No, you solicited me!

[deskslave]

No, it's not another Larry Craig thread.

http://onlineathens.com/stories/091807/news_20070918057.shtml

Seems one of the guys who got busted in a Dateline sting is trying a new tack: Having the leader of Perverted Justice arrested for soliciting a felony. (By the way...add soliciting to the list of words I can't type for some reason.)

Basically the principle is that it's illegal to solicit someone to commit a felony. You can't say "Hey, wanna buy some drugs?" and then have that person arrested for trying to buy drugs. Well, you can, but you get arrested too.

So he's obviously nuts, and it won't work, but what I find interesting is the judge's rationale:

"But von Erck still can't be charged with solicitation, Hodges ruled. Since the potential 15-year-old victim did not really exist, there wasn't a "clear and present danger" that White could have committed child molestation or statutory rape, according to Hodges."

OK...but the guy's being charged with attempted child molestation and attempted statutory rape. Has not the judge undercut the whole case here? Can you attempt to do something you can't actually do? (And please, no Bengals defense jokes.)

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

This is how Patrick Dorismond happened to get shot in NYC, too.
Thanks, Rudy.
The wheels are coming off the Dateline wagon on this one in a big way.

 

[PeteyPirate]

From a legal standpoint, I've never understood how those guys could get charged with anything given that the victim didn't exist. Reminds me of Minority Report.

 

[heyabbott]

From a legal standpoint, I've never understood how those guys could get charged with anything given that the victim didn't exist. Reminds me of Minority Report.

Seriously, lets wait for the DNA tests from the 11 year victims before we treat these disturbed but obviously sick people. Society has no right to secure the safety of those least able defend themselves unless an actual crime is committed. Let's not punish folks just because they intend to commit a crime and take a substantial step toward the culmination of their malicious desires.

 

[outofplace]

From a legal standpoint, I've never understood how those guys could get charged with anything given that the victim didn't exist. Reminds me of Minority Report.

Seriously, lets wait for the DNA tests from the 11 year victims before we treat these disturbed but obviously sick people. Society has no right to secure the safety of those least able defend themselves unless an actual crime is committed. Let's not punish folks just because they intend to commit a crime and take a substantial step toward the culmination of their malicious desires.

Have to agree with heyabbott here. I understand this steps into some subjective territory, but when in doubt, let's put the potential child molester in jail, ok?

 

[bigpern23]

From a legal standpoint, I've never understood how those guys could get charged with anything given that the victim didn't exist. Reminds me of Minority Report.

Seriously, lets wait for the DNA tests from the 11 year victims before we treat these disturbed but obviously sick people. Society has no right to secure the safety of those least able defend themselves unless an actual crime is committed. Let's not punish folks just because they intend to commit a crime and take a substantial step toward the culmination of their malicious desires.

Have to agree with heyabbott here. I understand this steps into some subjective territory, but when in doubt, let's put the potential child molester in jail, ok?

And when in doubt, let's put the potential terrorist in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential murderer in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential thief in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential drug user in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential reckless driver in jail.

This won't be a popular opinion, but no, let's not.

I understand people want their kids protected from these scumbags, I really do. I also understand that people want to be protected from terrorists. But there are legal ways to do this stuff that don't trample on people's rights either.

I've never agreed with Dateline using this crap to boost ratings and the fact that these people are being arrested by means that would be illegal if done by the police bothers me. How does it make sense that if the police used the same tactic, the cases would be thrown out, but because some private organization (which making a heap of money, btw) is doing it, it's OK?

I'm not against putting child molesters or attempted child molesters in jail. But let's do it right and not continue to erode our freedoms.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

And when in doubt, let's put the potential terrorist in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential murderer in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential thief in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential drug user in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential reckless driver in jail.

This won't be a popular opinion, but no, let's not.

Yes it will.

 

[JC]

And when in doubt, let's put the potential terrorist in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential murderer in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential thief in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential drug user in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential reckless driver in jail.

This won't be a popular opinion, but no, let's not.

Yes it will.

No it won't.
These guys are already on their computers searching for potential victims. Do you think this is the first time they have done this?
There is no doubt Chris Hansen is a douche but I think we can all agree that there is nothing lower in this world than a pedophile.

 

[Ace]

Hi,

I'm an 11-year-old girl and my parents will be gone for the weekend. Come see me -- and bring handcuffs.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

No it won't.
These guys are already on their computers searching for potential victims. Do you think this is the first time they have done this?

You're right.
And it's not the people from Perverted Justice that go searching for these predators. These scumbags always take the initiative and start the messaging.

 

[zeke12]

Hi,

I'm an 11-year-old girl and my parents will be gone for the weekend. Come see me -- and bring handcuffs.

Do you know any 11-year-old boys?

 

[Ace]

Hi,

I'm an 11-year-old girl and my parents will be gone for the weekend. Come see me -- and bring handcuffs.

Do you know any 11-year-old boys?

Sure. Come over. You'll have a toe-tapping good time.

 

[zeke12]

Hot diggity!

 

[Captain_Kirk]

I'm shocked.

I really thought Ace was much older than 11.

 

[alleyallen]

UPDATE:

It turns out the Dallas prosecutor who offed himself really did have child porn on his PC.




DALLAS — Authorities found child pornography among the possessions of a prosecutor who fatally shot himself last year when police arrived at his home as part a sting arranged by "Dateline NBC: To Catch A Predator," according to a state report.

When they knocked on the door of his Terrell home last November, police planned to arrest Louis "Bill" Conradt Jr., 57, on a warrant accusing him of soliciting sex from a minor. They said Conradt, the former Kaufman County district attorney, had online sexual chats with an adult who pretended to be a 13-year-old boy.

Conradt was targeted in a sting arranged "Dateline" and the activist group Perverted Justice, which supplied adults who trolled Internet chat rooms, posing as underage boys and girls and trying to collect incriminating sex talk.

The program set up shop for four days last November in a two-story home in Collin County, where 24 men were arrested after being accused of arranging to meet boys or girls there.

When Conradt didn't show up for a meeting, police went to his home with arrest and search warrants, accompanied by a "Dateline" camera crew.

The state investigation into Conradt's death found evidence of the online graphic chats, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety report released to The Dallas Morning News. The chat logs covered topics such as sex, erections and masturbation, according to the investigation.

Also, three laptops, a cell phone and several computer disks found in the home "all contained pornographic material (and) some included child pornography," according to the state's investigation.

The Texas Department of Public Safety asked the state attorney general to allow it to withhold some of the report's contents because it "contains images the Department believes may constitute child pornography."

The attorney general's office granted the request, saying: "The submitted documents consist of photographs of unidentified males who generally appear to be juveniles."

Conradt's sister, Patricia Conradt, has sued NBC Universal Inc. for $105 million, accusing it of taking over police duties and then failing to protect her brother. She said NBC was "concerned more with its own profits than with pedophilia."

NBC Universal has said it will defend itself vigorously and believes the lawsuit has no merit. Its motion to dismiss the case is pending.

Buck Wood, Patricia Conradt's husband, said Monday that investigators told him the suspect photos may not be child pornography.

"There was some pornography on there with persons that you could not ascertain whether they were underage or not," said Wood, an attorney who is advising his wife in the civil suit.

"It's certainly something that you couldn't prosecute on, and I would assume (Conradt) wouldn't have thought it was child pornography."

Wood said the alleged pornography would have no effect on the lawsuit against NBC.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

"contains images the Department believes may constitute child pornography."

May?
At this point, where we're issuing statements, you don't know?

 

[outofplace]

From a legal standpoint, I've never understood how those guys could get charged with anything given that the victim didn't exist. Reminds me of Minority Report.

Seriously, lets wait for the DNA tests from the 11 year victims before we treat these disturbed but obviously sick people. Society has no right to secure the safety of those least able defend themselves unless an actual crime is committed. Let's not punish folks just because they intend to commit a crime and take a substantial step toward the culmination of their malicious desires.

Have to agree with heyabbott here. I understand this steps into some subjective territory, but when in doubt, let's put the potential child molester in jail, ok?

And when in doubt, let's put the potential terrorist in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential murderer in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential thief in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential drug user in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential reckless driver in jail.

This won't be a popular opinion, but no, let's not.

I understand people want their kids protected from these scumbags, I really do. I also understand that people want to be protected from terrorists. But there are legal ways to do this stuff that don't trample on people's rights either.

I've never agreed with Dateline using this crap to boost ratings and the fact that these people are being arrested by means that would be illegal if done by the police bothers me. How does it make sense that if the police used the same tactic, the cases would be thrown out, but because some private organization (which making a heap of money, btw) is doing it, it's OK?

I'm not against putting child molesters or attempted child molesters in jail. But let's do it right and not continue to erode our freedoms.

Jeez, this is so old, I should probably go back through this to respond properly.

Sorry, the intent was to molest a child. The fact that the person failed doesn't mitigate that. If somebody tried to steal something but failed, should they be let off the hook? If somebody tried to be a terrorist but ****ed it up, is that ok?

Sorry. Bull****. Put the ****ers behind bars.

 

[poindexter]

And when in doubt, let's put the potential terrorist in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential murderer in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential thief in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential drug user in jail. And when in doubt, let's put the potential reckless driver in jail.

This won't be a popular opinion, but no, let's not.

You are incorrect. I can't imagine a more popular opinion on SportsJournalists.com.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Hi,

I'm an 11-year-old girl and my parents will be gone for the weekend. Come see me -- and bring handcuffs.

Do you know any 11-year-old boys?

Sure. Come over. You'll have a toe-tapping good time.

So ... what are you wearing Ace? And do you mind if I bring a cat?

 

[Ace]

Hi,

I'm an 11-year-old girl and my parents will be gone for the weekend. Come see me -- and bring handcuffs.

Do you know any 11-year-old boys?

Sure. Come over. You'll have a toe-tapping good time.

So ... what are you wearing Ace? And do you mind if I bring a cat?

Dockers and a sweater vest and loaf.... er... I mean some lacy unmentionables.

Sure, bring the kitty.