I had no reason to doubt Mel's honesty than I have for any other person. He never cheated me nor took any advantage from me. People close to him undoubtedly had more personal knowledge about him than I - who had a long distance relationship with him. It is natural for any person to feel sadness when a friend commits a criminal act--the more henious, the greater the sadness. Sadness over an act by a friend has absolutely nothing to do with anger that one feels as a result of the act.