# Is it legal to bait or troll a sting operation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 9, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-bait-or-troll-a-sting-operation/516895 "2009-11-09T14:26:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![\_cc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/e19b73/32.png) [@\_cc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_cc)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-bait-or-troll-a-sting-operation/516895/21 "2009-11-12T07:48:56Z")
I find this question interesting, but since the argument over whether this-or-that online chat would even be legal in the first place is confusing, I propose a slight change in circumstances: Let us presume that there is some situation where an undercover officer has disguised herself (or himself!) as a prostitute, and a potential john has realized something is up and decides to just string her along, never quite stepping over the line of negotiating sex but playing the part well enough to still be thought a mark. I suppose at the very least, the officer could decide he’s not worth the time and tell him to get lost, at which point if he continues talking to her he could be arrested for harassment? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-bait-or-troll-a-sting-operation/516895/22 "2009-11-12T09:12:08Z")
> [@robert\_andrews](#): > > Basically, if an LEO were to realize that I had just wasted 5 hours of his time talking about ponies, party dresses, annoying little brothers, the beach, tennis, and other things that it is perfectly legal to talk about with little girls, and the LEO concluded that my purpose was to jerk him around and waste his time rather than have an actual innocent conversation with a little girl, can someone give me an example of a statute that I could be convicted under or case law indicating that this falls under Obstruction of Justice? It is my understanding that, in many cases, it is impossible to commit Obstruction without a predicate offense. In my theoretical scenario, no “obstructable” offense has been committed as it is legal for adults to chat with little girls in general, except where specifically prohibited. > > Let me reiterate that doing this in real life may be asking to spend the night in jail and thousands in legal defense fees and whatnot. If it was illegal to chat up kids then Michael Jackson would be alive and well and living in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-bait-or-troll-a-sting-operation/516895/23 "2009-11-12T12:38:13Z")
> [@'\[cc](#): > > ;11769584’]I find this question interesting, but since the argument over whether this-or-that online chat would even be legal in the first place is confusing, I propose a slight change in circumstances: > > Let us presume that there is some situation where an undercover officer has disguised herself (or himself!) as a prostitute, and a potential john has realized something is up and decides to just string her along, never quite stepping over the line of negotiating sex but playing the part well enough to still be thought a mark. > > I suppose at the very least, the officer could decide he’s not worth the time and tell him to get lost, at which point if he continues talking to her he could be arrested for harassment? I have a feeling the cop would realize this guy was stringing her along. Undercover cops are usually smarter than that. Furthermore, let’s say he was “harassing” the undercover cop. I doubt she would blow her cover just because the guy was harassing her. If she wants to keep busting Johns, she needs to keep it low key. She’d probably just tell the guy to get lost, keep walking away. If he follows for a bit, reiterate that he should get lost, keep walking. Perhaps threaten to call the cops if he keeps stalking her (that way she’s still got her cover.) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-bait-or-troll-a-sting-operation/516895/24 "2009-11-12T20:32:28Z")
Yes, it is illegal. It’s called “obstructing a police officer”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-bait-or-troll-a-sting-operation/516895.md?page=1)