Joe McKnight story was ‘rushed,’ Santa Monica businessman says
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
The Times today received the following e-mail from Scott Schenter, the Santa Monica businessman whose Land Rover USC tailback Joe McKnight has been driving. It was addressed to Lance Pugmire, co-writer (along with Gary Klein) of the story headlined ‘McKnight’s use of car investigated’ that was published in today’s newspaper.
Mr. Schenter requested we publish his response in its entirety, so here it is:
Mr. Pugmire: I was very insulted in that you co-authored an article titled, ‘USC investigating tailback Joe McKnight’s use of vehicle’ and ‘rushed’ to publish it without comments from myself. My personal life was put in the open without the opportunity to comment (I had to disclose to my wife of the other cars I have purchased or helped buy for other women). I will make a few comments and will also be forwarding my comments to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, and other news organizations that I feel should hear from me so they may publish or have it for their records. I am in Johannesburg, South Africa finalizing a major business deal (more on this later) but the internet is very expensive to use and I had meetings scheduled all week with no time to check the internet. You sent me a list of questions to answer at December 17, 2009 at 10:25 p.m. and on December 18, 2009 at 6:03 p.m. you sent me an email saying, ‘The Times will publish the story regarding your connection to USC running back Joe McKnight in a few hours.’ I had no chance to respond. In the article, you said, ‘Reached by e-mail this week, Schenter was sent a list of questions regarding his businesses, McKnight and the Land Rover. Since then, he has not responded to multiple requests for answers.’ (Editor’s note: The Times’ first e-mail to Mr. Schenter was sent on Wednesday at 8:33 p.m. PST. He responded asking what reporter Pugmire wanted to ask him about at 11:04 p.m. PST, less than three hours later. The Times sent Mr. Schenter five more e-mails before publishing the story late Friday afternoon. None were answered. This e-mail was received this morning at 3:41 PST.) I also want to put on record that I have a strong negative bias toward your paper as I have never forgot the ‘hatchet job’ your staff did in the early 1990’s on the Washington Huskies football program and the horrendous journalism your staff did back then. I still have one of my pride possessions parked at Santa Monica Beach, (you didn’t see it when you visited my home), my Washington Husky Marching Band Van. There aren’t too many of those parked at Santa Monica Beach? I used to have season tickets to the Washington Huskies for more than 15 years. I have never had USC season tickets or have never received tickets from any players or coaches from USC. I lost a bet from a girl from USC and have a ‘W’ permanent tatto on my ankle because of it. ‘W’ stands for Washington and the Washington Huskies are my passion.
More information, Johanna Michelle Beltran (Editor’s note: This is McKnight’s girlfriend and mother of his 10-month-old son) is a long time family friend and is an employee of Smart Bullets Inc. Smart Bullets Inc. has a patent to turn nuclear wastes into valuable metals, eliminating nuclear wastes and actually turning it into usable materials. The company also, called Smart Bullets because a protein (monoclonal antibody) attaches to a medical isotope (radiation) and attaches itself to the cancer cell and shoots off the radiation only attacking the cancer cell without hurting the healthy cells (this being a smart bullet)! My father, Dr. Robert Schenter, ex-director of National Association of Cancer Patients is the chief scientist and world authority on medical isotop production. We are looking to use this technology for AIDS/HIV, arthritis, cancer, and other diseases. Also, did you see my patent on Actinium-225?
I am the owner of the Land Rover because Michelle’s parents couldn’t qualify for the loan. It is her car. She makes the payments and she is responsible for insurance. The payments are a little over $500/month (not a big amount).
What is my job? This one really showed your research capabilities! I am an entrepreneur that has his hands in numerous businesses and investment opportunities. My background is in Finance and Marketing. I am in South Africa closing a deal with major corporate sponsorship for the use of my ‘motion media’ signage for Busivision. We just signed two huge contracts to distribute the signs in South Africa. The companies you mentioned in the article are two companies that I registered in May 2008, USC Marketing (United States China Marketing) and Brighter. What about Lumabright? I have not done anything with them. Teslavision also was a past partnership. These businesses are in the marketing business but I have nothing to do with agents, marketing players, or representing athletes. I have no experience in this business. What is my real job? I currently work for the Los Angeles County Assessor’s office for over 21 years real estate appraising high value properties. You couldn’t find that on the internet. I would rather be known for my expertise in my marketing and finance ventures (there are more) but my current job is working for Los Angeles County, I don’t like to admit it but it is.
I own so many website domains that I only purchased www.4joemcknight.com (didn’t renew) because I thought it was clever along with the many other ones I own/owned. Michelle Beltran knew nothing of this website. I also have uscmarketing.com, uclalove.com (where’s the Kevin Love article), stanfordindians.com, 24kobe.com, airkobe.com, trumpcancer.com, shaqcancer.com, caltchbeavers.com, uscromeo.com, and for Scott Wolf, amandaflugrad.com.
I feel this is a start in communication and I hope someone will print my response in its whole. I get back on Tuesday and hope a decision on Joe McKnight is not rushed to judgment until everything is heard. Please respect my personal life and everyone involved.
Scott Schenter
--Mike Hiserman
