Child Pornography (case, murders, criminal, attorney)

[Phil306]

Police arrest man for child pornography after tipoff from burglars - CNN.com

Very interesting case. I hope the DA doesn't charge the people who brought this information forward. Sometimes, justice must take a back seat to the "bigger picture."

[nighthouse66]

nah, the cops decided not to charge them. said something to the effect that, "its the lesser of the two evils". good for them. and good for those guys for turning him in and not being so cowardly as to worry about their own hides first. hey kids, sometimes crime DOES pay!
(i kid)

[Phil306]

Originally Posted by nighthouse66

nah, the cops decided not to charge them. said something to the effect that, "its the lesser of the two evils". good for them. and good for those guys for turning him in and not being so cowardly as to worry about their own hides first. hey kids, sometimes crime DOES pay!
(i kid)

Yes and no. In California, the police don't "charge" anyone. The district attorney does. The police can only arrest someone, based upon "probable cause." The police did not arrest the burglary suspects and sent the case to the DA for review. So it is up to the district attorney, whether or not to "charge" the informants.

[markg91359]

Very interesting case. I hope the DA doesn't charge the people who brought this information forward. Sometimes, justice must take a back seat to the "bigger picture."

I agree, Phil. I wanted to note that in reading the article the burglars broke into a barn as opposed to a home. I regard the burglary of a home as a much more serious offense than the burglary of either a business or a structure like a barn. One is unlikely to encounter an occupant when committing that type of a crime. It really is a crime against property, rather than a crime against people.

I wouldn't have trouble offering these burglars immunity for their crime in return for their testimony against this pervert and likely pedophile.

[AnnieA]

One or both of the mothers of the teens encouraged them to come forward from what I read. Good for them.

[Phil306]

Originally Posted by markg91359

I agree, Phil. I wanted to note that in reading the article the burglars broke into a barn as opposed to a home. I regard the burglary of a home as a much more serious offense than the burglary of either a business or a structure like a barn. One is unlikely to encounter an occupant when committing that type of a crime. It really is a crime against property, rather than a crime against people.

I wouldn't have trouble offering these burglars immunity for their crime in return for their testimony against this pervert and likely pedophile.

I know for DA's here locally, the big question in "working off a case," is, is there a victim? In this case, the victim is actually the suspect. So, my guess would be the DA will not charge them.

However, the even MORE interesting aspect to this case, will be a civil lawsuit. The child pornographer DOES have a civil case against the two which broke into his barn. If such a lawsuit went forward, I'd hope like hell, a bunch of good attorneys stand up for these two and moreover, the first judge to hear the case tosses it.

[WhipperSnapper 88]

I simply cannot believe what I am reading here! CRIME is CRIME no matter what the end result. The guy who had the CP should be charged, but so should the burglars! It sends a bad message anytime you let criminals walk free.

Suppose this guy hadn't had a "stash" and these burgals had robbed him, then should they have been charged? It's not as if they knew what they were going to find and went in to get it and report a pedophile to the cops, they had every intent to criminaly burlarise this man, and should be charged accordingly. At least give them a slap on the rist so that the record says they were punished.

[WhipperSnapper 88]

Although I have to say this guy should make the stupidist criminals list, according to the article, this guy actually reported these discs stolen

They broke into Stockard's barn and stole about 50 CDs they believed were blank.
Stockard filed a police report on the incident on September 12, according to MacKenzie.

[Phil306]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper 88

I simply cannot believe what I am reading here! CRIME is CRIME no matter what the end result. The guy who had the CP should be charged, but so should the burglars! It sends a bad message anytime you let criminals walk free.

Suppose this guy hadn't had a "stash" and these burgals had robbed him, then should they have been charged? It's not as if they knew what they were going to find and went in to get it and report a pedophile to the cops, they had every intent to criminaly burlarise this man, and should be charged accordingly. At least give them a slap on the rist so that the record says they were punished.

Just a small hint: Don't get involved in the criminal justice system. Law Enforcement Officers all over the world, in all shapes, let criminals go, to "catch the bigger fish." Criminals know other criminals and know the crimes they commit. It is common practice to allow certain criminals to go free, without any arrest or charging, in exchange for information. You have to way out the information the informant is giving you, in relationship to the crime they committed.

I've seen armed robbery suspects walk out the door, in exchange for information to solve a series of murders. Its just the way business is done.

[virgode]

Originally Posted by Phil306

Just a small hint: Don't get involved in the criminal justice system...

This is True Crime Forum, where criminal cases are tossed around and opinion offered.

Be a bit forgiving. The average person doesn't have a clue what goes into investigations and legalities in regards to crime, including those who are victims of crimes. We're in the dark on certain aspects. It only takes a few minutes for those who do know, to set it straight.