# How can some people go to jail for 2+ years for being on To Catch A Predator? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 7, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862 "2011-10-07T03:24:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/423 "2011-10-13T21:46:30Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > We/you DO have reason to believe it exists, because the anchor said it. Why would the anchor just make that up out of thin air? The anchor sat down and wrote that. I still believe that at least one case does exist like that that he was aware of and that is why he said it. Why would he say that if it only happened in a minority of cases? The more likely explanation is that it’s an error. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/424 "2011-10-13T21:52:40Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > Hold on there a second Bricker. > > We/you DO have reason to believe it exists, because the anchor said it. Why would the anchor just make that up out of thin air? The anchor sat down and wrote that. I still believe that at least one case does exist like that that he was aware of and that is why he said it. Maybe you still believe it doesn’t exist, however the fact that the anchor man said it at least gives us REASON to believe that it exists. Well, I agree – the fact that Stone Phillips said it is, I suppose, a reason to believe it exists. I should have said it’s not a very strong reason, because Phillips himself was not present when the chats were happening or when the arrests were made. He was the anchor, not the reporter, and his recollection doesn’t seem to be confirmed by any actual chats. But I grant you that it’s a reason – just a weak one. > [@](#): > > This is completely **false**. In the phone calls they clearly beg, they clearly lure. Listen to the phone calls. There is a lot of persuasion for them to come over, they are vastly different to the chats. They REALLY want them to come over. Anyone who has seen the show a number of times can attest to this. Once on the phone their goal is to try to get them to come over. > > What do you not understand about the phone calls? I even linked to an example of the begging that took place over the phone. They called them multiple times at their home begging them to come over. This is absolutely untrue. Since I have done a great deal of other people’s homework in this thread, perhaps you wouldn’t mind linking again to the example that you feel demonstrates begging and multiple calls from the decoy to the predator. I have clicked on previous links offered up here and found nothing like you describe. Remember when I was challenged to review eight random chats? I did, and posted brief summaries of each one, showing where it supported my claim. Why don’t you do the same thing with your link? Post the link and the min:sec where you contend begging happens. I’m waiting. ---
**Author:** ![ModernPrimate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@ModernPrimate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ModernPrimate)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/425 "2011-10-13T22:20:32Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Well, I agree – the fact that Stone Phillips said it is, I suppose, a reason to believe it exists. I should have said it’s not a very strong reason, because Phillips himself was not present when the chats were happening or when the arrests were made. He was the anchor, not the reporter, and his recollection doesn’t seem to be confirmed by any actual chats. But I grant you that it’s a reason – just a weak one. > > This is absolutely untrue. > > Since I have done a great deal of other people’s homework in this thread, perhaps you wouldn’t mind linking again to the example that you feel demonstrates begging and multiple calls from the decoy to the predator. > > I have clicked on previous links offered up here and found nothing like you describe. > > Remember when I was challenged to review eight random chats? I did, and posted brief summaries of each one, showing where it supported my claim. Why don’t you do the same thing with your link? Post the link and the min:sec where you contend begging happens. > > I’m waiting. 3:30 on this video: [_http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=ET43wwyqteM_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=ET43wwyqteM) fwiw here’s a link to the post I made in this thread: [_http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14335699&postcount=119_](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14335699&postcount=119) He asks him three times to come over, and really tries to get him over. This is not by any means an unusual phone call on TCAP. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/426 "2011-10-13T23:34:46Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > 3:30 on this video: [_http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=ET43wwyqteM_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=ET43wwyqteM) Er, that’s a few fragments of what could be any number of phone calls, not a full recording or transcript. It’s…inconclusive, at best, at proving your point. It’s clear that whoever made the decision to arrest someone not in the material act of actually traveling to meet a child was overstepping their evidence, certainly. > [@](#): > > He asks him three times to come over, and really tries to get him over. **This is not by any means an unusual phone call on TCAP.** You’d have to provide a FEW more examples to prove THAT assertion in any case. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/427 "2011-10-13T23:36:20Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > He asks him three times to come over, and really tries to get him over. This is not by any means an unusual phone call on TCAP. yes, it is unusual. The target was a prosecutor. They definitely broke protocol with this example. From your link at 3:44: > [@](#): > > NARRATOR: But Conrad did not take the bait, and the decision was made to go and get him at his home in the nearby town of Tarot.. **the first time Dateline, in it’s eleven Catch A Predator episodes, had gone to a suspect’s home.** So, yes – I concede that in this one specific case, given the target, they ramped up the urging to the point that I agree it’s entrapment… Except, of course, that prior to the entrapment the target had already completed the crime. But your own source admits that this was an unusual, not an ordinary, response. And I don’t see any evidence of three calls, by the way. To prove my point earlier, I was asked to submit eight examples, and I did. Give me three, and I’ll concede you have identified a serious problem. Right now you have one, and your own source material characterizes it as unique. ---
**Author:** ![ModernPrimate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@ModernPrimate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ModernPrimate)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/428 "2011-10-14T00:00:17Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > yes, it is unusual. The target was a prosecutor. They definitely broke protocol with this example. From your link at 3:44: > > So, yes – I concede that in this one specific case, given the target, they ramped up the urging to the point that I agree it’s entrapment… Except, of course, that prior to the entrapment the target had already completed the crime. But your own source admits that this was an unusual, not an ordinary, response. And I don’t see any evidence of three calls, by the way. The situation was different, but the phone calls were pretty much the exact same. I should have said start at 3:20 or 3:15, I don’t know why I gave 3:30 in the first post. If you start at 3:15 you get even better evidence and how he called three separate times. The standard procedure it to try to get them to come over, maybe someone who has watched it a lot can confirm this even if they don’t agree with me in this thread (in fact it would be better if they didn’t for credibility). They are often saying: “awww.. but can you come over later then??” or something like that. > [@Bricker](#): > > To prove my point earlier, I was asked to submit eight examples, and I did. Give me three, and I’ll concede you have identified a serious problem. Right now you have one, and your own source material characterizes it as unique. I am watching this show at night now so I’ll watch them as they come up. I’m getting a bit tired of it at this stage wading through TCAP youtube videos. Alternatively maybe someone else can confirm that it’s the decoy that very often really tries to persuade them to come over? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/429 "2011-10-14T00:48:28Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > I am watching this show at night now so I’ll watch them as they come up. I’m getting a bit tired of it at this stage wading through TCAP youtube videos. Alternatively maybe someone else can confirm that it’s the decoy that very often really tries to persuade them to come over? The TCAP episodes are not what you need to be looking at. They’re heavily edited, with a view towards increasing drama. The chat transcripts are what you should be looking at. ETA: I guess if you’re looking specifically for a record of the phone calls from the show, then the TCAP episodes are the only source for that. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/430 "2011-10-14T01:08:07Z")
Related to the topic of the thread, I wonder if this should count as entrapment? > [@](#): > > ricks\_talented\_tongue (09/08/06 5:05:52 PM): Hello, How are you doing? Can i tease and please your pussy with my tongue and make you cum over and over?( Wow. That was the first line. All I can say to that is wow. ) > thisplacesux\_ihateit (09/08/06 5:06:07 PM): rofl ( I really did laugh, too. ) > ricks\_talented\_tongue (09/08/06 5:06:25 PM): you wont be dissapointed > thisplacesux\_ihateit (09/08/06 5:06:53 PM): asl > ricks\_talented\_tongue (09/08/06 5:07:22 PM): 28 Male Anaheim > thisplacesux\_ihateit (09/08/06 5:07:45 PM): o im 12 f by la > ricks\_talented\_tongue (09/08/06 5:08:02 PM): ok > ricks\_talented\_tongue (09/08/06 5:08:06 PM): bye > thisplacesux\_ihateit (09/08/06 5:08:13 PM): now u dont wanna??? He said “bye” when she told him her age. Does the subsequent “now u don’t wanna???” look like entrapment? ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/431 "2011-10-14T02:07:40Z")
Can you provide a link to that chat? Did it continue from there, or was that all there was? I agree that in this case, the man was not a predator (if that’s all of the chat) and shouldn’t be prosecuted or anything. Was he prosecuted? I also think, working on these cases, you might get jaded and see things that aren’t there. I have a good friend who is a prosecutor of crimes like this, and they get rotated around in order to (hopefully) prevent that from happening. I know when she was working some of those cases, it really got under her skin, and there was a point where she became suspicious of things that I didn’t see as being bad. I can see that happening to the volunteers, and I hope they do their best to combat it. ETA: I am talking solely about the volunteers here; not the police and prosecutors. I think once it gets to that point, where multiple people see the chats and sign off on it, that the problem is mitigated. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/432 "2011-10-14T02:24:05Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > He said “bye” when she told him her age. Does the subsequent “now u don’t wanna???” look like entrapment? By itself, it means nothing. Can you link to the rest? You are making an assumption that he said ‘bye’ _because_ she said she was 12. There are a number of other reasons he could have said ‘bye’. He could be teasing, he could be testing to see if she is taking the bait. He could married and his wife just pulled into the driveway. Or he got a phone call that he needed to take. But in any case, “now u don’t wanna???” would not be entrapment. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/433 "2011-10-14T02:28:40Z")
Sorry, I meant to provide the link. Here it is: [Perverted-Justice.com - The largest and best anti-predator organization online](http://www.perverted-justice.com/?archive=ricks_talented_tongue) I was asking about entrapment because it appears to be at least arguably a case in which the decoy presented the idea of comitting the crime first. “You don’t wanna???” is fairly clearly a rhetorical question meaning “You should do it!!!” The guy goes on in the transcript to completely fail to acquit himself well, but I was just wondering about this first bit, since if it’s entrapment, then the rest of the transcript is right out, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![ModernPrimate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@ModernPrimate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ModernPrimate)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/434 "2011-10-14T02:50:46Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Can you provide a link to that chat? Did it continue from there, or was that all there was? > > I agree that in this case, the man was not a predator (if that’s all of the chat) and shouldn’t be prosecuted or anything. Was he prosecuted? Are you retarded or something? Of course that wasn’t the whole of the chat. I take offence at your suggestion that it was even up for question. Even just your suggestion shows a lack of respect and dignity for freedom of expression and particularly for males who god forbid are forthright about their intentions up front. Ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/435 "2011-10-14T03:06:13Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > Are you retarded or something? Of course that wasn’t the whole of the chat. > > I take offence at your suggestion that it was even up for question. Even just your suggestion shows a lack of respect and dignity for freedom of expression and particularly for males who god forbid are forthright about their intentions up front. > > Ridiculous. Her suggestion that this wasn’t the whole chat offends you, and yet you think she’s right that it wasn’t the whole of the chat? I am _really_ confused not just by the hostility but simply by the attempt to understand your position in this post. I can’t make heads or tails of what you’re even _saying_ you’re offended by, much less of the notion that you’d find anything in her post offensive at all. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/436 "2011-10-14T03:20:47Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > I am watching this show at night now so I’ll watch them as they come up. I’m getting a bit tired of it at this stage wading through TCAP youtube videos. Alternatively maybe someone else can confirm that it’s the decoy that very often really tries to persuade them to come over? You’re seriously asking other people to find the evidence to back up the claims that _you_ have been making for days/pages now? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/437 "2011-10-14T03:38:30Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > Are you retarded or something? Of course that wasn’t the whole of the chat. > > I take offence at your suggestion that it was even up for question. Even just your suggestion shows a lack of respect and dignity for freedom of expression and particularly for males who god forbid are forthright about their intentions up front. > > Ridiculous. You have been told on several occasions to stop insulting other posters. This is a Warning that you are way out of line, both insulting posters and ignoring Mod instructions. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![ModernPrimate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85e7bf/32.png) [@ModernPrimate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ModernPrimate)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/438 "2011-10-14T05:07:42Z")
Frylock, it’s the mere suggestion that I find offensive and I believe Voltaire and many others would also. I think there is more than a hint of misandry there. > [@Lamia](#): > > You’re seriously asking other people to find the evidence to back up the claims that _you_ have been making for days/pages now? No. I asked if someone else who viewed the shows would confirm it, and if not then I would find the links. Unfortunately the show tonight here was a repeat and I did not want to view it. I accept the moderation warning, I’m still trying to get a feel for what is and isn’t allowed here. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/439 "2011-10-14T10:49:24Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > Frylock, it’s the mere suggestion that I find offensive and I believe Voltaire and many others would also. I think there is more than a hint of misandry there. _What_ mere suggestion? That’s just it–it’s completely unclear what suggestion you’re talking about. It _looks_ like you’re offended by the suggestion that it wasn’t the whole chat. But in the very same post, you say that _of course_ it’s not the whole chat. So if that’s the suggestion in question, you’re post is simply bizarre. You’re offended at a suggestion which you yourself not only suggest, but wholeheartedly affirm! ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/440 "2011-10-14T14:44:52Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > Are you retarded or something? Of course that wasn’t the whole of the chat. > > I take offence at your suggestion that it was even up for question. Even just your suggestion shows a lack of respect and dignity for freedom of expression and particularly for males who god forbid are forthright about their intentions up front. > > Ridiculous. Someone posted a (part) of a transcript with no link, and no more information than the chatter had said “bye” when told the age of the decoy. My response was that, if that was the whole thing, it wasn’t offensive, and that the guy wasn’t a predator. That turned out to be wrong; there was in fact much more, and it was as disgusting as anything else on that site. Maybe you think it’s misandry to believe that men can do better than rape 12 year olds; I happen to disagree. I believe men who aren’t pieces of shit (the vast majority of men) have no desire to rape 12 year olds and are rightfully appalled at the behavior. In fact, i would characterize the insinuation that men are animals who can’t help themselves from raping any child that presents herself as being pretty damn misandrist. I have no problem with adults cybering each other. _Adults._ Not piece of shit pedos grooming and then molesting kids. You apparently disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/441 "2011-10-14T14:55:17Z")
> [@ModernPrimate](#): > > Frylock, it’s the mere suggestion that I find offensive and I believe \*\*Voltaire \*\*and many others would also. I think there is more than a hint of misandry there. Seriously? That’s gotta win some kind of record for single weirdest appeal to authority ever posted in apparent seriousness. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862/442 "2011-10-14T16:43:06Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Related to the topic of the thread, I wonder if this should count as entrapment? > > He said “bye” when she told him her age. Does the subsequent “now u don’t wanna???” look like entrapment? Agreed on that one. If he says bye then that should be the end of the conversation. Is that the only one where there’s entrapment as a possibility? And even then it’s not the decoy bringing sex up first. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-some-people-go-to-jail-for-2-years-for-being-on-to-catch-a-predator/598862.md?page=23)