# I pit this violent sexual predator state trooper and the prosecutor who won't prosecute him. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 23, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531 "2014-01-23T16:28:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/1 "2014-01-23T16:28:37Z")
This is from, appropriately enough, the Sandusky Register. > **[Sandusky Ohio News | Sandusky Register](https://sanduskyregister.com/)** > > For Sandusky Ohio community and local news, trust Sandusky Register. We keep you up-to-date on the latest news. > [@](#): > > An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper with a history of domestic violence won’t face charges related to alleged sexual encounters involving a boy, Sandusky County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean O’Connell said. > > Trooper Ricky Vitte Jr. acknowledged to his wife that he watched porn with the boy five years ago and both Vitte and the boy masturbated together, according to a report by O’Connell. > > … > > “Rick’s reasoning is the fact that he did not want (the boy) to feel pressured on feeling the need to have to have sex with someone, when he can fix those needs by masturbating to porn,” O’Connell wrote after an interview with Vitte’s wife. > > Sandusky County prosecutor Tom Stierwalt opted against seeking an indictment. He declined to present testimony before a grand jury because Vitte might have presented a defense that justified his alleged actions, Stierwalt said. The article also states that, 5 years before, Vitte has spanked a girlfriend’s 5 year old son until his buttocks bled and then head-butted the boys mother when she argued with him about it. WTF? What’s wrong with this prosecutor, and why is this guy still a trooper? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/2 "2014-01-23T16:36:27Z")
It’s too early in the morning to think about this too hard, but to me, “spanking” = “smacking with bare hands/open palms” and I can’t see how that would lead to outright bleeding, which would to my mind only be caused by using a switch or cane or some other non-bare-hand object. Also, isn’t “{defendant} might have presented a defense that justified his alleged actions” kinda the whole point of a trial? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/3 "2014-01-23T18:12:16Z")
It’s a horrible situation, but I have to admit I’m inappropriately amused that this guy’s from Sandusky County. Wonder if he owns any paper towel rolls? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/4 "2014-01-23T18:18:42Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > It’s too early in the morning to think about this too hard, but to me, “spanking” = “smacking with bare hands/open palms” and I can’t see how that would lead to outright bleeding, which would to my mind only be caused by using a switch or cane or some other non-bare-hand object. I know for a fact that it is possible. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/5 "2014-01-23T19:10:45Z")
Since when is headbutting someone who gets in your way of disciplining their child a crime? Fucking fascist socialist Obamacare bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/6 "2014-01-23T19:13:45Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Since when is headbutting someone who gets in your way of disciplining their child a crime? Fucking fascist socialist Obamacare bullshit. I know. This guy is just concerned about the welfare of kids! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/7 "2014-01-23T19:20:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I know for a fact that it is possible. Yes. People don’t realize how much you can damage a small frail child with an open hand. It’s one of the main reasons I oppose spanking; too many people spank in anger and they don’t realize - or refuse to believe - they can really injure. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/8 "2014-01-23T19:55:30Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Since when is headbutting someone who gets in your way of disciplining their child a crime? Fucking fascist socialist Obamacare bullshit. You know what I blame this on the breakdown of? The family. [sub]I think you forgot a smiley. [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/9 "2014-01-24T01:18:58Z")
It doesn’t sound like there was any sexual contact and from the description they couldn’t see each other. Wouldn’t the most they could charge him with be corruption of a minor, or something along those lines, for showing him porn? (not that it actually says the age of the kid) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/10 "2014-01-24T02:49:47Z")
I’m guessing the key is this: > [@](#): > > Trooper Ricky Vitte Jr. acknowledged to his wife So, the wife is claiming he admitted this, but if that’s all they have, then it ain’t much. Don’t let the “acknowledged” fool you. This looks like sloppy journalism to me. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/11 "2014-01-24T11:58:48Z")
The trooper admitted to it when he gave the excuse that he was simply educating the boy. If you’re innocent of an act, your first impulse is to deny it. You don’t acknowledge it and make excuses. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/12 "2014-01-24T12:14:17Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > You know what I blame this on the breakdown of? Hitler? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/13 "2014-01-24T12:20:44Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > The trooper admitted to it when he gave the excuse that he was simply educating the boy. No child’s behind left, huh? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/14 "2014-01-24T13:01:41Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > No child’s behind left, huh? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/15 "2014-01-24T13:39:37Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > No child’s behind left, huh? Ooooooh - well played sir, well played. You win the interwebz today. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/16 "2014-01-24T13:57:13Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > The trooper admitted to it when he gave the excuse that he was simply educating the boy. > > If you’re innocent of an act, your first impulse is to deny it. You don’t acknowledge it and make excuses. If the only admission was to the wife, though, do you see the uphill battle the prosecution has? The defense could argue that this is hearsay, and inadmissible. The prosecution’s normal counter-argument would be that an admission of a crime is an exception to the hearsay rule, but in this case, this defense can argue that he didn’t – and doesn’t – see any criminal act in what he did, so that exception doesn’t apply. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/17 "2014-01-24T16:22:49Z")
That doesn’t fit with my understanding of the regarding admissions of party opponents. It’s only an admission if the declarant subjectively believes it to be one? ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/18 "2014-01-24T16:41:02Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > That doesn’t fit with my understanding of the regarding admissions of party opponents. It’s only an admission if the declarant subjectively believes it to be one? I think he’s thinking of a statement against penal interest. I suspect that probably does have a subjective compontent to it (becuase of the rationale behind it). But I think you’re right that it’s just a statement by a party opponent. Unless the statement really was to his wife, and then the problem is pivilege not hearsay. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/19 "2014-01-24T16:44:30Z")
That would have been my assumption about why they weren’t prosecuting too. The prosecutor’s comments seem to indicate otherwise, though: > [@](#): > > Sandusky County prosecutor Tom Stierwalt opted against seeking an indictment. He declined to present testimony before a grand jury because Vitte might have presented a defense that justified his alleged actions, Stierwalt said. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531/20 "2014-01-24T17:17:48Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > That would have been my assumption about why they weren’t prosecuting too. The prosecutor’s comments seem to indicate otherwise, though: I’ll bet the people of Sandusky County feel very well served by their DA with this guy who is very likely a child molester and wife abuser licensed to carry a gun, arrest people and generally get away with all kinds of shit walking around with a badge on his chest. It will be easy to punish the prosecutor — just run a candidate against him in the next election, and have that candidate bring up the fact that he refused to prosecute this guy over and over and over again, using the terms “child molester” and “wife abuser” a lot. I don’t see how any halfway decent candidate could lose with a club like that in their hands. In fact, this could work for a gubernatorial candidate, as the guy is a State Highway Patrol officer, and the State Highway Patrol chief is appointed by the governor. The opposing candidate could say, “No sanctions were taken against the child-molesting, wife-beating officer, do you want that officer arresting any member of your family? The SHP did not fire him, and the head of the SHP, who COULD fire him, was appointed by the incumbent! Therefore, both the governor and the SHP chief APPROVE child molesters and wife beaters being police officers! If elected my first move will be to FIRE the SHP chief if he refuses to remove this officer from the force!” Once again, a slam-dunk win for a decent candidate. Not that decent candidates are plentiful these days. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-this-violent-sexual-predator-state-trooper-and-the-prosecutor-who-wont-prosecute-him/679531.md?page=2)