Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey (born 1964-04-02 in Elizabeth, New Jersey as John Albert Sharkey) is a self-proclaimed satanist, "sanguinary vampyre", Hecate Witch and professional boxer as well as wrestler (under the name Rocky "Hurricane" Flash) and perennial candidate for public office.
He has filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for President of the United States twice as an Independent candidate (in 2004[1] and in 2008[2]) and for Congress in at least three states -- his home State of New Jersey (1999-2000, Republican)[3], Indiana (Reform Party, 2000)[4] and Florida (2001-02, Republican)[5]. In 2006, he ran for governor of Minnesota.
It is difficult to pin down definitive facts relating to Sharkey, partly because of his numerous aliases, but also due to his authorship, over time, of many autobiographical websites which have included conflicting and unsubstantiated assertions of fact. A Federal judge in Indiana has remarked about Sharkey that "his view of reality and attendant behavior is nothing less than bizarre."[6] Sharkey claims that this was because Sharkey had previously "cursed out" the same judge.[7]
Philosophically, Sharkey professes a hatred for the Christian Supreme Being, God the Father, but claims that he has no disrespect for followers of the aforementioned. He says that this hatred began when his grandmother died, and fully consumed him in 2004. He claims that he became an angry and violent person as a result of his grandmother's death. However, Sharkey maintains that he is a religious pluralist and professes respect for all creeds as well as the US Constitution. His Minnesota gubernatorial campaign slogan was "A New Deal for Minnesota," and his 2008 Presidential campaign slogan is "The New Deal and Hope for America," reflecting his professed respect of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He has proposed impaling "any one found committing an act of terrorism in Minnesota"[8], and advocates many additional unorthodox approaches to crime and other public issues.
Sharkey lived for a time in Florida under his wrestling name of Rocky Hurricane Flash. While there, he also used the assumed name Kathleen Sharkey and claimed that this Kathleen Sharkey was either his half-sister or his wife. He filed reports with the Federal Election Commission which listed Kathleen Sharkey as a member of his campaign staff. Eventually, a letter was filed with the Federal Election Commission, purportedly by Kathleen Sharkey, which implied that he had died.[9] Documents from a lawsuit filed in the Indianapolis District Court mention that Sharkey attempted to commit suicide. It has been suggested instead that he attempted to fake his own death.[10]
On 06-01-13 Sharkey was arrested in Princeton, Minnesota on an outstanding bench warrant relating to two Indiana felony counts, one of escape and one of stalking a former girlfriend whom he had previously been jailed for harassing.[11] It was later discovered that the felony stalking charge had been dismissed on 2003-09-29[12] when Sharkey pleaded guilty to two counts of invasion of privacy and was ordered to attend mental health treatment.[13] Sharkey was ordered to serve an executed sentence on Home Detention, however, he was alleged to have removed his monitoring equipment and absconded from Marion County, Indiana. Sharkey was eventually returned to Marion County and was charged with Escape, as Class D Felony and demanded a Trial by Jury. The day before his Jury Trial, scheduled for July 19, 2006, Jonathan Sharkey, a/k/a Rocky Flash, plead guilty to Escape as part of a plea agreement with the State of Indiana, however, his conviction was entered as a Class A misdemeanor.
An independently produced documentary about Sharkey, Impaler, debuted in Australia on February 9, 2007.
The VWP
The Vampires, Witches, and Pagans Party was founded by Sharkey in 2005. It is officially recognized by United States Federal Election Committee [14], although there is little evidence of any membership or activity other than two persons.
The Party advocates protection of the religious beliefs and political advancment of individuals identifying themselves as vampires, witches, pagans, demons, Satanists, Wiccans, and those professing similar lifestyles and religious views.
Sharkey's website related to his run for Governor of Minnesota claimed that "This Party that I have started is in the UK, Ireland, Brazil and Italy" [15]. While there may be members of the VWP Party Yahoo Group who live on those countries, the official register of political parties for the United Kingdom shows no party of that name [16].
References
- ^ FEC Disclosure Report - HURRICANE FOR PRESIDENT - 2004. Federal Election Commission.
- ^ FEC Disclosure Report - THE IMPALER FOR PRESIDENT-2008. Federal Election Commission.
- ^ FEC Disclosure Report - FLASH, ROCKY (House - New Jersey). Federal Election Commission.
- ^ FEC Disclosure Report - ROCKY FLASH FOR US SENATE 2000. Federal Election Commission.
- ^ FEC Disclosure Report - FLASH, ROCKY (House - Florida). Federal Election Commission.
- ^ Sharkey v. Holtsclaw, S.D. Ind. (2005)
- ^ Edit made to this article by Sharkey alter-ego Kathleen Sharkey
- ^ Sharkey's defunct website related to his run for Governor of Minnesota
- ^ "'Vampyre' leaves county with intent to return", Mille Lacs County Times, March 23, 2006.
- ^ "'Impaler' Claims He Did Nothing Wrong", WCCO, CBS, material contributed from AP, 2006-02-01.
- ^ Flash v. Holtsclaw, Ind. App. (2003)
- ^ Scanned copy of Prosecutor's Motion to Dismiss
- ^ Sharkey v. Indiana, Ind. App. (2006)
- ^ FEC listing for the Vampires, Witches and Pagans Party
- ^ VWP Party section on Sharkey's defunct website related to his run for Governor of Minnesota
- ^ Great Britain register of political parties
