There’s no treatment harsh enough for Wanetta Gibson
Hardly a week goes by when I don’t receive a nasty and haughty message attacking me for harshly judging the unethical conduct of another. “Who are you to judge?,” the critic will write. “Are you so perfect? Have you never made a mistake? How can you know what was going on in that person’s life, or how bad she (or he) feels? What right do you have to find fault with someone else?” My answer, if I bother to send one, seldom varies. I tell these correspondents that all of us have a duty to judge others so that we are qualified to judge ourselves, to make certain that societal standards are carefully considered and vetted, and to identify conduct that we believe is destructive to society. Refusing to judge others makes it easy for the predators around us to take advantage of our ethical laziness, and people get hurt as a result.
And in those dark moments late at night, after a difficult day when my confidence is at low ebb, as I begin to doubt the purpose of my life and question my own values, I think about people like the horrible Wanetta Gibson.
From the New York Daily News:
“The kidnap-rape conviction of a once-promising prep football star was dismissed Thursday following a recantation by his accuser. Brian Banks collapsed in sobs on the counsel table during a court hearing where a prosecutor quickly conceded the decade-old case and moved for the dismissal.
“In the summer of 2002, Banks’ future looked bright: He was a 17-year-old high school football star being heavily recruited by a number of colleges. But in a single day that changed with the accusations of kidnapping and rape by a female student. He maintained there was no rape and their sexual contact was consensual, but his lawyer urged him to plead no contest rather than risk a sentence of 41 years to life in prison if convicted. He followed the advice and went to prison for six years, shattering his dreams of gridiron glory.”
Then, we learn, the former student, Wanetta Gibson, contacted Banks on Facebook after his release. They met, and she confessed that she had lied to prosecutors about the rape, that as he knew, she had consented. But she told him that she didn’t want to confess to prosecutors, because she didn’t want to have to return the $1.5 million damages award her mother obtained from Long Beach Polytechnic High based on her lies and Banks’ conviction. It took the dedication of the California Innocence Project to get the truth to court and exonerate Banks, who has had to wear a monitoring device while he was on probation and register as a sex offender.
There are not sufficient laws, nor words in the dictionary, nor public shaming, shunning and condemnation to do justice to the likes of Wanetta Gibson. She ruined a young man’s life and stole $1.5 million in the process. She can recant, apologize, say that she found God, weep, express regret and anything else, and it should not insulate her from societal rejection. No one should hire her. No bank should give her a loan or a credit card. No taxpayer should have to contribute to her health insurance or food stamps. No one should befriend her. Absolutely no one should forgive her, consort with her or trust her. The kind of organized hatred that was manufactured against George Zimmerman is appropriate in her case. The Golden Rule? If I behaved like Wanetta Gibson, I would deserve everything I have described, and more.
There is no law that can place her in prison long enough; the Constitution prevents us from indenturing her to Brian Banks for life; we don’t allow torture or tar and feathering. She can change her name and identity, and still lurk among decent people, until another impulse provokes her to ruin someone else’s life. We require convicted sex offenders to register, and they post photographs of these people, many if not most of them harmless and law abiding citizens. Why isn’t there a Terrible Human Being registry for Wanetta Gibson? Even if hers were the only name on it, it would be worth having.
When she has given all of her earthly possessions to Brian Banks, and paid back all of the money she fraudulently took from the schools that could have used it to serve its students’ needs, and dedicated her life to charity, the poor, sick and dispossessed, maybe then we should consider whether she deserves a nod when we pass her on the street, rather than a sneer. Maybe. But even then she will not have erased to consequences of her intentional, malicious, anti-social act to destroy a young man’s future for her own selfish gain.
What can we do with people like her? How can we protect ourselves from them? We can begin by judging them, condemning them, stating loudly and firmly how terrible and unforgivable their conduct has been, and never, ever, trusting them. It is not enough, not by a long shot. But it’s a start.
__________________________________________
Pointer: Legal Ethics Forum
Facts: New York Daily News
Ethics Alarms attempts to give proper attribution and credit to all sources of facts, analysis and other assistance that go into its blog posts. If you are aware of one I missed, or believe your own work was used in any way without proper attribution, please contact me, Jack Marshall, at jamproethics@verizon.net.
Ethics Alarms 
There is no excuse for this behavior. Wanetta needs to be charged and convicted. Restitution needs to be made even if it never makes up for what Mr. Banks paid.
I agree. I don’t care how young or ‘immature’ she claimed she was. Everyone has a conscience. She needs to own up to her own actions and face the consequences.
Wow! When I first heard about this story I felt instant rage against that low-life, ignorant, lying, coniving, self-serving b**ch. Let’s not forget, people, after all the media circus dies down, to put her on the BLACKLIST. I live a few minutes from Long Beach and I will never forget her name or face. So if I happen to run across her….I wont hesitate to spit on her. Oh but maybe she’ll accuse me of assault.
Please don’t spit on her You might get killed because that is nasty but I hope she have to do at least five year like him and have to pay that money back. but don’t spit because you might get killed because if it was me and you spit on me I will be the one going this time, so please don’t
How dare you even leave a comment like that, Mia,with your indirect threat? You related to her? She deserves to get everything thats coming to her. Spit, Jail and much more. And 5 years is nothing. She should do 20. She would have never come forward. She was caught. And he would have been a registered sex offender all his life. And a shitty life it would have been.
I agree with your analysis, Jack. Unprincipled is a poor word for it. I’d only comment that young men in school should also view this horror story and, from it, also learn the consequences inherent in casual, “consentual” adultery.
Did I miss something? Who in this event committed adultery?
Read again, Dave. Unfortunately, this young man left himself open to one of the most ancient forms of extortion there is.
No doubt about extortion. But neither was married, so there was no adultery.
I guess that depends on your definition. A lot of people still subscribe to the one of sex out of wedlock. It wasn’t my intention to make a moral judgement on the young man, though. I was just pointing out how unmarried enounters in school can leave you vulnerable to a number of unpleasant consequences. This is probably WHY that commandment is there to a large part!
They kissed briefly in a school hallway. Get off your bible beating horse.
It was mentioned in the narrative that it had all started with a sexual encounter. Alright? That makes it the initiating event. Got that?! Now take your sociopathic obsession and do something lewd with it. Understand??
Wow, he’s a bit touchy. Typical religious fanatic. Thank you for the entertainment as per usual, but I will still not answer my door if you come knocking, and if you persist I will not hesitate to grab the hose.
On another note, this story is just another example of abuse of power along with stereotyping (or, rather the fear of it…which lead to the plea bargain) and it really is sad what happened to that innocent man. I hope Wanetta spends a solid 20 if not more behind bars for theft, obstruction of justice, and falsification charges.
YES, Woody. I was a bit tired and touchy! After pulling a hard election yesterday, I’m even more tired and touchy this morning. I’m only human and sometimes I just don’t have the patience to suffer the standardized idiocy from the usual suspects. Got that, troop? Take a hard look in the mirror before you start throwing that “fanatic” junk around. And ask your parents what they made you the namesake of one of America’s sorriest socialist presidents. What’s in a name? Everything!
A spade is a spade. And your ad hominem attacks are still ad hominem attacks, no matter how tired you are.
Steven, they never had sex. Read the article properly. I think the word that you are looking for is “Fornication” and not “Adultery”. Two different things.
A lot of knee-jerk secularist comments here! First; the “distinction” between fornication and adultery is trivial at best. Second; I’m under no obligation to smile and take a lot of hogwash. Third; the essence of what I was trying to convey was deliberately misconstrued. Again; I was not even attempting to pass a moral judgement on the young man. I was pointing out the obvious lesson of this case. When you engage in casual sex out of wedlock, a man leaves himself open to such things. He certainly didn’t deserve it. The girl’s act of treachery was deplorable to the extent of the term. But it wouldn’t have happened if he had hearkened to prudence, if not the Christian ethic.
SMP,
Your logic is ridiculous. Their was nothing imprudent about his actions. You don’t like premarital sexual behavior, and you’re blaming the victim because of that. I think you need to view the batman comic again: https://ethicsalarms.com/2012/05/31/how-consequentialism-leads-to-bad-ethics-an-illustration/
I think I made it quite clear that I was not blaming the victim here, TGT. I merely pointed out that if he had been more prudent, Mz. Gibson would not have amaased the leverage necessary to ruin his life with her perjuries. Likewise, it’s imprudent to leave your car unlocked in a supermarket parking lot. But if someone steals your car- regardless- the blame rests solely on the criminal. It’s ironic you should take this position (and accuse me of not doing so!) as it’s a concept that leftists traditionally have a problem with… along with the value of Christian virtue.
I think I made it quite clear that I was not blaming the victim here, TGT. I merely pointed out that if he had been more prudent, Mz. Gibson would not have amaased the leverage necessary to ruin his life with her perjuries.
Does anyone find these two statements consistent?
But if someone steals your car- regardless- the blame rests solely on the criminal. It’s ironic you should take this position (and accuse me of not doing so!) as it’s a concept that leftists traditionally have a problem with…
I think this says more about your prejudices and false generalizations than anything else.
I’d really like to hear you tell me how. It’s pretty straightforward.
THEY. NEVER. HAD. SEX.
He didn’t commit “adultery” even by your definition. He didn’t have sex with her at all.
ah, yes, they didn’t. But they were probably THINKING about having it, so serves him right!
Please do not think that SMP’s comments are indicative of most conservatives. 1+1=6 is illogical to most of us as well. For the record Steven, the sexual contact they engaged in did not leave any physical evidence so his complete monkness (that seemingly is the only way one can be blameless in your view) would not have protected him from this evil plot. It is those of you that push this puritanical “conservatism” that drives people away…into the arms of the more conspicuous facist/socialist.
Exactly! Go back to church and don’t come out for a long time..please!
Yes, the commandment is there to protect men from false accusations of rape. Sure, at a time when rape wasn’t even considered a serious sin, God needed to protect men from false accusations, and needed to so as part of the 10 most important laws.
I couldn’t even make up that silly a rationalization.
Steven, the word you are looking for is fornication, not adultery.
Seriously? You are trying to hijack this matter to push old testament bs? The same book filled with god-nodded genocides? Your spin makes about as much sense as imploring that no one ever walk on the sidewalk lest they slip and rupture their spleen.
Same happened to my brother in 82. Should’ve had his ass in class, but thank the father he was 14 @ the time. He did four years, but don’t gave to register.
She should be beat, charged and jailed. She’s a trifling excuse of a woman. She should be ashamed of herself for the lies she told. The lies that have ruined a promising future. Shame on her.
What should happen is the $1.5 million that her mother received should be given to Banks, and the 10 years of freedom that he was wrongfully robber of should be added on to the already substantial sentence that she deserves. This is unbelievable to me. How could you live with yourself?
You feel this way because you are not a sociopath. She is.
There is none left! They have spent it and even the cars they bought with it have been repossesed. Now they hide from bill collectors.
The girl was 15 though. If she was older it would be different. I put more blame on her family for this situation. I would highly doubt this particular 15 year old would make something like that up by herself based solely on the fact she contacted him again on FB to be friends years later; i.e. she is thick as cheese. Plus the fault surely is with the justice system also that would force someone to make such a plea? Being in the UK as I am, our rape sentences are a joke being a few years at best (3 1/2 years with good behaviour sometimes) with full DNA evidence. However, the opposite is also true. This 16 year old boy didn’t, or wasn’t accuse of killing anyone, so 40 years is a bit nuts. More appropriate sentences needed all round!
She was older though….the next year, and the next and the next—and even then, after she was well into adulthood, she wasn’t willing to come clean to prosecutors, because she wanted her stolen money. She’s accountable, 100%. I don’t see what the Facebook contact proves, other than the fact that she’s a dim wit.
Nor was anyone “forced” to take a plea bargain. It was a smart move, since he believed he was going to be convicted. The justice system isn’t lie-proof, and doesn’t assume that a woman will cry rape against someone who is completely innocent without any reason at all. If it is going to doubt Wanetta, it will doubt all victims, which will let a lot of rapists free.
She’s at fault, not the system, not the family. Her.
Here Here! Pete, you are a bleeding heart idiot who manufacturers silver linings when non can certainly be found.
The FB comment I made was yes that she is dim, as dim as she was when she was 15, and a minor. Therefore whoever was responsible for this minor should also shoulder the blame equally, why should they get off scott free?!
Taking the plea bargain was a smart move, but if he wasn’t forced into it by the unfair system in place he wouldn’t have done it surely. And where is the innocent until PROVEN guilty in all this?! The system should from the outset doubt Wanetta, presuming Brian’s innocence, and then seek to prove him guilty. It didn’t even get to that point because he was forced into a plea bargain. If the system is not at fault, why did an innocent man go to jail? Wanetta is clearly at fault too and I would never say anything to the contrary as in my eyes to hold on to such lie for so is absolutely deplorable but when she could use the system to such devastating consequences, and also get a big payout in the process, the system is an ass.
Wow, I’m actually surprised at how many posts I had to read before reaching one where the blame was directed elsewhere … But I knew I’d eventually get to one!!! Amazing how many times in American society, and in the American justice system, somebody ALWAYS tries to shift the blame. She is guilty of perjury, fraud, and taking away many years of someone’s life, not to mention the pain, humiliation, and trauma that Banks suffered because of her. I’m sorry but I do not and will never subscribe to the notion that a 15 year old does not know what they are doing. She should be jailed and if her family knew it was a lie, they should too. They should also have to pay that money back – if they can’t rhen spending a few years picking up trash on the side of thenhighway would also be good!!!!!
In all honesty, Wanetta said it best herself; Banks was ” a big black guy and no one would believe him”. In AmeriKKKa (Ice Cube), in rape,murder, and robbery that’s a recipe for guilty until proven innocent.
You are an an idiot, Pete. If it were you, would you be so willing to believe that she should not be blamed? At 15, we all the know the difference between right and wrong. The truth and a lie. Freedom and the consequences of not having it. You’re about as “thick” as you believe Gibson is.
Civility, please. Otherwise, I agree with you.
Ha! An an an idiot I may be but one with the ability to read, not like yourself R-R-Roy and your buddy Jack. To quote from my post “I put MORE blame on her family for this situation.” To clarify that, and for the avoidance of doubt, and on the assumption that you can/will read the following – Wanetta is not blameless. She was a 15 year old child. Obviously by the age of 15 you ‘should’ know the difference between right and wrong but in CA the age of an adult is 18. But sure who cares. Jail her and blame no-one else. She was 100% responsible for it all and there is no-one else to blame here or lessons to be learnt. But then again, what if another Wanetta comes along again and another Brian goes to jail for not raping her? Human nature won’t change so surely the system should? Or Brian will always go to jail and justice will be served.
Yes, the last I looked “Ha!” was not argument, and the rest of this comment isn’t much better.
What proof do you have that Wanetta’s family knew she was lying? Explain the means by which a family raises a monster who will lie to put an innocent classmate in prison, and keep that lie for 5 years…and THEN refuse to divulge the injustice to authorities?
Your argument that consequences to the obvious wrongdoer should be minimized because of other influences, when one person and one person only triggered a miscarriage of justice with a malicious lie, would render the entire legal system toothless…and for what? To protect someone like this conscience-free woman so she can ruin someone else’s like and claim it’s not all her fault?
Hey now. She’s not quite conscience-free, just with so little conscience that it doesn’t really matter.
well, from what I have read elsewhere, her mother hatched the plan. Doesn’t excuse her one bit though. Ok, so she was a roduct of a monster (her mother). So what, she’s still one herself, and dangerous.
I have to somewhat disagree. Pete is saying that she is not the only blame. As a parent, you know when your child tells a major lie. A kid comes home with no job a new clothes, tells the parents they borrowed from a friend: its safe to look into shoplifting. If that parent believes it or does nothing even if it’s true, is responsible. When the money was allotted, it was the mother who controlled the account. You cannot exclude the mother or the system in thus case. The prosecutor knew that he couldn’t have dragged her untorn clothes down some steps, leave no DNA or bruises, straighten his clothing and back to class as if nothing happened. Then turn around and threaten a kid with 41 years and allow an attorney to plea out knowing 18 months was going to be 5yrs. The judge wasn’t fair in his sentencing either. He had same evidence and could’ve been lighter. Wanetta set the wheels in motion, but others should definitely share a lot of blame.
I don’t think there is a punishment strong enough for this ignorant woman. What a despicable human being she is. It’s hard for me the read something like this since I was a rape victim, and I watched my rapist walk away from a conviction and go on to live a normal life while I spent years reliving that hell. To steal someone’s future: what kind of price or punishment can you attach to that particular crime since, in the eyes of our great legal system, it is not even a crime. I hope that Mr. Banks does find success in the NFL tryouts that have been offered to him. It may not give him back the five years he lost, but it may very well provide him with a bright future. I doubt Wanetta Gibson will ever see the inside of a jail cell, but maybe seeing Brian Banks live a happy and successful life (if he manages to obtain his dream and make one of the teams he will be trying out for) will at least cause her to live in some kind of regret for the rest of her life since I doubt any charges will be filed against her.
Wanetta Gibson should be stoned alongside Casey Anthony. What she did is wrong in so many different ways. I could never live my life day after day after day after day knowing that an innocent person was sitting in prison based on lies that I told. While I understand that she was only 15 when she falsely accused this man but at some point she became an adult who was fully aware of her actions and the consequences of them. I am also almost 100% confident that at some point she confessed to the adults in her life that she had completely fabricated this story and they sat around and did nothing except run to the bank!! I’m sorry but Wanetta Gibson should be prosecuted and so should her mother, father, or whatever adult was her guardian at the time. I agree with another commenter who said that no one should trust her. No one should hire her and she should not be allowed to share the same society as “sane” people do.
You can bet that the insurer of that school district IS going to move to get their money back. As we all know, insurance companies don’t like paying up when they’re suppose to- let alone when they’ve been fleeced. Let the dominoes start falling.
Unfortunately that would equate to “milking blood from a stone”! The money is all gone and they are in hiding from their newfound “fame” and of course the bill collectors. I could care less if the insurance company gets their “blood money” back. Next to the oil industry, the insurance industry is second in yearly profits by industry. **** them! And Jack…Civility has it’s place, however, this is not the subject matter nor the place. I would say everyone has been overly politicly correct here!
Civility’s place is permanent. Name calling accomplishes nothing unless there is no other word that expresses the thought.
The school district is going to play dumb and try to make the whole thing go away quietly.
When they could get millions of dollars back? Why? I suppose they might fear another law suit, if the school railroaded Brian and sided with his accuser. I can’t determine if hit did or not.
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Are the courts going to follow up on this new evidence ? She should be held accountable for her actions. This will leave all other true rape convictions suspect. As a real rape survivor I am appalled.
You may like to know that Coach Shanhan is bringing Banks in next week for a try out with the Redskins. In short he said that after all that Banks has gone through its the least he could do. I hope Banks is able to make this step up to the NFL and hopefully be able to fulfill a dream.
That is great! Just gave me a little more faith in society 🙂 I just wish there were more people like him instead of bottom feeders like her.
If people don’t think she should be held responsible for her crimes, and they are crimes, then why should anyone be prosecuted! Judgment is a fact of life. She put herself in that position. She sent him a facebook request! I don’t understand what this girl is thinking! I have read a bit about this girl and it doesn’t seem like she has anything worth contributing to any community, that is my polite way of saying she is trashy. Her and her mother should be prosecuted to the fullest extint possible. There has to be something they can do. People are prosecuted for insurance fraud all the time. I personally think they are trying2 to sweep it under the rug because the DA and his lawyer made some major mistakes and they don’t want to be held accountable either. I hope this man gets everything that they stole from him back. Obviously they can’t give him his life back. If I could give it to him, I would. No one should ever have this happen to them but unfortunately these people who cause this to.happen aren’t punished enough and society just gives them a free pass for bullsh!t reasons. We might as well let every true rapist go free, seems just as horrible as what he suffered to me.
While I agree with this article, I also believe in karma and that Mr. Brian Banks has the right attitude. Enough of his life has already been stolen from him, he and his family aren’t going to waste time trying have this stupid, water-head nutbucket skank prosecuted. They’ll let whatever authorities have that headache. Brian Banks is looking straight ahead, and thankfully, not over his shoulder for the rest of his life. But, there are those of us who need to stay on top of where this broad is, warn others about her (if she moves to another city and/or state) and make sure that Wanetta Gibson knows that no one will forget the travisty and harm, that she and her family, have inflicted on an innocent human being without a grain of remorse while remaining conscious of not wanting to return the blood money they had obtained illegally.
“water-head nutbucket skank” 🙂
I really do hope that she will face some kind of justice, although I am sadly skeptical that she even will… especially to the extent she deserves.
I also definitely think Bank’s lawyer should be disbarred. What kind of lousy lawyer advises a 16 year old boy accused of rape with NO EVIDENCE to plead no contest? It also sounds like she practically bullied him in to making that choice.
Actually, the constitution does allow for slavery as a consequence of convictions.
The 13th amendment reads, in part:
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, **except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted,** shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
emphasis added, obviously
As in chain gangs, hard labor and making license plates. Prisoners are not sold, however.
Consider that Wanetta and her family have wantonly spent the money she received and evidently are not willing to ever return even a small portion of that huge amount. Consider also that Wanetta is being supported by taxpayers’ money at present. Even though she does have two small children to take care of, she still is capable of working–which is what would have been the fate of a single mother before the days of generous welfare payments. She does not deserve any help from public funds. She and her family effectively are thieves who have stolen and continue to steal from the people of the state of California. Putting her in prison will be a means of ensuring that she not continue squandering public funds for her irresponsible lifestyle. If, as a teenager, she had had a moral upbringing, it would never have crossed her mind to attempt to obtain money by making false accusations. In view of how her family immediately called the police and then demanded compensation, it is highly likely that they might actually have goaded her into announcing that she had been raped so that they could “win” a million dollars. Her parents should have to work to the end of their lives to reimburse the money they stole. They can live in shelters for the destitute and give every penny they earn back to the people of California. If Wanetta is a moral person, she would elect to do the same.
However, unless the public demands that she and her family receive their just rewards for their actions, nothing will be done. Brian Banks will probably get his share of compensation from the State, thus causing even more financial loss to the State. And the Gibsons will go on living off of public funds.
As I recall, the family was in debt and her brothers were having problems of their own at the time, so the whole family was dysfunctional. What is needed today in the US is counseling, rather than continuous welfare, to help such families pull their lives together, act responsibly, and become financially independent and productive members of society. For most, the family and local environment do not provide the basics (in knowledge and experience) to get out of the rut they are in. So, in the final analysis, the problem begins and ends with the way we run, or rather don’t run, proper social services. Welfare should be the last resort. It gives people the idea that getting money without labor is a right.
dude, what are you talking about…adultery, etc. they never had SEX!!! get your facts straight.
People like her are not unusual, lying is a way of life for some people.
She has blown through her settlement and is now on welfare..
What is very unusual is she told the truth, I would like to know why she did that.
She does not feel she did anything wrong and furthermore and most importantly she feels no fear of being held accountable for her actions.
If this was not a press case I would say 100% she would have nothing to fear, to me it seems clear our laws are very seriously flawed, there are huge moral hazards, False rape claims are very common.
Hear is the real story: She was fing around with many different guys. She was afraid for some reason she would get in trouble for this and threw the false rape thing on her next guy or maybe she was put up to it by her mom to get money.
The reality is the Banks guy was ambitious and would have made a good father, (was she calling him up on Facebook cause the welfare was running out?) Instead the state destroyed another black family, We all know the baby-mama rates and reliance on welfare blacks are known for. Incentives matter especially to amoral women like Wanetta Gibson. We need a serious look at the states interference in peoples personal lives. Wanetta Gibson had a good man which she destroyed. At a young age she very accurately understood there would be no consequences for her actions.