Question about "To Catch A Predator".

DaTT

Garage Moderator
Moderator
Feb 13, 2003
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I stumbled on a few of these episodes on youtube, just a quick question. Can these guys be charged? I assume the "decoys" that are used are of age, just pretending to be underage.
 

sixone

Lifer
May 3, 2004
25,030
4
61
IANAL

They can be charged. Pretending to be underage is not a crime. Going to meet someone you THINK is underage, for the purpose of committing a crime, IS a crime.
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
1,187
126
Isn't that entrapment?

Technically, what IS an entrapment then?
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,364
6,190
126
yes they can be charged and if you watched the episodes they tell you what happens to everyone at the end of them.

noob.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,364
6,190
126
Isn't that entrapment?

Technically, what IS an entrapment then?

it isn't entrapment because it is not the police doing the baiting. the police are doing their own investigation along with the company perverted justice. the first few episodes the people did not get arrested. it wasn't until a few episodes in that the police started getting involved.

additionally, the decoys don't initiate the sexual conversations.

<--- seen every episode about 10x
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,997
126
Isn't that entrapment?

Technically, what IS an entrapment then?

Entrapment = trying to lure a person into a crime they otherwise would not commit.

IE: Fake hooker asks guy in a bar if he wants to hook up for $100 is entrapment as the guy had no intention of trying to pick up a hooker.

Guy pulls up to fake hooker on a corner and asks for her price list is a crime because he instigated things.
 

sixone

Lifer
May 3, 2004
25,030
4
61
Isn't that entrapment?

Technically, what IS an entrapment then?

Entrapment is when the cop offers to help the suspect commit a crime.

It's not entrapment when the predator is the one to suggest meeting.
 

sixone

Lifer
May 3, 2004
25,030
4
61
Entrapment = trying to lure a person into a crime they otherwise would not commit.

IE: Fake hooker asks guy in a bar if he wants to hook up for $100 is entrapment as the guy had no intention of trying to pick up a hooker.

Guy pulls up to fake hooker on a corner and asks for her price list is a crime because he instigated things.

Fake hooker can offer him a date, because dating isn't illegal. When he asks how much, he's brought money into it, which makes it prostitution.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,674
146
106
www.neftastic.com
Couldn't this all be avoided simply by the predo asking "Are you affiliated with or working in any capacity for any law enforcement agency?"

If they say no, then it probably becomes entrapment.
 
Mar 16, 2005
13,856
109
106
Couldn't this all be avoided simply by the predo asking "Are you affiliated with or working in any capacity for any law enforcement agency?"

If they say no, then it probably becomes entrapment.

will have to try that next time :awe:
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Couldn't this all be avoided simply by the predo asking "Are you affiliated with or working in any capacity for any law enforcement agency?"

If they say no, then it probably becomes entrapment.

bwhahahahhaha :biggrin:
 

DaTT

Garage Moderator
Moderator
Feb 13, 2003
13,295
118
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yes they can be charged and if you watched the episodes they tell you what happens to everyone at the end of them.

noob.

They weren't episodes as much as just clips of certain episodes.
 

DaTT

Garage Moderator
Moderator
Feb 13, 2003
13,295
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IANAL

They can be charged. Pretending to be underage is not a crime. Going to meet someone you THINK is underage, for the purpose of committing a crime, IS a crime.

I understand the premise behind it, but couldn't a defense lawyer call the "decoy" to the stand, ask her her age and if it is above the legal age of consent say "Thank you, no crime committed".

Although, thinking more into this, the police set up their own stings doing this sort of thing....but are they random pedo's or people they actually have incriminating evidence on.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
Fake hooker can offer him a date, because dating isn't illegal. When he asks how much, he's brought money into it, which makes it prostitution.

Ask if she would like to do some nude modeling. It's not illegal, and a cop would never say yes ;)
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,364
6,190
126
Couldn't this all be avoided simply by the predo asking "Are you affiliated with or working in any capacity for any law enforcement agency?"

If they say no, then it probably becomes entrapment.

except that the decoys aren't affiliated with law enforcement at all.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,364
6,190
126
I understand the premise behind it, but couldn't a defense lawyer call the "decoy" to the stand, ask her her age and if it is above the legal age of consent say "Thank you, no crime committed".

Although, thinking more into this, the police set up their own stings doing this sort of thing....but are they random pedo's or people they actually have incriminating evidence on.

nope. it is all about intent. it doesn't matter if they go through with it or not. i mean these guys aren't even having sex with underage girls or anything and they still get charged. but their initial intent is to have sex with them.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,674
146
106
www.neftastic.com
except that the decoys aren't affiliated with law enforcement at all.

Except they are - since the show is coordinating with local law enforcement in order to set up these stings. They essentially are working as an agent for law enforcement in this case. (IANAL)

Personally, I think the whole thing is bullshit anyway. Yeah, I'm all for getting pedo's off the street. But they are basically entrapping people who haven't committed any crime (at that particular time, not saying they haven't committed crimes in the past though).
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,364
6,190
126
Except they are - since the show is coordinating with local law enforcement in order to set up these stings. They essentially are working as an agent for law enforcement in this case. (IANAL)

no they aren't. it is an independent company doing the sting that is working with dateline, and the cops have their own investigation going parallel to it.

http://www.perverted-justice.com/