Doorknob, Punchbuggy and Shotgun cases...

There are some young adult rituals that are a fun and enjoyable way of engaging in social behavior. Punishment calls and other types of mild physical confrontation are one of those rituals – examples include the “doorknob” and “punch buggy” calls. Little known are the horrible results that sometimes occur when these seeminglyharmless games…go horribly wrong.

Dec. 17, 2005 – Stan Williamson, 13, of Freebridge, Ohio, was arrested when police arrived at his home only to discover Williamson beating the lifeless corpse of his friend George Pulchuls, 14. Williamson’s defense at his trial was that he clearly called “doorknob” after Pulchuls released what Stan referred to as “the biggest dumpster ass fart I have ever smelled.” Williamson admits he hit Pulchuls repeatedly after invoking his right of “doorknob.” After Pulchuls went unconscious, while holding onto a screen door handle, Williamson continued until police arrived. The jury recognized Pulchuls did not grab a “doorknob,” but merely touched a “door handle.” This goes along with a strict reading of the “doorknob” reforms of 1995 that negated the “door handle” clause. Williamson was cleared of all wrongdoing.

Feb 28, 2006 – Two teens were hurt when the driver lost control of his motor vehicle and slammed into pole. James Towner, 17, of Ridgeline, Louisiana, was knocked unconscious when his passenger, 17-year-old Brad Masarone, called a “punch buggy, no punch backs”and then proceeded tohit Towner inthe Face.The state brought charges of assault and reckless endangerment, but Masarone was cleared when his lawyers proved he only hit Towner once. The “punch buggy” law states that “any individual, having seen a VW bug(gy), may hit any passenger once and not be subject to any retaliation as long as he/she ensures they call ‘no punch back.’” The law is currently under revision by the Louisiana State Legislature.

August 30, 2006 – A man received several bruises to the face when he was pushed into a car door. Jesse Renault, 21, of Olyessup, Pennsylvania called “shotgun” while approaching his friend’s car. Another friend, Kevin Kerlan, 21, of Danton, Pennsylvania, realized Renault never called “no blitz” and immediately rushed toward the vehicle calling “blitz” at the same time. After a short struggle, Kerlan used the door as a weapon and hit Renault in the head with it. Renault needed 20 stitches to close the wounds. Police and the District Attorney refused to press charges, however, stating that all witnesses agreed that Mr. Kerlan had clearly called “blitz” before his scuff with Renault. The “blitz clause” was a controversial addition to the Shotgun Laws in 1994. Another addition, the “audible clause,” is under review by the Supreme Court and should be ruled on soon.

March 1, 2007 – Two local teens were charged with assault and battery after they repeatedly punched their teacher. The teens, who were not named, attacked 8th grade teacher Charles Bartley after he says they showed him “an upside down o.k. sign just below their belt.” The students claimed they owed the teacher three punches and told him they were going to save them. After a few minutes, the teens repeated the o.k. maneuver. At the end of the day, they approached his desk and administered 39 punches each. They claim they showed him the sign 15 times, but said two viewings were in dount. Herb Grovnor, a lawyer for one of the teens, said, “the teacher had adequate time to break the circle of each o.k. symbol, but failed to do anything. The teens in this case had the right to assault him.” A court date has yet to be set.