Posted on 08/14/2007 4:27:34 AM PDT by Dudoight
The show was an instant success. It lured would-be child-sex predators to a public shaming, delivered by a handsome host. Ratings, awards and even praise from members of Congress followed. But now Dateline NBC's "To Catch a Predator" series is taking heat. And so is the police chief of the Collin County town that hosted it eight months ago. The troubles stem from the show's visit to Murphy, where more than 20 people were arrested but escaped prosecution because of evidence problems. Also a former district attorney ensnared in the sting shot himself.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
“NOTHING is shameful any more.”
Nothing is shameful to some but there is much that is shameful for the overwhelming amount of Americans and even most pervs have to work and interact with normal americans on a daily basis.
First you said that you would show favor to the guy because he is to be presumed innocent ... then you are going to shun him because he's likely guilty.
Pre-emptive punishment is a great deterrent. When you walk into a bank and fire off a few round while yelling “this is a hold up”, saying “just joking” isn’t going to get you off.
There is a reason why so many of these men plead guilty. They know they truly are guilty. Even they recognize the horribleness of their crimes. Yet, they do them anyway. But they don’t face their depravity until they are caught.
If we had caught the 9/11 terrorists before they commited their crime, they would probably be out of prison right now. Think about that. Their only crime was conspiring to knock down the WTC and the Pentagon. They were just “thinking” about it as someone said earlier.
First you said that you would show favor to the guy because he is to be presumed innocent ... then you are going to shun him because he's likely guilty.
Had to correct my error with italics.
Are they on the air to educate parents? Or is it pure entertainment?
Gosh, maybe you believe America's Funniest Home Videos are being aired as a precaution not to do those things. An hour-long PSA, huh?
You posted: And if you think that even 10 yr. old girls dont know what that sex act is, then you havent been keeping up.
***
I know that girls are growing up sexually too early. The difference between us is that I think that taking advantage of that by an adult male is wrong, even if they are not virgins, and you seem to think it somehow is less wrong, if wrong at all.
You might wish to see Channel 8's attempt to interview the head of PervertedJustice (someone who has a shady past and is living under an assumed identity). A video, I might add, which is a real keeper because when the tables are turned, the head of PervertedJustice is far more insulting, aggressive, and thuggish than any of the ones he "snares." Ironically, the interviwer, Chris Hansen refuses to be interviewed about the Murphy fiasco.
The police agencies benefit from this alliance by getting financial compensation and possession of the perp's cars. Investigations of bribery are now underway. One police chief is driving around in a new SUV. Furthermore, city officials are chagrinned because all of this is being done without the police doing any investigation of their own.
Before the arrests, contrary to standard procedures, there were no arrest warrants issued. After the arrests, according to DA Roach, the required paperwork is not even being submitted in a majority of the cases!!!
One other thing which has not been mentioned is that the neighbors to the bait house are enraged because they did not want pedophiles coming from miles away into their neghborhoods. Something which has caused at least one city manager to resign.
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_mating_habits_of_the_suburban_high_school_teenager/
If you read it, you will see that the little darlings are not particularly interested in having their honour protected, or that they are very choosy. These girls are quite savvy about sex, and that NBC show plays a mindgame like they are protecting Pollyanna. The show is creepy and the premise is flawed. OK????
I would love to be the one handling this in court. On line I don’t talk to strangers, but yet I still get unsolicited mail all the time and some is rather graphic.
The sister of the man that killed himself will make millions off of this case. Trust me on this one. NBC screwed up as did their Keystone Cops.
Little girls are too young to know anything about their honor, and keeping it protected. That is why having sex with them is illegal. They cannot make an informed choice. Some of these girls may not be Pollyanna, agreed, but in this country we try to protect all children, whether they may have been previously soiled or not.
Maybe both? I know you can comprehend such a concept. Still, that is not what my comment was suggesting. I was actually agreeing with you. You asked "How many seasons does that take? At some point you have to admit that it's only for ratings and nothing else." Maybe you'd feel better about yourself if I stroked your ego by stating, "Gosh, that is a thoughtful observation. You make a good point- NBC is doing this for profit. Just look at shows like COPS and America's Most Wanted. They have been on the air for many many years and haven't really eliminated crime."
Gosh, maybe you believe America's Funniest Home Videos are being aired as a precaution not to do those things. An hour-long PSA, huh?
Huh? huh? huh?
LOL, relax, darla. Get back after you've had a chance to unbunch.
My major issue in this whole matter deals with the possibility of “entrapment.”
I never understood why the faces weren't blurred out.
OTOH, if you show up at a strange place to have sex with a minor, you shouldn't be shocked at what you find, including a sting operation.
Yup. The cops should do the takedown. The interview can happen later.
But you never know, maybe NBC has posted a "gun free zone" outside the home.
Or was a "pretend" boy on the internet trying to pick up him? The DA in that jurisdiction seems to think that NBC's methods were not clear enough to say who was enticing whom. Had he shown up at the meeting, then I would say "hang him!" But, when all you have is NBC's statements about what was said, and the fact that he never attempted to meeet the "boy," I'm not convinced everything here is exactly as it is being portrayed.
BTW, did you miss the post where I said book him for "contributing..." or "internet enticement" or whatever laws actually apply to what he did? But if he didn't show up to the meeting, he didn't try to molest a child...
Trust me, when they bring out the chat logs, the jury will dismiss it.
The police run the same stings to identify and prosecute these creeps and they do get convictions even though no children were involved.
That said, there is something wrong IMHO, with NBC doing the same thing just for ratings.
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