Man risks prison to expose alleged child molester

Cueball · 17 May 2006 at 23:17

Otacon said:
I never said it excused his crime, merely that we shouldn't ignore it because of them.

I'm sure some good words was said in his favour in court. Alas they clearly didn't affect anything.

In your opinion:
Should he have got a lesser sentence?

Or, if some guy knocked down a kid then anonymously reported it later, does that mean he should get a lesser sentence because he did the right thing and 'should be recognised' for it?

Otacon · 17 May 2006 at 23:20

Cueball said:
In your opinion:
Should he have got a lesser sentence?

No, and I've never suggested as such.

Cueball said:
Or, if some guy knocked down a kid then anonymously reported it later, does that mean he should get a lesser sentence because he did the right thing and 'should be recognised' for it?

Again, no.

Cueball · 17 May 2006 at 23:22

OK.

How should we recognise his 'good act' then?

Tesla · 17 May 2006 at 23:22

I think he should have had a strike revoked for doing a good thing.

chris_r · 17 May 2006 at 23:24

Cueball said:
OK.

How should we recognise his 'good act' then?

Don't know the details, but maybe an open prison if he by any chance is locked down for 23 hours per day.

Other then that, nothing. He commited the crimes, ok so he done a good thing but you cant justify it

Otacon · 17 May 2006 at 23:26

Cueball said:
OK.

How should we recognise his 'good act' then?

Like we have. It would be easy for a detail like that to just go missing and never be seen again, but it hasn't't, and people are acknowledging it.

Stretch · 17 May 2006 at 23:28

If letting people off (or giving a lesser sentence) for relatively minor crimes means getting a conviction for more serious crimes then I don't have a problem with that. It happens all the time already with drugs etc.

Tbh I wouldn't be surprised if this man had been sexualy abused as a child. This would go some way to explaining he’s actions.

Cueball · 17 May 2006 at 23:28

Otacon said:
Like we have. It would be easy for a detail like that to just go missing and never be seen again, but it hasn't't, and people are acknowledging it.

i would think the very fact that it has been reported in the news (on some news sites anyway) is recognicion enough.

iCraig · 17 May 2006 at 23:28

Good on him, I'm sure it will be noted somewhere of his noble decision.

But he still broke into the house regardless, that is irrelevant.

unwashed potato! · 17 May 2006 at 23:29

Otacon said:
He did the right thing, and we should recognise that, regardless of his crime.

its funny that the burgular ends up doing the right thing, and the honourable judge ends up doing the bad thing.

not only will this put everyone off from this sort of thing in the future, but also how much tax payers money is going to be wasted on this man after what he has done. Its like arresting a soldier that killed somone at war, except that this man could have kept it to himself but instead wanted to save this dirty dirty thing from happening. Possibly one of the worst things child abuse as it can scare someone for life and from the beginning of there lifes pretty much.

Energize · 17 May 2006 at 23:29

Cueball said:
OK.

How should we recognise his 'good act' then?

Do normal people who report these crimes get a reward? No.

Its common decency it should be expected of everyone to report things like this.

Stretch · 17 May 2006 at 23:34

Energize said:
Do normal people who report these crimes get a reward? No.

Its common decency it should be expected of everyone to report things like this.

But at the end of the day it’s about getting the best possible outcome for society as a whole. I for one world prefer to have criminals come forward if they know about serious crimes. Non criminals don't need the same incentives. Would you prefer to have a burglar or a pedophile on the streets?

iCraig · 17 May 2006 at 23:36

addy_010 said:
its funny that the burgular ends up doing the right thing, and the honourable judge ends up doing the bad thing.

not only will this put everyone off from this sort of thing in the future, but also how much tax payers money is going to be wasted on this man after what he has done. Its like arresting a soldier that killed somone at war, except that this man could have kept it to himself but instead wanted to save this dirty dirty thing from happening. Possibly one of the worst things child abuse as it can scare someone for life and from the beginning of there lifes pretty much.

No, he decided to break into the house and steal property in the first place. The child porn issue is totally seperate.

Stretch · 17 May 2006 at 23:36

ooops

Stellios · 17 May 2006 at 23:41

Good on him to be honest. He might be a thief, but it put away the sickest of sick people.

Cueball · 17 May 2006 at 23:53

Stellios said:
Good on him to be honest. He might be a thief, but it put away the sickest of sick people.

I believe there is a saying: "It takes a criminal to catch a criminal"

unwashed potato! · 18 May 2006 at 00:00

Stretch said:
If letting people off (or giving a lesser sentence) for relatively minor crimes means getting a conviction for more serious crimes then I don't have a problem with that. It happens all the time already with drugs etc.

It also happens with microsoft all the time so obviously works and is good for the community. microsoft let people using illegal versions of windows have it leggalised (atleast used to) if they said where it was bought from, this is same, if he told them police which he did where he found this CHILD porn then he should get off easier, maybe not all together but much much less then he would if he was just caught.

Arcade Fire · 18 May 2006 at 00:11

Energize said:
Its common decency it should be expected of everyone to report things like this.

Precisely. If I'd fallen into possession of the memory stick I would have reported it too. He's done what anybody else would have done, but seems to be getting attention because he also steals stuff? Uh...

The title seems a bit incongrous too - "man risks prison". He mailed the stick anonymously, and only admitted how he'd come into possession of it when he thought it'd get him off the hook. Reeks of self-preservation to me. He's not "noble" or "a hero" at all.

Davey_Pitch · 18 May 2006 at 00:11

Well done to the guy for sending the memory stick in, he did the right thing and got a very nasty piece of work off the streets. I would not object if he had one of his strikes removed as a result of what he did.

fatiain · 18 May 2006 at 08:18

Cueball said:
I believe there is a saying: "It takes a criminal to catch a criminal"

And another "Honour among thieves".