To catch a predator….Dateline

[Pete]

I don’t know how many folks have been catching this series on Dateline. Tonight is part four. For those who haven’t followed it, it’s a sting operation for sexual predators using the internet to meet under age kids for sex. The find a house to use, set up cameras, and have dates set up with a supposed 13 to 15 year old girl via the web.

Pretty interesting group of people getting nabbed. Everything from a preacher to professional people. The stories these guys come up with when asked to explain why they are there are comical at times, though I find nothing funny about the subject. It’s pretty scary, and very sickening. I just read that my local law enforcement had contacted Dateline asking for advice on setting up a sting of this type.

Wouldn’t ya know, Dateline sent crews to my area (Ft Myers) and did one of their stings this past week. It should be aired on the 10th or 11th of next month.

If your a parent with a kid on line, and haven't caught any of this series, I would highly recomend catching it.

[Destino]

I tell this to parents all the time - do not let your child have a computer in their room.

[richard saunders]

Agreed...

My wife and I were just talking about this. No phone, or computer in their rooms. And all activity has to be closely monitored.

Unless, we have boys ;)

Seriously though... This show is a godsend. The more this show is watched and talked about, the less likely perverts will stalk more kids. At least the ones who are in the preliminary stages.

It sounds cliche, but if it saves one kid...it's worth it

[IBleedBurgundy&Gold]

Agreed...

My wife and I were just talking about this. No phone, or computer in their rooms. And all activity has to be closely monitored.

Unless, we have boys ;)

Seriously though... This show is a godsend. The more this show is watched and talked about, the less likely perverts will stalk more kids. At least the ones who are in the preliminary stages.

It sounds cliche, but if it saves one kid...it's worth it



Why don't you chain them to there bed when you leave the house while your at it. This show was disturbing and funny at the same time. The people who try to run then get shoved on the pavement is great.All in all we live in a sick world.There needs to be stricter laws for these sick basterds. Less time for selling bud and more time to sick people like this.They usaully get a max of two years.That is messed up.

[TheSteve]

Why don't you chain them to there bed when you leave the house while your at it. This show was disturbing and funny at the same time. The people who try to run then get shoved on the pavement is great.All in all we live in a sick world.There needs to be stricter laws for these sick basterds. Less time for selling bud and more time to sick people like this.They usaully get a max of two years.That is messed up.

Seriously, who deserves more jail time. Repeat pot offenders or first time sex offenders preying on kids?

[Vertigo]

I watched this as well tonite. Some of the stories were indeed comical, and I *almost* felt bad for the last guy(the teacher) until I remembered he was, in fact a teacher.

[diesel22]

My GF and I watched it tonight. Usually I don't do well with shows like that bc I don't have the patience......while in college we had a pediphile come into one of my abnormal psych classes. I wanted to do him bodily harm so I realized real quick that I would never be able to have a job where I interacted with those types of people. No matter what he said about his childhood, his mental illnesses, I just could find no compasion anywhere for him.


That show was taped in Greenville -- about an hr and a half from my hometown. I have an 11 yr old niece. Enough said.....

[Johnny Punani2]

The first place in this series was in the DC area I believe.

The 2nd show they had guys saying they saw the first show and still came to meet for sex. It just proves to those who don't believe how powerful this addiction is for them.

[panel]

This could be turned into a weekly regular show.

[Pete]

The first place in this series was in the DC area I believe.

The 2nd show they had guys saying they saw the first show and still came to meet for sex. It just proves to those who don't believe how powerful this addiction is for them.

Yup, the first was the DC area. There were one or two on tonights show who said they had seen the past shows too.


This could be turned into a weekly regular show.

Sad but true :(

NOTE: not sure of the air date of the sting from my area. Will update.

[Major Harris]

i think i saw one of those episodes. didn't one of the dudes get naked and sit at the kitchen table waiting for his prey?

i'm glad that i have plenty of time to think about how i want to handle the internet w/ my kid(s).

[Ryman of the North]

pedophiles need some sort of stronger motivation to get help, seriously if they KNEW that death was a possible consequence maybe theyd think twice before ruining a child life.

[riggins44]

I've been watching this and it's scarey. Teachers, doctors, a rabbi...it's
surprising who these predators are.

[rincewind]

Its odd watching those shows with my wife. She works with kids that come from EXTREMELY disfunctional situations - so she has had to deal with pediphilism in quite a few different ways. Believe it or not she actual has a lot of sympathy for these guys. Sympathy may be the wrong word - but she stongly feels that MOST of these guys are sick and need help. Keep in mind she sees the end result of what these guys do - hell, she works more with the end result than with these guys. But some of the research and stats she has studies really shows you how these guys got as messed up as they did and she feels they need help more than a 2x4 to the back of the head.

[jwebst1]

i think i saw one of those episodes. didn't one of the dudes get naked and sit at the kitchen table waiting for his prey?

i'm glad that i have plenty of time to think about how i want to handle the internet w/ my kid(s).

dude definitely got naked in that one..... sickening.

[Grizz]

I have a question, but don't get me wrong. I think these guys are extremely sick and deserve to be locked up. My question is that these guys got arrested, but what was their actual crime? They talked to someone on the computer who they thought was 13, but in reality was 19. Then they came to the house and didn't do or try to do anything to the girl. The shows host just confronted them. While I know it was their intention to meet and have sex with an under age person, is this what they are arrested for, the intention not the actual act? Just curious to the legal aspect. I am not sure of the legal definition of entrapment is, but this sounds like it to me. Again don't get me wrong, I am glad these perverts are arrested, just courious about the law.

[rictus58]

The scarey part is the one the filmed in VA where they caught the same guy twice on consecutive days.

[rincewind]

I have a question, but don't get me wrong. I think these guys are extremely sick and deserve to be locked up. My question is that these guys got arrested, but what was their actual crime? They talked to someone on the computer who they thought was 13, but in reality was 19. Then they came to the house and didn't do or try to do anything to the girl. The shows host just confronted them. While I know it was their intention to meet and have sex with an under age person, is this what they are arrested for, the intention not the actual act? Just curious to the legal aspect. I am not sure of the legal definition of entrapment is, but this sounds like it to me. Again don't get me wrong, I am glad these perverts are arrested, just courious about the law.



I believe it was - solicitation of sex with a minor.

[rictus58]

I have a question, but don't get me wrong. I think these guys are extremely sick and deserve to be locked up. My question is that these guys got arrested, but what was their actual crime? They talked to someone on the computer who they thought was 13, but in reality was 19. Then they came to the house and didn't do or try to do anything to the girl. The shows host just confronted them. While I know it was their intention to meet and have sex with an under age person, is this what they are arrested for, the intention not the actual act? Just curious to the legal aspect. I am not sure of the legal definition of entrapment is, but this sounds like it to me. Again don't get me wrong, I am glad these perverts are arrested, just courious about the law.

Are the stings set up to catch "johns" wrong? After all, they didn't actually have sex with the hooker.

[Leonard Washington]

i think cam'ron is pissed right about now.

[Grizz]

I believe it was - solicitation of sex with a minor.

But since the girl was actually 19, was it because he thought his intention were toward a 13yr old girl?

[Grizz]

Are the stings set up to catch "johns" wrong? After all, they didn't actually have sex with the hooker.

I don't think its wrong, I am just courious to what the actual charge is.

[rincewind]

But since the girl was actually 19, was it because he thought his intention were toward a 13yr old girl?



Don't think so since she presented herself as a 13 year old. They actually talked about how they train the people who operate the sting, so i'm sure they followed the guidelines to arrest them for this crime.

[Cdowwe]

I love this show. They actually had a guy come to the house twice lol.

[vinva]

This was fascinating tv last night...one of the most uncomfortable things I have ever seen.

[JMac]

That show is frightening! I have a 13 year old daughter who will not have a computer in her room. Its not that I dont trust her, its the manipulation these sicko's can have over girls.

I made both my daughter and son both watch the show with us. I think its safe to say that my kids will never have a Myspace account.

[Major Harris]

That show is frightening! I have a 13 year old daughter who will not have a computer in her room. Its not that I dont trust her, its the manipulation these sicko's can have over girls.

I made both my daughter and son both watch the show with us. I think its safe to say that my kids will never have a Myspace account.
you are a wise man, jmac.
i had to put my sister in her place after she allowed her 10 year old daughter and 7 year old son to open a myspace acct. w/ fake names and ages.

[gchwood]

[QUOTE=IBleedBurgandy&Gold]Why don't you chain them to there bed when you leave the house while your at it. QUOTE]



IF I have to I would! better than allowing my kid to be prey upon by these pervs.

Seriously though Computers should be out in the open in a high traffic area such as the living room, secondly myspace is a really bad idea, especially for kids. Lastly you have to let your kids know that you are the parent not them

[Zguy28]

I tell this to parents all the time - do not let your child have a computer in their room.Or a TV and DVD player. Make them go outside and play in the back yard.

[gchwood]

Or a TV and DVD player. Make them go outside and play in the back yard.


seriously kids are too fat, what ever happened to doing a little hard labor as a child?

[tizzod]

seriously kids are too fat, what ever happened to doing a little hard labor as a child?

250 channels happened. The Internet happened. And that freakin' Playstation happened. The parents love it because it shuts the kids up.

I used to scream about it all the time too. We would go out in the morning and have to be pulled kicking and screaming back in at night. What happened to that?

A big problem with doing that now, though, is the world is a lot sicker of a place. And parents aren't doing the best of jobs training their kids anymore. Not all of them, mind you. Just most of them.

[OaktonSkins/BushFan]

250 channels happened. The Internet happened. And that freakin' Playstation happened. The parents love it because it shuts the kids up.

I used to scream about it all the time too. We would go out in the morning and have to be pulled kicking and screaming back in at night. What happened to that?

A big problem with doing that now, though, is the world is a lot sicker of a place. And parents aren't doing the best of jobs training their kids anymore. Not all of them, mind you. Just most of them.


Hit the nail right on the head. Excellent post!

[Chris Lamb]

Sick Stuff for sure. Here is the link for the original group Dateline used trap these douchebags. http://www.perverted-justice.com/ . Check out some of the messages these guys give to children. Most likely NSFW because of graphic language and images.

[Air Force Cane]

I just don't understand this-

what is the attraction to young girls?!! I mean, personally I don't even get the attraction of 20 year old virgins.

wouldn't a male want to be with someone experienced?

wth?

[Destino]

I mean, personally I don't even get the attraction of 20 year old virgins.

wouldn't a male want to be with someone experienced?

I've wondered about that myself AFC. I think maybe in the case of guys sweating virgins is that they are afraid of being compared to other men.

[Zguy28]

Sick Stuff for sure. Here is the link for the original group Dateline used trap these douchebags. http://www.perverted-justice.com/ . Check out some of the messages these guys give to children. Most likely NSFW because of graphic language and images.My officemate is a member of the above website group. I checked it out today. You should read the IM conversation with the FDNY fireman who got nailed. Sickening.

Its pretty interesting in some ways too, like if the people chatting with the perp know they can't charge him/her, they will let them know over the IM that all of their info, pics included, will be posted on the site in 2 hours and they get 10,000 hits a day.

[fight_on_til_you_have_won]

I tell this to parents all the time - do not let your child have a computer in their room.
And that's a damn shame, too... I had a computer in my room almost my whole life, and it had such a profound influence on my life. And I had always thought I would try to give my kids their own computers. Now, I just don't know.

[Seabee1973]

Its weird but I was talking to this person who i thouy was in her 20's talked to her for a few hours sent me her picture, it looked like she was about 20 Then she said she wanted to meet and do some things well i asked her her age she said 14 when i told her there was no way i was picking up a 14 year old she called me all ttypes of names

[slackermike]

pedophiles need some sort of stronger motivation to get help, seriously if they KNEW that death was a possible consequence maybe theyd think twice before ruining a child life.

I doubt it. Death is a possible consequence for drug addicts, but yet we still have drug addicts. Addictions are hard to break for a reason, and I seriously doubt that the possible consequence of death is going to stop them.

My girlfriend and I watched this the other night, and we wondered what the true motivation is for these men. We think it's the "innocence" that drives these types of people into trying to have sex with a 13 year old. Remember when you were a teenager and everything was a "new" learning experience... probably is filling some need in these offenders to be able to "teach" them something. Maybe they think that the young girl has nothing to compare them to, so they can't be rejected, ridiculed, or thought of as "bad at sex." They definitely need help.


I have a question, but don't get me wrong. I think these guys are extremely sick and deserve to be locked up. My question is that these guys got arrested, but what was their actual crime? They talked to someone on the computer who they thought was 13, but in reality was 19. Then they came to the house and didn't do or try to do anything to the girl. The shows host just confronted them. While I know it was their intention to meet and have sex with an under age person, is this what they are arrested for, the intention not the actual act? Just curious to the legal aspect. I am not sure of the legal definition of entrapment is, but this sounds like it to me. Again don't get me wrong, I am glad these perverts are arrested, just courious about the law.

Last night I brought this same point up, but look at it like this -- people can be arrested for the "intent" to sell drugs.... *shrug* Just watch an episode of COPS... people get arrested all the time for intending to buy drugs... just because they didn't buy them doesn't make them any less guilty (I suppose).

It's a crazy crazy world.

[Zguy28]

I doubt it. Death is a possible consequence for drug addicts, but yet we still have drug addicts. Addictions are hard to break for a reason, and I seriously doubt that the possible consequence of death is going to stop them.
How about making them a Eunuch?

[Pete]

250 channels happened. The Internet happened. And that freakin' Playstation happened. The parents love it because it shuts the kids up.

I used to scream about it all the time too. We would go out in the morning and have to be pulled kicking and screaming back in at night. What happened to that?

A big problem with doing that now, though, is the world is a lot sicker of a place. And parents aren't doing the best of jobs training their kids anymore. Not all of them, mind you. Just most of them.

I have digital cable with about 170 channels, plus high speed internet. We got our daughter a computer for christmas this past year, also with high speed. It's not in the family room, but in the spare bedroom / playroom. She's watched the shows with me and the wife. Her computer use is limited to research for school, home work, and email. Until she cleans up her room :doh: she's not allowed to IM her friends, or brouse the aproved kids sites we've checked out. The door to the room is always open, and within eye shot of my desk in the family room.

My daughter is in outstanding condition. She plays soccer most of the year, and runs track. She's a girl scout, alter server at church, is coaching 4 and 5 year old kids in the spring soccer league, and a volunteer camp counseler during the summer. We keep her busy with all sorts of stuff she likes, so TV and computer use are minimal. She plays some video games, but only about an hour or two a week. She does a lot of crafts and sewing.

Not too shabby for a 13 year old girl. We don't force anything on her, it's all hers to chose. I think by getting her involved in much of this stuff at a young age made all the difference. She leads a very balenced life, and sports at a young age is key. IMO, if they love it at 5, they'll be doing it at 15.

[slackermike]

How about making them a Eunuch?

Sure, if you do the surgery. :)