Online Predators getting a slap on the wrist

[tiredofdrama]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA

Hello Everyone. A few months ago a my husband's best friend of 30 years was arrested in an online Child Predator sting. Basically he was engaging in some very sick and perverse (my husband read the report and was mortified) and sending webcam videos of himself masterbating to 13 and 14 year old girls (and eventually police officers posing as children). This came as a complete and total shock to everyone that knows this man, espeically his wife and my husband. They want to believe he is sick and can be helped. I am a mother to an 8 year old boy (from a previous marriage) and have made it clear that this man is never to come anywhere near us. Since this is obviously a huge topic of discussion among family and friends, there is much speculation on what his punishment will be. I'm hoping they'll throw the book at him, but others are saying since it's a first offense and he never actually touched anyone or met anyone face to face, it's likely he'll get probation. Is anyone out there familiar with cases like this that might give me some idea of what kind of punishment he might be looking at? I'd at least hope he'd have to register as a sex offender, but who knows. I guess I'm most angry that this person has been in my home while my son was present and I feel violated and really betrayed that he was living this whole other life behind everyone's back. Not that my feelings matter, I know that, I would just hope that with this kind of thing being more and more common that there would be stronger punishments in place. Thank you.

 

[Zigner]

Thank you for your statement...

 

[tiredofdrama]

Thanks. I figured I'd get slammed for voicing my personal opinion. I was just curious if anyone here had known of a similar situation and what the standard punishment was on a first offense. It wasn't necessary to say what I thought it should be. Thanks anyway.

 

[Some Random Guy]

There is no standard punishment. It all depends on the state his is in, the severity of the charges, his priors and the exact nature of what was done and attempted.

For a sample of convictions and snetences, see Perverted Justice's conviction list
http://www.perverted-justice.com/?con=full

 

[mike_lee]

What would you like to see? I saw a man get 40 years for a few CP (You should never write that term) photos in draconian Williamson county, TX and that same week a teacher got 7 years for molesting 8 children.

I suppose a web cam is slightly worse then having photos but why are those kids in those chat rooms? This doesn't happen on yahoo these rooms are usually about the topic. They can't be forced to enter them by bands of roaming pedos like is usually claimed so they must come of their own free will. Yes, I realize an under aged child is not capable of making a decision but if a girl has entered puberty that been a temptation as long as the term jail bail been around, The law uses a different set of judgments based on age 8 years old will get you prison time 17 will you a small fine.

If the law just let this go I think the guy has probably already suffered a great deal and will continue to suffer for years to come. Especially if he gets the life ending sex offenders list.

I sense you didn't like the guy in the first place, now you know why

P.S. I am in no way suggesting this isn't a crime and I believe that shoud involve prison time. I just think like a lot of things in America we went way too far with punishment. The punishment doesn't fit the crime. looking at naked models driven to the photo studio by their mom shouldn't cost a man the rest of his life. Nearly all "CP' (at least 80-85%) is just nudity. Men that actually harm children should continue to get severe punishment and if the guy goes to a location expecting sex with a minor he gets no mercy from me.

 

[tiredofdrama]

Thank you both very much for your responses. Yes, you are correct that I always did sense something was a little off about him, but I never guessed he'd be capable of this. It's also easier for me to write him off than it is my husband becuase I've only known him for 4 years, as my husband has been friends with him for more than 30 years. He wonders why he didn't see this in his friend. Anyway, not that any of that matters here. I was just curious to see if anyone here knew of similar situations since this seems to be more and more common lately (unfortunately). Thank you again for your responses. I'm going to go ahead and close this out since I'm sure that unless I can provide some more details as to the exact charges, there probably isn't a whole lot more anyone can tell me. Plus, I don't want to push my luck and get yelled at!