To Catch A Predator: Entertainment at it's best

[Garabaldi]

This is shock TV. A sad commentary on the state of American television viewership.

Winner.

[lonelyjew]

Originally Posted by [R-MOD]Kenty

Yeah, but that's entrapment and the person would go scot-free... bit pointless


PS - who's the fit bird?

I guess not in this case. The guy who got caught for the second time was getting charged. In any case, this isn't the first place this isn't being done so I doubt that most(if any) don't get charged with attempting to commit a lewd act on a minor. As for the "fit bird" it's Keeley Hazell if you're referring to my avatar.

[Wasteland]

Not entrapment. Sting operation. It's only entrapment if the LE actually tries to create a crime that the accused would otherwise not commit. And when using an entrapment defence, burden of proof lies with the accused. No way these guys could convince anybody that had they not noticed this particular girl online, they would never have been pedophiles.

To illustrate the difference, I'll use an example. When the owner of the DeLorean car company was going bankrupt, some US undercover LE approached him. They said he could make a whole bunch of money and save his company if he helped in a cocaine deal. He was in a tight spot, and agreed. But his conviction was overturned on appeal, because he would obviously not done something like that had he not been approached by LE.

[jedermann]

Originally Posted by JP*wasteland.soldier

Not entrapment. Sting operation. It's only entrapment if the LE actually tries to create a crime that the accused would otherwise not commit. And when using an entrapment defence, burden of proof lies with the accused. No way these guys could convince anybody that had they not noticed this particular girl online, they would never have been pedophiles.

To illustrate the difference, I'll use an example. When the owner of the DeLorean car company was going bankrupt, some US undercover LE approached him. They said he could make a whole bunch of money and save his company if he helped in a cocaine deal. He was in a tight spot, and agreed. But his conviction was overturned on appeal, because he would obviously not done something like that had he not been approached by LE.

For me it is entrapment, because i don't think there are many 13 year old girls around that want to hang out with such old guys. If I would try to find one, I bet I couldn't. So they have to make this fictitious girl up. My guess is that 99 percent or even all of the guys they catch in the show would never have committed a crime in this manner. As long as those guys are not otherwise dispositioned in alignment to violence, they have just destroyed lives of innocent people. I like germanys guidline: "No offense, no crime"

And after seeing how reputable this show is, I am not even sure who started to debate in those internet chats the "offender" or the made up girl. Although I think you have to be familiar with the american justice to get the point of the show, compensating the irritation I felt this way. After all it is just shallow entertainment and I could never watch this while enjoying.

[Wasteland]

Originally Posted by jedermann

For me it is entrapment, because i don't think there are many 13 year old girls around that want to hang out with such old guys. If I would try to find one, I bet I couldn't. So they have to make this fictitious girl up.

Having the means or ability to do something without LE involvement isn't a requirement to avoid entrapment. Only having the will and intent to do it. Of course whether or not this is entrapment would have to be decided by a judge. We don't have all of the facts.

[jedermann]

Originally Posted by JP*wasteland.soldier

Having the means or ability to do something without LE involvement isn't a requirement to avoid entrapment. Only having the will and intent to do it. Of course whether or not this is entrapment would have to be decided by a judge. We don't have all of the facts.

It is easy. In germany it would be entrapment, in USA not.

[[R-MOD]Saobh]

Yes its a sad show, but not because of the show itself but because they have had to use this kind of format to interest people on the subject. So I would seriously think again from criticizing the people behind.
And mostly a huge thanks to http://www.perverted-justice.com/
for doing this work hand in hand with the police rather then taking justice in their own hands.

In the end its getting media coverage for something that has become hush hush in our modern societies ( but which has always existed as such, I'm am not saying this is something new or greater in our time ). And anything which will get more national debate on this is really welcome. In all odds on these forums itself a certain number of people have already been abused by someone ( and keep in mind its usually from someone in their own family)
and an other number have or will abuse someone.

Seems odd to think of it no ? that the very people with whom you converse here just might fall in one or the other category. Just thinking of it, you're probably saying to yourself "no no no that can't be !?" but then it does sink in doesn't it ?
And its even worse in everyday life, as it could be anyone. Your best friend, your co-worker, your uncle, your neighbor ...
Its taboo, you'll never know about it.


So enjoy the show while it lasts, it has the courage of tackling the effects. But I doubt you'll ever see one tackling the causes.

As this necessitates a society to look at itself, and ask itself "why" ? and then the hard questions follow. But nobody likes to do that.

[lonelyjew]

Originally Posted by jedermann

It is easy. In germany it would be entrapment, in USA not.

Yeah, there are fewer nations more eager to loose their criminals than Germany. I'll take a system that puts away pedophiles over one that releases unremorseful, mass murdering, terrorist any day.

[Simio1337]

What if this show tried to arrest a 15 year old kid, since he is under age will they wait on trial until he is 18 and then fined? This is America for you.

[lonelyjew]

Originally Posted by Simio1337

What if this show tried to arrest a 15 year old kid, since he is under age will they wait on trial until he is 18 and then fined? This is America for you.

I don't think the kid would get charged, just turned over to his parents. I don't remember what kids get when they have sex and both are underage but there is some penalty(I think we asked in sex ed a few years back). As for having to wait for three years, I'd suggest you read up on basic American rights. Hell our constitution has been copied over and over I'm surprised you don't know this.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.