Voting Station

Gary Dotson

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Scapegoat

The Resume

    (circa 1957- )
    Raised in Country Club Hills, Illinois
    Spent nearly 6 years in prison for a rape he did not commit (July 1979-May 1985)
    His 'victim' recanted her rape story (March 1985)
    First person in Illinois to have a rape conviction overturned due to DNA testing (August 14, 1989)

Why he might be annoying:

    He is a high school drop-out.
    He is short tempered.
    He is an alcoholic.
    He appeared on morning TV talk shows with his accuser shortly after his release from prison.
    The media circus story was covered by Time Magazine (cover story- 'Madonna, Why She's Hot' - May 27, 1985).
    He was arrested for assaulting his wife.
    The governor of Illinois granted him a 'last chance parole' (December 24, 1987). Two days later, he was arrested in a barroom fight for assaulting a waitress who served him a sandwich with peppers he didn't order.
    His wife divorced him citing domestic violence.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His accuser used him to cover her promiscuity and remembered seeing him at an party.
    After the 'rape' (July 9, 1977), his 'victim' pointed him out from a mug book due to pressure from police. She later fingered him in a police lineup.
    She claimed her assailant was clean shaven, yet he sported a full mustache at the time of his arrest five days later.
    She recanted her story because her conscious was bothering her and the urging of her pastor. (yep, purge that sin right out)
    The Chicago newspapers ran stories repeatedly, and 70,000 signatures on a petition pressured a reopening of the case.
    During the talk show frenzy, he endured Jane Pauley's question, 'Who would you like to see play you in the movie?'
    He and his accuser were asked by Joan Lunden, 'What were the first things you said to each other?'
    After Phyllis George coddled them into a handshake she inexcusably said, 'How about a hug?' They quickly declined and he showed unusual self-restraint by not clobbering George.
    He told everybody, whether they believe him or not, he holds no grudge against his accuser.
    The 'victim' convinced a police department, her family, the state prosecution, a judge, jury, journalists, and the public he was a terrifying rapist.
    She based her details from a novel she was reading at the time; 'Sweet Savage Love' (1974).

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 19 Votes: 31.58% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 189 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 33 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 32 Votes: 59.38% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 83 Votes: 61.45% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 120 Votes: 67.50% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 277 Votes: 48.74% Annoying