[boris]

What bothers me is that the "crime" consisted of sending bytes to an impostor, receiving bytes from the same impostor, and then showing up to meet the impostor(s)--who were (duh) cops. No actual victim was harmed; nobody was touched except the "perps" who got cuffed.

OK, they're slime--but this borders on "thoughtcrime" to my way of thinking. Usually we wait until an actual crime is committed before we arrest the criminal, no?

--Boris

[Graybeard58]

It does smack of entrapment but on the other hand it's the worst of the worst being entrapped and I am inclined to think that the end justifies the means.

[twigs]

See post 23. There's an example of what you're saying.

[Drew68]

but this borders on "thoughtcrime" to my way of thinking.

It crossed the line from "thoughtcrime" when these men hopped in their cars and drove to meet their "victims."

That is how they always bust these guys. The never (or rarely) bust someone for simple "sex-talk" on line. The bust happens when they show up at the doorstep with a pocket full of condoms.

Invariably, they all give the same excuse, "I came here to warn her about perverts on line!"

[laotzu]

Usually we wait until an actual crime is committed..

Not this time. I would cut off my left foot to stop this happening to your child. Fortunately, the law shares my passion on this.

[Old Professer]

Prevention is the new nostrum.