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MrsT
Enjoying wedded bliss.....
Member since 4/06 1323 total posts
Name:
Katrina
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To Catch a Predator
Has anyone seen this show
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12728348/
I am so curious about why these men show up from all over the state to have sex with a minor. And in some cases the men are married and going to visit young boys for sex
I still don't get how they are arrested though. The one I saw most recently was in Florida and there is a law on the books making it a crime for an adult to solicit sex on-line with a minor. However, the people chatting with the perverts are not minors and when the perves show up at the house for sex they are met by a decoy - an adult who looks like a minor. So, if there are never actually any minors involved, how are they arresting these men I just don't get it.
I'm all for locking up perverts but it's entrapment and since there are no actual minors invovled at any stage of the "sting" opertation, then the perves have not broken any laws. I wonder if it's just because no lawyer wants to come out to defend a perve when the state prosecutor has t.v. footage to show the jury
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Posted 11/10/07 4:10 PM  |
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ladybug8
LIF Adult
Member since 3/07 2660 total posts
Name:
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Re: To Catch a Predator
I think I saw a special on 20/20 and apparently the local police department let the producers call the shots. Protocol was not followed and I think the charges were dropped for all of the arrested men. Did anyone else see this or am I imagining it?
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| Posted 11/10/07 4:16 PM |
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imagin916
LIF Adult
Member since 6/05 1826 total posts
Name:
Valerie
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Re: To Catch a Predator
There is more to the background than that. I have a friend that used to work with the police department undercover in work like this. I am not sure 100% of the specific details, but for one thing, they have recorded conversations online going on for weeks or months before they ask the men to meet them.
It is a crime for these men to go online and talk to minors about having sex with them. They are well aware that the "minor" they are talking to is well underage. They show on TV parts of the coversations, and the pictures of porn that the men send the "minor" they are talking to.
The reason why they ask the man to bring something with them, drugs, gifts whatever has a meaning to it too. Maybe some of the lawyers or cops on here have a better explaination for it, but it shows some sort of intent on the plan I think, which is what makes it not entrapment.
Message edited 11/10/2007 4:17:11 PM.
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| Posted 11/10/07 4:16 PM |
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MrsT
Enjoying wedded bliss.....
Member since 4/06 1323 total posts
Name:
Katrina
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Re: To Catch a Predator
I guess my problem with all of this is that the men are being charged with a crime - or at least an attempted crime when they could never have committed the actual crime itself since there were never any minors in danger.
These cases are sort of in the middle of mistake of fact & mistake of law. Mistake of fact in that the perves think they are talking to minors but also mistake of law because the age of the decoy negates the "minor" element of the crime.
I'm going to assume the the other poster is correct any most of these cases were thrown out or plead down. But with a decent lawyer none of these men should have even gotten probation.
The show is a good idea in theory but it misses the mark in trying to get the men off the street. The men are clearly embarrassed by having their face on national t.v. (with no release it seems since all of them say they DON'T want to be on t.v.) but I am not sure if embarrassment enough is worth all of the lawsuits that the show is no doubt fighting over these sting operations.
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| Posted 11/10/07 4:45 PM |
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Re: To Catch a Predator
funny spoof!
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| Posted 11/10/07 4:52 PM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: To Catch a Predator
I am sure there are laws that prohibit the soliciation of sexual relations with minors - kind of like vice cops. Or perhaps it falls under a conspiracy type category.
Posted by ladybug8
I think I saw a special on 20/20 and apparently the local police department let the producers call the shots. Protocol was not followed and I think the charges were dropped for all of the arrested men. Did anyone else see this or am I imagining it?
I saw this special and charges against all of the predators that were arrested were dropped.
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| Posted 11/10/07 4:53 PM |
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meghanmetz
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/05 525 total posts
Name:
Meghan
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Re: To Catch a Predator
They are arrested because the cops/Perverted Justice will go into chat rooms and say that they are a 13 or 12 yo girl/boy. So, while the pervert is talking to an adult, they *think* they are talking to little kids. Their intent is to solicit sex from a minor.
I watch this show pretty regularly, I am fascinated by these sickos, (half of them have seen the show!)
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| Posted 11/10/07 6:12 PM |
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Re: To Catch a Predator
Posted by MrsT
I guess my problem with all of this is that the men are being charged with a crime - or at least an attempted crime when they could never have committed the actual crime itself since there were never any minors in danger.
These cases are sort of in the middle of mistake of fact & mistake of law. Mistake of fact in that the perves think they are talking to minors but also mistake of law because the age of the decoy negates the "minor" element of the crime.
I'm going to assume the the other poster is correct any most of these cases were thrown out or plead down. But with a decent lawyer none of these men should have even gotten probation.
The show is a good idea in theory but it misses the mark in trying to get the men off the street. The men are clearly embarrassed by having their face on national t.v. (with no release it seems since all of them say they DON'T want to be on t.v.) but I am not sure if embarrassment enough is worth all of the lawsuits that the show is no doubt fighting over these sting operations.
I believe that in one episode I watched I got the impression that the charges were for a lower degree crime because of that fact that there was no actual "minor." Like, maybe there was someting in the state's crime code that only addressed intent but did not have any reference to the actual ability to carry out the crime. I wish I could remember the episode.
I watched this show a lot when I was newly pregnant and having trouble sleeping. It was not the best choice of TV shows for a soon to be mom who couldn't sleep!!
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| Posted 11/10/07 6:56 PM |
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MrsRbk
<3 <3 <3 <3
Member since 1/06 19197 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: To Catch a Predator
Posted by Christine
I am sure there are laws that prohibit the soliciation of sexual relations with minors - kind of like vice cops. Or perhaps it falls under a conspiracy type category.
Posted by ladybug8
I think I saw a special on 20/20 and apparently the local police department let the producers call the shots. Protocol was not followed and I think the charges were dropped for all of the arrested men. Did anyone else see this or am I imagining it?
I saw this special and charges against all of the predators that were arrested were dropped.
That's not true. If you go to the perveted justice website, they have updates on the men that were arrested on these shows. Many of them are either waiting for sentencing, or have been sentenced and are serving their sentences.
Message edited 11/10/2007 11:17:50 PM.
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| Posted 11/10/07 11:17 PM |
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Chatham-Chick
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Member since 5/05 10312 total posts
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Re: To Catch a Predator
I watch these shows pretty regularly. Most of these guys face some type of sentencing.
LE gets them on intent. These men initiate the sex talk/chats, not the decoy. These men send the indecent photos, not the decoy. And they have plenty of time to reconsider what they're doing, but yet they still go to see the "minor". LE didn't make them get in their car, pick up condomns, bring alcohol, etc..
A very close family member of mine worked for the local DA's office as an investigator and they arrested quite a few men this way.
BTW, one of the "To Catch a Predator" episodes was filmed in Bethpage.
Message edited 11/11/2007 8:58:27 AM.
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| Posted 11/11/07 8:57 AM |
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MrsT
Enjoying wedded bliss.....
Member since 4/06 1323 total posts
Name:
Katrina
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Re: To Catch a Predator
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| Posted 11/13/07 9:09 PM |
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MrsT
Enjoying wedded bliss.....
Member since 4/06 1323 total posts
Name:
Katrina
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Re: To Catch a Predator
Posted by ssdbk
Posted by MrsT
I guess my problem with all of this is that the men are being charged with a crime - or at least an attempted crime when they could never have committed the actual crime itself since there were never any minors in danger.
These cases are sort of in the middle of mistake of fact & mistake of law. Mistake of fact in that the perves think they are talking to minors but also mistake of law because the age of the decoy negates the "minor" element of the crime.
I'm going to assume the the other poster is correct any most of these cases were thrown out or plead down. But with a decent lawyer none of these men should have even gotten probation.
The show is a good idea in theory but it misses the mark in trying to get the men off the street. The men are clearly embarrassed by having their face on national t.v. (with no release it seems since all of them say they DON'T want to be on t.v.) but I am not sure if embarrassment enough is worth all of the lawsuits that the show is no doubt fighting over these sting operations.
I believe that in one episode I watched I got the impression that the charges were for a lower degree crime because of that fact that there was no actual "minor." Like, maybe there was someting in the state's crime code that only addressed intent but did not have any reference to the actual ability to carry out the crime. I wish I could remember the episode.
I watched this show a lot when I was newly pregnant and having trouble sleeping. It was not the best choice of TV shows for a soon to be mom who couldn't sleep!!
 So NOT a good thing for an expecting mom to watch.
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| Posted 11/13/07 9:09 PM |
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