FAC Media Committee: Call to Action
This past week, FOX News and the New York Post caused damage to hundreds of thousands of people on the sex offense registry in this country over the way they covered the story of the attempted kidnapping of the 11-year-old girl in Escambia Co.
I am contacting both outlets and would greatly appreciate having other people let them know the damage that was caused by the careless way this story was covered.
The New York Post article, used by FOX News, was written by Jesse O’Neill. The best email address that I have come up with so far for the New York Post is: [email protected] or 646-357-3838.
To contact FOX News, go to foxnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Contact Us. On “Submit a request”, use the dropdown arrow and choose “request a correction or clarification to a story”. You will need to paste the URL (web link) for the page that you are reporting a problem with:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/11-year-old-florida-girl-fights-off-sex-offender-at-bus-stop
In the New York Post article, I counted O’Neill’s use of the term “sex offender” 5 times, mostly in the captions under the photos and, of course, in the title. FOX News also used the term from the Post article. None of the other national or local news outlets that I have listened to has used “sex offender”. The New York Post is listed as a tabloid meaning it likes to print sensational articles. FOX is doing the same thing.
Some points that can be used in our replies to the NY Post and FOX, which are contained in the Weekly Update found at the FAC webpage under Media, are:
- This guy will likely be in prison forever; it’s the other 74,000+ people on the Florida registry who will be subjected to whatever new legislation named after this poor 11-year-old, that will unquestionably be introduced in the coming legislative term. What new collateral consequence, additional requirement, further restriction, or punishment will be imposed on registrants because of this tragedy they had no responsibility for?
- Who is this unidentified “sex offender”? Jared Stanga. He is not on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement sex offender registry. In a national search including all states, territories, and Indian Country, Mr. Stanga is NOT listed on a sex offender registry.
- The “sex offender” registry did absolutely nothing to prevent the attempted abduction of this girl, except point the finger at a population that had nothing to do with it and potentially divert the focus of law enforcement had they not captured the perpetrator.
- When the politicians use this tragedy to try to expand the registry or enact proximity ordinances around bus stops, let’s remind them that the registry did nothing to prevent this, as it did nothing to prevent the abduction of Jacob Wetterling and as it did nothing to prevent the abduction of Adam Walsh.
- If everyone would just take a deep breath and rational look at these policies, they will see they are ineffective and should be abolished.
THE BIG TAKEAWAY THAT FOX AND THE NEW YORK POST NEED TO UNDERSTAND: THEY GOT IT WRONG. MR. STANGA WAS NOT ON THE “SEX OFFENDER” REGISTRY, AND BY TRYING TO CONNECT PEOPLE ON THE REGISTRY WITH MR. STANGA, THEY HAVE JUST MADE A LIFE, THAT CAN ALREADY BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE MEDIEVAL STATUTES AND ORDINANCES RELATED TO THE REGISTRY, EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF REGISTRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE NOW LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.
Thank you for your help,
Media Chair ([email protected])
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In you letter: “When the politicians use this tragedy to try to expand the registry or enact proximity ordinances around bus stops, let’s remind them that the registry did nothing to prevent this, as it did nothing to prevent the abduction of Jacob Wetterling and as it did nothing to prevent the abduction of Adam Walsh.”
You are mildly correct that the registry did nothing, however it could not do anything for them primarily because it did not exist at the time. There was no SOR when wetterling (1989) or walsh (1981) were attacked. Those attacks perhaps set the wheels in motion to start the SOR in 1997.
Yes, so let us change “did nothing” to “would have done nothing”. Hopefully, you will a chance to contact the NY Post and FOX.
Thanks.
I have already sent letters to both the New York Post and Fox News in New York on the subject. I will include them on my bi-weekly media bias letters.
The news article claims the man had a prior sex offense charge. It is an interesting choice of language. They did not say convicted. Why?
Something was also said like ‘multiple’ offenses.
If, we as a community of required to register offenders do not stand up at this point after this misinformation has been dealt to us, then when? Forget about the consequences of standing up, and let our voices be heard! We should mobilize and start planning our response. Let our voices be heard!! Now is the time! Lets come together and bombard these news outlets with every ounce of digital communication we have left!! Come on!!
The term “sex offender” is a legal term, and can be accurately used only when describing someone who has been convicted of a sex crime. “Sex offender” loses any definitive meaning when misused outside of that context, as in this reporting. This is just as the term “pedophile”–which has a very specific definition in psychology–is now commonly misused as a mere pejorative or a dog whistle.
Veritas.
Unfortunately a sex offender is a sex offender until they die. I personally was convicted for kissing a girl on her cheek and bec she was aroused it was considered as sexual Misconduct with a minor.
A factual basis was laid out in court my public defender convinced me a trial would not be good. I was 18 and stupid. I signed it. That was in 1998. In 2007 I got off the registry. In 2016 my teenage daughter whom I had custody of lied saying I molested her. She was 15 at the time. I took it to court and won but barely. According to DCS preponderance of evidence says as a convicted sex offender any time in my life if I am accused I must prove my innocence not the court proving me guilty. So how did I prove my innocence? My 4th attorney caught my daughter lying about it in court and busted her. Turns out I was too strict not letting he have a boyfriend so she lied knowing she would go live with her mom. Turns out she was sending nude pics to grown men which 3 were are in prison now. She got no charges for child pornography bec in Indiana a child cant be charged with child pornography even if they’re the ones uploading it and distributing it. I fought for the next 2 years to have her arrested and was laughed at. Now in 2021 shes 18 and I fear she is a female sexual predator. Her mother raised her. I only had custody for 3 months while her mom was in jail for selling drugs. Prior to that I barely saw her.
As for my 98 conviction I served my sentence for a crime that in my Opinion wasn’t a crime. The laws are worded specifically to be used to find crime when no crime happened. When laws on sex offenses change it’s not retroactive if its benefits the sex offenders. IE Romeo n Juliet clause. I fit that age group but it was retro. So until I’m dead if I’m 99 years 9ld I must prove my innocence if ever accused. Not to minimize anything but all I done was kissed a 15 yr old girl when I was 18. That made me a sex offender for life. These laws are unconstitutional as it is. I fear its gonna get worse. Before anyone tries to say I’m full of crap I’ll say this. Indiana has screwed up laws on sex offenses. They’re a 0 tolerance state. Nothing will change Unless the ACLU get involved and make it stop. I showed them my case and was told it was wrong but they were too busy . With what? Suing Presidents over policies that affected abortion and LGBT people. Here several years later they still are doing the same thing. Smh
A third going on half my life as a Sex Offender, from a sentence of two years probation
I checked the Orlando Sentinel article on this story and they did not use the term sex offender. Maybe we are starting to get through to some of the reporters.