Let’s preface this post by saying we strongly condemn the actions this pediatrician is accused of. We hope Senator Book’s children, and all the former patients of this doctor, are safe and were not harmed.
A popular South Florida pediatrician was arrested and charged with three felonies. Among the crimes he is charged with is possession of child pornography and online solicitation of a minor. In an online post, Senator Lauren Book wrote, “This was my child’s pediatrician. I had no idea. No alarm bells went off. Nothing. Let this serve as a warning – ANYONE can be a predator, regardless of profession, level of education, interpersonal skills, zip code, etc. If I can be caught off guard, anyone can.”
The Senator’s own comments make the point that we’ve been trying to make for years. Perpetrators of sex crimes can by ANYONE. Not only that, but in the overwhelming majority of cases it is someone known to the victim, such as a teacher, coach, friend or family member. As Sen. Book sadly and unfortunately knows, it can even be the nanny hired by your parents to care for you, or the pediatrician you brought your own children to.
If we focus attention and resources on a stupid list, we are diverting focus from the more likely perpetrators and creating a false sense of security. Instead of telling parents to check the registry in advance of Halloween and implying children will somehow be safe, we should be telling parents to accompany their child to every single door they knock on.
Instead of investing so much time and money into perpetually punishing former offenders, we instead need to apply those resources towards prevention. Instead of investing so many resources into perpetuating stranger danger myths and other nonsense, we need to focus on education. Education based on actual best practices and empirical research, not misinformation.
The sex offender registry gets this so wrong!
We hear so much today from both sides of the political aisles about the “Rule of Law”…, but WHOSE law? Jeffrey Epstein’s? “Liberty and Justice for ALL who can afford it.” And he certainly could…up until the last solitary confinement cell in New York’s own “Bastille”, known as the “Tombs”, a much more accurate description. How about the Rule of Law according to the Prosecutor, who is absolutely immune to it in terms of accountability for falsified evidence, lying to defendants, suborning perjury to get a conviction where none should have been had-but is indeed another notch on his or her professional pistol to help with their next leg up on the government dime. And then there’s the Rule of Law for the Judiciary-which will countenance almost anything before the bench if it’s to the judge’s individual advantage. We have many such so-called “Nuremburg” judges in our courts.
So it seems the Rule of Law is what any of these people say it is, and it all comes down to who has the most coercive power as to who’s definition is decided upon in any given situation.
Phys Ed
Well said , but what can be done to get the masses to realize it?
Unfortunately you are pretty accurate with this evaluation. Facts have become meaningless and there are some classes of people in the US of A who are considered guilty before a ‘crime’ is even committed…this goes beyond ‘racism’.
There are more predators than just sex predators, i.e, the Books.
Capt
So true. Everytime I sell something on craigslist, I get a text from Predators/scammers asking me to send them a code. If you send them a code, they can take over your phone. I always text them back and tell them God knows what you are doing.
This is only going to make things worse. It’s only going to reaffirm in Lauren’s and Ron’s minds that predators really are everywhere … and you can be one, and you, and YOU. They will need to find ways to be more proactively finding and punishing them. As for those already caught and on the registry? So what. They deserve what they get (in the Books’ minds). Ugh.
Actually I like a lot of Will Alans comments on this subject matter or this “Hit List” but much of this registry is an imbalance in this two wrongs dont’ make a right. So what ever happened to the Art of public speeking or the understand or wisdom of how this registry is constructed or is that Justice abused or who pardon’s all. Toss a bit of injustice into this game and this Registry is a bit overrated in much of this Otis Campbell ordeal.
I would like to add one more post or view before I leave this Florida Action Committee. They say actions speak louder than words and yes the right action is always good to overt destruction. This article of this pediatrician and Lauren’s experience in her book is a bit compelling. Sure abuse comes in many forms but understanding the registry and this type of ordeal are two different elements or issues. While Lauren’s book is one thing the registry and internet confusion is another.
Physical encounters are a bit different than Internet encounters but their is one thing in common they all involve “Sex” as the weapon or motivator. Even this child pornography is a bit much or who is pitching hay with a pitchfork today. While I used the Ann-Landers and yes she was a counseling/columist and well known she wouldn’t go for any of a lot of this sex registry in this tacky ordeal that many face today.
While I read on here we don’t talk about religion, well religion could be anything man-made or other, but truth never fails and God doesn’t temp or should we all go back to what James Madison wrote or some other article of interest or maybe even biblical understanding or is all’s fair in love and war or who is loving thy neighbor even with these destructive internet encounters.
The real solutions are the following:
1.) Abolish the sex offense registry, the homicide offense registry, the violent offense registry, the career criminal, habitual felony, repeat offense registry, the drug offense registry, the johns registry, the child abusers registry, the animal abusers registry, et-cetera.
2.) Abolish capital punishment/the death penalty.
3.) Abolish the civil commitment of those deemed predators
4.) Abolish the civil commitment of those not guilty by reason of insanity.
5.) Abolish natural life sentencing without parole. (Life sentencing caps should be no more than 25 years.)
6.) Abolish minimum mandatory sentencing.
7.) Abolish the use of solitary confinement.
8.) Abolish the direct filing against minors to prosecute and convict as adults.
Post Script: And amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to add Convicted Felons who are Returning Citizens back in Society as a Protected Class.
Joseph Pratt
You just don’t get it do you? Feel sorry for you.
You try to take too big of a bite of good food all at once and you will end up choking on it.
A pediatrician caught up in a pedofile circle. Wonder what Ann-Landers would think. Guess all sex offenders should assume the position or should we all say Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Guess cyber planing takes a lot of turns with books written my this Laren Brook.
I have to give credit to those who stand up for this devaluation of much or all of this sex registry induced by this computer type ruse. Much of this sex registry is folly and in bad taste or are we all still living in the Fall of the house of usher.
All these comments and view’s on this article are very good. Speaking out to this common demonator of this sex based issue and the unethical methods these officers use is very bleak and shameful to their character . One can see the hate in even this type of situation.
Sure anyone can be a sex offender or an offender and it doesn’t have to be sex. One just wonder if the Capt. addiction to airplanes ever colide…. I’m sure many would say that this Government needs to reevaluate much of this sex registry even this computer ordeal. Keep the peace.
Me thinks something is rotten in the state of Denmark…Florida.
Do we see a resemblance here
“ I really won the election “
“ establishing a SOR will reduce or eliminate sex offenses”
Please understand. It Doesn’t matter if the truth finally dawn’s on them, or if tomorrow they have a revelation. The registry is what it is because it’s a money maker. More than likely patronage jobs for politicians, judges and those who are “connected.” Those are good jobs with good benefits and the favors go round and round.
Neither the nanny nor the pediatrician were on the registry. Let’s see if it dawns on them that more than 90% of sex crimes occur by persons not on the registry. Having the police babysit persons with decades old convictions is an incredible waste of resources.
As for the nanny, she will be deported to Honduras and not be on any registry. Let’s call the Books out for what they are. If they truly believe in the registry they would be pushing for a registry in Honduras.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid this incident will only serve to embolden and double down on her misguided crusade. The Books, along with other prominent “child safety advocates” like the Walshes will never come to terms or listen to reason.
You simply cannot deprogram radicalized hate.
Facts should matter, Its not hate sir, It is irresponsible
parents that try and take the focus off of themselves and put the blame on people that had nothing to do with there particular issue/situation.
I am addicted to aviation. Is there an AA (Aircraft Anonymous) that I can attend? I have lots of aircraft pictures, over a thousand models, and research and am writing a book about my addiction. It’s just a matter of time until I will be added to the aviation addicted registry. That’s how ridiculous things have gotten.
Capt
You are a sick man. I draw the line at aviation porn. Those poor airplanes did not ask to be photographed and passed around from person to person.
10 years prison then lifetime on flight registry. Also you cannot step foot on any airport grounds or own any toy models of airplanes.
AND you cannot watch the VHS copy of Airplane staring Leslie Nielsen.
Thank you. I already feel that I am on the road to recovery. I have to blame it all on too many recoveries on an aircraft carrier. It had some sort of effect on me. Maybe sniffing too much jet fumes. I have to blame something.
we’re fucked.
I don’t Twitter, but if I did, it would say….
Imagine a world where people were allowed to seek out help for their pornography additions or sexual problems before harm is done. But no, I mean….who would want to try and prevent such harms first.
Cops will say, “they” never act alone. Was she part of that little group?
“ANYONE” can be a predator indeed at any given day and time.
Anyone – which would also include herself and her father. Why not? You never know.
Let us ALSO state, Innocent until proven guilty. Let us NOT be hypocrites and want it both ways.
It says he was arrested and charged. Do not see where he was found guilty yet. Just my 2 cents worth. We all want the benefit of the doubt so until this man is proven guilty, I will withhold my judgement.
That is what I would want someone to do for me, even though they didn’t. I was fired from my job when arrested without even finding out if I was guilty.
Cherokee, you always seem to be a voice of sanity. Thanks for the reminder. Unfortunately with this genre of crime, persons are presumed guilty until proven guilty. As a friend once said, “The criminal justice system ain’t broken. It’s fixed.”
Veritas.
Ed
First off, thank you. Secondly, Yes when I was arrested, I deserved to be. Having said that, the problem I have is, the prosecution added so much pork (Added charges that were made up) that my lawyers head was spinning.
I even took a polygraph (My lawyer made me take one or he wouldn’t take the case). He presented that to the judge who said “Liars can pass polygraphs”. Funny though, if I had failed the test, the prosecution would have used that information, the lawyer brought that up stating the same person did just that in a previous case and was allowed.
DOUBLE Standards. Plus they do that to run you out of money, which they did to me. You can win any case with enough money, the right lawyer (Team of lawyers) the right judge, the right jury etc. Take for example the Casey Anthony case. You would have thought that someone accused of killing their own child would not walk free, and yet a the right jury found her not guilty.
As a note, I FEEL she did it, but I was not there at the scene so that is JUST my opinion. What made me more mad, she threw her OWN Father under the bus accusing HIM of killing the baby.
On the other side of that, if My parents were accused of doing something I would take the blame for them, that is how much I love my parents. They were there for me the entire time I was locked up and welcomed me back with open arms when I was released.
Lauren Book spent way too much time obsessing over a Registered Citizen living over a thousand miles away while blind what was happening closer to home. It is almost like she learned that behavior from her daddy.
I know! The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Speaking of Ron what is going on with his DWI? Has he finagled a dismissal yet?
I see Ron Book had a hearing today and received a continuance.
Is he going to receive a continuance until a hearing no longer has a purpose or meaningful outcome? Do RSO’s get that kind of treatment? Let’s face it, most DUI’s can have much more serious outcomes than most SO’s. He needs to be held accountable.
Derek, you are certainly to blame for this. The Book clan must keep their blind eye focused on you and all other registrants. Maybe some more legislation will help their parenting skills. I mean really, when you can’t tell the bad guys from the good anymore. Wait, don’t the good ones wear white hats. Yeah and all the bad ones are on the registry.
When I see a politician take credit for something or someone I always wonder if it’s true first, they use so many things as their here I am feel for me eather bad or good so first thing for me is show me proof a canceled check or recept your word alone just don’t cut it .thank you very much
Amen & a Women!
And Amoron.
OMG in her text she is basically saying the registry does not work “Anyone can be a predator” Horrible situation but that text should be read back to her anytime she goes to push more restrictive laws against RSO’s which i am sure is coming soon after this incident
Thing is no one cares! Integrity is lost in this country!
If history is any guide, I think you are right. Lauren Book was tragically molested by her nanny, a woman who was not on the registry. This resulted in her applying her energy and family money in a campaign for ever more restrictive laws affecting registrants.
I suspect she and her father will apply the same illogic to this situation. After all, isn’t it obvious that clamping down on RSOs will help identify unregistered potential molesters? I loved her statement that “If I can be caught off guard, anyone can.” I applaud her prescience. It sounds like she believes herself to be akin to a “pre-cog” from the movie Minority Report. Perhaps Ms. Book should introduce legislation to create a Florida Pre-Crime unit.
Veritas.
Unfortunately I don’t think she will take any of the points she herself made to heart. I believe this will be just another person she knew or thought she knew that can be further used to fuel her ire
With child porn being so pervasive, there really needs to be a fundamental shift in how society deals with these behaviors. Many who demonize offenders refuse to acknowledge the reality of sexual or porn addictions. With no support in the community, these persons are forced deeper into the shadows, where the seeds of criminal outcomes are formed. We would do better as a society with applying behavioral health strategies rather than dumping people in the garbage heap of the justice system.
As a recovering porn addict and sex addict who is wrongfully convicted of his sex crimes and who is not ashamed to admit that I go to Celebrate Recovery and Sex Addicts Anonymous and I work the 12 Steps for my own addiction recovery. The government needs to stop prosecuting addiction and needs to let mental health/social services/12 Step programs to deal with addiction recovery.
@ James:
In response to: “With child porn being so pervasive, there really needs to be a fundamental shift in how society deals with these behaviors.”
I think the first step should be for the FBU and ICAC and their state counterparts to stop distributing it.
The last line of this article says it best “The sex offender registry gets this so wrong!” Which if we have learned anything from past policies means our favorite senator is about to demand yet more inclusive registration lists not less.
God help us, the fire may have been lit with a new and improved match.
Sen. Book is incapable of preventing sex crimes— even those taking place under her nose.
(Dropping my phone on the floor).
Once again, the accused was NOT ON THE REGISTRY!. Maybe that tidbit will sink in to Lauren Book and her ilk because this case shows that the registry is useless at protecting children, including hers.
That is not correct. We need to get this right.
This does not show that the Hit Lists are useless. It only shows that they don’t prevent all crimes (assuming this person is guilty, and we can, just for example).
It does certainly show that the Hit Lists aren’t enough to protect people. But that doesn’t matter. The question is – are the Hit Lists useful enough and worth their problems?
The answer to that is “no”. And there is no doubt. No person who actually cares about public safety or protecting children, and is informed, moral, and serious about it, thinks that the Hit Lists should exist. Not one single person. Not Lauren Book. Not one.
The Hit Lists are not for public safety and are counterproductive. But Americans are not strong or smart enough to get rid of them.