Reason: Florida Cops Re-Arrest 26 Sex Offenders in ‘Operation Karma.’ Their Crime? Not Updating Their Car Info.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Department in Florida is touting its successful completion of “Operation Karma,” a three-day sting in which cops arrested 26 registered sex offenders for violating various legal obligations imposed on them.
“They are apparently up to no good and we are going to hold them accountable,” Sheriff Grady Judd promises The Miami Herald.
But there is no evidence that any of the arrested people were a danger to anyone. They were not re-arrested for approaching children, or committing sex acts. In most cases, they were arrested for failing to register their vehicles with the government. This is understandable: sex offenders in Florida are required to provide the government with up-to-date information regarding their name, age, sex, height, weight, tattoos, hair color, address, email address, telephone number, social media accounts, employment information, and vehicle information. It’s probably fairly easy for a sex offender to forget to constantly re-supply necessary information.
But it’s absurd to suggest that these un-registered cars posed some kind of danger to the community. And yet The Miami Herald happily entertained this fantasy, allowing Grady and his office to essentially take a victory lap in the pages of the newspaper. The Herald also printed the mugshots of all the offenders, listed their names, and provided not only the reason for their re-arrests but information on their initial arrests. In practice, this means that many of these offenders—who range in age from 57 all the way down to 19—are being shamed for crimes they committed years and decades ago.
A bunch of mugshots of middle-aged men convicted of sex offenses against minors makes for a frightening image. But I did the math, and most of these people were in their 20s, or teens themselves, when they were first convicted.
Discover more from Florida Action Committee (FAC)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I wouldnt wish my situation on anybody but I think for some people to have a son or family member caught up in this would tend to change their opinions on things. Some of these officials need some thought changing.
Shredding the Constitution, Supressing the vote, Targeting men, with post de ex facto punishment, setting the foundation for The Police State
Refresh my memory as to how these civil infractions are legally punishable as criminal please?
Here is some boastful information about Grady Judd for anyone interested:
https://www.flsheriffs.org/sheriffs/bio/polk-county
It will be interesting to track what happens when these cases go to court. I imagine defense lawyers, whether retained or appointed, will move to suppress or limit potentially tainted evidence. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in a deposition where competent defense counsel will interrogate the cops. The registration laws are so confusing that most cops don’t know the requirements. My bet is Grady Dudd (should be correct spelling) doesn’t know all the case law in purported registration violations.
could this not be a great constitution case?
if you don’t speak when you register then you will be arrested for failure to register, if you do speak when you register then they can use that information against you. catch 22