Grand jury to hear case of alleged sexual offer at mall (Man wanted 14 y.o. to make porn movie)

The Virginian Pilot ^ | 6/28/06 | Michelle Washington

[wagglebee]

He dropped his bags and chased the man, catching him near the mall's information desk. He prevented the man from leaving until police arrived.

If I had been the father he would have needed paramedics before the police ever got there.

[wagglebee]

Library ping.

[wagglebee]

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DISCUSSION ABOUT:

Grand jury to hear case of alleged sexual offer at mall (Man wanted 14 y.o. to make porn movie)

This is just another instance of how pornography is not as harmless as people would like us to believe.

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DISCUSSION ABOUT:

Grand jury to hear case of alleged sexual offer at mall (Man wanted 14 y.o. to make porn movie)

This is just another instance of how pornography is not as harmless as people would like us to believe.

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[ClearCase_guy]

The man is scum. The incident is shameful. No doubt.

However, it's not clear to me that a crime was committed. No one did anything. Words were exchanged. If I were the father, I'd be upset, but I don't expect a court to do anything.

[Gorzaloon]

However, it's not clear to me that a crime was committed. No one did anything. Words were exchanged. If I were the father, I'd be upset, but I don't expect a court to do anything.

Most fathers probably would not involve the Courts, anyway.

[ConservativeMind]

I agree.

There was no law broken as far as I can tell. It's not illegal to be stupid.

[DemforBush]

the man was halfway down the hall, the father said, and getting farther away all the time, and the security guard did nothing.. Security guards are generally useless when a real emergency occurs. Call 9-1-1 instead.

[FreePaul]

Maybe the grand jury can resolve some of the questions unanswered and unasked in this article. Was the guy really trying to make a porno movie? Was he using that as a method of approaching children? Was there any investigation to see if he was collecting and/or distributing child porn? Has there been any investigation?

If he had made this contact over the internet his home would be raided and all of his records seized. In that case the "victim" would have been a middle aged male police officer. Does that make a difference? I can't see any reason for him to solicit a child in this manner unless he had "evil" intentions.

[burroak]

What part of soliciting a 14 yo to be in a porno film don't you understand?

Why do you think these people were testifying, if the judge did not think the act was illegal?

[TXnMA]

I would have told the guard, "Call 911. That SOB is going to need an ambulance."

[wagglebee]

I'm fairly certain that soliciting a minor for child pornography is a crime.

[burroak]

P.S. Guess that's why you are not in jail.

[Shimmer128]

Good answer! LOL

[GovernmentShrinker]

The man, Charles A. Speller, was charged in March with producing sexually explicit material after the girl said Speller offered her $200 to be in his "porno."

Am I missing something here? How does asking a 14 year old girl (who might plausibly be mistaken for an 18+-year-old) if she'd like to make a quick buck by being in a "porno" constitute "producing sexually explicit material"? And since when is "producing sexually explicit material" a crime, unless one actually uses one or more minors in the process? Per the info in this article, the guy never even touched the girl, much less used her in producing a porn flick.

I can't fathom why the courts are involved in this. The girl's parents should teach her how to handle this sort of crap, i.e. to respond by loudly yelling in the guy's face "NO, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO MAKE A QUICK $200 IN YOUR PORNO!" That way, when her father was 20 feet away from her, he wouldn't have had to "wonder why a strange man was speaking to her" and "tail the man, who had walked away but then doubled back and followed the girl." And what kind of parent walks AWAY from his unattended adolescent daughter in a mall, after seeing a "strange man" approach her and speak to her?

[GovernmentShrinker]

But according to the article, that's not what Speller is charged with.

[ConservativeMind]

If you don't know their age (i.e.-walking around in a mall), then how can you be held for asking a question of someone for an otherwise legal act?

It's the same as if asking them if they want to get a drink (alcohol) or go grab a smoke.

By the way, I'm not for pornography, drinking, or smoking (I have no attraction to any of it).

[ConservativeMind]

It's my guess the police merely charged him with something to assuage the father. The charge will certainly be thrown out, as nothing was produced.

[The Brush]

What part of soliciting a 14 yo to be in a porno film don't you understand?

Exactly! Should we doubt this guy wouldn't have been able to find some kid who was eager for the chance to make money if he kept looking?
He played with fire and he got burned, they oughta fry him.
Scum!

[Valpal1]

it's not clear to me that a crime was committed. No one did anything.

Someone DID do something, Solicitation of a minor is a crime. Child pornography is a crime. Soliciting a minor to make child pornography is a crime.

Kudos to this dad for chasing this POS down.

[Valpal1]

If you don't know their age (i.e.-walking around in a mall), then how can you be held for asking a question of someone for an otherwise legal act?

It's the same as if asking them if they want to get a drink (alcohol) or go grab a smoke.

Um, you are legally required to ascertain a person's age before selling or providing said persons with alcohol or tobacco. Same applies to pornography.

Saying you didn't know how old they are is not a defense to the law.