Dateline: How To Catch A Predator-shouldnt they all be innocent?

Question

I'm glad they are taking these people off the internet dont get me wrong

but from a legal standpoint how can they be charged with anything? unless they were talking to an actually 13-14 year old girl or boy? all the "decoys" are older men and women and the "bait" are over 18 years old

sure you can say "intent" to commit a crime but if no one involed is underage then how are they charged?

Answer 1

They are guilty because before the perpetrators even show up they have already committed the crime. The crime was committed when they were soliciting sex on the internet with a person they believed to be 14. Doesn't matter that they didn't actually commit the acts.
Since these are state crimes, not federal, each state is has different elements.

Answer 2

The entire scenario is inconsistent with legal rights. It is indeed Justice Perverted. Of course no crime has been committed--but what judge can withstand the public pressure to stand up for justice in a situation structured to look as if immorality is at play? None of these guys exhibit anything more sinister than curiosity. The unscrupled woman who lent herself to this deception was not and could not act like a 13-year-old. There is no evidence any of them might necessarily consummate a sex act and furthermore there is no absolute moral reason they should not! Statutory Rape laws have their place--to help parents protect their children. To Catch A Predator goes way beyond that into an area which is Fascist in orientation --not American in the best sense.
The bottom line is, in a desire to parade about his self-righteousness, a 98-pound bully named Chris Hansen is creating an army of ordinary men who must henceforth against their will serve as cover for real sexual predators. At the same time they will be hindered in developing into wholesome individuals. All so that 'America' can have its moment of smug superiority.

Answer 3

We see the dumb lackeys who fell into the trap. Believe me: there were SCORES of perps who knew EXACTLY what to or NOT to say and handled the sting like a pro. Most likely these guys were bailed in minutes of their arrival to jail--and it's very likely there aren't ANY legal charges that can stick on them.

These are the guys we should be scared of: the pro predators--and they're out there. But due to legal protection laws, NBC Dateline can't even show their "masked" image on TV.

As for the dumbazzes who did fall in the hole, they pretty much face some very expensive legal help to wriggle them free or at least keep them out of prison: Most likely all will simply get some form of probationary sentence, just inches from being tagged a "sexual predator", which they all likely won't see happen.

They all can challenge the state that there is NO beyond doubt proof they ever engaged in sex with a minor. And I wouldn't at all be surprised if, in the chat transcripts, there were error statements made by the police officer(s) (the minor girl)--that may even call a mistrial for these perps to wriggle free.

They can even declare in court they arrived to meet the "decoy" and Christian witness to them to turn away from such online chats with anyone. Think that won't fly in court--think again.

Watch the sting carefully and note the 'decoy' doesn't get hit up on in person by the perps. And in some of the perp faces, you'll see they know pretty quick it's a set-up when they see how old looking the decoy is. It's pretty much like the first sting project.

But does Dateline want us to believe ALL sexual predators are MEN? It'd be interesting for Dateline to construct a sting aimed at FEMALE sex predators. I think we'd be shocked to know they're out there, too---and in far larger numbers than you think.

Answer 4

Most states require 3 things to establish an electronic enticement case. As long as the victim is either a) a minor; or b) someone who purports to be under 18, the first element is met.

>> Use of a computer or other electronic device to communicate with a minor, or with someone who purports to be under 18 years old

>> Intent to commit murder, a Class A felony or any offense listed in the state's sex offender registration law.

>> A meeting between the two parties must also take place.

Answer 5

Help Needed, above me is right.
I'm just grateful as a mother that they have started setting up decoys to try and get rid of some of the predator's. You can bet the biffy, if Dateline wasn't in that house these sleaze ball's would be doing just what they intended to do, when they got there. Thank god it informs parents what can be going on when their kids are on the computer.

Answer 6

Because as far as they were concerned, they were saying inappropriate things to a child and attempting to meet that child for illegal, sexual purposes. You can bet the barn that if they knew they were really talking to a cop, decoy, or whoever they would not say a word.

Answer 7

i agree.. it's on now and i am getting turtle dick watching how these peeps are getting set up. everyone messes around on the net, but these guys go a bit too far and deserve to be spanked hard, but to ruin their lives on national tv... but then again, any pedophile deserves to be castrated.

Answer 8

Intent is enough. It would be the same thing as attempted murder (maybe not as bad, but still the same idea.)

Answer 9

Good point, most of them get bailed out anyway

Answer 10

They should all get the death penalty... and if yu are a pervert or are defending perverts you should get it too.