Crime

Virginia Man Gave Women Money for College If They Would Let Him Spank Them

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) – Single mothers, former drug addicts and other beaten down young women who came to wealthy businessman Henry Allen Fitzsimmons for a chance to climb out of their financial hole knew his help came with a catch. In exchange for an allowance, a place to live and promise of a college education, they agreed to be spanked if they broke his rules.

At least six of the women say he his corporal punishment went too far, including one who says he sexually assaulted her, and the 54-year-old Virginia Beach restaurant owner faces felony charges.

“These women are victims. They’re single moms. They need their bills paid,” prosecutor Tom Murphy said at a court hearing Thursday. “It’s bizarre, there’s no doubt.”

Fitzsimmons’ attorney claims his slight, white-haired client is the victim, taken advantage of by women half his age who knew what they were getting into and filed charges only after a falling out.

“He’s not a danger,” Fitzsimmons’ attorney, Moody “Sonny” Stallings Jr., told the AP. “Strange, but he’s not a danger to anybody.”

A judge on Thursday allowed a grand jury to decide whether to indict Fitzsimmons on two felony abduction charges and three felony object sexual penetration charges filed against him. Six other assault and sexual battery charges were dropped because prosecutors acknowledged the women had agreed to the spankings.

For months, Fitzsimmons gave each of the women $200 weekly, promised to pay for their college tuition, treated them to lavish nights on the town and even bought one a car as part of his so-called Spencer Scholarship Plan. They were spanked if they violated rules, such as failing to call Fitzsimmons or drinking alcohol.

Several websites, including one run by Fitzsimmons, tout the Spencer plan and the scholarship program, which provides full tuition, room and board in addition to an allowance for participants as long as they follow the plan.

It is unclear how many women have participated in Fitzsimmons’ program. The six women who filed the criminal complaints had all been members, but Fitzsimmons’ attorney said there have been several others.

The Spencer Plan started in the 1930s as a form of “carefully regulated corporal punishment” between husband and wife. They agreed to a list of things the wife needed to change, such as not spending money frivolously. If the rules were broken, the husband punished her by spanking and it was put behind them. It has expanded through the years.

One 21-year-old woman testified Thursday that the day she joined Fitzsimmons’ program in November, he spanked her and gave her $300. He paid for her to live in an oceanfront suite and gave her a $200 weekly allowance. In return, she was required to walk 20 blocks each day, keep a log of her meals and spending and refrain from drugs. When she didn’t, she was spanked.

Fitzsimmons took it further, she said, when on three occasions he sexually assaulted her with a curtain rod, a hairbrush and a horse riding crop. When asked by attorneys why she allowed it to happen, she replied: “I’m not allowed to tell him no.”

The Associated Press does not identify those who say they were sexually assaulted.

Another 22-year-old woman said she thought the program was an amazing opportunity. She had only been spanked once before she went to him in January to discuss him paying for her 3-year-old child’s birthday party. She said he refused to let her leave until she let him spank her.

She and others said they feared Fitzsimmons, who walks with a limp. They say he made vague threats and convinced them they couldn’t make it without him.

“He terrorized my life,” one woman said. “He took me away from all my friends and family and convinced me nobody loved me but him.”

None of the women filed charges until Fitzsimmons in April accused one of them of stealing money and fired her from his restaurant, the oceanside Envy Bar and Grill, where many of them worked. A week later, six women began filing charges. On Thursday, that former employee’s complaint was dropped, along with those of two other women whose only complaints were that they had been spanked.

“Who’s the victim here?” Stalling asked in court. “They were taking the money and all of a sudden when the mother gets fired they all run down to the police station and want to file charges.”

Fitzsimmons came to Virginia Beach last year from Minnesota, but much of his past is a mystery. He has a master’s in business administration, but his much of his attention is spent counseling young women and helping those in need, friends said.

Terry Schantz and his girlfriend are helping run Fitzsimmons’ bar since he was arrested in April and denied bond. He said Fitzsimmons was a generous and caring man who would buy groceries for those in need or find the homeless a place to live. He said he can’t imagine Fitzsimmons being violent.

Stallings admits the case is strange but says Fitzsimmons is no predator.

“They’re trying to say he preys on these women,” he said. “These aren’t 15-years-olds. These are all adults and they’re getting the money from this old guy.”

Comments (84)

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  • SnowWolf
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 8:26am

    Maybe its me…but I just don’t see a crime here…*G*

    Report Post » SnowWolf  
    • Bhaub
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 11:03am

      Well, the crime is that consenting adults did something privately, which is why the libertarians here are VERY angry about it and want to punish people involved. See? :)

      Report Post » Bhaub  
    • CuteGeek
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 11:51am

      There is no crime. They are all consenting adults and they agreed to a contract. No crime in that.

      Report Post » CuteGeek  
  • TheMightyWho
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 8:21am

    Nothing says love like $200 and a swat on the fanny!

    Report Post »  
  • moodtd01
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 7:29am

    So what? Some women let an old man pay them to be his personal harem, he gave them jobs, a place to live, and extra spending money. Is it really sexual assault when he has been paying for them to live? Did they think he was just giving them money for nothing? At best they are freeloaders, at worst hookers. I am not condoning his actions but, he did pay them. It is like a wife saying her husband raped her because he got a little too kinky. I would like to see some proof that he actually made them do things against their will. It sounds like he had plenty of willing participants, why would he need to force a woman? This is just stupidity.

    Report Post »  
  • thegodfather
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 7:28am

    Howard Stern has done this for years…and he never paid the girls a penny.

    Report Post » thegodfather  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 7:13am

    how sad that the ladies thouight they needed to do this to get money. and how sick of him. I guess some poepel have some odd fetishes

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • CARBON HOG
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 6:53am

    forced to walk 20 blocks……..keepin’ those buns tight!

    Report Post » CARBON HOG  
  • NuffSaid
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 6:27am

    I‘ll just bet these destitues wern’t conservative women.

    Report Post »  
    • jumbles
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 7:24am

      Of course they were Conservatives.They took the guys money for services rendered as free agents and now they want restitution for their acts of prostitution.Squeeze whatever you can out of a punter then move on to the next,Very much free market Capitalism.These whores should have the tables turned on them and be arrested on prostitution charges.

      Report Post »  
    • Ghostrider
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 7:59am

      Hey Jumbles, they were progressive liberals. how do I know, well they wanted someone else to give them money for nothing. Then when they found out that there was a price to pay, in this case, obedience, they wanted him top give them lots of money. Just like a progressive. Progressives want someone else to do their work, pay their bills, give them a place to live, car to drive, and food in their pantry. And if they don’t get what they want, they go to a progressive attorney who will insure they get theirs for nothing. Dumbocrats are fine pieces of ……

      Report Post »  
    • Bhaub
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 11:02am

      To be fair, they’re clearly not conservatives- this is paying for an education, and it’s heterosexual. We all know Republicans and Conservatives only have homosexual sex scandals.

      Report Post » Bhaub  
  • SnowWolf
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 6:20am

    Gee…they are acting like this is a BAD thing…*LOL*

    Report Post » SnowWolf  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 5:48am

    So basically they sold their bodies for money. They’re prostitutes. Move along, nothing to see here…worlds oldest profession.

    Report Post »  
  • LorDarKnight
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 4:46am

    Sounds like they made a verbal contract, got what they wanted out of it, and then turned the tables when it wasn’t benificial anymore.

    Report Post » LorDarKnight  
  • hogtrashhd
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 4:27am

    So? what is the dealio??? who frigging cares if a person sells something and someone pays for it… so frigging what??? this is stupid..

    Report Post »  
  • Outlaw_Josey_Wales
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 4:14am

    look what happen to the IMF dude when he tried to spank a hotel maid.

    Report Post » Outlaw_Josey_Wales  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 4:02am

    What’s with these old guys? Viagra isn’t candy.

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • smak
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 3:04am

    Spare the rod and spoil the child

    Report Post »  
  • Quack Addict
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 2:41am

    I’m sure his new cell mates will let him spank them…meh!

    Report Post » Quack Addict  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 2:39am

    What a stupid story. Guy can’t get it up unless he can “spank” naughty girls. This guy is a nut job, but so are the girls who agreed to this.

    Report Post »  
  • Lost Shaker Assault
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 2:02am

    This guy had a good thing going. Leave him alone.

    Report Post » Lost Shaker Assault  
  • ChevalierdeJohnstone
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 1:47am

    Oh, I see. So you‘re going to take the guy’s money, and in exchange you agree voluntarily to abide by all of his rules. Then when you decide you don’t like his rules, you want to keep the money and go away. No, wait – you want to take more money!

    Report Post »  
  • Zer0
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 1:44am

    This is posted here, why? A world on fire and this makes it across the wires and supercedes other things going on in the world today?

    I have spanked many a dame (albeit, I do it for free), to their enjoyment and mine! ;P

    Report Post »  
    • End The Fed
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 3:35am

      Hmmmm… I’m a little confused, maybe you can help. It seems you belittle the story yet you match it with your own corporal adventures. Also, it does not follow that this story supersedes anything simply by showing up at the Blaze. 

      To answer your question of ‘why’: The why can be anything. We could just all be lab rats being watched for our responses. Who knows? Being more optimistic, I would guess that there needs to be an element of balance. One cannot be constantly bombarded with depressing drama all the time or attention would wander. For a more interesting point of view, look up the Lakota tribe’s philosophical views on balance. You will find much cheese there. 

      Report Post » End The Fed  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 6:07am

      Perhaps to further highlight the deeper issues that go to the core of the problems in our society. That no longer is a bargain a bargain, that integrity is lacking, good judgement is absent, that there are many who do not think through to the logical conclusion their choices, that there are many who want something for nothing……

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • jumbles
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 7:12am

      The only thing you have spanked is your monkey.

      Report Post »  
  • Exrepublisheep
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 1:42am

    “They need their bills paid”. “I noticed he didn’t say “they need to pay their bills”.

    Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
  • BetterBob
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 1:29am

    How is this news? Lots of girls work at strip clubs to get through college, and are met with worse than that. They agreed to the rules of employment.

    So what?

    Report Post »  
  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 1:23am

    LMAO… This is hallarious! Just like being Big Daddy!

    Wonder if the sexual deviance is because he couldn’t get it up… LOL!

    The women had a choice to walk anytime they wanted…

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • JoeySocal
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 1:12am

    Nothing like a good spanky.

    Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 1:10am

    i dont see how he violated any laws they agreed to the terms and took his money, and they were free to walk away if they chose too

    the only crime i see here is stupidity on their part, and as of yet that is not a crime

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • KewlBigDan
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 2:44am

      Yes I agree with you. I had to laugh at the comment by the 21yo “But I couldn’t say no.” Oh she could have said NO but she didn’t want the Money, cars, suites and everything to stop! She had a choice, She made it.

      Report Post » KewlBigDan  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 6:05am

      I agree too. They sound like they were much better off than they were and they chose to break the rules. A bit bizarre but if the education was the true goal, there was an opportunity there, and if it didn’t meet their expectations the door swings both ways.

      Report Post »  
  • Showtime
    Posted on May 20, 2011 at 12:54am

    There are some really sick people in this world. There are more than I realized.

    I just ask my congressman’s office if they could get a doctor to declare Obama insane.

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • the iceman
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 1:57am

      Sounds like a group of skanky women who think they can just ride through life on their backs.

      Report Post »  
    • smak
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 2:14am

      @Showtime

      I just ask my congressman’s office if they could get a doctor to declare Obama insane.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Obama Obsessive Disorder is a sickness.

      Report Post »  
    • crackerone
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 2:29am

      @SMAK

      Yes it is! The doctor’s will need a crowbar to pry you of his backside, you disgusting pile of ****!

      Report Post »  
    • LibertariansUnite
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 2:44am

      If you agree to perks derived by a verbal contract, you are held to your end of the deal.

      If you do not like the terms, then break the contract.

      If these individuals needed other places to stay they should have tried to find other solutions.

      Report Post » LibertariansUnite  
    • smak
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 2:58am

      @crackerone
      @SMAK
      Yes it is! The doctor’s will need a crowbar to pry you of his backside, you disgusting pile of ****!
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Spank me!

      Report Post »  
    • KickinBack
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 4:09am

      I have visions of Monty Python and the Holy Grail right now haha!

      Report Post » KickinBack  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 4:35am

      @KICKINBACK,

      “You must spank her well, and after you are done with her, you may deal with her as you like… and then… spank me”

      Tee hee!!!

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • GUT_CHECK
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 6:09am

      I BET they were not afraid for their live, only afraid for their lifestyles.

      but the cat is out of the bag now, and we see that a college education teaches no common sense.

      Report Post »  
    • Sinista MACE
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 6:30am

      Lol. Pure evil.

      I think these women had some sadomasochistic side to them as well.

      Why would they agree to be spanked…

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • LittleLordFauntleroy
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 7:13am

      I would have one red a$$ if I were a woman.

      Report Post » LittleLordFauntleroy  
    • toocountry4u55
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 8:12am

      these are grown women who were willing to sacrifice their principles for some money if they were that bad off then there are shelters and other programs. but if yo agree to it then dont complain because you got caught trying to get more. if you dont like the rules dont take the guys money. i mean they guys a creep too but they made that decision on their own

      Report Post »  
    • BIGJAYINPA
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 8:14am

      Obviously an ultra-liberal Odumber supporter.

      Report Post » BIGJAYINPA  
    • barak hussein osama arafat
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 9:52am

      Hookers and crack ho’s were givin cash, a home, a new start on life, but that was not enough for these ungrateful creatures. They want to pillage this man in their own greed.

      Report Post » Iman Barak Hussein  
    • JRook
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 11:59am

      Ok the guy is a little off. But this is a similar to the argument that it is men who cause women to be prostitutes, strippers and various other form of the sex trade. Interesting how clear the law is regarding their ability and right to give consent for so many things, but when they enter into something knowingly but decide its a bad deal after the fact they are victims. Isn’t someone related to the Blaze always talking about personal responsibility.

      Report Post »  
    • jackrorabbit
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 1:30pm

      I am not sure where to come down on this one. If it was a “spanking” only, and it was an agreed upon contract that they willing entered into, then there is no grounds, however, if he went beyond the agreed upon contract with sexual assault, then it is a no brainer.

      Report Post »  
    • K Chad Roberts
      Posted on May 20, 2011 at 2:42pm

      If he has proof of the agreement made… then he hasn’t done anything wrong. It seems these girls could leave whenever they wanted to, they just wouldn’t be paid. Although the pay is somewhat low, considering the benefits, these girls had one hell of a deal. Keep healthy, and stay off of drugs, and you get your college paid for? The only real problem with this is the sexual part. If he had intercourse with them, and they want to claim that they did it out of fear of being cut off, then he’s in trouble. Discuss personal ideology all you want, but if he did have sex with them, then he’s at odds with the law. Personally, I don’t care to see him imprisoned for it. These girls just need to stop victimizing themselves.

      Report Post »  
    • 101
      Posted on May 21, 2011 at 5:10pm

      Who’s your daddy? here’s $200.00 dollars run along now!

      Report Post »  
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