NBC Sting Shakes Up Texas Town

[trekz 7]

NBC Sting Shakes Up Texas Town

By GRANT SLATER,AP

Posted: 2007-06-28 18:37:41

 

MURPHY, Texas (June 28) - A sting in which police teamed up with "Dateline NBC" to catch online pedophiles was supposed to send a flinty-eyed, Texas-style warning about this Dallas suburb: Don't mess with Murphy.

 

Instead, it has turned into a fiasco.

 

One of the 25 men caught in the sting, a prosecutor from a neighboring county committed suicide when police came to arrest him. The Murphy city manager who approved the operation lost his job in the ensuing furor.

 

And the district attorney is refusing to prosecute any of the men, saying many of the cases were tainted by the involvement of amateurs.

 

"Certainly these people should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but the fact that this was all done for television cameras raises some questions," said Mayor Bret Baldwin.

 

It is the first time in nine "Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator" stings across the country in the past year and a half that prosecutors did not pursue charges.

 

"Dateline" has made prime-time entertainment out of contacting would-be child molesters over the Internet, luring them to a meeting place, and videotaping their humiliating confrontations with reporter Chris Hansen.

 

"Dateline" works with an activist group called Perverted Justice, which supplies adults who troll Internet chat rooms, posing as underage boys and girls, and try to collect incriminating sex talk.

 

City manager Craig Sherwood approved such an operation in this well-to-do community of 11,000 after being approached by "Dateline" and Perverted Justice, but he never informed the mayor or the City Council. He said secrecy was necessary for the sting to be effective.

 

Over four days in November, 24 men were arrested at a two-story home in one of Murphy's newer neighborhoods after allegedly arranging to meet boys or girls there.

 

Some other suspects contacted Perverted Justice decoys online but never showed up at the house. Among them was Louis Conradt Jr., an assistant prosecutor from neighboring Kauffman County, who allegedly engaged in a sexually explicit online chat with an adult posing as a 13-year-old boy.

 

As police knocked at his door and a "Dateline" camera crew waited in the street, Conradt shot himself.

 

His sister, Patricia Conradt, told the City Council that police acted as "a judge, jury and executioner that was encouraged by an out-of-control reality show."

 

Then, last month, Collin County District Attorney John Roach dropped all charges. He said that in 16 of the cases, he had no jurisdiction, since neither the suspects nor the decoys were in the county during the online chats.

 

As for the rest of the cases, he said neither police nor NBC could guarantee the chat logs were authentic and complete.

 

"The fact that somebody besides police officers were involved is what makes this case bad," said Roach, who was informed of the sting in advance but did not participate. "If professionals had been running the show, they would have done a much better job rather than being at the beck and call of outsiders."

 

As details of the suicide emerged, Murphy's mayor, City Council and most of its residents learned for the first time that potential molesters were being luring to their city. Many were furious.

 

"They can chase predators all they want, but they shouldn't do it in a populated area with children, two blocks from an elementary school," said Lisa Watson, 33, who lives down the road from the sting house and has three children and another on the way.

 

Bryan Whorton, who lives with his wife and baby across the street from the house, said his neighborhood was put in danger. Cars sped up and down the street and police sprinted from hiding spots, guns drawn, to arrest suspects, he said. One suspect dropped a bag of crack, Whorton said.

 

"This is a family community. It didn't look kosher at all," he said.

 

Two weeks ago, the City Council voted to buy out the city manager's contract for $255,000.

 

NBC's Hansen said Murphy is the only place the show has encountered such resistance.

 

"I don't want to get involved in the DA's business or the police business," he said. "I can tell you in the other locations, these issues did not come up."

 

Eric Nichols, a Texas deputy attorney general, said that when law enforcement authorities pull an Internet sex sting, officers posing as decoys follow strict rules. Detailed chat logs are kept to ensure that "sex talk" is initiated by the potential predator. That way, a defendant cannot claim entrapment.

 

Eric Chase, a defense attorney specializing in sex crimes, said stings are the job of police, not TV crews. "Police should not be abdicating a very important function to either private organizations or entertainment organizations," he said.

 

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2007-06-28 16:53:31 -----------END ARTICLE ----------------------

 

So what do you think of this?

[Gummy 0]

All of those arrested should be prosecuted. No excuses. if a prosecutor from a nearby county was busted in the sting, and decided to kill himself to avoid capture, then that's too damn bad. Each of the individuals involved knew what they were doing. Trying to have sex with a minor, which is not only against the law, but is also morally wrong.

[MrPsychic 1]

Sounds like people are scrambling for answers for these sick people. I mean, the sister of the DA who shot himself shouldn't blame NBC. She should blame her brother, who was obviously sick and she didn't notice it.

[Gummy 0]

Sounds like people are scrambling for answers for these sick people. I mean, the sister of the DA who shot himself shouldn't blame NBC. She should blame her brother, who was obviously sick and she didn't notice it.

Agreed. It sounds like the town is screaming "set-up" when they should be looking at the perverts that are on the loose. It sounds like the town almost endorses this kind of behavior.

[Kor37 9]

The people in this town are morons! They should thank NBC for rooting out their perverts!

[Theunicornhunter 2]

So do you all want to bring back public hangings?

 

I have to agree that turning the criminal justice system over to the entertainment ... um ?news? ... industry is not a good idea. Reminds of a an ep of the Outer Limits. Seriously, it is a chilling concept for our society.

 

Gummy, I thought you were in law enforcement - do you really support private groups operating on their own?

 

The prosecutor has to decide if he has adequate evidence to proceed with a case - bringing charges in only part of the process - you have to able to prove it and if the evidence was compromised than he couldn't do that. I'm not convinced that is the case but here but it is certainly possible.

 

I have mixed feeling about this - yes, child molestors are scum and I even support those states that are starting to use the death penalty in child molestation cases. But I'd rather it be carried out rule of law not as part of a ratings gimmick.

[Gummy 0]

So do you all want to bring back public hangings?

 

I have to agree that turning the criminal justice system over to the entertainment ... um ?news? ... industry is not a good idea. Reminds of a an ep of the Outer Limits. Seriously, it is a chilling concept for our society.

 

Gummy, I thought you were in law enforcement - do you really support private groups operating on their own?

 

The prosecutor has to decide if he has adequate evidence to proceed with a case - bringing charges in only part of the process - you have to able to prove it and if the evidence was compromised than he couldn't do that. I'm not convinced that is the case but here but it is certainly possible.

 

I have mixed feeling about this - yes, child molestors are scum and I even support those states that are starting to use the death penalty in child molestation cases. But I'd rather it be carried out rule of law not as part of a ratings gimmick.

In this instance, I do endorse this. NBC has worked in the past to draw out the perverts and hand them over to the police. I have no problem with this. Lynch Mobs are another story altogether. NBC, (IMO) is doing a public service by making the general public aware of what kind of scum preys on children on the Internet. And the Police Department's Cyber Patrols are stretched thin as it is. Any help that they can get from people like NBC should be welcomed. Again, this is only my opinion and I don't speak for my department.

[Kor37 9]

It is the first time in nine "Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator" stings across the country in the past year and a half that prosecutors did not pursue charges.

 

This right here shows that they have been doing this with the full cooperation of the police and the courts. It seems that the problem lies with the incompetance of the administration of this particular town.

 

Some other suspects contacted Perverted Justice decoys online but never showed up at the house. Among them was Louis Conradt Jr., an assistant prosecutor from neighboring Kauffman County, who allegedly engaged in a sexually explicit online chat with an adult posing as a 13-year-old boy.

 

As police knocked at his door and a "Dateline" camera crew waited in the street, Conradt shot himself.

 

His sister, Patricia Conradt, told the City Council that police acted as "a judge, jury and executioner that was encouraged by an out-of-control reality show."

 

What a ridiculous statement by the sister!

- A) The Police did NOT act as "judge". They had evidence that this pervert was engaging in sex talk with a 13 year old boy and were doing their duty by coming to arrest him. They didn't dramatically break down the door. They simply knocked.

 

B- The Police did NOT act as "jury". After they arrested him, this guy would have seen a jury soon enough.

 

-C) The Police did NOT act as "executioner". This pervert knew he was caught so he killed himself as the Police were merely knocking on his door.

 

-D) "Dateline" was NOT "out-of-control". They merely presented the evidence to the Police and allowed them to do their job.

Edited June 30, 2007 by Kor37

[Gummy 0]

Well put, Kor.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

B- The Police did NOT act as "jury". After they arrested him, this guy would have seen a jury soon enough.

 

After his picture aired on television not a fair and impartial one - as required by law. And that is my point - we either live by law or we don't. We can't suspend it every time public opinion "believes" someone is guilty because even if they were right in this case - what about the next time or the time after that when they aren't right and an innocent party is publicly "convicted." There have been too many times in human history when innocent parties were killed by emotional mobs. I say again, we must examine the process - to make sure it provides safeguards for those who may be innocent - even if we "know" they aren't because sooner or later someone is going to be wrong about that.

 

And, if people don't see the problem of mixing entertainment and justice then we as a country are worse off than I thought.

 

Rant warning:

I also find it hypocritical of us as a nation that we don't do more to prevent the proliferation of child molesters - the ACLU, the entertainment and media industries will defend "free speech" ie the right to promote pornograhy and sexual addiction which play a role in sexual predation; as do drugs and alcohol which we also proclaim as "sacred". People will campaign against the online child project act claiming collecting non-identifying informing violates their privacy. We campaign against any attempt to promote morality - ie the concept of right and wrong or that life should be "sacred" or that - god forbid, people should use self control in their daily activities. No, no, no, this is America the land of give me, give me, give me, entertain me, gratify my passions and blame it on somebody else when the natural consequences of those attitudes ensue.

 

These monsters don't just spring into existence - they are created - if we really cared about children - if we really believed life was sacred we'd pay more attention to how that was happening and what we can do to stop it. Prevention would be too much trouble but if catching them makes for good ratings - hey sounds like a good deal. :biggrin:

[Kor37 9]

After his picture aired on television not a fair and impartial one - as required by law.

 

Is this true? Do they really show the pervert's face on TV or do they block the face out? I've never seen the program.

[Gummy 0]

After his picture aired on television not a fair and impartial one - as required by law.

 

Is this true? Do they really show the pervert's face on TV or do they block the face out? I've never seen the program.

Actually, they show the perp arriving at the location, have him enter, then the NBC Reporter comes in and introduces himself and asks why that person is there and who he's looking for. The perps usually show up with Liquor and Condoms, looking for sex with the "minor" who is actually a police officer.

I've seen the show a couple of times.

[Kor37 9]

Well......perhaps they should block out the face to be fair.

[Gummy 0]

Well......perhaps they should block out the face to be fair.

If I'm not mistaken, the show is aired after the suspects have been to court. So, those who were found guilty will have their identities known anyways when they register as Sex Offenders.

[Kor37 9]

Well......perhaps they should block out the face to be fair.

If I'm not mistaken, the show is aired after the suspects have been to court. So, those who were found guilty will have their identities known anyways when they register as Sex Offenders.

 

 

Oh ok....thats different then. No need to shield their faces from the public then. Let everyone see who the perverts are!

[Wishfire 2]

The people in this town are morons! They should thank NBC for rooting out their perverts!

 

Why? From the looks of it, they're not mad because their perverts are being forced out. They're mad because perverts from other areas are being lured in.

[Theunicornhunter 2]

Here's a link to a prior report on NBC & perverted Justice. I think you should all give it a read:

 

washington post

 

From this and other websites I've read: The show does air before arrests are made. Perverted Justice has made mistakes in identifying predators and used questionable tactics; you do have untrained people collecting evidence which can't always be used in court and NBC has blurred the line between news, public service & entertainment. And not every "sting" results in a conviction as the article above would have you believe

 

So what if someone else is running their own personal "sting" outside the bounds of official law enforcement and go to the meeting place just to collect evidence or they're searching for clues to their own missing child because the police have failed them? They'll be branded on public tv.

 

I will always find it disturbing that we're blurring the line between the criminal justice system and tv ratings.