www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Pretty sure that's him

Yep, that'd be him.

Note to self: Keep my residency status current, and don't piss off other ex-pats.

I knew him superficially and I just need to say one thing. If you come down to live, and have a giant ego, and think you can piss all over the place, think again! This is not the wild west. It never was. There have always been some rules and regulations, albeit, with a different twist.

The rule of Karma flies high in Costa Rica, and if you start creating problems for people, you will experience the same. Go out and get drunk. Disobey social norms, because you are smarter than everyone else. If this you, then the clock is probably ticking.

Or, wisen-up and be cool. Come down and have a good time, but don´t be a large asshole.

_________________
http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

[quote="Chi_trekker"]I knew him superficially and I just need to say one thing. If you come down to live, and have a giant ego, and think you can piss all over the place, think again! This is not the wild west. It never was. There have always been some rules and regulations, albeit, with a different twist.

The rule of Karma flies high in Costa Rica, and if you start creating problems for people, you will experience the same. Go out and get drunk. Disobey social norms, because you are smarter than everyone else. If this you, then the clock is probably ticking.

Or, wisen-up and be cool. Come down and have a good time, but don´t be a large asshole.[/quote]


This applies to visitors too

There's two kinds of investigators in the US, one, the data gatherers, who have paid access to private data banks used mainly to find someone not wanting to be found, often called "skip tracers". About $150 for a primary level run, useful when you need to find someone for legit purposes. They'll also serve legal papers, various other stuff.

Then there are the other "sleuth" modern Dick Tracey types, very expensive, with the high power long range or hidden cameras, taps, tracking devices, tailing your ass types. Never used one but those are the types that can wreak havoc, and have havoc wreaked upon them if they get made. So those guys and girls are extremely careful not to get made, especially since they often cross the line of what's legal (e.g., illegally accessing your credit reports thru various ruzes). Under the radar types, usually very good at what they do or they don't survive, most don't, get most of their biz word of mouth from lawyers or some insurance companies for certain types of claims and not yellow page ads or you-tubes.

Obviously this gringo wasn't very careful and how could he be so stupid to be out of immigration status?

But, if he did indeed marry a tica and it wasn't a sham, we'll see how true the oft cited "fact" that CR won't deport an immigrant married to a Tica. I've also read that this only applies if they have a Tico Ch*ld. But if those two oft stated "facts" are at all true, I'd bet you'd still need to keep your status current.

Edited to add this mornings news 18 Nov from AMCR: http://www.amcostarica.com/morenews3.htm

more to it than that, Gers. This guy looks to be a sham artist as well, so that will weigh into the immigration decision also. Frankly, if you keep your nose clean and have locals willing to character reference for you, then the deportation hearing may go your way.

One thing I have experienced in my meager travels to CR, is that what they call laws, we call rules: bendable, breakable, and repairable.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Unsurprisingly, his Website has been taken down; instead there's a message that you should contact at an email address.
Question: Are common-law marriages treated as equal to a civil/religious marriage in the eyes of the law in CR?

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

The only instance that I know of where common-law is treated like a regular marriage is when the Tica files a complaint and it's time to boot the gringo out of his own house.

There are way too may generalizations in what you just said. IMO. However, ex-pats here who think they are flying under the radar, definitely should think about the concept of virtual tourism. They can deport you, and you have no ability to contest it.

Anyhow, some news on this topic. His facebook page says that he is fine and relaxing in his house in Escazu.

So, there are two options:

1. He was setup and framed. If this is the case, in CR law public defamation is a big deal, and whoever did this can have problems, if he wants to create a legal battle.
2. He is updating his Facebook page from a jail cell in Hatillo.... waiting for deportation.

I don't know which one is true.

_________________
http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

For anyone defending this guy and thinking he was set up, you are sadly mistaken! This guy was a piece of phucking shit! I will give you this though, he did not discriminate in his ability to be a phucking scam artist phucking prick.

He lived not to far from me and was actively involved in trying to extort, Tico businesses, Italian businesses, American businesses, Canadian businesses, etc. He treated them all the same, claiming to be a ex-FBI investigator (HE WAS NEVER EVEN A JANITOR IN AN FBI BUILDING OR EVEN ON NEXTDOOR TO A FBI BUILDING IN HIS ENTIRE LIE OF A LIFE!!!!!!) He tried to extort the owner of a project I was involved with a few years ago, seeking pay off to prevent his imaginary friends from putting a lawsuit and lien against the project, only thing he did not realize is that the owner of that project is one of the largest landowners in Guanacaste and one politically connected Tico who does not put up with that type of shit.

He is where he should be and got what he deserved!

Wow.

The last I read maybe 10 days ago he was in an immigration jail in SJ waiting for someone to pay for his airline ticket back to the US, CR was not going to pay for it.

Sounds like he might be there a while.

Thats good advice for any country in Latin America, we all seen what happen in May 2012.

Update in the news item below. He's got money for an airplane ticket to the US since he has money for an attorney, but he isn't going easily. So, he's still incarcerated in the Immigration shitter at Hatillo.

Got a prompt hearing at the highest Court in CR, but a non-favorable ruling issued yesterday. I think of interest is that in their opinion the court ruled "family ties" in CR does not trump compliance with CR Immigration law. Kind of runs afoul of a common belief that CR will not deport if you have a CR Ch*ld, but maybe I am wrong on the common belief. Not that he has a tico K*D , just sayin.

Here's today's news article:

"Sala IV says family ties do not prevent deportation"

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

"The Sala IV constitutional court has reaffirmed that foreigners must follow the laws of the nation and underlined the chamber's long-standing position that family ties in Costa Rica do not trump the regulations relating to immigration.

This is believed to be the case of Doug Smith, the private investigator who lived many years here until he was apprehended by immigration officers Nov. 15. Immigration sought to deport him, but his lawyer, Gregory Kearney, filed a habeas corpus appeal with the Sala IV.

Kearney could not be reached immediately.

Smith also said he was roughed up by immigration officers, and the court also addressed this allegation in its decision without naming the expat.

Although the decision does not prevent deportation, the court did order the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería to adopt measures that would prevent injuries to those taken into custody in the future. Smith alleged in his appeal that immigration agents threw him against a wall and handcuffed him incorrectly so as to cause injury.

He tried to avoid deportation by noting that his common law wife, Chrisley Montero Sandoval, is four months pregnant. Smith also said that he complied with tourism regulations by making a recent trip to Panamá but that his passport documenting this was part of the loot taken by a home burglar. (If that was an important issue wouldn't CR Immigration computer data show his Panama departure/re-entry?) He has been in the Centro de Aprehensión in Hatillo since his arrest.

The decision does not mean that Smith will be deported rapidly. Lawyers frequently file multiple appeals in such cases.

Smith runs an investigation service called Will Spy.

A summary of the Sala IV decision was released by the Poder Judicial Wednesday afternoon."

d

In most systems, there is field called "civil status" and there is an option Union Libre, which is common law. However, what people here should know to begin with is the translation of Union Libre to Common Law is bad. Why? Because there is no common law in Costa Rica. Costa Rica follows the Spanish and Napoleanic version of law. Everything is coded. There is no legal precedent.

So, there may be some situations where common law marriages are respected. But, normally you have to marry her. Civil Status = Casado.

Raise a glass guys, I just did this.

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http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.