvd: NO
Subj: Larry Jaster, 2 of 8 Conf: (442) Recr: Ufo

From: "cwharton" <cwharton@pdq.net>
Received: from x7.boston.juno.com (x7.boston.juno.com [205.231.100.24]) by m12.boston.juno.com (8.6.13/8.7.Alpha.4/1.34.kim) with ESMTP id PAA09842 for <ufo1@juno.com>; Sun, 13 Apr 1997 15:36:25 -0400
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Reply-To: <chuckx@geocities.com>
To: "Jack P Sargeant" <ufo1@juno.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 14:28:52 -0500
Subject: Re: You
Message-ID: <19431533129816@cybersim.com>
X-Status: Replied
X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet Mail 4.70.1155

First of all, I never left any messages that Don Allen is referring to. I have discussed this with the person complaining about messages on his Internet page, and have informed my provider that, if the messages came from my provider, then I want to know from whom. So do they.

Second, if it is so that Don Allen, or someone, left libelous messages on various computer discussion groups, then that is a job for a lawyer on Monday morning.

Third, as this flurry of messages was going out, someone, probably the culprit, left a message with my Internet address, that was forwarded to me on a Usenet group, containing some libelous material. That has also been retrieved by my provider and they have the means to track exactly where it came from and from whom.

--- FMail 1.22
* Origin: -=Keep Watching the Skies=- Charlotte, NC (1:379/12)

BBS: The Transporter Room
Date: 04-15-97 (15:27) Number: 345
From: JACK SARGEANT Refer#: NONE
To: ALL Recvd: NO
Subj: Larry Jaster, 3 of 8 Conf: (442) Recr: Ufo

From: ufo1
Full-Name: Jack P Sargeant
To:chuckx@geocities.com
Cc: dona@totcon.com
Fcc: Sent
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 19:59:15
Subject: Re: You
Message-ID: <19970413.195821.4655.2.ufo1@juno.com>
References: <19431533129816@cybersim.com>
X-Status: Sent
X-Mailer: Juno 1.23

On Sun, 13 Apr 1997 14:28:52 -0500 "cwharton" <cwharton@pdq.net> writes:

>First of all, I never left any messages that Don Allen is referring
>to. I have discussed this with the person complaining about messages
>on his Internet page, and have informed my provider that, if the
>messages came from my provider, then I want to know from whom. So do
>they.

>Second, if it is so that Don Allen, or someone, left libelous
>messages on various computer discussion groups, then that is a job
>for a lawyer on Monday morning.

>Third, as this flurry of messages was going out, someone, probably
>the culprit, left a message with my Internet address, that was
>forwarded to me on a Usenet group, containing some libelous
>material. That has also been retrieved by my provider and they have
>the means to track exactly where it came from and from whom.

The information I have is, you were caught in the act of writing an obscene message, because your provider was brought on-line as you were typing. ...And traced the call back to... ...You!

This looks like a no-win situation for you, so why not just say you're sorry and get on with your life?

Jack Sargeant, victim

--- FMail 1.22
* Origin: -=Keep Watching the Skies=- Charlotte, NC (1:379/12)

BBS: The Transporter Room
Date: 04-15-97 (15:27) Number: 346
From: JACK SARGEANT Refer#: NONE
To: ALL Recvd: NO
Subj: Larry Jaster, 4 of 8 Conf: (442) Recr: Ufo

From: "cwharton" <cwharton@pdq.net>
Received: from m15.boston.juno.com (m15.boston.juno.com [205.231.100.192]) by m12.boston.juno.com (8.6.13/8.7.Alpha.4/1.34.kim) with ESMTP id UAA22817 for <ufo1@juno.com>; Sun, 13 Apr 1997 20:53:27 -0400
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Return-path: cwharton@pdq.net
Reply-To: <chuckx@geocities.com>
To: "Jack P Sargeant" <ufo1@juno.com>
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 19:47:01 -0500
Subject: Re: You Message-ID: <01002057833566@cybersim.com>
X-Status: Replied
X-Mailer: Microsoft Internet Mail 4.70.1155

>> The information I have is, you were caught in the act of writing
>> an obscene message, because your provider was brought on-line as
>> you were typing. ...And traced the call back to... ...You!

>> This looks like a no-win situation for you, so why not just say
>> you're sorry and get on with your life?

>I won't say anything more except this information is wrong, I wrote
>no such message, and that as owner of the Fidonet echo where someone
>posted libelous information to the contrary, you appear to be
>willingly providing a forum for this libel.

--- FMail 1.22
* Origin: -=Keep Watching the Skies=- Charlotte, NC (1:379/12)

BBS: The Transporter Room
Date: 04-15-97 (15:28) Number: 347
From: JACK SARGEANT Refer#: NONE
To: ALL Recvd: NO
Subj: Larry Jaster, 5 of 8 Conf: (442) Recr: Ufo

From: ufo1
Full-Name: Jack P Sargeant
To: chuckx@geocities.com
Cc: dona@totcon.com
Fcc: Sent
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 23:18:49
Subject: Re: You
Message-ID: <19970413.231751.4655.1.ufo1@juno.com>
References: <01002057833566@cybersim.com>
X-Status: Sent
X-Mailer: Juno 1.23

On Sun, 13 Apr 1997 19:47:01 -0500 "cwharton" <cwharton@pdq.net> writes:

>> The information I have is, you were caught in the act of writing
>> an obscene message, because your provider was brought on-line as
>> you were typing.

..And traced the call back to... ...You!

>> This looks like a no-win situation for you, so why not just say
>> you're sorry and get on with your life?

>I won't say anything more except this information is wrong, I wrote
>no such message, and that as owner of the Fidonet echo where someone
>posted libelous information to the contrary, you appear to be
>willingly providing a forum for this libel.

It is YOUR hand that's been caught in the till!

I am willing for you to pursue this issue to its climax, so go ahead with your legal options. Hell, man, I'm the victim here, not you! You had better be prepared to prove you were not within miles of your computer when the obscene material was posted (on a number of occasions) to Pat's website. All I want from you (at present) is

1. Your apology.

2. Your promise to cease

from posting anal retentive, obscene, thilthy messages into my echo. You do that, and I won't sue your ass off! Do you understand that, mister? You enter my echo with your real name and apologize, it's that simple.

--- FMail 1.22
* Origin: -=Keep Watching the Skies=- Charlotte, NC (1:379/12)

BBS: The Transporter Room
Date: 04-15-97 (15:29) Number: 348
From: JACK SARGEANT Refer#: NONE
To: ALL Recvd: NO
Subj: Larry Jaster, 6 of 8 Conf: (442) Recr: Ufo

From: ufo1
Full-Name: Jack P Sargeant
To: cwharton@pdq.net
Cc: dona@totcon.com
Fcc: Sent
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 00:27:18
Subject: Well?
Message-ID: <19970415.002623.4655.1.ufo1@juno.com>
X-Status: Sent
X-Mailer: Juno 1.23

You haven't told me what you intend to do, so the wheels are in motion. 2 more of your accounts have surfaced... Your "PLOON" acct, and the one on Flash.net. Strange that "Jaster" has found his way onto all 3 of these accounts of yours. I want that apology, and I want it within 48 hours, or else your next alias will be MUDD!

Your server has agreed to assist us in this matter, to avoid further complications. Maybe YOU think you can bluff your way out of this, but the evidence is in. You've had it, and the best thing you can do is admit to it, or face the consequences. ...And you have the nerve to threaten me with a libel action! Har! Have at it "Larry bud," you're on!

--- FMail 1.22
* Origin: -=Keep Watching the Skies=- Charlotte, NC (1:379/12)

BBS: The Transporter Room
Date: 04-15-97 (15:29) Number: 349
From: JACK SARGEANT Refer#: NONE
To: ALL Recvd: NO
Subj: Larry Jaster, 7 of 8 Conf: (442) Recr: Ufo

From: ufo1
Full-Name: Jack P Sargeant
To: pparri@sat.net
Subject: ufo1: Re: Explanation
X-Status: New

-- Begin forwarded message ---

From: ufo1
To: cwharton@pdq.net
Cc: dona@totcon.com
Subject: Re: Explanation
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 12:52:48
Message-ID: <19970415.125145.4655.0.ufo1@juno.com>
References: <33537F23.5A9E@pdq.net>

On Tue, 15 Apr 1997 08:14:11 -0500 cwharton <cwharton@pdq.net> writes:

>I don't have an e-mail account with the name ploon and I have never
>used the provider flash.net, but after I was given evidence that
>abusive messages came to Pat Parrinello from my provider, I
>expressed the belief to him, my provider and now to you that my
>account had been hacked by an individual, probably at one of these
>other accounts you uncovered.

> If you or anyone else is in touch with my provider and they are
> giving out this information, they will confirm that I do not own
> these accounts and do not compensate them for them.

> I had an easy password to hack and have since had the provider
> change it when I reported the illegal use of my account. However,
> since Pat's evidence shows that my account was used for at least
> some of the abuse, I suppose because of a too-simple password that
> I have always used on-line, I have told him that I am sorry for
> this and I have to bear responsibility for that. I extend to
> everyone my regret for any attacks or unhappiness that anyone has
> suffered by these messages.

This is the information that is available to your provider when you use your account:

The account name.

The phone number.

The address the phone is located at.

The type of computer by brand and size (from internally encrypted information) i e: Mac, IBM, IBM clone, desktop, portable, etc.

Not all of this information has been made available to us, and won't be until ordered by a federal judge presiding over FCC regulation infractions. (Read the first 3 pages in your phone book, or those that apply to obscenity laws.)

Establishing your guilt or innocence is not a problem, as you can plainly deduce. ...Should charges be brought forth (not entirely my decision), it becomes an open and shut case, and damages will be awarded. Your wife Sharon will know you for a maggot. Your church will excommunicate you. ...Yet you brazenly still deny wrong doing. Once a judge demands the information from your provider(s), the attorneys will make their decisions (usually determined on the financial worth of the defendant). You know how lawyers are.

You have a little over 24 hours to decide what to do about my demands for a public apology (provided the others involved haven't changed their minds and are seeking independent counsel).

You're really out of time >now< because it's going to take longer than that for your note to show up on my conference.

I don't want your money. You don't have enough to alter my resources by much. ...But I do want your >public apology<.

Your next reply may alter your entire life, "Larrybud."

-- End forwarded message ---

--- FMail 1.22
* Origin: -=Keep Watching the Skies=- Charlotte, NC (1:379/12)

BBS: The Transporter Room
Date: 04-15-97 (15:30) Number: 350
From: JACK SARGEANT Refer#: NONE
To: ALL Recvd: NO
Subj: Larry Jaster, 8 of 8 Conf: (442) Recr: Ufo

From: ufo1
Full-Name: Jack P Sargeant
To: cwharton@pdq.net
Cc: dona@totcon.com
Subject: Re: Explanation
References: <33537F23.5A9E@pdq.net> <19970415.125145.4655.0.ufo1@juno.com> <3353C5C8.7305@pdq.net>

On Tue, 15 Apr 1997 13:15:36 -0500 cwharton <cwharton@pdq.net> writes:

>>you're really out of time >now< because it's going to take longer
>>than that for your note to show up on my conference. I don't want
>>your money.
>>You don't have enough to alter my resources by much. ...But I do
>>want your public apology.

> I don't have access to FidoNet any longer, Jack, and haven't for
>several years so I cannot enter any message into your echo, but you
>are welcome to enter this one. As I've told you I am deeply sorry
>for any messages coming from my account which offended or hurt
>anyone and, as I explained to Pat Parrinello and my provider, I have
>taken necessary steps to ensure that this will never occur again.

I see! Well, I'm not sure what I'm going to do next, but this note and its predecessors will be posted in their entirety on Fido UFO, and will probably be cross-posted to other echoes as well.

Jack Sargeant, moderator - UFO

cc Don Allen, Pat Parrinello

--- FMail 1.22
* Origin: -=Keep Watching the Skies=- Charlotte, NC (1:379/12)

BBS: The Transporter Room
Date: 04-15-97 (15:44) Number: 351
From: JACK SARGEANT Refer#: NONE
To: ALL Recvd: NO
Subj: Larry Jaster, follow up Conf: (442) Recr: Ufo

As you can see, folks, Mr. Wharton starts out rather brazen, and makes inuendos about taking legal action. ...But as the communiques progress, his attitude changes... ...Not to one who has been falsely accused, as an innocent person would normally feel, but to one who sees the rope hanging on the gallows, waiting... ...And ends with his apology.

Are these the replies of an innocent man? ...Or are they instead, the words of one who is fearful of the consequences of his actions for 3 years.

You be the judge.

My thanks to Pat Parrinello, his swift attentiveness, and his long-distant phone calls that helped bring this to our attention. ...Also thanks to Don Allen for gathering the initial information together, and presenting it to the echo in an informative, well put together package.

If the transcripts of the dialogue between me and Charles Wharton seem a little repetitive, I did the best I could moving them from a WINDOWS environment into a series of text files that I could present to you here.

Jack Sargeant, moderator - UFO

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