The Final Dateline Predator wrap up - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hammertime · #1 03-14-2007, 06:36 PM

As some may have noticed I have a very healthy amount of pent up rage for the dirtbags..This will be my last post about this issue, but I know some would like to see the results of these arrests...what a joke IMO...Why are these judges being so soft handed towards these creeps? Sometimes I feel we need Billy Jack justice for these slimeballs....

Here's the link for the whole enchilada:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17601568/

Why isn't the attitude towards these jerks like this guy here;

Rod Pacheco, Riverside California district attorney: Counseling doesn’t help at all. And this is an irresistible impulse that these individuals cannot control, and have no desire to control. Counseling is therapy, giving them a hug, isn’t gonna help these guys.

The Fallout;

Where are they now?
I’m always asked are these men getting convicted and sent to prison? Of the more than 200 men charged in our investigations, not one man has been let off. In every case the man has either pleaded guilty, been convicted at trial or the case is pending.

Rabbi David Kay was indicted, facing federal charges. He requests a bench trial in federal court, in other words, no jury. He just goes before a federal judge. The case is heard. He’s convicted, sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison, partly because, the judge said, the rabbi lied when he testified in his own defense that he really didn’t think there was a 13-year-old boy home alone.

Burns: In Greenville, Ohio, 18 of the men were arrested. Out of those 18, 17 have already been—to court and found guilty. But, two of ‘em went to trial.

With Rob Klein, when we were at trial with him, his main issue was “Hey, I drove there. I even stopped down at the church and tried to debate whether I should come to the house or not.”

The jury felt if you were really thinking of abandoning it from the church, you would have gone home. 16 men out of the 18 have been sentenced.

The 17th one is still to be sentenced sometime in April. Sentencing on these 16 men have ranged anywhere from 30 days in the local jail to 11 months in prison.

In Ken Westerbeck’s case, he was given 11 months. In another county right next to us, he had received a 10-year sentence for actually rape.

When the judge sentenced him in ours, he took his sentence and ran it concurrent. I was mad. Why did our sentence run concurrent? You know, why didn’t it run consecutive? Why should this guy be turned back out? Why is just 11 years enough? Why shouldn’t it be 12?

Pacheco: In Riverside County 51 men were arrested. They were all charged. They are all being prosecuted with the exception of 17 who have pled guilty. We didn’t offer any plea bargains to any of these individuals; no deals whatsoever.

The two longest sentences: One was given to Daniel Allen. The other one was given to Hoi Chen. They were both three years in state prison. They got the longest sentences because the judges in their case, realized the incredible harm that could have occurred. And so, they got the sentences that they deserved. And quite frankly, all of ‘em deserved those sentences.

Pacheco: The Walter Babst case involves a teacher from Corona who pled straight up at trial. He decided to plead; throw himself on the mercy on the court. He’s pending sentencing. That’s coming up in April.

There’s the Homeland Security agent. I think that case will go to trial. And there are well. What they’re going to argue? I have no idea. I would imagine that they’re gonna talk about entrapment. But once people see those communications—those written communications, between the defendant and what appeared to them to be an underage child and then they see the interviews—done by Dateline, I can’t imagine anybody being successful at trial.

Lynch: In Long Beach, California 35 men were arrested. 18 so far have pled guilty and the remaining 17 are still fighting it out in court.

Our standard offer on the case was essentially 18 months in state prison. None of the defendants have accepted our offer of state prison. They have fallen on the mercy of the court. And in those cases that have put out, basically the judges have given a probationary sentence.

A lot of these guys are getting straight probation and no time. But they are having to register sex offenders, which is a good thing.

Lynch: I can’t demand a judge to give a guy state prison. I can only ask for it. That’s their role to determine what the sentence should be.

Mike Jolley, Harris County Sheriff: 20 people actually showed up in Harris County to meet with a person they thought would be 15 or younger. Out of those 20, at this point, to date, we’ve had 14 go to court, and plead guilty in our supreme court of Georgia to criminal acts. The sentences range anywhere from ten years with 2 years to serve, with the remaining eight years being on probation, all the way up to six years to serve, with 25 years being put on probation.

Mr. Restocruz, he was the military member. He actually got 5 years the balance of 25 years on probation. I would like to think Georgia has been tougher in sentencing than most States, because we’re looking out for our kids. We’re very conservative in the South. We put a big value on family. And for that reason, we’re looking out for our children.

BENZ-LGB · #2 03-14-2007, 07:20 PM

Rod Pacheco is one of the best up and coming D.A.s in California.

He has a lot of good ideas and regularly attends meetings with rank and file prosecutors.

He is got a huge county to oversee with many, manyproblems.

I like him.

Judges in L.A. County (where Long Beach is located) are wayyyyyyyyy too lenient. They claim that prison overcrowding and huge caseloads forces them to plea out cases.

I don't buy it.

Someone needs to reminds some of these judges that they are up for confirmation every 6 years.

kip Foss · #3 03-14-2007, 07:39 PM

I agree completely with you that these scum bags should be given the maximum sentence, but, the problem is that when it comes time to pay for the new prisons, staff, etc., etc. no one wants to front up. The last time I heard it costs over $80k to build one prison cell and about $30k a year to keep a prisoner there each year. Multiply that times just the number of these predators that have been caught in the last year and you are talking mega-bucks.

Perhaps if we would release most of the nonviolent drug offenders we might have room for the predators. Personally I think that castration is about the only answer.

Hammertime · #4 03-14-2007, 07:42 PM

Here is where I get lost......let's look at this example from just today;

The final decision on Couey’s fate will be made in several weeks by Circuit Judge Richard Howard, who is not bound by the jury’s recommendation but is required to give it “great weight.”

I as why?
If this clown has been found guilty by a jury of his peers then why should this judge be able to "consider" the jury's recommendation?

In closing statements, prosecutor Ric Ridgway called the crime “evil” and asked jurors to remember how Jessica died by suffocating in the hole Couey dug, accompanied inside the plastic bags only by a toy dolphin.

“She was in pain. In the dark. She was certainly terrified,” Ridgway said in his closing statement. “If this is not the person who deserves the death penalty, who does?”

Why should this judge ponder and pass HIS judgement, especially when a jury has already come to a coclusion based on the facts? It frustrates me...

Perhaps I am backA$$wards in some ways

BENZ-LGB · #5 03-14-2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammertime

Perhaps I am backA$$wards in some ways

You may be...

But not on this issue.

As things work, the judge has the ultimate decision-making power when it comes to sentencing.

Even in capital cases, where the jury "recommends" the death penalty, the judge is free to impose something else.

And guess what, a defendant can always appeal the sentence he receives. The People, as represented by the prosecution, cannot appeal a sentence.

That is how our system works--or doesn't as the case may be.

dlssmith · #6 03-15-2007, 02:36 PM

It's good that scum is being locked up. But I am concerned about something: What about the scum that are actually communicating with young kids? Who's catching them? I mean, they're getting the guys that are communicating with adults posing as kids. But, it follows that there are guys out there actually doing the deed with youngsters. I am not hearing very much about them. And that bothers me very, very much.

The question is this: is law enforcement and the court system taking guys off the street that would be doing it with real kids? Or, are they taking a lot of time and money and missing the ones that are actually guilty of a real act?

Hammertime · #7 03-15-2007, 02:40 PM

everyone of those creeps arrested went to the home thinking they were meeting an underage kid for sex....most cases 13-14 yr old boys and girls...check out the link...

BENZ-LGB · #8 03-15-2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlssmith

...The question is this: is law enforcement and the court system taking guys off the street that would be doing it with real kids? Or, are they taking a lot of time and money and missing the ones that are actually guilty of a real act?

I think that Hammer already answered your question, but think about it logically.

In all of their chats with the undercover officer (or actor/actress) the perps thought that they were chatting with an underage girl or boy.

When they went to the meeting place they, again, thought they were meeting an underage girl or boy.

It stands to reason that these are the same perps that meet underage boys and girls.

It is hard to catch these guys (except during sting operations) because the majority of the victims are too embarrased, ashamed, or whatever to actually report the perps to law enforcement.

These guys are often caught when a parent accidentally discovers the e-mails or when the kid finally tells someone.

The guys shown in Dateline are but the tip of an immense iceberg.

As a society we bear some degree of culpability for their crimes, however. As has been pointed out elsewhere here, our society has oversexualized children to the point where they are seen as fair game for predators.

If you have kids, don't ever be afraid to monitor their Internet and telephone activities. The life you save may be your child's own life.

dlssmith · #9 03-15-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammertime

everyone of those creeps arrested went to the home thinking they were meeting an underage kid for sex....most cases 13-14 yr old boys and girls...check out the link...

I hear ya, and it's a good thing. And I suppose you are right, that if they weren't caught by law enforcement, then they'd be trying to get with a real kid.

I am astonished by the number of people this involves. Locally,cops are regularly conducting this type of "sting" operation. They have netted quite a few perps.

Hammertime · #10 03-15-2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlssmith

I hear ya, and it's a good thing. And I suppose you are right, that if they weren't caught by law enforcement, then they'd be trying to get with a real kid.

I am astonished by the number of people this involves. Locally,cops are regularly conducting this type of "sting" operation. They have netted quite a few perps.

Umm.they were really trying to get with a kid....they didn't realize they were being set up...idiots

dlssmith · #11 03-16-2007, 12:34 AM

They are out there, still looking, even after seeing these guys on tv every week getting arrested. It's damned scary. And it leads me to think that there are perps that aren't being arrested, and who are meeting kids. They'll get caught eventually, at least I'd like to think so. But in the mean time, what damage they do...to all of us, to society.

Is it possible to keep your kids out of chat rooms and the like?

Hammertime · #12 03-16-2007, 12:40 AM

I guess it is like anything else in life, all you can do is supervise and keep a constant and vigilant tab of your kids and what they maybe up to. I have 4 PC's in my home, three stations and one laptop. I have the three PC's right out in the open in the family room where mom and I can keep an eye peeled on where they go and what sites they visit. The laptop says with me at all times. Additionally we just do not allow them entry into chat rooms by locking down the PC's....It's a start

The creeps that worry me are the one's diisguising themselves as teachers, priests, coaches etc...that to me is the worst

dlssmith · #13 03-16-2007, 12:46 AM

It's kind of a mystery to me. I have never even been on a chat room site. But the kids are convinced that it's a profoundly important experience. I have read some of the chatting, inane as it is, and haven't seen anything untoward. I'll keep looking in to it.

#14 03-16-2007, 12:49 AM

I briefly saw a CNN blurb tonight where they found the body of the six year old boy in Georgia.

Make no mistake folks, the d*** internet is partly to blame, these freaks trade pornographic materials and molestation tips amongst themselves over the internet.

Right now, Conan O'Brian has some freak dressed up with a gag in his mouth on the show. It makes these perverted things seem legetimate to these sickos. Thanks, NBC.

Hammertime · #15 03-16-2007, 12:52 AM

a swift kick in the A$$ is a profoundly important experience also....

JH;
Yeah I saw that about Conan...what is he thinking?...