Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.
Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.
Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.
Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.
17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.
Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."
Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?
There have been a number of cool Google Maps hacks, and while some are useful, many are just for fun. A new map-based application from the National Sex Offender Registry website familywatchdog.us definitely falls into the useful category. The site already uses Google Maps to display sex offenders and, today, will launch a new service to enable parents to get the same maps of sex offenders via cell phone. 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mario said 1:38PM on 7-17-2007
Mapping sex offenders on cell phone? Why stop there? Map ALL criminals on your cell phone, then we can start mapping the different races of people too.
I have never seen a group of people more villianized, ridiculed and harassed then sex offenders. I would think murderers would be somewhat of a problem...
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Nicole said 10:22AM on 7-07-2008
I think we should know on cell phones , computers and newspapers where there are sex affenders at all times to keep children and adults safe. There should be branded! All sex affenders should be castrated when they get convicted before they get released from jail so they can't hurt anyone again. Once a sex affender always a sex affender. From what I have learned they do it once, they will do it again Being notified anyway possible is wonderful. No breaks for them on my part.
Nicole
Markus said 3:35PM on 7-17-2007
Mario, I couldnt agree more. While i never condone anything that anyone who is convicted of a sex crime does, it is so unfortunate to see how for some reason sex offenders arent allowed to have a second chance as free citizens who have paid their debt and who were deemed BY A COURT OF LAW IN THE UNITED STATES that they are fit to be meaningful members of society. And the other thing is, while incarcerated, many sex offenders go through treatment for their problems, unlike almost all other crimes except for possible AA and NA. So wouldnt that mean that a lot of them are better fit for the streets than most criminals who just serve their time and get out and do it all over again cause they havent learned a thing? I dont get it.
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james said 5:39PM on 7-17-2007
The two of you, Mario and Markus, sound like maybe you are close to the 90 day check-in with the authorities. OBVIOUSLY, you have not had a child be sexually attacked by one of these scumbags. When you commit a crime of this nature, you give up your rights that we all hold dear, and, whether or not you like it, will always come under the scrutiny of both the public as well as law enforcement. Don't delude yourselves. Murderers, rapists, cyber thieves, armed robbers,
and the like who have committed these crimes will always have a shadow following them, right or wrong. Aside from all that, the likelihood of a sex offender repeating the crime after they get out, after 'therapy', is as likely as saying that it will rain someday. DON'T DO THE CRIME IF YOU CAN'T DO THE TIME, as they say, and in the case of sex offenders, this would be for the rest of their lives. It's too bad all the bleeding hearts out there whine so loudly about how their rights have been violated or stripped down. Maybe you all should consider how a child or any person feels when they have their rights as human beings violated and stripped down when they are raped or molested(that's really what we're talking about here, isn't it?) For those few who have picked up a girl or guy in a club/bar, and swear they didn't know they were under the age of majority (18 for all you scumbags out there), keep your dick in your pants and it wouldn't happen. You guys get no pity from me. YOU screwed up your own lives, SO QUIT WHINING ABOUT IT AND DEAL WITH IT!
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art said 8:39AM on 7-20-2007
James,I understand where you're coming from with personal experience, but at the same time, both Mario and Markus both make points that are more accurate and less biased than yours.
If you could, please enlighten us with the source of your obviously factual quote: "the likelihood of a sex offender repeating the crime after they get out, after 'therapy', is as likely as saying that it will rain someday." Have you read any studies on the matter, or do you just listen to the evening news? Any person who does his research will see that the likelihood is significantly lesser than that, and for some younger offenders coupled with therapy, a minimal percentage will re-offend.
Also, Megan's law is not unnecessarily an effective child protection tool, and many states are now investigating the actual merit of registries. NJ is one of them. Search the New York Times for articles about it.
Also, the age of majority is not 18 in all places. Some states have the age of full consent as low as 16; again, NJ for example.
And regardless of the crimes that an individual commits, they are still a human being, and as such, have rights. The rights of criminals with exponentially higher recidivism rates, like burglars, drug dealers/users, and and even murderers are not trampled in the way that sex offenders are. In certain cases, yes, the public should be aware. But in many more, that only creates the environment of fear that people thrive on: the media, prosecutors, and you. If your rights were infringed upon, you would be the last one to "QUIT WHINING ABOUT IT AND DEAL WITH IT". The media attention on sex offenders only helps their ratings, not the community at large, not the offender, and certainly not the victim.
All that said, my point is that this is a largely misunderstood subject, where information comes from sensationalizing or uninformed sources. Before you form opinions, look at actual studies on the topic, or, think of the people involved, not just the victims.
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Abby said 10:10AM on 7-24-2007
James,obviously you have never been wrongly accused of anything in your life! You must be loved by all. There are some people whether they be "so-called" sex offenders, murderers, robbers, etc. who have been WRONGLY CONVICTED and have served time for being innocent! Just because you ARE proven guilty in a court of law does NOT necessarily make it true! Depending upon your race and your geographic location...if you so much as look at someone wrong, you could be a sex offender! I do hate it for you if one day you are ever accused of such a horrible accusation. Good luck trying to prove your innocence. Just because someone says you did something to them and they happen to be a juvenile (teen) doesn't necessarily make it true. You could be so hated by that person that all that teenager wants to do is get you in trouble...what would you do then? It's your word against theirs and because they are a kid/teen, of course, the courts will side with them. Children and teenagers do lie especially if they are upset with you. Someone could say they were touched in their "privates" and there's no DNA in that instance. How do you defend yourself? Just remember, not everyone accused is truly guilty! There's always that fine line between true guilt and innocence...
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Loren said 6:23PM on 7-26-2007
It is true that sex offenders are the only ones that cannot be rehabilitated. I have heard this from numerous sources. I am sure that you can google it to find some actual hard core statistics. I agree, that it would be nice to be able to track other types of criminals, but the ones that would qualify as needing to be tracked, are already in prison or on death row. The ones that prey on helpless, young children need to be SERIOUSLY watched because for some reason, our judicial system doesn't think that they should be put in prison for life. The way that I look at it, is that the offender shouldn't care that his/her name is broadcasted to the public and their neighbors. Afterall, they didn't do anything wrong, right? It goes back to the saying, "If you haven't done anything wrong, then you shouldn't have anything to hide." I think that everyone has the right to know who is living next them and has the right to know what type of people are involved in you and your childrens lives. I am a single mom and these days, I actually feel obligated to run the name of my date through the data base just to make sure.You can never be too safe. You may think the guy is interested in you when it is really your son or daughter he is trying to get to. Neither I nor anyone in my family has ever been a victim, thank goodness, but I am very thankful for the new laws and very thankful for the dedicated folks who strive to protect our children.
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Mike said 1:49PM on 6-22-2008
loren, Please go to the Dept of justice web site. Look at this page and learn something. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/rpr94.htm Look who is the least likely to re-offend.
Here is a polatition who finally admits how much of a big lie our government oficials have been telling all of us. What for i wounder? Money, Votes HHHMMMMM. http://theparson.net/so/mythology.htm look at this one, it might help you understand how much your loving politians and media have been LIEING TO YOU at not only the cost of American citizens freedom but at the cost of the Constitution and Bill of rights. http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/03nov_recidivism_high.htm The government thrives on scare tactics in order to make money and stay in power. It continually strives to prove to us how much we need it. Even at the cost of it's own citizens.
Mike said 2:03PM on 6-22-2008
loren, Please go to the Dept of justice web site. Look at this page and learn something. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/rpr94.htm Look who is the least likely to re-offend.
Here is a polatition who finally admits how much of a big lie our government oficials have been telling all of us. What for i wounder? Money, Votes HHHMMMMM. http://theparson.net/so/mythology.htm look at this one, it might help you understand how much your loving politians and media have been LIEING TO YOU at not only the cost of American citizens freedom but at the cost of the Constitution and Bill of rights. http://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/03nov_recidivism_high.htm The government thrives on scare tactics in order to make money and stay in power. It continually strives to prove to us how much we need it. Even at the cost of it's own citizens.
Andy Martin said 3:35PM on 8-06-2007
No, actually the assumption that "therapy" works for sex-offenders is wrong. Much of what passes for treatment is really lacking in any medical or scientific basis. It is mostly based on AA's "12 step program", which in turn is closely modelled on the beliefs and practices of a religious cult called the Oxford Group. It is really scandalous that this Pseudo-religious snake oil is held up to be legitimate treatment for anything. AA was found to be no better than no treatment at all in the most rigorously conducted trial to date (by Vaillant) and the results of applying a variant of AA's method to treating sex-offenders have been that they became slightly more likely to offend. Sex-offenders are notorious for their recidivism.
The only people to benefit from administering "treatment" to sex-offenders are the therapists who make a living out of it.
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Rosie said 10:49PM on 8-06-2007
Well, here is an interesting tid bit of information. 25% of sex offenders are innocent. Once someone is accused of this crime whether they did it or not there best bet is to just plead guilty. I personally think there is something wrong with the system.
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Dan Mesfin said 5:47PM on 8-07-2007
My father was wrongly charged, convicted and then sentanced for 8 years and put on the sex offenders register. If anyone dared to publish his details on such a website I would personaly burn their house down and kill all of there family. The whole legal system has gone haywire and doesnt even begin to consider that maby the accused are inoccent. I understand parents concerns but it isn't always the offender to blame, in alot of cases evidence is fabricated and exagarated and infact the so called "victim" may have encoureged the offender by the way he or she acted or dressed. I know im going off the point but i'd like to say one more thing. IF YOU ARE INOCCENT YOU WILL NEVER WIN, THE MORE YOU DENEY THE CHARGES THE MORE DANGERIOUS YOU ARE SEEN TO BE, BUT IF YOU REALLY ARE INOCCENT DONT GIVE UP, KEEP ON FIGHTING AND DONT GIVE IN BECAUSE IN THE END YOUR REAL FRIENDS AND FAMILY WILL STICK BY YOU AND WILL TRULEY KNOW THAT YOU ARE INOCCENT.
Dan Mesfin, 15 years old
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ange said 12:30PM on 8-27-2007
WHAT????? Feeling sorry for the Devil himself? YOU FREAKS! SICK.SICK.SICK.
They should NEVER get a second chance. In fact they should be put down like the MAD DOGS they are.
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Mimi said 1:28PM on 8-27-2007
Child molesters shouldnt be allowed to walk the streets with our children. Once they have taken a child's trust and twisted them for life they deserve nothing -- no freedom, no choices, no second chances with our children
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Brad said 1:05AM on 8-29-2007
Comments like that of Loren's just goes to show how stupid and uninformed people are in this country. I know that sex offenders can be rehabilitated. Over 30 years ago one of my best friends was arrested for a sex offense. Not once since that date has he had the desire to attempt that crime again, and has never done so. At the time of this crime he was very heavy into drugs, he did a number of stupid things at that time but he has never repeated that crime. Yes I agree that repeat offenders need to be taken care of by the law. I also believe that GOD is bigger than any sin or crime and that if one allows GOD to work in his or her life things will change. My friend has watched our kids many times. He is family to them, his family is family to them. He is the perfect example of how someone can be changed and lead a good life. But because of the hate, closed minds and unwillingness to look at each situation individualy people that have changed do suffer for past problems. Loren also said that concerning other types of crimanals "that ones that qualify to be tracked are already in prison or death row" that has got to be one of the most stupid comments ever said. What kind of dream world do you live in Loren. Most crimes are commited by repeat offenders. And if you think about it if that was true there would be no crime. Back to my friend who is treated like a scumbag who goes after little kids, he was 18 the girl was 17 and willing, but her parents saw a way to make some money and have ruined his life. He has been treated like he was 50 at the time and the girl was 7. That is why each case needs to be looked at on an individual basis and not assume they are all the same like the law makers and law inforcment individuals seem to believe is the only way.
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stolen_dreams said 4:40PM on 10-25-2007
You know,
I once thought that sex offenders who went to jail were really rehabilitated because they went to therapy. I WAS SO WRONG.
All 3 of my sons were molested by my ex-hubby who was, you guessed it, an ex-sex offender. He went in for statuatory rape of a 10 yr old female when he was 18. His alibi was that he wanted to get back at the vicitm's sister (who was his girlfriend at the time)for sleeping with his best friend. He did time. Had therapy. Was he rehabilitated?
I met him when we were in our late 20s.I found out about this through rumors. I didn't wanna beleive it at first. But then he told me, and I forgave him because it was a stupid thing he did from his past. Right?
Well, he fessed up, and we'd agreed we wouldn't talk about it anymore. But I felt betrayed because why didn't he tell me at first?
Due to other issues, the relationship went sour and we're no longer together. As soon as he leaves, my kids all start acting wierd.
After years of therapy, my kids DISCLOSE that he molested them. All of those nightmares and acting act were due to this trauma induced by this sorry excuse for a man.
SO ....
To answer anyone else who THINKS these nasty low-lifes could be rehabilitated... think again.
We need stronger laws to protect our children, and as a single parent (cause I WON'T trust anyone else around my kids or with my heart)WE NEED to know where these perverts live so WE can steer clear of them.
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Andy Martin said 6:49AM on 10-28-2007
With reference to an earlier posting, is it considered acceptable on this site for someone to threaten to burn down a person's house and murder their family?
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Talisa Tichenor said 1:30AM on 1-15-2008
I encourage any one who has been a victum of or knows someone close who has been a victum of sexual abuse. To spread the word of sex offenders and this web site of family watchdog. You and your kids are not safe unless you know who lives by you. And of course just because they are ordered to register doesn't mean this is happening. I dated a guy for 6 years and had know clue. He attempted to kill me 5 times within a 2 hour period from putting a pillow on my face, smothering me, to stabing me with a knife, to hitting me over the head with a kitchen chair, to throwing me down the steps, to tieing me up and leaving me there to die. Finding out that he did something to my daughter. This goes to show you how are United States court system works, he was found guilty of a lesser crime. Didn't even get charged with my daughter. Oh Yea' he only got 5 years, and he is now out, on top of this they only slapped him concurrently to his charge of him not registering.? Take care of you and your loved ones because they are out there. Inform your children what to do, interact some senerios, watch cops, nypd. (cop shows). This does help as it helped my daughter get this man off of her. To those ones who think they can be rehibilitated, well maybe, but stop to think if this was you they did it too. would you want to think they could be rehibilitated from the crime they committed. Everyone has a choice, and this choice they make, concequences may follow.
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xcon said 11:59PM on 2-05-2008
There was once a time not so long ago when these things were rare. But people made a big deal out of every little infraction...and the laws got tougher. Then the crimes got worse. And the laws got tougher. and the crimes got even worse. Today it is not unusual at all to hear about 5 or 10 people being massacred, for a whole family to be slashed up like butchered hogs. Common for children to be murdered. And in this society which exclaims for the "protection of children", even the police use TASERS on TODDLERS. But I will not know what a sex offender is, by your definition. Because the Police Officers who raped Abner Louima with a plunger handle...they are not regarded as rapists. They do not need to register their faces on any website. And in this society which locks people in prison and then cheers as they rape each other...how can you look yourself in the mirror and not realize that YOU are a rapist by proxy? This is a very complex problem, and it will destroy the USA because we have turned our backs on God and Justice.
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Daniel Gaunt said 5:43AM on 2-06-2008
someone training to be a teacher had a wee down a back alley during a night out at around 1am. the police saw him, he was arrested and put on the sex offenders registar. He is a now a sex offender. but do you really think he is a danger to anyone?
http://freeextras.blogspot.com/
http://lifeorsomethingnotquitelikeit.blogspot.com/
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