If it can happen to Jerry Cox it can happen to you…
Why people should care about Cox ruling
Harry Crouch
For 10 years, Jerry Cox has been fighting a battle no citizen should ever face: a battle not against a criminal charge, but against the machinery of government itself.
On June 1, Senior U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal denied all of Cox’s motions for summary judgment, reversing the direction set earlier by retired Senior Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill.
Judge O’Neill had recognized the seriousness of Cox’s civil-rights claims, questioned Mariposa County’s conduct and allowed the case to move forward. Judge Rosenthal’s ruling, by contrast, sidestepped the core issues entirely — and in doing so, raised troubling questions about fairness, accountability and the protection of constitutional rights in Mariposa County.
The story begins with a false accusation. Jerry Cox was accused of rape, an allegation that collapsed under scrutiny. His accuser later admitted under oath that she had not been a victim of violent crime.
A California judge found her story “could not hold water.” Prosecutors acknowledged they could not prove the case. In a just system, that should have been the end of it.
Instead, it was only the beginning.
While the criminal case was falling apart, Mariposa County launched a sweeping civil assault on Cox’s 436-acre ranch. Officials used a helicopter, a broad inspection warrant and a receivership that quickly spiraled into what many now recognize as receivership abuse — a growing problem in California.
The court-appointed receiver billed more than half a million dollars in “repairs,” then sold Cox’s property to pay themselves. Cox was barred from his own land while it was being torn apart. He lost his home, his equity, his savings and years of his life.
When Cox turned to federal court for justice, he expected — at minimum — a fair evaluation of the evidence. Instead, Judge Rosenthal dismissed the case on procedural grounds, without addressing the constitutional violations at the heart of the matter.
Her ruling effectively ignored key facts: the accuser’s recantation, the judge’s credibility findings, the prosecutors’ admissions, the county’s use of years-old evidence to justify a new search, the lack of any independent audit of the receiver’s fees and the sale of Cox’s ranch without a trial.
This is not justice. This is government overreach.
Worse, the ruling reflects a troubling disregard for the context of Ashley Harris’s false accusation — a context that should matter deeply in any case involving property seizure, due-process rights and the power of the state.
When a false accusation triggers a chain of government actions that ultimately strip a man of his property, the courts have a responsibility to examine that chain carefully. That did not happen here.
The implications extend far beyond Jerry Cox. If a county can take your property based on a false accusation, use a civil warrant to invade your land, appoint a receiver who bankrupts you and then hide behind technicalities in federal court, then no property owner in Mariposa County is safe.
This case exposes a pattern of overreach and a willingness to stretch government power in ways that should alarm every resident — regardless of their views about Cox himself.
If Cox appeals — and he should — the Ninth Circuit will have the opportunity to examine whether Mariposa County acted under official policy, whether the searches violated the Fourth Amendment, whether the receivership violated due process and whether the district court improperly resolved factual disputes against Cox.
These are not minor questions. They go to the heart of what it means to live in a community where government is supposed to serve the people, not steamroll them.
The Jerry Cox case is a warning. It shows what can happen when government power goes unchecked, when due process is treated as optional and when courts decline to confront the full reality of a case.
Mariposa County residents deserve better. They deserve transparency, accountability and a justice system that protects the innocent instead of destroying them.
If this can happen to Jerry Cox, it can happen to anyone.
Harry Crouch, President/
Chairman of the Board,
National Coalition For
Men, San Diego
Judge rules against Cox – Mariposa Gazette Lawyers have until June 12 to file documents; appeal is possibleJune 11, 2026
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Allow me to weigh in on your comment. Please keep in mind that feminist organizations receive government funding, but men’s advocacy organizations like NCFM are entirely supported by volunteer donations.
As for creating awareness, that task falls on individual members like me. Social media is an excellent place to do that. I have done that many times, and I encourage you to do that, as well. I hope this helps.
Well, if mens rights organisations could build credibility with research papers publication where data and statistics show tangible discrimination, there are potential for bringing more people in.
Plus, as an organisation, you can bring money under the broader term of “gender equality” research as govt. and its various dept. give money to research on that and about social media outreach-
mens rights advocacy is always pointed as mysogynistic by feminists & social media are pressurized to suppress & shadowban them. So, dont know how it would be effective.
But, asking money from philanthropic organisation would also be an option.
I am not doing a demeaning of mens rights advocacy. Very few people do it.
And as a man,I have nothing but live and respect for that.
But, mens rights advocacy needs research papers, statistics collection, then peer reviewing, which build credibility, create language and terminology (Mr.warren Farrell created for like- “male disposability” in his book, feminists, with peer review, coined the term “pink tax” but in FMGC sector, mens products are priced higher than women yet no coining of terms like “blue tax” due to no study being done) and then, create awareness build up (not voluntary but active ones) and need to make involve both men and women. So, it scales globally.
If not, the volunteer based advocacy, continuing to be done, are not in pace thats faster and havent created resonance with men who dont already engage with this effort.
I again need to state that, whatever you do is immense as globally, NCFM like initiatives for men dont exist.
But, if you, please be kind enough to publish this message, I assure you, a new window on mens issue and its solving potential pathway would be opened in front of all of us.
I am not a misandrist. Please, dont take me that way.
Globally, mens rights advocacy are ultra fragmented and in this period of time, dont alienate me.
I wish success of NCFM.
AR, there are no fast solutions to any of the problems you may be concerned with. None. There are a number of organizations worldwide that are working to make things better for men. NCFM has been doing whatever it is we do for almost 50 years, and we have had a major impact in many ways. Regardless, we are transitioning into a new world of instant communications and more complex interactions with a whole host of bad and good actors. There still are no easy solutions. If you want to be more helpful begin by joining NCFM.
I appreciate your work. But NCFM & other NGO working for men is the reason am not in despair about mens situation.
Right now, am in a 3rd world country and dont have the resource to support you.
But believe me, since the redpill documentary, I have the zeal inside.
Tried to contact Paul Elam multiple times for this.
He never replies.
But coming back to the topic, your contribution are really something I appreciate.
But the methodologies I told you earlier, would solidify any advocacy mens rights advocates are doing right now.
Even smear campaigns by any organisation, whether feminist or like SPLC wont be enough to stand.
And if those methodologies are followed,
would bring sympathy from both the genders.
There is a mens rights advocate in my country, India, MRA Nandini Bhattacharya (she adopted MRA in her name because she was deeply hurted by seeing men suffer). And she, through her advocacy has garnered a pool of womens attention for mens issues.
Tho, mainstream media tries to portray her as a villain.
Its great that you guys have an endowment fund.
A first step to independence.
But, they even dont have that.
So, yeah, keep the work. Increase the magnitude exponentially as you move on and follow the methodologies as that would sway peoples attention towards mens sufferings.
What would happen if someone from a foreign country (e.g Mexico) contact NCFM for opening a mens rights chapter in their country? What help from you guys do they get? Any intellectual, technical, monetary, institutional or what? Also, dont you think, because the work of yours(this organisations) being voluntary and not actively creating/building awareness, mens issues are staying unknown since no steps significantly big enough is taken to make mens problems mainstream?
We would consider helping to establish activities in other countries. We have liaisons in other countries for decades and are actively involved in several countries. Regardless, if you continue to make assumptions like “not actively creating/building awareness…” and so on your comments will no longer be posted since you apparently have no clue what we do or how serious are the problems you seem to be concerned with. Try offering something constructive. It won’t hurt…
Thats great! But the thing is, VAWA act is still up. Plus, there isnt political awareness among men regardless of the political belief in your country & thus the whole world, about the necessity to spend equal amount on mens health.
I do believe that if you could take it to the court and get it to suggest govt. for parity.
wait for some years, if not fulfilled, go to the supreme court to make it be an binding verdict, we can see a greater success. (I know, it requires a lot of time, attention, energy, money, lobbying effort) but for men, few organisation works and few extremely few shoulders to cry.
One thing I have noticed is that NCFM hasn’t posted about the mens mental health month going on.
I today argued to celebrate it in my community, but alas! the same men started calling me gay for that.
Can you imagine the double standard and androphobia here?
You mentioned that, we all can be MRA in our own ways. But I though whole heartedly support that, but a co ordination among us is necessary and a good funding like a good endowment fund setting up is also necessary (I know NCFM has one).
Allow me to weigh in on your comment. Please keep in mind that feminist organizations receive government funding, but men’s advocacy organizations like NCFM are entirely supported by volunteer donations.
As for creating awareness, that task falls on individual members like me. Social media is an excellent place to do that. I have done that many times, and I encourage you to do that, as well. I hope this helps.
Thank you, John. Exactly rigtht.
I got an mail that said to send the suggestions to improve mens rights advocacy I have to the mail address I mentioned.
I surely would shortly.
I used an AI to bring out what NCFM needs to do to make mens problems solve & spread awareness. Hope, after reading the mail, you would be kind enough to give me a reply back. Thank You.
AR: all of us can be men’s rights advocates, in one way or another. I have reported far greater amounts spent on women’s health than men’s health to the Congressional DOGE Caucus. A feminist US senator om Substack.com complained that Trump was harming the Violence Against Women Act. My friend let her know that VAWA was an unconstitutional violation of the Equal Protection Clause, and that her job was to care as much about men as she did about women. I encourage you to take these actions, as well.
Thank you, Harry. There is another Maricopa County resident named Dave Hodges that is very familiar with the corruption there. He has been reporting on it, among other subjects, since 2012. He can be reached at thecommonsenseshow@yahoo.com, or davehodges@thecommonsenseshow.com. (The second email address is probably the better one).
I gave an email to the mail president@ncfm.org regarding some improvement and initiatives necessary for moving mens rights advocacy forward.
Never gotten a reply back. Do you check mails? If yes, when?
Yes…as time allows…we cannot answer them all…same for phone calls…we are all volunteers. However, you wrote, “Hello,
I don’t know if you would reply to this. But, your MRA activism isnt going well. It isnt reaching out to more people. I can advise you regarding that in next email if you reply. Also, you need a greater endowment funds: If you really want some improvement and global advocacy could be more mainstreamed then. Hope, I would hear back from you. Arnab”
If you really want to help send us some concrete suggestions rather than vague assertions but thank you for your interest. You might also join NCFM which you can do from any page at ncfm . org. There is a higher probability of getting a response if you are a member…