[lbo-talk] Federal prosecutor caught in child sex sting

[John Thornton]

andie nachgeborenen wrote:
> I'd add in this context that the situation is largely
> created by the defendant. He's sought out an internet
> site where this sort of thing is discussed -- the
> authoriities haven't sought him out; they're waiting
> for him to seek them out -- and he has engaged in a
> series of exchanges with a stranger; no previous
> relationship or social context exists that might make
> the defendant susceptible to social pressure or feel
> his pride or manhood or something is at stake if he
> doesn't do the bad thing. It's very hard to imagine
> how a defendant could show a lack of propensity in
> these circumstances. ANd of coursde the fact the
> defendant here is not only a lawyer but a criminal
> lawyer, a prosecutor, sort of obviates the empty mind
> defense, so far as that has any force (not very much).
>
>
> It's horrible and sad.
>   

One of the reasons I mention entrapment is because in some cases there 
has been exactly what you claim does not exist above, namely pressure to 
do the bad thing and doubts cast upon the potential perpetrators 
virility. While I may not personally feel this excuses the persons 
reaction to this type of social chiding, not giving in to this type of 
peer pressure is after all  supposed to be a hallmark of maturity, it 
does go some way towards an entrapment defense. Some have claimed that 
they only initially wanted to engage in sex talk online and were 
'pushed' into thinking about doing the bad thing by the person with whom 
they were engaged in sex talk. I know the scripts are designed to 
prevent this but I also know if after two months of sex talk a potential 
perpetrator still hasn't made the hoped for move, cops being cops, some 
will deviate from the script to get their bad guy.

John Thornton