Saying their multi-year, well-documented harassment of a local farmer does not mean they “should have to be dragged through protracted, expensive litigation to battle a neighbor,” a powerful Virginia husband-and-wife real estate team has put forward a novel argument in their defense: We should not be held liable for the pain and financial loss we inflicted on our neighbor; she should suck it up because our acts were a mere “irritation and distraction.”
The bizarre argument made by Phil and Patricia Thomas in a brief submitted to the Fauquier County Circuit Court is the latest twist involving the real estate duo and farmer Martha Boneta. In a conflict that has garnered national attention, Boneta is suing the Thomases for conspiring with the well-heeled Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) for engaging a decade of abuse and harassment. The realtors and the PEC, a tax subsidized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, even entered into a secretive Confidential Agreement to act in concert regarding the Boneta family farm.
Boneta’s 64-acre farm is located on the edge of the Shenandoah Valley in Fauquier County, about 55 miles west of Washington, D.C. When she purchased the property from the PEC in July 2006, the farm was in a terrible state of disrepair, with a tree growing in the collapsing barn and trash strewn everywhere. Determined to realize her childhood dream of being a farmer, Boneta spent considerable time and money rehabilitating the property, transforming it into a beautiful working farm that it is today.
But by turning a godforsaken dump into a working farm, Boneta attracted the attention and envy of those who coveted her now valuable land and, as subsequent events would show, were willing to go to extraordinary lengths to drive her off her property. According to a suit Boneta brought against the couple, the Thomases, often colluding with the PEC and Fauquier County officials, orchestrated many of those efforts.
Long List of Transgressions
Documents uncovered through citizens, discovery and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and brought to light by investigative journalist Kevin Mooney in The Daily Signal, reveal a pattern of relentless harassment on the part of the defendants. Among the transgressions covered in Boneta’s suit are:
- Over nearly a decade, countless letters from Phil and Patricia Thomas were sent to the local sheriff’s department, Commonwealth’s attorneys, zoning administrators, Virginia Department of Transportation, and animal control wardens – all demanding that these taxpayer-funded officials take action against Boneta.
- Patricia Thomas, an attorney, realtor and member of the Virginia Bar, used her law firm’s letterhead on many of these communications.
- In one 24-hour period, Patricia Thomas called all of Boneta’s neighbors and followed up the calls by drafting letters for them to send to county officials to make complaints about the farmer.
- Aside from growing crops and engaging in other agricultural endeavors, Boneta uses her property as an animal rescue farm, providing a home for approximately 180 animals, including llamas, alpacas, emus, goats, sheep, ducks, and chickens. The Thomases claimed that Boneta was mistreating the animals and demanded county officials seize the creatures. They even sent a picture of an abused horse to the county to underscore their claim. However, the photo they sent was of an abused horse in Australia; the pic had apparently been pulled off the Internet. A county animal control officer inspected Boneta’s farm and found that her animals were in good health and well fed.
- Peter Schwartz, an attorney and real estate developer, a member of the PEC Board of Directors, and an elected member of the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors, conspired in written communications with the Thomases on how to force Boneta’s mortgage in to foreclosure on her farm. Schwartz had legal and ethical reasons to recuse himself because he drafted the conservation easement that the PEC and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, a state agency, jointly hold on Boneta’s farm.
- In 2012, Schwartz publicly disclosed that Boneta was the subject of an IRS audit. He disclosed this information before she and her family had been served with the audit. As it happens, Peggy Richardson, who was IRS commissioner under President Clinton, also sits on the PEC Board of Directors and also is Schwartz’s neighbor and close friend. Richardson maintains that this is a coincidence, but the audit coincided with Boneta high-profile resistance to the actions of Fauquier County, Phil and Patricia Thomas, and the PEC.
- Documents show that Schwartz provided Phil Thomas with his personal physical address so that the latter could send him “a package of Boneta materials” in what the suit alleges was an effort to shield Boneta’s personal and financial documents from FOIA requests.
- Patricia Thomas sent numerous communications, again on her law firm’s letterhead, to Boneta’s mortgage company, urging the bank to foreclose on the Boneta farm. Patricia Thomas even requested to purchase Boneta’s note from the bank. These written communications were followed up by phone calls, but the bank refused to comply. This resulted in a series of angry communications from the Thomases, who demanded to speak to the bank’s Board of Directors. The bank refused. Some of these communications can be found here.
- A paper trail reveals the Thomases directed their personal secretary, Rhonda Sherwood, who lives in one of the Thomas tenant houses, to sign an affidavit that Patricia Thomas also authored, about Boneta that was the basis for the county shutting down Boneta’s farm in 2012 when she was in full harvest. Recently, another Thomas tenant and employee also made a complaint regarding the farmer.
The list of transgressions against Boneta is endless, causing countless hours of time away from farming, lost business, hardship and duress. One is struck by the brazen attempt by the well-connected and well-to-do to use their outsized local influence to crush a local farmer. To the land barons, it was time for the farmer to go – by whatever means necessary. Phil Thomas had owned what is now Boneta’s farm before selling it to the PEC in 2000 and he now appears to have seller’s remorse. Patricia Thomas was willing to use her law firm’s letterhead in going after Boneta, even if this brought her in conflict with numerous sections of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Board of Realtors.
To the defendants, Martha Boneta’s defense of her rights, to stop being, injured, terrorized and to protect her family farm is a sign of her “irritation and distraction.” The Thomases are afraid to be “dragged through protracted and expensive litigation,” but this is exactly what Martha Boneta has had to endure for nearly a decade.. How dare the rubes stand up to landed gentry! Small wonder that Boneta has been awarded one of America’s most Amazing Women for her struggle that is the subject of an award-winning documentary, “Farming in Fear.”
The case will be heard January 19 before Fauquier Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey W. Parker, many of whose decisions have been overturned by higher courts. If Judge Parker rules against Boneta, it is certain she will appeal and prevail given the magnitude of evidence that continues to surface. This is far from over.
I’ve been following this story for some time now and this is clearly a case of blatant collusion between a wealthy influential land owner and local and Federal gov’t and NGO agencies who conspired to force Ms. Boneta out of business and off her land for the benefit of that land owner. However, what they didn’t count on was the power of one feisty farmer who wouldn’t give in and the spirit of liberty loving neighbors from Northern Virginia and all over the state who came to her aid creating a groundswell of grassroots pressure to bear on the General Assembly which resulted in the successful passing of the Boneta Bill that would protect farmers rights to do business unfettered by tyrannical gov’t and environmental agencies. Ms. Boneta’s fight for justice is still ongoing however to seek justice for the damages and loss to her business she experience due to the fraudulant assault on her rights as a property owner and her ability to do business. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come. .
She should get at least 100 per hour of her time in fighting all this, plus attorney and court costs and at least 10 million in damages. Not sure what the damage limits are for criminal acts in her state.
If a Federal agency was involved..or a Federal Employee….
1. The employee should have NO representation on government dime…
2. The agency should be held financially responsible…SEVERALLY
3. This “Attorney” should be investigated by the AG office and license REVOKED as well as being found SEVERALLY liable.
Sure, they want to sell it to the HIGHEST BIDDER, the greedy b***t**ds! Same as Harry Reid, the money grubbing and land grabbing troll!
It is not a business. It operates as a NONPROFIT.
And people wonder why the Bundy’s put themselves in the situation they’re in. Government terrorism.
Tom, the bundy’s are fighting to continue to use PUBLIC land for free. That land belongs to you and me, not the bundys or their friends and neighbors. This is not the same situation at all.
What you say is true up to a point, but there is nothing in the founding laws of the land that allows the federal government (us?) the right to own vast tracts of land.
Federal lands have grown ten fold in the last several decades beginning with old Teddy Roosevelt in the name of conservation. Why ??? Because the feds want to dominate states land ownership and prepare for future socialism where private land ownership is forbidden. Remember communist China, N Korea, Cuba and the former USSR. Are you ready for the USSA ???? Will there be another American Revolution ???? Maybe. Will you be ready ??? I am.
The real problem for the Feds is that their law only applies to their land..State laws prevail….even over most federal lands as they are in a State.
Remember that the Constitution allows the Feds ONLY to involve themselves in Federal Lands and Interstate Commerce….
This is why some states are allowing silencers on weapons…as long as they are manufactured, sold and used within the state. The Feds already found out that they hit the wall when they tried to stop that right.
State laws do not prevail over federal lands. Period. I don’t know about the gun stuff and don’t care. But it has nothing to do with federal lands.
You and I own those lands and we lease them out mostly to good and decent people who pay their bills, which by the way are much much less than the FMV. The Bundy’s are liars and crooks who have stolen money and land from you and me.
Get educated.
No, that’s not why. All of that land belonged to the United States either through purchase or war. We GAVE it away to people for years or sold it for $1.00 if they would settle on it. It’s always belonged to the people of the United States. Bundy doesn’t own it, never has, was given the right to use it through a lease and then decided not to pay his rent for the last 20 years.
He’s stealing from YOU. and me.
If you do a little research that incredible view shed in Paris, Virgina and surrounding areas could be stolen too without support of the PEC and Virginia gentlemen whose 5 generations of ancestors farmed and preserved the scenic acreage that take your breath away every single day in the winter, spring, summer, fall. Anyone that owns a farm in Fauquier wakes up grateful for the freedoms that our ancestors have preserved for US. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness without false charges and frivolous lawsuits. The accused are not filing lawsuits or being charged criminally. These are civil suits and we live in fear. Believe me!
I’m sure you are fearful and you deserve every support that can be given. It’s misuse of the courts when the powerful are given a judicial hearing just because of who they know rather than the merits of the case. I believe in private ownership of land and I believe that the courts should NOT be misued by the wealthy to steal land from rightful owners.
As you likely know, my comments above were about Cloven Bundy and his gang of anti-heroes, and anti-Americans who are claiming western lands that have never belonged to them. They may be fighting for a personal cause but it plays directly into the hands of the wealthy who want to take federal lands away from WE the people who are the rightful owners.
As it it, land leases are cheap. They want nothing more than to cause another culture war (as if we don’t already have enough) dividing Americans over our own land. It’s a money making scheme for developers, and people who want free lumber, and those who want to frack on public lands with no regulations about clean air and water. Regulations you will recall are job killers — and no regulations are people killers.
Actually, the Constitution declares that the FED GOVT WILL NOT OWN ANYTHING! That’s right, but it’s been long overlooked. It is unConstitutional for the FEDs to ‘own’ our land, which is the public’s land, we the taxpayers, we the government of, for and BY THE PEOPLE! This is not a democracy, this is A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC run by and for and of the PEOPLE! If you want to keep it that way, start seeing the difference between a dictatorship and a government of, for and BY the PEOPLE!
Where does it say that? Quote chapter and verse. Take a little while to read it. You won’t find that, you won’t find anything like it. Jefferson paid for the Louisiana Purchase. He bought it. Seward bought Alaska for the United States. The United States has always owned the vast tracts in the west. Yes they gave lots of it away, they sold some for $1.00 so that people would settle. But we’ve always owned our own country. Believe it or not, where I live the Federal Government is ME, YOU AND ME. It belongs to all of us. It’s not some other thing over there. It’s mine. Those a$holes in washington work for me — the trouble is they’re taking their money from the wealthy and no, the rich don’t want the same things in life as I do.
And that’s the story you are reading here. The wealthy Thomases screwing Ms. Boneta. She bought and paid for it fair and square when it wasn’t worth squat. Her family worked hard and turned it into something of value and now the wealthy are trying to run her off the land by using their money and contacts. And they’d do it to you in NY minute if you owned something of value.
What do you get out of Bundy stealing your land? He’s running a PT Barnum on you and you’ve grabbed it like any other fish in the ocean.
Learn what belongs to you. It’s the land, the air and the water. And stop letting people with guns scare you in to believing that the Federal Government is your enemy. It’s the way we organize ourselves — we need it. And the people who tell you not to trust it or to hate it are trying to destroy your democracy. They’re not your friends. They’re trying to make you so mad you can’t think straight.
She bought a Conservation easement. Plain and simple. The resume boasts a JD in law and special training in mediation and worked for a lobby. The republican delegates and politicians are well acquainted with her in Richmond, Va. Since Disney in Prince William most well informed citizens are aware of the mission of the PEC. Fauquier. The citizens of this county support the agricultural mission of keeping Fauquier green. The DC side has been developed to look like Loudon, Fairfax and Prince William Counties. That area is splendid and we the people have the right to state that we support the PEC and keep Paris Green.
No, they are fighting to keep the BLM from imposing massive fees for grazing. They had a lease with set yearly fees, BLM tried to raise the fees WAY beond what is reasonable.
Get your facts straight.
jw,
It goes far beyond that.
First off they had a contract (lease) to graze on the public sections and that contract is being violated (acreage reduced and fees increased) by the Feds. Besides that, the BLM is literally torching the ranchers PRIVATE lands, cattle, and at least one home. The Hammonds who have been charged as terrorists were in the process of lighting backfires to stop the BLM from torching their private lands when they were charged with terrorism.
The BLM is using government terrorism (fines, fires, prohibitive fees, cutting available acreage to useless amounts, courts, etc. etc.) to run the ranchers off and confiscate their properties on behalf of their environmental cronies.
The full story is amazing. Still having a hard time believing this is happening in America. These folks have been pushed to the brink. The Bundy’s are not a bunch of right wing radicals as the government media is try to make them out to be.
They are American ranchers being terrorized by our government.
Their only other alternative was to keep begging for less and less until they had none.
If you take a little time to do some research on this you will get sick to your stomach.
This is so off subject. Have you done a field trip and visited Paris Barns, Sky Meadow State Park, Ovoka, Upperville, Blandy Farm (Arboretum), Marriott Farm, Castletown or done any in depth research? The accused have been silenced so you only hear one side of the story. This drama is making us all sick. Malicious prosecution is a crime. I am completely aware of “land grabs” first hand by legislators connected to realtors and developers. It is a crime to slander and falsely accuse citizens of crimes when there is no evidence or probable cause. It is not bullying anytime a person does not agree with the viewpoint, values, or beauty of a given individual. In the US, The right to Speech is the first amendment before the right to Bear Arms. I believe that our fore fathers wrote the Constitution in the correct sequence. Being bullied into silence by fear of need, greed or loss is scary but loosing the right to speak the truth or voice opinion is communism and criminal. Cases cannot be judged in the media so allow the court to decide. If you agree or disagree that is the democratic process. There are men and women who are convicted falsely across the US and the world who live in poverty, institutions and jails. They do not have access to great lawyers to exonerate them. Frivolous lawsuits are a crime.
The Federal Government has no Constitutional authority to OWN all that land.
In case no one was aware, Mr. Reid’s son is in the business of finding and selling land to the Chinese for PREMIUM $$$! It was this very land that they were after to sell to the CHinese after chasing the long time residents off of it and maybe declaring it condemned for ‘higher and better use’ as in making money to line their grubby, greedy pockets with!
I was aware of the China seemingly buying out our country, but.
I was not aware of their involvement here. Thanks for the additional info.
http://rhg.com/interactive/china-investment-monitor
That story re Reid was out at the time and refuted. Not even the same part of Nevada, let alone all details are different. It’s on the internet if you want to do the research.
the Bundy’s are stealing money from the American people. They owe all of us $1 million for grazing fees on our land. You may want to give it to them for free, but they have no legal clam to that land other than a lease to graze. And they were asked not to graze on parts of it because their cows were destroying the native plants during a drought when those plants were insufficient to remain viable. That land belongs to all of us and is managed for all of us.
The Bundy’s do not have title or deed to the land they occupied against the law. Trespassing is against the law and it is posted by the owner and/or Federal Government which is a CRIMINAL offense. Driving on a State road in a scenic valley where you reside or own property is not against the law anymore than writing the truth on the internet. Do you believe everything you see or hear on the news? Judge Parker ruled that this amounts to town gossips.
I too have been following this terrible ordeal for Mortha Boneta nd her family via Shu Bartholomew on her show, On the Commons, onthecommons.us. Martha has been a guest on the show a few times. I just posted this on Shu’s FB link notifying us of this recent, updated article. “Oh no! A very good article though Shu Bartholomew,
that exposes the situation for what it is. Thank you for sharing. My
hope and prayers are for Martha Boneta and her family! Let’s hope those
in the courts can “see the light.” In the article, did you see what
the Thomas’ said in “their defense?” “We should not be held liable for
the pain and financial loss we inflicted on our neighbor; she should
suck it up because our acts were a mere “irritation and distraction.”
They are obviously suffering with greed, delusional and sociopathic
syndrome (GDSS). A syndrome I have come up with that I beleive afflicts too many in our society today! Give me a break. How can they be in such denial of
their own actions? They are truly evil, in my opinion.”
Why doesn’t someone do a documentary and go interview these corrupt people that are harassing these innocent people they are jealous and envious of? Envy is when you are not only jealous meaning you want what they have, but envy is when you want what they have and want to keep them from having it, as well. Envy is murder, plain and simple. These people should know better, but from the looks of their penchant for imbibing in the vino, have a distorted view of reality. It looks like greed is their motivation and seeing how well these people have done in restoring the farm and improving it’s value, want to capitalize on it. There have been many movies done on this subject, including “It’s a Wonderful Life”, which has a tinge of this very evil.
Come on FNC …. open the worlds eyes to this crime.
Crime? Do you mean alleged crime because the courts have upheld that no crimes have been committed. The accused do not have arrest records and are respected by the community.
1. There have been documentaries of several kinds
2. They did attempt to talk with the criminal perpetrators and of coarse, “no comment” was pretty much the response.
3. The ONLY way for this to end is to have those with the political clout and power that cased it (and their hand in the cookie jar” placed into prison. This of coarse rarely happens in the US..only those unfortunate enough to do something questionable and have no real amount of money get prison…..Think about “affluenza”. That tells the entire story.
The affluenza case does not compare because it involved a youth who recklessly killed and endangered the lives of innocent human beings while he was under the influence. I was harassed by charges against me in Fairfax County where she resides. Residents of Fauquier are terrorized by the tactics of Paris Barns attempting to pave Fauquier County.
Jealous and envious of what? He owned that farm and the land that surrounds it in Paris. Compared to farms and wineries in the same vicinity it is a pig pen. Rescuing animals is not farming. an acre or two of crops is not feeding Fauquier County. Tea party supporters favor the actions of the vigilantes in Oregon on Federal property. Those views can be dangerous to your health, welfare and safety.
The contradiction is that the realtor is accused of “affluenza” but donated Ovoka to the PEC. Jealous of what? Paris Barns is an eyesore. Go on a Farm tour and learn about farm operations. Beekeeping and tending to a flock of hens, a few llama, emu, german shepherds are not turning a profit for a 2 million dollar conservation easement. It is easy to lose a 200 thousand home in Fauquier because it is “agricultural”. The farms are lost forever to developers on a regular basis. Is it realistic to be a JD turned “part time” farmer? I compare it to Avenue Q, what can you do with an English Major!
I just stumbled upon the Bonetta farm recently while exploring back roads in the area and wasn’t aware of the controversy. I never saw the farm in it’s previous condition, but today the peaceful setting and its very healthy-looking animals seem to be a real plus for Paris, Va. Amazing work being done by Martha Bonetta. I see a unique opportunity for educational outreach to children to help them learn about some fascinating animals like alpacas and emus!
Not if these greedy creeps get their hands on it, or are able to condemn it for their own gluttonous and self serving agendas! Look at them, they are derelicts and this woman either needs to quit drinking or drink herself under some table somewhere and shut the hell up! She is a witch and needs to lose her license to practice law for all the underhanded, illegal and criminal things she is doing!
OVOKA looks fabulous darling and it was owned by Phil Thomas and gifted to the PEC. Criminal records in FFX county record John Boneta, ex cop who specializes in defending alcohol related “incidents” defended his wife on an alcohol related charge which involved profanity as I interpret the court record. She was found not guilty. The Barn owner was brought to court for false accusations of reporting vandalism in Fauquier before she falsely accused me. A contradiction is it possible for a person who suffers from affluenza to be described as a derelict because they drink alcohol? It is a legal substance. Is the plaintiff clean and sober after her problems with law enforcement? Everyone has a right to privacy and protection from slander, false accusations and harassment. I posted a photo of Paris Barns in October over a year before the charge against me for comments on Facebook the evening before she accused me of computer harassment stating in her SWORN affidavit that “I stated that I was visiting Paris Barns to harm her”. The conversation was not about her or with her and I clearly was interested in helping a friend of the family who is now deceased from terminal cancer who lived in the peaceful village. Truly vindictive for ANYONE to wish ill will on disadvantaged and disabled citizens and she is neither.
“Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
― Alfred Lord Tennyson
Now that I’ve had a look at the farm I would say, in reference to the Thomases,STRING ‘EM UP!!!!!
That is a death threat as I interpret a lynching prosecutable in a court of law. There have been restraining orders from both parties defense and plaintiff. I have lived in fear for me and my family before her allegations after 13 years of estate issues concerning property that has been in our family for about 5 generations in King George, VA
I hope that she wins against all of them and becomes financially independent from THEIR money. I hope the Thomases lose their law licenses, real estate licenses, their money, and have a lien put on all of their real estate.
The county, if it colluded needs to reimburse her and there should be personal penalties against any county agent.
The Thomases should be criminally charged with harassment and should see jail time.
Virginia does not have a criminal harassment statute.
Darn…..
Well, somuch for criminal harassment, but how about false reports and efforts to incriminate based on these false reports.
Add conspiracy to commit a crime.
A charge of conspiracy would apply.
You need an underlying Felony for a conspiracy charge. Filing a false police report is only a misdmeanor.
According to this site, there are any number of things that can get a conspiracy conviction, including fraud, bid rigging, etc.
https://medvinlaw.com/virginia-federal-conspiracy-laws-penalties-defense-lawyer/
While filing a false police report is a class 1 misdmeanor, trying to defraud a person out of property is a felony.
I am sure that even in Virginia it is against the law for a public official to use their position the way it has been done there. And the conspiracy aspect, with everyone involved, is very much a viable charge.
I would also say that the rest of the county officials, including the sheriff, should be charged with dereliction of duty for not putting a stop to this land grab.
That woman went to the Fairfax County Police and asked for a restraining order. It was denied! She used her influence as the wife of a former LEO turned Lawyer to file computer harassment Charges that were dismissed because there was no evidence. She LIED that I could have vandalized her Paris? property without a shred of evidence. There was zero evidence based on the laws on the book that the charge of harassment should have been considered by the Commonwealth based on her FALSE affidavit.
You need an underlying felony charge for Conspiracy in Virginia.
Knowingly filing a false police report is a misdemeanor crime, but it can be difficult to prove the knowing part.
It is not difficult to prove when there is no evidence of a crime and the Commonwealth cannot convict because the allegations are FALSE.
It all depends on what was said. If I file a report saying “I saw my neighbor Joe stealing my lawn tractor,” and the lawn tractor is later found on my property with no signs of it being moved, then that would be a good case. If the tractor is never found, you can’t prosecute me because there is no proof Joe DIDN’T steal the tractor, just no way to prove he *did* either.
She did that to me and suffered no consequences as a result. It devastated me!
Damn you wrote everything I wanted to say.
Go ahead and repeat it.
It bears repeating.
And fire should be involved in there somewhere.
And salting the earth….
I agree!
Not only that, but using one’s law license to commit this type of crime out of personal envy and malice should cause her to lose that license as well as see jail time.
YEP.
One more thing….IRS
There should be a complete IRS audit of the Thomas’s taxes for the past 10 years – the same time spent harassing their neighbor!!
This is what old Sal Alinsky, a die hard Chicago socialist and union thug, wrote about in his Rules for Radicals. Harass and marginalize the opposition into humiliation with threats and bodily and financial harm.
Exactly.
No Saul was a self avoid communist, just read his book Rules For Radicals. He was also Hillary Clinton’s mentor.
Yes, in most cases socialism can be considered communism. Socialism is considered the lesser of the two evils. Communism is considered the ultimate socialism.
Only if you’re a rightwingonut. Socialism and communism are two different economic/cultural ways that people manage their affairs and it really depends on the entire culture. Even communism isn’t the same in every country.
The Thomas’ are hardly liberals here. They’re the plutocrats taking advantage of a woman who got a good deal, turned it into something enviable by her own hard work, and now the wealthy people in the neighborhood are trying to steal her property and her hard work.
If that doesn’t look like predatory capitalism (just the kind created by and nurtured by Republicans) then you’re blind.
She aligns herself with Teaparty Republicans. This farmer works in Richmond influencing at the General Assembly level for self interest groups. The farm is “worked” primarily by volunteers and “help”. The farm has a permanent address in Fairfax, Va according to the warrant for my arrest issued by FFX not Fauquier County. According to the Conservation agreement, the “owner” signed an agreement that did not allow for a permanent residence which is a legal argument about a deed bait and switch. Why would an investor (farmer) purchase a run down farm with extremely restrictive covenants when other working farms in neighborhoods in Fauquier are being sold to developers with more acreage to developers? Gorgeous farms with equal, homes, pools, ponds and outbuildings are own public record as being sold for ball park 2 million in Fauquier on a regular basis. Paris Barns was not a bargain and rescue animals and a flock of Canadian geese do not improve the chances of farming this pasture not suitable for agriculture. From my perspective it is buyers remorse not sellers remorse. She does not live on the farm and the “harassment” is not alleged at her home in Fairfax County, Va. The question is who is buying the farm?
Saul Alinsky.
Same with Scientologists and with the Clintons and Obama, liberals in general.
They have their own set of rules we must obey ours and live with theirs.
alinsky-ites need reminding of the 2nd from time to time…lest they become too forgetful
Id also like to slap both of them cross-eyed.
This was greed, arrogance and misuse of power. Those involved should be charged and made to pay up—PERSONALLY!
This is what old Sal Alinsky, a die hard Chicago socialist and union thug, wrote about in his Rules for Radicals. Harass and marginalize the opposition into humiliation with threats and bodily and financial harm.
It’s Saul — Saul Alinksky and he’s been dead for DECADES. He never wrote or said your made up quote. I don’t know where you got it; I have a feeling I would need a proctoscope to find it.
Here’s what he actually wrote — all good advice and stuff your side uses ALL THE TIME, that’s how good it is.
http://www.bestofbeck.com/wp/activism/saul-alinskys-12-rules-for-radicals
They should be whipped in the town common.
The landowners are not trying to get property for nothing with malicious lawsuits.
Okay, Division of Real Estate, if ever there was a reason to take a license, this is it.
This is not about the money. It is about integrity, pride, legacy.
Exactly why I’m against a tycoon or a lawyer for POTUS!! Rand for POTUS!!
Then again….old Ragtop doesn’t owe anyone anything politically at all. He is a good bet as well.
Typical liberals they will stop at nothing to get what they want I love the picture with a dress in one hand and a glass of wine in the other!! It’s time to set up a gofundme for Bonita’s defense team and sue these arrogant bastards until their heads spin!!
This is what Sal Alinsky, a die hard Chicago socialist and union thug, wrote about in his Rules for Radicals. Harass and marginalize the opposition into humiliation with threats and bodily and financial harm.
I am in for $10. Find another 20 million people, as long as ALL the money is used to see these criminals RUINED.
The individual is married to a LEO turned lawyer and has defense “pro bono” as I interpret the records and research. There has been a fund for her defense from day one. The rest of the victims of “small family farmers” are loosing their derrieres to her paranoia.
Looks like these two are asking to have a nasty accident, they are clearly very careful when picking their victims.
Typical elite corrupt bureaucrats. I say bring in the local citizen militia and surround the criminals. Message:: Take your stink some where else.
Great article, Bonner! May Justice prevail over Democrat fascism!
A radio host of a farming show made the observation that female agriculturalists are more likely to be attacked with lawsuits, etc. He mentioned several and Boneta came to mind.
She needs to file a claim against the Attorney office’s errors and omissions policy. Very simply put send a REGISTERED letter to the attorney offices and demand a copy of their E&O policy coverages for the last 7 years.
Failing to produce such policy information can place the attorney at PERSONAL risk of his own assets. Also, the falsified picture of that horse is a FALSE POLICE REPORT. She needs to go to the County attorney offices and DEMAND prosecution for filing a false complaint. Failing to respond with a criminal complaint by the county attorney she needs to go to the STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL and ask for any investigation into the County Sheriff, city police and the County attorney regarding this matter.
As long as Statute of limitations have not run then she can DEMAND this and needs to do so through the media as well.
My hopes are with her also. Previously when married owned some land in South Texas and went through something similar. Was in the military service and couldn’t fight so eventually had to give up property. Land Barons and Tax Office sought to drive us out because they viewed us as outsiders.
nothing like a bad neighbour
Hopeless, Just a bunch of village idiots blathering about something they know nothing about and this thread has been hacked since I have entered the conversation with edits and deletions and insertions in the thread from a month ago. MALWARE Malawer is the maiden name. Go figure!
The Thomases ‘have’ to be liberal democrats…….I’d bet money on it!
Look what happened with Marterella Winery in Fauquier. County and HOA drove them into bankruptcy and now out of business.
I hope these that are trying to take your land gets just what they deserve not a DARN THING.
Wow. Clearly, the Thomases belong in jail. Go Boneta!
Hooray for Martha Boneta! You go, girl! What a beautiful success story! I love seeing neglected land being reclaimed and made productive. I’m glad her bank is not going along with the Thomases’ evil scheme. I hope these greedy, covetous, ill-willed folks get thoroughly spanked for their efforts to undermine this enterprising woman.
I hope she wins big and there is a federal investigation into that whole crowd.
Not many ways I can help, but I have spread this article around.
The miscreants going against Ms. Boneta and her family are anarchists, one of whom is the ex of a media mogul. The bullies have deep pockets. I hope she sues for ALL LEGAL FEES plus pain and suffering and malicious prosecution.
Pain and suffering? The selfie album on Paris Barns tells a different story. No one walks in someone else’s shows and she is pals with the Donald! The one that has a potty mouth and a immigrant wife running as a rep for President!
My prayers and well wishes are with Patricia Boneta. I hope that the Thomas’ are penalized to the extent of the law. Shame on them and all those who vicitimized Ms. Boneta! I think she needs to write a book exposing them and their tactics, and advise others how she has managed to deal with their atrocities while rescuing animals and living her dream of owning a farm.
The laws favor the rich . Why not set the penalty of loss as paying all the legal and court costs.
grampa