# So, I've got a fucking convicted child rapist as a co-worker now! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 24, 2006, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946 "2006-04-24T05:26:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Aholibah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Aholibah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aholibah)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/201 "2006-04-25T21:15:51Z")
For those who believe that child rapists are not human, I’ve started [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=368933). I put it in GD because I really mean it to be a debate, not a pile-on. I’m interested in hearing how you defend that position. Please come and share your views, if you have the time. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/202 "2006-04-25T21:15:59Z")
**Sequent** , other than satisfying your own curiousity, that information is not needed. Certain states have very detailed databases. Even if it isn’t, most court cases are public record. Presumably, only one poster in this thread is directly affected. Most other posters are working on the assumption that the felon was rightly and justly convicted of raping a 7 year old girl. Even if it is a red herring, it doesn not invalidate most of the debate, which is around the treatment of violent sexual offenders, especially those of children, upon their reintroduction to society. The working assumption is that we’ve correctly identified the violent sexual offender as such, and that we’re not dealing with the wrongly accused and convicted (which opens up a different debate). ---
**Author:** ![Sequent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Sequent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sequent)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/203 "2006-04-25T21:36:02Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Even if it is a red herring, it doesn not invalidate most of the debate, which is around the treatment of violent sexual offenders, especially those of children, upon their reintroduction to society. Agreed…the debate is valid. I almost said exactly this in my last post. Again, I wasn’t as curious about the details of the crime as I was about how those details made their way into the awareness of everyone at the workplace. But I suppose there are people out there who surf sex offender databases like I surf the SDMB. Or perhaps someone paying attention to this particular offender might have tipped someone else off. It would be one thing if crimes like this didn’t happen, but they unfortunately only-too-often do, so the veracity of the OP is of little consequence to the debate. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/204 "2006-04-25T21:38:23Z")
All right, not that this negates anything anyone has said so far, but I’ve gotta agree with a previous poster that something is smelling a bit fishy here. Why has the OP not made any comment at all (near as I can tell) since post #3? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/205 "2006-04-25T23:05:12Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > The working assumption is that we’ve correctly identified the violent sexual offender as such, and that we’re not dealing with the wrongly accused and convicted (which opens up a different debate). I disagree. When we are arguing over how to treat convicted criminals, I believe it’s always important to remember the system is imperfect, and we _might_ be dealing with innocent people. That’s a major reason that the torture/killing fantasies of certain posters are so bad; the target _might_ be innocent. ---
**Author:** ![Aholibah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Aholibah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aholibah)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/206 "2006-04-25T23:24:31Z")
> [@Sequent](#): > > I don’t see why, given how eloquent the rest of your post was. Sorry, **Sequent** – with the page change I missed this before. Now I just have to say “Thanks!” and :o ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/207 "2006-04-25T23:42:22Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > Once again, for those in the back rows: > > I AM NOT ADVOCATING VIGILANTISM OR ANY ACTIONS OUTSIDE THE LAW! I AM EXPRESSING A BELIEF THAT CHILD **MOLESTATION** AND RAPE SHOULD BE AN OFFENSE PUNISHABLE BY DEATH! (Bolding mine) Call for clarification - Are you advocating the death penalty for someone convicted of fondling a child’s breasts or genitalia? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/208 "2006-04-25T23:42:31Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > I disagree. When we are arguing over how to treat convicted criminals, I believe it’s always important to remember the system is imperfect, and we _might_ be dealing with innocent people. That’s a major reason that the torture/killing fantasies of certain posters are so bad; the target _might_ be innocent. Hence my opposition to the DP (that and the fact that it isn’t applied equally over the socio-economic spectrum). I don’t oppose the DP on any sort of moral ground. However, in the context of this debate, the ability to separate someone completely from society rests upon inarguable guilt. That said, the default assumption of someone who was convicted should be guilt. The system isn’t perfect, but it has a pretty good record at ascertaining guilt (when not being openly abused). ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2006, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/209 "2006-04-25T23:47:11Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > All right, not that this negates anything anyone has said so far, but I’ve gotta agree with a previous poster that something is smelling a bit fishy here. Why has the OP not made any comment at all (near as I can tell) since post #3? Because not everyone makes a daily habit of the SDMB? The posts were at near 2:00AM EST, so I’m guessing well after the working day. Maybe **wheelie** didn’t expect this to take off and hasn’t come back to the SDMB to check his handywork. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/210 "2006-04-26T00:19:40Z")
> [@Sequent](#): > > Again, I wasn’t as curious about the details of the crime as I was about how those details made their way into the awareness of everyone at the workplace. But I suppose there are people out there who surf sex offender databases like I surf the SDMB. Or perhaps someone paying attention to this particular offender might have tipped someone else off. Consider also that the source may have been the boss himself. Remember that job applications usually have a section for if you have ever been convicted of a felony. Which brings up an interesting legal question. Does an employer have an obligation to keep such information confidential? Or does he have an obligation to warn his employees that they are now working with a possibly dangerous felon? ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/211 "2006-04-26T00:32:51Z")
**tdn** - I realize this is the Pit and all that but I didn’t intend for it to evolve into a personal slight to anyone. My contempt is for the criminal and not for a fellow Doper. I regret it’s having gone that direction. Nic ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/212 "2006-04-26T00:45:58Z")
> [@peri](#): > > (Bolding mine) > Call for clarification - Are you advocating the death penalty for someone convicted of fondling a child’s breasts or genitalia? According to the majority of studies my wife has read (she works in Children’s Aid), in many cases, molestation is part of the grooming process that leads to eventual rape. Sorry, I don’t have any cites. Her textbooks are in storage. I understand the difference between molestation and rape and I think both crimes are equally repugnant. So yes. ---
**Author:** ![wheelie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wheelie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheelie)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/213 "2006-04-26T00:55:56Z")
Damn, you folks sure have been busy. I found out about the RSO status of the person when one of the employees who left told me, so I wouldn’t think that they just took off for no reason. Specific details of the case came to light when said former employee researched the case (since she was a victim of child rape, I can understand being more than a little concerned about it). Word spread around today that we will no longer be employing this person come tomorrow. I hope that is true, as I don’t think I could work there anymore otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![wheelie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wheelie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheelie)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/214 "2006-04-26T00:57:37Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > (snip)Which brings up an interesting legal question. Does an employer have an obligation to keep such information confidential? Or does he have an obligation to warn his employees that they are now working with a possibly dangerous felon? I’d like to know the answer to this myself. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/215 "2006-04-26T01:08:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Because not everyone makes a daily habit of the SDMB? The posts were at near 2:00AM EST, so I’m guessing well after the working day. Maybe wheelie didn’t expect this to take off and hasn’t come back to the SDMB to check his handywork. Sure. Guess we’ll find out if and when he makes it back. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/216 "2006-04-26T01:09:27Z")
Heh, and there you go. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/217 "2006-04-26T04:57:40Z")
Before I do anything else, I’d like to say that the insults I emitted recently were unnecessary and stupid and I’m sorry I wrote them. Apologies specifically to **Dante** , who has no more use for my opinions on this issue than I have for his, but who deserved more civility from me (and demonstrated more) than he got. But I don’t think you can announce your willingness to shoot a kneeling man through the head (not a method that has anything to do with current statutory executions), describe yourself doing it using the word “happily,” and pass yourself off as Just Another Concerned Citizen Advocating Legal Reform. When you take this position in a thread about a (hypothetical or real, take your pick) parolee who is already serving his legally-mandated sentence, and to whom the death penalty doesn’t apply anyway, it’s a little disingenuous to act shocked (“Vigilante? _Moi_?”) when people conclude that you’re not talking about acting within the system. And once you’ve regaled us with the imagery of your violent revenge fantasy, you’ve brought the amateur psychology on yourself. By the way, I realize it wasn’t **Dante** who said this, but I love the post that said he was “advocating execution as _part_ of the legal punishment.” Rehabilitation _and_ death! What could be sweeter? “Doctor, I think he’s making real progress! Which is fortunate, because he’s also beginning to really reek.” If you can transform the urge for violent retribution into a principled stand for the death penalty, that’s just fabulous. But the too-often heard litany of “Oh yeah? Get a load of what _I’d_ do to the so-and-so…” that’s a regular feature in the Pit’s Crime of the Week threads isn’t principled, and it isn’t helpful. It isn’t even tough: it’s just loud. Death for an inappropriate touch? That’s harsh. Good thing, though, we weren’t doing that back in the 80s: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False\_memory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_memory) [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mcmartin/mcmartin.html](http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mcmartin/mcmartin.html) ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/218 "2006-04-26T05:35:29Z")
**Wheelie** I’m glad you returned to the thread. (I had a feeling you were _not_ just some troublemaker starting up a highly charged, emotional topic and then leaving.) One thing that everyone seems to have forgotten, is that the sex offender registry is _not_ the only research resource. Heck, we all know from TV, radio, newspapers, etc that Timothy McVeigh was the bastard who bombed the Oklahoma Federal Building. We didn’t need any “mad bomber” registry to learn that. So, maybe the registry is just a start and someone could research more of the story in newspapers. Anyway, **wheelie** , it strikes me as odd that your boss is a racist prick and yet has the compassion to give a child-raping, ex-con another chance at a productive life. I’m just wondering if there’s more to this story. (Was the convict related to your boss in some way or a friend of a friend of a friend?) Maybe you’ll never know but you’ve got to admit your boss’ “compassion” seems way out of place don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/219 "2006-04-26T06:03:15Z")
> [@The King of Soup](#): > > Death for an inappropriate touch? That’s harsh. Good thing, though, we weren’t doing that back in the 80s: > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False\_memory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_memory) > [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mcmartin/mcmartin.html](http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mcmartin/mcmartin.html) Amen to that!!! Here’s my theory – which is not my own, but comes from a famous actor who’s notorious for playing excellent villains. (I think it was Bernard Lee, but that’s probably wrong.) He was asked, how do you play such compelling villians. Here is his (heavily paraphrased) reply: Yes, there are Evil people in the world. But NOBODY is Evil for the sake of being Evil. (Except in comic books.) Evil people, have their own moral baseline, their own ethical judgments, their own special REASONS that justify the things they do. In their mind, they are GOOD people, doing GOOD things. Or, they are driven by outside forces to do them. They are motivated by Lust, Power, Greed, Envy, Jealousy, and/or Justice – all VERY human desires. Everyone, from John Wayne Gacy to Osama bin Laden. That’s not to say, Evil people deserve forgiveness. Far from it. But, it _is_ important to understand that person’s point of view, especially if he/she did something terrible to your loved one. No healing is possible, without that. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2006, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-ive-got-a-fucking-convicted-child-rapist-as-a-co-worker-now/353946/220 "2006-04-26T06:04:59Z")
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