A Friend of Mine was Arrested. UPDATED

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waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
People still use chat rooms?

I bet he sent some underage girls messages on Facebook.

that is what i was thinking. only chat rooms i know of are full of old computer nerds (irc)

anyway stick with him until you get facts. It could be a mix up or he could be into kids.
 

nerp

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2005
9,865
105
106
Your friend is a creep. Are you going to support him vehemently because you're a creep too?
 

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
86
91
I have done nothing to warrant such action. I had no idea he was visiting chat rooms or whatever he was doing. I have been busy trying to start my own business.

That business wouldn't involve trips to Thailand for special tours would it?
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
I also know of someone charged of this (note that I did not use the term friend). From the little we (people who knew of him) could assemble, the charge was for attempting to lure a police officer who was posing as a 12 year old girl on IRC.
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,381
12,867
136
to answer some questions:

He does not post on AT.

I had no idea he was doing this.

I am trying to start a computer repair business.

the arrest info is online from our London Police Services.

If you want, I can post the link.
 

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,582
162
106
I also know of someone charged of this (note that I did not use the term friend). From the little we (people who knew of him) could assemble, the charge was for attempting to lure a police officer who was posing as a 12 year old girl on IRC.

Very disturbing.
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
The arrest info is online from our London Police Services.

If you want, I can post the link.

Why do that? Let him remain innocent before being proved guilty and keep his name out of the press as much as possible before that occurs. I'm not a fan of how the wrongly accused's lives are ruined the minute they're charged with a serious offence. Even if completely and publicly exonerated, the whispers will always follow a person around.
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,340
136
Innocent until....

Remember a few months back where a woman's co-worker put porn on her hubby's computer because he "loved" her and wanted the hubby out of the way? The guy was convicted, iirc, and only a fluke that it was figured out.
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
I also know of someone charged of this (note that I did not use the term friend). From the little we (people who knew of him) could assemble, the charge was for attempting to lure a police officer who was posing as a 12 year old girl on IRC.

Maybe a geeky 12 year old of yesteryear, but what 12 year old girl would be caught dead on IRC? Justin Timberlake is not on IRC.
 

erikistired

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2000
9,739
0
0
Maybe a geeky 12 year old of yesteryear, but what 12 year old girl would be caught dead on IRC? Justin Timberlake is not on IRC.

12 year olds these days hardly know what IMs are, much less IRC. it's all about texting and facebook now.

edit: i only know this because i have kids, and because i work at a paintball field, and have to work around kids. stay away from me cyber police.
 

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,688
126
Innocent until....

Remember a few months back where a woman's co-worker put porn on her hubby's computer because he "loved" her and wanted the hubby out of the way? The guy was convicted, iirc, and only a fluke that it was figured out.

JFC, that's crazy, I hadn't heard about that. I've always thought that if you really wanted to destroy someone's life all you'd have to do is get some CP on their computer somehow and then call the authorities.
 

erikistired

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2000
9,739
0
0
JFC, that's crazy, I hadn't heard about that. I've always thought that if you really wanted to destroy someone's life all you'd have to do is get some CP on their computer somehow and then call the authorities.

A 39-year-old east London handyman tried to get a promotion by framing his co-worker with child pornography.

The "wickedly evil and vile plot" was devised by Neil Weiner. In order to get 62-year-old school caretaker Eddie Thompson out of the picture, Weiner anonymously sent police a CD containing 177 indecent images of children, claiming that the files were taken from Thompson's laptop. The police took the bait and confiscated the device--235 additional offensive pictures were discovered on the hard drive.

Despite his pleas of innocence and claims of being framed, Thompson was arrested.

Released on bail and awaiting the impending trial, Thompson and his family were afraid to show up in public due to receiving various threats. Thompson also said that--after returning from suspension to Swanlea secondary school in Whitechapel, east London--he was shunned by "almost all" of the staff.

"My life and good name was nearly destroyed by a villain who tried to destroy my reputation in a monstrous manner," he said.

Charges were dropped eight months after his arrest. The local authorities tracked an additional, anonymous call from Weiner back to his mobile phone. Further investigations showed that Weiner--deemed as a computer wizard--planted the images on Thompson's laptop. Prosecuting attorney Richard Milne surmised that the plot was carried out "for no better reason than to get him the sack, and because he did not like him."

Apparently the plan had been in the works for some time. Testimonies revealed that Weiner had spoken at a barbecue, displaying his dislike for Thompson and how he wanted to put child porn on the man's laptop so he would be fired. Some of the images that were actually used were level 4, the second most serious.

Weiner was eventually convicted of "perverting the course of justice" along with two counts of possessing indecent images of children. He was placed on the sex offenders' list and now faces a possible long prison sentence when he returns to court on September 23.

oops.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,675
146
106
www.neftastic.com
Don't feel bad. One of the kids I went to school with got indited on multiple counts of child pornography (possession and dissemination) charges this past year.
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,381
12,867
136
Don't feel bad. One of the kids I went to school with got indited on multiple counts of child pornography (possession and dissemination) charges this past year.
It just bothers me, that's all.

you think you know someone and *bam* its like you never knew them at all.
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,340
136
It just bothers me, that's all.

you think you know someone and *bam* its like you never knew them at all.
And you still don't know if he's guilty, right? Typical of people. "That dude's a homo" and every time you see him you'll remember that, true or not.

edit: Lady that works for me was arrested for four felonies. Turned out to be trumped up and she had one misdemeanor. But it was already printed on the front page of the rag in my town. No retraction since.
 

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,688
126
Don't feel bad. One of the kids I went to school with got indited on multiple counts of child pornography (possession and dissemination) charges this past year.

It just bothers me, that's all.

you think you know someone and *bam* its like you never knew them at all.

And these are just the ones that get caught. I wonder how many people I know that do this kind of thing and will take it to their grave?
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
Maybe a geeky 12 year old of yesteryear, but what 12 year old girl would be caught dead on IRC? Justin Timberlake is not on IRC.

Small town Canadians have a thing about living in the past. :D

P.S. Join now and I'll give you ops in #nsync on DALnet.
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,765
615
126
JFC, that's crazy, I hadn't heard about that. I've always thought that if you really wanted to destroy someone's life all you'd have to do is get some CP on their computer somehow and then call the authorities.

Now, in a more terrifying revelation...imagine how easy that would be to get away with the frame up if you just had the luck of not being born a complete idiot like the examples of people that got caught doing it?
 

Saint Nick

Lifer
Jan 21, 2005
17,722
6
81
You can probably tell by his mannerisms if he is a guilty or innocent party. But, give him the benefit of the doubt for now, and if he needs some advice, or someone to talk to, just be careful about what he tells you. You could then quickly become part of a criminal case :whiste:
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,381
12,867
136
How good of a friend is he? Or is he just an acquaintance?
A good friend since 1982. That is why this is such a shock.

You can probably tell by his mannerisms if he is a guilty or innocent party. But, give him the benefit of the doubt for now, and if he needs some advice, or someone to talk to, just be careful about what he tells you. You could then quickly become part of a criminal case :whistle:

He won't talk to me or anyone else, except his lawyer I guess.