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 ...
He did attempt to meet the boy. They set up a meeting. He just didn’t show up. You don’t set up a meeting to have sex with a minor for a goof. Even a DA knows that.
The DA’s defenders are having trouble coming up with a good defense. The guys really messed up and he made it worse by offing himself. No matter how you twist it, the guy is guilty. The only hope for the sister is to get NBC to settle so they don’t have to go to court.
This guy blew his brains out because a guilt ridden mind is difficult to live with...not because he was being harassed.
This was passed in 2005, well before the fact. I don’t know the specific cases, but last time I checked having an out-of-state address did not count as a defense in a felony.
I have no sympathy for the devil. This guy propositioned a minor over the internet. That’s guilt. That’s what compelled him to kill himself...guilt and the premise of getting caught.
Oh really? YOU know it was him who typed that stuff, and thats enough to get a warrant to bust through the front door? Arent you the little Fascisti!
So if somebody takes your car and the car licence plate is photographed leaving the scene of an accident, you could be picked up and thrown in jail without bail, that would be ok? Theres enough there?
Due process DEMANDS that there be more evidence before you invade someones home and arrest somebody. Its in the Constitution. The reason you cant see that is youre a self righteous religious fanatic who wants to make judgement on people you dont know because being a twit is what makes your days so special!!
That’s aggravated assault in most jurisdictions. No trigger-pulling required.
Oooh...it sounds like someone is having a bad day.
As a general rule, I think that the cops don't have a financial incentive for success. Sure, they may confiscate the perp's vehicle or computer, but it's not like there's a direct financial relation to the arresting officer.
NBC is in it for the money. Pure and simple. Makes me question their motives.
...As Dan Schrack leaned against a folding table and talked on the phone, a number of Perverted Justice employees sat at nearby desks, working on computers. At some point, after Schrack hung up, some of these people ran the screen name and e-mail address and phone number of the man known as Wil through a variety of Internet search engines. They made certain discoveries, among them Wil’s real name and occupation.
A cameraman recorded a scene shortly thereafter, when one of the Perverted Justice employees informed Chris Hansen. He told Chris Hansen that the man they thought was nineteen was actually fifty-six, that his name was Bill Conradt, that he was not a college student but rather an assistant district attorney of a neighboring county, the county’s chief felony prosecutor.
You can read the full article here... http://www.esquire.com/features/predator0907
You dont know that and neither did the police or Dateline. Nobody saw him do anything and, BTW, almost ALL of the time the Feds arrest a predator they have much more than just a transcript. You need to get the guy in contact with the "victim", or show some type of connection. The Feds have been extremely patient in predator busts because it has to stand up in court.
The embarrassment and humiliation they imposed on this guy and his family with such weak evidence is almost unheard of, as far as I know, and would not have happened without Dateline, regardless of whether he was guilty or not. It is disgusting what they have done, and I hope they get burnt on this.
Ok then, you insist that a child be raped or killed before someone gets arrested. Very good, we know where you stand now.
I don’t make the laws, the people that are elected do. I merely point them out to you, who seem to have a problem with enforcing them.
And very cute, calling me a Nazi. That really helps me see your point.
If it gets the ratings, you should ask the same of the viewers. It’s not that different from watching the news. After the Virginia Tech shootings, I got a great education on how the media “makes” the news. The gunman sent the videotape to NBC because he knew he could control the news media.
In this case, people want to see these guys get busted. Their lives were not ruined when they got busted. They were ruined long before that time.
How did they get his email address and phone number? HE GAVE IT TO THEM!!
And this guy was a DA???
The one who committed suicide DID NOT show up........they tracked him down at HIS home and the hounded man committed suicide. He DID NOT show up and get trapped. What if the show was wrong? In all their arrogance they never considered that.
That’s not what they get arrested for. I gave you the link to the law, go read it. If you have a problem with the laws, then take it up with your state representatives.
So wanting to enforce laws that protect children from being raped or killed makes me a Nazi? Good going there. Do you want to actually back that up with anything factual or are you going to stick to name-calling?
He was a DA. If the show was wrong, he would SUE them, not off himself. He gave them his phone number and email address. It could have been planted but a DA would know how to defend himself better than anyone. It is possible to lie about phone numbers and such but very hard to line up all the computer network stars. They had this guy dead to rights and he knew it.
If the police and an NBC crew walked up to my house, I would go look at new cars because I am going to get paid.
The problem is that the creeps are arrested for trying to solicit sex from a 14 year old girl.
There is no 14 year old girl.
The creep thinks that he is going to have sex with a 14 year old girl, and goes there for that purpose. The creep is despicable.
But there is no 14 year old girl.
They had a warrant. That means they had probable cause, and a judge and prosecutor agreed. Unfortunately his suicide leads to two possible conclusions, either he was innocent and so ashamed that he was falsely accused that he killed himself, or he was guilty and rather than face the consequences, he killed himself.
It is always tragic when someone dies, and in this case, seeing as how the some of the other cases did not stand up in court, there may have been a way for him to walk away.
HE ? Who's he? Can they prove who HE is? Do they care? He should have been tagged and followed for months until something you can use in court popped up. And if not, then not; but more than likely something would have if he was guilty. Predators cant help themselves.
But they couldn't wait. And of course, DATELINE had a show to produce!! On with the show !!
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